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thunder-and-lightning_28815244908129605###
One Piece: Я владею громом и
молнией
Аниме и комиксы
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Автор:
DaoistAutumn_rain
4.49
(18 оценок)
Краткое содержание
Юноша с Земли случайно оказался в королевстве пиратов, где он
участвовал в битвах и рисковал среди бурных морей.
В этом мире не существовало ни легендарной системы, ни
несравненной магии — только громовой плод, дарованная ему сила.
В ту эпоху Четыре Императора все еще плавали на одном корабле, а
неуловимому One Piece еще предстояло утвердить свое господство
над морями.
Морским пехотинцем командовали два чрезвычайно
могущественных адмирала.
Теперь я, Альберт Николас, клянусь вписать свое имя в анналы
истории, распространив его повсюду по бескрайним просторам этого
мира!
Примечание автора [Дайте мне свои камни силы, и я дам вам главы.
Кстати, я оставлю этот LN бесплатным, так что не беспокойтесь]
Я перевожу этот замечательный LN.
Оригинальное название этой серии:
海贼之掌控雷电,
пожалуйста, поддержите оригинального автора
Общая аудитория
Dangerous world
In the uncharted waters of Hachinosu in the New World, a colossal ship
drifted amid the tumultuous storms and waves of the vast sea.
"Captain, a pirate vessel spotted ahead!"
The cabin door flung open violently, inundating the room with stormy
sea water as a towering 'little giant' approached the person seated in the
chair.
Confronting the towering figure seated across from him, the man, bare-
chested with fierce dragons tattooed from his arms to shoulders, lazily
removed the newspaper covering his face. His youthful visage, with black
hair and sleepy eyes, appeared to be around sixteen or seventeen years
old. It was difficult to fathom how such a young lad could command a
giant over six meters tall so effortlessly.
Scratching his head, the young man set down the newspaper and
yawned, "Vista, how many times do I have to repeat myself? Whenever
we enter the waters of Hachinosu, unless we encounter those fellows, if
other pirate ships dare provoke us, we'll sink them outright. While we
must stay vigilant both at sea and on land, there's no need to be overly
tense. Come find me if you encounter formidable adversaries."
With that, he covered his face with the newspaper once more.
"Understood!"
Upon hearing this, Vista turned and rallied the crew to prepare for battle.
In this region, skirmishes were a daily occurrence, and even the denizens
of the deep could taste the blood of pirates with bounties exceeding a
hundred million.
As Vista, the 'little giant,' departed, a sigh of resignation emanated from
beneath the newspaper.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Cannon fire resounded outside.
"Ah, I truly dread being marooned on an island with those monsters."
Contemplating the formidable adversaries akin to monsters, Nicholas felt
a pang of anxiety. If he had a choice, he would certainly avoid setting
foot on such perilous shores.
"Why, why did I find myself in the realm of pirates... and the most
ludicrous part is that it's amidst this tumultuous era."
This was the era of the Pirate King, not the era following the Pirate King,
Roger, but the era preceding him.
In this turbulent epoch, powerful individuals rose to prominence, and
survival for the weak was a luxury. Indeed, it was an era where even the
Celestial Dragons could meet their demise.
Albert Nicholas, at the age of sixteen, was a member of the Rocks pirates
combat personnel and captain of the Seventh Division.
He harbored no desire to bear such a perilous title.
In the realm of the Pirate King, amid such perilous times, he knew that
soon, Roger and his companions, Garp and the rest, would disband this
group.
Fourteen years prior to his traversal into this world, he had grasped one
fundamental truth: in this world, might was right. Initially, he aimed to
bolster his strength and not emerge until he could fell a powerhouse
equivalent to the Four Emperors with a single blow.
However, on his fourteenth birthday, intending to snare a nearby sea
king to sate his hunger, he stumbled upon a certain infamous captain.
Not only did that captain pilfer his meal, but he also dragged him from
his tranquil life ashore into the merciless sea.
Subsequently, he bore witness to the bloodiest spectacle since becoming a
pirate, with hundreds congregating to battle while a cadre of unruly
individuals revelled and caroused.
Only the ten left standing possessed the merit to become apprentice crew
members. Fortunately, Nicholas, endowed with the Thunder Fruit ability,
survived the fray and was selected by Rocks to become an apprentice
aboard the Sabre of Xebec.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
The cannons continued their barrage, rousing Nicholas from his reverie.
It appeared that the adversary this time was quite formidable, but
Nicholas understood. In the New World, lacking strength meant one
would likely be consigned to Impel Down or sunk by the Navy before
even traversing its waters.
Nicholas retrieved a bottle of wine from the drawer and uncorked it with
his thumb.
Glug, glug, glug, he imbibed deeply.
Though his physique could not rival those monsters, compared to
ordinary individuals, he could be deemed monstrous. His vitality surged,
and he had no qualms about succumbing to alcoholic liver problems.
Bang!
The cabin shuddered, and the candle on the captain's desk flickered.
"Attack!"
In the ensuing moment, a resounding battle cry erupted.
"So resilient over there?"
Nicholas's countenance shifted as he seized a two-meter-long katana
adorned with blood-red patterns from the side, and in an instant, it
vanished from the cabin.
Crash...
The storm unleashed its fury, causing the pirate vessel to sway beneath
the deluge.
Amidst the churning waves, a ship bearing a skull flag clashed with
another vessel.
On the deck, two factions of pirates clashed with weapons brandished.
"Captain!"
Vista, wielding a shield in his left hand and an axe in his right, cleaved
through a pirate obstructing his path before calling out to Nicholas,
"Captain, the opposing faction is the Blood Funeral Pirate Group, led by
the renowned Gorbachev."
Nicholas discerned it clearly.
Among the adversaries stood a colossal figure, at least four meters tall,
sporting a waist drum and wielding a double-sided axe as towering as
himself. With each rhythmic beat of the drum, the opposing pirates
seemed to be infused with a bloodthirsty fervor. Though their might
paled in comparison to Nicholas's faction, they relied on their audacious
combat style to momentarily subdue Vista and his comrades.
Vista dispatched several adversaries with a single swing, yet the opposing
faction seemed to cast aside fear, continuing their reckless assault.
"Annihilate them all and claim the ship! Whoever seizes the spoils aboard
shall possess them!"
Gorbachev slammed the ground with his axe's handle, bellowing.
Observing the morale rekindling on the opposing side, Nicholas gazed
skyward and remarked, "If not for the drenching rain, storms would truly
be delightful weather. But..."
"Listen to the thunder's roar, Thunderfall!"
Nicholas's command reverberated, as azure lightning crackled around
him, emitting a crackling resonance.
An imperceptible aura enveloped all present; even those embroiled in
battle felt a prickling sensation on their skin. Gorbachev, amidst his
buffing ritual, detected the atmospheric shift keenly.
Almost instinctively evading, hundreds of colossal lightning bolts
descended from the heavens, transforming the deck into a thunderous
inferno.
The air seemed to stagnate for a heartbeat, before the lightning
dissipated, as if the preceding spectacle were a mirage.
Hiss... Hiss...
With the lightning's retreat, sporadic electrical currents danced over the
bodies of charred corpses strewn across the deck, serving as a stark
reminder that the preceding events were no illusion.
A faint tang of ozone permeated the air.
It was the scent of oxygen decomposing under the influence of electric
currents, emitting an ozone aroma.
Bang!!
"Lord Vista, behold!"
A pirate's cry ensued as Gorbachev, captain of the Blood Funeral Pirate
Group with a bounty of 130 million, crashed heavily onto the deck.
"Fear not. The captain's might is unparalleled. Swiftly clear the deck of
corpses, lest LinLin witness the aftermath. Also, gather the spoils from the
rival ship."
With those words, Vista proceeded towards the cabin.
At the mention of LinLin, the pirates on deck recalled something
unpleasant, their countenances shifting as they hastened to tidy the
battleground.
Monsters
"Captain, we've arrived at Hachinosu."
Nicholas, who was dozing off, was awakened by the loud voice of
Westad.
"We've arrived, huh."
"Mmm."
Nicholas, having received a definite reply, also stood up and stretched his
body. Instantly, he became sharp and alert. Showing weakness in
Hachinosu was always the worst option. Skirmishes among pirates
frequently occurred here. If you showed cowardice, you'd either end up
dead or fish food.
This place gathered the most lawless individuals on the entire sea. Even
someone like Nicholas could end up in a fight here. After all, there were
always some reckless individuals who wanted to step on the bodies of
established figures to climb the ranks. Of course, this was also the
quickest way to make a name for oneself on the seas.
"You all, hoist the flag for me and bring the ship closer!"
With Nicholas's command, a flag was raised, and the entire ship began to
move towards the harbor of the island.
This was the stronghold of the sea hegemon, Rocks.
On the shore, hundreds of pirate ships of various shapes had gathered,
and fierce and arrogant pirates constantly disembarked from their ships.
In almost every newly arrived pirate group, there were dozens of young
people, excited or arrogant, constantly surveying their surroundings.
Their eyes revealed various emotions.
There was anticipation...
There was anxiety...
There was ambition...
There was madness...
But there was no fear.
And without exception, all these people were here to join Rocks, to
become a member of the Sabre of Xebek.
Although Rocks had strong subordinates like Golden Lion, Whitebeard,
Charlotte Linlin, Captain John, and others, the relationship between the
two sides was more like that of the Straw Hat Grand Fleet. While they
were nominally subordinates, both sides had their own influence. They
usually operated separately and only gathered for major actions or events
like today.
However, these pirates full of ambition or dreams probably couldn't
imagine that for the powerful pirates on the island, today was a
performance full of blood and revelry.
And to please them with death and blood were these lovely fellows
dreaming of making a name for themselves on the seas.
"That guy is so arrogant, where is he from?"
Some sharp-eyed pirates quickly noticed Nicholas and his group landing
and curiously asked their companions.
"Damn it, keep your voice down, do you want to die!? If you want to die,
don't bring us along."
The pirate beside him, following his gaze to Nicholas, hurriedly covered
his mouth, his expression one of fear.
"Cough, are you trying to suffocate me? Is there a need to be so nervous?
He's just a kid."
After the pirate with his hand over his mouth forcefully removed his
companion's hand, he greedily breathed in the air.
"That guy is the captain of the seventh team of the Rocks Pirates. What
do you think?"
Upon hearing this, the pirate who spoke earlier also looked frightened.
After all, on this island, killing was commonplace. A figure like the team
captain could easily kill them. Not to mention the team captain to whom
their pirate group belonged; even their own captain probably wouldn't
stand up for them.
On the other side of the island's shore, a man with a large halberd, a
golden big wave on his head, and a white beard with crescent-shaped
curves upward on his face, wearing a captain's hat, and a massive white
windbreaker, led hundreds of crew members towards the castle in the
center of the island.
Almost all the pirate groups they encountered along the way instinctively
made way when they encountered this team. After all, this man was the
famous Whitebeard, Edward Newgate, who shook the New World!
Although this man had a decent personality, once he was offended or
hurt his crew members, there was only one path: death. That was why
many pirates wanted to join Whitebeard's side. Once they entered
Whitebeard's crew, they gained protection.Of course, the rules on
Whitebeard's ship were like thick shackles for many ambitious people.
In short, it was a ship suitable for slackers to go to.
Before the central castle, which resembled a skull on the island, the two
groups met.
"La la la la..."
"Nick, didn't expect to see you here."
The man who would later be known as the strongest man in the world,
Whitebeard, was currently the captain of the Rocks Pirate Group's first
team!
"When the captain speaks, how could I not come? I don't want to be
chased around the world by a strong, terrifying lunatic, do I?"
Nicholas grinned provocatively at Whitebeard. "Aren't you worried about
the captain's pursuit as well? Don't pretend, it's embarrassing."
The crew members behind Whitebeard glared angrily at Nicholas upon
hearing his words. Many of them even took out weapons and shouted
loudly.
"Do you know who you're talking to?"
"If you don't believe it, our captain will kill you with one slash!"
"If you're sensible, kneel down and apologize to our captain!"
...
It seemed that with more people speaking up, many seemed indignant,
and it seemed like they could erupt into a fight at any moment.
Facing Nicholas's words, Whitebeard stretched out his palm to signal his
crew members to quiet down. As his subordinates quieted down,
Whitebeard's aura unconsciously spread out. Even bystanders nearby
could feel the air becoming heavy.
"Kid, it's been a long time. Your attitude is getting bigger, huh!?"
Whitebeard looked at Nicholas with interest. Among the Rocks Pirate
Group, Nicholas was someone he was quite interested in. This person had
never indiscriminately killed civilians since joining the Rocks Pirate
Group. Many of the battles he engaged in were in the mix, but pirates
were synonymous with plunder and violence.
And the number of pirates killed by this guy wasn't small.
"It's not that I have a big attitude, it's just the truth. Old White, although
your individual strength is indeed strong, strong enough to single-
handedly pull a bunch of waste to sit in the position of the first team
captain, you also know that people whose strength can't keep up in this
sea will only become a burden."
Nicholas said calmly, seemingly unafraid of Whitebeard. Of course, he
had the confidence. Although he couldn't confront Whitebeard head-on,
Whitebeard couldn't stop him from leaving either.
"Gu Ra ra ra, they're not burdens, they're my lovely subordinates!"
After a moment of silence, Whitebeard suddenly laughed heartily.
"Hmm?" At this moment Something caught Nicholas's attention
"A troublesome guy is coming. I'll leave first. I hope you can protect your
lovely subordinates."
After Nicholas finished speaking, he said to his subordinates behind him,
"Everyone, enter the castle immediately!"
Almost as soon as Nicholas and his men entered the castle, a whistling
sound suddenly came from the distant sky, and a pirate ship shaped like
a roaring lion's head appeared in the sky above Hachinosu.
"Jie Ha ha ha ha, Whitebeard, long time no see."
With a hearty laugh, a flying slash hundreds of meters long flew directly
towards Whitebeard and his men.
The clash of titans loomed, as Whitebeard braced himself to confront the
impending onslaught with characteristic resolve.
"Gu ra ra ra, what a warm way to greet, Golden Lion."
Facing the flying slash, Whitebeard placed his halberd directly on the
ground, and then the white aura flowed rapidly on his fist, directly
wrapping his fist and smashing it towards the slash.
Legends of the sea
Listening to the continuous roaring outside, Nicholas reluctantly used his
pinky finger to clean his ears. He estimated that many of the unfortunate
newcomers outside would disappear under the confrontation of the top
strongmen in the sea this time.
"Hey, little Nicholas, long time no see. Let sister see if you've grown up."
As Nicholas walked towards the interior of the castle, a big beauty with a
cigarette in her mouth and neat short hair suddenly appeared in front of
him.
"Sister Shakky, we really aren't suitable."
Nicholas looked at the woman in front of him with a helpless expression.
Although this woman had not yet teamed up with someone Who coated
ship with bubbles at sabaody, who knows if the two of them are together
now.
He didn't want to be remembered by a certain someone. After all, even in
the New World, the Oro Jackson is one of the few terrifying crew capable
of facing the Rox Pirates, and their captain's mind isn't all that sharp.
Nicholas believed that if the hearty captain knew that his vice-captain's
sweetheart had been kidnapped, he would definitely come looking for
trouble.
"Tsk, I thought little Nicholas had gone out for a trip to become a real
man, but it turns out he's still so immature. It's like two years ago, still a
shy kid."
The woman took a deep drag on her cigarette, then blew smoke towards
Nicholas' cheek before uninterestingly handing him the half-smoked
cigarette.
All Nicholas could do was smile. After all, the woman in front of him
could be considered one of his few bonds in the Rox Pirates, as she
controlled all the intelligence sources and had helped Nicholas several
times.
Just then, the castle beneath their feet suddenly shook.
"Are those idiots fighting again?"
Snap.
Shakky struck a match, lit her cigarette, listened to the noisy sounds
outside, and the deafening roar, her brow furrowing involuntarily.
Obviously, for someone who relied on her brains for a living, those brutes
were not likable at all. Even the culture of the Rox Pirates was worthless
in Shakky's eyes.
"Yeah, Whitebeard and Gold Lion are at it again. I guess they won't be
able to determine the outcome for a while."
Nicholas listened to the roaring outside and, seemingly reminded of
something, asked Shakky in front of him, "By the way, Shakky, did you
find any news about Alchemy from the investigation I asked you about
last time?"
"Huh..."
Shakky blew a smoke ring and leaned back comfortably.
"Kid, you're so interested in Alchemy. Do you also believe in the legend
of immortality?"
"Hahaha~"
Nicholas didn't answer after hearing this but laughed first.
"Since you've chosen this sea, whether it's treasure, secret treasures,
secret realms, All Blue, and all kinds of legends, aren't they what I'm
pursuing?"
"What an interesting kid."
Saying that, Shakky took out a rolled-up map from her chest and threw it
directly to Nicholas.
Then she walked towards the interior of the castle. "Little Nicholas,
although there's no specific news about Alchemy based on the
information I've gathered, that island seems to have been swallowed by
some huge sea creature. Now only a small half-remnant remains there. If
you're interested, you can go and take a look. Also, come to my room
tonight. Sister has something to ask you."
As her voice gradually faded, Shakky's figure disappeared around the
corner of the corridor.
"Hehehe, seems like you've heard some amazing news."
"Didn't expect Shakky to have such unique tastes."
"Wow, the little guy's expression is so scary."
With the voices, three figures appeared. One of them wore a kimono and
could be described as having delicate features, smooth skin, charming
eyes, and a smile like a spring breeze, which would not be an
exaggeration according to the description in "One Piece."
Beside her was a woman with short golden hair, wearing a leopard-print
coat and a red hat, and a middle-aged man in a kimono. However, what
was strange was that his hands were always hidden in the wide sleeves,
as if he didn't want others to see them.
"Three boring guys, I hope you can survive until next time we meet. After
all, the captain's ambitions have been getting bigger and bigger lately.
Don't die carelessly."
After saying that, Nicholas led Vista and the figure cloaked in a cape
behind him towards the second floor of the castle. As for the other guys
under his command, they weren't qualified to go to the second floor.
After bidding farewell to the three boring guys, Nicholas also arrived at
the second floor of the castle. This was where the core strength of the
entire Rox Pirates lay.
"XAhahahaha, Nicholas, didn't expect you to come so late this time. This
speed doesn't quite match all your abilities, does it?"
A man about two meters tall, with his hair flying behind him, exuding a
domineering aura, was sitting in the center of the throne, drinking from a
bottle of wine. Beside him were several cool-looking beauties, one
massaging him while the others licked the wine dripping down with their
tongues.
"I encountered an interesting guy on the way, delayed me for a while."
Saying that, Nicholas walked towards a seat with a '7' marked on the
back, while Vista and the cloaked figure stood silently on both sides
behind him.
"Oh, what interesting guy? Tell me about it."
Sitting next to Nicholas, a man wearing a captain's coat and drinking
from a bottle of wine asked curiously.
"It seems to be some kind of Encouragement Fruit user. Although his
strength isn't much, the enhancement effect on his subordinates is
significant. Many small fry with bounties of a million, under the
influence of the fruit, can at least unleash several times their strength.
And most importantly, under the influence of the fruit, those people don't
even know what fear is. Captain John, this fruit seems quite suitable for
you, given that you have quite a few pirates under you."
Nicholas said with some regret. In the Rox Pirates, it wasn't just about
individual strength. If you have a large ship group of over ten thousand
under you, you can also gain a good position within the Rox Pirates
internally. After all, even if it's a ten thousand-strong small fry, as long as
they are armed, they can be a good batch of cannon fodder.
