The mist over the sea parted violently.
A shrill metallic scream tore through the air as steel wheels scraped against rails, sparks showering into the endless waterfall below.
A train.
Not slowing.
Not stopping.
Charging straight toward Enies Lobby.
Marine watchtowers exploded into motion.
"W–WHAT THE HELL IS THAT?!"
"A TRAIN—ON THE JUDICIAL LINE?!"
"THAT'S IMPOSSIBLE!"
Spotlights snapped on one by one, sweeping across the fog until the monstrous silhouette came into full view—its engine roaring, steam billowing like the breath of some ancient beast.
A marine captain leaned over the railing, eyes bulging.
"THAT'S THE SEA TRAIN—BUT IT SHOULDN'T BE RUNNING!"
"WHO AUTHORIZED THIS?!"
Another marine screamed into a den-den mushi.
"ENIES LOBBY TO ALL UNITS—UNKNOWN TRAIN APPROACHING AT FULL SPEED!"
Alarms detonated across the island.
Deep, violent sirens echoed endlessly, bouncing off stone and steel.
"No one comes here without permission!"
"RAISE THE GATES!"
"OPEN FIRE—NOW!"
Cannons swung into position.
Rifles were raised.
But the train didn't slow.
Didn't hesitate.
The outer checkpoint gate loomed ahead.
Then—
BOOM.
Steel shattered.
The gate exploded outward in a storm of sparks, smoke, and twisted metal as the train smashed through, screeching violently before slamming to a halt inside the forbidden island.
Marines stumbled backward in shock.
Some dropped their weapons.
Others simply stared.
"…It broke through."
"…It actually broke through Enies Lobby…"
A heavy silence fell.
For the first time since the World Government was founded—
Enies Lobby had been invaded.
—————————
Inside the Tower of Justice
Spandam was in the middle of yelling.
"I DON'T CARE IF THE REPORT IS LATE—FIX IT—"
The door burst open.
A marine stumbled in, pale, shaking, barely able to stand. "C–Chief Spandam!"
Spandam snarled. "What is it NOW?!"
The marine swallowed hard. "T–The sea train…"
Spandam rolled his eyes. "The sea train is not my problem—"
"…It breached Enies Lobby."
Silence.
Spandam blinked. "…What did you just say?"
The marine's voice cracked. "T–The sea train… it smashed through the outer checkpoint. Pirates have arrived."
Spandam's face slowly drained of color.
"…Pirates?" he croaked. "H–Here?"
His lips trembled.
Then his voice jumped into a shrill scream.
"WHO WOULD BE STUPID ENOUGH TO ATTACK ENIES LOBBY?!"
Another marine stepped forward, visibly sweating. "S–Sir… the identification marks confirm it."
Spandam leaned forward. "…Confirm what?"
"…It's the Straw Hat Pirates."
The room exploded.
"WHAT?!"
Spandam shrieked, stumbling backward as he knocked over a chair and sent documents flying. "THOSE—THOSE INSIGNIFICANT LITTLE—!"
His hands shook as panic flashed across his face, quickly twisting into wild rage. "Those BRAINLESS MONKEYS THINK THEY CAN WALK INTO THE WORLD GOVERNMENT?!"
He spun sharply.
Robin stood a few steps away, restrained, calm—but not untouched.
The moment she heard the name, something cracked inside her chest.
"…They came," she whispered.
Her fingers curled slightly.
They shouldn't have.
I told them not to.
Spandam noticed her reaction and burst into laughter—high-pitched, ugly, almost hysterical. "HAHAHAHA! Look at that, Nico Robin!"
He strode toward her, leaning down until his face was inches from hers. "Your precious pirate friends followed you all the way here!"
Robin's breath hitched despite herself.
"They'll die," Spandam continued gleefully.
"All of them. Right here."
His grin widened. "And you'll watch every second of it."
Robin's heart pounded.
They came… for me?
Her thoughts spiraled.
No.
They don't understand.
This place… this enemy…
Spandam straightened and snapped his fingers. "CP9!"
The room darkened as figures shifted in the shadows.
"Intercept them immediately," Spandam ordered. "Do not let them reach the Tower under any circumstances."
He glanced back at Robin, eyes glittering with malice. "Let's see how long their courage lasts."
Robin lowered her gaze.
I wanted to protect them…
Her jaw tightened.
"…I'm sorry," she whispered—to people who couldn't hear her.
Outside, alarms continued to howl.
And the gears of justice—once thought immovable—began to grind against something far more dangerous than rebellion.
Hope.
————————-
The Straw Hats burst out of the sea train in a violent hiss of steam and screeching metal.
For a brief moment—
No one moved.
Rows upon rows of Marines stood frozen on the massive bridges of Enies Lobby, rifles half-raised, eyes wide as they stared at the impossible sight before them.
