MTS: Marvel and Beyond

Chapter 141: Gear 5

In the bay, the Pacifistas continued bombarding the pirates, but many of them were destroyed by the formidable New World pirates.

Among these New World pirates, numerous individuals with bounties exceeding 100 million berries made short work of the Pacifistas. To them, these mechanical soldiers were not insurmountable foes.

Meanwhile, Buggy the Clown, holding a live broadcast Den Den Mushi, became a prime target for the Marines. They launched relentless attacks to destroy the snail and cut off the broadcast.

The Marines wanted to hide their manipulation of Squard into betraying Whitebeard, as such underhanded tactics wouldn't look good if exposed. Moreover, they didn't want the world to know about their intention to execute Ace prematurely.

But Buggy, now awakened, was terrifyingly strong. Though not yet at the level of an Emperor, he had the strength of a Warlord of the Sea.

The awakening of the Chop-Chop Fruit had granted Buggy devastating power. With a mere wave of his hands, nearby Marines were shattered into countless pieces, unable to resist his might.

At this point, only the Admirals, Garp, or Sengoku could hope to subdue him.

Buggy was no longer just the Clown—he had fully ascended to become the Emperor Buggy!

---

As the pirates stormed into the bay and pushed toward the shore, the battle between Luffy and Akainu was reaching its climax. Without awakening Gear Fifth, Luffy was no match for Akainu. He was blasted away and landed on the frozen sea, reverting from Gear Fourth.

Elsewhere, Whitebeard, having defeated the giant Vice Admiral, unleashed a powerful punch toward the execution platform. However, the three Admirals, now free from distractions, intercepted him, preventing the attack from destroying the platform.

Unlike the original timeline, Whitebeard's body remained at its peak despite his age. Akainu, having already expended significant energy fighting Luffy, struggled more than usual to withstand Whitebeard's might.

As the pirates closed in on the platform, Sengoku, visibly flustered, abandoned his sea snails and issued a decisive order:

"Shut down all non-essential mechanisms! Redirect all energy to the encircling walls!"

Following his command, power was rerouted to the Surrounding Wall, which began rising from beneath the ice, enclosing the pirates within the bay.

However, to everyone's shock, one section of the wall failed to rise. The massive body of Little Oars Jr., still lying where he fell earlier, blocked its ascent.

The pirates surged toward this single breach, but the Marines had anticipated such a scenario. Cannons opened fire on the advancing pirates, inflicting heavy casualties.

---

Amid the chaos, Akainu emerged and began launching molten magma into the air. The lava, pulled down by gravity, rained upon the bay, vaporizing the ice and boiling the seawater, scorching the pirates below.

It was at this moment that Little Oars Jr. stirred. Having been unconscious, not dead, he struggled to his feet despite his grievous injuries.

But before him stood the three Admirals, any one of whom could easily kill him despite his immense size.

Marines surrounding him opened fire, worsening his already dire wounds.

Kizaru, extending a glowing finger, aimed at Little Oars Jr. and said with his usual detachment:

"Stubborn, aren't you? To still be standing... barely clinging to life."

A cruel smile crossed his face. "Let's finish this quickly. The best way would be to shoot through his head."

BOOM!

A sudden explosion echoed outside the encircling wall, and a massive torrent of water surged inside, cutting off Kizaru's attack and saving Little Oars Jr.

From within the water, Luffy emerged, holding a broken mast and appearing in front of everyone.

Even with Alex's enhancements, the toll of Gear Fourth had drained all of his Haki, leaving his stamina nearly exhausted and his combat ability significantly diminished.

Yet, despite his weakened state, Luffy raised his head and fixed his unwavering gaze on the execution platform, ignoring the three Admirals who struck fear into countless pirates.

The three Admirals gazed down at Luffy with calm indifference, their expressions mocking his recklessness.

"Oh, so you finally made it this far," mused Kizaru.

"The son of Dragon... truly fearless," remarked Akainu.

"So young... how terrifying," added Aokiji.

All the Marines turned their attention to Luffy, watching the daring yet seemingly doomed young pirate.

Above, Buggy, hovering in the air, captured the scene with a broadcast Den Den Mushi, streaming it live to Sabaody Archipelago.

Spectators on Sabaody marveled at Luffy's courage but doubted his chances.

"Facing the three Admirals at once? The Straw Hat kid is done for!"

"Yeah, there's no way anyone can save him now!"

---

Meanwhile, the three Admirals spoke once more:

"Your persistence is admirable."

"But this stage is far too early for someone like you."

"You cannot possibly defeat us."

