Akainu Was Exhausted (Bonus Chapter)

"There was actually someone this powerful." Sengoku wiped the cold sweat from his forehead, his expression grave as he watched Straw Hat at the center of the plaza, steam curling around him like auspicious clouds as he became the undisputed focus of the battlefield. "What exactly happened during those ten missing days?"

This was completely different from what the intelligence reports had described.

He had read the reports concerning the Sabaody Archipelago from ten days ago. If not for Kuma's unusual actions, Straw Hat Kid's group would likely have been arrested and imprisoned by the Marines.

Even with Kuma's help, Straw Hat Kid and the rest of his Pirates were, at most, a group of somewhat troublesome pirates. There was no way they could have held out against an Admiral for this long.

When Sengoku read the report, he had guessed that Kizaru, that old fox, had deliberately held back because he did not want to offend Garp.

Even Sengoku had tacitly allowed it to happen.

If both of his grandsons were captured and executed, Sengoku truly did not think Garp would remain bound by Marine justice and duty.

It was precisely because he understood his old friend that he had not pursued why Kizaru had failed to capture anyone during the incident involving the assaulted Celestial Dragon.

Now, though, they were practically dancing on Garp's bottom line.

But that was a separate matter.

Even Sengoku, the Marines' strategist, found the current situation absurdly theatrical.

"Luffy?!?"

Garp and Ace both stared in shock, their eyes bulging and mouths hanging wide open. If Luffy's earlier performance had merely been surprising, this was enough to make their jaws hit the floor.

"Hey, hey, hey, no way, rookie."

The smile Doflamingo had worn since the beginning of the Summit War, the smile of someone in control of everything, vanished. His expression turned grim.

This meant his plans might encounter unforeseen variables.

After seeing that scene, Gecko Moria, who had been harvesting shadows, was so frightened that even his scissors stopped moving.

Was he still going to seek revenge on Straw Hat?

Boa Hancock beamed, love overflowing from her eyes as she gazed tenderly toward Luffy.

"Mr. Smoker, Straw Hat can already send an Admiral flying."

Carrying the still-unconscious Smoker, Tashigi muttered to herself.

So perhaps it was not so unacceptable that Mr. Smoker had been taken down in one move.

Probably only Smoker himself would be unable to accept it...

Meanwhile, the reporters watching from outside the battlefield and the Pirates watching the broadcast were instantly stunned. Their gazes met, and they unconsciously swallowed. Was this thing really called a Supernova like them?

Su Lin shook his head. If he had switched roles with Luffy, he might have earned a fortune in points from this wave.

What a pity.

Mad Monk Urouge downed a cup of wine. "Monkey D. Luffy was still getting beaten by Kizaru without being able to fight back just ten days ago, same as us."

Jewelry Bonney wiped away her tears and emerged from the emotions stirred by seeing Kuma. She was turning those feelings into appetite and stuffing herself with meat, but when she saw this, the meat in her hand fell onto the table.

"That's absurd."

Elsewhere at sea, Kid stared blankly at the screen.

"STRAAAAAAW HAT KIIIIIID!!!!"

Akainu's roar rang throughout the entire plaza. Everyone could feel the volcanic fury in his emotions as his fist turned into burning magma and lunged at Luffy.

Clang—

Akainu was stopped by a kick from Marco.

A blue flaming claw mark was left on his burning right hand.

"Marco!"

"Nicely done! Ace's little brother." Marco smiled. "Go on. Leave this place to us."

While everyone was still stunned, Marco used the aerial advantage granted by his Devil Fruit ability to easily break into the battlefield.

Marco looked at the grim-faced Akainu.

"Looks like the situation has turned around now. Bullying rookies in such a foul mood isn't very nice."

"Wouldn't you agree, Akainu?"

His answer was Haki and scorching magma.

"Heh."

Marco snorted, calmly forming wings of blue flame and evading the attack.

Sengoku's brows furrowed tightly.

