The middle section of the New World.
"It's almost done. Based on the amount of supplies left, we should head back."
Looking at the pile of bounty posters on the ground, Bell-mère felt helpless.
"It's really strange why these guys carry their own bounty posters when they go out."
Law, who was treating the wounded nearby, spoke nonchalantly, "Is this an 'honor' or a 'symbol of strength' for them?"
"Pfft!"
The fainted wounded man woke up and glanced at the people around him.
"You... you are... Marines!?"
"Huh? That's right. What's wrong?"
"Save... save my family! They are in the Kingdom of Sovia not far ahead! Please!"
Bell-mère looked at this guy who had just woken up and was still very distressed, then looked up at Ain.
Ain opened the map and looked at it. "Sovia... is indeed not far away, but..."
"Please! Please!!"
When the man heard Ain's words, he rolled off the simple stretcher onto the ground and kowtowed.
"My daughter... was kidnapped by pirates. I was blown here by the wind and waves. I don't know..."
There were muddy tears on the man's face. "I don't know how long it has been... anyway... I beg you..."
Hearing the word "daughter," Bell-mère's heart tightened.
Seeing her look, Law and Ain started to pack their things.
The Kingdom of Sovia... Ain once again confirmed the information. It is not in the area occupied by the Four Emperors, nor is it the "red danger area" noted by CP0.
"Set sail! Take turns to rest, and if you need supplies... take them from the pirates!"
...
Kingdom of Sovia, a secluded fishing village and small port.
"This place has been abandoned for a long time. The pirates didn't send anyone to monitor this place."
Although the wounds on his body had not yet healed, the man named Bart still gritted his teeth and walked ahead.
After learning the date from the Marines, he realized that four full days had passed since his fishing boat was bombarded by pirates...
Fanny... Wait for me... Daddy will come to save you soon!
Ain, who was walking in the middle of the team, suddenly felt a slight pause in her body.
"Huh? What's wrong, Ain?"
Bell-mère next to her was a little curious. Although Ain usually didn't show much emotion, at this moment, her face was full of doubts and caution.
"I don't know... but... I always have a bad feeling in my heart..."
"Law!"
Law, who was walking at the front, also frowned, then shook his head. "I didn't feel any special aura..."
"Anyway... pay attention," Ain said in a deep voice to the team behind her. "This is the intuition of a swordsman!"
After the team quietly detoured along the long, narrow, and steep mountain road for an hour, a medium-sized palace appeared in everyone's sight.
Bell-mère did not rush to give the order but looked at Ain and Law on her left and right respectively.
The results obtained were completely opposite.
Ain still looked serious and nodded.
Law frowned and shook his head again.
Among the three of them, Law's Observation Haki was the most powerful.
This weird situation... this is the first time I have encountered it.
Bell-mère, who was usually carefree, turned back to the fisherman Bart and said, "Wait for us here."
"No... I want..."
"Madness!"
Bell-mère shouted in a low voice, "What are you going to do? Are you trying to die? Or do you want us to send someone to protect you!?"
Bart murmured for a while and finally nodded. "Then... then I will wait here... My daughter's name is Fanny... When she was taken away, she was wearing a dress with starfish printed on it..."
"Got it. Take action!"
Bell-mère gave the order, and the G5 crew started to move towards the back of the palace along the winding path.
"ROOM."
Slash!
Several pirates who were standing guard on the wall were moved to the ground by Law and were instantly eliminated by Ain, who was standing aside.
"It seems..."
Boom!
Bang bang!
Two gunshots instantly pierced the sky.
"It's the Marines!! Kill them!!!"
Law's expression changed, and he glanced at the gap at the top of the city. "It's a surveillance Den Den Mushi! I was careless!"
"Go straight in!! Break through from the front!!"
Bell-mère shouted, instantly covering herself in Armament Haki.
"Got it!!"
Feeling the commotion in the palace, Bell-mère glanced at the G5 soldiers behind her. "Get in and fight at close quarters!"
