Chapter 8

"Haki has a restraining effect on Devil Fruit users; avoid conflict with those key Marine combatants."

Previously, Jinbe didn’t believe such an absurd Devil Fruit ability existed, but seeing is believing—if this ability continues evolving, the sea may soon birth a new king.

"Hmm, no problem."

After giving a few warnings, and with Su Lin’s consent, Jinbe rushed forward; though he trusted Luffy’s current strength, he longed to rejoin the battle and make up for the regret of failing to save Whitebeard and Ace.

"That said."

Sweat beads the size of soybeans appeared on Jinbe’s forehead.

"If he copies Whitebeard’s ability too, there won’t be many left who can restrain him on this battlefield."

Jinbe thought to himself.

But of course, he had no idea Su Lin’s abilities had only a twenty-four-hour usage limit.

Su Lin’s current mission was to observe and collect Devil Fruit abilities for backup, while carefully practicing the Gura Gura no Mi’s power without drawing attention.

The Gura Gura no Mi abilities recorded as supernatural powers differ from those of true Devil Fruit users.

Su Lin had no intention of using other abilities yet—when it came to escape speed, the Gura Gura no Mi’s power was still the best.

"Huh?"

On the system, the Shengxian points, previously at zero, had just increased.

"I haven’t done anything yet—what’s going on?"

On the plaza of Sabaody Archipelago.

Numerous reporters were eagerly watching the spectacle.

"Headquarters, this is Sabaody Archipelago—we have breaking news!"

"The Straw Hat kid has brought prisoners from Impel Down to Marineford!"

"The Straw Hat kid who punched out a Celestial Dragon here ten days ago?"

"Also appearing alongside him are Revolutionary Army officers: Ivankov, captured and imprisoned in Impel Down for years, and former Warlord of the Sea, Jinbe."

The reporters chattered excitedly—the situation had shifted dramatically; unexpected elements always drew more attention.

The World Government now had a headache.

"Who’s the guy beside Jinbe? Does anyone know?"

"No, I don’t recognize him."

On many TV screens, one feed showed a surveillance insect’s close-up: Jinbe had not moved to rescue Ace, but instead chatted with a casually dressed young man in the rear.

Somehow, this man felt utterly out of place on this battlefield.

"He’s not on any wanted list from the Marines or the Revolutionary Army."

"Is he connected to Jinbe? He doesn’t look like a prisoner."

Just as the reporters, puzzled but preparing to refocus on the main battlefield—

"Turned into light!" XN

Due to the sudden chaos caused by the Straw Hat kid, all sides had altered their strategies.

The main Marine force was still battling the Whitebeard Pirates, but a significant portion had been diverted to deal with the Straw Hat kid and his allies.

Marine elites like Smoker, Tashigi, and Kizaru—and even higher-tier fighters interested in the Straw Hat kid—had already moved toward him on their own.

Of course, some unknown figures had also appeared.

"Get out of the way! Get out!"

Luffy swung his arms, knocking down the Marine soldiers blocking his path.

Combined with Armament Haki and the Gum-Gum Fruit’s power, he easily sent a large group flying.

"Pirate, Straw Hat kid—this ends here." Vice Admiral Aokiji led a squad of soldiers who had silently surrounded Luffy.

Nearby, Tashigi and Smoker prepared on the outer edges, ready for emergencies.

Ivankov blew away a Marine with a flirtatious glance, then glanced toward Luffy’s direction.

He chose to continue reducing the enemy forces around him.

What was he thinking? Luffy, who punched out Magellan, didn’t need his help—he just wondered what had changed in Luffy.

But overall, it wasn’t a bad thing!

Right now, the most important thing was this guy right here!

"Hey, Bear, it’s me—Ivankov!"

Boom—

A laser shot past Ivankov’s head—he barely dodged in time.

"Bear! Stop!"

"Fufufufu~" Doflamingo sat atop a mountain of pirates, amused: "Useless. The Bear you knew is gone—he underwent human modification."

"What do you mean?!" Ivankov demanded.

"Gum-Gum!"

From the crowd ahead came Luffy’s shout: "Stamp!"

Aokiji, a veteran Vice Admiral, had nearly pushed his martial arts and swordsmanship to their absolute limits.

He had also mastered the Six Powers and Armament Haki with great proficiency.

Shave—

As Aokiji and the surrounding soldiers launched their attack simultaneously—

Luffy activated Observation Haki.

The exact positions of every blade and sword strike appeared in his mind—he twisted his body, wrapping Conqueror’s Haki around it:

"Gum-Gum! Stamp!"

Years of combat experience made Aokiji’s body sense the threat before his mind could process it!

Danger!

Overwhelming power!

"Iron Body!" Aokiji activated Iron Body, raising his sword to block.

Crash—

Conqueror’s Haki coiled fiercely around his right foot as he kicked out.

A tremendous force slammed into him, accompanied by the sound of shattering weapons.

CRASH!

Veteran Vice Admiral Aokiji flew like a severed kite, spitting blood as he landed among the front-line Marine soldiers.

The entire battlefield fell silent.

In silence—

Gulp—

The sound of Marines swallowing broke the quiet.

Everyone who witnessed it—Smoker, Tashigi, other Vice Admirals, even the watching Kizaru—were stunned once again.

"Vice Admiral Aokiji!"

"He was taken down in one blow?"

"Quick! Take the Vice Admiral to the rear for treatment! Hurry!"

The Marine soldiers shouted as they checked Aokiji’s injuries.

"That was a Vice Admiral!"

"I don’t believe this... "

"Straw Hat kid!" Smoker leapt forward, transforming into smoke and slashing at Luffy with a Sea-Prism Stone weapon.

"Sorry, Smoke Man."

Again, a punch—the smoke obscuring the crowd vanished.

Smoker flew backward.

"I don’t have time to play with you!"

Suddenly, the entire battlefield’s tension surged again.

"What the hell... "

"Ace’s little brother is strong!"

"Wait... is this real?"

Whether Marine, Whitebeard Pirates, or Impel Down inmates—all stared in disbelief, eyes nearly bulging out.

Yet the top-tier fighters on all sides saw the truth.

"Conqueror’s Haki wrapped around the attack," Whitebeard chuckled: "Ku ku ku ku—these young people are terrifying."

Akainu’s eyes burned with even greater murderous intent.

Ace was speechless with shock—Luffy had grown this strong without him knowing.

"Karp!!!" Admiral Sakazuki couldn’t hold back—he punched Karp on the head: "Was it you?! Did you teach him?! You bastard—you must’ve secretly trained him!"

"I didn’t! I didn’t!"

Karp, suddenly struck, tears welling from the pain, protested helplessly: "I never taught him any of this! Luffy... hahaha—my grandson, as expected!"