Of course, the strength of the pirate who can command a ten-thousand-
strong ship group is naturally not weak, and John, the captain, represents
that. The pirates under his command largely constitute the bottom battle
force of the Rox Pirates.
Hearing Nicholas' words, Captain John seemed to sober up a bit, and
even stood up abruptly from his chair due to his haste.
"What!"
"Hey hey hey, I'm just saying that I crushed a small fry who dared to
offend me. Do you need to be so nervous, Captain John? Or do you want
to fight me?"
Nicholas propped his feet on the table in front of him and said
indifferently.
"Hahaha~"
"John, looks like you're really unlucky."
Sitting beside him, a man of similar height to Vista, with a long beard,
and a silver-armored knight-like figure, both burst into laughter, not
aimed at Nicholas, but at Captain John.
Clash of Conqurers
"Wang Zhi, are you trying to fight me?"
Captain John looked angrily at the two men beside him. It was apparent
that Gorbachov, whom he had originally favored, and who could even
enhance the strength of his subordinates, had been lost just like that,
which made him quite unhappy.
"Hehehe."
Wang Zhi, indifferent, took a sip from the wine bottle and then slammed
it on the table. He then adjusted his neck and looked down at Captain
John, saying, "Captain John, my body hasn't had any exercise for a long
time. I wonder how many small fries you intend to send for my sword to
have a feast."
After releasing the killing intent without reservation, the others in the
room seemed not to feel Wang Zhi's killing intent, continuing to eat and
drink as if nothing had happened.
"Hehehe, it's quite lively here. Wang Zhi, I just saw the Golden Lion and
Whitebeard fighting fiercely outside. Are you going to fight Captain John
too? It's really interesting. How about considering having a child with
me, Wang Zhi?"
A giantess, eight meters tall, walked in, looking like the Amazon woman
among pirates.
"Hehehe, I'd rather not. I don't want to end up like those unlucky souls
fed to your toy."
Wang Zhi laughed heartily, but there was a hint of fear in his tone as he
looked at the big beauty in front of him.
"Linlin is back. Did you get that thing?"
Sitting in the main seat, Rocks looked at his subordinate captains
fighting, completely unconcerned, and asked directly for the information
he wanted to know.
Upon hearing Rocks's words, Charlotte Linlin also appeared more serious.
She said, "We attacked the fleet guarding the Celestial Dragons, but
unfortunately, there were several CP0 agents accompanying the guard,
and in the end, that guy managed to escape."
As the target person escaped, a terrifying aura suddenly emanated from
Rocks's body. Even his hair and clothes moved without wind.
Thud!
Thud!!!
The serving girls beside him all rolled their eyes and fainted, seemingly
causing a chain reaction as many people in the castle also fainted. Those
who didn't faint were either lying on the ground or leaning against the
wall, as if an invisible force was compelling them to submit.
Facing the oncoming aura, Charlotte Linlin also released her own
Haoshoku Haki. Black lightning crackled between the clash of the two
auras. Meanwhile, Wang Zhi and the person wrapped in silver armor
seemed not to have noticed this scene at all and continued to drink
calmly, while Captain John gripped the table so hard that cracks
appeared due to his excessive strength.
Nicholas looked at the cloaked figure floating beside him and held her
hand, allowing her to sit beside him. At the same time, a force field
quietly enveloped him and Vista.
"Whitebeard, you're really strong. Lion's Roar - Land Roll!"
The Golden Lion took a puff of his cigar, floated in the air, and stepped
forward suddenly. A domineering aura spread everywhere, and the
ground around Whitebeard began to stir as if an enraged beast was about
to emerge. Massive waves of earth transformed into multiple lion heads
and rolled towards Whitebeard.
Facing the hundreds of meters high waves of earth and the roaring lion
heads, it was like the end of the world.
Whitebeard grinned.
"Gurarararara... Now, this is what I call a real fight."
Then, with a sudden burst of muscular force, his naginata was
surrounded by a white sphere at the tip. Accompanied by a piercing roar,
he slashed at the roaring lions before him.
Boom!
For a moment, there was only a deafening roar!
When the roar subsided, the Golden Lion floated in the air, wielding the
Yoru, while Whitebeard held the naginata with one hand. The two locked
eyes.
Suddenly, both looked towards the center of the island, where two
familiar auras were spreading rapidly.
Almost simultaneously, the two emitted powerful auras.
The collision of the four invisible auras created a storm of destruction.
The clash between heaven and earth made the atmosphere unbearable,
constantly roaring under the pressure.
Crackle!
Crackle!!!
The entire sky seemed to be affected, and what was once a clear sky was
now covered by dark clouds. Terrifying black and red thunder
continuously roared, and the supreme wills clashed as if they were
tangible, causing the clouds to churn endlessly.
The entire sky split open at some point, revealing a massive vortex
surrounded by dark clouds and black-red thunder, slowly rotating.
The surrounding sea also churned violently due to the atmospheric
phenomena, with endless monstrous waves crashing. Ships in the port
could only drift with the waves, and the entire island of Hachinosu
seemed to be trembling under the unbearable pressure.
Many pirates, even those with considerable strength, looked pale with
cold sweat on their foreheads as they observed the sources of the
emanating auras.
Even those with weaker strength were directly blown away by the
pressure from the clash of these kings. In the area of tens of thousands of
meters centered around the castle resembling a skull, only a few dozen
people could stand.
"It's... it's terrifying!"
"Is this the clash of Haoshoku Haki?"
Many pirates who had recently joined the crew looked at this terrifying
scene, their teeth chattering. Looking at the apocalyptic scene in the sky,
they felt as if their minds were blank.
The disparity between these powerhouses was beyond description; it was
difficult to imagine whether they still had the qualification to stand if
these figures unleashed their full power.
"Hahaha, wonderful, wonderful, is this the gathering place of the
strongest in the sea? It's truly exhilarating!"
Unlike the pirates around who were struggling under the pressure of the
aura, a young man with two long horns on his head, long hair, and
carrying a wolf's fang club appeared extremely excited under this
pressure—in other words, his mental state seemed somewhat abnormal.
"Kid, that's why I warned you about your arrogance earlier. There are
many people here who can easily kill you. Even if your monstrous body
and vitality haven't fully grown yet, in the eyes of the top powerhouses of
the sea, you can still be easily erased.
So if you want to grow, then show your potential in the upcoming Bloody
Feast!"
A petite figure, wearing a chef's uniform and a chef's hat, teased a baby
in her arms while speaking to the somewhat crazy young man beside her.
"Bloody Feast? I'm really looking forward to it!"
"Cough, cough."
Just as the clash of auras in the castle became more intense, a sudden
cough interrupted.
Upon hearing this voice, Rocks's aura suddenly disappeared, and he
smiled at the entrance, "It's Shakky."
Unlike the fighters under his command, Rocks respected Shakky, who
was responsible for intelligence gathering. After all, those brainless guys
could be dealt with by his fists alone, but he didn't want to easily offend
the intelligence, financial, and logistical support in the crew.
"I say, Captain, although I know there are many wielders of Haoshoku
Haki on board, it doesn't have to be like this. Do you know how much we
lost in just a while ago? I bet we'll have to recruit another bunch of idiots
soon."
"Hahaha, sorry, sorry, won't happen again next time."
Rocks scratched his head apologetically, showing no trace of the
overwhelming aura he had just emitted.
"Linlin, since you didn't bring back the target, what about the
intelligence?"
"We did get some intelligence. It seems that the Celestial Dragons are
planning something. They have been collecting rare metals from around
the world lately."
Sitting in her seat, Charlotte Linlin picked up a piece of cake and stuffed
it into her mouth, seemingly unaffected by what had just happened.
Clashing like beasts
"Precious metals, huh? What do those idiots want to do? It's really giving
me a headache. But let's start the banquet anyway!" Rocks exclaimed.
With that said, Rocks walked towards the castle's exterior while
addressing Charlotte Linlin, who was enjoying dessert, "Linlin, let's get
the long loaves ready. Today is going to be a wild celebration. We must
keep the food and wine flowing!"
"Haha, of course, the long loaves are already in preparation!" Charlotte
Linlin said, grabbing a piece of mousse cake and stuffing it into her
mouth.
...
"Hey, kid, you seem pretty cocky," Kaido was approached as soon as he
descended from the Big Mom Pirates' ship.
They eyed him with malicious intent, assessing the newcomer before
them.
Facing their provocations, Kaido remained expressionless. He gripped his
kanabo tightly with one hand, then suddenly exerted force with his feet,
swiftly passing through the group of pirates. As he came to a halt, a
violent explosion erupted behind him, leaving nothing but severed limbs
on the ground.
"Weaklings," he remarked, lifting his kanabo and heading towards the
island's interior. The woman had mentioned that the strongest gathered
there, and that was his purpose for coming.
"Wow, such speed, such terrifying strength..."
"This kid is definitely not ordinary. I wonder where Charlotte Linlin
found him."
"Another interesting character joins the fray. This year's Blood Feast
seems particularly intriguing."
Surrounding pirates couldn't help but comment as Kaido departed.
"Captain Rocks and the others are coming out...!!"
At that moment, a thunderous cheer erupted from the central part of the
island.
"The recruitment screening is about to begin. Everyone, revel to your
heart's content!"
As the announcement reverberated throughout the island, the entire
place erupted into excitement.
Soon, Rocks and his executives arrived at the platform for the selection
process. Each one sat in their designated seat, looking down at the pirates
below.
"Firstly... Welcome to Hachinosu!"
Rocks' voice drowned out the tens of thousands of voices in the arena.
Then his gaze fell upon the pirates in the center of the field. A grin
spread across his face, a crazed expression evident.
"Since you've made it here, it means you've passed the initial screening,
recognized by the captains under me. But to truly join the Rocks family,
mere acceptance isn't enough. So, from among you, only ten will emerge
victorious in the end."
"No matter what means or methods you employ, as long as you're among
the ten survivors, you've succeeded! A friendly reminder: aspiring
members of the Rocks Pirates must be prepared. Failure or fleeing will be
considered an act of enmity against the Rocks Pirates and will be met
with immediate termination! Now, put on your show. Hahaha!"
With Rocks' maniacal laughter, except for a few uninformed souls, all the
new recruits remained vigilant, eyeing those around them as enemies
from this moment forth!
For those unaware, panic and fear filled their eyes.
In their minds, they screamed, "What the hell!"
Recruits hadn't been informed during recruitment that joining the Rocks
Pirates would involve such a brutal assessment. Choosing ten from a
thousand meant death for the rest!
To prevent anyone from fleeing due to fear and dulling the festivities,
Golden Lion Shiki activated his Devil Fruit power, conjuring massive
earthen walls around the arena, entrapping everyone within.
Uninformed pirates were even more horrified by this turn of events.
Among the crowd, many powerful and confident pirates remained
unfazed.
To them, this was a rare opportunity. If they could catch the attention of
Rocks and the others, their fame on the high seas would be assured.
To further incite the recruits and add color to the feast, Rocks explicitly
stated that there were no restrictions on methods. Nicolas could already
foresee the brutal battles to come.
"Hahaha, this is getting interesting. Let me kick off this wild party!" With
a thunderous roar, Kaido began indiscriminately attacking those around
him.
"Is this guy crazy!?"
"Damn, another lunatic! What rotten luck!"
The sudden onslaught sent unlucky souls flying like cannonballs into the
crowd, sparking chaos.
But after the brief commotion, the air was filled with the sounds of
combat: clashes of swords, shields, and axes, gunfire and cannon smoke,
roars of Zoan users, frequent explosions, and colorful smoke rising, all
evidence of the unrestrained methods employed by the 'actors' in this
grand spectacle.
Bang!
Bang bang...!
Figures darted across the arena, clubs and blades swung, each strike
claiming several lives.
Pirates who had been fighting a moment ago now lay as headless corpses
on the ground.
Even amidst the melee, pirates seemed to notice the beastly figure. They
instinctively kept their distance.
With a gunshot, a bullet struck Kaido's head, creating a burst of blood.
Just as everyone thought the monster would perish, Kaido turned to look
at a sniper standing several hundred meters away, who still wore a smirk
from their successful shot.
Then, he swung his kanabo towards the sniper. With a tremendous roar,
the kanabo tore through everything in its path, piercing through all
obstacles and finally skewering the sniper.
After dealing with the assailant, Kaido tilted his head, twirling his index
and middle fingers on his right hand. A bullet appeared between them.
After dispatching a pirate nearby, Kaido's face lit up with a bloodthirsty
grin, resembling a wild beast.
This scene stunned both the pirates on the field and caught the attention
of Rocks and the others.
"Haha, such an interesting kid. Reminds me of the first time I saw Linlin,"
Rocks remarked, watching the performance below.
"Tch, another freaky brat?" Shiki sneered.
"Gulalalala, seems like the seas are getting filled with more monsters,"
Whitebeard said, raising a jug of alcohol to his lips.
Kaido
Nicholas did not join the discussion with the Rocks's crew. Instead, he
carefully observed the stage below.
For Nicholas, although the Rocks Pirates' selection process was brutal, it
had to be said that the people selected were absolutely strong, which was
also the reason why the Rocks Pirates dominated the sea.
So Nicholas didn't mind taking the opportunity to recruit some
subordinates before the Rocks Pirates disbanded.
As the fighting below progressed, some small fries had already been
cleared out. Originally, there were thousands of people on the battlefield,
but now only a hundred remained standing, almost all of them injured.
Even though they were just small fry, as long as they didn't collapse in
the face of death, their counterattacks were troublesome.
"Is this all the strength you have? You scum!"
In the center of the field, Kaido leaned on his club and looked
disdainfully at the pirates still standing around him. Even though his
body was covered in cuts, bullet wounds, poison, and blood, no one
dared to approach recklessly.
The reason why no one dared to approach was because of the terrifying
nature of his body. The wounds from the battle were healing at a visible
rate, and even the bullet hole in his head had healed!
In terms of recovery, it was even more exaggerated than that of a Zoan
Devil Fruit user.
Meanwhile, in the field, someone couldn't hold back any longer. Their
body suddenly expanded, fur grew wildly all over, muscles kept moving,
and their figure began to rise. With a roar, they transformed into a
humanoid lion.
With sturdy limbs and sharp claws tens of centimeters long, like short
daggers, swinging a tail, they exuded a powerful beastly aura, stirring up
the surrounding dust, imposing and majestic!
"Is he a Zoan Devil Fruit user?"
Charlotte Linlin curiously observed the appearance of the half-animal
person on the field.
"It should be the Zoan-type, Cat-Cat Fruit, Garfield Form. It seems like
he's developed it quite well."
Shakky blew out smoke rings and commented lightly.
"Zoan types can enhance defense, speed, attack power, and recovery. It's
just that we don't know if he's a match for that weird kid. After all, some
people's talents are no less than some Devil Fruit abilities."
Captain John, pouring another sip of alcohol, said drunkenly. Obviously,
he was not in a good mood since the tool he favored was gone.
With the Zoan-type ability user transforming on the field, it immediately
attracted a lot of attention.
It's important to note that Devil Fruits, the treasures of the sea, were
priceless. Even the most worthless could be auctioned for over 100
million berries. Not everyone could afford to eat Devil Fruits, and some
people might never know what a Devil Fruit was in their lifetime.
But one thing was certain: as long as you ate a Devil Fruit, you could
immediately possess power beyond ordinary people.
This was an important shortcut to gaining power and changing one's
destiny. Counting a new Zoan Dog-Dog Fruit, Dachshund Form, two Devil
Fruit users had already appeared.
However, the Dachshund Fruit user had already been torn in half by that
weird kid. It was unknown how strong this other Garfield Cat user was.
"Kid, I'm going to tear you apart!"
In the field, the Garfield Cat hybrid looked down at Kaido, a sharp claw
pointing at him, his fierce and cruel face making people shudder like a
wild beast.
Facing the provocation, Kaido didn't flinch. Instead, he felt his muscles
tingling with excitement. Fight, kill, and then become stronger. Wasn't
this what he was pursuing?
His choice was indeed correct! Only in a crew like Rocks could he
encounter many strong opponents and make progress.
"I hope you can make me even more delighted."
After Kaido finished speaking, his bloodthirsty eyes stared at the
opponent as if he were the king of beasts seeing his prey.
"Hehehe, then I'll fulfill your wish. I'll make you die in agony!"
With a piercing scream from the Garfield Cat hybrid, the muscles on his
legs tightened, and his massive figure almost flew out at a speed invisible
to the naked eye, sharper than a dagger. Like lightning, he struck directly
at Kaido's throat, obviously aiming to kill with one blow.
Facing the attack, Kaido didn't evade. Instead, he clenched his fist with
his right hand at the first moment, not dodging, just facing it head-on.
With a tremendous collision, cracks appeared in the ground beneath their
feet, and the Garfield Cat hybrid froze in mid-air, while Kaido remained
motionless.
Then, accompanied by a sinister smile, the huge Garfield Cat hybrid was
directly sent flying.
Whoosh~
The sound of breaking through the air came suddenly. Just as the
Garfield Cat hybrid was puzzled, Kaido suddenly appeared above him.
Then, he bent his legs, and his knees aimed at the opponent's chest, a
blow that even a Zoan-type ability user's life force probably couldn't
withstand.
However, the Cat-Cat Fruit, Garfield Form, not only brought
enhancements to strength, speed, attack, and defense but also brought
the reaction speed of a cat. Almost as soon as Kaido's killer move
appeared, the airborne Garfield Cat hybrid wrapped his tail around
Kaido, then exerted force to avoid Kaido's attack, and immediately turned
around. His five-fingered claws, sharp as sickles, aimed at Kaido's chest.
Everything happened in the blink of an eye. When the two figures
appeared again, Kaido's chest had five bloody wounds, and the Garfield
Cat hybrid was half kneeling on the ground, his left hand covering his
right arm, which was bleeding heavily.
His original right arm was now lying between him and Kaido.
Almost at the moment he succeeded in his attack, that guy used both
hands to break his arm with a hard clap.
At this point, the eyes of this user had lost their madness long ago,
replaced by a touch of fear. After becoming an ability user, he had almost
never suffered such a big loss. With just his Devil Fruit ability, he had
already overwhelmed ninety percent of the pirates. But the guy in front
of him surpassed him in speed, attack, physical strength, and recovery.
He even suspected that the guy was a ferocious beast in human skin.
"Is this not enough? I haven't had enough fun yet!"
As he spoke, Kaido crossed a distance of more than ten meters in the
blink of an eye, appearing in front of the half-kneeling Garfield Cat
hybrid. A left hook, stirring the sound of breaking through the air, was
directed at the ferocious head. If this punch hit, it would definitely be
fatal.
But just as Kaido was about to finish off another ability user, a blood-red
scythe flew from a distance and blocked Kaido's attack.
"Interesting."
Seeing someone intervening, Kaido smiled, his face showing excitement.
He didn't fear battles; the more threatening the battle, the more excited
he became.
The Garfield Cat hybrid also looked at the person who intervened, a
middle-aged man wearing cowboy clothes, a cowboy hat on his head, and
two scythe weapons hanging from his waist. One of the scythes had just
blocked Kaido's attack.
"Western Reaper, Death, Blood-Red Scythe, Fast Scythe Unmatched,
Gothik Gotic, I owe you a favor!"
"Don't misunderstand, I'm not trying to save you. I just don't want to be
the only one facing this terrifying guy in the end. After all, that big guy
said that even if ten people are there, it's not guaranteed that all ten will
survive. Do you all agree with me?"
