Chapter 171: Destination! The Final Miracle of That Ship
With Lucci's defeat, all members of CP9, who symbolized the dark justice of the World Government, were wiped out.
The members of the Straw Hat Pirates supported Luffy, who was covered in wounds but still desperately trying to stand up.
Protecting the recently reclaimed Robin, they rushed out of that crumbling tall tower.
However, what greeted them was not the dawn of victory.
"BOOM!!!!"
With a loud crash, the only escape route to the Gates of Justice—the Bridge of Hesitation—was blown apart fifty meters ahead.
It was a bombardment launched by the Marine fleet that had already surrounded Enies Lobby.
Although the Buster Call was forcibly cut off by Tatsuya, the ten thousand Marine elites stationed on the island...
...as well as several Headquarters warships that had come to support, still formed a wall-like encirclement.
"Don't let them escape!!"
"Straw Hat Luffy has lost his combat power! Everyone, fire!!"
Densely packed muzzles, like a black forest, pointed from all directions at the Straw Hat who were forced to the edge of the broken bridge.
Countless cannonballs exploded around them, kicking up a sky full of rubble and dust.
"Damn it!!"
Franky looked at the broken bridge ahead and the bottomless whirlpool sea below, his eyes behind his sunglasses bloodshot:
"There's no way out!! These bastards blew up the bridge!
"Are we supposed to swim back? Below is a giant whirlpool that can swallow everything!"
"Luffy... Luffy can't move!"
Chopper cried out while carrying the completely limp Luffy:
"The battle just now overtaxed all of his physical strength. If he isn't treated soon..."
Robin watched the approaching Marines, gritted her teeth, and crossed her arms over her chest:
"If it's to protect everyone, I can once again..."
"Shut up, Robin."
Tatsuya interrupted her coldly: "Since we've taken you back, there's no reason to return you."
"It's just that... the situation is indeed not very good."
Sanji lit a cigarette and watched the ten thousand Marines closing the circle, his brow furrowed.
"With this many, even if I kicked until my legs broke, I wouldn't be able to kill them all."
A dead end.
A broken bridge ahead, pursuers behind, and an abyss below.
Tatsuya stood at the very edge of the broken bridge.
He was the Vice Captain.
As long as the Captain had fallen, the responsibility of protecting everyone was on his shoulders.
"Phew..."
Tatsuya took a deep breath of the smoke-filled air and slowly raised his right hand.
His gaze became determined and cold.
"Zoro, Sanji, get everyone ready."
"I will use my last bit of Chakra to blast a path through the encirclement over there.
"It might not clear them all, but it will be enough for you to rush out and hijack a warship."
"Tatsuya?! What are you trying to do?!" Nami grabbed the corner of his clothes in terror, "Don't..."
"Don't worry about me. This is an order."
Tatsuya said with a smile:
"Someone has to cover the retreat. I am the Vice Captain."
Saying so, Tatsuya was about to form seals.
At this critical moment.
"Wait a minute!!!!"
A sob-filled yet incredibly excited shout forcefully interrupted Tatsuya's movements.
It was Usopp, who had been following behind.
At this moment, his body was no longer trembling, and his hands were tightly gripping the edge of that sun mask.
His ears were perked up high, as if he were listening to a sound that no one else could hear.
The sound of the wind?
The sound of the rain?
The sound of gunfire?
No... it wasn't those.
Beneath that noisy battlefield din, there was a faint sound that struck the soul directly.
It penetrated the wind, penetrated the waves, and clearly reached his ears.
"No... it's not needed anymore, Tatsuya!!"
Usopp suddenly tore off that mask he had been using to disguise himself, revealing a face covered in tears and snot.
He was no longer Sniper King; he was Usopp.
The sniper of the Straw Hat Pirates.
"It's here...!!!!"
Usopp rushed to the edge of the broken bridge, pointed at the surging sea below, and shouted hysterically:
"It's come to get us!!!!!"
"Huh? What are you talking about, Usopp! There's only the sea down there!" Zoro frowned.
"Can't you hear it?! Can't you all hear it?!"
Usopp pointed at the sea, crying like a child:
"It's speaking!!! It said, 'Even if it's only for a moment, I want to help everyone one more time'!!!"
At this very moment.
A miracle happened.
In everyone's mind, a youthful, gentle, yet incredibly firm voice rang out.
It was a sound as crisp as wind chimes and as familiar as the creaking of wooden planks:
[Jump down!]
[Jump down! Everyone!!]
