Alubarna was facing an unprecedented crisis.
At the same time, the members of Baroque Works had gathered together.
"Hey, hey, hey! Is this really fine? Are we sure everything is going according to plan? Will Princess Vivi and those pirates really come here? We can already hear the rebel army's horns!"
"Looks like the rebels will reach the capital first. Do you think she'll still try to stop the war?"
"She probably won't make it in time. They wasted far too much time in Rainbase," a woman said leisurely.
"If the rebel army arrives before the princess, what should we do?" Mr. 2 asked.
"Why not just sit back and watch them fight? Once the war starts, even a princess won't be able to stop it," another woman replied.
"Our mission is to eliminate the princess. Nothing more," Mr. 1 said calmly.
"Hey, look over there!"
At that moment, Miss Merry Christmas suddenly shouted.
In the distance, five Supersonic Ducks were racing toward the city gate. Each rider wore a white cloak, making it impossible to tell who was who.
"This is troublesome. I thought we would only have to deal with the princess. I didn't expect this."
"Then it seems we'll have to eliminate all of them."
Mr. 1's voice was cold.
Moments later, several Baroque Works agents rushed toward the Straw Hats at incredible speed.
Unfortunately for them, the Supersonic Ducks were even faster.
Following their plan, the Straw Hats split into three groups and successfully lured the Baroque Works agents away from Vivi.
Meanwhile, Vivi stood between the Rebel Army and the Royal Army.
Her long, wavy blue hair flowed past her waist. She was beautiful and elegant, usually dressed in a blue-and-white gown. But now, her bright eyes were filled only with determination.
She spread her arms wide, desperately trying to stop the war before it began.
"Please stop!! Rebel Army!!"
"This war is being manipulated by someone else! Please listen to me—"
But a violent sandstorm swept across the battlefield.
Vivi and Koza passed right by each other without realizing it.
"Hey... was someone standing there just now?" Koza asked the soldier beside him.
"Someone? This isn't the time for that! They're already attacking!"
Sure enough—
A cannon blast erupted across the desert.
Vivi's face turned pale with fear.
"Why would you do something like this... Royal Army?!"
"Idiot! I never gave the order to fire! Who told you to act on your own?!"
Chaka shouted furiously at the soldier who had fired the cannon.
"S-Sorry! My hand slipped!"
The soldier apologized in a panic.
But hidden beneath his sleeve was a deeply concealed Baroque Works mark.
The truth was far more sinister than it appeared.
At the same time, the cannon fire completely enraged the rebels.
"Don't be afraid! Charge!"
"For our homeland! We will never forgive the king!"
"Listen up! This is our final battle!"
"Do not fear sacrifice! This is for the sake of our country!"
Koza raised the morale of the rebel army as he rode forward on his horse. He drew his sword and charged toward the palace.
"They're coming! Prepare the cannons!"
At the same time, the Royal Army began firing as well.
And so—
The slaughter began.
Ordinary civilians with little combat experience clashed against soldiers who were trying to defend their nation.
The battlefield quickly descended into chaos and bloodshed.
Many rebels died before they could even reach the city walls, struck down by stray artillery shells in the desert.
Those who survived continued charging forward.
The capital was so close.
Yet it felt impossibly far away.
The war had officially begun.
Watching chaos consume her country, Vivi cried out in anguish.
But no one heard her voice.
Suddenly—
A stray bullet shot toward her.
She failed to dodge in time and collapsed onto the ground.
More bullets rained down from the sky.
Just as Vivi was about to fall into despair—
Her loyal duck, Karoo, rushed forward. He lifted her onto his back and ran toward the edge of the battlefield.
Bullets fell like rain.
Karoo's body was quickly covered in wounds, yet he endured the pain and continued running.
Finally—
He collapsed.
But Vivi had reached safety.
"Gaa... Gaa!"
Karoo cried out desperately, urging her to keep going.
"So the rebellion still happened..."
"But I will stop it."
"No matter how many times I fail!"
"Because on that ship... I learned something important."
"Never give up!"
Tears rolled down Vivi's delicate face.
Yet her eyes became firmer than ever.
"Vivi! Hurry, get on!"
Usopp shouted while riding a white horse.
"Usopp!!"
Vivi cried out in relief, but then she looked anxiously toward Karoo.
"That bird won't make it! If we don't hurry, the rebellion will spiral completely out of control!" Usopp urged.
Vivi's expression suddenly became serious.
"Usopp... show me the proof."
Usopp confidently raised his arm.
The bandage wrapped around it was especially eye-catching.
But Vivi's gaze instantly changed.
Cold.
Suspicious.
In the next moment—
The supposedly unconscious Karoo suddenly sprang up. Carrying Vivi on his back, he raced away at full speed.
Only "Usopp" remained behind, his face darkening.
Or rather—
Mr. 2 Bon Clay.
A user of the Clone-Clone Fruit, capable of perfectly copying a person's appearance after touching their face.
"Can someone explain something to me?"
"We all had the same mark... so how was I exposed?"
Mr. 2 wiped his face, returning to his original appearance.
"But I'm not letting you escape!"
"Okama Kenpo: Swan Leap!"
Mr. 2 leapt forward, moving even faster than the Supersonic Duck.
However—
Thanks to Karoo's incredible ability to climb walls, Vivi barely managed to reach Alubarna, the capital of Alabasta.
But the scene before her made it difficult to breathe.
Earlier, when the Straw Hats had first arrived in Alabasta, they had discussed an important issue.
"Listen carefully," Zoro said.
"That okama bastard's transformation ability is perfect. At any moment, he could disguise himself as one of us and threaten Vivi's life."
"If any of us seems suspicious..."
"...make them unwrap their bandage and show this mark."
Zoro removed the bandage from his arm, revealing a large X-shaped mark.
"If they don't have the mark, they're an impostor."
"Oh? A double anti-counterfeit method?"
"That's surprisingly clever. Doesn't seem like something you'd come up with," Sanji mocked.
"You're not actually Mr. 2, are you?"
"I'LL CUT YOU DOWN!" Zoro roared angrily.
"Whoa! That scared me," Luffy said.
"So it really is Zoro!"
Meanwhile, in the desert on the way to the capital—
Luffy was riding on Pell's back.
Pell had transformed into his giant falcon form and was soaring through the sky at incredible speed.
"Hurry up, Pell! I need to see my friends as soon as possible!"
"I'm going to send Crocodile flying!"
"I'm already flying as fast as I can!" Pell shouted angrily.
Luffy looked at the translucent system panel floating before him.
Ding. Mission issued: Final Battle.
The fate of this nation — survival or destruction — now lies in your hands.
Follow your will and bring an end to the war threatening to destroy this country.
Reward: Unknown.
Since awakening his Haki, Luffy's power had begun increasing rapidly.
Observation Haki +3Observation Haki +2Observation Haki +1
Armament Haki +5Armament Haki +3Armament Haki +1
This was only natural.
Armament Haki originated from physical strength.
Observation Haki was closely tied to mental power.
And Luffy was already strong in both areas.
He had simply lacked the method to awaken them.
Now that they had awakened, rapid growth was inevitable.
Eventually, his stats stabilized.
Armament Haki: 10.8Observation Haki: 7.8
This finally gave Luffy a little more confidence.