"Stop right there!"
"Die, pirates!"
As time passed, Luffy and the others drew closer and closer to the edge of the plaza, while more and more Marines surrounded them.
Though most of them were no match for the group, their sheer numbers meant that even standing still and letting themselves be beaten would cost the group plenty of time.
"Gomu Gomu Whip!"
Whoosh!
Luffy's leg stretched out like a whip, violently sweeping away several Marines who had leaped in front of him.
"Three-Sword Style: 108 Pound Phoenix!"
Zoro swung out a crescent-shaped azure slash. It shot forth like a raging storm, instantly clearing out the swarm of fodder soldiers rushing toward them.
Yet before they had run more than a few steps, the gap they had just torn open was filled again by Marines rushing in one after another.
Though their advance was slow, at least they had not stopped moving forward.
Still, the group was somewhat dissatisfied with their current speed.
"Get out of the way!"
Luffy jumped out from among them, puffed out his cheeks, bit down on his thumb, and blew hard. His entire arm immediately swelled up.
"Gomu Gomu Giant Pistol!"
Boom!!
The enormous fist plowed forward like a bulldozer, blasting through the ground. Countless blocking Marines, along with the paving stones beneath them, were hurled away, instantly clearing a wide open space.
Shrunken Luffy fell from the air and directly clung to Ivankov's purple afro, his voice even becoming as childish and innocent as a child's.
"Alright, let's charge!"
"Whoa, Luffy, you turned back into how you looked as a kid!" Ace said with a look of amazement.
Seeing the miniature Luffy before him, countless fragments of memory surged up in Ace's mind.
Scenes from when he, Luffy, and Sabo had lived together on Mt.