"Two Admirals this time huh. Guess killing Celestial Dragons really pissed off the Marines." Lucas said, voice flat but edged with a tired amusement. He folded his arms, watching the chaos ripple outward.
"Who do you think's to blame for that?" Usopp barked, half-panicked, half-defiant. He jabbed a trembling finger toward the door. "Meh, it's all in the past," Lucas muttered, shrugging as if shrugging off a storm.
Rayleigh, Luffy, Kid, and Law stood a little apart, trading quiet banter that tried to keep the mood light. Rayleigh's eyes scanned the room and then settled on the exit. "We shouldn't linger here," he said, voice low and practical.
"Guess we're involved," Law replied, a smirk tugging at his mouth.
"At least I got to see Straw Hat Luffy," Kid said, stretching. "No complaints—though I'll pass on taking on an Admiral." He pushed off and headed for the door. "The longer we wait, the more soldiers will pile up. We'll help clear the front."
Outside the Human Auction House, Marines bristled into formation like a living wall. "They're coming out—get ready!" one shouted. Another voice trembled with awe and fear. "T-Those are the three captains!"
From the doorway, three silhouettes emerged—Luffy, Kid, and Law—each carrying the kind of swagger that dared the world to blink. "You guys can stay back. I'll handle this," Luffy said, stepping forward with that simple, dangerous grin.
"Huh? I thought I told you I'd handle this," Kid snapped, stepping up to match Luffy's stride.
"If you keep ordering me around, I'll start with you," Law said, voice low and lethal. The three captains squared off in a silent contest of pride—none willing to let the others take the lead.
Back inside, the Straw Hats readied themselves. "They're all so simple," Nami muttered, exasperation and affection braided together. "We should move." "We'll break through in one push," Zoro said, taking the lead with a calm that steadied the room. Sanji fell into step behind him, knives of focus in his eyes.
Rayleigh called out, "If we get separated, meet at Grove 13."
"Got it," Zoro replied without hesitation.
"You're the last person who should agree to that," Usopp yelled.
A giant, newly freed, stepped forward. "I'll stick with these other slaves and escape somewhere else," he rumbled. "Old man and Straw Hats—thank you. I'll repay you someday." The freed captives murmured gratitude. Usopp puffed up, flattered. "Don't mention it," he said, and Chopper rolled his eyes at the compliment, whispering, "Why are you saying that?"
The three captains engaged the Marines like a thunderclap.
"Woah—they handled the Marines all by themselves!" Usopp breathed as the Straw Hats spilled out. Sanji's eyes flicked, noting the telltale signs. "So those other guys are Devil Fruit users too."
Rayleigh laughed, a booming, delighted sound. "You made quick work of them."
"Well, that takes care of their formation," Kid noted, scanning the horizon.
A Marine soldier sprinted up to a Commodore. "They're all out now. Looks like they're trying to escape." The Commodore's face hardened. "Chh—those damned pirates are looking down on us." Another voice crackled: "We've secured the Celestial Dragons near the rear entrance. Building is clear." The Commodore barked orders like a cannon blast. "Aim the mortars at pirates without Devil Fruit powers! Gun squad to the rear! Full force—show these pirate scum Marine wrath!"
All weapons swung toward the pirates. The air tightened with the metallic scent of gun oil and the electric hum of imminent violence.
Lucas stepped forward. "I'll clear a way." He stretched his left hand and traced a glowing magic circle in the air. The circle pulsed; as a cascade of boulders erupted from the circle, thudding into the plaza. The impact sent a shockwave through the Marines' ranks—dust, pebbles, and the metallic tang of disrupted formation.
Lucas's body shifted—an uncanny fusion of Upchuck and Waybig. His mouth opened wide; tendrils of tongue unfurled like living ropes, wrapping around the falling boulders and dragging them into a cavernous maw. He inhaled, a sound like a bell tolling, then spat a concentrated, glowing sphere of energy. It tore through the Marines' recovering formation like a comet, shredding ranks and sending armored men flying in a spray of sparks and splintered wood.
Dust plumes, shattered banners, the glint of blood on brass. The environment becomes a weapon and a stage—crates become springboards, broken beams become spears, and the auction house's torn awning whips like a banner of war.
Lucas's energy sphere punched a hole through the Marines' center. The formation staggered, mortars misaligned, and the gun squad retreated to the rear. Nami seized the moment, voice sharp and urgent. "This way! Move!"
Luffy's eyes lit with that simple, unstoppable joy. "Let's go!" he cried, and the Straw Hats made their escape following Rayleigh. Chopper and Luffy's faces split into identical grins. "Cooool!" they shouted in unison as Nami dragged them along, breathless and laughing.