As Gothik spoke, he looked around at the people. Most of them were
injured to some extent. If Kaido wanted to kill them all, given his
terrifying strength so far, there was indeed a big problem.
"That's right!"
"Kill that guy first, and then let's settle our lives!"
"If that's the case, then..."
Bang!
Before Gothik finished speaking, he heard a gunshot, and then this pirate,
who also had a slight reputation among pirates, had a blood hole in his
forehead. Obviously, he was shot dead.
As everyone searched for the shooter, Nicholas smiled as he looked at a
pile of corpses near the edge of the field.
"This level of Observation Haki is interesting."
Stir a big vat with a toothpick?
As the gunshot rang out, the situation once again became chaotic.
Although the proposal to team up to take down Kaido from Gothik was
dead, the others still chose to join forces. After all, Kaido's pressure on
them was immense.
However, facing the united front against him, Kaido remained
indifferent.
Suddenly,
Kaido moved. Accompanied by a loud noise, Kaido's right foot heavily
stomped the ground. The solid ground instantly shattered, and Kaido's
figure rushed towards the crowd in an instant. The people, who were on
guard against the sniper who had killed Gothik earlier, were obviously
caught off guard.
With lightning speed, he charged towards the half-beast form of Garfield,
whose arm had already been severed, raising his wolf-tooth club high in
his hand, tearing through the air as he aimed to smash Garfield's head.
For pirates, there was no mercy in the face of the strong. The weak did
not decide their fate before the strong.
Faced with Kaido's lethal blow, Garfield, in his half-beast form, hurriedly
raised his remaining arm to defend himself. With a loud roar, a massive
dust cloud rose from the impact between the two, and then Garfield's
huge figure was sent flying backward from the smoke.
And in the process of being thrown back, his fur gradually retracted into
his body, and all the cat features on his body disappeared, quickly
returning to his pre-transformation state. He crashed heavily into the
wall, covered in blood, eyes rolled back, clearly completely unconscious
from the previous attack, unable even to maintain his abilities.
As the smoke cleared, a figure wielding a wolf-tooth club emerged. Apart
from some dust on his body, he seemed completely unharmed.
Facing this demon-like man, the faces of the remaining opponents were
very ugly. They realized that the opponent's defense and physicality were
quite terrifying.
"Tun tun tun."
After taking a swig from the jug at his waist and spitting out the blood in
his mouth, Kaido provocatively beckoned to his opponents.
Facing Kaido's actions, many people subconsciously took two steps back.
Obviously, Kaido's beast-like fighting style and terrifying physique had
shattered the morale of these people.
And facing the somewhat intimidated crowd,
Kaido was also a little impatient.
He was already a bit tired of this level of fighting.
Boom!
Under the continuous attacks, the remaining people scattered and fled.
Each of Kaido's attacks could take the life of a pirate.
Rumble~
The ground shook, and Kaido disappeared from where he was standing.
The next second, his wolf-tooth club smashed into the ground, and a pool
of dark red blood slowly overflowed from beneath the wolf-tooth club.
After propping the blood-stained wolf-tooth club on his shoulder, Kaido,
who was already a little drunk, looked at the few enemies left on the
field.
Although there were not far from ten people, there were still more than
twenty people scattered around the field. As for the battlefield at this
moment, it was filled with blood and flames everywhere. Even the
ground had been completely dyed red with blood, and the small red
bloodstreams slowly gathered into a river from the piles of corpses.
Kaido glanced at the remaining people and then sat directly on a pile of
corpses. For him, although the remaining people were not as strong as
him, knowing that they were not his opponents, they all acted like
slippery eels, cunning.
Seeing Kaido sitting there drinking wine, the surviving members also
distanced themselves from the people around them. After all, there were
only ten spots available to stay alive. The monster in the center of the
field had already occupied one, which meant that there were only nine
spots left.
It seemed that the performers below were slackening their performance.
Shiki once again activated his ability, and the wall with a huge lion's
head began to slowly squeeze toward the center.
"If it can't be ended in ten minutes, then all of you will die together!
Hahaha!"
With Shiki's mad laughter, the pirates watching this bloody performance
also erupted in cheers like a tidal wave. They felt no sympathy for the
killings among their kind; all they could feel was the fervor and madness
surging in their bodies.
Only such killings, such bloodshed, could be worthy of the Bloody Feast
unique to the Rocks Pirates!
As the dull collision sounded, watching the wall that began to
continuously devour the corpses at the edge of the field, the faces of the
few remaining people on the field changed. Obviously, if they couldn't
meet Shiki's requirements in ten minutes, they would also become part of
the wall.
"It seems that there's no room for hiding anymore!"
A pirate suddenly looked helplessly at the crazy members of the Rocks
Pirates around him, as well as the powerful individuals sitting on thrones
on the high platform, and smiled bitterly.
Facing the inexplicable words of this pirate, the surrounding pirates
obviously didn't understand what he meant.
And just as the pirates around them watched Kaido in the center of the
field warily, the clothes of this pirate suddenly exploded, and a hole with
a diameter of more than thirty meters appeared on the ground around
him. Caught off guard, several pirates died instantly.
But this was just the beginning. As the explosion dissipated, a man
wearing a white shirt with a seagull pattern appeared in the center of the
field.
"Oh, interesting, it's the Navy."
"Captain, it seems like you've caught the attention of the Navy."
"This is going to be fun. I wonder what surprises this Navy officer will
bring us?"
"Hahaha, who brought this Navy gentleman?"
With Charlotte Linlin's words, standing behind a group of division
captains, the captains of the pirate group whose reputation could scare
many children suddenly sweated profusely.
The participants of this Blood Feast were selected by them, and now a
Navy officer appeared. Wasn't this a joke?
"Oh, do you want to run? It seems you know something. Stay..."
Just as a pirate captain was about to sneak away, a voice suddenly came
from behind him.
With this death-like voice, a dark space descended in an instant, and
Charlotte Linlin's over eight-meter-tall figure slowly emerged from the
shadows like a death god.
"Or life!"
Faced with the immense spiritual pressure, all the pirate captain felt was
endless fear.
"It seems you've made a choice!"
As Charlotte Linlin's words fell, a giant palm grabbed the pirate captain
behind her. Then, a humanoid shadow was grabbed from the pirate's
head and swallowed into Charlotte Linlin's mouth, as if she was not
satisfied, she even licked her lips.
"What an interesting ability, hahaha."
Rocks laughed heartily at the scene.
While Shiki and the others were more or less wary, after all, soul abilities
were quite tricky. Fortunately, as long as they didn't instill fear in
Charlotte Linlin, this move was basically useless. In terms of individual
strength, there were really not many people in this group who were
afraid.
"Mamama Nicholas, are you looking at me with that kind of gaze? It
really hurts my feelings."
Charlotte Linlin looked at Nicholas with an exaggerated height of over
eight meters and a peak over one meter in diameter. Among these
monsters, he could be considered a dwarf.
"Sorry, I feel like we're really not compatible. After all, the models don't
match, and my little arms and legs really can't handle you... Why don't
you try Whitebeard? You two should be about the same."
For this giantess in the world of pirate kings, Nicholas knew he couldn't
handle it, after all, he wasn't a rubber fruit ability user. Did he have to
stir a big vat with a toothpick?
Hearing Nicholas's words, Whitebeard directly spewed out a mouthful of
wine.
"Kid, do you want to die?"
Even because of anger, his momentum pressed down mercilessly on
Nicholas.
"Hey, calm down, I'm just making a suggestion."
Nicholas waved his hand casually, his tone obviously insincere.
"Hahaha, I also think Nicholas makes sense. After all, Linlin just lost her
husband. You two becoming a family isn't a bad idea. Who knows, maybe
you'll give birth to some monsters! Hahaha!"
On the side, Shiki couldn't contain his laughter, obviously pleased with
Nicholas's words. Anything that made Whitebeard uncomfortable would
make him, Shiki, very happy.
"Shiki! Do you want to die!?"
Linlin was angry before Whitebeard even spoke, after all, some things
were her taboos.
"Come on, if I'm scared of you guys! I'm the Golden Lion!"
Golden Lion Shiki also directly drew out his Sword, and the golden hair
behind him floated with his momentum, making him look like an angry
lion.
Almost at the moment when the several captains were tense on stage,
many members of the Rocks Pirates had already secretly begun to
prepare to run away. If these people fought, they would be in danger,
after all, these monsters' casual AOE attacks could take them out.
Taking action
The atmosphere enveloping the viewing platform exuded an eerie sense
of foreboding, compelling Rocks to intervene sharply: "That's enough,
watch the performance!"
Rocks's directive diffused the tension among the crowd, teetering on the
edge of erupting into violence. In the pirate world, strength dictated
authority, and Rocks happened to possess the mightiest fist.
"But seriously, Newgate, I think Nicholas is right," Rocks chuckled,
seemingly entertained by something. As he spoke, he affectionately
patted the head of the beauty beside him, soothing her, while he savored
a sip of the nearby wine.
In the arena, as the space dwindled and the undercover Marine emerged
from hiding, only fourteen individuals remained alive. It was worth
noting that those who dared infiltrate Rocks's pirate faction were
genuinely skilled; few pirates could contend with them alone.
Now, in the field, the Marine, alongside Kaido and the remaining twelve,
staked out their territories, facing off against each other.
At that juncture, Kaido, seated upon a corpse, vigorously shook a wine
jug, though visibly empty. Dismissing the jug carelessly, Kaido rose
unsteadily, brandishing his club.
"Hiccup! You lot aren't finished yet? Seems I'll have to deal with you all
before I can enjoy another drink! Hiccup!" Kaido, inebriated, aimed his
blood-stained club at the others.
"Hey, even though my cover is blown, these folks don't seem to regard me
much. If I can dispatch such perilous individuals before I meet my end,
thenTast has upheld the tenets of Fleet admiral Kong's training!" With
survival odds dwindling, Tast resolved. With his declaration, his arms
were instantly cloaked in Armament Haki.
Then, propelled by a sudden burst of force, he vanished in an instant.
"Where is he? He's airborne!" The other survivors, prompted by the
pirates, gazed skyward, witnessing the Marine traversing the air, defying
gravity.
"You sea scum, meet your end! Rankyaku!" Tast's declaration heralded a
flurry of blue light blades,emanating from his rapidly kicking feet,
targeting the twelve pirates below.
With manic laughter, Tast assaulted relentlessly, evidently intending to
clear the field before confronting Kaido alone.
Boom! Dust clouds billowed, the ground cracked, and mud bullets flew.
"It's not over! Fist of Meteor!" Tast's right fist, shrouded in Armament
Haki, bore down fiercely amidst the lingering smoke!
"Ahh~" Agonizing cries echoed, signifying the Vice Admiral's
overwhelming strength, unbearable for the remaining twelve pirates.
Coughing, Tast knelt, his Armament Haki-clad fist piercing a pirate's
corpse and sinking into the ground, causing the earth within a ten-meter
radius to subside. After extracting his bloodied arm and wiping his nose,
Tast rose, glaring coldly at Kaido.
Dealing with Kaido would define his legacy.
Pirates, inherently ruthless, regarded Tast with indifference. Nonetheless,
his demise was imminent.
"Marine, Armament Haki, intriguing," Kaido's slurred voice resonated,
laden with murderous intent palpable to Tast.
The onlookers, initially stunned, erupted into fervent cheers. After all,
this spectacle—Vice Admiral versus Pirate Monster Blood Feast—was the
excitement they craved. Some hastened to place bets on the ultimate
victor.
Tast remained silent, fixating coldly on Kaido.
"Whoever you are, your end approaches!" Tast, resigned to his fate, grew
increasingly ferocious. For individuals of his caliber, fighting to the death
unleashed terrifying power.
Mud splattered as Tast propelled forward, even swifter than before.
Yet, faced with the charging Marine Vice Admiral, Kaido, seemingly
undeterred and partially intoxicated, grasped his club, readying to strike.
Coincidentally or not, Kaido's swing intersected flawlessly with Tast's
charge.
Witnessing this, Tast's pupils constricted. Time seemed to warp, and his
dynamic vision peaked, discerning bone fragments and flesh adhering to
the enlarging club.
In the pivotal moment, Tast crossed his Armament Haki-clad arms before
him.
Bang! Tast hurtled even faster, crashing to the ground with a plop,
spewing blood. Even his Armament Haki-clad arm twisted irregularly,
testament to the earlier blow.
As danger loomed, Tast's brain scrambled with warning signals. Yet,
before he could raise his shattered arm, a bullet pierced his forehead.
Blood gushed, obscuring his vision, as he glimpsed a figure, drenched in
blood, emerging amidst the compressed walls.
Watching his fallen adversary, Simon found no respite. Rolling away
hastily, he narrowly avoided a massive club, its handle protruding from
the ground.
"You dared to meddle in my duel!" Tast's demise sobered Kaido. He
recognized the hidden threat and acted decisively.
Facing the looming menace, Simon's countenance soured. Initially
deceived, he maneuvered covertly, disrupting alliances among pirates.
His stratagem—bide time until ten remained, then eliminate the weakest
—unraveled. An undercover Marine, seemingly a vice admiral,
vanquished the remaining pirates.
As indifference pervaded the onlookers, Simon discerned his fate.
Gambling on the pirates' reaction post-Marine's demise, he realized their
fickleness.
As he raised his sniper rifle, intending to meet his end, a blue lightning
bolt materialized. The horned man, endowed with Herculean speed, was
thwarted.
"Shiki, cease your ability, the competetion has ended" Nicholas
commanded, retracting his foot calmly.
Kaido's defeat
"Hehe, it's over, isn't it? That kid seems quite unwilling."
With Shiki's words, Kaido, who had been kicked away, rushed back
again, swinging his club fiercely towards Nicholas. Obviously, he
intended to smash this guy into pulp.
"Thunder Bagua!"
With Kaido's roar, the club carried an unstoppable momentum!
Bang!
But with a muffled sound, Kaido was blasted away.
After a brief silence, the surrounding pirates erupted into frenzied cheers.
Some even started betting, although the odds were a bit outrageous, one
to a hundred!
"Hahaha, that kid seems familiar to me, his name is Kaido, right? He was
the one they said was a monster in the New World last time!"
"But boss, why are you all betting on that guy named Nicholas to win?"
"He's new?"
"Yeah."
"Give me all the money you have, we'll split the winnings seventy-thirty."
"Boss, here's the money. Can you tell me now?"
"That guy is the captain of the Seventh Division, just like Whitebeard and
the others, a real monster! Is Kaido out of his mind trying to defeat him?"
At the same time, on the grandstand, Rocks, Whitebeard, Golden Lion,
and others watched calmly as Kaido was blasted away.
"Hahaha, just as I expected."
Rocks laughed wildly, obviously satisfied with the scene.
"That guy doesn't seem to use Devil Fruit abilities? His growth rate is
really terrifying."
Whitebeard, as a strong figure of his level, could notice details that
ordinary pirates couldn't.
"It seems Nicholas is using the Stance from the Navy's Rokushiki, but it's
a waste not to use Devil Fruit powers and focus on martial arts."
Shiki scoffed, believing that both Haki and martial arts were
supplementary to Devil Fruit abilities. The strong figures in Rocks's pirate
group, for example, had all developed their Devil Fruits to the extreme. If
Nicholas developed his Thunder Fruit to its fullest, he would definitely be
among the top tier on the sea.
"But Shiki, you can't underestimate martial arts. When mastered, they are
as powerful as Devil Fruit abilities. Both Roger and the Navy's Garp are
tough opponents."
Wang Zhi interjected.
Meanwhile, in the arena, Nicholas and Kaido clashed again. Despite
Kaido's fierce attacks, Nicholas seemed to evade effortlessly, like a
slippery eel, infuriating Kaido.
"You, are you just going to keep dodging like a rat!?"
Facing Nicholas, who was even slipperier than an eel, Kaido went
berserk.
Whoosh!
When Nicholas reappeared, he was standing on Kaido's club, looking
down at him. "Is that it?"
Just two simple words, but they carried a deeply insulting tone.
The cacophony around them fell silent, many pirates watching Nicholas
in awe. While many were confident in facing someone like Kaido, they
couldn't match Nicholas's calmness against Kaido's attacks.
No wonder Rocks's pirate group was called the "Monster Concentration
Camp" of the sea.
Kaido stared at Nicholas, his face filled with rage.
But for him, if one blow didn't work, he'd try another.
"Kid, looks like you're pretty strong."
Kaido grinned wickedly, his upper body covered in Armament Haki. "You
better not die easily next!"
His massive arm clenched into a fist, aiming at Nicholas.
As Nicholas dodged using Shave, Kaido's club, imbued with thunderous
power, swung towards him.
"Kid, your weird martial art relies on airflow generated by attacks to
dodge, right? But what will you do when surrounded by chaotic
airflow!?"
"Simple, I won't dodge!"
As Nicholas's voice fell, his right arm, covered in black-purple Armament
Haki, with blue electric currents, struck out like flowing clouds and
flowing water!
Clang!
With a sound of metal clashing, even the air vibrated. A shockwave
rippled out from the center where they stood.
Then, a scene that shocked all the pirates appeared: Kaido's club visibly
bent into a '7' shape from the center.
The club then snapped in half, while Nicholas's fist, without stopping,
solidly struck Kaido's face.
Blood sprayed from Kaido's mouth and nose, even a tooth flew out with
the blood.
After landing a blow, Nicholas didn't stop. He appeared around Kaido
like lightning, leaving afterimages due to his incredible speed.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Kaido's massive body swayed like a leaf in a gale.
He didn't have a chance to resist, even though his body was covered in
Armament Haki, he was still beaten badly, pitiful to behold.
When he hit the ground, he lost consciousness completely.
From being punched by Kaido to hitting the ground, in just two seconds,
he endured tons of damage.
With Kaido's fall, the surrounding pirates erupted into loud cheers.
And just as Kaido, who had fallen, tried to stand again, his eyes still
rolled back, indicating he hadn't regained consciousness.
"Is it the body's instinctive fighting? What a terrifying guy."
Nicholas didn't show much interest in Kaido, who lost consciousness but
stood up again. After all, Kaido hadn't eaten that fruit yet, his strength
was far inferior to later times.
At the moment of everyone's astonishment, Nicholas had already casually
walked up to Kaido and using his foot pressed Kaido head into the
ground.
This time, he wouldn't get a chance to stand up again.
The strongest?
"Hahaha, what an interesting performance. Let the feast continue!"
After Nicholas brought Simon back to the stands, Charlotte Linlin also
had her men take Kaido back to her pirate ship. After all, he was
someone she had high hopes for, so she couldn't just give up on him like
that.
Following Rocks's words, Shiki activated his abilities, covering the
battleground that had just been like a battlefield with soil. The pirates on
it began reveling, oblivious to the fact that just moments ago, thousands
of lives had been lost under their feet.
Nicholas watched calmly as the pirates below celebrated and Rocks,
Golden Lion, and others around him also were laughing.
For him, he hadn't fully understood the depths of this world's waters yet,
which made him feel a sense of crisis.
After joining Rocks's pirate group, he learned about Rocks's terror.
He couldn't understand what had happened in the Battle of God Valley.
What could have caused the powerful Rocks pirate group to disintegrate?
He acknowledged the strength of figures like Roger and Garp, but he
found it hard to believe that just those two could defeat Rocks together.
