Chapter 142: The Final Dash – Buster Call & Merry's Last Voyage
"Alright, now all that's left for a happy ending is a ship. Get ready to break through!" Sol stepped forward and instructed the group.
"Yeah! We're stealing a warship to escape, right?" Luffy grinned, cracking his knuckles.
Hearing the two captains, everyone quickly lined up. Usopp put his mask back on and pointed at the nearest warship: "How about that one?"
"Hehe, then let's get moving, little ones!" Luffy shouted and charged ahead first.
At that moment, Onigumo and the others, who had already returned to their warships, had gathered over two hundred elite troops above the rank of Major. They stood ready, prepared to stop the Straw Hats. The rest of the Navy continued their bombardment, determined to completely destroy Enies Lobby.
Momonga lit his cigar, took a deep drag, and said, "I never thought the kid who used to follow Vice Admiral Garp would become this strong."
"You think Vice Admiral Garp's words 'the hope of the Navy' were about someone else? If not for that incident, we wouldn't be in this situation today," Onigumo couldn't help but complain.
"Enough talk. Although we're indeed no match for that kid, if we let them leave without doing anything, justice will weep," Strawberry said in a deep voice.
Onigumo and the others stopped talking. They all stood ready, determined to block Sol and his crew from leaving.
Whoosh—BOOM!
Another cannonball was hurled by Sol's manipulated gale and exploded on the distant sea surface. Realizing the Straw Hats intended to seize a ship, the nearest warship immediately began moving away while firing fiercely at the Hesitation Bridge, trying to sink them completely.
By the time Sol's group reached the end of the bridge, the warships had already pulled back to a distance. The only ones still in place were Onigumo and several other Vice Admirals along with a full two hundred elite troops.
"Charge! Annihilate the Straw Hats!" Doberman drew his sword and gave the order loudly.
"Damn it, get out of my way!" Luffy entered Second Gear and punched the nearest Marine flying. He then twisted his waist to dodge several more attacks. Zoro and Sanji immediately rushed forward to support him. "Be careful—these guys are all elites. They're on a completely different level from the Navy we've fought before."
"Firebird Star!"
BOOM! Usopp spotted a sniper preparing to shoot from afar and took him out with a single shot. "Alright, one down."
"Rubber Rubber Jet Gatling!" Luffy's arms turned into countless afterimages, knocking back the Marines trying to surround them. Steam swirled around his body— in Second Gear, he looked like a red lightning bolt.
Zoro swung all three swords, weaving an airtight net of blade light. "360 Pound Cannon!" The powerful slashes sent charging Marines and their weapons flying. He glanced to the side: "Curly Brows, don't fall behind!"
"Shut up!" Sanji leaped into the air, his right leg trailing scorching flames. "Diable Jambe – Barbecue Set Meal!" A series of elegant kicks accurately struck the enemies trying to flank them. The air instantly filled with the smell of burning.
Chopper swallowed a Rumble Ball, his body swelling massively: "Arm Strength Enhancement – Hoof Stamp!" His giant hoof smashed a burly Marine charging with a sword straight into the ground. Behind him, Robin crossed her arms: "Cien Fleur – Claw!" Countless arms sprouted from the Marines, precisely locking their throats and disarming them, instantly neutralizing many enemies.
Franky combined both arms into cannon barrels: "Wind Come Cannon!" The powerful shockwave sent the frontal squad flying. "SUPER!"
Although Vivi didn't join the high-intensity fighting directly, she used the Tempest Kick she had only recently learned to defeat several Marines attempting a sneak attack. Nami then entered her hybrid form, gathering electricity, and fired a small-scale lightning bolt that precisely struck a Marine trying to shoot, making him convulse all over. Even Karoo kept kicking Marines unconscious with his webbed feet.
"Damn it… these guys are so tough!" Shuen saw his comrades being pushed back and decided to deal with the enemy swordsman first. He coated both hands with his rust ability and charged at Zoro, intending to corrode his weapons.
"Hm?" Zoro's Observation Haki sent a warning. He quickly scanned the battlefield and noticed Shuen charging empty-handed. To be safe, he immediately coated his swords with Armament Haki and met the attack.
"I'll take your weapons!" Shuen said, but was immediately knocked to the ground by Zoro's backhand slash.
"Devil Fruit user?" Zoro snorted coldly. "But with Haki, I won't let your ability succeed so easily! Everyone, be careful—there are troublesome ability users mixed in with the Navy!"
"No need for you to remind me! Diable Jambe – First-Class Mince!" Sanji leaped into the air and delivered a heavy kick that accurately struck Berigood, who was splitting his body into balls to attempt a sneak attack, sending him flying.
After Berigood lost consciousness, his split body automatically returned to normal.
Usopp had been anxiously scanning the area. The Navy had clearly anticipated their intention—the warships in the nearby waters had already pulled back, leaving no ships to seize. At that moment, he suddenly froze, as if catching a faint but familiar call amid the cannon fire and shouts.
He instinctively tilted his head, narrowly dodging a Marine's downward sword strike.
"I got him!" Chopper delivered a Hoof Stamp that knocked down the enemy approaching Usopp. "Usopp, what are you spacing out for?! It's dangerous!"
"I think… no, it's definitely Merry's voice!" Usopp's Observation Haki awakened at that moment, clearly picking out the Going Merry's call from the chaos. "It's Merry! Merry has come to pick us up!"
He suddenly turned to his companions and shouted at the top of his lungs: "Everyone! Prepare to evacuate! Jump off the bridge together—Merry is here to receive us!"
Hearing this, Sol didn't hesitate. He entered his Thunder Flame Dragon mode, his overwhelming presence instantly sweeping the battlefield: "Take this! Thunder Flame Dragon's Roar!"
A destructive energy blast wrapped in lightning and flames roared toward the Navy formation!
"Not good! Defend with everything you've got!" Onigumo roared, immediately using Life Return. His hair moved like living things, wrapping around nearby soldiers' swords as he swung out eight fierce slashes. Doberman and the other Vice Admirals also unleashed their strongest techniques, combining their power to meet the attack!
"Now! Jump! We're going home!" Luffy shouted at the perfect moment. The Straw Hats jumped off the bridge like dumplings into a pot without hesitation. Sol took one last glance at the Navy standing ready and laughed loudly: "Farewell!" Then he leaped down as well.
In midair, Luffy stretched out his arms and pulled his scattered companions back to him. Just before they landed on the Merry's deck, he took a deep breath: "Rubber Balloon!"
His soft rubber body effectively cushioned the impact of the fall. The moment everyone landed, Nami was already running to the helm: "All hands on deck! Raise the sails! We're getting out of here at full speed!"
--------------------------
Support us on P@tre0n and gain access to 100 chapters in advance!
[email protected]/inkshield