Usopp had wanted to slip away for ages. The moment he heard Rubick's order, he hurried into the meeting room and turned the helm.
Rubick controlled the wind to help the ship turn. It took a tremendous effort, but the Going Merry finally pulled off a drift across the sea, swinging around like a pancake being flipped.
"I'll bring them back!"
Rubick rode the wind toward them. His Observation Haki picked up Luffy and Sanji on the same ship. On the ship Luffy had left behind, hardly anyone was still standing.
With Luffy's help, Sanji could finally catch his breath. He had no Devil Fruit powers or wide-area attacks; he fought entirely with his legs. Several wounds on his body were still bleeding.
Rubick called down to them, "Hang on! I'll get Zoro first."
He quickly reached Zoro's ship. Zoro was covered in blood, both his own and his enemies'. His once-white shirt had turned completely red.
Rubick cut down two Baroque agents with Yatagarasu, then grabbed Zoro and took flight. After picking up Luffy and Sanji, the four of them returned to the Going Merry.
Luffy immediately asked, "Where are we headed?"
Rubick panted as he summoned a strong wind to fill the sails, sending the Going Merry away from the battlefield at top speed. The Baroque ships had lost their sails, and most of their crews were dead or wounded. They had no hope of keeping up by rowing.
"We're going to Drum Kingdom," he said weakly. "You're badly hurt. You'll need at least a few days to recover. And if we keep heading for Alabasta, we're bound to run into Baroque again."
Nami agreed. "Right. If we change course now, we can evade Baroque, loop around, and then head to Alabasta."
Vivi didn't object. "You're right. Alabasta