Just like in the original timeline, there was no Sea-Prism Stone key on the execution platform.
Even though this time there was no wax key made by Mr. 3, with Usopp—the team's resident hands-on expert—those cuffs were pried open in no time at all.
"Ace! Let's go!"
Seeing Luffy's bright, carefree grin, Ace felt utterly unreal.
He had actually been rescued… right here in Marineford.
The group leapt down from the execution platform and charged toward the outside of Marineford.
"Gurarararara! Sengoku, looks like my sons still came out on top!"
Whitebeard laughed triumphantly and roared,
"All of you, move in and cover Ace!"
"Yeah!"
The Whitebeard Pirates' morale exploded as they surged toward Ace and the others.
At this moment, Sengoku really wanted to curse out loud.
What do you mean your sons came out on top?
If Bullet and the others hadn't jumped in and stirred everything up, do you really think Luffy that reckless idiot could've even gotten close to the execution platform?
Give me a break.
All the top-tier fighters were tied down, and Garp was busy playing dead.
What was Sengoku supposed to do?
"Whitebeard, don't think you've won yet! The Navy's foundation isn't something you can possibly understand!"
Sengoku's face was dark.
He still had one final trump card.
Even if he couldn't command the whole battlefield anymore, Crane would definitely know what to do.
In the distance, Tsuru looked at the battlefield spiraling toward chaos and sighed as she took out a Den Den Mushi.
"From here on… it's up to you."
As Tsuru's order went out, two figures stepped forward from within Marineford.
Luffy and Ace were still talking about throwing a huge banquet once they escaped.
Suddenly, an intense sense of danger washed over them both.
"Get out of the way!"
Without even thinking, the two of them dodged to the side while shouting a warning to the others.
Whoosh!
A bullet skimmed past Ace's skin and embedded itself into the ground.
A flying slash carved a deep gash into the spot where Luffy had just been standing.
Immediately after, two figures appeared in front of them, cutting off their escape route.
Everyone looked ahead with grim expressions.
A man and a woman stood there, both wearing Marine coats.
The woman was tall and strikingly beautiful, a small beauty mark beneath her lips adding to her charm.
The man looked slightly sleazy, grinning with a cigarette in his mouth, a pistol in one hand while the other rested casually in his pocket.
"More Marines?" Ace's expression darkened.
The woman smiled faintly.
"To force even the reserve unit like us out… you're doing pretty well."
Some Marines nearby recognized the pair and burst into cheers.
"It's Vice Admiral Momousagi and Vice Admiral Chaton!"
"That's great! With them here, these pirates won't get away!"
Admiral candidates.
Momousagi—Gion.
Chaton—Gion's fellow candidate, Gion's rival… Gion? No.
Chaton—Tokikake.
No one expected Sengoku to still have such powerful forces held in reserve.
"Fufufufu… so this is the Navy's foundation. How terrifying,"
Doflamingo sneered as he observed from the shadows.
Old, middle-aged, and young… every generation had figures capable of holding the line.
That kind of talent pool and cultivation was something pirates could never compare to.
"I don't care who you are! Get out of the way!"
Luffy didn't give a damn about Admiral candidates.
Anyone blocking the road just had to be knocked down!
"Gum-Gum Bazooka!"
Luffy stretched his arms far back, then used the recoil to unleash a powerful double-fisted blow!
"Wait, Luffy!"
Ace cried out in alarm.
He could vaguely sense how terrifying these two were. This wasn't something Luffy could handle.
Gion calmly stepped to the side. Luffy's fists slammed into empty air.
In the same motion, she drew the named blade Konpira and slashed.
A sharp flying slash shot straight toward Luffy.
"Fire Fist!"
Ace didn't hesitate, blasting out a full-powered punch to meet the attack.
Boom!
Ace's flames detonated the flying slash. Their first exchange ended in a draw.
Bang!
A gunshot rang out. Ace felt a sharp pain in his abdomen.
Looking down, he saw a bullet wrapped in Armament Haki had pierced straight through him.
"Tch… what, did you forget about me?"
Chaton's teasing voice sounded out as Ace's heart sank little by little.
He hadn't even noticed when the other man had moved.
These two were strong… terrifyingly so.
"Ace, are you okay?" Luffy shouted anxiously.
Ace shook his head, then said seriously,
"Luffy… everyone… split up and run. These two aren't opponents we can handle!"
"What are you talking about, Ace?" Luffy slammed his right fist into his left palm, full of confidence.
"As long as we work together, we can definitely send them flying!"
Luffy hadn't yet been crushed by the reality of overwhelming strength. He still believed he could just bulldoze his way through.
Ace was different.
After being brutally taught a lesson by Blackbeard, he deeply understood what it meant for there to always be someone stronger.
On the sea, even a single moment of underestimating the enemy could lead to irreversible consequences.
He shouted angrily,
"This isn't the time for you to play the hero! Our goal is to escape safely! Don't get stuck fighting—split up and go!"
Luffy thought for a moment, then felt Ace was right. He called out to the others to scatter and retreat.
But Gion gently shook her head.
"Give it up. With us here… not a single one of you is getting away."
As her words fell, Gion vanished from where she stood.
Shave!
Even Ace couldn't clearly follow that speed.
Gion appeared directly in front of Luffy, Konpira slashing down heavily toward him.
If she took Luffy out, the Straw Hat Pirates wouldn't be able to escape.
"Don't even think about it!"
A figure wreathed in flames lunged in, blocking Gion's blade.
"Marco!" Ace cried out in delight.
Marco didn't even turn his head.
"Ace, you guys go! Leave this to me!"
"Got it!" Ace didn't waste words and immediately fled with Luffy and the others.
"Don't think you're getting away!"
Chaton raised his gun and fired, but the shot was blocked by Marco's phoenix form.
"One person trying to stop the two of us, Marco? That's a bit arrogant, don't you think?"
Gion appeared behind Marco. Konpira's blade turned pitch-black, wrapped in Armament Haki, and slashed toward Marco's back!
Marco twisted his body, barely avoiding a vital spot.
Blue flames flared, rapidly regenerating his wounds.
But in that brief delay, Chaton slipped out of the fight and chased after Ace and the others.
Marco tried to intercept, only to be forced back by Gion's relentless slashes.
"Damn it… where did the Navy find so many monsters?" Marco cursed inwardly.
Bang!
Another rapid shot rang out.
Ace couldn't react in time. His leg was hit instantly.
Thud!
Ace collapsed to the ground.
Luffy immediately stopped and turned back to face the enemy.
"Second Gear! Gum-Gum Jet Bullet!"
Luffy's fist shot out like a cannonball toward Chaton.
Shave!
Chaton vanished instantly, then a vicious whip-like kick smashed into Luffy's back!
***
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