Chapter 531: The Drums of Liberation Echo Once More

As the chaos of battle spread, the walls, the Navy Headquarters’ buildings and even rows of residential towers behind them crumbled to dust in the fighting.

Countless people clashed on every side.

“Why is this happening?”

“How did things spiral this far out of control?”

Koby stood on a shattered ledge, staring at the carnage below. Corpses covered the field. Navy and pirates fought relentlessly, fires and smoke consuming the HQ, gunfire echoing through the air.

Only Roger, sneaking a break in a distant corner of the battlefield, never took his eyes off where Luffy had fallen.

“Is that the secret weapon you spoke of?”

“He’s even younger than Ace. Can he really shoulder this kind of responsibility?”

Roger couldn’t hide his worry. Without that earth-shaking sound earlier, this battle would’ve been a strategic failure. Was Karl really this resolute?

Or did he have a backup plan lurking in the shadows?

What Roger didn’t know was that Karl was gambling too. In the original story, Luffy awakened Gear Fifth only after mastering Conqueror’s Haki Infusion and Armament Haki: Ryuo.

These skills had already been imparted to them by Rayleigh, hiding in the dark. Luffy now met all the requirements—the only thing missing was a brush with death.

“The timing should be just about right. Spread the order for an all-out assault.”

High above Mariejois, Karl felt the power of his clone fade as he checked the time on his wrist.

If his calculations were right, Luffy should be on the brink between life and death now.

That thunderous sound could erupt at any moment. If it didn’t, he’d have Vegapunk fabricate the colossal noise, hoping to fool Zunesha and the other insiders.

Most of the combatants on the main battlefield above Mariejois were rear admirals and vice admirals, their job to wipe out the local army’s resistance. The true heavy-hitters at the center, though, were already surrounded by Dragon’s team.

Even Karl had ordered hundreds of floating sky islands to cluster around Mariejois’ lavish palace.

Im kept activating the Heavenly King Uranus in the sky, repeatedly setting new coordinates and gathering energy, waiting for the perfect moment to unleash destruction.

Both sides were building up strength, each waiting for the signal to strike.

Meanwhile, Roger kept his eyes glued to Luffy and started to hear a faint, almost unnoticeable rhythm.

Dum dum!

Dum dum… Dum dum… Dum dum…

Standing at the side of the Red Line, Zunesha suddenly turned its gaze toward Navy Headquarters. “Hm?”

Cymbals clanged and drums echoed—clang-clang dum-dum, clang-clang dum-dum—growing from a soft beat to one that pierced the heavens, though only a rare few could hear it.

The joyful clamor started off faint and built up until it seemed to shake the sky. Yet just a handful of souls could hear those mysterious notes.

Among them were Roger, still watching Luffy, Karl high in the air, and the massive Sea Kings five thousand meters down.

Only those who had mastered Observation Haki to the level of hearing the voice of all things could make out this strange rhythm.

“I can hear it!”

“It’s been so long!”

Boom-ba-boom, clang-clang dum-dum, clang-clang dum-dum…

The drumming only grew fiercer, cymbals and drums banging in wild harmony.

“I hear the drums of liberation—the sound that hasn’t echoed for 800 years.”

“There’s no mistake. He’s there—Joy Boy has returned!”

Tears welled up in Zunesha’s eyes, blue light flickering in its pupils.

At the same time, Luffy’s body began to spill white steam, his hair shifting from black to white. Most people missed the change, but not all.

Up in the air, Whitebeard and the other fighters froze in place, stopping mid-battle as the sight caught their eyes.

“What’s that sound?”

“Sounds like drumming. Where’s it coming from?”

That rhythm wasn’t heard with ears—it pounded straight into their chests. The rest of the Navy and pirates, deaf to it, kept fighting on.

But when the top fighters all halted, the brawling below started to slow, everyone slowly shifting into a standoff.

No one knew why the upper echelon stopped, but it seemed clear this was no time to keep fighting blindly.

“I hear the drums of liberation. After 800 years, that sound is back.”

“No doubt about it. He’s right there—Joy Boy!”

Afraid he’d misheard, Zunesha strained its ears and kept staring at Navy Headquarters, certain now as the rhythm grew louder.

“So you really didn’t lie to me, Karl.”

“What’s happening to me?”

Luffy, wobbly but determined, pushed himself back up, white steam curling off his body.

“How am I even standing after all that?”

“Wasn’t I just beaten?”

“Why do I suddenly feel so… happy?”

Crackle—crackle!

Black and red lightning exploded around Luffy, electricity arcing as he rolled left and right on the ground, bursting out in laughter.

“Out of nowhere, I feel overjoyed!”

“What is that? What’s going on?”

“Luffy?”

That tremendous sound instantly drew every eye in the area.

“Ahahaha! Ahahaha!”

“Ehehehehehe!!!”

“Luffy’s back on his feet. But what’s happening to him?”

“Not sure. Whatever it is, he looks stronger than ever,”

At the round table high above, the Five Elders had been issuing orders nonstop when that mighty sound filled the world. All of them went stone-faced.

Woqiuli broke the silence. “The Gum-Gum Fruit?”

Nassourang took over. “It’s the Devil Fruit every generation of the World Government has tried to capture, yet it’s always slipped through our grasp—for 800 years straight!”

“It’s like the Devil Fruit is running from us on purpose.”

Marcus spoke up. “It’s possible. Zoan-type Fruits are said to have wills of their own—and this one carries the title of ‘god.'”

“The Gum-Gum Fruit’s other name is…”

“Zoan-type—Human-Human Fruit—Mythical Zoan—Nika form.”

“The body gains rubber properties and can fight any way it please. This is the Freedom Warrior who brings joy to all.”

“Also known as the Sun God Nika!”

“Legend says its awakening elevates both body and freedom to the limit—it’s the most outlandish power in the world.”

Derlin narrowed his eyes. “Karl has been planning this all along.”

“The latest intel has the Four Emperors out in force, but only Kaido and Whitebeard actually joined the fight.”

“Karl’s crew is no doubt lying in ambush near Mariejois. The only question left: is Shanks here too?”

Borg looked shocked at the mention of Shanks.

“He’s allied with the Celestial Dragons. There’s no way he’d do something so reckless.”

Marcus cut in coldly. “Shanks is no ally of ours anymore. Don’t fool yourself.”

“And Karl’s been scheming for years. He’s not content with just attacking Mariejois—he’s aiming to destroy the World Government itself.”

“It looks like we’re in for a war of epic proportions.”

“Bring every commander and officer together. However Karl plays it, this all leads to a last stand.”

Derlin nodded. “I’ll give the order now.”

“If it’s a fight you want, bring it on. Show me, Karl—what secret have you kept hidden that makes you think you can overcome 800 years of World Government might?”