Borsalino had been sent flying and still had not returned. Luffy's punch had been powerful, but it was impossible for it to kill Borsalino.

Could that guy have clocked out early?

No. Borsalino was usually lazy, but he knew the importance of a moment like this.

Seeing that Sengoku could not reach Kizaru through the Den Den Mushi in his hand, Garp felt somewhat helpless.

He had said long ago that Sengoku should retire. Now his hair had turned white from worrying, yet he still dyed it every day. Tsk, tsk.

Then Sengoku's cold gaze made a chill run down his spine.

"Why are you looking at me like that?" Garp turned his head and pretended to pick his nose blankly.

"I haven't seen Luffy in a long time!"

Sengoku turned away and said nothing more. In truth, he knew Garp could not possibly have had the time, nor should he have helped his other grandson in this matter on principle.

Now, one Admiral could not be contacted, while two more were tied down and unable to disengage.

Hmm?

"Kuzan, what are you doing? Stop tangling with those ordinary Pirates!" Sengoku commanded from the platform.

"Understood."

Aokiji released cold air from his feet, freezing the Pirates ahead of him before charging toward Whitebeard.

"Hey! Kuzan, what are you doing?!" Sengoku immediately realized something was wrong. That was not what he meant.

"His target is Pops! Stop him!" The Whitebeard Pirates rushed forward to block his path.

"Leave it to me!" Diamond Jozu displayed speed utterly mismatched with his massive frame and smashed Aokiji to pieces with one punch.

Then, the scattered ice gathered again and reformed into Aokiji.

Elemental transformation.

"This is troublesome, Mr. Sengoku." A streak of blood ran down Aokiji's head as he spoke helplessly.

"I told you to stop Straw Hat Kid!!!" Sengoku shouted in exasperation.

What the hell were you and Kizaru doing?!!

It was not as though there were no enemies blocking Straw Hat Kid Luffy's path.

Even though Luffy had displayed ferocious strength, the Marine soldiers still gathered their courage and surged toward him.

But even the Vice Admirals who had come prepared, including the user of the Spotted Dog Fruit,

could only last a few moves against Luffy.

Something was seriously wrong with Straw Hat Kid's strength.

There was a limit to how fast a person could grow, no matter how exceptional their talent was.

This rate of transformation was practically like...

a caterpillar skipping the chrysalis stage and turning directly into a butterfly.

Whoosh. A sharp slash came from the side.

His Observation Haki had already predicted the strike.

Luffy stopped and looked to his left.

The slash skimmed past him and carved toward the massive ice wall in the distance.

Everything in its path, including the ice wall, shattered into ice fragments.

"Hawkeye." Luffy's expression grew grave. Even now, he did not dare underestimate Hawkeye.

"Remarkable, Straw Hat." Hawkeye raised his black blade and asked with some confusion, "How did you do it?"

"What do you mean, how did I do it?! Don't stop me from saving Ace!" Luffy snapped back.

"Hmph."

Hawkeye Homik swung another slash.

The instant Luffy evaded it, Hawkeye Homik accelerated forward.

In less than a few seconds, the two had already exchanged dozens of blows.

Hawkeye Homik calmly dodged Luffy's fists and even unleashed more slashes amid their clash.

"Observation Haki."

The black blade clashed with a fist that had turned the color of black iron, yet they did not directly collide. Instead, they stopped at an extremely close distance, leaving a pocket of Aether between them. The surrounding ice cracked apart, and waves burst from where they fought, blowing away many nearby Pirates and Marines.

"Haki Infusion."

"Not bad."

In that brief exchange, Hawkeye Homik had already confirmed that Straw Hat Kid Luffy's current strength was worthy of being taken seriously.

His fighting spirit began to rise.

Luffy turned around and casually pulled someone from the sandstorm sweeping down from the sky.

"Straw Hat?" Buggy had been caught in the battle between Sand Crocodile and Doflamingo and was still reeling in the storm just a moment ago.

"Gum-Gum Jet Sacrifice!"

(End of Chapter)