Chapter Text
After the wreckage of Kaido’s fleet drifted into the open sea, flames and twisted wood floating on the waves, the Silence and the other ships sailed into the cleared path. Jinbei and Giles emerged from the water, battered but triumphant, having torn the Beast Pirates’ ships apart from below. Archer should have felt victorious, a sense of accomplishment after an impressive battle. But his mind was nowhere near the fleet they’d just decimated.
All he could think about was Luc—and Momonosuke. Every time he blinked, he saw Luc’s face, terrified, calling for him. His heart twisted painfully at the memory. As they sailed closer to Onigashima, his eyes narrowed.
When they reached the rocky shores, Archer called his crew together, motioning for Sabo and Koala to join them. His crew gathered in a tight circle, their expressions hard and determined. Each of them wore the scars of the recent fight, but Archer knew they were ready for more. They weren’t done. Not until they had Luc back.
Archer’s voice cut through the murmurs. “Listen up. We’re not going in quiet, and we’re not joining the others in some sneaky assault. The Roaring Pirates will go in loud, and we’re not stopping until Luc and Momo are safe.” His eyes swept over the crew, the fire in his gaze matching the intensity in theirs. “All bets are off. Anyone who doesn’t surrender? We’ll take them down.”
Around him, his crew members nodded, some cracking their knuckles or gripping the hilts of their weapons. Archer’s rage felt like a tangible force, fueling their resolve.
Rosinante, who stood tall and steady beside him, placed a hand on Archer’s shoulder. “Archer’s right,” he said, his voice steady but cold. “But our priority is clear. The most important thing is getting Luc and Momonosuke out of there safely. Everything else is secondary. Anyone standing in our way will be dealt with.” His tone was grim, but Archer saw the fierce love burning in his husbands’ eyes.
Giles grunted, his sharp-toothed grin flashing. “For Luc,” he said simply, clenching his trident with white-knuckled intensity. Raya and Gin exchanged a look, each giving a single, silent nod.
Archer’s heart swelled as he looked at them, his crew who had fought by his side, risked everything for each other time and again. And now, they were ready to storm hell itself to bring back his daughter.
With a fierce grin, Archer tilted his head toward the looming cliffs of Onigashima. “All right then, Roaring Pirates—time to make some noise.”
And make noise they did. The Roaring Pirates stormed the beach, a thunderous force tearing into the Beast Pirates’ ranks. Their arrival shattered the eerie quiet around the city, the sound of battle exploding like a wild symphony of rage and steel.
Kaido, the Shogun, and Big Mom had chosen this night for a twisted banquets, but Archer planned on cutting their celebration short. The smell of roasted meat and clinking cups wafted through the air from the castle above, but the only thing Archer could taste was fury.
A massive army stood between them and that castle, but Archer barely registered them as an obstacle. He tore through the soldiers in his path, fighting like a man possessed. His claws sliced through armor and flesh alike, a deadly blur in his hybrid form. Blood splattered across his face as he fought, but he didn’t care. Every scream, every skull he crushed beneath his hands, every throat he tore out—it was all fuel, driving him closer to his daughter.
Raya moved beside him like a storm, her bombs exploding in vivid blasts that sent Beast Pirates flying in every direction. Gin’s laughter rang out as he swung his bazooka, sending deadly rounds ripping through enemy ranks. Sabo and Koala weren’t far behind, unleashing fierce attacks that left trails of destruction.
But for Archer, it was all background noise. Luc’s face, her voice calling for him—that was all he could focus on. His vision was painted red, and he tore through the Beast Pirates with a single-minded determination. He crushed skulls under his feet, slashed open throats with his claws, and tossed bodies aside like they were nothing.
His crew matched his intensity, every single one of them fighting with everything they had. Rosinante was a whirlwind of haki, sending waves of energy that knocked enemies out cold, clearing paths so Archer could press on without pause. The Silence crew poured out their wrath as they pushed forward, fighting harder, faster, deadlier than ever.
Archer’s gaze shifted left, catching sight of Rosinante just as he leapt onto some massive, snarling beast. With an almost feral roar, Rosi gripped the creature’s jaws and, using nothing but his sheer strength, wrenched them apart until they cracked and snapped, leaving it crumbling at his feet. Archer’s pulse surged with a mix of pride and urgency—Rosi was a force of nature, his fury unmatched.
