Time seemed to stretch and freeze at that moment.
The CP0 agents' eyes were cold and merciless beneath their masks. The Seastone short blades in their hands reflected the chaotic light of the battlefield as they stabbed toward Luffy's exposed back and flank, carrying the World Government's absolute resolve to eliminate "destabilizing factors." If the blows landed, even Luffy's nascent Gear Fifth physique would suffer grievous wounds. The effects of Seastone might even temporarily strip him of his powers, leaving him to be torn apart by Kaido's next attack.
"You bastards!!!"
Zoro, the closest to him, let out a beastlike roar. His Three-Sword Style secret art, "One Sword Style: Flying Dragon: Flame," slashed toward one CP0 agent in an attempt to intercept him. But he fell just short in both distance and speed!
Sanji, who was fighting King nearby, noticed the other CP0 agent. He abandoned King and kicked toward the second agent at the greatest speed his Ifrit Jambe allowed, but he, too, was too far away!
Lin Yan's pupils contracted. He tried to activate his abilities or rewrite the rules, but his physical and mental exhaustion left him half a beat too slow. He could only watch as those lethal glints closed in on Luffy!
Yet at that critical instant, when everyone thought Luffy was doomed-
Thump!!
A heavy, powerful heartbeat, like an ancient war drum, suddenly erupted from inside Luffy! No, not just from him. The heartbeat seemed to make space itself resonate. Faint echoes came from the Heart of the Furnace against Lin Yan's chest, from the Nika Core inside him, and even from the direction of distant Fish-Man Island (Shirahoshi's prayers?)!
The white steam around Luffy surged violently. His figure, already strange from Gear Fifth, seemed to grow even less defined, even more... free! As