Marineford Bay.
On the ice-covered battlefield, a Marine roared, "Confirmed! It's the Straw Hat Pirates!"
"I saw Straw Hat Luffy on the ship!"
"That's... Cat Burglar Nami!"
"And Nico Robin!"
Compared to Straw Hat Luffy, most Marines were more focused on Nami and Nico Robin.
Due to Luo Chen's influence, Luffy lacked much of his "resume."
Defeating Crocodile, the Enies Lobby incident, and the Celestial Dragon incident at Sabaody Archipelago hadn't occurred.
Therefore, Luffy and the Straw Hat crew's current fame was actually lower than Nami's, who had been following Luo Chen.
The Going Merry, modified by Franky, crashed heavily onto the ice.
Luffy climbed onto the bow, his gaze fixed on the execution platform at the far end of the battlefield.
He saw Ace, a smile appearing on his face. He took a deep breath and shouted, "Ace!"
"I'm here to save you!!!"
His voice echoed across the battlefield, reaching Ace on the execution platform.
Ace looked up in disbelief, staring ahead.
Seeing the familiar Going Merry, seeing the familiar figure on the bow, Ace's pupils trembled violently.
He hadn't expected Luffy to barge in.
With Luffy and the others' strength, they could play no role in a war of this scale.
Although Ace was touched, he was more concerned about his brother's safety.
He was just about to shout, to persuade Luffy to leave.
But his gaze suddenly froze.
The cabin door on the Going Merry's second deck opened, and a figure slowly walked out.
A black trench coat, a young and handsome face, a gentle temperament, completely out of place with the fighting pirates and Marines on the battlefield.
Ace couldn't believe his eyes.
'Luo Chen? How could he be here?'
'How could he walk out from the Going Merry's cabin?'
'Wasn't he imprisoned in Impel Down?'
When he left, he had seen Luo Chen bound by chains, locked in a cell.
This completely unexpected figure sent violent shockwaves through Ace's heart.
For a moment, he couldn't even utter the words to tell Luffy to leave.
The battlefield also fell strangely silent for an instant.
The clamorous shouts of battle from all around noticeably dropped a level.
Countless pairs of eyes turned toward the Going Merry's second deck.
No one was paying any attention to Luffy, Nami, Robin, and the others on the first deck.
Because the person on the second deck was completely unexpected by everyone!
Luo Chen!
Luo Chen, who had escaped from Admiral Aokiji, killed a Celestial Dragon, robbed the Heavenly Tribute, and injured two Marine Admirals in Water 7, had actually appeared!
Everyone knew that Luo Chen had recently been imprisoned in the world's number one prison, Impel Down.
How could he appear at Marineford? On the Straw Hat crew's ship?!
"Luo Chen! How is that possible? Is it really him?!"
"Is it twins? Wasn't he locked up in Impel Down?"
"Who is he really? Could it be... the one Admiral Aokiji caught before was also a fake?"
"..."
Marines, pirates, the Seven Warlords of the Sea... people from all factions looked over.
Many cried out in utter confusion.
Luo Chen's fame was too high.
From Alabasta to Star Island, then to Water 7, urgent newspaper reports had spread news of him to every corner of the sea.
Basically, no one didn't know Luo Chen.
At the edge of the battlefield, the Empress, who was preparing to leave, froze like a wooden statue.
Boa Hancock stared blankly at Luo Chen, a hint of joy appearing on her stunningly beautiful face.
'It really seems to be Luo Chen.'
Doflamingo, sitting on several pirate corpses, watched with great interest, curiosity showing in his eyes.
Below the execution platform, the two Admirals, Aokiji and Kizaru, had already stood up in shock.
Their gazes were fixed deadly on Luo Chen, their auras fluctuating violently.
Akainu remained seated firmly, but his brow was tightly furrowed.
Nearby, Garp and Tsuru wore expressions of utter astonishment.
