A/N: Holy fuckin shit guys, this was my bad, I errored the schedules of the release of the chapters and this chapter wasn't released along with the other one, here it is, apologies once again. Imma release one again later, don't worry.
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"Straw Hat kid! Interested in teaming up to take on a Marine Admiral?"
Kid didn't care about the details. He had been holding back for so long, only for the Straw Hat Pirates to show up and attack the Celestial Dragons anyway.
Since they were already going to have to escape from a Marine Admiral, and a fight was inevitable, Kid figured they might as well gather a few strong contenders and clash head-on with the incoming Admiral.
At least Kid had confidence in his own abilities. If he could just find three—no, even two—more people at his level, he'd be willing to give it a shot against the Admiral.
"Hey! Luffy, don't be reckless!"
Sanji was instantly alarmed, his expression grim. Even Zoro, who was usually fearless, clenched his jaw tightly.
When Zoro had faced Dracule Mihawk, he hadn't hesitated to draw his sword. That was because, at worst, the result would simply be getting cut down. But going up against a Marine Admiral? Even if Zoro wasn't afraid to die, he was worried about dragging his crewmates down with him.
"Sure! The Marine Admiral is that ice guy, right? I've got a score to settle with him!"
Luffy grinned, his face lighting up with excitement. The last time had ended so quickly that he barely had time to react. This time, he was determined to figure out how he lost, even if he couldn't win.
"Count me in!"
Seeing that his captain had already made up his mind, Zoro allowed a smile of anticipation to creep onto his face.
"Perfect! That makes five Supernovas. Two more and we'll have enough!"
Kid glanced at Luffy with approval. If the timing were different, he might have dragged Luffy to a tavern for a drink and sworn brotherhood on the spot.
"I never agreed to this!" Bonney was dumbfounded. Weren't they just discussing how to escape? How had the conversation suddenly turned into these two idiots deciding to challenge a Marine Admiral?
Facing those monsters was way beyond the so-called Supernovas' capabilities.
"These fools..."
Sanji resisted the urge to facepalm, only to notice the masked figure across from him giving him a sympathetic look.
Two strangers who had never spoken before suddenly felt an odd sense of camaraderie.
"Round up the other Supernovas on the island! And anyone else who wants to try their luck against a Marine Admiral!"
Kid was already impatient. This was a rare opportunity for a grand spectacle.
Even if they ended up losing to the Admiral, it would still be worth it to understand just how wide the gap was between them and that kind of monster.
"This is going to be such a headache..."
Robin sighed with a faint smile. If this had been before the Enies Lobby incident, she would have absolutely stopped Luffy from doing something so reckless.
"Yohohoho, that's our captain for you… But just the thought of facing a Marine Admiral makes my heart race… Oh wait, I don't have a heart!"
Brook was still joking around with Chopper and Koby, his lighthearted attitude undeterred by any situation—a result of his fifty years living in solitude.
"Waaahhh! We're doomed this time, we're definitely going to die!"
Usopp clung to Franky's leg, sobbing uncontrollably. Their opponent was a Marine Admiral—why did they have to fight someone as monstrously powerful as that?
"Tch! You idiots really leave me no choice… If we're going to die, then we'll die together!"
Left with no better option, Bonney reluctantly accepted Kid and Luffy's decision. She summoned her crew and instructed them to spread out across the island to find other strong pirates.
If they didn't want to be picked off one by one by the Marines, they needed to form an alliance quickly. Whether it was easier to escape alone or with five other Supernovas as backup, the answer was obvious.
Kid's crew also followed Killer's orders to find reinforcements—even if it just meant gathering more cannon fodder to increase their survival chances.
"Count me in for this alliance, Captains."
Trafalgar Law leaped down from the rooftop of a nearby building. Before anyone could see him land, he was already standing on the ground.
Although Law typically avoided such reckless actions, he saw this as a rare opportunity. If joining this temporary pirate alliance meant he could gain allies to help him deal with Doflamingo in the future, it was worth taking the risk.
"Trafalgar Law, captain of the Heart Pirates. Nicknamed the Surgeon of Death, bounty: 200 million berries!"
Before Kid could ask, Killer spoke up to introduce Law, emphasizing his bounty. While a high bounty didn't always equate to strength, someone worth 200 million berries was certainly no pushover.
"You're in! Just one or two more strong ones, and we'll be ready!" Kid said eagerly.
He had previously encountered a Marine Vice Admiral and, honestly, found them unimpressive. If not for Killer's warnings to keep a low profile, Kid would have already added that Vice Admiral to his list of victories.
Using that Vice Admiral as a benchmark, Kid felt confident that Marine Admirals, while stronger, couldn't be overwhelmingly so.
Pirates are inherently rebellious, and the Supernovas, as the cream of the crop among the new generation, wouldn't dare face a Marine Admiral alone. But with someone leading the charge and nearly half of the Supernovas already gathered, the rest were more willing to join in and see just how strong an Admiral truly was.
Scratchmen Apoo, captain of the On Air Pirates, bounty: 198 million berries!
Basil Hawkins, captain of the Hawkins Pirates, bounty: 249 million berries!
X Drake, captain of the Drake Pirates, bounty: 222 million berries!
Capone Bege, captain of the Fire Tank Pirates, bounty: 138 million berries!
Urouge, captain of the Fallen Monk Pirates, bounty: 108 million berries!
Initially, many came because of the pressure from the Marine Admiral. But with the majority of Supernovas now gathered in one place, even those who wanted to flee on their own found themselves forced to join.
Pirates, after all, are paradoxical—simultaneously indifferent to and fiercely protective of their pride. They wouldn't hesitate to betray an ally, but they also couldn't bear being branded cowards unwilling to fight a powerful foe.
As more Supernovas and some daring pirates on the Sabaody Archipelago gathered, even the usually cautious Killer started feeling a glimmer of confidence.
"With so many powerful fighters here, even a Marine Admiral will have a tough time dealing with us…"
Killer's excitement grew. If they could manage to repel a Marine Admiral before even entering the New World, it would be a monumental achievement for the Kid Pirates.
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