Upon hearing the order, the "rogue Marines" instantly released their instincts, each one showing a ferocious smile.
"Fight in!!"
"Kill the pirates!!"
"I'm going to cut down ten!!"
As everyone's weapons were unsheathed, Bell-mère turned and glanced at Law. "Deal with the guy who shot!"
Nodding, Law expanded the ROOM space again and flashed onto the wall.
"Follow me!!"
"Got it!!"
When they rushed to the edge of the gate, Ain pulled out Shusui and a slash exploded instantly.
Crack!
Boom!
The huge iron door shattered into pieces.
"Charge!!! Fight in!!!!"
Ain and Bell-mère took the lead, with the rogue Marines following closely behind them. Hundreds of people moved like sharp swords through the corridors of the palace.
"Change formation! Maintain your strength!"
Seeing the endless number of pirates in the corridor, Bell-mère gave a loud shout.
These bastards are crazier in fighting than before. Although their physical fitness has far exceeded that of ordinary people due to the high-intensity training and high-quality food provided by G5, their fighting style...
"Copy that! Change formation!"
The adjutant of the 01 combat unit raised his right hand and changed his gesture. "Circle! Fight alternately!"
"Got it!!"
After receiving the order, the rogue Marines immediately gathered together. Those with good physical strength and no wounds took the initiative to stand on the outside.
People who were injured or physically exhausted moved to the inner circle to recover their strength and apply simple bandages.
"Ain! Let me grab someone to ask for directions!"
In the midst of the sword clashes, Bell-mère pulled two ragged pirates from the group in front of her and retreated to the inner circle.
"Where is your captain!?"
Holding the pirate's neck with both hands, Bell-mère turned to look at the pirate on the left.
"In... in..." The pirate's face was full of horror, but something seemed to overshadow the impending death.
Click!
The pirate's neck was broken in response, and Bell-mère threw the body to the ground and looked at the other one. "Where!?"
"Ahead... turn right in front, and then... turn left at the end..."
Click!
The pirate died with a look of surprise, seemingly asking: I have already answered, why do you still want to kill me?
Bell-mère, now at the front of the team, seemed to respond with her actions: I didn't say I wouldn't kill you if you answered.
Bell-mère jumped in front of Ain and killed three pirates in an instant. Looking at the pirates who were still coming towards the end of the passage, Bell-mère turned around and nodded. "Ain!"
Their long-term partnership had given them a tacit understanding. The moment Ain received Bell-mère's signal, she held the handle of Shusui across her chest with both hands.
"Condemn Sin and Dispel Darkness!"
The dense crescent-shaped slashes exploded instantly, and the pirates in front fell like weeds.
"Recover strength..." As the pirates in front fell to the ground, Ain took a slight breath and returned to the center of the formation.
"Law!"
Law, who was moving through the gaps in the battlefield, heard Bell-mère's voice and came to her side instantly. "They retreated! They seem to have entered a defensive posture! No... they seem to be guarding something!"
"Send the wounded out first!"
Law raised his finger. "Takt!"
The more seriously injured Marines disappeared instantly.
Bell-mère looked back and saw that there were still about 70 people who could participate in the battle.
"I don't know what they are waiting for, but... we also need to fight quickly! Organize and break through them in two minutes!"
No one responded; everyone took the opportunity to tidy up or start drinking water.
When they approached the passage into the side door of the palace hall, a pirate glanced at them.
"It's... G5!!"
The other pirates were startled, looking hesitant and frightened.
Are they the subordinates of that devil?
But...
"Wait until the captain wakes up!! No matter what, otherwise we will still die!"
Thousands of pirates filled the entire last passage leading to the palace like ants.
This is the middle of the New World... These guys are not weak.
Many people also have Armament Haki.
Who on earth occupies this place?
Ain, who was at the back of the formation, stepped forward. Her breathing had stabilized, but her expression was more solemn. "Solve it quickly! The uneasiness in my heart is getting stronger and stronger!"
"Something... is about to wake up..."
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