_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Smoker burst into a cloud of white smoke. "Damn pirates. I'm not letting you run wild any longer!"
A blast of terrifying fire roared in out of nowhere. "Heatwave!"
Smoker was blown back instantly.
A cool, confident figure stepped forward. Sabo. "I'm all for beating you up a little, officer."
"But do you think you can win one-on-one?"
Smoker drew the weapon on his back. "I remember you. Straw Hat's… friend."
Sabo grinned. "So you know Luffy?"
"Then do me a favor and go easy."
"He's my little brother."
"Don't get in my way!" Smoker shouted.
The swirling white smoke shifted into a massive fist that slammed toward Sabo.
Flames burst across Sabo's body. "Fire Fist!"
Fire and smoke crashed together in midair.
Meanwhile, the Pirate Empress searched every corner of the island for Luffy. "I'm so worried about him. Anything at all, any clue!"
She spotted a scrap of Luffy's clothing and yanked it up in relief.
What she actually yanked out was Buggy. She kicked him sky-high. "Who are you supposed to be!"
Chopper was carrying Luffy toward their ship when Luffy suddenly jolted awake. "Chopper!"
Chopper panicked. "Luffy, you and Usopp were lying half-dead on the ground. What happened? I heard the Navy wants to wipe this whole island out! And that Douglas Bullet keeps growing stronger and doing whatever he wants! We haven't reached any of the others yet!"
Luffy smiled weakly. "Thanks, Chopper. I'm fine now."
"You guys go back to the Sunny first. Don't worry about me."
A frail voice called out. "Luffy…"
"Usopp," Luffy said softly. "You saved me. Thank you."
Usopp burst into tears. "I'm sorry! When it really mattered, I was totally useless! I'm not strong enough! Damn it… everyone, I'm sorry!"
He couldn't stop crying.
Luffy's expression turned firm. "Chopper, take care of Usopp. And you listen, Usopp. That guy hasn't beaten you yet."
Luffy powered straight into Gear Four. "Douglas!"
He blasted off toward Douglas like a jet.
…
High above, Sabo and Smoker's fire and smoke collided again and again.
"With our abilities, this could go on forever," Sabo said.
Smoker yelled, "I don't have time to deal with you!"
The Pirate Empress suddenly rushed in. "Do any of you know where Luffy is?"
Smoker looked exasperated. "You're a Warlord of the Sea, yet you…"
Another presence snapped the air. A domain opened and Law appeared.
Smoker's face twisted. "Seriously? What is with you Warlords? All of you showing up at once? What are you planning?"
"Relax," Law said calmly. "I just need to teach him a lesson. I can't swallow this insult otherwise."
Sabo added, "I'm here for the one pulling the strings behind this whole festival."
The Empress stepped closer, her voice rising with impatience. "I asked where Luffy is."
Smoker's fists wrapped in haki. "Stop getting in my way!"
Law cut in sharply. "If you don't want to die, then listen. I can separate him from that giant body. There's only one chance. If he makes a move, he could tear this entire island apart. If we fail, he dies."
Just then, Luffy's roar ripped through the sky. Everyone looked up.
The Empress flushed instantly. "Luffy!"
Luffy yelled again, full of fury. "Douglas!"
The enormous figure turned. "So you're still alive, Straw Hat. Good. That's better!"
Luffy didn't waste a second on words. "Gum-Gum… King Kong Gun!"
The moment Luffy's fist slammed into Douglas's massive hand, he was sent flying!
Boom!
He crashed straight into the ground near the Pirate Empress and her crew.
"Hey! What the hell are you doing?!" Smoker shouted.
The Pirate Empress's eyes sparkled with excitement. "Luffy… I missed you so much!"
Luffy struggled to his feet, gritting his teeth. "That guy's insanely strong!"
"Are you hurt?" she asked gently.
It was only then that Luffy noticed her—beautiful and familiar. "Hancock… long time no see. You doing okay?"
The Empress's face flushed crimson with happiness. "You're worried about me… even before yourself?!"
"I can die happy now," she whispered, nearly in tears.
Luffy glanced around at his friends. "Trafalgar, glad you're alright!"
"Don't worry about me, Straw Hat!" Law replied calmly. "I've got a way to flush that guy out."
Luffy's eyes lit up. "Really? Then let's go!"
"Sabo!"
"Smoker!"
"Alright, let's do this!"
Law approached, his expression serious. "Straw Hat, this could get deadly. We might not all make it out."
Luffy grinned. "Don't worry. We're all in this together, right?"
"Then it's fine!"
"Leave the details to Trafalgar."
"All I want right now… is to take down Douglas!"
Online chatter
Sanji, One Piece world: "The Empress is so beautiful… my heart is stolen!"
Ace, One Piece world: "Luffy and Sabo are there? Damn it… it's just me…"
Kagome, Inuyasha world: "That Pirate Empress, Boa Hancock… she's adorable!"
Itachi, Naruto world: "Sabo really loves his little brother…"
Oolong, Dragon Ball world: "The Empress has it all… not bad!"
On screen, Sabo watched Luffy with a look of pure affection.
Hancock, cheeks flaming, declared, "To the ends of the earth… I'll go with you!"
Law muttered, "Looks like there's no time to hesitate."
Luffy cracked his knuckles. "Let's go!!!"
He launched into the air, instantly activating Gear Fourth.
"Wait, Straw Hat!" Law shouted.
"That idiot!" Smoker muttered. "Doesn't listen to a word anyone says!"
"Now what do we do?" Smoker asked, exasperated.
Law explained calmly, "The hardest part is Douglas's Haki. But I can create a brief opening in it. Strike at that moment, weaken his body. The less matter he controls, the weaker his attacks. Before he reabsorbs the matter, we all hit together. That opening will only come once!"
Luffy barreled toward Douglas, shouting, "Gum-Gum—"
Douglas laughed maniacally. "Still bluffing, kid! Pathetic!"
With a single blow, Luffy—who hadn't even unleashed a full attack yet—was flung aside!
Thanks to his rubber body, he bounced across the ground a few times before coming to a stop.
"Damn… he really is strong. There's no way I can win like this."
"Then there's only one way!"
Douglas roared, "You're just a bunch of weaklings! But… perfect. Whether Navy or pirates, anyone who dares oppose me… must die! This is the proof of the world's strongest—something even Roger never achieved!"
He slammed a fist toward them.
"Scatter!" Law yelled. "Stay close to the Straw Hat!"
"My power's your signal!"
Smoker dissolved into smoke and rushed forward.
Sabo ignited into roaring flames. "Got it. It's on you, Luffy's friends!"
Law scowled. "I'm not his friend. Can this really work?"
At that moment, Crocodile stepped out from the shadows. "Useless brats, wasting time as usual."
Law muttered, "Stick to the plan. I'll lure him into changing form. Then…"
Hancock's speed was blinding, her fury unstoppable. "This is the second time! How dare you hurt the person I love!"
"..."
____________________________________________________________________________________________________