Marine Headquarters: Battle Against the Three Admirals

There are ruins ahead.

Guided by Roman's white doves, the Straw Hat crew arrived at a collapsed ruin, where a crimson figure emerged, elegantly dusting off his shoulders.

"Isn't it here either?"

"Boss..."

Pato was about to step forward, but when she saw the 'raccoon dog' that had climbed up her boss's trouser leg to his shoulder, she stopped in her tracks.

That position originally belonged to him, but now it has been replaced by his 'copy'.

The Red Earl looked up at the Straw Hat crew in front of him and slowly spoke:

Nicole Robin.

"Would you like to submit to me and help me find the 'Devil Fruit'? I can offer you a reward..."

?

Sanji is furious!

"How is that possible..."

With a single kick, the force was earth-shattering, like a bolt of black lightning streaking across the sky. The howling wind and the cracking earth were carried by Sanji's black leather shoe, propelling him like an enraged dragon towards the Red Earl.

I'll help you!!!

"Mil Fleur— "

?!

Facing Sanji's sudden flying kick, the Red Earl simply stood calmly with his umbrella, motionless. Instead, a giant hand suddenly slammed down on Sanji from the side! The familiar sound and the familiar move made Sanji forget to dodge.

"Giant Tree!"

Thud—

In an instant, Sanji was slapped and sent flying! He crashed into the nearby ruins with a loud thud.

"Mr. Sanji!"

"What is that?"

"I didn't, I didn't—"

Robin was almost forced to deny everything by Nami and Brulee's intense stares, was shocked. Fortunately, at that moment, she emerged again from the ruins opposite:

Wearing sunglasses on her head, a denim short-sleeved top, and an orange dance skirt, Nicole Robin is tall and curvaceous.

"That's mine..."

"I'd forgotten all about it,"

The Red Earl tapped his head with a self-deprecating smile.

"I've already asked you for help; I've been so forgetful lately..."

Sanji,

Meanwhile, Chopper had already run over to check on Sanji. In reality, the blow to his spirit was far greater than the physical injury.

"Let's go then, Nicole Robin."

"Yes,"

Faced with the Red Earl's outstretched hand, Robin placed his palm in the other's, and then:

Brush,

The two people and the tanuki disappeared from the Straw Hat crew's sight once again.

The Red Earl's speed is truly...

"Damn it, they actually took my Robin... cough cough cough, our Robin away!"

You meant to say 'mine' just now, didn't you? Roman glanced at Sanji, whose arm was being held by Brulee, and silently mourned for the chef who had slipped up for three seconds.

Hopefully I won't have to kneel on a kitchen knife when I get back~~

"That's just a clone of mine, but—"

Robin glanced at the surrounding buildings.

"Since my knowledge is needed, it means that 'Devil Fruit' has appeared in history, and is quite famous... Wait a minute!"

Robin's expression changed, because she thought of a 'legend'.

"Is this 'Sleepy Town'?"

"Yes, is there a problem?"

Seeing Nami's confusion, Robin explained, "Legend has it that three hundred years ago there was a Great Pirates who possessed eternal youth, living for over a hundred years while still maintaining a youthful appearance! He became the strongest person of that era, but later..."

"No one knows where he suffered a fatal injury, so much so that even his supposedly inexhaustible life force couldn't be sustained. He forced himself to reach an island, leaving behind the legendary words, 'I will leave my power here for the strong to claim,' and then disappeared..."

"And that legendary island is the 'slumbering place of the ancient demon,' which is—"

"The island beneath our feet?"

Robin nodded in response to Zoro's words.

"That's right, but..."

The knowledgeable archaeologist walked to the front of the ruins and carefully touched the patterns on them.

"I always thought it was just a legend, but I never imagined... these buildings are indeed relics from three hundred years ago. Does that mean the Red Earl's goal is that legendary Devil Fruit that can grant people 'immortality'?"

"Hey, hey, hey, how come all of a sudden, this 'strongest from 300 years ago' and 'immortal' Devil Fruit has appeared..."

Usopp scoffed, but then he remembered Roman's description: the other guy was said to be equivalent to a Four Emperors crew. So:

"A big shot like Uncle the Red Earl must be doing something earth-shattering. It's normal for him to be looking for the legendary Devil Fruit. Let's get out of here quickly."

Usopp seized the opportunity to advise him.

"If we disrupt someone else's plans, we'll be the ones who suffer."

"That's true,"

Roman pointed his index finger forward, "Perhaps you haven't noticed, but we've actually already 'fought' around the island once, and once we pass the last checkpoint, we'll be back in 'Sleepy Town'."

"Then what are we waiting for—"

Boom!

"This is... no way?"

Seeing Usopp's unwillingness to face reality, Roman directly shattered his wishful thinking.

"That's right, it's the sound of artillery fire."

And it was the sound of a dense barrage of artillery fire!

"Well... how about we turn around..."

"We've come this far, there's no reason to turn back, let's go!"

Luffy took the lead.

"And according to Roman, wouldn't it be faster to go back from here?"

"Hey, hey, hey, such a barrage of cannon fire, what if it attracts the navy—"

It turns out that Usopp's mouth is definitely blessed.

"Where... could this be?!"

"Yeah, it's been two years in the blink of an eye. I really miss this scene."

Roman looked around: the burning warships, the frozen sea, the countless cannons, and the towering towers opposite.

Execution Platform!

"Marine Headquarters, Marineford."

Jinbe also subconsciously touched a spot on his shoulder, where he saw a horrific wound beneath his clothes from where Akainu had almost punched him through.

"Then... then... our opponent is..."

Usopp is really stunned!

Just imagine what would happen at Marine Headquarters—

"That guy..."