At this point, figures like Golden Lion Shiki, Whitebeard Edward
Newgate, Charlotte Linlin, Captain John, and Silver Ax were all at their
peak. Even though they were only together for mutual benefits, the fact
that they could break at God Valley, and that there was no news of it
afterward, was simply absurd.
"Nicholas, in your previous battles, did you use the Rokushiki techniques
of the Marines, such as Soru(Shave) and Geppo(moon walk)?"
As Nicholas pondered, Rocks curiously stared at him.
To be honest, Rocks's curiosity was solely due to the fact that, like others,
he couldn't understand why Nicholas, who already had powerful Devil
Fruit abilities, would spend time learning martial arts, swordsmanship,
and even some miscellaneous things.
In their eyes, such behavior was somewhat of a waste of talent.
"Yes, I used the Rokushiki techniques like Soru and Geppo, which I
acquired as spoils during the attack on G9. However, the methods of
Shigan and Tekkai were missing."
Nicholas replied without hesitation, regardless of possibly angering
Rocks.
After all, with his understanding of Rocks, he knew this man was quite
arrogant.
He also knew what his subordinates thought, but his confidence in his
own strength made him indifferent to it.
There was nothing else—unrivaled strength was the source of his
confidence. To him, his subordinates were more like a gathering of strong
people he had brought together to overthrow the World Government.
Therefore, figures like Golden Lion Shiki, Whitebeard, or Charlotte Linlin
were not threats to him.
Because he was "The World's Strongest" Rocks D. Xebec!
There were no wrong names, only wrong titles.
"Nicholas, the New World belongs to the strong. The weak have no place
on this stage, and the Rocks pirate group is among the best. Therefore,
being too weak is easy to be eliminated."
"No need to worry about that, Captain. But speaking of which, Captain, I
heard that your bounty from the World Government has increased again.
Don't let yourself get killed one day!"
Sure enough, after hearing Nicholas's answer, Rocks didn't get angry.
Instead, he laughed and said, "If those guys really have that kind of
confidence, then bring it on. If I get killed, it just means I'm not strong
enough! But at least for now, I haven't met anyone who can take my life!"
"I hope so."
Nicholas glanced at Rocks and said.
He was desperately enhancing his strength, learning various martial arts
systems just to increase his trump cards in the Battle of God Valley.
"Captain, I have a question for you."
Nicholas seemed to think of something and looked at Rocks with a
strange expression.
"Hmm? What question? Let's hear it."
Rocks also showed an interested look.
For Nicholas, the position of Rocks's other crew members in his heart was
obviously different. After all, he was forcibly brought onto the ship at
first, and after boarding, he not only quickly adapted to life on the sea
but also absorbed various combat skills and cultivation experiences like a
crazy sponge.
"Captain, everyone in the world says you are the strongest..."
Nicholas said seriously, "So, Whitebeard, Golden Lion, Charlotte Linlin,
Wang Zhi, can they kill you if they join forces?"
Nicholas used the word "kill" instead of "defeat".
Nicholas knew Rocks was strong, but he wanted to know how strong this
former era's sea overlord, even with a group of strong people gathered
under him to overthrow the World Government and become the king of
the world, How did he die!
As Nicholas asked this question, Shiki, Newgate, and others around also
put down their wine. They also wanted to know how strong Rocks really
was. Although they were not opponents of Rocks's one-on-one, they still
wanted to know if they could take down Rocks if they teamed up.
"Do you all want to know?" Rocks looked at Whitebeard and the others,
and a sharp cold light flashed in his eyes.
A terrifying and suffocating pressure swept out from Rocks, enveloping
everyone in the Rocks pirate group.
The weakest among them, like Bacon, were trembling shitless.
Whitebeard and the others drank calmly, but their aura was also
emanating, showing their intentions clearly.
After all, Rocks had cast his shadow over them for too long. Although
they were more like in a cooperative relationship, they knew deep down
in their heart, they were subordinates, and a person with the
domineering presence like conqueror would never want to stay beneath
others forever!
"Hahaha, it doesn't matter if I tell you the answer to this question!"
With Rocks's mad laughter, a thick dark veil appeared behind him, and
claws and fangs kept appearing. "If it's a fight to the death, you will all
die! While I may win, I will also suffer serious injuries. That's the answer
to this question."
After hearing this, Whitebeard and Golden Lion Shiki looked at each
other, their eyes showing a trace of coldness.
Obviously, the answer was somewhat unexpected. Although they were
not opponents of Rocks one-on-one, they didn't expect that even if they
teamed up, they still wouldn't be able to defeat this guy. How strong was
this monster?
"Captain, since you are so strong, why don't you attack Mary Geoise?
With your ability, you should be able to stir things up there easily, right?"
Nicholas asked curiously, trying to get more information from Rocks.
When Mary Geoise was mentioned, Rocks's expression changed visibly,
although it was quickly concealed. But Nicholas, with his terrifying
Observation Haki, saw the fleeting fear in Rocks's eyes.
What was he afraid of?
Conspiracy
Charlotte Linlin Pirates, in a cabin.
Kaido was wrapped in bandages all over his body like a dumpling.
At this moment, Kaido was staring blankly at the ceiling, replaying the
scenes of the previous battle in his mind.
It must be said that those who can become Emperors in the future are
never ordinary people. Kaido continuously simulates the scenes of
fighting with Nicholas in his mind and thinks about ways to counter
Nicholas's attacks.
"Kaido, how about it? I didn't deceive you, right? The Charlotte Linlin
Pirates have many strong members!"
Just as Kaido was once again being punched by Nicholas in his
imagination, a clear female voice comes from outside the cabin. Then the
cabin door is pushed open rudely, and Charlotte Linlin, over eight meters
tall, walks into the cabin, followed by Streusen, the second in command
and head chef of the Big Mom Pirates.
"Are you here to mock me?"
Kaido, seeing Charlotte Linlin's arrival, shakes off the bandages on him
and sits up from the bed.
"I won't lose to that guy next time!"
Kaido says fiercely. For him, losing a battle is not terrifying as long as he
kills the opponent in the end. Only the one who survives is the ultimate
winner.
"Mama... mama, Kaido."
Charlotte Linlin looks down at Kaido and says with a sinister smile, "Are
you overly confident in your own strength? Do you know that the reason
you can survive to a large extent is because of me? Otherwise, with
Nicholas's true strength, do you think you can survive? Did those playful
fights give you a false impression?"
"Playful fights? Are you saying that guy never used his true strength
while fighting me?"
Kaido's eyes widen in astonishment upon hearing this.
"Of course not. Nicholas ate the Rumble-Rumble Fruit, the lightning man.
If he really used his fruit ability, even with your terrifying body and
recovery, you wouldn't be able to withstand it. After all, in the captain's
eyes, that guy is a terrifying monster who can rival or even surpass
Whitebeard and Golden Lion in the future! I really want to get his genes."
It seems that Charlotte Linlin has thought of something. She can't help
but lick her flaming red lips.
"After all, the prey you can't get is the most tempting."
"However, Kaido, strive to become stronger. When your strength reaches
a level that satisfies me, I don't mind helping you find a Devil Fruit
suitable for you. After all, the gift from the Devil's Treasure in the sea is
enough to help a strong person break through to a whole new level.
Alright, I won't disturb you. I'm going to rest."
After saying this, Charlotte Linlin walks out of Kaido's room with her
enchanting steps.
At Nicholas's Pirate Crew base, Nicholas sneaks out holding his cherished
wine.
Just as he leaves the captain's cabin, a cold voice sounds, "Nicholas,
where are you going so late?"
"Oh, it's Stussy. Um, that..." Nicholas waves the wine in his hand, "Isn't
this the intelligence you asked Charlotte to gather last time? I'm going to
thank her. I've had Vista prepare the materials you need. There's even an
Animal Zoan user among them, which should provide you with a lot of
data."
Nicholas does not wait for Stussy's response and slips away.
Dressed as a vampire, Stussy watches Nicholas disappear around the
corner, muttering "Idiot" under her breath, then heads towards the lowest
level of the ship.
After arriving at Shakky's residence, upon stating his identity, Nicholas
encounters no obstacles and soon sees Shakky.
It's worth mentioning that Shakky, who retired to open Shakky's Rip-off
Bar, now has the demeanor of a bar owner. The entire residence has been
turned into a bar, and Shakky is leaning on the bar with her left elbow,
cigarette in her right hand.
Seeing Nicholas come in, a smile appears on her face.
"Little Nicholas is surprisingly punctual."
"Haha, because it's Shakky inviting, I must be on time."
Nicholas laughs a few times and then looks around cautiously. "Shakky, is
it safe here?"
They must be careful about what they are about to discuss as it could
causetrouble if it got out.
Shakky flicks the ash from her cigarette, teasing, "If i don't have the
ability to even handle this, I would've been killed long ago. How could I
have survived until now? But little Nicholas, are you peering into my
heart? You'll have to take responsibility if you do."
Shakky glances at Nicholas with a half-smile.
"Haha, how could it be."
Nicholas laughs off Shakky's teasing, then sits on one of the chairs by the
bar and places the wine he brought on the counter, saying, "This is what I
got at the auction in Sabaody. It's hard to find good stuff like this on the
market now."
"Binks's wine, indeed a good find. Then I won't be polite."
Shakky smiles and places the wine from the counter onto the shelf behind
her. If anyone knowledgeable were there, they would notice many
famous wines inside.
After putting the wine away, Shakky doesn't speak but rather looks at
Nicholas with interest.
"Shakky, don't look at me like that, I'll get embarrassed."
Nicholas shamelessly says.
"Hehe, little Nicholas, do you really want to leave the Rocks Pirates? You
should know that once you leave the Rocks Pirates, you'll face that
lunatic's crazy revenge."
Shakky takes a drag of her cigarette, exhaling smoke slowly, her eyes
fixed on Nicholas.
Nicholas meets Shakky's gaze.
He seriously nods.
"It seems like little Nicholas is confident in evading that lunatic's pursuit.
Can you tell me about your trump card?"
Shakky is even more curious now. It can be said that if it weren't for
fearing the powerful and crazy Rocks, people like Whitebeard and Gold
Lion would have left the Rocks Pirates long ago.
"Is there even a trump card? As for evading the captain's pursuit, it's
simple. I just need to kill him."
Nicholas says calmly.
Hearing this, Shakky is clearly stunned, and even the cigarette between
her fingers is almost burned out before she reacts.
"Nicholas, you should know about the captain's terrifying strength. Why
do you think he can be killed? What force on this sea can kill him?"
Shakky's brows furrow deeper. As the head of the sea's intelligence
network, she considers herself second only to the World Government. So
she knows the horror of this man very well. She can hardly imagine what
could defeat or even kill him. After all, if there was something like that,
the Sabre of xebec wouldn't have been active until now, even forcing the
Navy to avoid entering the New World at one point!
Nicholas puts his index finger to his lips, signaling for silence. Then, he
shakes the empty wine glass in his hand, clearly indicating something.
Seeing this, Shakky gives Nicholas a glare, then turns around and starts
to select from the liquor shelf.
Within seconds, a dozen bottles of fine wine are placed on the counter.
Mision
After filling Nicholas's wine glass again, Shakky looked at Nicholas and
asked, "Can you talk now?"
After Nicholas emptied the wine glass again, he let out a hearty belch and
then looked at Shakky, saying, "This is just my speculation, Shakky. You
should know that I am very interested in many of the legends of the sea,
but according to the information I have gathered, the history between
seven hundred and eight hundred years ago has disappeared. We don't
know exactly what happened, but the World Government should have
done something to completely conceal this period of history.
The Elbaf Giants should have some understanding of this history, given
their lifespan, but considering that the Giants have never really
interacted with the outside world, they don't know much either. So the
answer to the question should lie with the Celestial Dragons."
"Those parasites again?"
Shakky murmured to herself.
The Celestial Dragons are the descendants of the twenty kings who
established the World Government 800 years ago. Apart from the
Nefertari family, who chose to go to Alabasta, the rest of them all chose
to reign over the Red Soil Continent and establish the World Noble on
Mary Geoise, claiming to be the "descendants of the creators" and even
calling themselves gods.
They are protected by the Marines and CP0, enjoying all privileges, and
have always been arrogant and disdainful. They view people of other
races as slaves and even consider it an insult to breathe the same air as
others.
In fact, Shakky also has some speculations about the power of the
Celestial Dragons. It is hard to imagine how they managed to make the
World Government and even the Marines submit to them, especially
considering how they treat Marines and World Government officials as if
they were nothing more than watchdogs. Even Admirals are considered
merely people with some status in their eyes.
And these arrogant Celestial Dragons still reign supreme over all the
races of the world to this day, which can only mean that they wield
absolutely terrifying power.
"Are you saying that the captain might be killed by the Celestial
Dragons?"
Shakky asked with a furrowed brow.
Nicholas waved his hand, "Who knows, but I don't think the captain can
do what Joy Boy failed to do back then, even if the captain is hailed as
the strongest of this era. No one knows exactly what Joy Boy knew at the
time, but it is certain that Joy Boy failed.
So, Shakky, I need to consider the future of my comrades."
After that, the two continued to talk until late into the night before
Nicholas left Shakky's residence.
…
Under the blazing sun, Nicholas was practicing swordsmanship by the sea
on Beehive Island. The long sword in his hand sliced through the air,
giving off a chilling sensation.
Sixteen-year-old Nicholas wasn't as tall as the celebrities of the pirate
world, standing at only about 1.7 meters. Perhaps he might grow a few
centimeters taller in the future, but he probably won't reach the towering
heights of two or three meters, especially since he doesn't have Giant
blood.
However, despite not having the imposing physique of Whitebeard and
others, the perfect muscular contours still conveyed a sense of strength.
As he continued to feel the sensations from his hands, Nicholas heard
Vista's voice.
Vista looked somewhat strange, just informing Nicholas that Rocks had a
mission for them.
Don't think joining the Rocks Pirates is a good thing. Many things that
Rocks couldn't be bothered to do were simply delegated to the
subordinates.
"What mission?"
After sheathing his long sword, Nicholas asked.
"Not a difficult mission, it's about a king from a small country in the New
World who attacked the representative sent by the pirate crew to collect
tributes. Rocks wants us to exterminate the royal family of that country
to send a message to others."
"A king from a small country, is he that powerful?"
Nicholas was surprised to hear this. While many countries in the New
World are formidable, some even having military strength to rival top-
tier pirate crews, it's rare to see someone openly defy the will of Rocks,
especially a king.
"Who knows, maybe he's lost his mind, anyway, there are a few people
every year who don't think straight."
Vista said emotionlessly.
Three days later, at the dock of Taji Island in the New World, a group of
busy workers suddenly saw a ship appearing in the distance, and
Nicholas finally saw the target island.
"Vista, let's greet them first."
"Yes, Captain."
After Vista finished speaking, he turned and arranged for the pirates
under his to prepare for bombardment.
"Captain, isn't our mission just to destroy the royal family of this island?"
Simon looked at the pirates on deck starting to load cannonballs and
asked nervously.
"Simon, you're still so naive. You should know that the islands that can
survive in the New World are not like those weak ones in the Four Blues.
Let your Observation Haki 'see' what they have prepared to welcome us."
Nicholas looked at the distant dock and chuckled.
As Nicholas predicted, soldiers began to appear in large numbers on the
dock and on the towers along the coast, and cannons were aimed at them
one after another.
After ten minutes, the harbor was in chaos with flames everywhere, and
Nicholas stepped onto the dock.
It must be said that in the face of absolute strength, all resistance appears
feeble and powerless.
"You guys, you'll all meet a bad end."
A heavily injured soldier leaned against a pile of scattered goods, looking
at Nicholas with hatred.
"Mm."
Nicholas just nodded and walked directly towards the castle in the center
of the island. As for the soldier behind him, Vista approached and ended
his life with a single axe blow.
With his crew dealing with the remnants of resistance, Nicholas,
accompanied by Stussy, Vista, and Simon, walked through the streets.
The once bustling streets now seemed silent, and even the food on the
roadside stalls still carried warmth.
After receiving a string of grilled squid handed over by Stussy, Nicholas
tasted it. It must be said that although the taste was acceptable, it was
still not comparable to the taste of Sea Kings. Additionally, the energy
provided was inferior to that of Sea Kings as well.
Perhaps due to the peculiarities of the pirate world, as strength increases,
so does the appetite. At first, Nicholas could fill his stomach, but as his
strength increased, only consuming large amounts of food could make
him feel satiated.
This was also why he wanted to defeat a Near Sea King on his fourteenth
birthday—to satisfy his craving.
"Captain, we're here."
Fog
In front of Nicholas, there stood a castle towering like those in Western
fantasy novels, surrounded by massive walls several tens of meters high.
It's hard to imagine how such a small island managed to build such a
huge castle.
"This castle must have a history of thousands of years."
As Stussy gazed at the castle full of historical aura, a loud rumble echoed.
Then Vista put away his axe and grinned at Nicholas, "Captain, the door
is open."
"Then let's go in and see what gives the king of this country such
confidence."
Then Nicholas took the lead and stepped into the split castle gate.
Inside the castle, it was eerily silent, as if everyone had vanished into
thin air before Nicholas and his crew arrived.
Candles, large and numerous, illuminated the dimly lit castle, brightening
it as if it were daytime.
In the spacious hall of the castle, on either side stood guards, either
armored models or real individuals. At the end of the hall was a grand
staircase, above which was a huge throne. In front of the throne knelt
hundreds of armored guards, weapons in hand.
And seated upon that massive throne was a figure clad in heavy armor,
holding a sword in both hands. He was none other than Tajji Bais, who
had ordered the envoy of the Rocks Pirates, sent as tribute, to be slain,
and he was the only king of the Tajji royal family in this generation!
Nicholas walked steadily, reaching the hall, and gazed at the person
sitting on the throne.
The person above the throne, perhaps due to Nicholas and his crew's
intrusion, raised his head.
"Oh... Rocks Pirates, Captain Nicholas, I didn't expect Rocks to send you.
I thought that guy would only send some of his subordinate pirate crews."
Tajji Bais spoke calmly, seemingly unsurprised by Nicholas's arrival.
"You don't seem surprised at all?"
Nicholas looked at Bais, who sat on the throne, and spoke.
"Of course not surprised, it just skipped some steps. In the original plan,
we were supposed kill Rocks's envoy first, then step by step lure out
higher combat power of the Rocks Pirates."
Bais paused after speaking, then glanced at Nicholas and said, "But I
didn't expect it would be you coming. It's a bit troublesome for me."
"I didn't want to come either, but there's no choice. That guy specifically
asked me to come. But I'm curious, what gave you the courage to
provoke that monster?"
Nicholas was genuinely curious. After all, Rocks's reputation in the New
World was immense. Though he demanded tribute from many islands in
the New World, it still fell short of the celestial gold demanded by the
Celestial Dragons. Moreover, in the New World, as long as tribute was
paid to Rocks, protection from the Rocks Pirates could be obtained.
This was the survival method of many countries in the New World,
exchanging money and goods with powerful pirate crews for their
protection. Just like the Whitebeard Pirates needing to maintain so many
pirates, the protection fees collected within the territory were the main
source of income, while the plundered loot was just the tip of the iceberg.
Nicholas couldn't understand why the World Government would risk the
wrath of the Sabre of Xebec to punish countries that didn't pay celestial
gold.
Why would Bais, risking retaliation from Rocks, do something that posed
harm to his own country?
Hearing this, a strange gleam flashed in Bais's eyes. Then, emotionlessly,
he said, "Haha, kid, perhaps you're underestimating the World
Government's power. And as for resisting the Rocks Pirates, isn't it an
interesting thing to do!?"
