Chapter 80: Woodworms
[Enies Lobby·The Ruins of the Great Judgment Tower]
The red setting sun was obscured by thick smoke, and the raging fire illuminated the ruins.
All the members of the Straw Hat Crew fell to the ground, and blood quietly bloomed like scarlet flowers on the broken walls.
Robin knelt among the rubble, looking at his fallen companions with tearful eyes.
——Is this... the end?
The CP9 members approached step by step with murderous intent.
Rob Lucci said indifferently: "End them."
Kaku sneered: "The 'dream' of the scumbag Pirates ends here."
Jabra licked his bloody wolf claws and walked over with a sinister grin: "Goodbye, bastards."
Just when the final deadlock was about to come——
A heart-wrenching cry came from afar!
"Don't touch my friend! ——"
Everyone was startled and turned to look.
On the broken wall, the one-armed Usopp held up a golden Den Den Mushi, tears mixed with blood covered his cheeks, and his clothes were tattered, but at that moment, he looked like a 'hero' of the Straw Hat Pirates!
Ten minutes ago——
"Spandam—you, now!!!"
In the Den Den Mushi, the desperate and frantic whisper of the severely injured Spandam was heard:
"I...I don't want to die...Buster Call, activate!!!"
————
——Buzz!!!
The signal of the Golden Den Den Mushi was fully activated, and a shrill alarm sounded over the entire Enies Lobby!
In the distance, five Buster Call battleships broke through the waves, their flags fluttering, and their giant gun barrels turned together. The black muzzles seemed like Shinigami eyes that swallowed up the light!
Everyone in CP9's expressions changed drastically!
"Buster Call?! Are you kidding me?"
"Spandam, you piece of shit, are you crazy?!!"
Rob Lucci roared in a deep voice: "Everyone retreat!"
Just before the order to retreat was given, Lucci turned around coldly and pierced Franky's heart with a "Finger Pistol"!
"Franky——!!!"
Before anyone could react, Jabra took advantage of the chaos and used a "Finger Pistol·Skull Splitting" to directly pierce the severely injured Sanji's head!
——Blood splattered like a sky full of crimson.
"Sanji!!!Franky!!!——"
Nami and Chopper fell to the ground, crying and screaming, but were powerless to stop this final brutal blow.
"I want you to always remember... this is what happens when you become an enemy of the World Government!"
Lucci gave a final cold glance, then led the CP9 team to Moonwalk and evacuate quickly.
--boom!!!
The first Buster Call cannonball burst through the air!
Usopp watched helplessly as the black Shinigami-like giant bullet whizzed down, and couldn't help crying to the sky:
"Luffy!!!Zoro!!!"
"We can't die here!!!"
Just when life and death were at stake, a clear call seemed to come from the distant sea.
"...Get aboard, everyone!"
That's the sound of the Merry!
Usopp looked back, his eyes blurred with tears, and suddenly saw that the Merry had already broken through the waves, like a miracle from heaven-defying!
"Luffy! Zoro! Jump!!!"
Usopp forcibly pulled up the dying Zoro and Luffy, and jumped off the cliff without looking back!
The remains of Nami, Chopper, Robin, Sanji... No!
The beast-like Chopper held on to his last breath, tears streaming down his face as he pulled Nami and Robin, and jumped down with them!
——Boom!!!
The first wave of Buster Call shells came like doomsday, but at the last moment, those shells that were about to hit suddenly formed a thin layer of frost!
——"Ka-ka-ka…"
The shells mysteriously froze and shattered in mid-air, turning into harmless ice fragments that fell onto the sea!
Just when everyone was still in a state of uncertainty, the Straw Hat crew who jumped out were caught steadily by the gentle hull of the Merry.
Usopp hugged the sheep's head on the bow and cried bitterly:
"Merry...you're back..."
The sea breeze was howling, and the Merry turned into a stream of light on the sea, carrying everyone to flee madly into the distance.
Robin wiped away her tears and turned back to take one last look at the burning Enies Lobby.
On top of the broken walls, a familiar and tall figure stood quietly, his cloak fluttering.
Those deep eyes seemed to be bidding farewell silently.
"...Kuzan...?"
Robin's heart trembled, tears welled up in his eyes.
"Goodbye, Robin..."
The sea breeze gradually faded away, and the figure finally disappeared in the flames and thick smoke.
On this day, the humiliated flag of the World Government was burned, Buster Call's first wave failed for the first time, and the Straw Hat Crew, in Merry's arms, survived.
