Seeing the wild grin on Jin's face, Kizaru said:
"Kid…"
"Don't underestimate a Marine Admiral."
As he spoke, he raised his hand. A radiant mirror of light formed before him, angled toward the shrinking gap above.
"You think this can trap me?"
"I am light."
"Whoosh—!"
His body dissolved into a beam and shot upward, slipping cleanly through the closing opening of the massive water sphere.
"…Tch."
Jin spat as he watched Kizaru escape.
"Of course it wouldn't be that easy."
Light… was truly troublesome.
The next instant—
The water dome fully sealed.
"BOOM!!"
Seawater flooded inward, forming a colossal spherical domain.
Within it—
"Water Style: Dance of the Swimming Fish!"
A thin membrane coated Jin's body as he floated at the very center.
Then—
He raised a middle finger toward the sky.
"…Hmm?"
Kizaru scratched his head.
"…Childish provocation."
He glanced down at the vast water prison.
"If Akainu were here… he might actually get trapped."
Magma could break through—but it might not be fast enough.
Or worse…
He might drown.
"…Lucky me."
Just then—
Distant explosions echoed.
"BOOM!!"
"BOOM!!"
"BOOM!!"
Kizaru turned.
Pacifista beams.
'So they've been caught…'
Maybe Akainu wouldn't even need to intervene.
Suddenly—
A razor-thin high-pressure water jet shot up!
"Oh~"
Kizaru leaned back, dodging effortlessly, then rose higher as the stream swept past.
"…Fast."
Below, Jin frowned.
'Not easy to land a hit…'
Still—
That wasn't the goal.
Delay.
And inside this ocean sphere—
Kizaru couldn't come in.
Jin grinned.
"Your turn's over."
Kizaru raised both hands.
"Double… Laser."
Two beams shot downward—
"WHOOSH—!"
"Water Style: Water Body Flicker!"
Jin vanished like teleportation.
"…What?"
Even Kizaru paused.
"Speed… comparable to teleportation?"
Was it water-dependent?
…Interesting.
"Then let's test it."
He raised both hands again.
"Yasakani no Magatama!"
"DADADADADA—!"
A storm of light bullets rained down.
"BOOM!!"
"BOOM!!"
"BOOM!!"
Relentless.
Jin was forced to dodge continuously.
'What terrifying firepower…'
Without his water-speed—
He'd be dead already.
Looking up—
Kizaru seemed…
Unbothered.
'He's not even serious…'
Annoying.
The lasers kept pounding the surface—
Cratering—
Only for the water to refill instantly.
"…Interesting technique."
Kizaru's eyes narrowed.
"…Then I'll just evaporate it."
The barrage intensified.
Steam began to rise—
Seawater evaporating rapidly.
Jin's eyes sharpened.
'So that's his plan…'
Dry out the domain.
"…Fine."
As long as Kizaru stayed here—
Luffy and the others had time.
Elsewhere — Area 12
"Damn it!" Usopp screamed. "Why are they only chasing us?!"
Two more Pacifistas stood before them.
"Stop whining," Franky spat. "We killed three Celestial Dragons. Of course they're after us!"
He charged again.
"Strong Right!"
"BANG!"
The Pacifista staggered.
"Jin bought us time—we're not wasting it!"
"Diable Jambe!"
Sanji dashed in.
"Hell Memories!"
"BOOM!!"
The Pacifista was blasted back—
Smashing into rock.
"Sanji, help Luffy and Zoro!" Franky shouted.
"Split attacks won't work—we need to focus one down!"
"…Got it."
Sanji moved immediately.
Meanwhile—
"Everyone—hold it here!" Franky barked.
"Got it!"
Chopper transformed—
Usopp fired—
Robin restrained—
Brook struck—
They stalled the second unit.
On the other side—
"Nice setup!" Zoro growled.
"Demon Aura… Nine-Sword Style!"
"ASURA!"
"SLASH!!"
A devastating strike—
Cut into the Pacifista.
It trembled—
But—
Recovered.
"…What?!"
Even after that—it moved.
A laser charged—
Zoro leapt away—
"BOOM!!"
Then—
From above—
"Gear Third!"
Luffy's arm expanded massively.
"Gomu Gomu no… Gigant Pistol!"
"BOOM!!"
The blow crushed the Pacifista into the ground.
"BZZZT…!"
It convulsed—
Then—
Stopped.
"…Finally," Zoro panted.
"No time," Sanji said. "Help the others."
They rushed back.
"NOW!" Franky roared.
"Maximum… Coup de Vent!"
"BOOM!!"
The second Pacifista was blasted away—
Crashing through trees—
Sparking.
"…Did we… win?"
They exhaled—
For a moment—
Relief.
Then—
"…Wait."
It stood up again.
"…You've got to be kidding me!!" Usopp screamed.
"…We can't keep this up," Sanji said.
"Luffy—Zoro—we draw it away."
"Nami, you all run!"
"…Okay."
No hesitation.
"MOVE!"
They split.
Nami carried Merry.
"Survive!" Usopp shouted.
"Yeah!" Luffy grinned.
Then—
They saw it.
Another figure.
Holding a book.
Zoro's eyes widened.
"…No."
"That's not a Pacifista."
"…That's the real one."
"Bartholomew Kuma."
"…What?"
Sanji froze.
After everything—
The real Warlord… had arrived.
Kuma calmly removed his glove.
"…If you could travel…"
"Where would you like to go?"
"…Huh?"
Franky blinked—
Then—
"Pop."
He vanished.
"…!"
"FRANKY!!!"
Rage exploded.
Luffy charged—
Punch—
Repelled instantly.
Kuma didn't react.
Another step—
Zoro—
Gone.
"ZORO!!!"
One by one—
They were disappearing.
Before their eyes.
Unstoppable.
Unbeatable.
"…We can't win…"
Despair filled Nami's chest.
Then—
She saw it.
A small tree hollow.
"…Merry."
She looked at her.
"…You have to live."
"…What?"
"I can call Jin—"
"No."
Nami shook her head.
"If we call him now… the Admiral will come too."
"Then it's over."
She activated Mirage Tempo—
Hid their presence—
And placed Merry inside.
"We'll draw them away."
"Don't make a sound."
"…Nami…"
"…Be good."
She forced herself—
And turned away.
"RUN!"
The crew scattered.
"…Nami…"
Inside the hollow—
Merry trembled—
Tears falling silently.
Outside—
Voices—
One by one—
Disappearing.
Luffy shouting names—
Then silence.
"…Why…"
"…Why is this happening…"
In that moment—
Only despair remained.
◇ I'll be dropping one bonus chapters for every 10 reviews. comment
◇ One bonus chapter will be released for every 100 Power Stones.
◇ You can read the ahead chapter on P@treon if you're interested:
patreon.com/ZoroTL442