Chapter 35: A Deadly Gamble
The Thousand Sunny sailed away from the remnants of the battlefield, but the crew knew their troubles were far from over. The dark clouds gathered once again as Nami's plan to manipulate the storm began to take shape. The Marines were still in pursuit, and Admiral Ryokugyu's powers were proving more dangerous than they had anticipated. Even though they had temporarily disrupted the vines with the last burst of the storm, they weren't out of the woods yet.
"We don't have much time," Nami said, her voice tense as she stood at the helm, her Climatact ready. "If we're going to break free, we have to do it now."
Ace, still burning with the intensity of battle, stood next to his brothers. "I'll handle the flames, Luffy," he said, his hand igniting as he prepared for the next wave of attacks. "Let's give Nami the opening she needs."
Luffy nodded, his expression serious. "We'll hit them together, just like before."
The storm that Nami was pulling together began to swirl around them, growing stronger with each passing second. The wind howled and lightning crackled across the sky, illuminating the battlefield as the Marines continued to close in. Ryokugyu, standing on the deck of his lead ship, raised his hand once again, commanding the sea and the earth to bend to his will. Massive vines and roots shot up from the water, reaching for the Sunny.
Sabo, his eyes locked on the incoming vines, stepped forward. "Let's do this!"
As the vines closed in, Luffy leaped into the air, activating Gear 4: Boundman. His fists, crackling with Haki, smashed into the massive vines, breaking them apart with sheer force. "Gomu Gomu no Kong Gun!" he roared, sending shockwaves through the air.
Ace followed up with a blazing Hiken, his flames scorching through the roots as they reached for the ship. "You're not stopping us this time, Ryokugyu!" Ace shouted, his voice echoing through the storm.
Sabo, using his Dragon Claw, tore through the vines with powerful, precise strikes. His haki-infused claws shredded the roots as they writhed and twisted, trying to crush the Sunny. "We'll burn everything down if we have to!"
Despite their efforts, Ryokugyu's powers continued to grow stronger. The vines, seemingly endless, kept coming, regenerating faster than they could destroy them. The Admiral's cold voice carried over the water. "You can't escape the laws of nature. You're only delaying the inevitable."
Nami, her eyes locked on the storm, gritted her teeth. "I'm almost there... just a little more time..."
But time was running out. As the vines closed in again, an ominous light flashed from the horizon. Luffy, Ace, and Sabo looked up, their faces hardening as they recognized the source of the light. Kizaru had returned.
The light-speed Admiral appeared in a burst of dazzling light, floating above the battlefield with a smug smile. "It's always so troublesome when people don't know when to quit, hmm?" he said lazily, his voice dripping with arrogance.
Before anyone could react, Kizaru raised his hand, summoning a barrage of light-speed attacks. "Yasakani no Magatama!" he called, unleashing a deadly rain of light beams that hurtled toward the Thousand Sunny.
The crew scattered, but the barrage was too fast, too widespread. Zoro and Sanji immediately sprang into action. Zoro's swords glinted in the flashes of lightning as he blocked the incoming beams, his haki-infused blades cutting through the light. "You're not taking us down today, Kizaru!" he growled, his eyes focused with deadly precision.
Sanji, flames igniting around his legs, launched himself into the air with a powerful kick. "Get lost, you light-show freak!" he shouted, his Diable Jambe burning bright as he intercepted Kizaru's attack with a flaming spin.
The two Straw Hats worked in perfect harmony, fending off the light-speed barrage as Luffy, Ace, and Sabo continued their assault on the vines. But Kizaru's attacks were relentless, and the strain was beginning to show.
"We can't hold them off much longer!" Zoro shouted through gritted teeth as he deflected another barrage of light beams.
"I know!" Nami responded, her hands shaking as she concentrated on the storm. "Just a little more!"
The vines were closing in faster now, tightening around the Sunny despite the crew's best efforts. Ryokugyu's power over nature seemed limitless, and Kizaru's light-speed attacks were wearing them down.
Luffy, seeing the danger closing in on all sides, activated his Advanced Conqueror's Haki. His aura exploded outward, sending a wave of haki across the battlefield, momentarily staggering both the vines and the Marines. "We're breaking through!" Luffy roared, his eyes blazing with determination.
Ace and Sabo followed his lead. Ace's flames roared to life, creating a towering inferno that incinerated the vines. "I'll burn everything in our way!" Ace yelled, his fire burning hotter than ever.
Sabo, his Dragon Claw glowing with haki, tore through the remaining roots with one final strike. "We'll fight through anything!"
At that moment, Nami unleashed the full force of the storm. The wind and lightning swirled together, creating a massive updraft that ripped the vines from the sea and sent them spiraling into the air. The sky lit up with lightning, and the storm howled as it tore Ryokugyu's vines apart.
"Now, Franky!" Nami shouted, her voice filled with urgency.
With a roar, Franky activated the Coup de Burst, sending the Sunny rocketing through the storm. The ship shot forward, propelled by the force of the burst and the wind from Nami's storm, leaving the battlefield behind.
As the ship sailed away at top speed, Kizaru and Ryokugyu stood silently on their respective ships, watching as the Thousand Sunny disappeared into the distance.
Kizaru sighed, his expression lazy but disappointed. "So troublesome... they got away."
Ryokugyu's face remained cold, his vines retracting into the sea. "For now."
Back on the Sunny, the crew collapsed in relief. The storm had given them the opening they needed, but they knew they had only bought themselves some time. The Marines would regroup, and they would come back even stronger.
Luffy, still panting from the battle, stood at the helm, looking out over the sea. "We're not done yet. We've got a long way to go."
Ace and Sabo stood beside him, their faces set with determination. "They'll keep coming," Sabo said quietly. "But we'll be ready."
The Thousand Sunny sailed on, battered but unbeaten. The crew had survived yet another deadly encounter, but the shadow of the World Government still loomed large over them. The battle for their freedom was far from over.
Weekly Power Status
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Ranking 
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