New World · G-5 Branch · Strategic Command Room
The early morning sunlight penetrated the tempered alloy windows and shone onto the long table piled with war reports.
There was a suffocating feeling of oppression in the air.
Rogge flipped through the latest intelligence with an expressionless face. When his eyes fell on the last page, his fingers paused slightly.
"Buster Call's first wave of artillery fire failed to fully hit its target, with some shells misfiring. The Straw Hat Pirates took the opportunity to escape."
The long silence made Ian, who was standing aside, almost hold his breath.
Finally, Rogge slowly put down the information in his hand, his tone strangely calm:
"Have you found out? Who authorized the Buster Call?"
Ain's heart trembled, and he immediately said seriously: "The Intelligence Department has confirmed it. It was Aokiji Admiral... Kuzan who personally agreed to it, and he also participated in this operation."
Rogge's fingers tapped rhythmically on the table, and each tap felt like a heavy hammer hitting the air, making people feel suffocated.
After a moment, he picked up the Den Den Mushi on the table and dialed the familiar number.
The moment the Den Den Mushi was connected, a roar like a volcano about to erupt came from the other end:
"I've seen the intelligence!"
Rogge smiled coldly: "Uncle, it seems... before the real war begins, we have to clean up a wave of internal pests."
From the other end of the Den Den Mushi came the distinct sound of a fist smashing the tabletop.
"Tonight, you go straight to the headquarters!"
Sakazuki's voice burned like a blaze of anger. "Bring Enel and Leit with you. Tomorrow, I'll personally force a meeting with Sengoku and identify all those wavering bastards!"
Enel stood nearby, his golden eyes narrowed slightly. He snorted softly when he heard this: "Can we finally take action?"
Lei Te sneered and looked up, his tone chilling: "Let Teacher Zephyr help clear the area."
Rogge nodded slightly and turned his gaze to the vast ocean outside the G-5 branch. His eyes were as cold as a deep-sea volcano about to erupt under the ice.
"This so-called 'justice' feast—"
"I will overturn it myself."
Rhett had his arms behind his back, wearing a pair of black seastone brass knuckles, the edges of which looked chilling in the morning light.
He glanced at the sky and sneered:
"Boss, now that we've completely cleaned it up, should we go 'take a walk' in the Celestial Dragons' garden?"
Rogge's eyes were as calm as the still water at the bottom of the sea. "Don't worry, clean out the rotten meat first."
Ain stood aside, his expression more solemn than ever.
[Marineford · Naval Headquarters]
Dark clouds gathered, and strong winds swept across the harbor with the roar of the tide.
The entire Marineford seemed to be covered by a thick shadow, making it hard for the soldiers to breathe.
Sakazuki's crimson cape fluttered wildly in the wind as he stood in Sengoku's office. The hard stone slabs beneath his feet had been burned into charred cracks by the breath of magma.
His eyes were like a volcano about to erupt, red and hot, filled with murderous intent.
"Sengoku, if you keep trying to hide it, don't blame me for taking action!"
Sakazuki roared in anger, clenching his fists so tightly that his knuckles cracked and drew blood.
At the end of the distant corridor, Vice Admiral He walked slowly towards them, his silver hair slightly disheveled, fluttering in the strong wind.
She looked at Sakazuki with a complicated and heavy look in her eyes:
"Is this the path you want to take...?"
Sakazuki didn't look back, his voice rumbling like thunder: "It's time to change the blood of this sea."
As soon as these words were spoken, the entire Naval Headquarters seemed to tremble at this moment.
The next morning, Marineford, the naval assembly port.
In the morning mist, a large number of warships are lined up on the sea.
G-5's black battle flag fluttered high, and the "Xuanlin" emblem on it looked like the iron cavalry of hell ready to go under the bloody sunset.
Enel stood on the top of the flagship, his golden eyes scanning the entire battlefield, the Thor's Scepter in his hand charging and ready to go.
Leiter sat cross-legged at the bow, his face grim, his fists crossed, his knuckles trembling slightly, like sharp blades thirsting for blood.
Rogge stood with his hands behind his back, his cloak fluttering in the wind, his eyes piercing through the thick dark clouds, staring at the sea that was about to capsize.
"This day has finally come."
He whispered softly and slowly raised his right hand.
"Attention—form your formation and stand by!"
"Target—Aokiji Admiral."