The reason pirates are called pirates is that most battles take place at sea.
The reason the Marines hold the advantage on these seas is their sturdy ships and powerful cannons.
Never mind Devil Fruit users; before you even see your enemy, a barrage of cannon fire can reduce your ship to splinters and your crew to corpses.
The most obvious example of firepower saturation is the Buster Call.
Baroque Works' dozens of ships approached in a fan-shaped formation, making the Going Merry appear utterly insignificant.
But the atmosphere on the ship was completely different. The Baroque Works agents had no idea what they were about to face.
It wasn't their fault. Who could have imagined a ship full of monsters?
Initially, upon receiving orders from the top boss, Miss All Sunday, many Officer Agents thought they were in for a major operation. Who knew the target was just a single pirate ship? How many people could possibly be on it?
Wasn't this overkill?
But just as they prepared to open fire...
Several figures dropped from the sky.
"What's going on?"
"Are those cannonballs?"
"They're people!"
People suddenly appearing from such a distance? It was Zoro and Sanji, launched over by Luffy.
Though the expressions on their faces weren't exactly pleasant.
How to put it? Just moments ago, Luffy had said, "Let's get ready for a big fight!"
"Zoro, Sanji. Ready for a fight?"
"Been waiting!"
"Just in time to stretch my legs. Let these small fry see the power of a knight's kick!"
They thought Luffy would discuss a plan with them first. Instead, he delivered a super-powerful assist.
Sending Zoro and Sanji over first. Visibly, two of the enemy ships were already on fire.
Luffy turned back to Vivi, who was nervously gripping the railing, and gave her a reassuring smile.
"Don't worry. Have faith in our strength."
"I-I want to help too!" Chopper transformed into his Heavy Point, trying to look more intimidating.
Usopp had already pushed a cannon into position, adjusting his goggles as he aimed.
Luffy's gaze swept across and spotted Nika trying to sneak back into the cabin. His rubber arm swooshed out, grabbing her and pulling her back. "Hey, Nika! No slacking off! You're helping too."
"Hey! How can you force Ni?! Let go right now! Wahhhh!" Nika protested, her limbs flailing, but Luffy ignored her. Holding Chopper with one hand and Nika with the other, he launched himself toward the enemy fleet.
Meanwhile, Zoro and Sanji had already begun their battles on the enemy ships.
"Three Sword Style: Gyūki Yūsō!"
"Neck Shot Kick!"
Sword flashes gleamed, leg shadows flew. Screams instantly erupted from the enemy decks.
Even more shocking were Chopper and Nika.
Chopper was a given. His seven forms zipped around everywhere. Slippery as if coated in oil, no one could catch him.
On another ship, Nika had been unceremoniously dumped by Luffy before he left.
"What's this? A pet?"
"Looks like a tanuki." "Are you kidding me? Take her out!"
Nika cursed Luffy with every word she knew. Most of her power had been absorbed by him, leaving her with only scraps. He knew, didn't he?
She didn't have much time. The Baroque Works agents were already aiming all sorts of guns and cannons at her.
Then, they watched as the tiny tanuki's body, wreathed in white flaming clouds, suddenly expanded. Her form rapidly grew before their astonished eyes.
Her body swelled, becoming like a small giant, rampaging across the ship. Her power was not to be underestimated either!
"Is that... Nika?" Nami's jaw dropped in surprise.
So, maybe she'd been a bit too smug earlier, pressing Nika against her chest and manhandling her...
Meanwhile, Vivi watched as Luffy punched an entire ship into sinking, her heart trembling.
She understood the message Luffy was conveying.
The Baroque Works she feared, Crocodile she worried about... they were nothing.
The incredibly shocking scene unfolded before Vivi.
The Straw Hat crew ran rampant across the sea. Baroque Works' fleet seemed like toy boats before them.
Luffy was demonstrating their power through action, telling her they had more than enough strength to face Crocodile.
No one truly knew the weight of the pressure on Vivi's shoulders.
A war involving millions. Baroque Works. The Seven Warlords, Crocodile... An ordinary person would have buckled under such pressure long ago.
"We'll all help you fight," Nami said, walking over to Vivi and gently patting her shoulder in comfort.
Not far away, Robin sat on the ship's rail, watching the chaotic yet highly efficient battlefield. Her tone held a trace of barely detectable complexity and envy.
"Yes. Having such nakama... is truly a kind of fortune."
Hearing this, Vivi turned her head, her gaze sharp as she looked at Robin.
After their time together, while the initial hatred hadn't vanished, she genuinely sensed Robin wasn't simply a villain serving Crocodile.
Vivi took a deep breath and questioned, "Robin, what is your true goal?"
"I don't believe you're helping Crocodile overthrow my country just for power or wealth."
"I can feel you've secretly helped me at times."
"But whatever your goal is, using my country, hurting my people... I can never accept that, no matter what!"
Robin fell silent for a moment, her gaze drifting toward the faintly visible coastline of Alabasta in the distance. After another moment of silence, she spoke.
"Your country possesses something it should not."
"To hold a jade ring is to be guilty of a crime. From long, long ago, Alabasta's involvement in certain whirlpools was inevitable."
"I am merely using Crocodile's plan to achieve my own objectives."
"As for the help... perhaps it's just insignificant compensation on my part. Or perhaps, having stayed in the darkness for so long, I occasionally want to see what the light looks like."
"Something it should not possess?" Vivi wanted to press further.
But in that short moment, the battle was already concluding.
Luffy swept through the remaining main warships like a whirlwind. Accompanied by the sound of "Gomu Gomu no... Giant Pistol!", the last few ships putting up resistance fell silent.
The entire naval engagement lasted less than five minutes.
Then, Luffy brought everyone back.
The sea surface was littered with ship debris and unconscious Baroque Works agents. The Going Merry sailed through unscathed, heading toward the coast of Alabasta.
In the distance, an endless expanse of reddish-brown land stretched out, looking like a furnace. The air grew stifling.
Upon landing, a wave of heat hit them.
"So hot!" Luffy immediately clutched the straw hat on his head, feeling his rubber body might melt under the sun.
Looking up, not a single cloud marred the sky, only a fierce, scorching sun baking the earth.
Having just come down from the perpetually snow-covered Drum Island, they immediately stepped onto Alabasta, a Summer Island with almost no rain year-round. The temperature difference was jarring for everyone except Vivi.
Merry remained on the ship, hidden in a secluded harbor.
***
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