A pirate crew.
Standing inside Enies Lobby.
A marine officer fumbled for his den-den mushi. "R–Report confirmed—multiple intruders!"
Another marine squinted, panic creeping into his voice.
"W–Wait… that straw hat…"
His blood ran cold.
"T–That's Straw Hat Luffy!!"
The name rippled through the ranks like a shockwave.
"Straw Hat Luffy…?"
"The rookie with the 100 million berry bounty?!"
Someone else shouted, pointing with a trembling finger.
"T–That green-haired swordsman—!"
"That's Roronoa Zoro!"
"Sixty million berries!!"
More voices erupted.
"The woman with the staff—that's Cat Burglar Nami!"
"And the cook—Black Leg Sanji!"
"The Straw Hats!—ALL OF THEM?!"
Panic spread fast.
"What the hell are they doing here?!"
"Are they insane?!"
"Even if some of them don't have bounties yet, don't underestimate them!"
Luffy cracked his knuckles, eyes locked forward.
"We don't stop," he said simply.
Zoro grinned, resting his swords on his shoulders. "Heh. Looks like we made an impression."
Sanji exhaled smoke. "Guess we're famous."
Nami swallowed, forcing her nerves down.
"Stay focused. Robin's somewhere ahead."
Chopper shook, then clenched his hooves.
"W–We can do this!"
Usopp raised his slingshot. "…Right?"
A marine captain screamed.
"OPEN FIRE!!"
Gunfire erupted all at once.
The bridge vanished beneath smoke and flying lead.
"DON'T LET THEM ADVANCE!"
"HOLD THE LINE!"
Marines braced themselves, shouting over one another—fear barely masked by numbers.
Too late.
Zoro stepped forward, blades already spinning into position.
"Three Sword Style—"
Steel screamed.
"Sanzen Sekai!"
A massive vortex of slashing wind tore through the front ranks. Marines were lifted clean off their feet, armor and weapons flying as bodies scattered across the bridge like paper.
Sanji vanished in a blur.
"Too slow."
His leg ignited midair.
"Flambage Shot!"
A flaming kick slammed into a cannon crew, the force detonating the weapon and sending shrapnel screaming through the air.
Nami planted her Clima-Tact firmly.
"Try keeping up."
Clouds twisted violently overhead.
"Thunder Lance Tempo!"
A bolt of lightning ripped straight down the bridge, blasting marines into the water with screams that vanished into the waterfall below.
Usopp fired rapidly, sweat flying as he shouted.
"Firebird Star!"
"Smoke Star!"
"Exploding Star—TAKE THIS!"
Explosions tore through formations, sending marines scrambling in panic.
Chopper clenched his teeth and charged.
"I won't let you hurt my friends!!"
He slammed through a group of soldiers, raw strength scattering them like bowling pins.
And then—
Luffy stretched his arms back, eyes blazing.
"Gomu Gomu no—GATLING!"
A storm of fists rained down.
Bodies fell.
Weapons clattered.
The bridge shook.
The Straw Hats advanced—unstoppable.
Until—
The ground trembled.
A deep, thunderous BOOM echoed across Enies Lobby.
The marines suddenly straightened, faces lighting up with relief.
"THEY'RE HERE!"
"HAHA! YOU PIRATES ARE FINISHED NOW!"
Massive shadows fell over the bridge.
Two colossal figures stepped forward, towering above everyone—armor gleaming, weapons raised.
"GIANTS!!"
"We've got giants on our side!"
Oimo and Kashii lifted their weapons high.
"No one passes this bridge," Oimo boomed.
"You pirates are dead now!"
The marines erupted into cheers.
"CRUSH THEM!"
"SHOW THEM JUSTICE!"
The giants swung.
The bridge exploded with force.
"LOOK OUT!" Nami shouted.
The Straw Hats scattered just in time, diving aside as the massive weapons slammed into the stone, cracking it apart.
Dust filled the air.
Usopp stared up at them, heart pounding.
Giants.
Real giants.
His legs shook—but something clicked in his mind.
"WAIT!!" he screamed, stepping forward.
The giants paused mid-motion.
"…Huh?" Kashii rumbled. "You there—small human."
Usopp swallowed hard, voice cracking—but he pushed through.
"Do you know Dorry and Broggy?!"
The giants froze.
The cheering marines fell silent.
"…Dorry…?" Oimo muttered. "…Broggy…?"
Kashii's grip loosened.
"They were our captains," Kashii said slowly.
"They disappeared long ago."
"The world government told us that they… died."
Usopp's eyes widened.
"Died?! What are you talking about?!"
"We met them on Little Garden!"
The giants' eyes snapped wide.
"…What?"
"They're alive!" Usopp shouted.
"They're still fighting!"
