Facing Rob Lucci, who had learned Haki and had mastered Rokushiki to its peak, Luffy, who had just developed his Gear 2 and Gear 3 techniques, was simply no match. He was on the defensive the entire time, barely managing to parry.
Later, the Marine Buster Call warships were bombarding Enies Lobby. Although the Straw Hats had defeated the other CP9 members, they were forced onto the Bridge of Hesitation, awaiting Luffy.
However, Luffy couldn't defeat Lucci. He was repeatedly battered by heavy punches hardened with Armament Haki and the Rokushiki ultimate technique, Rokuogan, making it impossible for him to break free.
It was precisely at that critical moment that the Marine Buster Call warships had completed their task of destroying Enies Lobby and turned to eliminate the Straw Hats.
The two hundred-man officer squad previously dispatched by the Buster Call fleet to eliminate the Straw Hats suffered heavy losses and achieved nothing. Therefore, the entire Buster Call fleet directly surrounded the Bridge of Hesitation and began bombarding the entire bridge, attempting to bury the Straw Hats.
It was due to this barrage that a large number of cannonballs destroyed the area where Luffy and Lucci were fighting. Because of Luffy's rubber body, he was unfazed by the solid cannonballs and managed to escape. However, Lucci, being flesh and blood, was delayed, even though his Tekkai could block the cannonballs without injury.
The result was that the Straw Hats were able to board the Going Merry, now controlled by the ship spirit, and successfully left Enies Lobby.
It goes without saying that Lucci must have been cursing the Marines furiously in his heart at that time: You damn idiot teammates! What a colossal mistake!
"I see." Aeridar nodded thoughtfully.
It seemed that Lucci, after five years of undercover work, hadn't developed his Haki to a very high level, otherwise he wouldn't have failed to quickly defeat a rookie-era Luffy.
And it was as if an invisible, colossal hand was correcting the trajectory of history, forcing everything back to the original point.
'The general trend cannot be changed, but minor details can be changed? Damn it, this ain't the Primordial Era!'
For a moment, Aeridar felt a chill run through him. Was he also being manipulated by this invisible hand?
Shaking his head quickly to clear away the messy thoughts, Aeridar fixed his gaze on Luffy. "Monkey D. Luffy, you're still a long way from becoming the Pirate King. Remember this: There is always someone better than you!"
As his voice faded, Aeridar vanished from the spot instantly.
"He disappeared!"
Everyone was startled.
"Alright, that's just his ability," Garp waved his hand helplessly. "Honestly, why did you have to go and offend that brat?"
"Sugoi! Instant Movement!" Completely ignoring Garp's last remark, Luffy and Chopper's eyes shone with admiration.
"Um… Vice Admiral Garp, who is the Backan the other person mentioned? Is he very strong?" Unlike Luffy and Chopper, Nami raised her hand and asked worriedly.
"The Chris Pirates have seven main combat teams, and every Commander is a renowned pirate. Although Enel was also a Commander-level cadre, he was treated separately, like the First Mate of the Chris Pirates," Garp explained seriously. "Diego Backan, Commander of the Fourth Division, possesses natural superhuman strength, coupled with the Paramecia-type Rust-Rust Fruit. He has the ability to rust all metal, and even human bodies. The pirates who have died by his hand are innumerable; even those with a bounty over a hundred million have lost their lives to him no less than a thousand times."
"Hiss…"
The Straw Hats gasped, taking a sharp breath.
"Mountain Axe Backan and Angus Abel are known by the outside world as the 'Guardian Gods' of the Chris Pirates, specifically stationed at the two major ports of the Clifford Kingdom. I didn't expect him to be the one sent out this time." Although Garp sounded unconcerned, there was a hint of relief in his tone. "Fortunately, that man promised only to teach you a lesson, allowing you to truly witness the cruelty and terror of the sea. Otherwise, your fate would have been total annihilation."
"Waaah, waaaah~ It's too scary! Can I just stay here?!" Nami hugged Chopper, and the two cried despairingly.
"Too scary! Too scary! I think I've caught the 'can't-sail-out' disease!" Usopp, who had witnessed everything from start to finish not far away, was now lying on the ground, playing dead.
"Tch, what's the big deal? Damn it!" Zoro gritted his teeth in frustration.
"Hoo… We are still too weak, especially compared to a top-tier world power like this," Sanji lowered his head, smoking a cigarette, his fists clenched tight.
"It can't be helped. To us, they are a behemoth that could easily crush us. This result is already the best we could have hoped for," Robin shook her head, resignedly. "I vaguely learned a bit when I was with Crocodile. That man's power isn't just what's on the surface; his influence in the shadows is also incredibly vast, so much so that what I know is just the tip of the iceberg."
"I have no idea where that Golden Ring brat found such a troublesome collection of people—a top-tier swordsman, a Paramecia Bomb-Bomb Fruit user, a Logia Rumble-Rumble user… Each one is more troublesome than the last," Garp sighed, shaking his head.
The high-level combat power of the Chris Pirates was formidable, only lacking a central fighter comparable to a Yonko when compared to a Yonko crew. Furthermore, with that guy's strength and ability, it was almost impossible for anyone in the world to kill him.
Pere pere pere… Pere pere pere…
"Vice Admiral Garp! Fleet Admiral Sengoku is calling!" Suddenly, a Marine ran over, holding a Den Den Mushi.
"Garp! Why are you fighting God Enel in Water 7?! Are you trying to sink the place?! Give me an explanation! My complaint line is about to explode right now! You idiot!" The Den Den Mushi was thrashing and roaring, perfectly conveying Sengoku's towering fury, his "spit" nearly splattering Garp's face.
....
Three days before the Straw Hat Pirates' new bounties spread across the world, causing shock and becoming a hot topic, an event occurred on a certain island.
Banaro Island.
The streets in the center of the small town were deserted. Many houses were damaged and in ruins, and there were several corpses—clear evidence of a pirate attack.
A strange group of five people stood on the street. One large man was carrying a massive bundle, a sickly-looking doctor was riding a horse, a sniper held a long rifle, an unusually dressed navigator looked like a mime, and the leader was a rough-looking, strongly built middle-aged man standing with his foot on a male corpse.
The Blackbeard Pirates, have arrived!
Clap!
Seeing that the supplies were replenished and the next target for their plan had been chosen, Teach kicked the corpse under his foot away. He and his four companions, Lafitte and the others, prepared to leave the town.
"Oi! Hold up, Teach. I've been looking for you."
Suddenly, a voice rang out from the side.
Teach and the others were startled and stopped, turning to look. Teach felt the voice was particularly familiar.
However, when Teach saw the man on the nearby rooftop, his heart gave a violent leap.
Staring blankly at the man for a few seconds, Teach broke into a wide smile. "Oh, Ace… Commander!"
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