Atop the execution platform, the Den Den Mushi microphone in Sengoku's hand hung limply in front of him. His hands trembled violently, completely uncontrollable.
His originally clear black and white, wise eyes were now faintly crimson, radiating a cold, furious killing intent.
Ace couldn't help but glance up at Fleet Admiral Sengoku.
Why did seeing Luo Chen cause such a violent emotional fluctuation in him?
It was as if Luo Chen was his father's killer.
'Strange... but if Luo Chen is here, is there a sliver of hope...' Ace couldn't help but feel a glimmer of extravagant hope.
Luo Chen's strength was definitely top-tier on this battlefield.
And arriving with Luffy and the others, he was surely an ally.
If Luo Chen made a move, could he really survive?
Ace raised his head, staring intently at Luo Chen.
Sengoku's slightly trembling voice sounded from the side.
"Aokiji, Kizaru..."
Before he could finish, the figures of Aokiji and Kizaru had already disappeared from below the execution platform.
Aokiji charged through the air using Moon Step.
Kizaru, however, turned into countless golden light particles, streaked across the sky, and reformed on the deck of the Going Merry.
His right leg flashed with golden light as he kicked out swiftly.
On the second deck, Luo Chen's clone tilted his head casually.
The golden laser grazed past his ear and hit the frozen, hundred-meter-tall wave to his right.
BOOM—!
The hundred-meter frozen wave erupted in crimson light and flames, and large chunks of ice rained down.
Kizaru swept his leg again.
Luo Chen's clone leaned back slightly. The golden laser obliterated the Going Merry's second-deck cabin.
Below on the first deck, Franky screamed uncontrollably in distress.
The Going Merry he had just finished modifying had been demolished.
Luo Chen's clone casually threw out a wooden spike.
Then, he activated the Flying Thunder God mark on the spike.
His figure instantly appeared on the ice surface a hundred meters away.
Kizaru turned to look, his expression extremely grave. He didn't even glance at Luffy and the others below.
He raised the Den Den Mushi on his wrist and said slowly, gravely, "It really is Luo Chen."
After the exchange, Kizaru was certain.
It was definitely Luo Chen's ability.
Observation Haki that predicts the future, and teleportation that required a medium.
His voice was transmitted via a special line into the ears of Aokiji, Akainu, Sengoku, Garp, Tsuru, and other Marine high command members.
Aokiji, who was rushing over using Moon Step, had an extremely ugly expression.
So ugly it turned ashen, almost green.
'How could this be?'
'We clearly locked Luo Chen in Impel Down. How could he appear outside again?'
'And he appeared during a live broadcast to the entire world!'
Aokiji felt his head buzzing, chaotic like it was about to explode.
He didn't dare think about the consequences.
Had the Marines deceived the people of the world yet again?
Sengoku's forcefully suppressed roar came through the Den Den Mushi into the ears of Aokiji, Kizaru, and the others:
"Kill him! Kill him right here!"
"Don't capture him! Don't lock him in Impel Down again! Kill him now!"
On the execution platform, the Den Den Mushi shell in Sengoku's hand was covered in cracks from his grip, his expression incredibly ugly.
If Ace wasn't beside him, if this wasn't a live broadcast to the whole world...
He would even step down personally to execute Luo Chen!
"Garp, you go too!" Sengoku shouted to Garp below the platform.
Garp nodded and charged through the sky using Moon Step.
He knew how serious Luo Chen's appearance here was.
It meant the Marines had been played by this person yet again.
The entire world would know that the whole Marine organization had been utterly humiliated twice by the same person.
'Locked in Impel Down?'
'Who exactly was locked up? What exactly was it?'
'The Marines can't even distinguish the real criminal. What prestige do they have left to uphold justice?'
"I must capture you!"
Garp stared at Luo Chen, who was surrounded by Aokiji and Kizaru, and said grimly in his heart.
[Reviews - Power St0nes - Comments are highly appreciated to keep me going.....(+50 chapters) patre0n.c0m/talecrafter]