"Four minutes until Buster Call."
The mechanical voice rang out from the battered Den Den Mushi embedded in Franky's arm. Thunder rolled across the distorted skies, and the sound of distant cannonfire echoed toward the ruined city.
From the edge of the crumbling tower, smoke trails snaked across the sky – marine warships, dozens of them, encircling the island.
"We have incoming!" Usopp yelled, peering through his scope. "It's the full fleet!"
"And those aren't warning shots," Sanji growled, eyes narrowing.
Franky slammed his fist against the node control panel. "I bought us time. I didn't stop the storm."
"Then we move," Zoro said, his blades already sheathed. "Fast."
"We can't just run!" Nami snapped. "The civilians—they've already evacuated, but they're on foot, trying to escape!"
Robin nodded. "They won't outrun this barrage without help."
Luffy looked to the sky. Fire bloomed in the clouds above as the first Buster Call barrage began to fall.
"Let's split up," Luffy said. "Zoro, Sanji—get to the harbor. Start clearing the ships."
"With pleasure," Sanji said, spinning into the air.
"I'll cut us a path," Zoro muttered, already moving.
"Franky, Nami, Brook, you're with me. We protect the citizens."
"Yohoho! A heroic rescue!"
"Chopper, Robin, Usopp," Luffy added, turning. "Make sure no one's caught in the backstreets. We meet at the southern dock."
"Got it!" Chopper saluted, shifting into Heavy Point.
"Let's go!" Usopp shouted, adrenaline kicking in.
North Dock - Harbor Assault Team
Zoro sliced through the first wave of marines without breaking stride.
"Out of the way."
"That's Zoro! That's the pirate hunter!"
Sanji twirled in with blazing legs, kicking cannonballs out of the air. "Sorry boys, no room for guests today."
The air shimmered suddenly.
"Huh?" Zoro looked up.
A man appeared in a beam of golden light. Calm eyes, lazy posture, and a justice coat that fluttered behind him.
"Ah... such trouble," said Borsalino, Admiral Kizaru.
"Kizaru!" Sanji hissed, pulling out a cigarette.
"They really sent you?" Zoro said, stepping forward.
"Buster Calls are serious business," Kizaru said nonchalantly. "And you two... well, you make a mess."
He vanished in a flash and reappeared between them, landing a glowing light-kick that Zoro barely blocked.
Sanji dove in, his legs ablaze. "Back off, disco-ball."
"Oooh, so scary," Kizaru mocked, launching a volley of laser beams that scorched the dock.
The trio clashed. Zoro's blades sparked against beams of light. Sanji danced between rays with aerial flips. Kizaru moved with eerie calm, teleporting unpredictably.
"This guy's insane!" Sanji grunted.
"Focus," Zoro growled, blood dripping from a new cut.
Town Square - Evacuation Team
"This way! Head for the south slope!" Franky bellowed, directing disoriented citizens trying to flee on their own.
Nami directed a storm cloud to lift debris. "They evacuated too early. Now they're scattered."
Brook used his music to calm panicked stragglers, his skeletal grin gentle. "Stay together, everyone. Keep to the rhythm of escape!"
"Yohoho!"
Luffy carried a fallen citizen over his shoulder, his breath ragged. "H-Hang on... just a little more..."
His body trembled. Steam hissed from his arms. He collapsed to one knee.
"Luffy!" Nami caught him.
"I'm okay... just used Gear Fourth too long."
Franky growled. "We need him out of here, fast."
"Tunnel's no good anymore! We guide them by foot," Nami said urgently. "They won't make it alone."
South Sector - Rescue Team
Chopper broke through rubble with heavy punches. "Anyone there?!"
"Here! Under the beams!" a voice called.
Robin summoned dozens of arms to lift debris. Usopp provided cover fire from a perch above, his sniper shots disarming marines approaching from the rear.
"Three more rescued," Robin said.
"That's the last of them!"
"Then we move."
The team converged near the southern dock just as the second barrage lit up the island's skyline.
"How many people left?" Luffy asked, barely getting the words out as he leaned heavily on Nami, his eyes half-lidded and drenched in sweat.
"Maybe a hundred," Franky said. "They scattered toward the hills."
"More ships are landing," Sanji warned through Den Den Mushi. "And we got a problem. Kizaru's here."
"That light freak again?" Usopp whimpered.
"He's fighting Zoro and me now. Buy time for the others. Get Luffy out."
Zoro's voice cracked through: "Don't wait for us. We'll meet at the last ship."
Robin glanced at the horizon, where Kael had disappeared. "We're out of time."
Luffy groaned, his voice hoarse. "Ugh... Can't move much more... I hate this part..."
Nami grabbed his hand. "We'll finish this. Let us handle it."
The third barrage began. Explosions tore across the city. The ground shook.
And the Straw Hats kept moving.
Hidden Sector - Island's Core
Deep beneath the collapsing city, within a hidden control chamber lit by dying blue light, Riven stood alone. Blood ran from his lip, one arm clutched tightly to his chest, but his eyes blazed with a final purpose.
"They're too close... they'll be buried with the secrets. Unless..."
He slammed his hand against the final control panel.
"Activate Prototype Defense Mode. Let them see the truth for themselves."
Ancient lights flickered to life. Pillars groaned as ancient machines stirred. Beneath the ground, something massive hummed, and a pulse of energy rippled outward like a heartbeat from the island's core.
Riven staggered back, half-smiling.
"You fools... maybe you're the ones destined to uncover it. Technology... that even the world government wanted erased. From the Void Century... to now."
Above ground, the sky shimmered briefly.
And the island began to change.