[Once more... return to the sea! I've come to get you!]
That voice even drowned out the Marines' war cries and the roar of the cannons.
Luffy, who had been unconscious, suddenly snapped his eyes open at that moment.
Although his body could not move, an amazing brilliance erupted in those eyes.
He heard it.
It was the voice of his most familiar companion.
"Everyone----!!!!"
Luffy used the last bit of strength in his entire body to issue the Captain's command:
"Jump into the sea!!!!!"
Without any hesitation.
Even if it was a bottomless abyss below, even if it was a certain-death whirlpool.
Because this was the Captain's order, and even more so, an unconditional trust in that voice.
"Go!!!!"
Zoro held Luffy, Tatsuya pulled Nami, Sanji took Chopper and Usopp, and Robin followed closely behind.
Even the Franky Family and the giants were affected by this atmosphere.
Everyone, leap!
"Are they crazy?!" the Marines exclaimed, "That's suicide!!"
Whoosh—
The sound of wind whistled in their ears, their bodies falling at high speed.
Below were black waves capable of swallowing everything.
Closer.
Even closer.
At the very moment everyone was about to fall into the water.
They did not meet a cold sense of suffocation.
"Thud!" "Thud!" "Thud!"
Instead, there were muffled but warm sounds of impact.
It was the sound of soles stepping on wooden planks.
It was... the touch of home.
The smoke cleared, and the waves parted.
Amidst those surging billows, a battered small ship was quietly resting there, catching the companions who had fallen from the sky.
Although its main mast was broken and could only be supported by temporarily repaired planks.
Although its hull was covered in patches and its keel let out an overburdened groan.
But.
On the bow, that familiar sheep head still wore that simple and charming smile, as if saying: "Welcome home."
Going Merry!
"Merry... Merry..."
Nami knelt on the deck, stroking the familiar railing, covering her mouth as she wept uncontrollably.
"It's really the going merry..." Chopper looked around in disbelief.
"Wasn't it... unable to sail anymore?"
"Idiot..." Zoro sheathed his sword, but a gentle curve formed at the corner of his mouth, "It's our companion, after all."
Usopp lay on the deck, already a mess of tears, his face pressed against the planks:
"Thank you... Merry... Thank you for coming to get us..."
Tatsuya was the last to land.
He crouched on the deck, cushioning the force of the fall.
Slowly standing up, Tatsuya didn't speak; in his vision...
This ship was not just a pile of wood and nails.
He saw it clearly.
Beside the broken steering wheel, a small figure was working hard to hold a wheel larger than its body.
It had large eyes and held a small wooden hammer in its hand, flashing a brilliant smile at Tatsuya.
The Ship Spirit.
That little fellow who had once repaired the hull on Skypiea, that soul that had been judged "dead" in Water 7.
At this moment, it was burning its final flame of life, driving this dilapidated body across the storms to come here.
"You... reckless fellow."
Tatsuya pursed his lips.
He looked at the Ship Spirit that only he could see, his voice as soft as if he were afraid of shattering this dream:
"Even though you were sentenced to death... even though the keel is already broken..."
"To think you could actually sail to a place like this on your own."
"Since you're here..."
Tatsuya walked to the helm: "Then take us home, Merry."
As if it understood Tatsuya's words, the little spirit in the raincoat nodded vigorously and tapped the wheel with its small wooden hammer.
"Hum—"
A miracle happened again.
Clearly there was no wind, clearly the sails were all tattered.
But the Going Merry suddenly accelerated as if pushed by an invisible giant hand.
"Hold on tight! Everyone!!"
Although Luffy couldn't move, everyone seemed to hear the Captain's voice.
"Hard to port!!"
Nami shouted subconsciously; although no one was at the helm, the ship nimbly tilted to the left, avoiding a flying cannonball.
"Charge!!!!"
The going merry was like a nimble fish, weaving through the dense web of cannon fire.
Carrying everyone, it forcefully broke through the encirclement formed by those ten thousand Marines.
"What's going on?! How can that ship move on its own?!"
"It's clearly in tatters! Why is it still moving!!"
The Marines watched in terror as that ghost-like ship sailed away, the guns in their hands seemingly becoming mere decorations.
As that massive "Gates of Justice" grew further and further away behind them, as the piercing searchlights of Enies Lobby were gradually swallowed by the night.
This shocking battle, fought to reclaim a companion at the cost of making the world an enemy...
Finally, at this moment...
...came to an end.
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