Chapter 169 – The Straw Hats Appear
It was a three-masted ship with a lion-headed bow, soaring across the sky toward Marineford's plaza in a way no one could explain.
Standing proudly at the bow was a boy wearing a straw hat—the destined child, the future Pirate King, Monkey D. Luffy!
Yes, this was the new ship the Straw Hat Pirates had acquired at Water 7—the Thousand Sunny.
Alongside Luffy and his crew was their shipwright, Franky, who had officially joined them after the Enies Lobby incident.
---
BOOM!
The Sunny landed heavily in Marineford's plaza. The sudden crash instantly drew the attention of all present.
Even the Admirals, the Shichibukai, and Marines including Sengoku and Garp turned their heads toward the newcomers.
At the bow, Luffy stood tall, flanked by Zoro on his left and Sanji on his right.
"Tch… so this really is the Summit War," Zoro muttered, his eyes scanning the field. "Everywhere you look, it's nothing but big shots." His gaze finally locked onto a single figure—sharp hawk-like eyes staring back at him.
"Dracule Mihawk… I didn't expect we'd meet again so soon."
Zoro's hand trembled on his sword hilt—not with fear, but with excitement.
"Hah?" Sanji smirked sideways at him. "Your hands are shaking, moss-head. Don't tell me you're scared already."
"I'm trembling with excitement, you damn cook." Zoro shot back.
"Yeah, yeah… keep telling yourself that," Sanji sneered.
Nearby, Usopp, Chopper, and Nami were visibly trembling—though in their case, it was genuine fear.
Robin's gaze was fixed on someone in the square, her expression unreadable.
Meanwhile, Franky rushed below deck to refill the Sunny with cola, already preparing for a possible retreat.
---
"Sabo!! I'm here to save you!" Luffy shouted toward the execution platform, his voice carrying across the battlefield.
"Sabo!?"
The condemned Revolutionary raised his head, eyes wide. "Luffy!?"
"Luffy!? Σヽ(Д;)" Ace's expression twisted in shock.
"Luffy… (‵‵)" Garp's face went dark, muttering under his breath.
"Garp! It's your family again!!" Sengoku roared at his old comrade.
"…Straw Hat Boy," Kuzan muttered, frowning at the unexpected arrival. His eyes flickered toward Robin, and his expression grew uglier.
"Straw Hat Luffy… wasn't he the pirate who broke into Enies Lobby?" Borsalino tilted his head lazily. "If I remember right, he's your grandson, Garp. And brothers with Portgas D. Ace and Sabo, too? How troublesome…"
"…Hmph." Sakazuki glared at Luffy, Ace, and Sabo with icy hatred. He didn't speak, but he had already marked them all for death.
On the Moby Dick, Whitebeard studied the boy's straw hat, his brows furrowing.
"So that's the brother Ace spoke of…"
---
Taking advantage of the Admirals' momentary distraction, Ace broke free from the frontlines and rushed to the Sunny.
"Luffy! What the hell are you doing here?!"
Luffy tilted his head in confusion. "…Who are you?"
"Idiot, I'm your brother!" Ace bonked him on the head, then flared his flames into Entei mode, returning to his familiar appearance.
"Oh! Ace!" Luffy's face lit up with a silly grin. "Sorry, I didn't recognize you like that!"
"Damn it, Luffy!" Ace gave him another knock. "Didn't I hint back at Enies Lobby for you not to get involved in this mess?! Why'd you still come?!"
"What hint? I don't know what you're talking about." Luffy pouted exaggeratedly.
"…Liar." Ace sighed, then hardened his expression. "Listen, Luffy. I get how you feel—but I'm already on this stage. It's too early for you to throw your life away here!"
"But Ace!" Luffy shouted back, voice steady. "Sabo is my brother too! Just like you!"
His gaze rose to the execution platform, his tone firm. "I lost him once already. I'll never go through that pain again. You understand that, don't you, Ace?!"
"…" Ace fell silent, then sighed deeply. "…Alright. Then let's save Sabo together."
"Yeah!!" Luffy's face split into a huge grin.
Dropping into a crouch, he pumped air into his legs. His skin flushed red, steam curling from his body.
"Gear Second!"
His eyes sharpened as steam billowed around him. "Everyone!!"
"Ohhh!"
The Straw Hats lined up behind their captain—even Usopp, Chopper, and Nami, who were trembling moments ago.
"Let's go!!"
---
Luffy leapt from the Sunny, charging straight into Marineford Plaza with his crew at his back, heading directly for the execution platform.
But—
Their path was immediately blocked.
The three Admirals—Akainu, Aokiji, and Kizaru—stood in their way.
"Outta my way! I'm saving Sabo!!" Luffy roared, hurling his fists forward.
"Gomu Gomu no… Gatling!!"
His fists became a blur, raining blows against the three pillars of Marine Headquarters.
Yet the Admirals stood unmoved. They hadn't even bothered to raise a guard.
"…That's it?" Akainu muttered with disdain.
Kizaru arched a brow lazily. "Eh? He doesn't even have Haki. So much for the Son of Destiny."
"Looks like it's time to put an end to this." Akainu flexed his fists, molten heat already rising.
But before he could act—
"I'll handle this first." Kuzan lifted his arm. Frost spread outward in a chilling wave.
"Ice Block: Pheasant Beak!!"
A massive bird of ice erupted from his arm, shrieking through the air straight toward Luffy, freezing everything in its path.
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