Then they reached the castle entrance, and Archer’s heart stopped.
Up on a raised platform stood an execution stand, with Luc and Momonosuke kneeling, bound tightly. Beside them, Nami and Carrot were in similar binds, fear and defiance etched across their faces. Kaido, Orochi, and Big Mom loomed nearby, towering figures shrouded in an aura of menace. Kaido was launching into some grandiose speech about his intentions to take on the World Government, to claim the One Piece with Big Mom at his side—a load of shit, as far as Archer was concerned. But then, in one swift motion, Kaido turned and, without warning, lopped Orochi’s head clean off. Archer stared, blinking at the abruptness of it.
And just when the tension reached its peak, a loud crash sounded overhead. Through the roof came Luffy and Yamato, plummeting down with a chaotic energy that sent debris flying in every direction. Kaido’s forces turned, scrambling in shock, but before any of them could act, Rosinante stepped forward.
With a growl that echoed throughout the hall, he crossed the space in a heartbeat, his fists clenched and radiating fury. Before Kaido could even raise his club, Rosi’s fist collided square with the Emperor’s face, the impact so fierce it sent Kaido stumbling backward, clutching his jaw. Rosinante’s voice boomed, unrestrained and deadly.
“No one,” he thundered, “touches my daughter!”
As Kaido staggered, Timble seized the moment. The small, agile guy darted up to the execution stand, his hands working swiftly to untie Luc, Momo, Nami, and Carrot
With Luc and Momo safely handed off to Shinobu, Archer turned back to the chaos unfolding around him. They’d barely made it a few steps before pandemonium erupted in full. Luffy was locked in a brutal clash with Kaido, exchanging thunderous blows that shook the ground beneath their feet. Out of nowhere, Marco, the stupid fucker showed up and went straight for Big Mom, diving headfirst into a reckless battle. Archer couldn't help but roll his eyes—only a birdbrain like Marco would take on an Emperor solo.
Meanwhile, the Red Scabbards had stormed Kaido as well, each unleashing years of pent-up vengeance. And somehow, through it all, the entire castle started to rise. Archer stumbled as the floors shifted, tilting underfoot, until it became clear the entire structure was being hoisted into the sky. He shot a glance at Rosinante, whose expression mirrored his own: part disbelief, part exasperation, all intensity.
As they adjusted to the impossible, Archer took stock of who remained. Besides him and Rosi there was Kidd’s gang—Kidd himself and his right-hand man Killer—plus Luffy, Zoro, and Law. The core of their alliance, perched precariously in a castle flying straight toward the heart of the beast.
“Shit’s about to go down,” Archer muttered, drawing his weapon. He met Rosinante’s steely gaze, finding comfort in his husband's unwavering eyes.
Rosi gave a grim nod, gripping his own weapon with practiced ease. "Then let's end it with a bang."
The battlefield was pure chaos, but Archer’s eyes stayed sharp, catching every movement. He watched Luffy narrowly avoid a crushing blow from Kaido, only to stumble right into Big Mom's path. She grinned maliciously, bringing her sword down, when suddenly, Law teleported beside his little brother, grabbing Luffy and swapping their positions in the blink of an eye.
Then Law immediately turned on Luffy, ranting furiously at him for diving in headfirst like a fool. Archer smirked, crossing his arms—Law was right. Luffy’s impulsiveness was a ticking time bomb.
But just as Archer thought his brother would let the lecture sink in, Kidd barreled past with a manic grin, egging Law and Luffy into a game of chicken with Big Mom’s fireball, Prometheus. The three of them laughed like kids at the edge of disaster, daring each other to get closer to the searing flames.
That was Archer’s limit.
With a swift lunge, he smacked each one of them across the head, his eyes blazing with authority. “Idiots! This is a war, not a playground!” he barked, arms crossed as he glared down at them. “One wrong move, and that fire’s the last thing you’ll ever see. So, knock it off!”
Luffy, Law, and Kidd rubbed their heads, muttering in a chorus of “Sheesh, dad, goldie…” as if he were just a parent catching them sneaking out.
Archer shot them one last deadly look. “I swear, if I see one more stunt like that, I’m putting you all on babysitting duty for Luc,” he growled. That got them quiet.
