"They've started mobilizing their agents…?"
Vivi's voice trembled as she gripped the ship's railing tightly.
"Those are the 'Billion Agents'! The elite forces of Baroque Works! The direct subordinates of the high-ranking officers!"
"Each of them is a professional killer who's survived for years in the Grand Line—they're on a completely different level from the bounty hunters at Whiskey Peak!"
"About two hundred people."
Nami quickly calculated based on the number of ships, her expression turning serious.
"And they're equipped with heavy artillery."
"Elites?"
Zoro let out a cold laugh as he slowly drew Wado Ichimonji. The blade gleamed under the sunlight with a chilling brilliance.
"In my eyes, they're nothing more than small fry."
"Exactly."
Sanji adjusted his tie, exhaling a puff of smoke with elegant indifference.
"Luffy, should we just wipe out these flies right here?"
Ronan looked at the enemy ships already adjusting their broadsides, their dark cannon barrels locked onto the Going Merry.
"We don't have a choice."
His voice was calm but firm.
"They're clearly not planning to let us leave alive."
"Fire!! Sink those pirates!!"
A shrill whistle echoed from the enemy fleet.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
In an instant, all twelve warships opened fire.
Dozens of black cannonballs tore through the sky, shrieking as they descended like a meteor shower toward the Going Merry.
That level of bombardment could sink any ship in seconds.
"Too slow."
Zoro moved like lightning, leaping into the air.
"One-Sword Style: Iai!"
A flash of steel—too fast for the eye to follow.
A green flying slash shot forward.
The cannonballs were sliced cleanly in half the moment they touched the blade's energy.
They exploded midair, turning into harmless bursts of fire.
"Going Merry—full speed ahead!! Charge straight through!!"
Luffy shouted.
Nami immediately understood, spinning the wheel.
The Going Merry surged forward like an enraged sea beast, charging directly into the center of the enemy formation.
"The distance is perfect…"
Luffy stood at the bow, knees bent, his gaze turning sharp.
"Armament!"
His right arm was instantly coated in jet-black Haki.
"Gomu Gomu—Whip!!"
His arm shot out like a black meteor.
Under the terrifying strength of his Indestructible body, it stretched nearly a hundred meters in an instant.
Carrying overwhelming force—
It smashed into the six enemy ships lined up in front.
BOOOOOOM——!!!
That wasn't a collision.
It was the sound of total destruction.
The sturdy warships shattered like fragile biscuit models under that single strike.
Wood splintered. Masts snapped.
The impact didn't just destroy the ships—it raised a massive wave dozens of meters high.
Six ships—
Gone.
In less than a second.
The so-called "Billion Agents" didn't even have time to scream before sinking into the abyss along with the wreckage.
"S-so strong…!"
Vivi stood frozen, staring at the empty space where the ships had been.
Her mind went completely blank.
"Luffy's gotten even stronger."
Ronan chuckled softly as he stepped forward.
On the left side, three enemy ships were trying to turn and flee.
"Xingyi Spear — Thousand-Pound Sweep!"
Ronan's ebony staff trembled violently, emitting a low, draconic hum.
He made no unnecessary movements.
Planting his stance, he gathered all his power into the tip of the staff—
Then swept it horizontally.
The strike didn't even touch the ships.
But a massive, solid wave of pressure burst forth.
Where it passed, the sea itself was forced downward three meters, forming a massive arc-shaped trench.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
The three ships were struck head-on by the shockwave—
As if hit by a speeding iron mountain.
They disintegrated instantly.
Fragments were hurled into the sky before raining back into the ocean.
"I can't fall behind either."
Zoro was already above the right side of the battlefield.
Drawing two swords, the muscles in his arms bulged like stone.
"Two-Sword Style!"
SHING—!!
Two enormous green crescent slashes crossed into a giant "X."
They tore through two ships instantly.
The vessels split smoothly into four sections, like butter cut by a hot blade—
And sank almost immediately.
"I'll handle the cleanup."
Sanji's voice came from above.
He had already leapt high into the sky above the last remaining ship.
"Diable Jambe…"
His right leg spun rapidly.
Friction between his hardened body and the air ignited blazing flames, painting half the sky red.
"First Course: Mincing!"
Like a falling meteor, Sanji crashed down.
His flaming kick struck the ship's main mast.
BOOM!!
Flames erupted skyward.
The entire ship turned into a massive fireball under the combined force and heat.
The explosion blasted a deep crater into the surrounding sea.
The final Baroque Works flagship—
Was reduced to ashes.
The wind gradually calmed.
Smoke slowly drifted across the shimmering sea.
In just a few dozen seconds—
Twelve warships.
Two hundred elite agents.
All annihilated—
Before the Going Merry had even slowed down.
Only scattered debris and fading whirlpools remained.
Vivi stood there, stunned.
She looked at the four men on deck—
Calm, as if they had merely swatted away a few flies.
The deep-rooted fear she once held toward Crocodile…
Vanished completely.
"T-this… is the result of your daily training…?"
Vivi muttered.
"This isn't human power anymore…"
Luffy adjusted his straw hat and looked ahead.
At the end of the horizon—
A vast stretch of golden land came into view.
The kingdom of desert.
"I see it!!"
Luffy shouted, his voice filled with boundless excitement.
"Alabasta—here we come!!!"
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