Amid the thunderous roar of the abyssal waterfall surrounding Enies Lobby, the battlefield burned with heat and chaos.
But above that circular abyss—the embodiment of "geographical despair"—another front was unfolding.
A strike team.
Led by Sanji.
White mist surged upward like a dragon from the bottomless chasm.
At the edge—
Nico Robin crossed her arms gracefully, eyes closed.
"Cien Fleur… Wing Bridge."
From nothingness—
Hundreds of pale arms bloomed.
They intertwined, grasped, layered—
Forming a living bridge stretching across the abyss.
Stronger than before.
Faster.
More stable.
"Move! Luffy and the others are buying us time!"
Sanji shot forward like a bullet.
Behind him—
Usopp, Franky, and Tony Tony Chopper followed without hesitation.
—
The main island.
A place the World Government dared to call "justice."
Towering courts lined both sides—hundreds of them.
Gothic spires pierced the sky.
White stone gleamed under eternal daylight.
And yet—
Empty.
Completely empty.
"This is a court?" Usopp muttered, eyes sharp.
"Where is everyone? Or… were there never any trials at all?"
Robin walked ahead, her gaze cold.
"These buildings aren't for justice."
"They're scenery."
"Everyone who enters… is just passing through—on the way to execution."
—
They reached the final structure.
The courthouse.
The last barrier before the Tower of Justice.
And then—
They appeared.
Four figures stepping out of the shadows.
CP9.
Jabra licked his fangs.
Kumadori struck the ground with his staff.
Fukuro stood with his zipper mouth sealed.
And behind them—
Blueno, unmoving like iron.
Sanji stopped.
Exhaled.
"Looks like you're the ones left behind to die."
His voice was calm—but arrogant.
"Spandam already ran, didn't he?"
Jabra laughed.
A savage, grating sound.
"Die? You think you slipped past Kizaru, so you're safe?"
"Before he gets here—I'll rip your organs out piece by piece."
Then—
Fukuro spoke.
He unzipped his mouth.
"You're Nico Robin, right? The only one who can read the ancient texts…"
"The higher-ups want you alive. After all, the Pluton blueprints need someone like you to interpret them. Chapapapa!"
Silence.
Then—
"FUKURO!!!"
Kumadori snapped.
His staff slammed the ground, cracking stone.
"You idiot! Running your mouth again?!"
"You want us all dead?!"
Jabra turned, furious.
"And you! Stop spreading that crap about me getting dumped by Catherine!"
"I'll sew your tongue shut myself after this!"
"Hey…"
Sanji stepped forward, shrugging off his jacket.
Steam-like heat shimmered around his leg.
"Talking like we don't exist… that's really pissing me off."
Lightning-like energy pulsed through his body.
"Anyone who touches my crew…"
"I don't care if you're gods."
"I'll kick you to pieces."
Usopp raised his slingshot.
For once—
Steady.
"I won't let you take Robin!"
Chopper transformed, muscles swelling.
"I… I'll fight too!!"
Franky slammed his massive arms together—sparks exploding.
"Where's that masked bastard Spandam?!"
"I'm gonna smash his face in myself!"
Fukuro—of course—answered.
"He already escaped through the underwater passage behind the courthouse. Probably sipping wine in the Tower of Justice right now."
"Oh—and the bridge control switch is at the top of both towers—"
"FUKURO YOU IDIOT!!!"
Kumadori completely lost it.
He smashed Fukuro across the head.
"I should commit seppuku just to atone for you!!"
—
Sanji ignored the chaos.
He turned slightly.
"Robin. Franky."
"That trash is in the Tower."
"We'll handle this."
"You go finish him."
Franky hesitated.
"You sure? These guys are CP9 elites."
Sanji smirked.
"Men don't say 'can't.'"
"These small fry?"
"Leave them to us."
Jabra's grin widened.
His body began to expand.
Fur erupted.
His eyes turned feral.
A wolf.
"I'll make you regret those words."
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