BOOM!!!
A searing blaze suddenly struck the mysterious figure, stretching across the desert like a celestial rainbow!
The dense fighting flames released boundless energy, forming an astonishing high-temperature prison that trapped the mysterious figure completely, leaving him unable to move.
The dazzling light illuminated the entire sky!
Even people thousands of miles away could feel the sudden surge of heat.
...
"Uncle! What's happening over there?!"
Tengu Godia, flying effortlessly high in the sky, was carrying Fujitora as they raced toward Luffy and the others.
Feeling the sudden fluctuation of power—and only able to notice the anomaly visually—Godia immediately asked the giant on his back.
Though puzzled, he instinctively trusted Fujitora.
Perhaps…
It was a beast's intuition that let him sense the unwavering righteousness hidden in Fujitora's heart.
However…
Fujitora, sitting calmly on Godia's back, did not immediately answer.
His pale, sightless eyes stared forward, unblinking.
A terrifying Observation Haki hovered over Luffy and his allies.
Fujitora had seen the brief battle clearly—every terrifying eruption of power, every attack too fast for even his Haki to follow.
He knew that even if he and this capable young man rushed there, the outcome would barely change.
The power had already surpassed their level.
Thinking this, Fujitora spoke seriously:
"Little bro, wait a moment."
"Huh? What's wrong, Uncle?"
Godia did not stop, merely slowing his pace, curious about Fujitora's words.
After sensing the area with his Observation Haki, Fujitora suddenly raised his hand, pointing in another direction:
"Let's go there first…"
...
Above Yuba,
Directly above Nami, Luffy's immense flame pressure hammered the mysterious figure relentlessly.
The roaring scarlet flames burned the surroundings into silence; even the air seemed to vanish.
Wild winds carried boundless heat toward Luffy, yet could not dry the cold sweat dripping down his face.
...
"Nami!!!"
"Miss Nami!!!"
Robin and Sanji descended from above, landing beside Nami, shouting anxiously.
Nami sat helplessly on the sand, her vacant eyes fixed on the direction Koby had been flung, as if hearing nothing around her.
Robin, filled with worry, stepped forward to support her.
But Nami seemed utterly limp, her body paralyzed as if her bones had disappeared, letting Robin's hands guide her.
Suddenly, two tears streaked down her cheeks like blood.
They fell onto the dry desert sand and vanished instantly.
Half-opening her mouth, she let out a hoarse voice she had never used before:
"K-Koby… he… Koby…"
It was a voice of pain! Of despair!
No one understood the horror of that attack better than Nami.
She had seen Koby's spine shatter under the strike…
Then the fragments pulverized into dust under the aftershock!
She could not deceive herself—there was no way Koby could have survived such a blow.
"Nami…"
Zoro, dark-faced and grim, sheathed his three swords and slowly approached her.
But the aura around him, nearly solidified with malice, suggested something was off.
"Hey! Zoro, what are you doing?!"
Sanji suddenly stepped in front of Zoro, shielding Nami behind him.
Zoro lowered his head, shadows darkening his eyes, and said in a deep voice:
"Move aside."
"Zoro!!!"
Sanji shouted.
But Zoro ignored him, pushing him aside and stepping in front of Nami.
"Sorry…"
Tears streamed down Nami's face as she looked up at Zoro.
One drop fell onto the sand beneath her.
Zoro, eyes moist, pulled two red potions from his pocket and handed them to her.
Forcing a smile, showing his white teeth, he said:
"It's okay!
Koby… he'll be fine!
He's… strong…"
Tears continued to streak down his face, drop after drop in front of Nami.
"Zoro…"
"Zoro…"
Sanji and Brook whispered painfully in agreement.
Since boarding the ship, Koby had been training under Zoro, viewing him as a mentor.
No one could understand what surged inside Zoro the moment Koby's presence disappeared from their senses.
Robin helped Nami to her feet, her face cold with a resolve not seen for years.
She pressed Zoro's life potions into Nami's hands and shouted toward the sky, where Luffy fought the monstrous figure:
"Nami, your mission is to get Vivi and the others out of here immediately!
And!
Bring Koby back!
No matter what!!!
You must bring him back!!!"
Robin's eyes burned with incomparable fury.
Filled with lethal intent, she glared at the wretch struggling in the flames, creating explosions at times.
Her tone left no room for refusal.
At this moment, Robin's resolve was even firmer than the vice-captain, Zoro.
The guy above, who looked just like Luffy!!!
Must die!!!
"Cough, cough!!"
On the sand, a clear cough sounded.
Crocodile slowly rose from the ground, looking at the monster he had essentially unleashed:
"I'll join the fight too!"
"No, your stamina is already—"
"I can handle it!"
Sanji tried to stop him but was interrupted.
"Don't forget…
The desert is my home turf!!!"
He glanced at the unconscious Vivi and continued:
"That monster clearly came for Vivi…
If the leader of the Hero Academy is attacked, how can I, as a mentor, just stand by?!"
"Fine!"
Sanji was about to argue further, but Robin intervened, agreeing immediately.
There was no time to hesitate.
Suddenly, the sky shifted again!
Within the red flames, a brilliant white orb, dense with massive energy, suddenly shone!
Brighter than the sun, it mercilessly lit the desert.
Its frequency intensified, as if signaling what was to come.
Sure enough!
As the blaze reached its peak, it shrank into a small black dot.
Instantly!
Time itself seemed to freeze!
Everything fell into a tense stillness, like the calm before a storm.
Then, in an unexpected instant,
Amid the waves of raging flames, a voice roared across the sky!
WHOOSH~!!!
The immense impact swept across Arabasta Island like a merciless hurricane!
At that moment, it felt as though the end of the world had come!!!