Sure enough, despite the brutal beating he had endured, Luffy was slowly rising to his feet. Aokiji cast him a glance, mildly impressed by his sheer willpower. However, from a practical standpoint, Luffy's body was far beyond its limits—there was no way he could keep up with Lucci any longer. Because of this, Aokiji dismissed Jack's confidence, keeping his attention solely on ensuring Jack didn't interfere.
But what happened next was something neither Aokiji nor anyone else had anticipated.
Before their very eyes, the battered and barely standing Straw Hat Luffy did the impossible—he defeated Rob Lucci, the so-called genius of the World Government.
A wave of shock rippled through the ranks. Even the vice admirals, who had been confident in Lucci's superiority, were stunned. In their eyes, Lucci was far too formidable for a single member of the Straw Hat Pirates to defeat. Yet reality had just delivered them a harsh, undeniable truth.
"Luffy! Hurry up and use your rubber powers to fly over here—I'll carry you out of here!" Usopp shouted, his voice filled with exhilaration.
"No... no..." Luffy gasped, lying motionless as he looked up at Usopp.
"No? What do you mean, 'no'?" Usopp demanded, frustration creeping into his voice. "We've already defeated the enemy and rescued Robin—why aren't we leaving?!"
Their situation was dire. Eleven warships loomed around them, and several vice admirals were standing by. Why hesitate now?
"I... I can't move," Luffy admitted, his words coming in labored breaths.
Usopp froze. The intense battle had drained every last ounce of Luffy's strength.
"Then what do we do? We—" Before Usopp could finish, the vice admirals, having already predicted their plan, gave the order.
A deafening blast followed. The last lifeboat was obliterated.
"It's over..." The Straw Hat Pirates watched in horror as their last hope sank beneath the waves, their hearts plummeting with it.
Then, through the Den Den Mushi, voices suddenly echoed across the Judicial Island.
"Straw Hat boy, well done!"
"Idiot! Keep your voice down! They can hear you!"
"Who cares? I want them to hear!"
Franky's eyes widened. He recognized those voices instantly. Tears welled up as he realized—his brothers, whom he had thought were dead, were alive.
"Brother! Brother! Can you hear me? It's us! We're safe! The giants helped us block the bombardment. The warships are closing in again—you need to run! We have our own way out, don't worry! We'll see you later!"
Franky's younger brother spoke through the Den Den Mushi, his voice carrying a hint of amusement.
"What's going on?"
"Reporting, sir! Those must be the pirates I knocked into the whirlpool earlier. Somehow, they survived!"
The navy quickly pieced the situation together. However, a handful of stray pirates weren't their main concern. A couple of warships would be enough to deal with them. The real problem was the Straw Hat Boy.
"Look at the first pillar! It's Straw Hat Luffy—he's down! He's not moving!" A keen-eyed marine finally noticed Luffy's dire condition and reported it at once.
"Target the first pillar! Fire immediately!" The commanding officer wasted no time in giving the order.
Back on the Bridge of Hesitation, Usopp's voice rang out in desperation. "Everyone, jump into the sea! Robin, can you throw Luffy down?" Tears streamed down his face as he yelled.
Zoro's eyes widened in shock. "Are you insane?! If we jump, we're dead for sure!"
"We have a way out! Our friend is here to save us!" Usopp cried, his voice trembling. "Chopper, can you see what's below us?"
Chopper's eyes widened with realization. "Oh~~~ I see it!" he cried out, his face streaked with tears.
"Jump! We're going home!"
Robin wasted no time, using her ability to hurl Luffy into the sea.
"Merry~~~!"
As Luffy tumbled downward, he caught sight of the Going Merry docked beneath the Bridge of Hesitation. Meanwhile, the navy finally noticed a ship that had somehow appeared undetected.
"Damn it! Who's piloting that ship? How did it slip past our blockade?"
"Commander, we never saw it arrive. No idea when it showed up! Judging by the flag, it's the Straw Hat Pirates' ship. Could they have been hiding here all along?"
While the navy reeled in confusion, Jack finally let out a breath of relief. The story's momentum remained unstoppable—Luffy truly was the child of destiny. Even Rob Lucci had fallen before him.
But just as Jack relaxed, Aokiji abruptly stood up. Without a word, he leaped toward the direction of the Merry.
Meanwhile, the Straw Hat Pirates, now safely rescued by Granny Kokoro, were reunited at last.
Lying helplessly on the deck, Luffy turned to Robin. "Robin, thanks for—"
Before he could finish, Robin swiftly used her powers to cover his mouth. "I should be the one thanking you." She spoke with sincerity.
The crew shared warm smiles—except for Zoro, who remained serious. "Save the gratitude for when we're actually in the clear. Besides, we still don't know who's steering this ship."
Naturally, his words were met with unanimous disapproval. Just as they were about to scold him, their eyes widened in shock—Aokiji had just leaped onto the Merry.
Although the ship resembled a standard warship, it was actually a specialized vessel. The crew hadn't expected Admiral Aokiji to jump down from it.
"You really are a jinx." Sanji exhaled a puff of smoke, speaking lightly as he glanced at Aokiji.
Robin's face paled in shock—of all people, Aokiji was the last person she expected to appear.
"It's that ice guy!" Luffy, still sprawled on the deck, wore a grim expression as he took in the admiral's presence.
"Ice Ball!"
