A final battle with the Marine fleet—filled with the Navy's top fighters—had been set in the West Blue.
The man locked inside the cell had heard the news as well.
He knew how troublesome Marine Headquarters could be.
But he also knew that the crew called Black Cat had strength far above their bounties, and that they trained and studied strategy and tactics like a real army.
Even Mihawk—the "Marine Hunter," the one he had spoken with the most—could probably fight a Headquarters fleet alone if he tried.
On top of that, Mihawk had trained a whole group of swordsmen—more accurately, Haki users—and the crew had plenty of Devil Fruit Users as well.
Anything could happen in this battle.
If anything, the Black Cat crew had the advantage. They had measured the currents and the sea routes in detail, and they knew this place better than the local Marines.
The man could see that clearly.
"…No matter how the fight ends, Marine Headquarters will take heavy damage," he muttered to himself. "And if the government starts to worry about their own strength in this chaos—"
He wondered how the Marines would treat him if they came into the island.
While he was thinking about it, a soft clink, clink of metal echoed.
There were no guards. All the Guard and soldiers were either out fighting or protecting the town and castle.
He wondered if someone had returned—but what he saw was a thin, pale arm.
Dozens of the same arms grew from the ground and walls, passing a ring of keys along like a relay baton, one after another, until they reached him.
He felt a gaze and turned. Near a chair—one Mihawk used when reading or writing letters—an eye had appeared on the backrest.
"Wait a bit, I'll open it now," a voice echoed.
"…Nico Robin," the man acknowledged.
A mouth formed beside the eye.
A hand grabbed a key from the ring and tried its best to put it into the keyhole, but Robin's point of view was far away, and she couldn't grow eyes close enough for precision. So she struggled, shaking the lock with the key.
Her voice continued as she worked. "We're almost ready to set sail, and the main force will leave soon. We prepared everything to win, but nobody knows what might happen, so you should escape. You can't do anything if you're still locked up, right?"
At last, the key slid in, turned with a sharp click, and the door opened.
"…Don't tell me you did this on your own?" he asked, raising an eyebrow.
"I asked Daz," the mouth replied. "We don't have extra soldiers to guard this place, but we can't say there's zero chance of an enemy landing force. Mihawk says you're strong, so I don't think you'd be beaten that easily, but if this place turns into a battlefield, it's a problem. So it's safer to let you go. The other keys unlock your shackles, so free yourself. We left a small boat on the south beach with water, food, a compass… lots of things!"
She must really have been busy. She said everything she needed to say in one rush—and then all the parts of Robin vanished, leaving only the key ring behind.
The door was open. Nothing blocked his way.
The seastone cuffs were made with some room to move. He could walk and move his hands even while wearing them.
He picked up the keys and removed the seastone shackles from his wrists, ankles, and neck.
Even though he had lived in more comfort than a normal prisoner, he was still a captive. He felt his weakened muscles as he opened and closed his hands.
A small dust storm formed in his palm, and he nodded silently.
Crocodile.
The Sand-Sand Man who had eaten the Suna Suna Fruit.
His power allowed him to turn into sand freely and drain all moisture.
If he expanded the dust storm here, this prison cell would collapse instantly.
He stared at the swirling sand in his hand for a moment, let out a small breath through his nose—and then—
—He himself turned into a swirl of sand and vanished.
–
The order to defeat or capture the pirate Black Cat.
Everyone who knew the pirate Kuro's strength frowned when they heard it.
Some even held their heads in their hands.
The Marines who had fought at the Holy Land had all battled under Kuro's command.
—"The unit on the east side should fall back and switch to gunfire. If you get close, you'll take heavy damage."
Through Hina—the young Marine acting as lookout and messenger—Kuro gave orders to the Marines.
—Don't joke with us, pirate! We Marines protect this place! Stay out of it!
The Marines who ignored him kept fighting and were caught in the explosion of zombie soldiers packed with gunpowder—and died.
Their leader died, the line fell into chaos.
Zombies marched straight toward Pangaea Castle. Marines fought them, others panicked and ran.
The fire trap set by Kuro barely brought the situation back—until it collapsed again.
At that moment, the pirate spoke—
—"We haven't lost yet. …Hina, tell me the names of the officers and higher ranks there, starting from the highest. I remember the traits of most Marines stationed there, even if my memory isn't perfect."
He sounded calm. Not a hint of panic.
Even the officers shouting orders froze under that voice.
—"Good… good… alright. Everything's fine. The situation hasn't worsened that much. We can fix it right away."
—"Vice Admiral Strawberry, I'm sorry, but please take your troops and two officer-led units to support the east line. Many of the men there trained under you six months ago. If you go, the line will recover faster."
—"Commodore Shet, lead your unit to the front gate of Pangaea Castle. Keep firing. With the enemy this confused, gunfire alone will stop them."
—"Rear Admiral Litany, have your troops carry medical supplies and follow Vice Admiral Stafford. Once the line stabilizes, rescue and recover the wounded. Don't rush. If the line breaks, the number of wounded will only rise."
Kuro's orders came one after another.
Every Marine who ignored him was defeated instantly—those lucky lived, barely.
Every Marine who followed him found the enemy easy to defeat—almost without injury.
Before they knew it, every Marine—even the officers who should have been leading—were swallowed by the presence of the Black Cat.
If he commands us, we'll win.
If he commands us, we'll survive.
That belief spread through every Marine—and it was true.
Those who trusted him lived and won. Those who resisted him fell or died.
That's why… that's why the marines hated it… but not just them. Everyone who lived through that day in the Holy Land…!
Right in front of the watching Marines, Admiral Kizaru swung a blade of light. The one fighting him with only kicks was Kuro.
The same genius strategist who had saved countless Marines in the burning Holy Land—with the kind of command skill the Navy had never seen.
"Really…! Why are you a pirate!?" Kizaru cried out in frustration.
"Go say that to those bottom-feeding trash at the top!! It's all their fault!!" Kuro screamed back, dodging a laser.
"You're right, and that makes it worse…" Kizaru muttered.
"Then deny it! Call me names! Raise the morale of your troops! They're out here risking their lives without any fancy devil fruit like yours!!"
"And which side are you on, exactly?" Kizaru asked, confused.
"I don't know!! I don't have time to think about that!! I barely know what I'm even saying!!"
"…I really am sorry, you know," Kizaru sighed.
"Stop apologizing already!!!"
Their banter sounded silly, but no ordinary soldier could join this fight anymore.
A volley of rifle fire had been tried earlier, but the bullets—though sure to miss Kizaru—were kicked aside by Kuro, and Marines standing in bad positions were hit by bullets that should never have reached them.
A Vice Admiral charged in with a saber when Kizaru took distance, but in the next moment his jaw was shattered by a kick.
No one else could interfere. A one-on-one duel between Black Cat and Kizaru had begun on the deck.