Archer gritted his teeth as he launched another punch at Kaido, putting all his strength behind it. The impact was solid, his fist connecting with Kaido’s chest, but the hulking Emperor barely flinched. Archer cursed under his breath—this guy was built like a damn mountain.
Beside him, Luffy shifted into Gear 4, his muscles inflating as he took on his Boundman form, launching himself at Kaido with relentless speed and power. Each hit cracked like thunder, but still, it only seemed to amuse the dragon of an Emperor, who laughed in their faces as he swung his massive kanabo.
Archer dodged to the side as Kaido’s club crashed down, shattering the ground where he’d been standing a moment before. He glanced at Law, who was muttering in frustration, his Room up but proving ineffective against Kaido’s overwhelming durability. “Damn it,” Law spat, “even with Gamma Knife, I’m barely scratching this guy’s insides.”
Luffy shot a look back, his brows knit in frustration, “Gum-Gum Kong Gun!” he yelled, throwing another gigantic fist into Kaido’s face. Kaido stumbled back a step, grinning with wild eyes, as if he was finally entertained.
Meanwhile, Kidd grunted, his own devil fruit forming a massive metallic fist, which he drove into Kaido’s gut, but again, it barely seemed to do anything. “What the hell is this bastard made of?” Kidd growled, stepping back with a snarl.
Archer could feel the wear starting to weigh on all of them. Kaido was an absolute monster, shrugging off every hit like they were sparring punches. "Well, maybe I could try..." Archer muttered, thinking aloud as he considered combining his own power with Luffy's next assault.
Archer called over to Luffy, “Next hit, go all out with whatever you’ve got left in Gear 4. I’ll back you up. Let’s put a real dent in him.”
Luffy nodded, anger blazing in his eyes. This time, they would make Kaido feel it—or go down trying.
Of cause it went to shit.
Archer barely had time to register his surroundings after crashing through the roof before he spotted Nami on the ground, bleeding and crying. He scrambled to his feet, shock and fury lighting up his eyes. Nami’s face flickered with relief as she saw him, even through the tears.
He rushed to her side, lifting her up gently. “Who did this to you?” he asked, his voice low and dangerous.
Nami, still catching her breath, pointed shakily to the woman Archer had landed on, who was now getting to her feet. “Her name’s Ulti,” Nami managed to say, wiping the blood from her face.
Archer’s gaze shifted to Ulti, and he felt a surge of protective rage as he pulled Nami behind him, shielding her from the furious gaze of her attacker. Ulti, already sneering, began spewing insults.
“You think you can save her? Pathetic,” Ulti snarled. “Once Kaido’s through with that idiot Luffy, he’ll be dust. And as for you, little girl…” She grinned menacingly at Nami. “I’ll crush your skull like I promised!”
The moment she said it, Archer stepped forward, his growl low and rumbling. “Say that again,” he dared, his voice laced with barely controlled fury.
Unfazed, Ulti continued, spitting out threats about Kaido and gloating over the Straw Hats’ impending doom. Archer clenched his fists, rage boiling over. Without a second thought, he shifted into his hybrid form, towering above her, his muscles coiled and ready to strike. His form was larger, more menacing, a beast of pure fury.
Ulti’s confidence faltered as she took a step back, realizing she’d underestimated him. Archer didn’t give her a chance to recover. With a roar, he lunged forward, grabbing her by the leg and swinging her into the floor with brute force, again and again, until the ground cracked beneath her. Ulti gasped in pain, barely conscious as Archer tossed her at Nami’s feet.
“Finish her,” he said, his voice firm.
Nami took a step forward, her expression fierce. With Zeus at her side, she called down a bolt of lightning, ending Ulti’s threat once and for all. When it was over, she stumbled toward Archer and wrapped her arms around him, holding him tightly.
“Thank you,” she whispered, her voice filled with gratitude.
Archer grinned down at her, ruffling her hair lightly. “I promised I’d protect you, didn’t I?” he said.
Archer moved through the chaos, his eyes scanning the battlefield for any sign of Ace, Sabo, Law, or Rosinante. But as the clashes grew thicker, he found himself shoulder-to-shoulder with Gin, the two of them fighting their way through a throng of Beast Pirates, leaving carnage in their wake. Archer smashed through an enemy with a savage swipe, only to see Gin right beside him, doing a backflip and jamming his knife straight into a pirate’s eye. They nodded to each other, both unrelenting, even as Archer kept looking for his family.