Luffy ignored their words, his resolve hardening further as he shouted, "Give Ace back to me!"

With all his strength, he hurled the broken mast at the Admirals.

To them, the attack was child's play. Aokiji froze the mast instantly, stopping it in its tracks. But as it became encased in ice, Luffy entered Second Gear, delivering a powerful kick that shattered the frozen mast. The impact released a dense, icy mist, obscuring everyone's vision.

Taking advantage of the cover, Luffy attempted to bypass the Admirals and dash toward the execution platform.

But such a ploy was futile against the Observation Haki of the Admirals. In an instant, Kizaru vanished from his position, reappearing directly in front of Luffy to deliver a devastating kick that sent him flying.

—-—

Seeing Luffy crash near the base of the execution platform, Sengoku decided not to waste any more time. Rising from his seat, he gave a decisive command:

"Execute him!"

Two soldiers wielding long blades raised their weapons, swinging down toward Ace.

At that moment, all hope seemed lost.

- Luffy had been knocked away.

- Little Oars Jr. lay grievously wounded, with one leg severed.

- Even Crocodile, who had saved Ace in the original timeline, was stuck in the bay due to Alex's interference.

No one was left to stop the execution.

From the start of the war, Sengoku had maintained a grim expression. Now, for the first time, he allowed himself a small smile.

Once the execution was completed, the war would lose all meaning. The Marines' victory would be secured.

—-—

But then, Sengoku noticed a sly smile tugging at the corner of Alex's lips. A sudden sense of unease surged within him.

Could there still be an unexpected twist?!

The next moment, a rhythmic drumming sound echoed in the distance. The most perceptive warriors immediately turned their attention to Luffy.

Luffy's body trembled violently, and thick, white steam began to pour out, surrounding him completely.

His stamina and Haki were recovering at an incredible rate, while the enhancements Alex had placed on him pushed beyond their previous limits.

After 800 long years, the Drums of Liberation resounded across the seas once again!

Luffy's hair began to change, starting from the base, transforming into a fiery white flame. White mist condensed and coiled around him like ribbons, beginning at his neck and threading under his arms.

A joyful laugh suddenly echoed across the battlefield, resonating throughout the world. Black and red lightning intertwined around Luffy, with white steam enveloping him like a blazing fire.

At this moment, the Human-Human Fruit, Mythical Zoan Type, Model: Nika

Awakened!

Luffy opened his eyes, revealing faint red irises. In the next moment, a burst of Conqueror's Haki erupted, covering the entire battlefield!

All weaker Marines and pirates collapsed instantly, including the two executioners poised to strike Ace.

Holding his forehead, Luffy laughed loudly, exclaiming, "Even the sound of my heartbeat is so interesting!"

In the silence that followed, only the Drums of Liberation and Luffy's laughter could be heard. The entire world stood in awe of him. Those who understood the meaning behind the Drums of Liberation knew that the world was about to change. Whether it was Alex, the infamous criminal, or Luffy, the Straw Hat pirate, they would overthrow the existing order of the seas!

—-—

Witnessing Luffy's awakening, Sengoku lost his composure. Slamming the table, he turned to Alex and demanded:

"Didn't you say the enhancements you placed on the Straw Hat kid would only reach their peak during the execution? There are still two hours left!"

Amidst the chaos of the battlefield, Alex calmly sipped his tea before replying:

"Didn't you just announce the execution?"

Sengoku's face darkened further. "You modified the enhancements placed on the Straw Hat kid?"

Alex shot him a mocking glance. "No, unlike you, I don't stoop to dishonorable tricks. I haven't changed a thing."

Hearing this, Sengoku's face turned green with frustration. He would have preferred it if Alex had meddled.

—-—

The most chaotic power of the pirate world had finally bloomed.

With the resilience and regenerative abilities granted by the Zoan Awakening, and the ability to manipulate surrounding elements from the Paramecia Awakening, Luffy's transformation reached its apex. His faint red eyes, framed by eyebrows resembling Devil Fruit patterns, gazed at the three Admirals. Though his expression held no trace of malice, his presence alone made the Admirals uneasy.

Their instincts as seasoned warriors told them that in a one-on-one fight, they might very well lose to the awakened Luffy.

From the Whitebeard Pirates to the Straw Hat crew, the Warlords of the Sea, and the Marines, all eyes were fixed on this figure. At this moment, Luffy was no longer just "Straw Hat." He was now one of the strongest in the sea.

—-—

Determined to save Ace with his own strength, Luffy charged toward the execution platform without asking Alex for help. He knew Alex wouldn't interfere, and he wanted to rely on his own power.

