Ryu nodded. "Yes, that kid isn't one to go down so easily."
"But he's up against Rob Lucci," Aokiji replied, frowning.
"Then let's just wait and see," Ryu responded, using Aokiji's own words.
Aokiji chuckled and lay back on the deck. This skirmish didn't warrant his involvement. Unless Ryu made a move, he had no reason to intervene. Even though he hadn't been at headquarters recently, Aokiji knew Ryu's strength had improved. In fact, headquarters had started promoting Ryu's martial techniques, sparking Aokiji's curiosity about Ryu's mastery of the "Arhat Fist."
The sound of cannon fire snapped Aokiji out of his thoughts. He raised his head slightly and saw the bridge linking Hesitation Bridge and the First Pillar blown apart. The Straw Hats were now trapped with no clear way to escape, especially with Rob Lucci waiting for them.
"Luffy, hurry and defeat him so we can get out of here together!" Usopp yelled from Hesitation Bridge, desperately encouraging his friend, who was on the verge of defeat.
Even though Ryu knew Luffy would eventually overcome Lucci, he still felt tense watching the battle unfold. Lucci was famous in the World Government much like Ryu was in the Marines; it was only Luffy's protagonist "glow" that gave him a chance. Otherwise, in this timeline, Luffy shouldn't have been able to overcome Lucci.
Lucci and Crocodile were characters who ultimately lost due to the story's fate, unlike Enel on Skypiea, who was at least defeated with some logical counter. But Lucci and Crocodile? Their only downfall was the narrative pushing them under the weight of Luffy's "glow."
"Oh, right, are they planning to capture Nico Robin alive?" Ryu asked Aokiji as he observed the battle.
Aokiji gave Ryu a curious look. "What do you mean?"
"Those elite Marines over there—they're aiming to capture her alive, aren't they? Did you give that order?" Ryu pointed to the Marines moving toward the battle.
"No, I didn't order that, and they don't even know I'm here," Aokiji replied seriously. "But Nico Robin is extremely dangerous. It's safer to capture her alive, especially now that she's allied with the Straw Hats. Her threat level has only risen."
"Is it because she can read ancient texts?" Ryu asked softly.
"Some things are better left unknown," Aokiji responded, sidestepping the question.
"But I know more than you might think," Ryu said with a smirk.
Aokiji raised his brow but pointed to the First Pillar. "The battle seems to be ending over there."
Ryu immediately looked over to see Luffy lying motionless, with Lucci taunting Usopp. Ryu took a step forward but instantly felt Aokiji's presence locking onto him, ready to intercept him at any sign of movement.
"Damn it! Lucci actually dared to go this far," Ryu muttered, annoyed.
"Did you really think someone who embraces 'Dark Justice' would hold back?" Aokiji chuckled.
"Of course not, but Luffy won't be defeated so easily," Ryu replied, noticing Luffy staggering back to his feet.
Aokiji watched Luffy rise, silently marveling at his resilience, but he believed Luffy was far too exhausted to win against Lucci. His focus remained on Ryu, preventing him from taking any sudden action.
Yet what happened next was something Aokiji could never have anticipated: in his severely wounded state, Monkey D. Luffy managed to defeat the World Government's prodigy, Rob Lucci.
Not only Aokiji but the Vice Admirals watching from the ships were all equally stunned. To them, Lucci's strength was overwhelming, far beyond the Straw Hats' capabilities. Yet reality had dealt them an unexpected blow.
"Luffy, hurry! Use your rubber powers to launch yourself over here, and I'll carry you out of here!" Usopp shouted from the bridge, ecstatic at Luffy's victory.
"I… I can't," Luffy said weakly, looking over at Usopp.
"What do you mean, you can't? We've beaten the enemy and saved Robin—why aren't you moving?" Usopp yelled, frustrated and worried. After all, the eleven Marine ships and several Vice Admirals were still around, and time was running out.
"I… I can't move…" Luffy replied, barely able to get the words out.
Usopp froze, finally understanding that the intense battle had completely drained Luffy of his strength.
"What now? Our…!" Usopp began, but the Vice Admirals, who had realized their goal, ordered an immediate assault on the last escape ship, sinking it.
"We're done for!" The sinking of their escape route left the Straw Hats in utter despair.
"Luffy, you did amazing!"
"Hey, idiot! They can probably hear you on the other side!"
"Who cares! I want them to know!"
Suddenly, voices rang out across Enies Lobby through a Den Den Mushi transmission.
Hearing the voices, Franky's eyes welled up with tears. He recognized them as the voices of his younger gang members he'd thought were dead.
"Big Bro! Big Bro! Can you hear us? It's us! We're all okay! The giants helped us hold off the cannon fire, but the Marine ships are coming back. Get out of here now! We have a way out; don't worry about us. We'll see you soon!"
"What's going on?"
"Reporting, sir! Those pirates I knocked into the whirlpool before… they've somehow survived!"
Upon realizing the situation, the Marines quickly dispatched two more ships to deal with the minor threat. But their main concern was still Luffy.
"Look at the First Pillar—it's Straw Hat Luffy. He's lying there, unmoving!" a Marine reported.
"Prepare to fire on the First Pillar!" an officer immediately ordered.
"Everyone, quick! Jump into the sea! Robin, can you throw Luffy into the water?" Usopp shouted desperately from Hesitation Bridge, his voice breaking.
"Are you insane? Jumping into the sea would be suicide!" Zoro shouted back, stunned at Usopp's desperate plan.
"We… we still have one more friend, don't we? They're coming to get us! Chopper, do you see them down below?" Usopp cried out, his voice filled with a mix of hope and despair.
------------------
Faster uploads and advance chapters in:
patreon.com/CuteSelfieCat
Current patreon chapter: Chapter 103