"There's still a chance! We must stop them!"
The marine warships also quickly readjusted and charged toward the Straw Hat crew.
At this moment, there was a blockade of a fleet in front and a fleet biting tightly from behind.
Everyone understood... There was no escape.
Even the Straw Hat crew was the same. Everyone's faces showed ashen, dejected, and fearful expressions.
"Nami."
Usopp trembled as he looked at Nami. "Is there no other way out?"
Nami: "..."
Facing Usopp's question, Nami fell silent and shook her head.
"The wind is about to stop, and it's already—"
But before Nami could finish speaking, suddenly, the gust of wind that had weakened before suddenly grew stronger again, and that was not all.
The gust of wind continued to intensify.
Dark clouds gathered in the sky, lightning flashed, thunder roared, and even the earlier rain turned into a torrential downpour at this moment.
This sudden yet powerful gust of wind was like transforming into a violent hurricane, directly blowing apart the marine fleet formation.
Whether in front or behind, all of them were blown apart, with only the Straw Hat crew's ship… being pushed by the gust of wind and charging forward at high speed.
Nami's expression froze as she stared with wide eyes and said in an incredulous tone: "This shouldn't be happening!"
But she quickly reacted. Although she did not know why this gust of wind and this torrential rain had appeared, now was not the time to worry about such things.
"Port half rudder, charge straight ahead, we're breaking through!"
As Nami's voice fell, the Straw Hat crew once again let out excited screams.
...
"Why?!"
"Hahahaha!"
At this moment, the expressions of the people on the Sabaody Archipelago who were watching this scene also changed once again.
Some looked ashen, while others let out hearty laughter.
The marines also stared in shock at the sudden strong gust of wind, and looking at the scattered fleet, their expressions grew increasingly grim, but they also understood... It was already too late.
Teach was the same.
Seeing the Straw Hat Pirates riding the wind away, he also let out his own loud laughter: "Zehahahaha!"
They succeeded!
They managed to escape.
However, just as he was laughing happily, a calm yet strangely toned voice sounded: "What are you laughing about here?"
Teach: "..."
This voice immediately cut off Teach's laughter. He also realized it.
That's right, what was he happy about here?
He hadn't boarded the ship!
Thinking of this, Teach hurried to the shore while waving his hands and shouting loudly: "I haven't boarded the ship yet! Don't leave me, you bastards!"
But it seemed it was already too late.
A chill instantly spread throughout his entire body.
...
At the same time, in the sea area not far from the Sabaody Archipelago, Umbrella Corporation also noticed the sudden heavy rain and fierce wind over there at the Sabaody Archipelago.
And while looking at that wind, rain, and lightning, Ian smiled.
Not the kind of hearty and relieved smile Rayleigh had, nor the joyful smile of the Straw Hat crew after surviving a catastrophe, but a smile with a hint of strangeness.
Others might not know how this wind came about, but how could he not guess?
But he truly did not expect that they would escape in this way!
"Why are you smiling so ugly?"
Ian: "..."
Ian, who had still been smiling, immediately fell silent and looked speechless at Zephyr beside him.
Then he said irritably: "I just think this battle... was truly spectacular!"
"It really was quite spectacular."
Zephyr also smiled and nodded. "I didn't expect that even after all this, the Straw Hat Pirates actually managed to escape."
"The Straw Hat Pirates? Luffy?"
Before Ian could speak, Ace, who had heard Instructor Zephyr's words, hurried over with a tense expression. "Did something happen to Luffy and the others? Mr. Ian, why didn't you tell me?"
"It's nothing, look over there."
Ian helplessly pointed to the pirate ship bathing in the torrential rain and riding the wind away.
"Relax, your younger brother is perfectly fine."
He then added in a heavy, earnest tone: "I'm doing this for your own good as well. It can't be that every time your brother gets into trouble, you, the big brother, have to go save him, right? Otherwise, how is he supposed to become the King of the Pirates?"
"Ah, is that so?"
Hearing Ian's words, Ace, who was staring at the Straw Hat pirate flag, showed a look of sudden realization.
He then nodded, his expression turning serious. "Mr. Ian, what you said makes sense. Although I'm very worried about Luffy, I really can't keep saving him forever. Luffy has to become stronger on his own. Thank you for the reminder, Mr. Ian."
As he spoke, looking at the Straw Hat Pirates still advancing tenaciously amid the raging wind and rain, the corner of his mouth could not help but lift slightly, revealing a relieved expression.
"Sure enough, even without my help, Luffy and the others will definitely be fine."
Ian: "..."
This time it really wasn't with your help, but the ones helping your brother this time... Not a single one of them is weaker than you!
Ian raised an eyebrow, but did not disturb Ace, who was happily rejoicing in his younger brother's growth.
Instead, he cast a strange glance at Instructor Zephyr beside him.
It was normal that Ace did not know the Straw Hat Pirates had encountered trouble, because from the beginning, he had not said anything about it.
Ian knew because he had roughly guessed it.
But Zephyr... How did this guy, who had been staying on the ship the whole time, know about it?
Seemingly noticing Ian's gaze and guessing what he meant, Zephyr let out a chuckle. "I had an informant on the island..."
"All right, no need to say anymore."
Before Zephyr could finish speaking, Ian interrupted him.
He had more or less guessed who it was. His own grandson had been chased around like a dog, yet he still had the mood to call Zephyr.
It seemed that Garp was not worried at all!
"How could he not be worried? That old guy was worried sick. He even specially called me, hoping that I would fire a shot toward the Sabaody Archipelago."
As if guessing what Ian was thinking, Zephyr grinned. "But I refused."