Edge of the Lab – Unexpected Visitors
Just as the final pieces of Law's plan began to fall into place, a thunderous explosion shook the northern wall of the lab. The snow billowed with force as two figures emerged from the smoke: a small, fluffy white bear in a coat and hat, and a woman wielding a massive bazooka.
"Beppo!" Law shouted.
"Captain!" Beppo ran up, panting. "She followed me. We tried to breach, but—"
"I'm not just some tag-along!" Baby 5 snapped, shifting her bazooka into a massive sword. "I'm here for the boss! Caesar is property of the Donquixote Family!"
The Straw Hats tensed.
"Who's the cannon chick?" Usopp blurted.
"She looks like trouble," Zoro muttered.
Kael narrowed his eyes.
Baby 5 pointed. "Hand over Caesar or I'll level this place!"
Gagged and restrained, Caesar flailed frantically. "Mmmphhh!!"
Law stepped forward. "You'll have to fight us all."
Suddenly, a loud metallic groan echoed. From deep within the lab, a blast of frost-laced air surged. The lock of an experimental cage buckled—then shattered.
From the shadows stumbled Monet, bloodied and wild-eyed, feathers torn, breath ragged. Her wings twitched. "No one… takes him."
"Monet!" Baby 5 shouted. "We're here to get you both out!"
Monet shook her head. "You failed. He's theirs now. But this island… won't be."
Beppo tried to grab Caesar, but Franky and Sanji pushed them back.
"Not happening, furball," Sanji said.
Monet raised her arm and staggered toward a control panel buried in the snow.
"What are you doing?!" Law demanded.
Monet glanced back with a mad, broken smile. "A final gift… from Caesar. Let them have him. But they won't forget him."
She slammed her hand on a backup ignition node. Lights on the console flickered red.
"No…" Chopper whispered. "She's activating the Smile reactor?"
"Smile?" Nami gasped.
Kael's eyes widened. "That gas… it's back."
A deep rumble began as purple-black ooze began to bubble and hiss through the vents.
Luffy stepped forward. "Oi! She's making the whole place blow up!"
Caesar's laughter hissed under the gag: "Se-re-re-re-re!"
Baby 5 stared in horror. "She's really doing it?!"
Monet's voice echoed as she vanished into the mist. "Let it smile… and consume."
---
Outside the Lab – The Race Begins
The Straw Hats broke into a sprint through the snow, the mountain behind glowing violet with chemical light.
"We gotta run now!" Usopp cried.
"Straight to the harbor!" Nami commanded.
"I'll fly above and guide!" Momonosuke declared, flapping his wings.
Sanji carried Chopper while shielding Robin. "No time for delays!"
Zoro cut through debris ahead. "Move it!"
Kael lingered again, the ground humming under his boots. He could feel it he can't control the system anymore—the core pulsing faintly. But he pushed the whisper away.
Robin called. "Kael! Don't stop now!"
He gave one last look and ran.