Not far away, the pirates stared at the scene in disbelief.
"Whoa! That monster... Why is it attacking the Marines?" a pirate asked, rubbing his eyes.
"Shouldn't it be on the World Government's side?"
His companion's expression changed. "Wait! Look—"
Before he could finish, dozens of tentacles abruptly changed direction and shot toward the pirates!
"Get out of the way—"
It was too late.
The tentacles pierced three pirates and hoisted them high into the air, leaving them hanging like specimens.
"It's attacking everyone indiscriminately!" a pirate captain finally realized. "That bastard's going to kill everyone on the island! It doesn't care which side we're on!"
The slaughter spread to every corner in an instant.
The battle lines, once clearly divided, collapsed completely.
Faced with death, Marines and pirates no longer distinguished friend from foe.
Horrified, they realized they were being hunted by the same force as their former enemies.
A Marine Vice Admiral gave the order. "Everyone, fall back! Keep your distance! Do not attack! Make sure our escape route stays clear!"
But carrying out that order proved extremely difficult.
The tentacles' range was growing, and they were moving faster and faster.
Marines fell one after another as they retreated, their bodies piling up into small hills.
The Roger Pirates were in trouble, too.
"Captain!" Gaban cut through a tentacle, but the severed part continued writhing on the ground. "This thing just won't die!"
Roger's expression darkened.
Watching his crewmates being hunted by the tentacles, he felt anger begin to burn in his eyes.
"Gaban!" he shouted. "Go help them, and take the treasure with you!"
"What about you?"
Roger drew his sword, Ace. Dark red Haki flared along its blade.
"If anything dares to touch my crew... Whatever that thing is, I won't let it get away with