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Chapter 60: Escape
The sky looked as if it had been splattered with thick ink, oppressive and suffocating.
Frantic lightning occasionally tore through the sky, emitting deafening thunder, triggering violent winds, heavy rain, and huge waves.
The port.
"Hey, where's our ship?"
Luffy's eyes widened, staring at the spot where the Going Merry should have been safely docked.
At this moment, it was empty, with only the rain lashing violently against the empty water.
The Going Merry was gone.
"Over there! Look over there!"
Usopp's gaze pierced through the rain curtain, pointing in a direction on the horizon.
Amidst the raging waves, the pirate ship flying the Straw Hat Jolly Roger drifted like a helpless fallen leaf, rising and falling with the tide, as if it could be swallowed by the sea at any moment.
They could vaguely see Sanji standing alone on the deck, seemingly having spotted them. He was raising his hands, shouting something in their direction.
But the distance was too great, and the sound of the wind, rain, and waves completely drowned out his voice.
Everyone's attention was drawn to the Going Merry.
A group of people in standard Marine uniforms emerged from the warehouses and bunkers around the port.
It was clear they had been ordered by Smoker to set up an ambush here.
Rat-tat-tat-tat!
Bullets poured down on the group like a fine rain.
At this very moment.
"Gum-Gum Balloon!"
Luffy reacted extremely quickly, leaping to the front of the group in one step. He took a deep breath, and his abdomen instantly swelled like a balloon, turning into a giant, elastic rubber ball, completely enveloping all his partners behind him.
Thud, thud, thud, thud~!
All the bullets hit his abdomen, making dull impact sounds, and then bounced back at an even faster speed!
"Argh!"
"My gun!"
"Watch out for the ricochet!"
Immediately, painful and panicked shouts came from behind the Marine soldiers.
"Don't use guns! He's a Devil Fruit user; normal bullets are ineffective against him!"
"First squad, activate the animal traps! Second squad, switch to sabers immediately and prepare for close combat!"
The Marines in Loguetown were far more elite than other Marines in the East Blue. After a brief period of chaos, it immediately changed its combat strategy.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
Following a crisp sound, countless large hunting nets woven from metal wires unfolded in the air, like a giant net covering the sky, and came whistling towards the Straw Hat crew!
"Whoa! That's a lot!"
Luffy was terrified.
Compared to ordinary bullets and cannonballs, this kind of weapon, specifically designed for capture and restraint, was indeed the type he was worst at dealing with.
"We're doomed! We're completely surrounded!"
Usopp panicked.
They were in a port by the sea, and the Marines were surrounding them from all directions on the island.
Faced with the hunting nets filling the sky and a group of Marines charging with sabers, it seemed they had only one way out. Jump into the sea!
"Ganyu!" Luffy suddenly turned his head to look at the blue-haired girl beside him and shouted.
At this moment, only her ability could get everyone across the sea and back to the Going Merry.
"Mhm."
Ganyu nodded lightly, her expression calm and serene.
Her slender palm pushed forward, and a hint of cold air rose. An ancient longbow appeared out of thin air, its body shimmering with a hazy frost.
Drawing the bow and nocking an arrow.
A cold wind swept out, and an arrow pierced the Marine's ranks, freezing the foremost squad of sailors into cold ice blocks.
Then.
She spun abruptly, her high heels slamming onto the ground, launching her several meters into the air. The wind howled, her ice-blue hair fluttered, and her reddish-purple eyes shone with determination as she drew her bowstring again.
This time, the arrowhead was aimed directly at the roaring, churning sea below!
"Celestial Shower!"
A cold shout rang out, and the ice crystal arrow, imbued with chilling intent, flew from the bowstring, turning into a streak of azure light and disappearing into the raging waves.
Fsshhh~
An incredible thing happened.
The originally surging sea suddenly calmed down, emitting a piercing, cold sound. The center of the sound was where the arrow had landed.
The ice layer spread and thickened rapidly. In almost an instant, a straight, wide ice path miraculously appeared on the sea surface, stretching from the edge of the port all the way to the small Merry in the distance, a full 100 meters long!
Then.
Ganyu tapped her toes lightly again, as if stepping on an invisible staircase, then turned once more, drawing her bow and aiming her arrow at the Marines below, who were reorganizing their attack.
"You should get back to the ship now!"
Even those who had long since gotten used to Ganyu's abilities were still shocked to see the sea surface almost completely frozen within a hundred meters.
Hearing her voice, they immediately understood that she intended to cover their retreat alone, buying them time to evacuate.
They had spent their days and nights together, and had already developed a deep understanding and trust in each other.
They all knew Ganyu's strength and that she could fly, so having her intercept the pursuers was the best choice in the current situation.
"Jump!"
A carefree smile immediately returned to Luffy's face. His rubber arms stretched out with a whoosh, wrapping around Nami's and Usopp's waists.
"Wait... Luffy! We can walk on our own!" Nami shouted in panic, realizing what he was about to do.
"No... Luffy, no..." Usopp's expression was terrified.
As if he hadn't heard, Luffy and the two of them jumped from the port without hesitation, landing steadily on the smooth, solid ice below, and gradually disappeared into the distance.
Only the terrified screams of the two could be heard.
Zoro looked up at the blue figure in the sky, sheathed his swords, and leaped up, chasing after Luffy and the others.
In the sky.
Seeing that her companions had all left, Ganyu finally breathed a sigh of relief and no longer had any scruples. He calmly looked down on the Marines below.
She didn't have much malice towards the Marines of Loguetown.
Whether it was Smoker or these ordinary Marines, capturing pirates was their duty, and they were upholding the "Justice" advocated by the Marines.
Therefore, whether facing Smoker or this group of Marines, Ganyu's actions could be considered gentle.
However, since they were ultimately on opposing sides, if they insisted on relentlessly pursuing her, she would have no choice but to... take practical action for the safety of her companions' departure.
"She's in the sky! Quick, concentrate your fire and shoot her down!"
The Marines also realized this huge threat, which could freeze a large area from the air.
After the order was given, the sound of gunfire rang out again, and bullets rained down, even more densely than the previous bullet rain.
Ganyu's expression remained unchanged, and her body hung motionless in mid-air.
But just as the speeding bullets were about to hit her, a transparent, ice-colored shield appeared out of thin air, a foot in front of her.
When the bullets hit the target, it was as if they were hitting an indestructible iron plate. Sparks flew, making a crackling sound, and then they were deflected and bounced off.