"Ezra, are you done with your business?"
Garp asked, fixing the wall nearby.
Ezra lifted his head slightly.
"Well… it wasn't anything serious. Everything's taken care of."
He then turned his gaze to Luffy.
"Now, there's only one thing left. Luffy, are you planning to surrender, or… do you want me to beat you senseless and take you back myself?"
The words carried a sharp, unyielding intent that filled the room.
"Uncle Garp, can't you talk some sense into him?" Carina asked, not quite ready to give up.
Garp pinched his nose.
"It's not like I made Luffy a pirate. If you're caught here, it only proves your strength isn't enough."
His words hung in the air, and the group fell silent.
Ezra's gaze shifted to Zoro.
"You brat… you became a pirate too? Aren't you worried about Kuina coming after you?"
Zoro pursed his lips. Years ago, he had met Kuina once. Shortly after, she had been taken by Aokiji to join the Marines, while Zoro continued honing his swordsmanship under Koshiro. Later, he became a bounty hunter to challenge swordsmen from various schools. But who could have guessed he would be swayed by Luffy's charisma?
"Sir, I challenge you!" Zoro's eyes blazed with determination.
Ezra raised an eyebrow, eyeing the scar on Zoro's chest.
"Hasn't Mihawk already taught you enough lessons?"
Zoro said nothing. He simply drew his three swords.
"Courage is commendable," Ezra said.
His gaze then swept over the others.
"And you? Will you choose to stand against me as well?"
Luffy clenched his fists and said,
"Sir, we're pirates. You're a Marine. We're naturally enemies!"
Ezra's lips curved into a slight smile.
"Good. No room for compromise. Then as you wish try to defeat me. Meet me at the beach."
With that, Ezra's figure vanished before their eyes.
Luffy's expression grew serious.
"Let's go!"
"Wait, Luffy!"
As they were about to leave, Garp called out to them.
"What is it, Grandpa?"
"If you charge in recklessly like this, you're guaranteed to lose! If I were you, I'd plan an escape route beforehand."
The group nodded at Garp's advice.
"Vice Admiral Garp is right, Luffy!" Sanji added.
"All right, then. Let's make a plan!"
At the beach, Ezra stood lazily with his hands in his pockets. Soon, footsteps approached.
Turning, he saw Luffy and the others.
"Well, well, you're quick. Let's see just how strong the infamous Straw Hat Pirates really are."
With that, he raised his right index finger in a taunting gesture.
"Let's go!"
Luffy charged first, followed closely by Zoro and Sanji.
"Gum-Gum Bullet!"
His stretchy, rubbery arms shot forward and snapped back with incredible speed, barreling toward Ezra.
Ezra's lips curved into a faint smile. He clenched his fist and slammed it forward.
"One Bone Strike!"
The sheer force tore through the air, sending a shockwave across the beach.
Luffy's mouth fell open, and his eyes slightly whitened from the impact.
"Luffy!"
Zoro and Sanji arrived beside Ezra.
"Two-Sword Eagle Wave!"
Slicing through the air, their combined pressure formed a cross-shaped slash aimed at him.
Ezra raised an eyebrow.
"Oh? Imitating Mihawk, are you? Interesting."
With a casual swipe of his hand, he shattered both attacks.
"Compared to Mihawk, you still have a long way to go."
With a single kick, Ezra sent Zoro flying.
Sanji saw his chance and launched a flurry of attacks.
"Front Kick!"
"Shoulder Kick!"
"Back Kick!"
Every kick had a name corresponding to the target area, a quirk that could be exploited.
Ezra effortlessly dodged them all.
"What?"
Taking advantage of Sanji's brief pause, Ezra punched him square in the stomach, sending him flying.
The three lay sprawled across the sand. Ezra shook his right hand.
"Is that all you've got?"
"Cough… cough… so strong… this is what a Marine admiral is like? And he hasn't even used his full strength yet!"
The three stared at him, solemn.
At that moment, Robin spoke, her voice sharp.
"Double Flower Mastery!"
Swish! Crack!
Two of her arms appeared on Ezra, binding his hands behind him.
"Now!" Robin shouted.
Chopper leapt onto Ezra's head.
"Arm Strength Boost! Horn Crush, Sakura Bloom!"
Wham! Crack! Swish!
Chopper's hooves rained down multiple blows in an instant, each hitting Ezra with tremendous force.
"Now's our chance!"
A spark of determination lit Zoro and Sanji's eyes.
"Two-Sword Seventy-Two Blades of Pain!"
"Devil Flame Kick, Supreme Meat Grinder!"
A powerful hurricane of attacks slammed into Ezra. Sanji's fiery kicks collided with him as well.
Howl! Cough! Cough!
Sanji's eyes widened in disbelief. None of his kicks seemed to land.
Then Usopp shouted from the side.
"Sanji! Dodge! Firebird Star!"
He jumped from the bushes, firing a flaming projectile that ignited the ground in front of Ezra.
Smoke billowed, obscuring him completely.
"Now! Run!"
Though reluctant, the group quickly moved. Carina steered Franky and the Thousand Sunny to the shore.
"Everyone, get on the ship!"
Just before they boarded, the smoke cleared. Ezra pinched his neck, his crimson eyes fixed on them.
In an instant, he was in front of them.
Luffy and the others froze.
"So, you already planned to run, huh? Almost got away, didn't you?"
Ezra clenched his fist, slowly drawing it to his side. His eyes glowed crimson.
"I'm a little bored now."
Boom!
A surge of blazing spiritual pressure infused his right arm.
"One Bone Strike."
Without hesitation, he swung his fist toward the group.