Saying so, Bais stood up, clenched his fist towards the front, "My soldiers,
let them witness your terror!"
Instantly, the hundreds of armored guards kneeling before Bais all tapped
their chests in unison with their left hands and bowed their heads, "We
pledge to defend the king's honor to the death!"
...
While Nicholas and his crew were inside the castle, a dense white mist
suddenly enveloped the entire Tajji Island, spreading rapidly towards the
entire island, seeming to engulf the entire island in no time.
"Ha... ha..."
In the foggy alleys of the Tajji Island slums, a little girl ran in panic, her
face pale, looking back in fear as if something terrifying was chasing her.
Bang!
Due to not paying attention, she stumbled over a protruding stone and
fell helplessly to the ground.
But seemingly without considering the pain that came over her, the little
girl just looked at her body in panic, relieved to find no bleeding, and let
out a long breath.
Suddenly, footsteps came from behind, leaping on the rooftops.
The little girl's face was full of fear, then she looked at the garbage can
nearby, filled with various rubbish emitting a strong stench.
Without any hesitation, she threw herself into the garbage can,
continuously moving deeper into it. Soon, the various odors emanating
from the garbage covered her entire slender body.
Clatter...
Accompanied by the sound of footsteps moving away.
After a while, when there were no other sounds around, the little girl,
Katie, cautiously poked her head out of the trash can, looked around,
made sure there was no one, and then breathed a sigh of relief.
This was her chance to take out what she had in her arms. It was a
tattered cloth bag containing several moldy bread pieces.
"I'll bring food back for them."
Thinking of someone important, Katie encouraged herself repeatedly.
After all, whether it was the dense fog that made it almost impossible to
see a meter ahead or the terrifying scene she had witnessed while looking
for food earlier, it all gave her a bad feeling. She wanted to hurry back
home and bring the food to her family.
Looking at the somewhat moldy bread in front of her, Katie swallowed
her saliva.
"With this food, everyone will definitely survive. They must eat
something, or they will die."
Then she carefully put away the tattered bag, tucked it into her arms.
Just as Katie crawled out of the trash can and was about to run towards
home, a loud rumbling came from the direction of the castle where King
Bais of Tajji Island resided.
This sound caused Katie to slow down her pace. She had thought the
gunfire from the port before was caused by another group of pirates. Tajji
Island had encountered pirates before. But now, even the safest place on
the island was in conflict. Didn't that mean the pirates had successfully
breached the defenses on the dock?
Thinking of the various rumors she had heard before about pirates, Katie
became even more anxious. Although there was no treasure in her house,
facing the bloodthirsty pirates meant danger for her family!
At this moment, Katie had no idea that even if she went back to face the
danger with her family, as a child, she would be of little use.
Unknown enemy
TaJi Island, within the massive stone castle.
At this moment, this castle, which has stood for thousands of years, lies
in ruins, with fires burning everywhere and the sounds of fighting
echoing constantly.
"Monsters, monsters!"
"What on earth are these creatures?"
"Hey, Jil, where are you biting? I'm Old Bidden!"
It can be said that the revelation of King Bias's trump card has caused
huge trouble for the pirates brought by Nicholas.
Let's rewind to a short while ago.
As King Bias's words fell, the hundreds of armored soldiers began to
rapidly transform, much to the surprise of Nicholas and others.
Their arms became muscular, and their hands, originally holding swords,
turned into claws with sharp talons. Human faces were no longer visible,
replaced by wolf heads with jagged fangs and saliva constantly flowing
from their mouths.
With the transformation into werewolves, the speed and strength of these
people increased significantly, and anyone bitten by them would also
undergo the same transformation.
Before long, the pirates brought by Nicholas suffered heavy casualties,
with only a few strong pirates escaping death.
Facing a werewolf rushing towards him, Nicholas directly slashed it in
half with one stroke, then looked through the gap in the body towards
King Bias, who was in front of the throne, and smiled.
"So, is this your reliance?"
After Nicholas finished speaking, he gripped his long sword with both
hands and activated the "Thunder Discharge" with tiny lightning
traversing through his body, causing his entire figure to appear as after-
images fragmented in various corners of the hall.
Almost all the pirates and guards who turned into werewolves had not
reacted yet, feeling numbness first, then coldness, and finally a violent
pain, before losing consciousness completely.
After cutting the last werewolf into pieces, Nicholas shook off the blood
from his sword. Meanwhile, the hall had turned into a hellish scene, with
blood splattering everywhere and the floor littered with limbs and
organs.
Clap! Clap! Clap!
Faced with the hellish scene before them, everyone had little reaction.
After all, they had seen or done scenes bloodier than this.
"The captain of the 700 million bounty, the seventh division captain of
the Rocks Pirates, truly possesses terrifying strength!"
Facing the dead and wounded underlings, King Bias seemed to feel no
remorse at all, as if those who died were inconsequential, rather than
knights who had followed his family for generations.
"Howl!"
Just as Nicholas was about to directly deal with King Bias in front of him,
a wolf howl suddenly came from a distance, seeming to trigger a chain
reaction. Wolf howls echoed all over the island at the same time.
Amidst the continuous howling, many werewolves ran out of the castle,
judging from the tattered clothes on them; they should have been former
castle staff.
King Bias's eyes suddenly turned bloodshot, and then he took out a green
syringe and injected it directly into his neck. Under the gaze of Nicholas
and others, King Bias transformed into a terrifying werewolf over ten
meters tall.
"Howl!"
With an angry roar, a shockwave erupted from King Bias's mouth at a
visible speed, making the surrounding hall even more dilapidated.
Watching the werewolf-transformed King Bias, Nicholas silently grinned,
then picked up his long sword and charged forward.
Meanwhile, Vista held his massive shield in front, protecting Simon and
Stussy behind him.
"Idiot, two minutes."
Stussy, squatting on the ground studying the werewolf's corpse, said
without looking up to Vista.
"No problem!"
After saying that, Vista swung his axe and sent a pouncing werewolf
flying.
"Hey, what's going on, can you guys not talk like solving riddles? My
brain isn't enough, I can't understand!"
After shooting a werewolf flying into the air, Simon looked confused.
Since the Blood Banquet ended, he and Kaido naturally became trainees
of the Sabre of Xebec, but after witnessing the cold-blooded cruelty of the
Rocks Pirates, facing Nicholas's invitation, he chose to join Nicholas's
Seventh Division without hesitation. After all, compared to the unknown
Rockss, Nicholas, who saved his life, seemed more reliable.
However, after boarding the ship, he realized that the ordinary pirates on
Nicholas's ship were completely different from the recognized
companions of Nicholas. Like now, ordinary pirates, no matter how many
die, it doesn't matter. Besides Nicholas, the other two core members on
the ship, Vista and Stussy, are also strange fellows.
After rushing towards King Bias, Nicholas first shattered a werewolf
leaping at him with a sword, then kicked another werewolf next to him
directly away, and then chopped towards the werewolf-transformed King
Bias.
Facing Nicholas's attack, King Bias did not retreat at all. It seemed that
after transforming into a werewolf, he only had the instinct and savagery
of battle left. The sharp claws, like long knives, collided with Nicholas's
long sword. When the long sword and claws touched, numerous sparks
flew out. Nicholas's sword was very sharp, but facing the sharp claws
covered with Armament Haki, it was not easy to cut them off. It seemed
that with the transformation into a werewolf, the opponent's Armament
Haki level had also increased.
Just as the two sides were deadlocked, a hint of cunning flashed in King
Bias's eyes. Then, his huge wolf head suddenly opened its bloody mouth
and bit towards Nicholas.
Nicholas seemed to have not reacted in time and was bitten on his side.
"Hey, the captain is about to be bitten."
Simon, watching the battlefield between Nicholas and King Bias in the
distance, said to Vista under his feet. Yes, he was standing on Vista's
head, using him as a sniper platform.
"Don't worry, the captain won't die so easily."
Vista said in a muffled voice, but his tone was full of confidence in
Nicholas's strength.
As Vista's words fell, it was clearly visible that the half of Nicholas's body
bitten began to emit dazzling lightning, and cracking sounds came from
the air. With a loud explosion, smoke billowed from King Bias's mouth,
and half of his face had disappeared, with some remaining flesh and
blood hanging on his face, emitting a burnt smell, and exposed bones
visible to the naked eye.
Meanwhile, Nicholas, with a flash of lightning, appeared unscathed ten
meters away from King Bias.
"The terrifying Color of Observation, Elementization in advance, huh? It's
indeed a troublesome ability."
King Bias's eyes, looking at Nicholas, were filled with more fear.
Just as Nicholas was about to speak, a sense of crisis suddenly came from
the side. This is Nicholas's Color of Observation, enhanced by the Goro
Goro no Mi's ability, the sixth sense, which can be said to never be
wrong.
At the moment when the sense of crisis appeared, Nicholas made the
fastest action to block with his sword. With a clang, a bullet emitting the
breath of Sea Stone slid off the black blade.
Then, in Nicholas's perception, a ship quickly sailed away in the distance.
"Tch, they're escaping so fast." Nicholas said disdainfully.
Then he looked towards King Bias in front of him.
"You're not King Bias, are you?"
"Oh, you found out."
Werewolf King Bias looked at Nicholas and smiled, but with his blood-
stained face revealing his bones, he looked particularly eerie.
"I'm indeed not King Bias. As for my true identity, of course, I can't tell
you. Enjoy what's coming next."
As his words fell, a confused voice came out of King Bias's mouth.
"What's going on, how did I become like this!?"
King Bias, looking at the mess of the hall and the monster werewolves,
was filled with panic, especially when he realized that his perspective
seemed a bit different. When he looked down and found that he had also
turned into a monster, he was even more overwhelmed.
Infection
"It's truly sad, isn't it? Being controlled and knowing nothing about it?"
Nicholas showed no sympathy at all for the kneeling King Bias. In the
sea, if one's strength isn't formidable enough, they don't even qualify as
pawns. At most, they are expendable cannon fodder.
"Nicholas! Did you do all this!?" Under immense stress, King Bias, who
had regained his composure, seemed on the verge of losing control again.
Nicholas didn't bother to explain. He simply cleaved him in half with a
single stroke and then walked toward the door. After all, with the
constant howling of wolves all over the island, it was evident that the
island was now infested with these creatures.
Just as Nicholas took a few steps, he suddenly felt something and turned
around to find King Bias, now in two pieces, reaching out to grab his
trouser leg. Meeting Nicholas's gaze, King Bias struggled to speak.
"Lord Nicholas, please save me and my people. I can give you all the
wealth accumulated by the royal family!" After saying this, King Bias spat
out a mouthful of blood and looked at Nicholas expectantly.
"I really don't understand you kings. You didn't care about the lives of
your subjects when you were in power, but when you're about to die, you
want to be a good ruler. How boring." Nicholas didn't look back and
walked in the direction of Stussy and the others. All that was left behind
was the massive body of King Bias, lying prostrate on the ground.
"Stussy, any results yet?" Nicholas looked at the colorful mushroom-
covered wolf corpses in front of Stussy, asking nonchalantly. Meanwhile,
Vista, intrigued, was playing with the wolf corpses on the ground, clearly
curious about how they could change from humans to another species so
quickly. Only Simon, watching his two companions, felt that his breakfast
might be wasted today.
"Almost," Stussy answered without lifting her head. When Vista, the big
fool, asked how long it would take for results, she had said two minutes.
Thus, she had to deliver the results within that time frame. Time was
running out, and she couldn't afford to waste any.
Seeing this, Nicholas, who knew Stussy's temperament, didn't say much
more. He instructed the pirates, who were heavily wounded, "Go get your
loot. Take as much as you can, but don't think of being greedy with what
needs to be turned in. And of course, you can try not turning it in and see
if you can dodge the lightning above your heads."
With that, he waved his hand, indicating that his pirates could plunder
the castle. After all, being a pirate meant looting, and this was also a way
to make his men contribute during the battle.
"Nicholas, things seem to be getting complicated." As the pirates scattered
to plunder, Stussy stood up from the ground. Her calm tone didn't reveal
any sense of complication.
"These people seem to be infected by something, likely the ability of a
Devil Fruit. Their forms have changed with the infection. Their cells can
regenerate rapidly, except against silver, which prevents their
extraordinary regeneration ability. In other words, the only advantage of
silver weapons lies in their ability to cause wounds that are nearly
impossible to heal," Stussy explained calmly.
"Oh, this is terrifying. Can you not talk about such terrifying things so
casually?" Simon was wiping the sea prism stone bullet that Nicholas had
blocked earlier, as it was quite rare. However, upon hearing Stussy's
words, he was stunned. If what Stussy said was true, it would be very
easy to destroy the island, even the world.
"Doesn't this ability have any limitations?" Nicholas asked in a deep
voice, as if such a bug-like ability could change the landscape of the
pirate world.
Just like when facing Monkey D. Luffy, Kaido, But their abilities are weak
compared to monsters like luffy or Kaido .
Such as Kaido. Using Flame Cloud to support Onigashima, experienced
significant reductions in his ability, as maintaining the ability of a Devil
Fruit requires a considerable amount of stamina.
"Well, these monsters won't produce new ones even if they reach a
certain number after being infected. Their strength will change
significantly over time. The later they are infected, the weaker they will
be. This may be limited by the strength of the source mother. Even if
they are weak, dealing with ordinary people is straightforward, and once
killed, new monsters will take their place, maintaining a certain number,"
Stussy provided a brief overview to Nicholas.
"So, is this island finished?" Simon immediately looked at Nicholas and
said, "Captain, let's run."
"Are they really infected?" Nicholas squinted his eyes. From King Bias and
his guards turning into werewolves to the appearance of werewolves
dressed in castle staff clothing, he had this feeling.
It seemed that the person who caused all this was not simple. With the
appearance of the thick fog on the island and the sniper shots that
reached far distances, there were now three strong opponents.
"Stussy, do you have a solution?" Nicholas looked at the disappearing fog
outside and the slaughter that filled the island, asking.
"Yes, although this infection is derived from the ability of a Devil Fruit,
it's ultimately just an infectious disease. As long as we can develop a
vaccine, it can be resolved. However, it will take time, probably about
ten minutes."
"Okay, let's wait ten minutes then," Nicholas turned around and crossed
over the corpse of King Bias, sitting on the throne.
Meanwhile, on a large ship several sea miles away from Taji Island, three
mysterious figures wearing strange masks and draped in oversized white
clothes gathered in a cabin.
"I didn't expect it to be Nicholas. What bad luck."
"Yeah, if it were Wang Zhi or John, this plan might have succeeded. After
all, it continuously produces troops at the cost of an island."
"What's the use of saying this now? But how should we report back about
this incident? After all, although Taji Island isn't a large island, it's still a
medium-sized one in the New World. Someone has to take responsibility
for its destruction."
"It doesn't matter. This time it's an issue of intelligence failure, which has
nothing to do with us."
"Sigh, I thought we could rest after this mission, but it seems I was
expecting too much."
"Haha, rest? Who knows what Rocks wants to do now. He has already
encountered so many dangerous people. I guess we'll have a tough battle
ahead."
Katie
"Users with abilities... can really be troublesome."
Nicholas found himself somewhat troubled as well. The Devil Fruit
abilities in the world of pirates were sometimes too outrageous. Even for
the strong ones, if they weren't careful, they could get into quite a mess.
Some abilities were almost invincible. Natural and animal types were
relatively easier to deal with, but some superhuman abilities were just
unbelievably overpowered.
As Nicholas lay on his throne, pondering whether to seize the
opportunity to have Shakky help him gather a Devil Fruit compendium,
his 'vision' suddenly caught an interesting scene.
A frail little girl was cautiously weaving through dirty, dilapidated alleys.
It seemed she was aware of the monsters roaming the city and
deliberately disguised herself with various garbage and sewer sludge to
confuse their senses.
Nicholas followed the girl through complex alleys, across commercial
streets, and into a narrow alley. Eventually, he saw the girl stop in front
of a wall.
After looking around vigilantly and confirming no one was there, she
struggled to move a stone.
With the stone moved, a small hole appeared beneath the wall.
After entering the hole, the girl laboriously replaced the stone.
In Nicholas's 'observation', the girl, familiar with the dark cave, moved
downwards as if it were a familiar path she had taken countless times.
"Urban 'cave dwellers,' huh? Quite interesting."
Watching the girl's destination, Nicholas showed a keen interest.
He thought many events in his previous life were unbelievable, but in the
pirate world, what he saw surpassed the incredibility of his past world.
After all, at least that world had some order. In this world ruled by
strength, the life of the lower class was incredibly harsh.
Soon, the girl passed through the long darkness and came across an
underground factory emitting continuous black smoke in front of her.
Seemingly completely separated from the world above, the people here
were unaware of what was happening on the surface.
The huge factory emitted black smoke, even darkening the ceiling of the
underground world, with a man-made black canopy, leaving the entire
underground space without any light except for the light from the
factory.
The girl cautiously ran towards a rock face where numerous caves were
visible, many of them containing life forms with extremely weak life
forces, lying inside without even a table or any other furniture, only a
dirty bed.
The girl hugged her bundle tightly and looked around vigilantly. She
knew that the creatures here were more terrifying than those outside, so
when she entered one of the caves:
"Mom, Dad!"
The girl exclaimed hastily.
Inside the cave, a pair of thin men and women lay on tattered bedding,
showing signs of not having eaten for a long time, their emaciation
evident.
The man weakly reached out and touched the girl's head, saying weakly,
"Katie, Mom is asleep, be quiet, don't wake her up."
"I..."
The girl looked at her peacefully sleeping mother and hesitated to speak.
Then, seeming to remember something, she quickly took out the bundle
from her arms and, after unfolding it, said to the man lying down, "Dad,
food. If you don't eat soon, you'll end up like Uncle Gik next door, taken
away for recycling."
Seeing the slightly moldy bread in the bundle, the man's face showed a
gentle smile. He touched the girl's head affectionately and said softly,
"Katie, eat. And when Dad falls asleep, you must find a way to leave here.
Dad knows that with Katie's intelligence, you can definitely do it."
After speaking, the man glanced at his peacefully sleeping wife.
Sometimes death was a relief for those like them, refugees on the high
seas.
Click~
With a soft sound, the man's hand fell weakly to the ground.
And Katie seemed to realize something. She hurriedly stuffed the slightly
moldy bread from the bundle into the man's mouth, but no matter how
she stuffed it, the man seemed unable to chew.
Watching her motionless parents, Katie stopped her actions, tears
streaming down her face.
With a soft sound, when Katie turned her head, she suddenly found a
strange man beside her. His face was not as pale and numb as the others
here, and his body was obviously very healthy, and his clothes were
clean.
"Sometimes, human life is so fragile. Life itself has no meaning, but in the
process of living, you may find interesting things. So, are you willing to
board my ship?"
Actually, Nicholas couldn't save the man in front of him. Because his life
flame had long been on the verge of extinguishing at any moment, which
is to say, his life potential had been drained by long-term overwork.
Hearing the strange man in front of her saying strange words, Katie
wiped away her tears and said, "Can you save my parents?"
"I can't do it now, but maybe in the future."
Nicholas spoke.
"Okay, then I'll join you."
"I'm Albert Nicholas. From today on, I will be your captain."
"I'm Katie Remy-Ness. From today on, I will follow Captain Albert
Nicholas and become the most loyal follower of the captain!"
