With only one day left until the public execution began.
In the North Blue.
A drunkard drank as he stared up at the sky. "Who knows if this world will still exist after tomorrow? Better drink as much as I can now. I might never get another chance."
In the West Blue.
Inside a tavern, a group of people drank together. Someone remarked, "Even Whitebeard must be pretty old by now, right? We haven't heard any news about Whitebeard for years."
"Will he really go to Marine Headquarters at Marineford? That's the Navy's main base. He probably wouldn't dare, would he?!"
The moment those words were spoken, someone immediately objected.
"What nonsense." A one-legged burly man said, "Just a year ago, I was fortunate enough to see Whitebeard himself. Even though I only saw him from a distance, I was so terrified that I thought I was about to die."
"That terrifying feeling is still fresh in my mind! So tell me, will Whitebeard show up? That man is a true monster."
In the South Blue.
A nun stood by the shore, praying to the heavens. "I hope the Navy can win and uphold justice in this world."
"Defeat the Whitebeard Pirates and restore peace everywhere."
In the East Blue.
In a small village, a woman washed clothes as she said, "No matter how powerful a Pirate is, they could never break into Marine Headquarters."
"That's where you're wrong." An old man smoking nearby said, "About twenty-two years ago, there was a Pirate called Golden Lion who broke into Marine Headquarters at Marineford."
"He even destroyed more than half of Marine Headquarters at Marineford."
"This time will probably be even more severe than the last, which is why the Navy is treating it so seriously."
"After all, their opponent isn't an ordinary Pirate, but Whitebeard, a great Pirate who has been active since before the Great Pirate Era."
Meanwhile, at the Sabaody Archipelago.
Inside Rip-off Bar at Grove 13, Straw Hat Luffy was so anxious that he practically bounced on the spot.
He ran up to Luo Chen and asked, "Luo Chen, when are we leaving?! I can't wait anymore."
"If we don't hurry, Ace might be in danger."
"Luffy, don't rush him. Luo Chen probably has his own considerations," Robin reminded Luffy.
Franky raised both hands high, clapping his arms together as he chimed in, "Super! Luffy, your brother will definitely be fine."
Luo Chen slowly rose to his feet and smiled. "It's about time. We can leave."
Then he looked at Rayleigh and asked, "Rayleigh, are you going with them, or...?"
"No. We'll split up. I have other arrangements, and I'll head straight to Marine Headquarters when the time comes," Rayleigh explained.
Usopp said, "Someone as strong as you, Uncle Rayleigh, won't be threatened no matter where you go."
"Yeah! Yeah!" Chopper echoed.
Shakky smoked as she said, "You little brats, are you making fun of Rayleigh for being old?!"
"Haha!" Rayleigh laughed. "These old bones of mine can still move around a little."
Luo Chen took the lead outside, and the Straw Hat Pirates immediately followed. They had waited a long time for this moment.
Sanji walked beside Zoro and asked, "You haven't said much these past few days. What, did that one-on-one fight with Luo Chen leave you depressed?"
"You damn cook, are you looking to die?" The reason Zoro had barely spoken these past few days—
Was mainly because he had been reliving the feeling of fighting Luo Chen!!
The gap between him and Luo Chen was indeed enormous! But it was not without gains. It had allowed Zoro to experience ahead of time the power swordsmanship at the level of a Great Swordsman should possess.
The group boarded the Thousand Sunny.
Empowered by Luo Chen's Float-Float Fruit ability, the Thousand Sunny slowly rose into the air and headed toward Impel Down.
At the shore of Grove 13.
Shakky looked at Rayleigh beside her and said, "Rayleigh, aren't you worried that Luffy and the others might be in danger if you don't go with them? After all, they're heading to Impel Down. It must be heavily guarded."
"Don't worry! With that kid Luo Chen there, any danger will be resolved! Besides, going to Impel Down is probably one of his objectives," Rayleigh said as he watched the Thousand Sunny drift farther and farther away.
Shakky withdrew her gaze and looked toward the increasingly distant Thousand Sunny as well. "That young man Luo Chen is truly remarkable."
"After this major incident, he'll probably be the fastest-rising newcomer. He may even become the one to lead the way into a new era."
On the Thousand Sunny.
Luffy shouted excitedly, "Ace, wait for me! I'm coming to save you right now!"
"Luffy, we're about to face real danger. What the hell are you so excited about?!" Nami looked at Luffy speechlessly.
They had not even begun yet! Did he really think they could save his brother just like that??
The place they were heading to was a dragon's pool and tiger's den. How could it possibly be simple? It was not simple at all.
Although Usopp and Chopper were afraid, no matter what decision Luffy made, they would follow him to the end.
Luo Chen stood at the bow of the Thousand Sunny, calmly gazing at the blue sky.
The system had stated that once he intervened in the Summit War, a new round of gift packs would be unlocked.
Luo Chen estimated that the rewards in those gift packs would probably be similar to the rewards he had received before.
Zoro walked over to Luo Chen and said, "Luo Chen, one day, I'll defeat you and Dracule Mihawk to become the world's greatest swordsman."
"Don't concern yourself with me. I'm not a pure swordsman," Luo Chen replied casually.
But Zoro did not see it that way. Luo Chen possessed such powerful swordsmanship. Even if he was not a pure swordsman, his swordsmanship was real, wasn't it??
That made him one of the people Zoro had to surpass as well.
Luo Chen merely smiled without saying a word. In the future, anyone who challenged him would never have a chance of victory, because Luo Chen had no limits.