Great Chaos! Battle of Admirals

More unsettling still, Akainu's controlled faction clearly held the upper hand. Those 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.

"This is worse than we 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 team and draw their fire from the left. Momousagi, your squad will handle the right. A few selected soldiers and I will use the opportunity to enter the vault."

Just as they prepared to move, a massive explosion erupted at the vault entrance. Amid the chaos, three familiar figures suddenly appeared in the center of the battlefield—a green-haired swordsman spinning with a blade in each hand, forming a humanoid whirlwind; a blond man whose legs burned with unimaginable flames; and a long-nosed sniper standing at a distance, precisely picking off enemy after enemy.

"It's the Straw Hat crew!" 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. She was unwilling to mention the fact that pained everyone's heart.

One Piece Luffy had vanished in his final battle two years ago, and the Straw Hat Pirates had disbanded afterward. What did it mean for his companions to appear again now?

"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 realized. Rayleigh's prison break had not merely been to deliver intelligence; he had arranged this support as well.

Taking advantage of the chaos caused by the three of them, Tsuru