Katie looked at her peacefully sleeping parents, wiped away her tears,
and tried to act like a little adult.
Nicholas took out a candy from his pocket, tore open the packaging, and
handed it to her, "It's very sweet. Would you like to try it?"
Very fragrant...
Extremely fragrant.
Katie looked at the white candy emitting a strong fragrance in Nicholas's
hand, and swallowed her saliva reluctantly.
"Eat it, my future chef."
Nicholas handed Stussy's homemade candy to her lips, and Katie couldn't
resist licking it lightly. Just this lick made her feel an unprecedented
happiness. Was this the taste of candy?
"Let's go, it's time to calculate. Stussy and the others should have finished
by now."
Saying that, Nicholas planned to get up and walk outside.
Katie followed Nicholas blankly. Obviously, in her consciousness now,
Nicholas would be the one she followed.
When she saw the guards patrolling in uniform and armor, Katie pulled
Nicholas's clothes corner to signal him to hide, because in Katie's
consciousness, these armored guards were the masters of this
underground world.
With several lightning bolts appearing out of thin air, the entire patrol
guard fell to the ground.
"Oh, by the way, how did you get here?"
"Ah..."
After a moment, Katie reacted and recounted how they arrived.
In Katie's words, they were refugees at sea. As for refugees, they were
people who couldn't afford to pay taxes. They were deprived of their
identities and could only wander at sea. People like them were often the
favorite prey of some slave traders.
Katie's parents saw the recruitment notice from the Taji royal family and
came here. They originally intended to find a job and settle down, but
they didn't expect that after the Taji royal family gathered them from the
dock, they were brought here directly, followed by endless labor.
As for Katie, because she was too young, she escaped a calamity.
Katie also found the secret passage to the world above in her wandering.
"So, this is the legendary human battery. After being used up, it's
scrapped, isn't it? It's really the cheapest labor to the extreme."
Meeting of top marine executives
The headquarters of the Navy, Marineford,an emergency meeting is being
held.
The meeting includes many figures familiar to Nicholas, as well as many
Navy commanders he hasn't encountered before.
Among them are the young Navy Vice Admirals, Sengoku, Iron Fist Garp,
Black Arm Zephyr, and a beautiful and slender Navy staff officer named
Tsuru.
These four individuals are contemporaries in the Navy and are
considered the most outstanding Navy commanders of their generation,
even being identified as the successors to the next generation of Navy
Admirals.
At this time, the Navy headquarters has only one Admiral, who is Kong,
the future supreme commander of the World Government's armed forces.
The other two Navy Admirals, one is stationed at the G1 Branch in the
New World, while the other is sweeping through pirates in the New
World. It's more like waiting on the outskirts of the Mary Geoise area for
pirates venturing out of this unpredictable sea to fall into the net. They
also stand by to support G1 at any time. After all, it's quite inadequate to
have only one Admiral stationed at the G1 Branch against the Rocks
Pirates.
Therefore, the Navy headquarters only has Admiral Kong on duty.
As for the Navy Marshal of this generation, he was killed by the stubborn
Rocks several years ago, a battle that solidified Rocks' reputation as the
strongest and most ruthless pirate in the world.
The Navy Marshal led the Buster Call, with two Admirals assisting, in a
fierce battle with the Rocks Pirates in a certain sea area of the New
World. The two Admirals were intercepted by Whitebeard and Golden
Lion respectively, while the remaining Navy forces were blocked by other
members of the Rocks Pirates and affiliated pirate groups.
That battle could be described as a heavy loss for the Navy, with the
Navy Marshal being killed in a direct confrontation with Rocks. If it
weren't for the timely support from the Navy and the World Government,
the other two Admirals might have been left in that sea area.
Because of that battle, Rocks' name resounded throughout the world,
even weakening the influence of the World Government and the Navy in
the New World. The World Government deliberately issued a policy.
That is, it's crucial for the Navy Marshal to remain at the Navy
headquarters and not to venture into the New World without the World
Government's orders!
After all, news of a Navy Marshal's death has shaken the prestige of the
World Government. If it were to happen again, the Navy and even the
World Government would lose all credibility in this vast sea.
Even the haughty Celestial Dragons regard the New World and the
increasingly turbulent sea as a fierce beast, reluctant to leave the
sanctuary of Mary Geoise easily.
For them, the presence of Navy, World Government, and Celestial Dragon
security forces in Mary Geoise provides relative safety. However, once
outside, they are truly vulnerable to attacks.
For those pirates, crossing paths with the Celestial Dragons means death,
but they can always flee to the New World to seek refuge under Rocks,
the man known as the enemy of the world.
At this moment, Kong looked at the news that just came from the New
World with a worried expression and sighed, "The Rocks Pirates' actions
are getting bolder. They've even begun to engage with various factions.
The situation is becoming increasingly grim. G7 and G11 have also been
captured by pirate groups led by Charlotte Linlin and captain John
respectively. What are your thoughts, everyone? Please speak up."
"Admiral Kong, I wanted to ask when we'll receive reinforcements?. With
the Rocks Pirates' actions increasing, our personnel and logistics are
getting strained," Tsuru asked Kong, as a candidate for the next Chief of
Staff of the Navy. Currently, the Navy headquarters has deliberately
delegated some authority to Tsuru.
"The headquarters informed us that it will take some time for the World
Government to discuss. Of course, we all know that this is just a stalling
tactic. For now, I will temporarily assume the position of Navy Marshal
on behalf of the headquarters. This appointment is not public yet, as they
cannot afford another blow of losing a Navy Marshal.
As for supplies and personnel, the World Government has stated that
there are no restrictions. There's no limit on our military spending,
recruitment, and losses," Kong said, chuckling sarcastically afterward.
Naturally, the Navy is a crucial asset for the World Government to
counter Rocks, so resources are readily available.
After Kong finished speaking, he looked at Garp, Sengoku, Zephyr, Tsuru,
and others. These individuals will soon assume the positions of Navy
Admirals and Navy Staff Officers.
With the abilities of Garp, Sengoku, Zephyr, and others, they are fully
capable of becoming Navy Admirals.
The reason they haven't become Navy Admirals yet is simply because the
number of Navy Admirals is sufficient.
However, Navy Admiral positions should open up soon.
Garp noticed the solemn expressions of others in the meeting room and
casually said, "Since those parasites have opened up the supply of
resources, can I get three years of free doughnuts?"
Seeing Garp's nonchalant attitude and disrespectful demeanor, Kong
slammed the table and shouted, "Garp, show some respect! We're facing
the Rocks Pirates, not ordinary pirates! Whether it's Whitebeard or
Golden Lion, they are not easy opponents! If we're not careful, we'll end
up dead!"
Despite hearing Kong's serious tone, Garp remained indifferent and
stuffed a handful of crackers into his mouth, laughing carelessly, "Dead?
Haven't we made the decision to join the Navy from the day we enlisted?
What does death matter for maintaining peace on the seas? We're all
going to die eventually. Isn't that right, Sengoku?"
As Garp spoke, crumbs sprayed out of his mouth, leaving Sengoku
looking annoyed.
"Garp! Be serious, and no more bringing food to the meeting room!" Kong
looked at his favorite Navy disciple, Garp, feeling a headache. If things
go as expected, Garp will become one of the strongest Navy Admirals in
history.
Then he turned to Zephyr, Sengoku, and Tsuru. Obviously, Kong no
longer holds high hopes for Garp's behavior.
"I personally think the threat posed by the Rocks Pirates is too great.
Their top-tier strength even surpasses that of the Navy," Zephyr said,
adjusting the Goldenen wire glasses on his nose seriously.
"If we let this pirate group go unchecked, it will seriously endanger world
security. So I believe we must eliminate them before they do anything
more dangerous," Sengoku added.
"But the Rocks Pirates' strength is comparable, if not superior, to that of
the Navy headquarters. And whether it's intelligence from CP or our
Navy's intelligence system, Rocks has been recently making contact with
some dangerous individuals. Once a real battle breaks out and those
monsters join in, victory may not be ours. Unless the World Government
dispatches top-tier forces to assist, our entire Navy may collapse. So the
current issue lies with the intentions of the World Government," Tsuru
expressed after sharing her opinion. The communication between Kong
and the World Government is quite close within the Navy.
"The World Government is still deliberating," Kong said tactfully.
Upon hearing this, silence fell in the meeting room.
Garp poured the remaining crackers into his mouth, the sound echoing in
the room.
However, this time, Kong didn't mind. After all, the actions of the World
Government indeed left people speechless.
"Heh, it seems those guys' suspicions are quite heavy," Zephyr chuckled
and didn't say anything more.
Tsuru also took out several wanted posters and placed them on the table.
"Take a look, everyone. Apart from the Rocks Pirates, another group of
pirates has emerged in the past two years and is gaining momentum on
the seas. Their strength can even be said to be second only to the Rocks
Pirates."
She analyzed this pirate group and felt that their threat was no less than
that of the Rocks Pirates. After all, the Rocks Pirates were essentially
gathered together by Rocks' powerful strength, but this Roger Pirates
group's cohesion was evidently incomparable to that of the Rocks Pirates.
The Oro Jackson
"Oh, the pirate crew that even you, Tsuru, treat so seriously seems to be
another troublesome bunch, huh? What are they called?"
Although Tsuru is a Vice Admiral in the Navy, just like her nickname
"Steel Bone," she excels more in combat. As for administrative matters,
they are usually handled by her subordinates. Moreover, with the mess
caused by the Rocks Pirates, she hasn't had time to pay attention to other
pirate crews at sea.
"They're called the Roger Pirates, a rapidly growing pirate crew. They
have strong officers on board, and they follow an elite path.
Apart from the captain, there are two individuals we need to focus on,
namely Rayleigh and Gaban. From what we gather, their strength is
currently on par with Navy Vice Admirals. Additionally, they have a
group of powerful combatants. According to intelligence, they have
clashed with both Whitebeard's crew and the Golden Lion Pirates, who
are under Rocks, but the battles were evenly matched."
Vice Admiral Tsuru honestly conveyed the intelligence.
After careful consideration, Kong nodded. "Indeed, they seem like a tricky
bunch. However, we currently don't have the spare resources or
manpower to deal with this pirate crew. The Rocks Pirates are our most
pressing concern now. As for the Roger Pirates, Tsuru, have the staff at
the headquarters focus on them. We'll deal with them after we've dealt
with the Rocks Pirates."
Upon hearing Kong's words, the young and beautiful Vice Admiral Tsuru
frowned slightly. However, she didn't say much because everything Kong
said was true. But thinking about the intelligence on the Roger Pirates,
she couldn't help but sigh inwardly.
She believed that the Roger Pirates were no less a threat than the Rocks
Pirates. However, one was a future threat while the other was a threat
already looming. She knew which one took priority.
What could she do? She couldn't do much. She couldn't expect herself, a
civilian official, to wield a sword and confront those monsters head-on.
Meanwhile, Garp heard about the Roger Pirates, and his eyes flashed
with a complex expression.
A few years ago, when he went to the East Blue to see his son, he
encountered the Roger Pirates. Back then, the Roger Pirates were just a
small group. They even had a drink together after a fight.
He didn't expect that guy to become famous now, just as he said when
they drank together. He had started to make a name for himself on the
seas.
While the Navy was in a meeting, Nicholas and others on Taji Island
were having their discussions.
"Who's this, Captain?" Simon asked curiously, looking at Katie behind
Nicholas.
"She's going to be our chef from now on," Nicholas replied.
Upon hearing Nicholas' words, Simon smiled kindly at Katie.
Beside them, Stussy stood up and looked at Katie, who was holding onto
Nicholas' sleeve.
"Katie, let me introduce you. This is Stussy, that's Simon, and the big guy
is Vista."
"Stussy, Simon, Vista, Hello" Katie greeted timidly.
"Stussy, is it done?" Nicholas asked Stussy.
"Yes, it's done."
Stussy then went to a window in the castle, took off her gloves, revealing
her pure white hands. With a gust of wind, a purple smoke flew out from
Stussy's hand and quickly spread to every corner of the island.
The werewolves, who were wreaking havoc on the island, fell to the
ground after inhaling the purple smoke and slowly turned into a pile of
liquid emitting a strange odor under the sunlight.
Almost at the moment when these werewolves disappeared, one of the
three mysterious figures on the ship suddenly looked towards Taji Island,
obviously in disbelief.
The next day, Nicholas and his crew began to sail back.
As for the ravaged Taji Island, it had nothing to do with them. After all,
indirectly saving their lives was already a big deal.
At three o'clock in the afternoon, as the pirates on the lookout observed
through their telescopes, they suddenly spotted a black dot in the
distance.
"There's a ship appearing at three o'clock! They've also spotted us and are
heading towards us!"
Nicholas, who was watching Vista exercise on the deck, swiftly moved.
When he appeared again, he was already on the lookout tower.
At this moment, the pirates on the lookout finally saw clearly the flag on
the sails and the distinctive figurehead of the ship approaching from the
stern. Especially when they saw the person standing on the bow, their
pupils contracted.
Then, a cry of surprise rang out suddenly.
"That flag! It's—"
"The Oro Jackson!!"
Upon hearing this distinctive ship name, Nicholas took the telescope from
the pirate next to him, and the once distant black dot suddenly became
closer.
On the undulating waves, a pirate ship with red sails was sailing swiftly
towards Nicholas' location.
A red skull flag rushed into their sight, with two curly mustaches clearly
indicating the identity of the ship.
The Oro Jackson!
Nicholas' expression turned grave as he looked at the ship.
Through the telescope, the first thing that caught his eye was a man
sitting cross-legged at the bow, wearing a red captain's coat and a yellow
spotted headband. He had a mustache, and it seemed like he noticed
Nicholas' gaze, grinning widely.
"Roger!"
Nicholas felt a shock, then took a deep breath.
"Do you want my treasure? If you want it, you can have it all! Go find it!
I've put everything I own in that place!!"
This last sentence, uttered before his death, drove the world into madness
and prompted countless people to venture into the sea, heralding the era
of pirates.
Looking back, a man with short golden hair, standing straight with a
smile on his face, came into view.
The Dark King! Silvers Rayleigh!
Scopper Gaban!
...
"Everyone, be on high alert! Hoist the sails, change course, and retreat at
full speed!"
Eight large letters resounded throughout the ship, stunning everyone.
Immediately, the pirates on the ship began to bustle about.
As for tangling with Roger, if it were just Nicholas alone, he wouldn't
mind engaging in a battle with the Pirate King himself. After all, even the
Rocks Pirates couldn't stop him if he wanted to leave. But now, he wasn't
alone; he had his comrades.
And this wasn't a story with over a thousand episodes, where deaths
could be counted on two hands; this was the real world.
He didn't believe that the other side would show mercy in a fight.
Standing at the bow, Nicholas' eyes were sharp as he stared at the
growing black dot behind them.
Pirate King Roger!
The Oro Jackson was sailing very fast, seemingly not intending to let
them go.
After all, in the New World, they had been chased by the Rocks Pirates
more than once. Now that they had the chance to vent their frustrations
on a pirate crew under Rocks, why would they let it go so easily?
"Oh? Interesting, that pirate ship is accelerating. It seems they intend to
flee without a fight."
Rayleigh chuckled, his eyes showing curiosity.
"The captain of the Seventh Division, Nicholas, is indeed an interesting
person," Gaban said, taking a swig from his bottle. It could be said that
encountering the main force pirate crew under Rocks, both sides were
basically in for a fight, so it was the first time they had seen someone run
without fighting.
"Rayleigh, they're about to attack. Get everyone ready!"
Rayleigh, noticing the approaching threat, immediately prepared his
crew for battle.
Sitting cross-legged at the bow of the ship, Roger suddenly dropped his
smile, his expression subtly changing. He stared intently at the faint blue
glow emanating from the stern of the approaching pirate ship, a
sensation of unease gripping him.
Kamu Sari
On Nicholas's pirate ship, a group of pirates nervously watched the red-
sailed ship behind them, which was getting closer.
Their foreheads were sweating, but there was not a trace of fear on their
faces. After all, when they embarked on the sea, death was just a matter
of time for them.
"Are you all afraid?" Suddenly, a loud shout came from the deck.
It was Stussy's shout. They were not unfamiliar with the pirate group
behind them, having seen other pirate groups under Rocks's command in
battle.
Although the battles were evenly matched, Rocks's pirates usually
suffered heavy losses, especially when facing Roger's elite crew.
However, nobody replied immediately. After a brief moment, a childish
voice spoke up.
"Not afraid!"
Seeing Katie's determined face, Stussy smiled and ruffled her hair.
Although Nicholas also aimed for the elite route, in Stussy's eyes, to
become the ruler of the sea, one must have a massive force. The pirates'
behavior disappointed her because without a common resolve to face
death, they were just passengers on the ship, not true companions.
"Simon, your Observation Haki is quite talented."
At the stern, Nicholas stood on the railing, watching the approaching Oro
Jackson without looking back, with Simon and Vista behind him.
"Now, I'll teach you how to use Observation Haki for long-range attacks."
Without waiting for Simon's response, Nicholas's voice came again. It
seemed he had seen the future Pirate King in the distance, as a smile
appeared on his lips.
Then, he took out a metal sphere from his pocket.
Staring ahead at Oro Jackson, which was getting closer to their group,
the light in Nicholas's eyes became sharper.
"Believe me, what happens next will be unforgettable!"
At the same time, on Oro Jackson.
"Hey, Captain, are you kidding? At this distance, even that guy from the
Golden Lion wouldn't pose much of a threat to us, right?"
Fishman Sunbell scratched his fish head, unable to understand why the
captain suddenly became so serious. He couldn't forget how the captain
had reacted when the Golden Lion had dropped a small island on them
from the sky.
"Sunbell, the captain surely has his reasons. Don't you remember last
time?"
Nodding, Nozdon patted Sunbell's shoulder.
At almost the same instant, a sense of foreboding gripped everyone in
Roger's crew. All of their expressions turned serious.
In the silent sea, the sense of threat emanating from the rear of the
fleeing pirate ship was palpable.
"What a terrifying guy!"
Gaban put the bottle on his waist, his voice serious and focused. Even
Roger and Rayleigh could only vaguely perceive what was in the light,
but they couldn't grasp it with their Observation Haki.
"Roger!"
He unsheathed Ace, and then, armed with Busoshoku Haki, he said with
a solemn expression, "Here it comes!"
"What is... that?"
With a hint of confusion, a loud explosion!
In just an instant, a dazzling attack tore through the air with unparalleled
momentum, cutting through the sea with such speed that it left a trench!
Even Roger and Rayleigh could only vaguely perceive what was in the
light, but they couldn't grasp it with their Observation Haki.
"Kamu sari!"
Roger brandished his huge sword toward Nicholas's direction, speaking
loudly.
Booooommmmmm!*
…
Meanwhile, on Nicholas's ship.
Watching the incoming cannonballs, Nicholas said to Vista, "Let's play
with them. Also, prepare the barrel bombs. We're ready to retreat at any
time."
"All gun positions, be ready! Open fire on the sides!"
Vista's roar echoed throughout the ship.
With the ship's trajectory, pirates on Nicholas's ship ignited the fuses and
fired cannons from the side.
"Boom! Boom! Boom!"
In the blink of an eye, with the sharp smell of gunpowder and the sharp
whistling through the air, cannonballs traced parabolas and whizzed
toward the enemy ship.
"Interesting."
Sitting cross-legged at the bow, Roger watched the incoming cannonballs
with interest, unmoving.
Then.
"Sasa!"
