Chapter 6

Without any surprise, this escape from Impel Down could be described as leisurely, since the warden didn’t pursue, and breaking through the remaining defenses was effortless.

After resting and resupplying on the seized Marine warship, the vessel was lifted into the air by a colossal wave created by Whitebeard, just as history had foretold.

Aokiji’s freezing followed immediately.

Then,

“The speed at which cherry blossoms fall is five centimeters per second.”

Su Lin gazed sadly at the blue sky, sunlight spilling over his refined face; as a seabird flew past, a tear slipped from his eye and traced down his cheek. Su Lin spread his arms—this was the first time he embraced the blue sky like this.

And the first time he would be embraced by the sea.

“And the acceleration of a human in free fall is 9.8 meters per second.”

“Sorry, I forgot this scene,” Jinbe said, turning his head midair, unable to look directly at Su Lin—who could have imagined Luffy would again lead by smashing through the ice wave?

‘I’ll pull you up first, Mr. Su Lin,’ Jinbe thought with guilt.

Although not a Devil Fruit user, Su Lin

“I’m a non-swimmer.”

Thud—!

If not for the powers of the Human-Human Fruit and the strengthening talismans, Su Lin’s body would have shattered into powder upon hitting the sea.

He’d only gone inside to sample the Marines’ stored rations, and had barely stepped out when he felt the sensation of free fall.

“Gurgle, gurgle.”

Seawater flooded his nose and ears—unbearably unpleasant.

Jinbe swam beneath him.

Fishman Karate

Sir Su Lin, you go up first.

A counterforce came from behind.

Thud!

Su Lin was blasted out of the sea and landed on the ice, spinning twice.

“Cough—!” He spat out seawater; seawater and snot sprayed from his nose.

If he weren’t unfamiliar with the abilities of the Surgical Fruit and others, he wouldn’t be this battered.

Speaking of which, the Surgical Fruit demands considerable stamina—each use feels like sprinting, and he still hadn’t recovered from all the uses back in Impel Down.

“I just went in to replenish my strength, and you give me this whole ordeal,” Su Lin wiped his face with his shirt: “I should’ve cultivated for a few more years before coming. I underestimated the pirate world—no, I forgot because I haven’t watched the anime in too long—I forgot this guy’s an idiot!”

He had items for offense and defense, but the escape talismans or artifacts—he hadn’t cultivated, so when activated, they fled at maximum distance.

Far from this battlefield was not what he wanted.

He shook his head, flinging water from his ears.

The sonic booms of artillery tearing through the air, the clang of melee weapons, gradually reached his ears.

Roars and screams—the two sides were locked in brutal combat.

Su Lin, who had lived through years of peace, saw this scene in reality for the first time: every second someone fell, every second blood splashed onto the ice and earth.

For the first time witnessing such a scene, Su Lin swallowed hard, mouth slightly open, scanning around; his ability prompt told him this was the site of the Marineford War.

【Ability—Phoenix】registered. 【Ability—Diamond Transformation】registered. 【Smoke Ability】registered...

Shocking as it was,

Su Lin immediately opened his book: 【Phoenix】.

Both mind and body exhaled a deep breath—thank you, peak contender Marco.

“Ace————!!!”

“I’m here to save you again!!!”

He’d just relaxed, and this deafening roar made him tense again.

Su Lin turned to see Luffy shouting from the prow of the warship, announcing his arrival to Ace and the entire battlefield.

It was both arrival and return.

Su Lin sighed with a smile: “Luffy, have your fun.”

Fine, he needed to find a place to sit this out—he wasn’t due to appear yet.

The main course abilities hadn’t even appeared yet: the Tremor Fruit, the Doku-Doku Fruit, the Ice-Ice Fruit, the Magma Fruit, the Buddha Fruit, and the Dark-Dark Fruit still on its way.

“A—ce——!!!”

“I’m here to save you again!!!”

Before the execution platform,

Admiral Sengoku’s temple veins throbbed; he turned and cursed Karp: “Karp! Again, it’s your damn family!”

“Luffy—!” Karp clutched his head—why had his grandson come here too?

One after another, so much trouble!

“Look! It’s not just the Straw Hat kid! Jinbe, Crocodile, and GM’s officer Ivankov!”

“And those are the escapees from Impel Down!”

Many Marine soldiers recognized the leading figures ahead and cried out in panic: “What happened at Impel Down?! Why are all these prisoners free?!”

Some were even people they’d personally sent inside.

On the side of the Seven Warlords,

“A man always at the center of storms—the Straw Hat kid...”

Mihawk watched the distant Monkey D. Luffy and recalled Shanks’ words.

“Straw... Hat... Kid!” Moria gritted his teeth, seething—his humiliation and defeat at Luffy’s hands made him want to charge forward and fight him right now.

Oh, Oars Jr. was here too.

Moria’s fury shifted into something else—he’d always remembered the Straw Hat’s shadow.

“Luffy, I’m so glad you’re safe,” the beautiful pirate empress Hancock’s face flushed crimson: “I don’t know why, but I sense something has changed in you—is this the growth of love?”

“You’ve become even more handsome.”

Doflamingo glanced at the opposing side and smiled: “Now, both the old and new Seven Warlords are assembled.”

“And he’s the legendary troublesome rookie—the Straw Hat kid?”

Akainu stood atop the platform, his gaze heavy, lost in thought.

“The grandson of the hero Karp, the son of the GM dragon... he must be utterly eradicated!”

“Strange... where’s Crocodile?”

Ivankov felt something was off—Crocodile, who had been with them moments ago, had vanished.

“There!”

The sharp-eyed Buggy immediately spotted Crocodile—wrapped in sand, he soared through the air and in an instant attacked Whitebeard from behind!

“Damn! He got there first!” Buggy cried in regret, clearly too immersed in the scene.

“No good! His target is the Old Man!” shouted a Whitebeard crewman fighting in front of Whitebeard.

“Long time no see~ Whitebeard.”

Crocodile, now behind Whitebeard, eyes brimming with malice, his golden hook glinting coldly: “I’ll take your head!”

“A man who never learns,” Whitebeard said without turning, as if Crocodile were beneath his notice.

Whoosh—!

Instantly, a figure moved faster—punched Crocodile’s golden hook directly, sending him flying!

Crocodile barely stabilized after flying a short distance; this sudden strike carried no killing intent.

It was meant only to stop his attack.

Straw Hat kid...

His arms were black as metal.

“That’s... Armament Haki?”

Not like in Alabasta, using water to fight—he’d learned to use Haki when?

Tch... this guy.

“By the time we reached here, our agreement was fulfilled!”

“Why are you protecting Whitebeard?!”

“Ace loves Uncle Whitebeard. I won’t let you hurt him,” Luffy answered firmly.