Babies and Fruits

"You two little ones... you didn't even cry."

Amid the battlefield, a hooded man fled for his life with two infants in his arms.

He was Monkey D. Dragon. Not long ago, he had made the most important decision of his life.

He had completely turned his back on the Marines.

He looked down at the two tiny lives in his arms, recalling the Lunarian who had punched straight through a Celestial Dragon.

In his ears echoed the desperate, pleading look of the female slave who had entrusted the children to him.

"I can't save everyone..."

Dragon gritted his teeth and weaved through the hail of bullets.

"But at the very least, I'll protect these two children. I'll let them live."

Whoosh!

A laser suddenly shot in from behind, piercing straight through his right shoulder.

"Waaah—!"

The searing pain made Dragon cry out as he fell forward onto the ground.

A tall female Celestial Dragon clad in armor approached at a slow pace.

"Hmph, a few little rats." Maffey spoke contemptuously as she bent down and snatched one of the infants from Dragon's arms.

In her enormous palm, the infant looked like a tiny chick.

She glanced at the baby's face. "Oh? Isn't this Garling's brat?"

Then she turned her gaze toward the fallen Dragon. "You actually took advantage of the chaos to steal his child? Are you out of your mind?"

As she spoke, Maffey drew her sword and aimed its tip at Dragon's chest, about to drive it down viciously!

At that critical instant.

A magnificent slash swept out sideways from the forest!

Every giant tree in its path was cleanly severed at the waist.

Maffey herself was also cut in two by that terrifying slash.

That single strike had cut out a Straw Hat Luffy.

Through the dust, a giant strode forward with a naginata over his shoulder, muttering impatiently:

"These damned trees are really in the way."

The newcomer was none other than the young Edward Newgate, the future Emperor Whitebeard.

"Hey, Edward! What the hell are you chopping at?! You nearly cut me just now!"

Another giant, equally tall but with a voluptuous figure and stunning looks—Charlotte Linlin—grabbed Whitebeard by the collar and cursed at him in a fiery tone.

"Quit talking nonsense. I was just clearing a path!" Whitebeard retorted unhappily.

"If you want to fight, just say so!"

"Then let's fight!"

Watching the two giants start arguing right in front of him, cold sweat ran down Dragon's forehead. "Just how many monsters came here today...?"

"But this is my chance..."

Enduring the agony, Dragon grabbed the child left on the ground, the one who had not been taken, and staggered into the depths of the forest.

"Damn it, Edward! You were trying to take the chance to kill me, weren't you?!"

"Linlin, don't think you'll get the fruit before me."

As Whitebeard and Big Mom argued, another whistling sound came from behind them.

Golden Lion Shiki rode atop a flying slab of earth while Kaido swung his spiked club, and the two of them caught up as well.

The Rocks Pirates' four sea overlords had converged here.

Without another word, the four charged toward the center of the island.

Whether Marines or pirates, everyone in their path was as fragile as chickens and dogs, utterly unable to withstand a blow.

Meanwhile, on the other side of the island.

"Shakky, we're here to save you!"

"Get lost! Shakky is mine! I'll be the first to rescue the beauty!"

"Bullshit! I'm the one saving Shakky! All of you, get the hell out of my way!"

All the pirates drawn in by the title of "saving the peerless beauty Shakky" were slaughtering one another in front of the fortress where she was imprisoned, turning the place into utter chaos.

It was an absurdly hilarious melee.

Amid the shadows of that chaos, a black figure silently crossed the battlefield at incredible speed.

Lin Nuo tucked Ivankov and Kuma under his arms as he skimmed low through the air.

His original plan had been to use the Lunarians' speed to find the treasure chests first and avoid Big Mom and Kaido, who would arrive later.

But just as they found the treasury, they ran headlong into a squad from God's Knights.

In the rush, they seized three treasure chests and fought their way out through another secret passage in the treasury.

"There are Marines everywhere. We're surrounded. What do we do, Lin Nuo?"

Kuma looked at the Marine soldiers closing in and asked nervously.

Lin Nuo swept his gaze over the two boxes Kuma held against his chest and called out, "Don't panic. Open one and take a look."

Kuma hurriedly opened the first box.

Inside lay a strange fruit covered in paw-shaped spiral patterns.

"The Paw-Paw Fruit!" Joy flashed in Lin Nuo's eyes. "Quick, Kuma! Eat it!"

"Once you eat it, you can save everyone!"

Kuma quickly picked up the fruit and took a huge bite without hesitation.

An indescribable taste flooded his mouth, but in the next instant, his pupils abruptly widened.

The concepts, principles, and basic methods for repelling everything poured into his mind.

Feeling the miraculous power within his body, he said, "I... I'll use my ability to send you away first..."

"Wait." Lin Nuo interrupted him and pointed at the other box. "Open that one too."

Kuma nodded and immediately reached for the second box.

"You lowly creatures! You dare lay hands on the treasures of the gods?!"

An angry roar rang out.

Several lasers followed close behind, striking Lin Nuo squarely in the back!

"Ugh..." The immense impact sent Lin Nuo flying.

Fortunately, he reignited his flames and withstood the damage. Otherwise, that hit would have been disastrous.

Ivankov clutched the third box tightly to his chest and rolled across the ground with him.

Lin Nuo and Kuma twisted their bodies in midair and landed awkwardly.

The box Kuma had opened had been completely thrown open during the tumble.

A strange fruit, entirely azure and crowned with blue-and-yellow flames, rolled out from within.

The Phoenix Fruit!

"Kuma, throw that fruit to me!" Lin Nuo recognized it at once and shouted urgently.

"Got it!" Kuma reacted quickly, scooping up the Phoenix Fruit from the ground and hurling it at Lin Nuo with all his strength.

"Don't you dare!"

Several members of God's Knights roared as they lunged forward.

They reached out, trying to intercept the precious fruit as it arced through the air.

But they were still one step too late.

The moment the fruit rolled out, the flames on Lin Nuo's back had already gone out.

When Lunarians extinguished their flames, they sacrificed a measure of defense in exchange for unparalleled speed!

His body left a faint afterimage where he stood.

Just as the knights reacted and tried to seize the fruit.

Lin Nuo had already opened his mouth and swallowed the flying fruit in one bite.

"Nom!"

He landed lightly, puffed out his cheeks, deliberately chewed a few times at the God's Knights members who had missed their chance, then gulped it down.

Then Lin Nuo licked his lips and said with a smile, "You have good taste."

"This fruit..."

"Is really smooth~"

At the sight, several members of God's Knights trembled with rage.

This natural enemy of the gods, who should have been exterminated long ago, had not only reappeared in the world, but had also eaten a Mythical Zoan Fruit belonging to the Celestial Dragons like it was a snack right in front of them!

"Damn Lunarian remnant!!"

"How dare you—!!"

More furious shouts came from all around.

The moment Garling heard that a Lunarian had appeared on the battlefield, he immediately led a large force of elites over.

He happened to witness the final moment of Lin Nuo swallowing the fruit.

In an instant, all the members of God's Knights, along with the accompanying Marines, closed in from every direction.

They trapped Lin Nuo, Kuma, and Ivankov firmly in the center.

Blades were drawn, guns and cannons were loaded, and the thick killing intent seemed almost tangible.

Garling stepped through the crowd, his handsome yet cold face now covered in frost.

"I thought the filth had long since been thoroughly cleansed away, yet it dares to defile the land of the gods once more..."

He slowly raised the famed sword in his hand, pointing its tip directly at Lin Nuo.

"Lunarians!"

"Today, you will be completely exterminated!!"