"That really hurts..."
Feeling the pain across his body, Rock's expression twisted.
Their weapons were indeed powerful!
He scrambled up from the cave and stepped outside, looking at Luffy and the others. "Is this... internal strife?"
Dammit, they dare fight among themselves while battling the two of us? Are they looking down on us?
Scotch clearly shared this sentiment, his expression filled with rage.
"You will pay for this," Scotch said coldly.
With that, he raised his weapon and aimed it at the peak of the iceberg above. "Feel the gift of nature!"
The next moment, he pulled the trigger.
Boom!!
The iceberg, struck by the shell, immediately fractured and came crashing down toward Luffy and his crew.
"Die, Straw Hat Boy!"
"Iceberg Crash!"
Seeing this, Perona immediately shouted, "Luffy, Franky, stop fighting and look up!"
"Up?"
Luffy's pupils shrank as he noticed the overhead threat. Why was an iceberg falling on them?
"In such a narrow space, there's no escaping an iceberg," Rock sneered. "Combined with my special anesthetic shells... you're dead!"
With that, Rock prepared to pull the trigger.
But before he could act, he saw Franky suddenly leap up and grab the colossal iceberg with his bare hands.
Then, Franky flung the iceberg right back toward him.
Rock: ??
Staring at the iceberg rushing toward his face, Rock was stunned.
How could this monster do such a thing?
Is this even logical?
Dammit... I can't dodge it!
Boom!!
Rock let out a scream as he was struck, his eyes rolling back as he lost consciousness.
"Is he... taken out?"
Perona watched the scene, bewildered. Could Franky actually take down an enemy while in a berserk state?
That's actually quite capable.
"Good job, Franky!" Luffy grinned.
Now that this guy was gone, only one was left!
"Roar!!"
Hearing Luffy's voice, Franky turned his gaze toward him and swung a massive hand in an attack.
Thump!
"Hey, take it easy!" Luffy shouted, dodging the attack.
"It's no use, he can't hear us right now," Merry shouted from nearby. "Luffy, calm him down first."
Letting Franky continue his rampage wasn't an option, so the best course of action was to knock him out.
"I guess that's the only way."
Luffy took off his gloves and transformed his fist into a giant size.
"Gear Third!"
"Armament Haki: Hardening!"
"Gomu-Gomu Elephant Gun!"
Boom!!
The incredibly heavy fist slammed into Franky's face, sending him flying with raw force until he crashed into the iceberg and lost consciousness.
"?!"
"!!!"
Looking at the now-unconscious Franky, Merry was speechless.
"Hey, Luffy, wasn't that a bit too heavy-handed?!"
Wasn't that the move used to beat the Kraken? Why use it on Franky?
He couldn't have been killed, could he...
"Franky's body is very sturdy, so I had to use a powerful move," Luffy said.
Otherwise, Franky wouldn't have stopped his rampage.
"That may be true, but..."
Looking at Franky, who had begun to cough up blood, Merry didn't know what to say.
That was at least a serious injury.
Just then, Perona's startled cry echoed from above, immediately drawing everyone's attention.
"Is that guy trying to take Perona away?!" Luffy shouted, staring upward. "Quick, let's chase him!"
"What about... Franky?"
"We'll have Chopper treat him in a bit," Luffy said. "The priority is getting Perona back."
Luffy quickly charged upward, intending to intercept the enemy before he could leave.
"I guess we have no choice."
With that, Merry activated the power of the wind and flew up, quickly carrying Franky to catch up with Luffy.
Once she reached Luffy, she used her ability to lift him as well, rushing toward Scotch at the summit.
"Damned pirates."
Looking back at the pursuers, Scotch said, "Just you wait!"
He knew he was no match for these pirates, so he didn't intend to force a fight.
Once he reunited with his master and the others, he could come back for them.
With a cold sneer, Scotch rushed to the highest point and landed steadily.
There, he noticed a man standing not far away.
"Hmm?"
"Kaka kaka~"
"If it isn't the freeloading Trafalgar Law," Scotch's lips curled upward. "You've arrived at the perfect time!"
"Straw Hat Boy is on his way here. Why don't you join me in—"
Before he could finish, he saw Law calmly raise his hand.
"ROOM!"
Slash!
With a single strike, he was sliced clean in half at the waist!
"?"
"!!"
Realizing he had been split apart, Scotch froze, then shouted in rage, "What the hell are you doing?!"
Attacking his own ally... was he trying to betray the master?!
Thinking this, Scotch drew the long sword from his waist, intending to kill Law.
Unfortunately... Law was faster!
The moment before he could strike, Law was already in front of him, placing his hand over his heart.
"Heart Shock!"
Boom!!
A terrifying force surged through Scotch, forcing his heart to stop beating. In the end, the arrogant Snowman died at Law's hand.
Perona, who had witnessed everything, frowned. Why were those two fighting?
Weren't they on the same side? Internal strife?
Though she didn't understand what happened, Perona didn't care much.
The priority was getting her body back.
Thinking of this, Perona shouted, "You're called Trafalgar Law, right? Give our bodies back!"
Hearing her, Law looked at her, but he didn't speak, merely observing her.
That gaze made Perona feel a bit uneasy.
At that moment, Merry flew down with Luffy and Franky, noticing Law standing nearby.
"Tra-guy!"
Luffy grinned. "Didn't expect to see you here again! Did you save Perona?"
"Thanks!"
"Save?"
Merry looked at Law warily. This guy had swapped Nami and the others' bodies before, and now he was saving people...
What exactly was he planning?
Merry looked at Perona and asked, "Did he save you?"
"Yeah."
Though she disliked the guy, the Snowman had indeed been taken down by him.