"And Loki was there too—trying to recruit them!"
The bridge went deathly quiet.
"…Alive?" Oimo whispered. "…and Prince Loki… of Elbaf?"
"Yes!" Usopp yelled. "The one with purple hair!"
The giants' weapons trembled."Then…The World Government lied to us…"
Kashii's voice shook. "They told us our captains were dead…That we owed them our service…"
Oimo clenched his fists. "For decades…we guarded this place for nothing."
The marines began backing away, panic returning.
"T–That's impossible…"
"Giants—wait!"
Oimo turned his massive body aside.
"…Pirates," he said slowly.
Usopp braced himself.
Then—
"…Go."
Kashii stepped back as well.
"Save your friend."
The bridge cleared.
Usopp collapsed to his knees, laughing breathlessly.
"…IT WORKED."
Luffy grinned. "NICE ONE, USOPP!"
Sanji smirked. "Told you telling the truth could save lives."
Zoro nodded once. "Let's move."
The Straw Hats charged forward—Enies Lobby shaking behind them.
And the path to Robin lay wide open.
————————
While the others surged forward—
Luffy ran.
Not looking back.
Not slowing down.
Boots thundered against stone as he tore up staircases, leapt broken railings, and sprinted past marines too stunned to react. Explosions echoed behind him, but he didn't turn.
Robin is up there.
The noise faded.
The air changed.
Luffy burst onto a wide, open rooftop—quiet, windswept, overlooking the endless waterfall surrounding Enies Lobby.
Someone was already waiting.
Blueno stood near the center, posture relaxed, adjusting his tie as if this were a casual meeting.
"…Straw Hat Luffy."
Luffy slowed to a stop, chest rising and falling.
"…Hey," he said, squinting. "You're that bar guy."
Blueno glanced up, unbothered.
"Yes. Blueno."
"A bar is the easiest place to gather information."
Luffy's jaw tightened. "…So you were CP9."
Blueno nodded once. "And you shouldn't have come here."
The air shifted.
Blueno vanished.
Luffy's eyes widened. "Where—?!"
BAM!
A crushing blow slammed into Luffy's ribs, sending him skidding across the stone rooftop. He rolled, coughing, barely stopping himself before the edge.
Blueno reappeared behind him.
"You can't beat us," Blueno said evenly. "You're not strong enough."
Luffy groaned, pushing himself up on one knee.
"…Yeah," he muttered.
Blueno tilted his head.
"I thought that too."
Luffy stood.
Slowly.
Steam began curling off his skin.
"But I was wrong," Luffy continued, fists shaking—not with fear, but restraint.
"I almost lost my crew."
"I almost lost Robin."
His heartbeat thundered in his ears—loud, violent, accelerating.
"So I thought of a new way to fight."
Blueno frowned.
"…Your body—"
Steam burst outward violently.
Blueno's eyes widened in genuine shock.
"…What is this?"
Luffy dropped into a low stance.
Muscles taut.
Blood roaring.
"GEAR SECOND."
CRACK.
The ground shattered beneath his feet.
Luffy vanished.
Blueno barely registered the movement before—
"TOO SLOW!"
A fist smashed into his face, snapping his head back violently.
Blueno staggered.
"W–What—?!"
Luffy was already gone.
Another blow.
Then another.
Each strike landed faster than the last—blurring into a relentless barrage.
"Impossible…!" Blueno gasped, arms barely rising in time.
Luffy appeared directly in front of him.
Eyes burning.
Steam roaring.
"Gomu Gomu no—"
His arm compressed, coiling with explosive force.
"JET PISTOL!"
The impact detonated.
Blueno was launched across the rooftop, smashing through stone walls, skidding violently before collapsing—motionless.
Silence.
Steam hissed from Luffy's body as he stood there, breathing heavily.
"…I won't lose anyone anymore," he said quietly.
⸻——————
Footsteps thundered up the stairs.
"LUFFY!"
The Straw Hats burst onto the rooftop moments later.
They froze.
Blueno lay unconscious in a crater.
Steam curled around Luffy like smoke from a battlefield.
"…Whoa," Usopp whispered, eyes wide.
"…Did you do that?"
Sanji whistled low. "Heh. Show-off."
Zoro cracked a grin. "Good."
Nami stared at Luffy, concern and awe mixed. "…Your body okay?"
Luffy rolled his shoulders. "I'm fine."
He turned toward the massive Tower of Justice looming above them.
"Robin's up there."
His voice was steady.
His eyes burned with resolve. "We're getting her back."
Sanji flicked his cigarette away. "Obviously."
Zoro rested his swords on his shoulders. "Let's finish this."
Usopp swallowed, then nodded. "…Yeah."
Together—
They stepped forward.
Toward the Tower.
Toward CP9.
Toward war.
And Enies Lobby trembled.