"Why are you here?"
Marco, having tumbled from the sky and crashed through a tent, lay on the deck of the Buggy Pirates' ship. He was disheveled and winded, his eyes wide with utter astonishment. He struggled to comprehend why Dracule Mihawk, Boa Hancock, and Crocodile were gathered together on such a bizarre vessel. After scanning the confused crew of the Buggy Pirates, his gaze landed on their captain. Buggy stood with an air of immense, unearned authority, looking as though he truly believed he was the Pirate King.
Before Marco could demand an explanation, a voice cut through the tension. "It's Mr. Rayleigh!"
Marco turned toward the crowd to see a young man with a distinct scar on his face, dressed in a black trench coat and wearing a top hat.
"Who are you?" Marco asked.
"Allow me to introduce myself," the man said. "My name is Sabo. I wonder if you've heard this name from Ace?"
"Sabo!" Marco gasped. He recognized the name instantly, having heard it countless times from Ace and Luffy. Sabo was the brother Ace had grown up with. "Aren't you dead?"
Sabo looked down at the unconscious Ace in Marco's arms with a nostalgic smile. "I should have died, but Mr. Dragon saved me from that disaster."
"Dragon!" The revelation clicked, and the pieces of the puzzle fell into place for Marco.
"Captain Marco, let's discuss the details later," Sabo said urgently. "Mr. Buggy, please, call the ship's doctor. Ace is severely injured and needs immediate treatment."
Buggy looked disgruntled at being interrupted by this interloper, but upon hearing that the famous Fire Fist Ace—the son of his former captain—was in danger, his priorities shifted. He barked an order for his doctor to begin treatment.
Sabo turned his attention back to Marco. "Captain, has Whity Bay been involved in an accident?"
Marco stiffened. "What do you mean?"
"We knew the Blackbeard Pirates were aligning with the World Government to move against you," Sabo explained. "Shaki tried to contact Whity Bay to warn you, but the Den Den Mushi was disconnected."
Marco's face fell, his eyes clouding with grief as the implication settled in. "I see. It seems she has already met with misfortune."
Sabo nodded solemnly, having already anticipated the worst. "We suspected as much. With our speed, we couldn't have reached the New World in time to locate you without help. Fortunately, Mr. Rayleigh remembered Captain Buggy."
Sabo gestured toward Buggy, who was preening with pride. "Buggy's delivery service is spread throughout the entire Grand Line. Thanks to Mr. Buggy, we were able to enter the New World quickly and track your location."
"I understand," Marco said, offering a sincere bow of gratitude. "Thank you, Captain Buggy!"
Buggy grinned, a smug, lewd expression plastered on his face. "You're welcome! It was nothing for a man of my stature! Hahahaha!"
Marco looked toward the perimeter of the ship. "And what about those three?"
"Hancock came with us; she was terrified for Luffy's safety," Sabo replied. "As for Hawkeye and Crocodile, they were already with Mr. Buggy."
"Hmm?"
"Captain Marco, you may not realize it, but the situation on the high seas has spiraled into complete chaos while you were fighting Blackbeard." Sabo recounted the major events: Kaido of the Beasts' assault on the Holy Land of Mary Geoise, his war against the World Government, and Luffy's fierce battle against the Big Mom Pirates.
Suddenly, Ace groaned, his eyes snapping open. "Luffy!"
He blinked, trying to focus, but stopped dead when he saw the face staring back at him. "Am I in heaven? Sabo? I must be seeing things!"
Sabo offered a soft, genuine smile. "No, Ace. It's really me. Long time no see."
Meanwhile, in Totto Land, the battle had reached its breaking point.
High above Cake Island, the clash between Big Mom and Straw Hat Luffy hit a fever pitch. Roronoa Zoro had been fighting, but his reliance on Oden's two swords had proven draining, as the blades constantly absorbed his Haki and prevented him from sustaining the fight. The battle had effectively become a solo duel between the Emperor and the boy who would be King.
As the fight dragged on, the initial madness of Charlotte Linlin began to fade, replaced by a cold, calculating intelligence. She stared at the boy before her with growing confusion. "Why?" she grumbled. "It's as if he has an endless supply of stamina."
She looked at him and finally understood why Kaido had been so obsessed. Could he really be the legendary Sun God Nika? The realization only stoked the fire of her obsession.
"God's soul, Straw Hat! Let's see if you can still stand after this!"
She unleashed a massive surge of power. Scarlet Conqueror's Haki crackled like lightning around her right fist. With a roar, she slammed it into the approaching Luffy.
Luffy felt the sheer weight of her intent and realized he was in trouble. He desperately covered his arms in Armament Haki, bracing for the impact.
"Boom!"
For a heartbeat, time stood still. Under the horrified gaze of the Straw Hat Grand Fleet, Luffy flew backward like a broken doll. Blood sprayed from his mouth as his eyes rolled back, and he plummeted toward the earth, crashing into the surface of Cake Island with enough force to send a cloud of dust ten meters into the air.
"Luffy!" the fleet screamed in terror.
Charlotte Linlin descended from the sky, a sneer on her lips. She approached the broken body of the pirate. "You shouldn't be able to stand after that, Straw Hat. Your soul is mine."
She reached down to grab him, preparing to activate the power of her Soul-Soul Fruit. But before she could finish, a thunderous roar echoed across the battlefield.
"Big Mom, let go of Luffy!"
Charlotte Linlin barely had time to blink. A white mist, swirling with red lightning, slammed into her from the distance.
"Thunder Bagua!"