Whoosh!
As the currents of both pirate and Marine strategy surged, a ship suddenly flipped upside down from the sky.
"Heh heh, all of you, keep an eye on the Captain's safety," a cheerful voice rang in the minds of the "Red Earl" Redfield, the "World Destroyer" World, and the "Devil's Descendant" Bullet.
"Understood!"
"Wah ah ah!! Why is the ship falling?!"
Luffy floated in midair, clutching his Straw Hat as he peered at the chaos below.
"Ah ah ah ah ah… So high! Heh heh, but it's fine, I'm a rubber man, I'm not afraid of falling!"
Meanwhile, the tearful "Clown" Buggy Great God cursed and wailed.
"Idiot! You're a rubber man, but we're not! You're too selfish! Wuwuwu…"
The two were opposites: one feared only slashing attacks, the other feared only blunt force.
"Hahahahaha, let's rely on our own abilities!"
Bullet grinned ferociously, unconcerned about landing hard on the ice. After all, top Armament Haki would protect him.
"Brother Bullet, you must save me!" Buggy cried, pleading.
Bullet looked down at him with disgust. "Hmph, hold it in! You're an embarrassment to the Captain! Better if you fall to your death."
Buggy's body split as his upper half angrily flew toward Bullet.
"Heartless bastard! When you were in solitary confinement by the Captain, Shanks and I even secretly brought you food!"
Smack!
Bullet grabbed Buggy's neck, sneering.
"So you admit the devil chili in that grilled fish was your doing, right?"
"Uh…" Buggy gasped, face red with fear. "No! It was that bastard Shanks! He wanted to trick you!"
"Ah hahaha, what a long-lost thrill!"
World laughed heartily at the rapid descent, then grabbed Luffy and shouted with amusement.
"Kid, remember you can turn into a balloon, right? Inflate and help stop the ship!"
"Oh! I'm a rubber man, I can turn into a balloon!" Luffy nodded enthusiastically, though puzzled, and laughed.
"But the battleship's too big, I can't stop it alone…"
"Hmph, don't worry. With me here, we'll handle it! Inflate and lend a hand!"
World laughed confidently, then threw Luffy toward the ice below.
"Go! Multiply · 100x Rubber Man!"
Wuwuwu…
"Ah ah ah ah ah…" Luffy hurtled downward, cheeks puffed, back arched, eyes wide.
Suddenly, he felt himself growing rapidly, a sensation reminiscent of Gear Third · Bone Balloon.
"Hehehe, interesting!"
Biting his finger, he injected massive air into his body, eyes sparkling with laughter.
"Hahahaha, Gear Third · Giant · Rubber Balloon!"
Poof…
A massive shadow blotted out the scarce sunlight, catching the attention of those fighting below.
Swish!
Before pirates and Marines could react—
Boom!
"Ah ah ah, what's going on…"
A gigantic rubber sphere landed on the ice, crushing countless bewildered pirates and Marines beneath it.
"It hurts! Damn, what is this?!"
"Cough cough… some dirty trick by pirates?"
The enormous ball bounced back into the air, then slammed down again, roaring…
Boom!
And again… Boom!
The repeated impacts shook the battlefield, forcing nearby combatants to fall to the ground from the sheer tremor.
"Ah ah ah…"
"An earthquake? Did Old Man use the Tremor-Tremor Fruit? No… we'd be shattered if that were the case…"
"This… is some conspiracy, right?"
Marines and pirates alike staggered to safety, watching the spectacle with wide eyes.
"Is this a Marine trick?"
"Or a pirate's trump card?"
For a moment, the bloody battlefield fell silent. Only the bouncing giant rubber sphere remained, seemingly laughing:
"Heh heh… I feel like a true giant now…"
On the execution platform, two figures recognized the familiar sound. Eyes widened, disbelief etched on their faces.
"Lu… Luffy?"
"Luffy?!"
Family. Ace and Garp realized instantly: the massive rubber sphere was their brother, their grandson—Monkey D. Luffy!
As the Multiply-Multiply Fruit's effect waned, Luffy deflated from giant to small, and then returned to his original form.
Clap!
The battleship he had cradled crashed onto the ice through an opening created by Diamond Jozu, shaking violently.
"We… we're saved?"
Those aboard groggily stood, looking around, still disoriented.
…
The battlefield fell silent. Marines and pirates alike stared blankly at this group of "ball monsters" fallen from the sky, unsure of their origins.
"Impel Down prison uniforms?"
A Marine suddenly recognized the attire and shouted in astonishment,
"They're prisoners who escaped from Impel Down?!"