The Straw Hat crew, having planned for this situation in advance, did not panic. As the Going Merry fell from the sky, Nami used her Clima-Tact to create a downward cloud path. The ship slid down the path, and though it reached the ground, the impact was still hard enough to make a loud groan, causing the crew to wince in distress.
Ignoring the pain, Luffy immediately leaped off the deck and charged toward the execution platform. A wall of Marines stood in his way, but Luffy showed no hesitation, his eyes widening as a wave of Conqueror's Haki exploded from him.
"Alright, time for a greeting!"
Marines below the rank of Captain dropped to the ground like sacks of potatoes. The more experienced officers clutched their heads in momentary agony, temporarily losing their will to fight. Many onlookers, having no idea what just happened, stared in terror. Those who recognized the ability quickly realized the true threat the Straw Hat Pirates posed.
Luffy kept pushing forward, his momentum unbroken.
"That's Conqueror's Haki, damn it!" Fleet Admiral Sengoku yelled, immediately recognizing the power. "Everyone in the square, stop the Straw Hats! Don't let them get close to the execution platform! The Straw Hat Pirates are a force on par with the Five Emperors; don't underestimate them! Vice Admirals and Admirals, get in there!"
A thick wall of Marines instantly formed in front of Luffy.
"Hey, hey, don't block our captain's way! Outta the way!"
Mr. 3 suddenly appeared beside Luffy, spewing wax from his hands to create four massive wax statues of Kaido. As he worked, Mari rode in on her bull, Li Kei, and quickly painted the wax figures, giving them a colorful, lifelike appearance.
Many Marines instantly recognized Kaido, and the sight of four of them froze them in terror.
"Here we go! Thunder Bagua!" Mr. 3 bellowed, mimicking Kaido's voice.
The four wax figures swung their clubs forward, smashing through the Marine ranks. Many soldiers were sent flying, vomiting blood. War was a brutal thing, and the unprepared were always the first to fall. In this kind of chaos, there was no room for mercy.
"Luffy, keep going! We'll handle anyone who gets in your way!"
Jango appeared on Luffy's other side, tossing his circular saws. The saws spun through the crowd, and any Marine they touched immediately turned on their allies, sowing chaos and confusion within the ranks.
"Thanks, you guys! Mr. 3, Mari, Jango!" Luffy laughed, a grin spreading across his face, proud of his crew's strength.
The roaring sound of motorcycles drew his attention to the rear. Nami and Franky were riding into the fray on their scooters, which had been souped up with special shells by Franky to increase their speed and power.
Robin and Zoro rode with Franky, while Sanji rode with Nami. Luffy, realizing he had a faster way to travel, quickly jumped onto the back of Sanji's scooter. He had been so focused on getting to Ace that he'd forgotten they had a more efficient way to save their energy.
The Wyper scooters sped through the crowd, weaving left and right, their speed making them nearly unstoppable. Luffy saw that Mr. 3 and Jango were managing to keep up, their feet gliding on roller skates made from Ice-Skating Beasts from Skypiea. He was impressed by their quick thinking.
Mari and Li Kei were also keeping pace. Mari kept throwing cans of paint, hitting Marines who had betrayed their side, causing them to completely lose their minds and attack anyone nearby. She also painted bright red targets on the ground, which some Marines foolishly attacked, leaving them vulnerable.
"It's the Psycho Painter, Mari! Watch out, she's an oddball!" a Marine Captain yelled.
Some commanders and captains tried to rush them, but Li Kei swept them aside with a single claw, immediately taking them out of the fight. The sight of the bull and the girl working together was a truly bizarre one.
"Haha! Great job, Mari!" Luffy laughed. "Just keep pushing forward to Ace! We'll save him!"
The Straw Hat crew's relentless advance was almost too much for the Marines to bear, causing the high command to grit their teeth in frustration.
They had arranged their forces to focus on the Whitebeard Pirates, leaving many of their strongest fighters, like Vice Admiral Onigumo, at the front line.
The Vice Admirals were all currently engaged in battles on the ice, and the Admirals were tied up with their own opponents. Even Vice Admirals Momousagi and Chadolpin were occupied with Carl alone, leaving no one free to stop the Straw Hats' charge.
"What's the matter with the army?" Sengoku bellowed. "Why aren't they moving?"
Vice Admiral Tsuru's expression was grim. "They said that Marine soldiers weren't doing enough, so they're waiting for a more critical moment to make their move. They told us not to worry about it."
Sengoku gritted his teeth, cursing under his breath. The army didn't understand the severity of the situation. It was already a struggle to face two of the Five Emperors, but the Straw Hat Pirates, a new and powerful force, were proving to be an even more difficult obstacle. Yet, those soldiers were still watching from the sidelines.
"If this war fails, the majority of the blame will fall on them!" Sengoku fumed. "Those damn guys, putting on airs and refusing to obey orders at the most crucial time! The World Government has spoiled them rotten!"
Sengoku was angry but knew there was nothing he could do. The army was full of arrogant men who had only agreed to help but refused to take orders from the Marines. If they lost this war, the army wouldn't get off lightly.
The Whitebeard Pirates, for their part, were in awe of the Straw Hats' actions. They had expected the crew to be stranded after the Going Merry fell, but instead, they saw them switch to two powerful vehicles and continue their mad charge. The crew's strength was a true spectacle to behold.
"Gurararara! That Wax-Wax Fruit user is a riot! He made four Kaido's just to scare the Marines half to death!" Whitebeard laughed.
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