Let's go, Vivi, Nami called firmly.
"They're strong—but we have to trust our crew. We need to keep heading for the palace."
"Mm, I understand." Vivi nodded hard and turned, sprinting toward the palace.
Ahead, Luffy—whose head had been knocked away earlier—glared down at Mr. 4.
His neck snapped back, then recoiled like a bowstring. His head shot forward like a cannonball, ramming straight down at his foe.
"Gomu Gomu no Kane!"
Their foreheads collided with the deep toll of a giant bell.
Bang!!
Mr. 4's massive body reeled, his head snapping back as teeth and blood sprayed from his mouth. His eyes rolled white, nearly unconscious.
"Mr. 4!"
From underground, Ms. Merry Christmas cried out, clutching Luffy's legs. Realizing what happened, she grit her teeth and yanked hard, dragging Luffy down.
Boom!
Luffy was slammed into the tunnel, wedged tight like a nail hammered into the earth.
At the same time, Mr. 4 staggered forward, his pupils snapping back into focus. He planted a heavy step, glaring down at Luffy with fury.
That guy's body… even after taking Luffy's headbutt full-on, he's still standing?!
"Damn brat!"
Mr. 4 hefted a massive bazooka onto his shoulder, its barrel aimed right at Luffy trapped in the hole.
Luffy broke into a cold sweat.
He tried to pull free, but he was completely stuck. Flailing helplessly, he yelled:
"Hey! Wait—let me out! Come on, hold on a sec!"
But the bazooka didn't fire a cannonball.
Instead—pop! A dog's head poked out of the barrel.
"…What?"
Luffy blinked.
Even Reiner froze. We're in the middle of a deadly fight… and this clown pulls out a gag weapon?
Behind him, the Red Ogre braced like a javelin thrower, spear drawn back, one step forward, skeletal arms twisting with monstrous strength.
Rumble!!
The Blue Ogre hurled his spear. The air split with a dragon's roar, the throw tearing a vacuum path through the sky.
Just as the dog-headed bazooka was about to spit a bomb, the spear smashed into Mr. 4 like a falling star.
Boom!!
His body twisted grotesquely as it was sent flying, smashing through several walls in a storm of rubble and smoke.
Every eye turned toward the thunderous blast.
As the dust settled, all of Baroque Works stared in shock.
Mr. 4's massive frame hung pinned to a wall like a slab of meat, eyes rolled back, blood dripping steadily. It wasn't clear if he was alive.
A single strike—so terrifying in power.
The Baroque agents' eyes shifted. None dared chase after the Straw Hats now. Each instead focused on their own opponent.
And so, with every clash, Reiner and the others seemed to get farther and farther from pursuit.
"…Looks like no one's following us anymore." Nami blinked. "Let's just keep pushing for the palace."
Zoro faced Daz, Sanji faced Bon Clay, and the other agents were tangled with Reiner's Sawblade Demon and the undead.
"You really screwed up there, Luffy." Reiner sighed, grabbing him by the neck and yanking him free from the tunnel.
"Ahaha, almost got blown to pieces. Thanks, Reiner." Luffy grinned sheepishly.
As if an explosion would kill you. Reiner thought darkly.
Still—
"You're too careless, Luffy." Reiner's voice grew serious.
"Crocodile is strong—an enemy we must take seriously. Don't do something stupid like that when we face him."
He had prepared carefully for this coming battle, yet even then, he didn't feel confident.
Luffy, on the other hand, had sailed smoothly since leaving East Blue, never truly tasting defeat.
Reiner could only hope his fearlessness was true courage—the kind that presses forward even after failure—not just the reckless boldness of a calf unafraid of tigers.
"…Sorry."
Hearing him, Luffy's grin faded. He nodded solemnly.
"I get it, Reiner. Let's keep moving."
The group mounted spectral horses that Reiner summoned and rode to the palace.
Behind them, Zoro and Sanji stayed to battle Daz and Bon Clay, while the undead chased the afro-haired hedgehog woman and the mole woman.
At the palace, Vivi led the way through the gates. Every guard recognized their long-lost princess immediately and offered no resistance. They reached the central hall in no time.
"Princess Vivi!"
A sharp cry came from above. Looking up, they saw a giant falcon diving, a longsword strapped to its side, clad in white robes.
"…That bird talks?"
"Is it an enemy?!" Luffy tensed, ready to strike.
"No, don't worry!" Vivi waved quickly. "That's Pell, vice-captain of the Royal Guard."
The falcon landed, transforming into a man with a white turban. His robe bore purple crosses, and dark markings ran down his face from forehead to chin.
"Where's my father, Pell? Is he safe?!" Vivi rushed forward in panic.
But Pell dropped to his knees, guilt twisting his face.
"Princess Vivi… His Majesty… has gone missing!"
Slamming his hands to the ground, Pell raised his head and cried:
"I'm sorry, Princess! It's my fault! I failed to protect him—please forgive me!"
"…Father… missing…"
Vivi froze, eyes unfocused, her world spinning. Crocodile had dared break into the palace itself—Reiner's fears had come true.
The Straw Hats exchanged awkward looks. Fighting, they understood. But a missing king? None knew what to do.
"…Vivi. I think they're still here."
Reiner spoke quietly. The Blue and Red Ogres extended their Haki senses, detecting several life signs—not on the same level as anyone else aboveground.
"Just west of here, below us. Some kind of underground chamber, maybe?"
"The west side… That's the Mausoleum." Vivi frowned. "But below it… I don't know."
"Then let's break the floor and find out."
"Yes! Even the smallest chance of finding Father is worth it!" Vivi answered firmly.
"Yosh! In that case—"
Luffy stepped forward before anyone else could move. His leg stretched skyward, then snapped down with brutal force.
"Gomu Gomu no Ono!"
Boom!!
The war axe strike smashed into the floor, splitting it wide. Cracks spread like spiderwebs, tearing through the plaza in seconds.
"Wait—WAIT!"
"Luffy, you idiot!!"
CRASH!!!
The floor collapsed with a thunderous roar. Nami and Usopp's screams mixed with the sound as the ground caved in beneath them.
Reiner reacted quickly, grabbing Nami and Usopp each with one arm, Chopper leaping onto his shoulder to cling to his head.
Pell caught Vivi in falcon form, wings braced. Together, they all tumbled downward.
"AAAAHHH!!"
The weak trio's shrieks echoed through the void.
Chopper, my eyes!! You're covering my eyes, you dumb reindeer!!