Night enveloped the area, and the sea wind howled.
Navarone, Marine Headquarters' Eighth Branch.
This Marine base, known as the "Impenetrable Hedgehog Fortress," stood majestically between towering mountains, like a natural barrier, tightly sealing off the entire sea area.
The towering walls, dense turrets, and neatly arrayed Marine warships all highlighted the strict defense here.
"Oh—"
Lin Ning's sharp gaze scanned his surroundings, his brows slightly furrowed.
"The terrain of this base…"
Lin Ning stood on the deck, his gaze sweeping around like lightning.
The circular mountains, like a wall of bronze and iron, surrounded the entire Marine base, trapping it within.
And the going merry had landed in the central sea area—firmly trapped in the most dangerous core zone!
"A circular shape… truly a turtle in a jar."
He thought to himself, a faint, cold smile appearing at the corner of his mouth.
"It seems we've fallen directly into the Marine's den."
On the deck, Nami stood at the helm, looking at the magnificent Marine architecture around her, a chill rising in her heart.
"This is bad…"
She bit her lip, her heart rate suddenly quickening, her face slightly pale.
"We are pirates, and this is a Marine base…"
"In this situation, anyone would panic!"
Even though Nami had experienced big scenes with the Straw Hat Pirates.
But getting into a Marine base, as a pirate, still sent a shiver down Nami's spine.
"Three hundred eighty-five, three hundred eighty-six, three hundred eighty-seven…"
Just then, Usopp suddenly mumbled something in a low voice, cold sweat pouring down him.
"…Huh?"
"Three hundred eighty-eight—!!!"
The next second, Usopp's eyes suddenly widened, his mouth agape, and he suddenly shouted loudly—
"Three hundred eighty-eight cannons are pointed at us!!!"
"…!!!"
Everyone was startled and looked towards where Usopp was pointing—
Indeed, on the rock walls all around the Marine base.
Countless dark muzzles were coldly pointing at the going merry.
The caliber of each cannon made one's heart tremble, like the eyes of the God of Death, ready to spew destructive cannon fire at any moment!
"Usopp!"
Sanji kicked Usopp's butt, a vein throbbing on his forehead.
"We are currently surrounded! Can you please stop shouting?!"
Usopp held his head, shouting in terror:
"These are three hundred eighty-eight cannons!!! How can I not shout?!"
"Boom—!!!"
Just then, a huge cannon roar echoed in the air!
Cannonballs tore through the night sky, whistling as they fell around the going merry—
"Boom! Boom! Boom!"
Violent explosions erupted on the sea, sending up towering columns of water, and deafening roars swept across the entire deck!
"Ah ah ah!!"
Usopp and Chopper were thrown to the ground, huddled together, trembling!
"Be careful, they are firing warning shots."
Robin calmly reminded them, a hint of calm analysis in her eyes.
Luffy, hearing this, tilted his head, looking surprised:
"Warning shots?"
"Aren't they directly blowing us up?"
"…This Marine uncle is quite nice."
Sanji, hearing this, slapped his forehead and sighed helplessly.
"What nonsense are you talking about, you idiotic Captain."
"Forget about all that!"
Zoro suddenly drew his sword, his eyes like torches, Battle Intent burning!
At this moment, Vice Admiral Jonathan's voice sounded again, his voice clearly broadcast throughout the fortress by the loudspeaker!
"Straw Hat Pirates."
"If you don't surrender, we will directly sink you."
"Do not attempt any futile resistance."
Jonathan's tone remained unruffled, as if he was sure of victory.
"Surrender my ass!"
Zoro grinned, holding three swords, and looked at Luffy:
"Luffy, should we go?"
"I'm already itching for some action!"
Zoro had long wanted a fight; his recent opponents were so weak that they didn't interest him.
This Marine base was a base of the Marine Headquarters, and Zoro could no longer suppress his boiling blood.
Luffy, hearing this, stroked his chin, showing a serious expression of thought.
"We are pirates… they are Marines…"
Everyone watched him nervously, awaiting their Captain's decision!
Only to see the next second—
"…Let's run away!"
"Huh?!"
Zoro, Sanji, Usopp, Nami… everyone looked bewildered!
"Hey hey, you really are…!"
Lin Ning laughed heartily, clapped Luffy on the shoulder, his gaze instantly locking on the distance.
"The main gate is directly behind us!"
Nami immediately reacted, gripping the helm tightly, and shouted an order!
"All hands, listen up!"
"Hoist the sails and steer, full speed to break through to the rear!"
Sanji immediately responded, pushing off with his foot, and rushed onto the deck—
"Alright, Miss Nami!"
The going merry instantly hoisted its sails, adjusted its direction, and sailed towards the exit in the rear, facing the night!
However, Navarone's turrets were still firmly locked onto them!
Jonathan stood on the towering railing, watching the going merry, which was hoisting its sails to break through.
The corners of his mouth curved slightly upwards, revealing a meaningful smile.
"Oh? Not surrendering, but trying to run instead?"
He slowly picked up the loudspeaker, his voice deep but clear, spreading throughout the fortress—
"Straw Hat."
"What do you take our Marine base for?"
Jonathan slowly raised his hand—
"Sergeant."
"Prepare for the second round of shelling."
"Don't let them escape."
His gaze turned cold, then he waved his hand, giving a decisive order—
"Then, let me—bury you at sea!"
"—Shelling!!!"
"Boom!!!"
Following Jonathan's command, over three hundred giant cannons roared in unison.
Cannonballs, like falling stars, tore through the night sky.
Carrying terrifying sonic booms, they bombarded the going merry with overwhelming force!
For a moment, the entire sky was illuminated by the blazing fire!
The cannonballs were as dense as rain, each with a perfect ballistic arc.
Coming from all directions, they were like a inescapable net of death, firmly locking the going merry within it!
"Ah ah ah ah!!"
Usopp and Chopper instantly turned pale, their bodies stiff, their eyeballs almost popping out!
"We're going to die! We're going to die!!"
Chopper directly hugged Usopp, trembling, all his fur bristling!
Usopp, even more so, his lips turning blue, his hands clutching his head, shouted in terror—
"What kind of terrifying shelling is this!!!"
With his precise eyesight, he could tell at a glance—
"The angles and arcs of these cannonballs are terrifyingly precise!!"
"As long as there is no external interference, they will all hit the going merry without a doubt!!!"
Robin crossed her arms, standing on the deck, her eyes slightly flickering, a faint smile on her lips.
"As expected of a Marineford base…"
Her tone was calm, as if merely stating a commonplace fact—
"The Marines here are indeed all elites."
"They are completely incomparable to the miscellaneous soldiers from the outside Four Seas branches."