The immense pressure gathering in the sky finally erupted—so suffocating it shattered everyone's nerves.
"Run! Run now or we're all dead!"
Someone screamed.
In the next instant, Capone, Urouge—even the ever-defiant Kid—abandoned all pride and bolted.
Their will to fight had completely evaporated.
But they had barely taken a few steps when a devastating shockwave came crashing down from above.
BOOM!
A massive explosion swept across the plaza like a hurricane.
Everything within several kilometers was flattened as if made of paper.
The Marines who had fled earlier now felt nothing but relief at their decision.
Watching the so-called Worst Generation crumble like straw before Luo Yu, they finally understood why the tactical order had been a single word:
"Retreat."
Dust and debris stormed across Grove 1.
Countless bodies were hurled like cannonballs, slamming into cliffs and mountains.
Some coughed up blood and fell unconscious—life or death uncertain.
Luffy and Trafalgar Law, who had chosen to flee from the start, turned pale at the sight.
Without a second thought, they turned and ran again.
Zoro and the others, who had hoped to regain confidence by fighting the Marines, instantly abandoned that idea.
"Luffy, duck!"
An aged voice rang out.
Rayleigh, sword in hand, dashed in from the distance.
BOOM!
Two figures collided midair, sending shockwaves that knocked Luffy and the others off their feet.
As they scrambled to stand, they turned to see—
Rayleigh and Luo Yu had clashed.
Rayleigh, no longer the scruffy old man from before, stood firm with his blade drawn, blocking the Hundred-Armed Kannon behind Luo Yu.
"Heh… Luo Yu, didn't expect we'd meet again so soon," Rayleigh chuckled.
"You promised me—if Shakky helped you gather intel, you wouldn't lay a hand on the ones I want to protect."
"This time, I want to protect young Luffy. You don't mind, do you?"
Luffy and the others were stunned.
They never imagined this old man had ties to a Marine Admiral.
More shocking—he had just blocked Luo Yu's attack.
Even if Luo Yu hadn't gone all out, it was still far beyond what the Supernovas could handle.
"Rayleigh, still playing the good guy, huh?"
Luo Yu took a swig of his earthy liquor, glanced at Luffy, and said:
"Relax. I'm here for the Celestial Dragon. That guy ran off with a ten-million-Berry bounty, and I'm off duty in a few minutes."
"By the way, these kids just came from Thriller Bark, right? You haven't told them about that yet?"
He had thought his arrival would derail the Supernova convergence.
But somehow, the story still found its way here.
"You bastard. How am I supposed to bring that up?"
Rayleigh sighed.
"You know Luffy's personality. If he finds out here, he'll rush to his death."
"I was planning to tell them after they left."
"Also, thanks for stirring up Kaido. Otherwise, I'd have had to go meet Shanks to stop him from ambushing Whitebeard."
"You teamed up with Shanks?"
Luo Yu raised an eyebrow.
He'd always suspected something was off when Rayleigh didn't appear at Marineford.
Now it made sense.
Shanks may have taken credit for repelling Kaido's forces, but the real effort likely came from Rayleigh—and perhaps other remnants of the Roger Pirates.
Otherwise, Kaido wouldn't have backed off so easily.
And Whitebeard wouldn't have marched into Marineford with such confidence.
"Heh, not exactly a team-up," Rayleigh said, sheathing his sword.
"Just paying back a debt to Roger. It was time."
"So… all the Supernovas are fleeing. You're not going after them?"
Luo Yu shook his head.
"Not worth the bounty. I don't do cheap jobs."
"First, I need to find that Celestial Dragon."
With that, Luo Yu unleashed his Observation Haki, sweeping across the entire Grove 1.
His expression shifted slightly.
Meanwhile, at the island's harbor—
Fujitora sat calmly outside a shop, cane in hand, eating dango.
Beside him sat a shirtless man in sunglasses, draped in a green cloak.
"Yo, Fujitora! Didn't expect to see you here."
"You didn't come to backstab the Admiral, did you?"
The man laughed boisterously.
"Don't worry. That new Admiral's flashy, sure—but once I make my move, he'll be nothing but fuel."
"I haven't eaten in over two years. It's been… unpleasant."
"Oh, and didn't Fleet Admiral Sengoku invite you to be a special combatant too? Didn't think you'd reject it like I did."
"Let me guess—you don't like the new guy's style either?"
Fujitora lifted his eyelids slightly and smiled.
"Aramaki, you haven't changed. Still loyal to the Celestial Dragons."
"But don't worry—I'm not here to help you."
"Haha! That's all I needed to hear."
Aramaki crossed his legs and laughed.
"I don't want people saying I needed help after I crush that Admiral."
"Perfect timing, too. Looks like our Celestial Dragon friend has finally been found."
In the distance, Saint Charlos—bloodied and disheveled—was being escorted by Spandam.
Aramaki's face darkened.
As a die-hard Celestial Dragon loyalist, seeing one of them disgraced and humiliated was his ultimate trigger.
A World Noble—supposed to be above all—reduced to this?
His expression turned stormy.