A cannonball, packed with gunpowder, shot like a brilliant meteor from a high point on the side of the castle.
It wasn't aimed at Wapol, but exploded in the open space next to Vivi and Dalton!
Bang! Boom—!
The explosion wasn't very loud, but the rising smoke and flames successfully drew everyone's attention.
"Hm?!"
Wapol and his soldiers subconsciously looked in that direction.
On the snowy ground to the side, Usopp stood against the wind, wearing his goggles, his slingshot still in a firing position.
"I'm here!!! Everyone!!!"
Behind him was a massive crowd of former Iron Barrel Kingdom citizens, all holding various hunting rifles!
Their faces no longer showed fear; instead, they were filled with the determination to save Dalton and defeat Wapol!
"Aim at those bastards holding Vivi and Mr. Dalton!" Usopp shouted with all his might, like a commander, "Let them see the power of the people of this country! Fire! Shoot!!"
"Aim at the soldier next to Mr. Dalton!!!"
"For this country!"
"Shoot now!!!"
The villagers roared. Their aim might not have been perfect, but they were numerous!
For a moment, bullets, arrows, and even stones were all hurled towards the few soldiers guarding Vivi and Dalton!
This sudden attack completely disrupted Wapol and his soldiers. Although the villagers' firepower wasn't fierce enough, the suppression and chaos they created were very real.
"Damn it! How did they suddenly appear?"
The soldiers, startled by the dense barrage of bullets, moved away from Vivi and Dalton. Some hurriedly raised their guns to return fire, while others began to seek cover.
"Everyone...!"
Dalton looked at the villagers who had taken up arms to fight for him, his eyes filled with tears and his heart with an indescribable excitement.
"Now's your chance!!!"
Usopp stood on the high ground, shouting hoarsely, clearly addressing his companions.
Almost as soon as Usopp's shout rang out, a figure who had not participated in the battle until now moved!
It was Tomioka!
The moment Usopp created a chaotic opening by firing with the villagers, his figure vanished from where he stood, leaving only a lingering afterimage.
Tomioka's speed reached its peak, like a fish swimming through a stream, flashing through the gaps in the flying bullets and chaotic crowd.
"Water Breathing, Third Form: Flowing Dance!"
He let out a low cry, bringing with him a nimble aura of flowing water, striking down all the soldiers around the hostages with hand-blades, instantly cutting into the space next to Vivi and Dalton.
A flash of a blade! The thick ropes binding the two of them were instantly severed!
"Tomioka! You're here!!" Vivi felt her arms loosen. She looked at Tomioka's calm profile and exclaimed excitedly.
Dalton looked at Tomioka and said in a deep voice, "Thank you!"
He had thought this group of pirates was not simple, but he had never imagined them to be so strong. He hadn't even clearly seen the swordsman's movements just now.
Tomioka looked at the surrounding soldiers who dared not make any moves. He revealed his blade, "Step back."
His words pierced the soldiers' ears sharply. But the soldiers still dared not move, simply because this person had been too fast.
Some even obediently followed Tomioka's words, stepping back two paces.
Luffy looked at the now safe Vivi and Dalton, and his suppressed rage exploded!
His eyes became incredibly terrifying, glaring fixedly at Wapol, who was still frantically shooting, "You... you actually...!"
Luffy's voice was low due to extreme anger.
"Tch! It doesn't matter! Then I'll just finish you all off!" Wapol saw that the hostage plan had failed, but he had already transformed into the Munch-Munch Factory and intended to directly deal with these commoners.
He then retracted some of the gun barrels on his body, transforming them into countless sharp swords!
"Munch-Munch Factory: Blade Factory!"
Waving his giant arms covered in swords, he charged at Luffy like a moving mountain of blades!
But even facing these blades, Luffy did not retreat a single step. His rubber arms stretched back: "Gum-Gum Rocket!"
Two giant rubber fists struck Wapol with immense force!
However, Wapol had no intention of dodging. Instead, he crossed his sword-covered arms to block and met the attack!
Splat!
Though Luffy's rubber fists were immensely powerful, making Wapol stumble back a few steps, his fists also slammed hard against the sharp blades, instantly getting several cuts!
"Ugh! Damn it!"
Luffy immediately felt pain and quickly retracted his arms.
"Bah ha ha ha ha! So you're afraid of this, huh?" Wapol saw this and let out a triumphant cackle.
"I've found your weakness, Straw Hat! Die!!!" He waved his sword-covered arms even more frantically, pressing forward step by step, getting closer to Luffy.
Luffy looked at his bleeding arm, then at the cackling Wapol. He didn't lose his temper due to the pain; instead, he became calmer.
He looked at the snow in front of him. If he used this well, and then in a place where he couldn't be seen... "Gum-Gum Rocket!"
Facing Wapol, Luffy used the same move again, slamming his palms into the large expanse of snow in front of him!
Boom!!!
The immense impact blasted the thick snow high into the sky, like a white curtain, instantly obscuring Wapol's entire vision!
"What?! I can't see!" Wapol's vision was completely white, and his movements involuntarily paused.
In that instant when his vision was obscured, Luffy stomped on the ground, directly sprinting around to Wapol's side and rear!
"Gum-Gum!!! Gatling!"
Countless fists poured out from Wapol's blind spot! Bang bang bang bang bang! They slammed fiercely into that tin-factory body!
"Ugh ah ah!"
Wapol was hit so hard he became disoriented, and the swords and gun barrels on his body twisted under the violent barrage!
"Gum-Gum Whip!"
Luffy delivered another sweeping blow, heavily striking Wapol's lower body, causing his massive frame to completely lose balance and fall backward.
Fear finally appeared in Wapol's eyes. Seeing Straw Hat powering up, he tried to struggle and dodge, but it was already too late.
Luffy stretched his two rubber arms back to their limit, all his strength concentrated there. His eyes burned with the flames of anger as he roared:
"Gum-Gum!"
"Rocket!!!"
His palms pressed together, carrying an unstoppable momentum, and slammed squarely into the center of Wapol's transformed body!
"No—!!!"
Wapol only managed to let out a scream.
Boom!!!!!!!!!!
Amidst the deafening roar, Wapol's body was completely sent flying by this irresistible force, becoming a blurry streak.
Under the gaze of the crowd, a mix of shock and satisfaction, he flew far over the castle, tracing a long arc, and finally disappeared into the distant horizon.