Behind him, with a burst of air, Rayleigh, Gaban, and others jumped up,
intercepting all the cannonballs in mid-air. The explosions resonated
around the pirate ship.
Rayleigh's dark secret
However, Nicholas wasn't so lucky. Many crew members were lost on
Taji Island earlier, and now there weren't enough people on the ship.
In terms of high-end combat power, they were no match for the Roger
Pirates. So, despite blocking some cannonballs, a few still hit the ship's
hull, and even two unfortunate souls were directly killed by one
cannonball each.
"Continue the bombardment!"
After deflecting a cannonball aimed at Katie and Stussy with his shield,
Vista shouted loudly at the pirates on the ship.
Soon, another round of cannon fire erupted.
However, the result remained the same. Faced with the mighty Roger
Pirates, ordinary cannon attacks were completely ineffective.
After exchanging dozens of waves of cannonballs, the sea was shrouded
in white mist, yet the Roger Pirates remained unscathed.
On the other hand, Nicholas's ship had already been hit in more than a
dozen places, resulting in numerous casualties.
"They're still three hundred meters away!"
As the lookout pirate spoke, the pirates on Nicholas's ship moved faster.
They knew very well what it meant to engage in direct combat with such
a powerful pirate crew.
Just as the pirates on the lookout were about to continue observing, they
suddenly felt a piercing sensation in their forehead. However, it was only
momentary, and then their consciousness dissipated, and the person fell
directly from the lookout.
"Give me a cannonball!"
At that moment, Vista suddenly spoke up.
The pirates nearby heard his words without any hesitation and brought
over a box of cannonballs.
Vista picked up a cannonball with five fingers, felt its weight in his hand,
and then his eyes flashed with sharpness.
Under the gaze of the surrounding pirates, he used the power of his waist
to gently rotate his body, then gripped the cannonball with his right
hand.
"Crack!"
The muscles in his arm bulged, and the sound of friction from his
shoulder joint was clearly audible.
Suddenly, Vista let out a roar, and the cannonball in his hand flew
towards the distant Roger Pirates.
For some people on the open sea, the power of a cannon sometimes paled
in comparison to the power of a cannonball thrown by hand.
"Boom!"
A huge explosion resounded less than thirty meters in front of the Roger
Pirates, and some fragments even splashed onto the ship.
"Oh, the power of the cannonballs has increased."
A swordsman sheathed his long sword and rubbed his nose.
"Shoo! Shoo! Shoo!"
In an instant, several black cannonballs turned into streaks of light,
accompanied by whistling sounds, continuously bombarding the Oro
Jackson.
"Rayleigh, don't let these cannonballs damage the ship. Tom said he'd
charge extra if we need maintenance again!"
Roger still sat at the bow of the ship, shouting at Rayleigh who was
fishing on the deck.
"Haha, then give me the wine you got last time, and I'll take care of the
ship's maintenance in the future!"
"Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!"
As Rayleigh's figure disappeared and then reappeared in mid-air, leaving
behind only continuous explosions.
"Rayleigh, did you already drink my wine?"
Ignoring the explosions, Roger asked Rayleigh the question he cared
about most now. After all, based on his understanding of Rayleigh, if he
mentioned conditions, he had probably already done something about it.
"Cough, it's not just me, Gaban also had some."
Rayleigh ruthlessly exposed Gaban, who was diligently defending nearby.
"Hey, Rayleigh, didn't you say the captain gave it to you?"
In mid-air, one of the three men in gold, silver, and bronze faces gave
Rayleigh incredulous looks.
Just as the three were joking around, the situation changed again.
"What is that?!"
"So terrifying!"
"Is it thundering?"
Many people stared at the sky in shock. The once clear sky was now
covered in dark clouds, with huge lightning bolts appearing
intermittently. Within these dark clouds, a terrifying monster stuck out
its head, and its body could be vaguely seen wandering within the
clouds. After roaring, it charged straight towards the Oro Jackson.
"Don't let it hit our ship!"
Roger shouted loudly.
As soon as he finished speaking, Rayleigh and Gaban leaped into action,
swords unsheathed and axes swinging, covered in invisible Haki that
enhanced their defense and attack power. Even their bodies were covered
in Haki, as if they had been coated with a magical membrane.
Besides capturing the flow of natural elements, Haki was mainly used to
enhance one's defense and attack power.
In the world of pirates, many physical monsters paired with Haki were
like war machines.
"Swish!"
The two figures holding a long sword and double axes directly entered
the mouth of the Thunder Dragon.
"Buzz!"
At that moment, the air seemed to freeze.
"Boom!"
A tremendously loud explosion echoed through the sky. The scattered
lightning seemed like the roar of the heavens, and in the blink of an eye,
a huge shockwave swept over a hundred meters, causing splashes of
water to fly everywhere.
The residual force of the lightning swept in all directions, causing a slight
numbness in the bodies of the people nearby.
"Oh my god!"
Simon's pupils contracted in fear. He had witnessed Nicholas disappear
and then the Thunder Dragon appear.
"Clatter!"
Footsteps sounded as Rayleigh and Gaban descended from the sky. When
they stood on the deck, their eyes became somewhat serious as they
watched the slowly moving thunderclouds.
"What a terrifying guy."
Roger looked at Nicholas's figure on the deck and said.
"But coming alone to our ship, isn't that a bit too confident?"
Rayleigh looked up at Nicholas and smiled, with a sharp gleam in his
eyes as he spoke.
Although he acknowledged Nicholas's terrifying strength, he believed
that even Whitebeard or the Golden Lion wouldn't dare to be so arrogant
in front of the Roger Pirates.
"I have no ill intentions. Otherwise, things wouldn't be like this now. Of
course, if you have any ideas, then I have nothing to say. It just shows
that the Roger Pirates' tolerance is only this much."
Nicholas shrugged casually.
"Haha, interesting guy."
Roger laughed and leaped to Nicholas's side.
"Aren't you and Captain Rocks, thinking of overthrowing the World
Government? How come you still have time to wander around?"
Roger said nonchalantly.
"Ah, circumstances. After all, I'm not as powerful as Captain Roger. I can
still be active in the New World's waters even after repeatedly refusing
Captain Rocks's invitations. By the way, you should be approaching the
end of the Grand Line soon, right?"
Nicholas sat down cross-legged and asked casually.
Hearing Nicholas's words, Roger and Rayleigh exchanged glances, both
showing a hint of shock. After all, this matter was known only to them.
"How did you know?"
"He told me."
Nicholas pointed directly at Rayleigh.
A sharp light flashed in Rayleigh's eyes, and he said coldly, "Kid, don't
talk nonsense!"
For pirates, revealing the location and purpose of their pirate crew was a
big problem. Whether it was known by their opponents or the Marines, it
posed a huge threat.
"Didn't you go to Sister Shakky and even offer your body and soul to beg
her to help collect various information about the end of the world in
history?"
Listening to Nicholas's retort, Rayleigh was speechless.
While Roger and Gaban looked at Rayleigh as if they had heard some
earth-shattering news.
Seeing the gaze of his comrades, Rayleigh quickly said, "It's not like what
this brat said, you guys listen to me explain!"
Banquet
"Hahaha, I didn't expect you, Rayleigh, to also be in the spring of love. I
must have been negligent as the captain for not noticing this," Roger
jovially remarked as he wrapped his arm around Rayleigh and laughed.
"Hey, have you gone crazy or something?" Rayleigh felt annoyed and
embarrassed by Roger's embarrassing words and the crew's gossiping
expressions.
At this moment, he was in his prime, a dashing and handsome wanderer
of the seas, not as thick-skinned as he would become in later years.
"Since we're all friends of Rayleigh, let's have a banquet together!" With
Roger's words, the Oro Jackson changed course and headed towards the
nearest island, and Nicholas signalled for his pirate crew to follow suit.
In the New World's waters, there was naturally no calm sea, even in what
was considered the weakest sea, the East Blue. The ocean was quite
dangerous for ordinary people and weak pirates alike.
Even warships embedded with Sea Prism Stone only reduced the chance
of being noticed by Sea Kings in calm waters. Moreover, it was difficult
for pirates to obtain Sea Prism Stone and the technology to process it, so
they would often be attacked by Sea Kings. After all, pirate ships were
like perfect prey for Sea Kings in terms of size and shape.
As relations eased, the people on the Oro Jackson became more
enthusiastic.
Pirates on the sea could basically be divided into two categories: those
filled with ambition like Rocks, and those like Roger, driven by dreams,
freedom, and the enjoyment of adventure.
The former were dangerous, while the latter could easily become friends.
Nicholas sat at the bow of the ship, with Roger and Rayleigh sitting
beside him.
As for Gaban, he had transformed into a kitchen god, preparing the
ingredients needed for the banquet. After all, for Gaban, chopping people
and chopping vegetables were no different; they were all forms of
practice.
"Kiddo, how's Shakky doing lately?" Rayleigh looked into the distance
and casually asked.
"How could she be doing? She's helping Rocks out, unpaid, and she's been
harassed by Cipher Pol and the Marines from time to time. After all,
Sister Shakky is quite charming."
As a female pirate who hadn't undergone the same facial changes as
other pirate beauties in the future, Shakky's appearance in her youth was
still quite striking.
By the way, there's a newcomer named Kaido recently. He seems
particularly interested in Sister Shakky, and most importantly, he seems
to have a thing going on with Linlin. If I hadn't intervened, that kid
would have probably made a move long ago."
Nicholas didn't mind giving Kaido some tough training during this time.
After all, the path to becoming the world's strongest creature was paved
with beatings.
Upon hearing Nicholas's words, Rayleigh's aura burst forth, and the
killing intent emanating from him seemed to affect reality, creating
illusions. In the depths of his mind, Nicholas seemed to see a giant king
of the underworld standing behind Rayleigh, hundreds of meters tall.
The previously cheerful Roger Pirates fell silent as Rayleigh's aura
erupted. After all, while Rayleigh was usually easygoing, because of their
less-than-serious captain, he was undoubtedly the most dignified person
on the Oro Jackson.
"What's going on? Is there an enemy attack? Rayleigh!?" Gaban, wearing
an apron and holding two sharp axes, rushed out of the kitchen.
"It's fine, just carry on with what you were doing." Rayleigh smiled at
everyone and said, and the aura he emitted gradually dissipated into the
air.
"Kid, are you telling the truth?" Rayleigh looked into Nicholas's eyes and
asked seriously.
"Yeah, I am." Nicholas nodded repeatedly.
Seeing that Nicholas didn't seem to be lying, Rayleigh lowered his head
and repeatedly pushed his thumb against the hilt of his sword, drawing
and sheathing it.
"Kaido, huh? I'll remember that." Upon hearing Rayleigh's words,
Nicholas's face lit up with a brilliant smile.
Ah, that's more like it.
"But these days won't last long." Nicholas picked up a bottle of wine
nearby and finished it in one gulp before casually tossing the empty
bottle into the sea.
"What do you mean?" Rayleigh quickly caught onto the meaning behind
Nicholas's words and asked.
As for Roger, after listening to the gossip for a while, he had already sat
down and dozed off.
Snooze...
"It's simple. We, the people gathered by Rocks, have ambitions you
should be aware of. Rocks has made preparations, and it's about to begin.
Otherwise, why do you think you haven't run into any trouble for so
long?" Nicholas propped himself up on the deck with both hands and
gazed at the sky, speaking lightly.
The reason he wanted to contact Roger was to give himself and his crew
some hope of surviving the upcoming major event. After all, the
upcoming Battle of God Valley, or other conflicts happening
simultaneously in different locations, were likely to be quite intense.
Even top-tier fighters could perish in this conflict.
Although Nicholas didn't know why Roger's pirate crew appeared at God
Valley, and even chose to ally with the likes ofGarp, there was no doubt
that Roger's crew wasn't present from the beginning. They probably
joined the conflict towards the later stages, becoming the final straw that
broke Rocks's pirate crew.
"I see. It seems that the sea will soon become restless." With Rayleigh's
words, bubbles suddenly appeared on the calm sea surface, followed by a
massive shadow rapidly approaching the Oro Jackson from below the
sea.
Boom!!!
The sea seemed to explode, and a colossal creature leaped out of the
water, creating huge splashes. Then, a mouth big enough to easily
swallow the Oro Jackson whole came straight towards them.
The massive shadow even obscured the entire ship.
"Sea... Sea King! It's huge, I wonder if it's edible." Roger, noticing the
commotion, glanced at the gigantic Sea King with calmness.
After traveling across the seas for so many years, Roger had seen his fair
share of Sea Kings. Moreover, as a strong individual, he needed a
considerable amount of energy every day, and Sea Kings were part of the
natural diet.
Besides, compared to those creatures thousands of meters deep in the
ocean, these Sea Kings weren't that big.
"Wow, such a massive water splash!" Nicholas exclaimed as he looked at
the massive water splash.
At this moment, Roger on the deck stood up, then swung his sword.
Swish!
A massive golden slash cut across the deck and slashed through the Sea
King's body.
The Sea King, which had just used Water Splash, stiffened in mid-air,
then split into two halves and crashed onto the sea surface, turning the
surrounding waters into a pool of blood.
"Quick, gather some meat for the banquet. After collecting it, we'll leave
immediately. This much blood will likely attract a bunch of big guys."
Rayleigh looked at the Sea King floating on the sea surface and couldn't
help shaking his head.
Banquet 2
After the two pirate ships faded into the distance, vanishing beyond the
horizon, the tranquil surface of the sea began to stir with an eerie
commotion. From the murky depths arose massive, shadowy forms,
shrouded in darkness, drawn by the scent of death lingering in the water.
These colossal silhouettes, like sinister guardians of the abyss, converged
upon the lifeless form of the sea king, tearing into its flesh with relentless
fervor.
As the ships charted their course across the expanse of the ocean,
Nicholas, stationed on the deck, caught sight of a distant spectacle
unfolding on the horizon. An island, veiled in mist, loomed into view, its
contours blurred yet intriguingly distinct against the azure sky. Two
towering horns adorned its crown, one imposing and the other
diminutive, casting an eerie resemblance to the skull of a mammoth
rhinoceros. Strangely, these colossal horns, devoid of verdant life, jutted
skyward, fashioned only from rugged rock formations that stood sentinel
over the isle.
Drawing nearer to the enigmatic landmass, the two pirate vessels sought
refuge in a sheltered bay, dropping anchor amidst the tranquility of the
island's embrace. As Nicholas and his crew ventured inland, they beheld
a spectacle that defied belief, their eyes widening in wonder and
disbelief. Before them sprawled a vast circular lake, encircled by verdant
grasslands teeming with life. Majestic creatures, reminiscent of ancient
legends, quenched their thirst at the water's edge, their elongated necks
and robust frames evoking an aura of primordial majesty.
"These... Brontosaurs?" Stussy gasped in astonishment, her voice tinged
with incredulity, her scholarly demeanor momentarily forgotten amidst
the breathtaking sight.
"The sea is a realm of boundless wonders," Roger remarked with a hearty
laugh, his eyes sparkling with the thrill of discovery and adventure.
"Let us explore further. I recall a delectable delicacy that resides here,"
Roger continued, his anticipation palpable as saliva pooled at the corners
of his mouth.
Meanwhile, Rayleigh and his comrades set about the preparations for an
impromptu feast, unloading crates of wine and provisions from the ship's
hold.
Undeterred by the imposing presence of the Brontosaurs, Stussy
approached the majestic creatures, her curiosity piqued by their
remarkable resurgence. Yet, her scholarly musings were met with a stern
warning from one of the colossal beasts, its low rumble echoing a silent
admonition.
Undeterred, Stussy persisted in her pursuit of knowledge, inching closer
to the towering creatures in defiance of their silent rebuke. Yet, as she
ventured too close, a warning bellow from one of the Brontosaurs
brought her perilously close to danger's edge.
"Buzzzzzzz"
As the tension mounted, suddenly a new threat emerged from the dense
foliage surrounding the grasslands, the air alive with the ominous hum of
impending danger. A tide of insects, vibrant and iridescent, poured forth
from the depths of the forest, their kaleidoscopic hues a harbinger of
peril.
"Ah, bad luck. We've encountered a swarm of bugs," Roger remarked,
surprised by the sight, though his crew seemed less astonished,
apparently accustomed to such occurrences.
The insects rushing out of the forest varied greatly in species, but they all
shared one common trait: their vibrant colors.
In the natural world, brightly colored insects often carried potent toxins,
and these bugs, combined with the unpredictability of the One Piece
world, were undoubtedly poisonous, and highly toxic at that.
With a wave of insects descending upon them, Nicholas summoned forth
a crackling barrier of lightning, its sizzling tendrils repelling the
relentless onslaught. Yet, even as the Thunder Net crackled with volatile
energy, the insects pressed on undaunted, their relentless advance
undeterred by the searing embrace of Nicholas's defense.
With crackling sounds, the insects that touched the Thunder Net were
instantly charred.
But even so, the insects, seemingly insane, continued to rush forward.
Quickly, a thick layer of bug carcasses piled up at the bottom of the net.
Meanwhile, Stussy, covering her nose, stood before the net, carefully
observing the poisonous insects.
Some of the insects were still releasing their venom, creating a colorful
poisonous mist in front of the net.
Seeing this, Roger and the others returned, watching the scene with
interest.
Nicholas, feeling somewhat annoyed by the situation, waved his hand
forward.
"Thunder Wall!"
As Nicholas spoke, the Thunder Net before him transformed into a wall
of lightning, pushing back against the swarm of bugs.
Crack! Crack! The Thunder Wall swept through the swarm, turning the
bugs into ashes.
"Ah, what a find! These bugs are rich in protein, and they taste just like
crispy chicken," exclaimed Gaban, squatting on the pile of bugs, picking
and eating.
"Hey, Gaban, you sneaky eater!" Roger exclaimed, rushing over to
compete for bugs with Gaban.
Then, the feast continued, with the main dish being not only roasted
meat and wine but also many juicy and flavorful bugs, expertly prepared
by Gaban, the self-proclaimed entomologist.
Notes
Guys please tell me if you prefer this type of descriptive imagery or do
you prefer the normal writing of the previous chapter. For example -
This island had two enormous horns, one large and one small, giving it
the appearance of a gigantic rhinoceros skull. Moreover, these two
horns, for some reason, were completely bare of vegetation, consisting
only of rocks, standing tall on the island. That paragraph was turned
into - An island, veiled in mist, loomed into view, its contours blurred
yet intriguingly distinct against the azure sky. Two towering horns
adorned its crown, one imposing and the other diminutive, casting an
eerie resemblance to the skull of a mammoth rhinoceros. Strangely,
these colossal horns, devoid of verdant life, jutted skyward, fashioned
only from rugged rock formations that stood sentinel over the isle.
An ending adventure
When the moon reached its zenith, Nicholas and Roger's pirate crew
found themselves immersed in revelry, hosting a rare feast that added a
welcome break to the otherwise monotonous life of sailing for Roger's
crew.
"Haha! Nicholas, my brother, are you talking to fishes?" Roger, with both
hands on the shoulders of Rayleigh and Gaban, cheerfully exclaimed,
giant wine glasses in hand.
"Burp~" After a hearty gulp of wine, Nicholas looked at Roger and the
others, remarking, "Who's talking to fish? I'm just enjoying." Saying this,
he hoisted a wine glass as sizable as his head.
With a thud, they drank vigorously, even turning their glasses upside
down after finishing, signifying the complete consumption of their drinks.
"Excellent capacity for drinking."
"Now the captain is under pressure."
