Even more unsettling was that Akainu's controlled faction clearly held the upper hand. The Marine soldiers' eyes glimmered with unnatural purple light, and they moved faster and struck harder than ordinary people. Even after suffering fatal wounds, they showed no sign of retreating.
"The situation is worse than expected," Chaton said quietly. "I'm afraid we can't break through head-on."
Tsuru calmly assessed the situation. "We need to divide their attention. Chaton, take a squad and draw their fire from the left. Momousagi, your team will handle the right. A few selected soldiers and I will use the opportunity to break into the treasury."
Just as they prepared to move, a massive explosion erupted at the treasury entrance. Amid the chaos, three familiar figures suddenly appeared in the center of the battlefield—a green-haired swordsman wielding a blade in each hand, spinning into a human-shaped whirlwind; a blond man whose legs burned with unbelievable flames; and a long-nosed sniper standing in the distance, precisely taking down enemies one by one.
"It's the Straw Hats!" Momousagi said in surprise. "Zoro, Sanji, and Usopp!"
"No," Tsuru corrected, a trace of understanding in her eyes. "They are no longer members of the Straw Hat Pirates. Ever since Luffy..." Her voice abruptly stopped, unwilling to mention the truth that pained everyone.
King of the Pirates Luffy had vanished in his final battle two years ago, and the Straw Hat Pirates had disbanded afterward. Now that his companions had appeared again, what did that mean?
"Vice Admiral Tsuru!" Sanji shouted amid the fighting. "Rayleigh sent us to help! Go get the key—we'll cover you!"
So that was it. Tsuru suddenly understood. Rayleigh's prison break had not merely been to pass along intelligence; he had also arranged this support.
Using the chaos caused by the three of them,