Without hesitation, Aokiji extended his hands, releasing two jagged icicles that shot toward the Merry like frozen spears.
Just as the attack closed in, a burst of laughter cut through the air.
"Fancy meeting a high-ranking admiral here! Admiral Aokiji, how about leaving this little pirate crew to me?"
With a single punch, Jack shattered the incoming ice pillars, sending shards scattering in all directions.
"Jack!"
Nami, Usopp, and Chopper cried out in relief, their faces lighting up.
However, Zoro and Sanji remained tense, their instincts warning them that Jack's arrival didn't necessarily mean they were safe. As for Franky and the others, curiosity flickered in their eyes—who was this navy officer, and why did the Straw Hat crew seem to recognize him?
Aokiji landed smoothly back on the deck, his expression unreadable. "Commodore Jack, are you defying the navy?" His voice was cold, laced with quiet authority.
Jack chuckled as he touched down beside him. "Defy the navy? Admiral Aokiji, you misunderstand me." He gestured toward the Straw Hat Pirates. "This insignificant crew hardly warrants the attention of an admiral. Even the vice admirals haven't stepped in. Why not leave them to me, a mere Commodore? If I lose, then you can intervene. Wouldn't that be more fitting?"
His smile was easygoing, but his words carried a subtle challenge.
"Hurry! Everyone, run! Jack is buying us some time!" Although Nami hadn't heard the conversation between Jack and Aokiji, the moment she saw them facing off, she immediately grasped Jack's plan.
"Franky, how much longer?" she asked, mentally calculating the time.
"I'm still getting ready!" Franky, stationed at the stern, looked anxious. His plan was to use the "Coup de burst" to propel the Merry into the air and escape.
"Hey~ Straw Hat Pirates? Your bounties are quite high. Why not just surrender?" Jack's voice rang out before Franky could finish his preparations.
"As expected," Sanji exhaled a puff of smoke, his tone calm. "As a marine, helping us hold off an admiral is already the most he can do. There's no way he can openly defy orders."
"In that case, let's fight! I've been wanting to take him on for a while now!" Zoro said, wrapping his bandana around his head once more.
"Why? Aren't we friends with Jack?" Chopper asked in disbelief.
"He's a marine, and we're pirates. That's all there is to it," Robin replied, standing up while keeping her gaze locked on Jack.
"Oh my~ So you're choosing to resist? Then let me show you why I'm called a genius of the Marines!" Jack smirked before executing the Iron Rock Fist. A massive dragon-shaped airwave surged toward the Merry.
"What is this?" The Straw Hat Pirates, despite their good relationship with Jack, had never seen his techniques before. Naturally, they were shocked.
Aboard the Pearl, Aokiji was also somewhat surprised. It was clear that Jack wasn't holding back or letting him win.
"I'll go first. Cook, be ready to follow up!" Zoro called out before swiftly striking at Jack's punch.
Boom!
Zoro's slash was thwarted away by Jack's punch, but it managed to weaken the force a little.
"Diable Jamble: Mutton Shot!" Sanji unleashed his newly developed technique, delivering a powerful kick.
"Three-Sword Style: 108-pound phoenix slash!"
Zoro followed up with another slash, aiding Sanji in countering the attack.
Boom! Boom!
At last, Jack's punch was neutralized. However, the weapon Zoro had grabbed temporarily—since his original sword was damaged in an earlier battle—was shattered by the force of the attack.
Sanji, meanwhile, was blasted backward by the residual energy, crashing onto the Merry's deck. Coughing up blood, he struggled but managed to stand.
"Is this the strength of a Commodore in the Navy headquarters?" Zoro muttered to himself, gripping his two swords tightly. His expression was grim as he stared at Jack standing on the Pearl.
"Oh my goodness! You're amazing! You even managed to block my strongest move. No wonder Lucci lost to you. Now, take my second attack! Ehhhhh~~~"
Jack was just about to strike again when, suddenly, the Pearl began to shift, along with the nearby warships moving toward it.
"Damn it! What's going on?" Jack turned his head and roared.
"Reporting, sir! Someone has closed the Door of Justice! The seawater is being blocked by the door, creating a whirlpool!" a soldier shouted.
'Great!' Jack secretly praised Luffy and the others in his heart, but outwardly, he bellowed, "You idiots, stay calm!"
From a distance, Aokiji glanced at Jack. Before Jack could react, Aokiji leaped into the air and unleashed Ice Age upon the whirlpool, freezing it solid.
Jack's expression stiffened. Under his breath, he muttered, "Damn it, are you trying to get us all killed?"
"I'm a marine. If you won't act, I will," Aokiji replied, meeting Jack's gaze.
"Alright, alright! I'll do it! I really underestimated you," Jack grumbled, clearly displeased.
The Straw Hat Pirates were stunned by Aokiji's sudden intervention. They had just glimpsed a chance to escape, only for it to be instantly crushed. The frustration was unbearable.
"Nami, I'm ready! We can go anytime!" Franky, standing at the stern, suddenly called out.
"Really? That's great! Do it now!" Nami shouted excitedly.
Just as Jack was about to strike, he suddenly heard Franky's voice. A small smirk played at the corner of his lips—he had just thought of a way to help Luffy escape.
"Luffy~~ I'm going to attack! This time, I won't hold back. If you die, don't blame me!" Just as Franky was about to activate the Coup de Burst, Jack suddenly shouted.
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