On the platform at Enies Lobby, gun smoke mingled with the sea breeze, and gunfire and battle cries made even the sea tremble faintly.
Luffy punched the last row of Marines blocking his path into the air. As his rubber arm snapped back, he looked up, panting, at the figure standing still as a black panther at the far end of the platform-Rob Lucci. All of Cipher Pol No. 9 stood in a line, their cold gazes fixed on the Straw Hats. The overwhelming pressure of their Six Powers made the surrounding Marines instinctively retreat several steps, afraid to approach the center of the confrontation between these two forces.
Franky stood firmly in front of the train's prisoner carriage door. Nami gripped her Clima-Tact and guarded the carriage's flank, while Chopper huddled beneath the window of the carriage holding Robin. His round eyes were filled with vigilance, but he did not retreat a single step.
Robin leaned against the cold train, watching everyone fight bloodied battles before her, tears already slipping silently down her face. She had thought she was long accustomed to wandering and being alone, yet these people insisted on storming the World Government's Island of Eternal Night for her, staking their lives on opposing the entire world.
"Straw Hat Luffy." Lucci spoke first, his voice utterly cold. Hattori, the pigeon on his shoulder, fluttered his wings, his cooing especially grating on the murderous battlefield. "I thought you were merely an East Blue pirate who didn't know his limits. I never expected you to actually dare come here. Unfortunately, before absolute power, your courage is nothing but suicidal stupidity."
Luffy stepped forward and met Lucci's gaze without the slightest retreat, his clenched knuckles turning white. "Robin! She's our crewmate!"
"Crewmate?" Lucci scoffed, his lips curling cruelly. "The false