Chapter Seventeen: Luffy Arrives, The Climax Intensifies

Qingsi quietly retreated with the other marines, pulling away from the pirates to maintain a safe distance. Their assigned task was to hold the right flank, following Sengoku’s orders and engaging in combat as commanded. They had been strictly warned not to lose their heads and disrupt the battle plan, as such a mistake would be a grave offense.

Suddenly, a commotion erupted overhead. Everyone looked up to see a dense cluster of more than a hundred figures plummeting from the sky, alongside a naval warship. As Qingsi recognized the familiar silhouette descending from above, he murmured, “Luffy’s arrived right on time, as expected. That guy truly is blessed with luck.” The thought ignited a flame in Qingsi’s heart—he had been waiting for his own cheat-like stroke of fortune for years now, with no luck at all. He was on the verge of giving up hope.

Luffy and his companions landed right in the gaping pit that Diamond Jozu had previously created, narrowly escaping disaster. Jinbe, the man of many rescues, hauled the Devil Fruit users out of danger. With Luffy’s arrival, a series of astonishing scenes unfolded, such as him brazenly declaring his intention to become Pirate King. The pirates’ spirits soared, and at Whitebeard’s command, they all charged to escort Luffy toward Ace.

To Qingsi, this was somewhat perplexing, but the logic of the Pirate King’s world was always difficult to grasp. Spurred on by Luffy’s reckless energy, the pirates fought with renewed vigor. The marines struggled to keep up, but they did not fall behind. Sengoku, however, had issued new orders: feign weakness against the pirates and gradually withdraw.

Seeing the marines pulling back, the pirates shouted with excitement, “The navy’s retreating! They’re faltering! Brothers, let’s charge!”

“Now’s the perfect time to break through the lines!”

From the deck, Whitebeard surveyed everything. Marco, the First Division Commander, swooped down to land beside him. “There’s news that the navy plans to execute Ace ahead of schedule,” he reported.

Whitebeard grinned, watching Fleet Admiral Sengoku on the other side. That old fox, he thought. Smiling, he said, “If that were true, the navy wouldn’t have let the word slip out…”

His gaze sharpened as he pulled out a Den Den Mushi and issued orders to several commanders: “Attack the navy ships.”

“Father? But now’s our best chance to break through the lines,” Marco pressed.

Whitebeard offered no further explanation, simply saying, “I’m not satisfied with the current state of the battle…”

None of the commanders questioned him further. As long as the order came from Whitebeard, their father, they would obey without hesitation, even if they had doubts. After all, he would never lead them astray.

Sengoku’s plan had been seen through. Part of the pirate forces attacked the newly appeared warship, while the rest pressed the assault. Luffy ran forward, unimpeded.

Suddenly, he was struck by a heavy blow and sent flying, spinning thirty times through the air before crashing to the ground. The impact left him momentarily dazed. As his senses cleared, he realized his old acquaintance—Smoker—stood before him.

This was the man who had chased Luffy all the way from Loguetown to the Grand Line. Over time, Smoker’s strength had grown considerably. Still puffing on his cigar, he eyed Luffy and said, “Long time no see, Straw Hat Luffy.”

Luffy, lacking Haki, was helpless against a Logia-type user. No matter how he punched, he couldn’t touch Smoker’s real body. Relying on his Devil Fruit advantage, Smoker once again overpowered Luffy, pinning him to the ground with his Seastone-tipped jitte.

Before long, a graceful figure appeared—a kick sent Smoker flying. It was Boa Hancock, the Pirate Empress, who had rushed to the scene upon hearing the commotion. Seeing her beloved being thrashed, she flew into a rage, hurling a storm of insults at Smoker.

Smoker was utterly bewildered.

The Empress handed Luffy a key—the very one that could unlock Ace’s shackles. Having saved Luffy’s life and entrusted him with such a precious key, Luffy was overjoyed and leapt into Hancock’s arms, hugging her tightly.

Hancock froze where she stood, letting out a breathless, enraptured sound.

Qingsi recalled watching this scene at home, with the speakers turned up, thoroughly enjoying himself—until this happened. His aunt shot him a strange look and scolded him, telling him to go watch in his room, lest it give a bad impression.

Qingsi’s face burned with embarrassment. He was just about to explain when his aunt stood up and went to her room. He could only accept the blame in silence, muttering to himself: “The Empress really is sensitive. Just a hug and she’s like that. In the future… wouldn’t she just ascend to heaven?”

Watching Hancock, Qingsi commented, “She truly is beautiful. Her bearing and appearance are both deeply captivating.”

“If only she could be my subordinate…”

Meanwhile, the marines who had just suspected that Hancock and Qingsi shared a close relationship were now spreading rumors that Luffy’s hug had broken the Empress’s waist, leaving her unable to stand and drenched in sweat.

Their imaginations really were something else.

With the key in hand, Luffy dashed onward.

Suddenly, a towering figure blocked his path—none other than Gecko Moria, whom Luffy had previously defeated. Moria grinned wickedly and summoned a horde of mummies from the ground.

Luffy launched a furious assault, but even when the mummies fell, they would soon rise again.

“Straw Hat,” cackled Moria, “this is a battlefield—there are as many corpses as I need to create mummies. Kehihihihi…”

Beset by the mummies and marines, Luffy suffered several wounds, blood flowing freely across his body. But Moria’s triumph was short-lived.

Suddenly, a surge of seawater swept over the ground, instantly sapping the strength from the summoned mummies. Their shadows slipped free, leaving behind withered husks.

Jinbe climbed out of the water and looked at Moria. “Your mummies are afraid of salt, aren’t they? That won’t work on me.”

“Luffy, leave this to me. Keep moving forward.”

Luffy’s gaze grew determined. “I’ll leave it to you, Jinbe!”

He continued his charge toward the execution platform.

Jinbe faced Moria. “Give it up, Moria. You’re no match for me.”

Moria grinned confidently. They were both Warlords of the Sea—what was there to be afraid of?

He harvested the shadows of several nearby marines and swallowed them whole. His body swelled, and his scissors split in two as he stared coldly at Jinbe.

Jinbe said, “The strength you steal is nothing compared to real power, Moria.”

Moria just kept grinning. “Let’s see about that.”

One round later.

Moria’s eyes rolled back, the stolen shadows knocked out of him, his body returning to normal.

Defeated in a single blow—truly the shame of the Seven Warlords.

Qingsi shook his head at Moria. He really was weak. Even Luffy could probably beat him now.

Let’s try copying his ability.

“Mirror—Ability Copy.”