Cursed Seas and Slashing Tides

New Foes

The marines charged at Ryomen and Luffy, their battle cry echoing across the island.

The ground trembled under the weight of nearly a thousand marines rushing forward.

Bullets and cannonballs tore through the air, explosions booming in the distance as chaos erupted on all sides.

"Ryomen!" Luffy shouted, his voice cutting through the noise.

Ryomen immediately nodded, understanding Luffy's intent without explanation.

Luffy stretched his arm, wrapping it around his crewmate's waist. With a mighty heave, he flung Ryomen into the air.

"Bungee!" Ryomen growled, gripping Luffy's extended hand tightly. With all his strength, he hurled Luffy even higher, launching him like a rocket.

"Gum!!" Luffy's grin widened as he expanded his body with Gomu-Gomu no Balloon, turning himself into an airborne wrecking ball.

Ryomen, meanwhile, brought Luffy's body to the ground with a thunderous slam. The impact triggered a shockwave that sent marines sprawling in all directions, with Luffy flying once again.

As the cannons on the backlines finally came into view, Ryomen's eyes narrowed. "Dismantle." He muttered, slashes slicing through the air. In an instant, the artillery shattered into pieces, rendered useless.

"Gomu-Gomu no…Rocket!!" Luffy roared, stretching his arms to latch onto a nearby tower. He launched himself at breakneck speed, crashing through the structure with incredible force.

"It's falling! Get back!" Marines shouted in panic as the collapsing tower blocked their path, sealing off reinforcements.
…

In the Tower of Justice.

"What's the situation at the main gate?" Spandam demanded, his voice sharp and impatient.

"Our forces are holding off the intruders as best as they can!" An agent replied through the transponder snail.

"And those two pirates?" Spandam asked, leaning forward.

"About them…I estimate they've taken down around…six hundred." The agent hesitated, his voice laced with disbelief.

"Six hundred?!" Spandam's confusion turned into rage. "What nonsense are you talking about?"

From the transponder snail, faint voices and the sounds of battle bled through. "Storm/Armament!!"

"Casualties, sir!" The agent clarified.

"Six hundred officers?! That's impossible!" Spandam shouted, slamming his fist on the table.

"Uh, sorry, I'll have to revise that estimate." The agent stammered, watching as even more marines fell unconscious around him.

"Of course you will! They're just two boys! My guards aren't weaklings! They can't lose to–"

"Right now, the count is closer to seven–"

"Out of our way!" A voice boomed from the background, followed by the crash of bodies and silence.

"Fool! You mean seven guards, right?!" Spandam barked before slamming the transponder snail down in frustration. He slumped into his chair, trying to mask his unease.

"They're just running around like idiots." He scoffed, convincing himself. "No one would be stupid enough to face an army head-on."

His laugh echoed in the room, but no one joined in. Yorozu's unimpressed gaze lingered on him.

"What's with that look, Yorozu?" Spandam asked, his tone growing defensive.

"Nothing. Just surprised someone who's lived on the Grand Line this long hasn't developed an ounce of survival instinct." She replied with a smirk.