One Piece: Bai Ye Deputy Captain of the Straw Hats

Translator: PapaSmurf0700

He was trapped. One enemy controlled his movements, another sealed his power, while two more launched devastating attacks from the front and back.

For a split second, Bai Ye was stunned by the perfectly coordinated ambush. But even in this impossible situation, he had one last resort. With a subtle movement, he swallowed the small pill he had kept hidden in his mouth.

Seventh-Grade Elixir: Aegis Pill.

The name was simple, but its effect was anything but. As Admiral Akainu's magma fist and a blood-red sword aura converged on him, a powerful protective force surged through Bai Ye, shielding his vital points.

Even so, the impact was overwhelming.

"Pah!"

A spray of blood erupted from his lips. The Daoist robe on his back was shredded, revealing a gruesome wound from the sword strike. His chest was a ruin of seared flesh from Akainu's magma. Without the Aegis Pill's protection, he would have been instantly incinerated.

Across the battlefield, cries of alarm rang out.

"BAI YE!"

Luffy, coiled and ready in his Gear Fourth: Bounce-Man form to strike at Fleet Admiral Sengoku, saw his friend and strategist fall. His eyes turned bloodshot, the sight igniting the same protective rage he'd felt in Alabasta. Ace was right there, just feet from freedom, but Luffy didn't hesitate.

He pivoted in mid-air, redirecting his entire momentum. Compressing his Haki-clad fist to its absolute limit, he rocketed toward Akainu, who was moving in to deliver the final blow.

"King Kong Gun!"

From another part of the battlefield, two more voices roared his name.

"BAI YE!"

Zoro and Sanji saw the ambush and immediately broke from their own fights to rush to his aid. But a wave of intense cold erupted from the ground beneath them.

"Ice Time Capsule!"

The frigid air instantly encased their legs in thick ice. Though they shattered their restraints a moment later, it was too late. Admiral Aokiji stood before them, blocking their path.

"Ara, ara," Aokiji drawled, his tone lazy but his eyes sharp. "Getting distracted while fighting me can have very unpleasant consequences."

Across the bay, it was the same story. Every pirate who tried to reach Bai Ye was intercepted. The Marines knew this was their chance. If they could eliminate the man who had gone toe-to-toe with an Admiral, their victory would be all but assured.

But at that critical moment, two unexpected figures made their move. Bartholomew Kuma, the Tyrant, who had quietly repositioned himself near the execution platform, and Sabo, who had remained unnoticed in the chaos until now.

"Change of plans! Send me over, Mr. Kuma!" Sabo called out. He ran directly toward the Warlord, meeting Kuma's outstretched palm without fear.

He vanished in a paw-print-shaped bubble of air.

In the next second, Sabo reappeared directly between Akainu and the wounded Bai Ye. Facing the Admiral's "Dark Hound"—a finishing move of molten rock—Sabo's expression was grim. He coated his right hand in powerful Armament Haki, shaping his fingers into a claw.

"Dragon's Claw!"

Sabo's attack intercepted the magma hound, shocking Akainu. The Admiral had been prepared to weather Luffy's attack from behind to guarantee the kill. Now, his plan was ruined. Luffy's King Kong Gun slammed into his back, the immense force sending him stumbling away. By the time Akainu regained his footing, Luffy and Sabo stood together, blocking his path.

Just as quickly, Kuma appeared beside Bai Ye. A gentle pat from his paw sent the Priest flying in another bubble, safely outside the encirclement wall where his crewmates had already dealt with the giant Vice-Admirals. It was a place to breathe, and more importantly, where the Straw Hats' doctor was waiting.

As Kuma turned to confront Bai Ye's assailants, he suddenly moved, slapping the air beside him to propel himself away just as a brilliant laser beam struck the spot where he'd been standing, triggering a massive explosion.

Admiral Kizaru's taunting voice followed the blast. "Ooooh. Did you really think you could just change sides without anyone noticing, Kuma?"

With another flash of light, Kizaru delivered a devastating kick to Marco the Phoenix, sending him crashing to the ground. Even for a Whitebeard Commander, fighting an Admiral this long had pushed him to his absolute limit.

"So, tell us," Kizaru asked, his casual tone laced with menace. "Who are you, really, Bartholomew Kuma?"

After helping Marco to his feet, Kuma answered, his voice devoid of emotion. "I have always been an officer of the Revolutionary Army. As for being suspected... I was prepared for that."

The revelation sent a shockwave through everyone who heard it.

"Ah, just as I thought," Kizaru said, a strange smile on his face. "The Revolutionaries wouldn't miss a party this big. How frightening." He began to glow. "Have you ever been kicked at the speed of light?"

With another thunderous explosion, the battle shifted. Kizaru now faced both Marco and Kuma.

"Hmph. So you're one of them too, brat," Akainu sneered, lava dripping from his body as he glared at the blond newcomer.

"Chief of Staff of the Revolutionary Army," Sabo announced, then slowly raised his head to look at the execution platform. "And..."

His voice filled with emotion. "I'm also the brother of 'Fire Fist' Ace."

On the platform, Ace's eyes went wide. It was the same stunned recognition Luffy had shown. The face, the name... it was impossible.

"Sabo!" Ace cried out, tears streaming down his face as memories of their childhood flooded his mind. "You're alive! You're really alive!"

"It's been a long time, Ace," Sabo said with a wide, heartfelt grin. "We'll catch up after I get you out of here."

"The son of the Revolutionary Dragon... the son of the Pirate King... and the Chief of Staff of the Revolutionary Army..." Akainu's body seethed, the magma churning with his fury. "You wretched family of evil. You will all die right here, today!"

"Dark Hound!"

"Dragon's Claw!"

"Kong Gun!"

With three furious roars, the battle lines were redrawn. Luffy and Sabo versus Admiral Akainu.

It was only then that the millions watching the live broadcast could finally process what had just happened. Three new figures had appeared, turning the tide in an instant.

One held a longsword that pulsed with a blood-red aura. Another seemed to rise from the very ground itself, his form coalescing from the stone and dirt. The third had unusually long arms but otherwise appeared unremarkable. What they had in common were the pristine white cloaks and identical white masks that concealed their faces.

They said nothing. They simply arrived to join the war.

With Bai Ye spirited away, the three mysterious figures silently chose new targets. The swordsman began walking toward Akainu. The earth-shaper moved toward Aokiji. The long-armed man turned to face Kizaru's battle.

Suddenly, a massive, invisible slash tore through the air, striking the ground before them. They looked up to see a tall, blond man grinning down at them with unsettling glee.

"Fuffuffuffu! Seeing you all dressed up like that," he chuckled, "reminds me of some very shady people."