On the Execution Platform a kilometer away stood a middle-aged man dressed in a dark red suit, wearing a navy cap, with a rose on his left breast, and draped in the coat of Marine Admiral.

"Akainu —!!!"

Enemies meeting are bound to be furious! Luffy immediately charged towards that direction, causing Roman to sigh.

"Follow him, and we'll clear the way for him."

"Oh!!"

As the Straw Hat crew charged forward across the ice, a tall, golden figure blocked their path.

"Oh dear, you're all here... You're not here to surrender, are you?"

"Kizaru, get out of the way!!"

No sooner had Luffy finished speaking than he launched his attack. His fist, covered in Haki, suddenly pierced through the air, even creating a burst of flames! It shot towards Kizaru's chest!

Brush--

"Advanced Armament Haki, how terrifying~~"

In an instant, he transformed into a beam of light, a smiling... no, it was the lewd Kizaru Borsalino with his hands in his pockets, speaking the most terrifying words in the most cowardly tone to the Straw Hat crew.

"You monsters, you'll die right here!"

·······

"Leave this to me!"

"Although the other party was very difficult, we did learn something from it."

Zoro drew three swords, and Sanji stepped forward. The Straw Hat crew of today are no longer the greenhorns they were two years ago on Sabaody Archipelago, who weren't even qualified to fight back! And they have much more to offer:

"Sanji, Zoro, we'll help you!"

"Honestly, I really don't want to run into these troublesome things that could break my bones~ Hehehe~~"

"I won't be responsible if you lose!"

Brook, Carrot with her giant claws, Pedro with his rapier, and Brulee all chose to stay. They were all highly agile warriors, and at least they wouldn't be instantly killed by Kizaru.

Franky and Usopp are both ranged attackers! Even when the opponent doesn't have Haki, they can still restrain the high-speed Kizaru.

"Okay, I'll leave this place to you!"

Luffy continued charging towards Kizaru, then leaped over his head.

"Would I let you go?"

The ape continued, hands in his pockets, assuming a flying kick stance, his right leg beginning to glow with golden light. Then, towards his head—

Bang!

Bang!

A massive laser beam struck the nearby warship. The beam lasted for a mere fraction of a second, but it left an indelible mark on everyone's retinas. For a moment, everyone who witnessed the attack was blinded by a white light, unable to see anything except for that beam of light.

Boom--

Immediately afterward, the light expanded into a huge spherical ball of light! Instantly, it engulfed the warship, creating a deep crater the size of a football field on the nearby battlefield, filled with charred blackness—the last traces of the naval warship.

"We are different now than we were back then,"

Sanji, who had just kicked Kizaru's attack off course, was chewing on a cigarette.

"Didn't I just say that?!"

Sanji ~~So handsome~~~

"Oh... how scary,"

However, along with Kizaru's signature "How terrifying!" came a light that began to glow from the finger he raised.

"Cook, move aside!!"

Three fierce blades slashed down with a deafening roar! Covered in Haki and ghostly aura, the samurai swords, now pitch black, were the most ferocious fangs in the world, thirsting for the blood of their enemies!

Brush--

With a flash of light, Kizaru soared into the air. At the same time, Sanji also ascended into the air using Geppo, spinning in mid-air to gather power, before his jet-black right leg, radiating a domineering light, swept fiercely towards Kizaru's neck.

"Love Meteor Kick!"

Brush--

However, he managed to catch the kick. Even without his Haki, Kizaru is still Marine Admiral who has dominated the seas for decades. His physical strength and combat experience are absolutely top-notch.

"The Turning Point of Love—"

Brush--

Unfortunately, it was just a flash of light, Kizaru appeared behind Sanji again. His 'Glint-Glint Fruit' is truly cheating! An opponent who can teleport infinitely...

"It's about to start~~"

!?

In the next instant, a flying kick engulfed Sanji in a massive spherical explosion!

"Sanji?!"

"Mr. Sanji— "

"Tsk,"

Sanji, dressed in a jet-black trench coat, flew out of the explosion; his Armament Haki wasn't yet fully covering his body. If it weren't for his battle suit, he would have been in serious trouble.

"Oh? Germa's battle suits, how scary~~"

"Damn it!!"

The explosion behind him made Luffy, who was charging towards the Execution Platform, instinctively turn around and glance back. And at that moment:

"If we only care about others..."

?!

Brush,

Luffy suddenly leaped away Luffy looked at the familiar figure beside him.

"Aokiji..."

Click click click!!

Layers of solid ice instantly climbed up Luffy's feet, after all, this ice was originally Aokiji's creation.

"... But you might give yourself away." "I'll return that to you—"

A burst of raging flames solidified into a fist, which crashed down where Aokiji was standing.

?!

"Ace!!!"

"I will protect you,"

The man who landed on the ground raised his head, revealing a freckled face.

"Because you are my younger brother."

"How could that be... He's just a 'clone,' how could he disobey the boss's orders..."

"Because this is where humanity is great,"

Roman, clad in White Knight armor, Nami, wearing a magnificent pirate coat, pass by the little Tanuki Pajon.

"Luffy!"

"Leave this to us, you can continue on your way!"

Thanks, Roman!

As Luffy and Ace charged toward their target, Akainu, Aokiji scratched his head.

"Hey, I feel like you two are kind of familiar..."

"Now is not the time for casual conversation, 'former Marine Admiral's Aokiji."

Faced with Roman's offensive stance and Nami's activation of her abilities, Aokiji's expression turned serious.

"That's right, my motto is 'Justice in Motion'."

Ice Age!

In an instant, Roman's vision was filled with only thousands of pure white ice spears rushing towards him.

Good thing!