Marine Admiral — Aokiji!
Someone capable of doing something like this… there was only one person in the world.
"So the Navy Headquarters really did send an Admiral as backup," Jin muttered, frowning.
If that was the case, then the problem of his companions' retreat had to be considered immediately.
Challenging a Marine Admiral was undeniably thrilling—but no matter what, the safety of his companions came first.
Jin glanced at the two Vice Admirals lying on the ground, white foam spilling from their mouths.
After hesitating for a moment, he chose not to finish them off.
If the Admiral arrived before Luffy defeated Rob Lucci, these two could still be used to restrain him.
With a quick hand sign, Jin summoned another shadow clone.
The clone vanished instantly.
"Twelve-Petal Bloom!"
Nico Robin unleashed her ability again, relentlessly striking the advancing Marines and thinning their remaining combat strength.
Fortunately, because of Jin's actions, the number of Marines still capable of fighting was far lower than expected.
Most were barely clinging to life on the sea's surface, lacking the stamina to rejoin the battle.
Those who could still fight were almost all lieutenant colonels or above.
Whoosh—
Suddenly, something shot out of the water and landed precisely in front of Robin.
She instinctively caught it.
"This is… a scroll?"
Nami stared in surprise.
"Why would there be a scroll here?"
Robin didn't explain. She slipped it into her clothes and turned to Blueno.
"Did something change?"
"All units, prepare to retreat," Blueno said calmly.
"A Marine Admiral has arrived."
"A–Admi—"
Nami's face instantly turned pale.
They had only been worrying about an Admiral… and now one had truly appeared?!
That kind of monster was absolutely beyond what they could handle.
"But Luffy and the others haven't finished their fight yet," Franky said anxiously.
"Then it depends on who's faster," Sanji replied.
He took a deep breath, lit a cigarette he'd taken from the lifeboat, and said,
"In that case, we get on the ship first, and—"
Before he could finish—
A Marine Vice Admiral burst out of the sea and slashed downward!
Slash!
The lifeboat was cut cleanly in half—like slicing tofu.
"Hmph. Trying to escape?"
Stroberry sneered, blood dripping from the corner of his mouth.
"Stay right here."
After the humiliation the Navy had suffered today, did these brats really think they'd be allowed to leave alive?
Having done that, Stroberry turned and rushed back toward the water domain, intending to join his comrades in killing that damned ninja.
"…It's over. The ship's gone," Nami said blankly.
They had finally secured a boat—only for it to be destroyed with a casual swing.
How were they supposed to escape now?
Seeing Nami's spirit collapse, Blueno paused briefly before speaking:
"Everyone—enter the Air Door."
Survival came first.
As for the ship… they would think of something later. If necessary, even a flooded battleship would have to do.
Though confused, the others trusted Jin and moved toward Blueno, entering the newly opened Air Door.
Robin didn't hesitate.
She snapped Spandam's neck without mercy and casually tossed his body into the sea.
Only then did she step through the Air Door.
Blueno used Shave to appear beside Usopp, grabbed the still-confused sniper, and tossed him inside as well.
"You bastard! Aren't you CP9?!" a Marine captain roared furiously.
"Why are you helping pirates?!"
The enemy's only escape ship had already been destroyed—and now this man was helping them flee?!
Blueno glanced at him coldly.
"None of your damn business."
Then he turned and disappeared into the Air Door.
Marine Captain: ...
"Is this also the World Government's will?" a lieutenant colonel muttered in confusion.
"Bullshit! That's impossible—he's clearly betrayed us!"
"Just wait! You'll be hunted until the day you die!!"
The captain raged—but it was nothing more than powerless fury.
Inside the Air Door space, everyone stared at Blueno in confusion.
"You already have a way to get out of here, don't you?" Zoro said.
"This space isn't very big. We won't have much air."
Sanji, about to take another drag, suddenly realized something and crushed the cigarette under his shoe.
"Moss-head's right," he said seriously.
"Without a ship, escaping is just wishful thinking."
"The space issue is easy," Blueno replied calmly.
"I can keep moving forward."
"The real problem is how to leave this place."
"So… you don't have a solution either?" Sanji asked blankly.
"We'll seize a battleship," Blueno said.
Through the shimmering barrier, he could clearly see several relatively intact Navy warships still trapped inside the water domain.
They were flooded—but once freed, they could still function as transportation.
"Wait—I'm still completely confused," Usopp said.
"Why are we suddenly hiding in here?"
"The Admiral is coming," Granny Kokoro said.
"An Admiral! An Admiral!" Chimney echoed.
"A–Admiral…"
Usopp's legs went weak, and he nearly collapsed.
It hadn't even been that long—and they were about to face that terrifying monster again?!
Damn it… Sanji's fears had come true.
That nightmare had really come.
Just then, Usopp noticed a tiny black dot appear on the sea's surface far away.
It was moving toward them at astonishing speed.
"What's that?"
Frowning, Usopp pulled out his long-range goggles and raised them to his eyes.
The moment he saw clearly what it was—
His entire body began to tremble violently, as if struck by lightning.
"What's wrong with you?" Zoro asked.
Was he really seeing the Admiral already?
Zoro followed his gaze—but saw nothing unusual.
In terms of eyesight, no one in the crew could compare to Usopp.
"I-it's… our companion," Usopp said shakily.
"Companion?" Franky stared.
"What nonsense are you talking about?"
Aside from Luffy and the ninja fighting outside, everyone was already here.
"Oi, Usopp—you're not running a fever, are you?" Zoro said worriedly.
He instinctively looked for Chopper—only to remember the reindeer was still asleep.
With tears streaming down his face, Usopp grabbed Zoro by the collar and shouted:
"Don't we still have one more companion?!"
"It's Merry—Merry!!"
"Merry's come to pick us up!!"
At that moment, Usopp could even hear her voice—
gentle, warm, and familiar.
(Everyone… I'm here to take you home.)
"MEERRRYYYY!!!"
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