Then, amidst the clash and fury, he spotted something that stopped him cold: a young girl with purple hair standing alone, eyes wide with fear and bewilderment. Crouching down to her level, Archer softened his tone, though his voice was still rough from the fight.
“Hey there, kiddo. What are you doing here?” he asked gently. “Where are your parents?”
The girl hesitated, her voice trembling as she said, “I don’t have any parents. My name’s Tama.”
Archer’s heart dropped, recognizing the name instantly. This was the Tama—Ace’s friend, the little girl he’d talked about, the one he’d wanted to take with him.
Before he could say anything, Tama reached up, her small hands resting against his blood-smeared cheeks as she studied his face. “You… you look like my friend Ace.”
Archer couldn’t help the smile that tugged at his lips, a bittersweet warmth cutting through the madness around them. “Well, that’s because I’m Ace’s dad,” he said softly.
Tama’s eyes lit up, her fear easing for a moment as she beamed at him. Archer wrapped a protective arm around her. “Alright, Tama. I need to get you somewhere safe, okay?”
She nodded, clinging to him tightly as he picked her up. Gin, still close by, noticed them and immediately took position beside Archer, cracking jokes as they carved a path through the crowd. Eventually, they found Hiyori, who gasped in relief upon seeing the little girl.
As Tama hugged him tightly, she whispered, “Don’t forget me, please.”
Archer held her close for a moment longer. “Never. I’ll be back, kiddo. You stay safe with Hiyori, alright?”
Tama nodded, finally letting go as Hiyori pulled her into a protective embrace.
Then the dome crashed, the battlefield fell eerily silent. Archer’s heart pounded as he frantically scanned the area. His gut twisted with dread, knowing something terrible had happened. Behind him, Ace, Sabo, and Law caught up, and he could feel their questions, the same desperation he felt—but all Archer could focus on was finding Luffy. And Rosinante. Where was he?
Then he saw him. Luffy, his youngest, lay still on the ground, too still. Archer’s breath caught, disbelief freezing him in place. He wanted to believe it wasn’t real, that Luffy was just hurt, not... not gone. His whole world narrowed as he started toward his son, a scream of agony tearing from his throat. He felt hands holding him back—Ace and Law, both trying to stop him, murmuring broken reassurances—but he shoved them off, desperate to reach Luffy.
A chilling, mocking laugh echoed through the silence. Kaido. He was laughing. Laughing.
Archer’s gaze snapped toward the beast. His mind emptied, every thought and emotion collapsing under the weight of pure, unstoppable rage. This was Kaido’s doing. Kaido had taken his son, his Luffy. And Rosinante was still nowhere in sight. The agony burned through him, hardening into a fury like he’d never felt before.
Without thinking, Archer lunged forward, his entire being shifting as he unleashed the full force of his power, transforming larger and fiercer than ever before. He felt his body surge with strength, his muscles twisting as his claws extended, his fangs bared. With a primal roar, he launched himself at Kaido.
Before Kaido could finish laughing, Archer was on him, tearing and ripping into him with savage intensity. Kaido screamed as Archer’s claws sank into him, blood spraying across the shattered ground. The dragon’s eyes blazed as he glared at Archer, finally forced to take him seriously. Through gritted teeth, Kaido spat, “You should have joined me back then, boy. You’d have lived as a god!”
Archer snarled, his voice guttural and raw. “I would never follow a monster like you.”
Kaido’s eyes narrowed, and his lips twisted into a dark grin. “Then I’ll kill all your sons. I already have a good start.”
Archer’s vision went red. His grip tightened, claws digging deeper as he let out a roar that shook the very stones beneath them. This would end today—Kaido would pay, and he would feel every ounce of the pain he had caused.
Then came a beat—an unmistakable rhythm, like the thrum of a drum, resonating through the battlefield. It pulsed from somewhere behind him and Kaido, accompanied by a laugh, familiar yet strange, echoing with a lightness that defied the grim atmosphere around them. He’d know that laugh anywhere: it was Luffy.