Hearing this, Merry became even more confused. What was this guy up to?
Law ignored their reactions and walked aside, saying, "Saving her was just a side effect. I mainly came to discuss something with you, Straw Hat Captain."
"Discuss something?"
Luffy, who was about to help Perona remove the Seastone Chains, paused and asked, "What is it?"
"You go talk to him."
Merry stepped forward and said, "These are Seastone Chains; you can't unlock them."
Luffy realized she was right. As a Devil Fruit Ability User, he couldn't unlock Seastone Chains, so he left the task to Merry.
Luffy then walked over to Law and said, "What is it? Go ahead."
"You likely came here by chance and aren't aware of what this island holds," Law said, his eyes flickering as he looked toward the laboratory in the distance. "Now, I can tell you with certainty that there is a key on this island that can disrupt the New World!"
If used correctly, this key might even be able to lever the entire world!
"Key?"
Luffy looked at Law with a puzzled expression. "What are you talking about?"
What world?
What key?
What was all this?
He didn't understand a word of it.
Law didn't get angry. Instead, he looked at Luffy seriously and asked, "Do you know the ways to survive in the New World?"
"What ways?"
"Either seek the protection of one of the Four Emperors, or continuously challenge them."
Law paused before continuing, "You aren't the type of person who would submit to someone else, are you?"
Based on his knowledge of the Straw Hat Boy, the other wasn't the type to be anyone's subordinate.
After all... he even dared to punch a Celestial Dragon!
"Of course not," Luffy said without hesitation. "I'm going to be the captain, so it's impossible for me to join someone else's crew."
He had made this clear two years ago. Even if it were a Four Emperors Crew, he would never agree to be a subordinate.
After all... he was the man who would become the Pirate King!
How could such a person be willing to serve another?
Law's lips curled slightly. "Then form an alliance with me."
"Alliance?"
"Yes, an alliance," Law nodded. "With an alliance, my goals might be achievable."
"Want to try, Straw Hat Captain?"
"I have a strategy that can bring down one of the Four Emperors!"
If executed properly, he was confident he could bring down Hundred Beasts Kaido!
And at the same time... take down that bastard Doflamingo!
At the thought of this, Law's eyes began to glint.
"A Four Emperor..."
Merry looked at Law in surprise, clearly not expecting that his goal for the alliance was to defeat a Four Emperor.
Perona stared intently at Law and said, "You mean, if we ally with you, we can take down one of the Four Emperors?"
"Why does this sound a bit off..."
Though she didn't know his motives, Perona's intuition told her something was fishy.
She turned to Luffy and warned, "Luffy, don't agree to this lightly."
This kind of proposal felt instinctively unreliable.
Luffy didn't say anything, but he stared at Law, waiting to see what else he would say.
Seeing this, Law explained, "I'm not saying we can defeat a Four Emperor immediately, but... if we operate according to a specific set of steps, we can find the opportunity to defeat him!"
After a pause, Law looked at Luffy. "Well, Straw Hat Captain?"
"A Four Emperor, huh..."
Thinking about their relationships with the Four Emperors, Luffy asked, "Which Four Emperor are you talking about?"
If he meant Shanks, Luffy wouldn't participate.
After all... Shanks was his friend!!
"Luffy?"
Perona and Merry both looked at Luffy in confusion. Was this guy actually planning to ally with him?
"I want to know who he's talking about," Luffy said.
Since Luffy put it that way, Perona and Merry didn't say anything more.
"Hundred Beasts Kaido," Law said calmly. "The Four Emperor I'm referring to is the Governor-General of the Beasts Pirates, Hundred Beasts Kaido!"
As soon as those words were spoken, Perona froze.
If she remembered correctly, Moria might have been captured by that Four Emperor.
Then...
As if remembering something, Perona instinctively wanted to say something.
But she swallowed the words, knowing she couldn't be selfish.
Merry looked at Perona with concern.
"Perona-nee-san..."
"It's fine."
Perona shook her head gently. "I respect Luffy's decision."
As if hearing the voices of his crew behind him, the corners of Luffy's mouth began to curl upward.
Then, he said, "Alright, I'm in."
"It just so happens that one of my friends has some business with that guy, so picking him is fine."
"?!"
Perona snapped her head up, looking at Luffy with disbelief.
Luffy actually...
"That's great, Perona-nee-san," Merry smiled and hugged Perona's arm, clearly happy for her.
Perona pursed her lips, momentarily speechless.
"Luffy, you..."
"We can just go find that Moria guy while we're at it," Luffy grinned at Perona.
Looking at the youth grinning at her, Perona fell silent for a moment, then nodded. "Thank you."
Luffy simply smiled and said nothing more.
Law, who had witnessed everything, had a flicker of confusion in his eyes.
What is with this Straw Hat Pirate Crew?
Are they not of one mind?
For some reason, Law suddenly regretted saying these things.
But since the words were out, he couldn't take them back. After all... he couldn't silence them.
Law sighed silently in his heart.
Forget it, there probably won't be any problems.
The guy was a fellow Supernova of his generation; an alliance should be fine.
Having confirmed this thought, Law spoke, "Then... from today onward, we are a pirate alliance."
"No problem~"
Luffy grinned. "I'm looking forward to the day I see Hundred Beasts Kaido~"
Once he defeated that guy, he'd become a super powerful pirate.
When that time comes, he can finally meet Shanks~
At the thought of this, Luffy's smile widened.
Then, Luffy said, "Let's go, we'll talk more later."
He couldn't remember the details anyway, so he didn't intend to ask Tra-guy here.
Once he returned to his crew, they would naturally remember the details for him!
"Then let's go."
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