The entire battlefield became more chaotic than ever because of Naruto's clones.
Two thousand chattering, lively Narutos, like a massive swarm of hornets pouring from their nest, instantly filled the icy battlefield before the execution platform.
These clones were indeed not individually powerful. Even an ordinary Marine soldier could destroy one with a full-force strike.
But there were simply too many of them, and they charged forward one after another without caring about death, quickly throwing the battlefield into disarray.
For a moment, the Marines' once-tight defensive line was scattered by the orange flood. Everywhere, white smoke burst with popping sounds amid the Marines' furious curses.
Seizing this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, Luffy charged forward with his head down under the cover of countless clones. His rubber arms kept launching him ahead, every stretch and recoil carrying him a great distance closer to the execution platform.
"Don't let him through! Concentrate your fire on Straw Hat!" a Marine commander shouted.
Several officers slashed apart the clones entangling them and moved to intercept Luffy. One Marine colonel of average build appeared especially fierce, enduring attacks from several clones head-on.
He slid sideways in front of Luffy, his saber cutting down sharply!
"Get out of my way!" Without a second thought, Luffy fired his rubber fist like a cannonball.
The colonel seemed to have anticipated it. His feet slipped over the ice, and he narrowly avoided the punch, looking somewhat disheveled.
Yet he used the momentum to lunge forward and crash into Luffy. The two rolled across the ice together.
"Move!"
Luffy was about to throw another punch when he felt the man's hand swiftly brush his waist. Something cold and hard was shoved into his hand.
"The key to Ace's Seastone shackles."
The voice was so low that only Luffy could hear it.