Inside the Magic Protector, Drake suddenly let out a startled shout.
"Oh no!"
"What is it?" Kenshin asked, his expression immediately turning grave. Having already entered the territory of one of the Four Emperors, they had to be cautious. Drake losing his composure like this suggested something terrible had happened, so Kenshin stood ready as if facing a great enemy.
"Kuzan just joined us, but we haven't even had an induction drink yet! We have to have a welcome ceremony, and a banquet is absolutely mandatory!" Drake said with a heavy, serious tone.
Kenshin stared in bewilderment for a second, then nodded with deep conviction.
Mmm, that makes sense.
As pirates, how could they possibly not celebrate the arrival of a new comrade?
"Alright, it's decided. We'll hold it in Wano Country together with the victory banquet. A massive welcome ceremony!" Drake quickly settled the matter.
"Hahaha, sounds like a plan!"
While Drake and Kenshin were laughing and talking, Luffy and Nami had finally encountered Sanji.
Luffy, whose stamina and body had reached their limits after a night of fierce combat, acted as if nothing had happened the moment he saw Sanji. He rushed forward with pure excitement. But Sanji met him with a devastating blow—a one-sided, brutal beating. Luffy, covered in wounds, refused to strike back even once.
It was a duel that neither of them truly wanted deep down, yet both felt forced to play out. Watching from the side, Nami's heart broke in despair. They were only four people in this Yonko's territory, isolated and without backup, simply trying to bring their friend home.
The words "low-class pirates" cut deep into the hearts of Luffy and Nami. All the endurance of their journey and the fierce battles against powerful enemies felt as if they had been swept away like water.
A farewell between men—this was Sanji's decision.
Watching the cat-carriage fade into the distance, Luffy stood up firmly. Despite his injuries, he shouted his heart out with all the strength he had left.
"I'll stay right here and wait for you! You're the cook on our ship! I only eat the food you make! If you don't come back, I'll starve to death right here!"
"Without you... I can't become the King of the Pirates!"
Every word was a scream. Beside him, Nami's nose twitched, and tears fell uncontrollably. Inside the carriage, Sanji's face was washed in tears, yet he did not call for the cats to stop.
There are things in this world that cannot be explained by logic or reason, especially when they involve the bonds of the heart. Sanji had his own hardships and reasons for his choice, but Luffy didn't care about the explanations. Once he decided on something, he would never change. Sanji was his comrade; as long as Sanji still had the heart to travel with them, Luffy would wait forever.
It might have been selfish, but that was Monkey D. Luffy. He knew Sanji was lying and trying to drive them away, but he wasn't going to play along. You want me to leave? I won't! I'll wait right here for you to return!
And so, Luffy and Nami waited in that spot, losing all sense of time. Meanwhile, the news that Luffy had defeated Cracker, one of the three Sweet Commanders, reached Big Mom's ears.
In the Big Mom Pirates, there was an unwritten rule: anyone who defeats a Commander is marked for ruthless extermination. An army of revenge is gathered immediately, showing no mercy to those who provoke them. They would avenge their brother.
On Big Mom's order, the revenge army—the "Army of Rage"—began its march toward Luffy. It represented the fury of Big Mom and her children. The spectacle was grand, a force so large it stretched beyond the horizon. Heavy rain began to fall as mist swirled through the air. Black clouds filled the sky, a manifestation of Big Mom's wrath.
"Nami!" Luffy, who had been lying on the ground waiting, suddenly sat up. "Go find a place to hide. They're coming..."
Though the enemy had not yet arrived, Luffy's Observation Haki had already sensed their overwhelming numbers.
"What!?" Nami looked out in shock. In the distance, through the thick fog, countless figures gradually appeared—every one of them radiating murderous intent. The oppressive aura of the army was undeniable.
"Nami, hide yourself," Luffy said, his face grim.
Nami, sitting atop the King Baum they had previously threatened into service, urgently called for Luffy to get on. "Luffy, get up here quickly! Let's hide first!"
"No, I can't leave!" Luffy shook his head. "What if Sanji comes back while I'm gone? I made a promise to Sanji; I have to wait for him here!"
"Luffy..." Nami's pupils shrank, unsure of what to do.
"Run, tree!" King Baum didn't care about the details; he turned and bolted. Being caught in a battle like this would cost him his life.
"Hey, wait..." Nami shouted. How could she leave Luffy there alone?
Stomp, stomp, stomp...
Shortly after King Baum and Nami left, the army arrived, surrounding Luffy.
"Are you the Straw Hat kid, Luffy?"
"That's right!" Luffy replied without hesitation.
The wind howled, and cold rain soaked into Luffy's skin. Because of the continuous fighting without rest, he was still breathing in heavy, ragged gasps.
Yonko!
Luffy's eyes burned with determination and his fists were clenched. He would rather die than leave this spot.
"Where are your accomplices? We know the Straw Hat Pirates have landed on Whole Cake Island. Where are your friends?"
"It doesn't matter, does it?"
"Of course it matters! How could a mere rookie from the Worst Generation defeat a Sweet Commander!?" the scribe, Charlotte Mond'Or, shouted. "Everyone involved in defeating a Commander is a target for revenge! Tell us where they are."
"You're so annoying," Luffy shouted, looking up. "I said you're all annoying! If you want to fight, then come!"
"Huh?"
"Quite the arrogant brat!" A massive figure lunged at Luffy, fists coated in Armament Haki.
"Dah...!" Luffy sent the man flying with a single punch. "I'm the one who beat that biscuit bastard!"
"Fine!" Mond'Or gritted his teeth. "Charge!"
"Bring it on!" Luffy roared and rushed forward. With a battered body, he prepared to take on an entire army alone.
"Wait! Turn back, we have to go back!" Nami cried out in panic. "Hurry!" She held up the Vivre Card in her hand.
"Ugh..." King Baum broke into a cold sweat. "Yes, yes, yes..."
"Vale D. Drake, this place really is strange. Even the town houses are made of chocolate and cake. It really fits the name."
"It's definitely an eye-opener."
"By the way, is Luffy really here? It's been so long, I wonder how he's doing."
"He should be."
"Should be?"
"Well, he won't be on this island for long. I hope we haven't missed him."
"That..."
Just as Nami was frantically trying to return to Luffy, a conversation drifted from the forest ahead of her. She froze in her tracks. Moments later, she saw two men casually emerge from the dense foliage.