As Archer turned to look, Kaido snarled and hurled him off with a brutal swing. But in the split-second before Archer hit the ground, he dug his claws into one of Kaido’s horns, ripping it off with a fierce twist. Kaido bellowed in pain, his roar shaking the island, but Archer was already tumbling to the ground below.
When he finally landed, he felt a wave of relief wash over him—Ace, Sabo, and Law stood just beside him, his crew at his back, ready for whatever came next. But Archer’s eyes were fixed only on the figure standing just ahead.
It was Luffy… but at the same time, it wasn’t. His hair was shock-white, a stark contrast to the usual black, and an immense aura of power radiated from him. This wasn’t just Luffy—this was something beyond what Archer had ever seen. He looked alive with energy, his form bending and moving in an almost surreal way as he faced Kaido with an unstoppable grin on his face.
And as Luffy laughed, the battlefield around them seemed to transform, his power warping the air, making the ground twist, and even causing Kaido’s once-terrifying face to contort into bizarre expressions. Each movement was both impossibly strong and playful, as though Luffy was having the time of his life in the middle of all this chaos.
Archer could only watch in awe, a grin spreading across his own face as he took it all in. Luffy, in his own wild, unrestrained way, was completely demolishing Kaido while laughing, lighthearted even in the face of an Emperor. It was pure, unfiltered Luffy—so ridiculous and powerful, so unstoppable and free, that for a moment, everything else fell away.
As Luffy's laughter faded and the battlefield settled into a stunned silence, Archer felt a rare calm wash over him, relieved that the nightmare was finally over. Kaido was defeated, lying motionless in the rubble, and the Roaring Pirates and his sons stood beside him, alive and victorious. He glanced at Luffy, who lay slumped against a pile of broken stones, still smiling even in unconsciousness. For a moment, everything seemed right.
But the relief was short-lived.
Archer’s gaze darted to Ace, Sabo, and Law, something gnawing at his gut. “Where’s your papa?” he asked, trying to keep the tension out of his voice, though the creeping dread clawed at him.
Law’s face was grim, his eyes flicking away. “He fought Big Mom. It was him, me, and Kidd... we managed to bring her down, but papa… he got hurt. Badly.”
The words sank into Archer’s mind like jagged shards. He blinked, the world tilting around him, his heart racing as denial fought its way to the surface. No—no, it couldn’t be. Not Rosinante. He turned to his sons, voice breaking as he demanded, “Where. Is. He?”
Sabo placed a hand on Archer’s shoulder, his voice low. “In the infirmary. Chopper and Raya are with him, doing all they can.”
Without another word, Archer tore away from them, sprinting down the ruined corridors, his vision narrowing until all he saw was the path ahead. He didn’t care about the blood on his hands or the wounds screaming across his own body. He had to get to Rosinante. He had to be okay.
Bursting through the infirmary doors, Archer’s heart clenched as his eyes landed on Rosinante lying still on the bed, covered in blood. His skin was ghostly pale, his breaths so shallow they were almost invisible. Chopper worked tirelessly beside him, hands steady but his expression grim. Raya was at the bedside, her eyes red and wet, whispering quiet words to herself.
Archer staggered forward, his legs threatening to give way. He dropped to his knees by the bed, his hand trembling as he reached for Rosinante’s, squeezing it tight, desperate for any hint of warmth or response.
“Rosi…” His voice was barely a whisper, raw and broken. He searched Rosinante’s face, clinging to the hope that he’d open his eyes, give him one of those reassuring smiles, laugh and tell him not to worry.
But Rosinante remained still, his chest rising in faint, uneven breaths. The silence pressed down on Archer, a cold, suffocating weight.
“Tell me he’s going to be okay,” he whispered, barely holding back the panic clawing up his throat as he turned to Chopper, his voice both pleading and commanding.
Chopper looked up, his own face clouded with worry. “We’re doing everything we can. He fought hard, and he took… a lot of damage.”
Archer’s hand tightened around Rosinante’s, unwilling to let go. His own voice shook as he leaned close, his forehead pressed against Rosinante’s blood-stained knuckles.
“You promised me you wouldn’t leave,” he whispered fiercely, his voice laced with both anger and desperation. “You don’t get to break that promise, Rosi. Not now. Not like this.”
The room was silent, but Archer’s heart was a storm, his emotions raging as he clung to the faintest hope that Rosinante would hear him, that he’d come back to him.