However, as he neared the platform, he was intercepted by Kizaru, who moved at lightning speed.

"Yo, yo, yo. I can't let you get any closer!"

This time, Kizaru wasn't holding back. Using all his power, he unleashed his strongest attack, a blinding light that illuminated the entire battlefield, momentarily overshadowing the sun.

Yet, the overwhelming attack didn't harm Luffy at all.

Luffy grabbed the intangible light itself, imbuing it with rubber properties, and hurled it back at Kizaru.

Kizaru's expression changed drastically as he was struck by his own light and sent flying. However, the other two Admirals, Akainu and Aokiji, quickly arrived, blocking Luffy's path to the execution platform.

—-—

The three Admirals joined forces to attack Luffy, surrounding him.

Though they managed to suppress him, they couldn't defeat him quickly.

The battlefield continued to evolve.

Distant from Luffy's clash with the Admirals, the rest of the Straw Hat Crew experienced significant power boosts.

Zoro's Haki reached new heights, with hints of Conqueror's Haki awakening. His duel with Mihawk escalated to the level of an Admiral's combat intensity, making it impossible for others to approach.

Meanwhile, Sanji, freed from his earlier engagement due to Luffy's battle with Akainu, took on additional Marines. During the fight, he awakened the genetic enhancements within his body, unlocking superhuman abilities and greatly enhancing his combat power.

Although the other crew members did not experience such dramatic transformations, their Haki and physical prowess advanced significantly.

While Luffy kept the three Admirals occupied, a coated pirate ship emerged from the ocean depths, offering a foothold for the pirates and preserving much of their strength.

At the same time, Alex's Moby Dick II, specially designed for the Whitebeard Pirates, charged toward the battlefield. Its massive frame ignored the flaming meteors falling from the sky and crashed into the encircling walls, shattering over a dozen barriers!

Oars Jr. then lifted the newly arrived pirate ship and hurled it toward the execution platform, enabling many pirates to breach its defenses. However, this final act exhausted his strength. Gravely injured from relentless cannon fire and his earlier battles, Oz succumbed to his wounds despite Alex eliminating Gecko Moria earlier.

Marco knelt beside Oz's lifeless body, whispered a word of thanks, and took to the skies, heading toward the execution platform to rescue Ace.

But before he could reach it, Garp intercepted him mid-air with a devastating punch, sending him flying.

As Garp descended, his Marine cloak emblazoned with the word "Justice" billowed dramatically. At that moment, his presence grew even more imposing, and his style and resolve seemed to amplify his power twofold.

Garp took Akainu's former seat and roared:

"If you want to reach the execution platform, you'll have to kill me first!"

Garp's figure suddenly seemed older, burdened by the weight of his family and his duty. Ultimately, he chose responsibility over kinship.

---

Meanwhile, Whitebeard joined the fray, his attacks toppling dozens of Marines with every strike. Few could stand against him.

His gaze drifted toward Luffy, who was simultaneously fighting the three Admirals. Luffy's free-spirited combat style shocked even Whitebeard. It reminded him of something Shanks had once said:

"I've staked my arm on the new era!"

Clearly, Shanks had made the right bet. Luffy was already a match for the Emperors of the Sea.

---

Akainu, noticing Whitebeard's rampage, disengaged from Luffy's fight to confront him. Turning to the other Admirals, he declared:

"Straw Hat is yours. I'll stop Whitebeard!"

With Akainu gone, the pressure on Kizaru and Aokiji significantly increased. Unlike in the original timeline, where they often held back, they couldn't afford to be careless now. Against the current Luffy, anything less than their full strength could result in death.

Both Kizaru and Aokiji had sustained injuries, while Luffy's Zoan Awakening granted him extraordinary regeneration. To the onlookers, it appeared as if Luffy was gaining the upper hand.

However, the truly experienced fighters understood the reality: facing three Admirals simultaneously would drain even an awakened Zoan user. Luffy's exhaustion simply hadn't manifested outwardly yet.

—-—

As Akainu confronted Whitebeard, their intense auras clashed, generating visible shockwaves that swept through the battlefield.

Facing a revitalized Whitebeard, whose strength far surpassed his earlier, illness-ridden state, Akainu showed no fear. As a staunch believer in Absolute Justice, he stood firm, unlike his more ambivalent peers.

"If I let you rampage further, this island won't survive," Akainu declared coldly.

Whitebeard, feeling the immense power coursing through his body, glanced at Alex before turning his attention to Akainu.

"Then guard it well!" he replied confidently.

The two titans' fists collided, unleashing black and red lightning that illuminated the battlefield once more.

°°°

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