Under the blazing sun of Alabasta, the Marine Captain Hina's flagship pushed through the river mouth, steadily approaching the Going Merry.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Several Marine warships opened fire once again, launching dozens of rotating black spears aimed directly at the Going Merry.
"Damn it, the same trick again! Leave the back to me! Gum-Gum Revolver!"
Luffy leapt into the air, grabbing the leading spear with both hands. With a wild spin, he redirected it like a hammer, crashing it into the others behind.
"Right flank's mine! Sky-Slicing Meat!"
Sanji vaulted upward, spinning mid-air, and with a flurry of kicks, deflected two spears while booting two others into the sea.
"The front! Two Sword Style: Four-Swing Air Slicing!"
Zoro crossed his blades—Wado Ichimonji and Yubashiri—and launched himself at the incoming spears. A storm of slashes tore through four of them, reducing them to splinters. Landing on a shattered piece, he flipped and returned to the deck of the Going Merry.
Shirogai, his body already elementalized into smoke, hovered above. Watching the final eight black spears approach, he chuckled.
"Guess the rest are mine."
His form spun rapidly, creating a vortex of swirling smoke. The spears were sucked in before they could touch the ship. With a massive smoky arm, Shirogai hurled them back at the attackers.
"Return the favor. Black Smoke: Ship-Shattering Black Spear!"
From one of the warships came a panicked cry.
"They're coming back! Everyone move!"
Too late.
Thud! Thud! Thud!
The spears punched through two Marine warships, sending sailors scrambling for lifeboats and leaping overboard. Water flooded through the cracked keels, and the massive vessels began to sink.
"The keel's gone! Abandon ship!"
Black uniforms and white caps scattered across the waves.
On her command ship, Hina's expression darkened.
"Not only did we fail to damage their ship, we lost two of ours. Hina is furious. Accelerate!"
On the Going Merry, Chopper lay on his belly, mouth wide in shock.
"They're sinking! Shirogai is incredible!"
From a nearby ship, Bon Clay's eyes lit up.
"A gap! The Marine's formation is broken. Quick! Everyone, head that way!"
He didn't forget the Straw Hats. "Now's your chance too!"
Luffy adjusted his hat and grinned.
"Hehe. Thanks, Bon Clay. But we're not running."
Bon Clay froze. "Huh?! What?"
"Rear right! A warship's approaching!"
Usopp, from the crow's nest, pointed through his scope. Hina's flagship loomed in the distance.
Shirogai landed beside him, expression calm.
"[Target detected: Cage-Cage Fruit user. Ability: generates iron cages from any body part to trap enemies.]"
A smirk curled on Shirogai's lips.
Another Devil Fruit user. Another ability to claim.
His gaze locked on the confident figure standing at the bow of the approaching ship. Pale pink hair tied in a clean part, black gloves, long coat, and violet-tinted sunglasses. A cigarette hung between her lips.
"Marine Captain, 'Black Cage' Hina."
Usopp panicked. "She's a Marine Captain?! Like that Smoke guy?! We're doomed!"
Luffy squinted. "She's like Smokey? Hah! She looks kinda strong."
Zoro drew Yubashiri, eager. "Marine Captain? Good. Let me try my blade."
Sanji swooned at the sight of her. "Such grace… Pink-haired angel! I must cook for her!"
Luffy chuckled on the railing. "I wonder who's stronger, her or the Smoke Man."
Shirogai answered calmly, "Smoker's stronger in a duel, but Hina's better at group combat. Much better."
Bon Clay, terrified the crew would provoke her, jumped aboard, dancing nervously. "You guys don't get it. She's strong and tricky! Her ability isn't brute strength—it's trapping. Once she gets you, you're stuck!"
He pointed urgently. "Even Shirogai can't stop all of them if more reinforcements arrive. We need to run while there's still time!"
Nami held out her hand to stop Zoro and Luffy.
"Don't forget—we're not done here."
Bon Clay blinked. "What? You have treasure at the East Port or something?"
He truly couldn't understand these people. A chance to escape and they were just standing there.
"Bon Clay -sama!" someone yelled from the Swanda Express. "Let's run!"
But Luffy was beaming.
"We're going to pick up a friend."
Bon Clay felt like lightning had struck him.
"All this trouble… just for a friend?"
Shirogai smiled. "Isn't that reason enough?"
"…A matter of course?"
Bon Clay stood motionless on the railing. He saw their sincerity, their fire. And in that fire, a long-forgotten spark inside him rekindled.
"Friends…"
He turned to his crew, eyes resolute.
"If I run away today… I'm no longer Bon Clay!"
Gasps erupted.
Even Luffy and Zoro stared at him, surprised.
"Listen up, Straw Hat! I've got a plan to help you pick up your friend and get out safely."
Tears welled in his eyes as he outlined the idea.
"We'll disguise ourselves as you. Let them chase us!"
Shirogai watched Bon Clay with quiet admiration.
"You're still you after all…"
Though Bon Clay now dressed flamboyantly and called himself 'I', he'd done the most manly thing imaginable.
"True Man" Bon Clay.
But perhaps… the salvation went both ways.
Sanji and Luffy had saved him, too—from becoming a tool of Crocodile, from drowning in guilt, from forgetting who he really was.
They reminded him of what it meant to be human.
…
From the Going Merry, black smoke spread across the water like a curtain.
"They're escaping!"
Hina remained calm.
"Throw flares. Illuminate the sea."
Flares lit up the blackened waters.
"Reporting! The duck ship is moving toward the gap! The Going Merry remains stationary!"
"They split up?"
Hina peered through her binoculars. The Going Merry was empty.
"Decoy?"
From another ship came a shout.
"Straw Hat, Zoro, and 'The Plunderer' Shirogai are all on the duck ship!"
"They abandoned the Going Merry! It's bait!"
Hina cursed.
"Smart move… Hina nearly fell for it. All ships! Turn! Reform the Black Spear Formation! After that duck ship!"
Warships peeled away, thundering past the empty Going Merry, giving chase to Bon Clay's Swanda Express, which now raced toward the break in the encirclement.
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Thanks for the Power stones 💙