Roger's pirate crew cheered. "Now it's my turn." Roger wasted no time in
downing his wine, seizing the opportunity to showcase his drinking
prowess. "Nicholas, it's your turn." As Roger uttered these words, a sharp
gaze suddenly fixed on him. Glancing around, he discovered the stare
emanated from the person beside Nicholas, clad in a cloak, donning a
crow doctor mask, and enveloped in a protective suit from head to toe.
"Captain, you've imbibed quite a bit," Stussy calmly stated, her eyes
focused on Nicholas.
Upon hearing Stussy's words, Nicholas, who was about to boast,
reluctantly set down his wine glass. Observing that Nicholas had no
intention of continuing, Stussy rose and made her way toward the ship.
"Stussy, the grilled meat is delicious. Take some back to the ship and
enjoy."
Nicholas cut a piece of grilled meat, wrapped it, and handed it to Stussy.
He then had Vista escort her back to the ship.
Once Nicholas left, Rayleigh inquired curiously, "Nicholas, since the party
began, I've been curious. Why isn't that girl joining everyone else for the
meal? Is it because Gaban's cooking isn't to her liking?"
"Hey, Rayleigh, if you have an issue with it, feel free to take over the
kitchen from now on!" Gaban, engrossed in roasting insects, suddenly
flared up.
"Ah, Stussy, she prefers not to dine with everyone. Let's continue the
festivities," Nicholas said with a laugh.
In a New World sea area.
"Boom! Boom! Boom!"
The thunderous explosions echoed, painting the entire night sky in a
crimson red glow. The sea, once shimmering under the moonlight, now
transformed into a fiery expanse.
"Captain, change course; they've blocked the path ahead."
A group of pirates, firing cannons, loudly communicated with the captain
on the deck.
The captain, standing at the bow, wore a solemn expression as he gazed
ahead at a massive array of warships forming a vast, fan-shaped
encirclement. Despair filled his heart.
"I never anticipated the Navy showing up here, and there are nearly a
hundred warships!?"
Facing the large fleet of warships ahead, the captain's heart trembled. He
knew they couldn't be the target. His strength was insufficient to provoke
such a sizable Navy fleet.
The last time the Navy executed such a significant move was probably
when they besieged the Rocks Pirates.
"How's it going? Can the Den Den Mushi connect?"
The captain didn't speak but anxiously inquired with his crew. Faced
with such a large fleet, they knew escape was futile.
Moreover, the Navy's substantial mobilization suggested a hidden
agenda. They couldn't allow the pirates to escape, prompting the captain
to relay news of the Navy's large fleet at the last possible moment,
seeking retribution.
"Reporting to Vice Admiral Sengoku! The encirclement of the pirate
group ahead is complete."
A naval officer respectfully reported to Sengoku, engrossed in studying
the sea chart in the flagship cabin.
"Has the information been sealed off? Our actions this time must not be
leaked."
"Before they detect us, the information blockade has been implemented.
Their Den Den Mushi can't transmit any messages."
"Good. Notify all ships to obliterate them outright. Not a single fish
should escape the net!"
"Understood!"
With Sengoku's directive, the distant sound of dense cannon fire was
immediately heard.
Ahead at sea, a deep roar reverberated, followed by several sharp slashes
and varied attacks directed towards the source of the roar.
Evidently, this was a clash between high-caliber forces.
Soon, the roar faded, and the Navy fleet gradually vanished like
phantoms in the distance, leaving behind only a burning pirate ship
sinking in place—a testament to the one-sided massacre that occurred
here.
"Sengoku, what are the odds of success for this plan?"
In the Navy flagship's captain's cabin, the elegant Tsuru, adorned in a
Navy uniform and a cloak bearing the word "Justice," inquired of
Sengoku, who was studying the map.
"How can there be certainty? Once the war erupts, the course of events
becomes unpredictable. Especially in this kind of large-scale
confrontation among top-tier forces, any shift on any battlefield can tip
the balance of the entire conflict. All we can do is analyze potential
scenarios as thoroughly as possible and devise corresponding
countermeasures."
Sengoku sighed as he diverted his gaze from the map adorned with
wanted posters and contacts from different factions.
Naval battles differ from kingdom wars. Success isn't determined by troop
numbers or superior equipment. It hinges on which side boasts more top-
tier fighters, capable of single-handedly challenging a kingdom. Given
enough time, these fighters can easily dismantle large kingdoms on
significant islands.
"Now, all we can do is hope that Garp and the others follow our planned
route, and that the World Government can handle those formidable
opponents!"
With Sengoku's words, the sky above suddenly erupted in a thunderous
explosion. Dark clouds gathered, and the sea surged with strong winds,
transforming the once-calm sea into a tumultuous expanse of waves. The
atmosphere became tense, forewarning the profound impact of the
impending events.
…
"So, your next destination is Lodestar Island?"
Nicholas looked at Roger, curiosity in his eyes.
"Yes, that will be our final journey in this sea. But since it's an unexplored
island, we plan to replenish our supplies and prepare ourselves
thoroughly before heading there. We are approaching the end of the
world!" Roger declared grandly.
Whether it was the effect of imbibing too much wine or reminiscing
about the journey with the crew and the myriad events that unfolded,
Roger took a sip of wine. He then turned around and knelt down in front
of all the members of the Roger Pirates, expressing his gratitude
earnestly, "Thank you all for accompanying me this far! I will always
cherish your kindness!"
Rayleigh, Gaban, and others simultaneously raised their wine glasses.
Clearly, this concluding journey held extraordinary significance for them.
Observing this scene, Nicholas couldn't help but think, "Aren't you all
getting emotional a bit too soon?"
Betrayal
Two days later, on an expansive base situated on an island within the
New World, a bustling crowd had gathered. Pirate ships continuously
arrived, their distinct flags fluttering in the wind, representing various
pirate crews from far and wide.
During this time, the island's surroundings no longer bore the marks of
ferocious beasts. The WorldPirates had diligently purged the area nearby,
while the mere presence of the newcomers on the island emitted an aura
that unsettled the original rulers of these lands.
Amidst the vibrant chaos of the gathering, conversations ebbed and
flowed like the tides of the sea, blending with the clinking of glasses and
hearty laughter. Each word spoken held promises of alliances and secrets
shared under the moonlit sky.
"Ah, it's been a while, hasn't it? Heard you raided a town recently.
Must've bagged quite the loot, eh?" The jovial banter intermingled with
the salty air.
"Haha, you bet! My crew and I feasted like kings. Life on the open seas
can get stuffy. I've got a few hand-picked individuals on board. Shall I
send them your way tonight?" The exchanges resonated with the spirit of
camaraderie and shared exploits.
"Much obliged. By the way, I've got my sights on a convoy of merchant
ships and already charted their course. But we're short on manpower.
Care to join forces?" The negotiations carried with them the weight of
ambition and opportunity.
"Your Devil Fruit power is just the run-of-the-mill Animal-type. Asking for
20 million berries seems a tad excessive, doesn't it?" The competitive
edge seeped into every offer and counteroffer.
"Hey, mate, this is a sea gem we're talking about! Twenty million berries
is nothing. Your current bounty barely matches the value of this fruit. But
if you consume it, your worth would instantly double, wouldn't it?" The
allure of power and riches danced in the air like fireflies in the night.
Just like many pirate crews aligning with the Rocks Pirates, Waldo, under
his command, led not only the WorldPirates directly but also a significant
number of New World pirate crews.
Yet, the motley crew assembled by Waldo over the past few years was
mostly a mismatched bunch, not quite up to par. Even Rocks, known for
his prowess, would likely balk at the prospect of having them as allies.
Sometimes, problematic teammates proved more dreadful than
formidable adversaries.
These individuals, summoned by Waldo, served not only to exchange
goods and information but also to bolster his influence in the region.
"After all, an army of over ten thousand still carries considerable weight.
These chips undoubtedly give us the upper hand in negotiations with
Rocks Pirates down the line."
"Waldo, must we truly cooperate with Rocks? He gives off an air of
danger."
A dwarf sporting a Viking horn pirate hat, an oddity amidst the throng of
pirates, expressed concern.
At the center of the banquet, Waldo, upon hearing this, responded
somewhat impatiently, "Friend, this is a rare opportunity. Plus, we're not
obligated to collaborate. We'll play it by ear. Once Rocks gains
momentum, we'll strike at the World Government and the Marines. If
Rocks falters, we'll seize the moment and claim what's left behind."
In terms of age, Waldo belonged to the same era as Rocks, Whitebeard,
and Roger, a decade senior to BIG MOM. Yet, he wasn't in the same
league as the Rocks Pirates, teeming with formidable fighters, or the
elite-centric Roger Pirates.
Initially, he and his brother Byojack set out to explore the seas and seek
freedom. However, upon stumbling upon the Moa-Moa Fruit, capable of
enhancing speed, strength, size, and weight, along with power came
ambition. Their quest for freedom evolved into a quest for absolute
power.
Their motto transformed into "destroy everything in our path." Navy
warships, formidable pirates, innocent civilians—everything fell prey to
their destructive rampage, earning Waldo the moniker "The World's
Bane."
"But..."
Byojack appeared poised to voice further concerns.
"That's enough. Follow my lead, and together, we'll ascend to the
pinnacle of the seas," Waldo retorted coldly.
...
"Yes, all affiliated pirate crews have assembled. The targeted individuals
are also present. Moreover, due to the rushed launch, our second-in-
command, Byojack, seems to have caught wind of something.
Rest assured, we remain undetected. The poison procured earlier has
been disseminated. We can proceed with the assault once the banquet
commences."
"Excellent work."
"Captain, as per the plan, weren't we supposed to neutralize the threat of
Rocks before moving against the WorldPirates and the other crews? Why
the haste?"
"You need not worry about that."
"Understood, Captain."
Listening to the respectful tone of his subordinate over the Den Den
Mushi, the individual on the other end was in high spirits. "In fact, I'll tell
you. This fellow's actions reek of arrogance, posing a destabilizing
influence. In the clash with Rocks Pirates, we must ensure such
destabilizing factors are neutralized. Upon our return, your merit will
surely secure your promotion."
With these words, he terminated the Den Den Mushi call, reaching for
another nearby.
"Inform Vice Admiral Garp that we're ready to launch a full-scale assault
in two hours. Our CP department will coordinate."
"Captain, all members of the affiliated pirate crews have congregated."
A tall Fishman entered the WorldPirates' base, reporting to Waldo.
"Are they all present? Then let the festivities begin, hahaha!"
Waldo's excitement was palpable, envisioning the day he'd reign over the
seas.
As Waldo followed the Fishman out, Byojack, diminutive in stature,
turned to Gairam beside him. If Waldo represented the brawn of their
ship, then Byojack was undoubtedly its brains. Many of the WorldPirates'
strategies stemmed from him, the brains behind the might.
"Gairam, I sense something amiss."
Gairam regarded Byojack. If Waldo embodied the WorldPirates' power,
then Byojack epitomized its intellect. Often, the WorldPirates' maneuvers
were concocted by this unassuming but formidable strategist.
"Byojack, are you being overly cautious? This is our stronghold, with
several pirate crews gathered. Even the Marines wouldn't dare to assault
us rashly, would they?"
Gairam sought to assuage Byojack's apprehensions.
"No, I sense impending trouble, as though an unfavourable turn of events
looms on the horizon."
Byojack's concerns persisted despite Gairam's reassurances, his brow
furrowing deeper.
"Gairam, utilize your ability to carve a concealed passageway leading
directly to the sea from here. Summon Sebastian and Nightin as well. It's
better to err on the side of caution."
After deliberating for a moment, Byojack instructed Gairam.
"Very well, it won't take much effort. But must we place the exit beneath
the sea's surface?"
For Gairam, creating a secret passage wasn't overly taxing due to his
Devil Fruit ability. However, as a Devil Fruit user, he preferred to limit
his exposure to the sea, a realm loathed by Devil Fruit wielders.
"The exit must lie below the sea's surface. You and Sebastian shall
proceed together. With the Fishmen's affinity for the sea, construct a
breakable wall at the end."
Meanwhile, Waldo remained oblivious to the temporary disappearance of
several key members of his crew. Presently, he reveled in wine with the
pirates surrounding him.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
A barrage of cannon fire shattered the tranquility of the banquet,
drawing everyone's attention to the source.
Waldo, too, ascended to the highest vantage point, his gaze fixated on the
direction of the cannon fire, pupils contracting sharply. In the distance, a
multitude of warships materialized on the sea's surface. The recent
bombardment targeted the WorldPirates and other crews' vessels.
As the pirates prepared to retaliate, individuals began collapsing, a wave
of paralysis sweeping through the gathering.
Even Waldo, known for his iron resolve, discerned the conspiracy
unfolding before them.
"Waldo, pleased with our gift?"
At that moment, a figure emerged from the shadows, wearing a sly grin
as he advanced towards Waldo.
The WorldPirates surrounding Waldo fell into an uneasy silence. This
man!
Garp!!!
In the piercing gaze of Waldo and his cohorts, a pirate sporting a Viking
horn hat materialized from the throng, his countenance bearing a
disdainful sneer aimed directly at Waldo.
"I didn't reckon you'd stoop so low as to be a spy," Waldo retorted, his
tone growing frigid as he addressed the core member of his own pirate
crew. Betrayals and treachery were commonplace in the cutthroat world
of piracy; for these denizens of the sea, such betrayals were as routine as
breathing.
Yet, when betrayal festered within his own crew, especially by one he
had trusted, the fury that ignited within Waldo was beyond measure.
"However, to be intercepted by a mere Navy at this juncture—should I
brand you ignorant or fearless?" Waldo questioned, his voice laced with
contempt.
Despite being poisoned, Waldo and other top-tier pirates possessed bodies
akin to fortresses. Even if a toxin lethal to ordinary folk invaded their
systems, they could stave off its effects temporarily with their
superhuman physical attributes.
Much like Whitebeard during the Summit War, who, despite grievous
injuries, retained his combat prowess, fending off scores of Marines and
even the unscathed Blackbeard thereafter. Such displays underscored
why the titans of the sea were dubbed monsters.
While Waldo acknowledged that the present moment warranted retreat,
knowing that once they secured a safe haven, Nightin, his trusted
subordinate, would concoct an antidote using his exceptional
pharmacological expertise, the sight of the traitor responsible for their
predicament exacerbated his simmering ire.
Who did this scoundrel think he was dealing with?
Did he truly believe Waldo's moniker, the World Destroyer, to be a mere
facade?
"Hey, what do you take us for!?"
"Despite my dire poisoning, dispatching you is as simple as swatting a fly.
Surrender the antidote obediently, and perhaps we'll expedite your
demise!"
"Indeed, hand it over!"
The surrounding pirates, those still capable of mustering their strength,
began to arm themselves, fixing their menacing glares upon the Navy
spy. Though they knew the Navy would soon clear the surrounding
hurdles and converge upon their location, they also knew that failure to
detoxify before the Navy's arrival would leave them with only one
recourse: death.
"Navy?"
The Navy spy, clad in the horned hat, regarded the pirates, initially
puzzled, then erupted into laughter. "We're not affiliated with those Navy
lackeys. Moreover, who in their right mind carries an antidote on their
person after poisoning others?"
The spy's words sent a shiver down the spines of the surrounding pirates
as they surveyed their fallen comrades, the agonizing pain coursing
through their bodies plunging them into despair.
"Ha! Since we're all headed for the abyss, brothers, let's make it count!
Taking down one will be a victory, two a triumph!"
"Agreed! With over ten thousand soldiers at our disposal, even in our
demise, we shall paint the World Government's lackeys a vibrant hue!"
"Enough! Poison poses no threat to us!"
Waldo then instructed one of his nearby pirates, "Quick, summon
Nightin!"
Waldo's confidence wasn't born of arrogance; rather, it stemmed from his
unwavering trust in Nightin's medical prowess.
However, unbeknownst to Waldo as he issued the command, the pirate
who received it, upon casting a glance at the traitor lurking behind
Waldo, curled his lips into a smirk before producing a pistol from his
waist.
Almost in tandem with the pirate's draw, several of Waldo's comrades
also brandished their weapons, launching a surprise assault against
Waldo.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
A hail of gunfire reverberated through the air, inflicting several wounds
upon Waldo. His rage, nearly uncontainable, erupted. To be betrayed by
those he trusted was a wound deeper than any physical injury.
Confronted with the botched ambush, the assailants swiftly rallied
around the pirate who instigated the betrayal. Faced with a behemoth
like Waldo, engaging in a war of attrition was futile; the prudent choice
was to withdraw posthaste following the foiled ambush.
"Waldo, we've been duped. The Navy has us encircled. We must retreat at
once!"
At this juncture, Byojack's urgent voice resounded, accompanied by the
arrival of Sebastian, Nightin, and Gairam, three high-ranking members of
the World Pirates.
Witnessing the tableau, Byojack's countenance darkened. After all, those
treacherous figures donning horned hats were indisputably the backbone
of the World Pirates. Now beset by internal and external threats, their
predicament was dire.
As the clandestine passage neared completion, the tumult outside reached
their ears. Initially dismissed as yet another Navy siege, the situation had
spiraled into a premeditated conspiracy against them.
"It seems swiftness is our ally!"
Waldo declared, casting a steely gaze upon the traitors.
"Waldo, let's not dally. Our foremost priority is breaking through the
encirclement and allowing Nightin to concoct the antidote. Failure to act
swiftly risks inviting the wrath of the main Marine force!"
Byojack urged anxiously.
"Brother, must you cower so readily? If we allow these traitors to live,
how can we navigate the seas henceforth? And what power does the
Navy hold over me? I am Waldo, the World Destroyer!"
"Hey, you're the World Destroyer, huh? Well, you've saved me quite some
time."
At that moment, a nonchalant voice emanated from the forest.
"Who goes there!?"
Waldo bellowed, seizing a stone and hurling it in the direction of the
voice.
"Momo-Momo: Hundredfold Shotgun!"
The shattered stone, propelled a hundredfold, sliced through the air with
a resounding swish, hurtling toward the forest where the voice
originated.
Ding! Ding! Ding!
The stones, akin to the force of cannon fire, collided within the forest,
followed by the emergence of a figure clad in Navy regalia and a cloak of
justice, striding forth unscathed.
Observing the Navy insignia adorning the figure, Waldo's countenance
darkened instantaneously. His assault had failed to breach the formidable
defense.
"Waldo!"
Spotting the newcomer, Byojack's cry rang out as though he had glimpsed
a specter, urgently calling out to Waldo.
"That's Vice Admiral Garp!"
The revelation sent a chill down Waldo's spine. Garp's renown still
commanded reverence among the pirates of the New World. Those who
disregarded such legends either met their demise or languished in
obscurity.
"Garp, you say!? If death beckons, I shall gladly oblige!"
With his declaration echoing, Waldo drew his blade from its scabbard. In
a sprint toward Garp, Waldo's blade expanded a hundredfold in the blink
of an eye, hurtling toward Garp with lightning speed.
As Waldo closed the distance, a voice boomed forth.
"Momo-Momo: Hundredfold Slash!"
Witnessing the titanic, Haki-infused sword hurtling toward him, the
surrounding pirates felt a surge of exhilaration.
Such monstrous strength, such devastating momentum—it was no
wonder their captain bore the moniker, the World Destroyer!
Yet, their jubilation was short-lived.
For Garp, with a mere lift of his hand, seized the hundred-meter-long
blade, crashing it into the earth with titanic force. The ground beneath
Waldo quaked violently, fissures webbing outward like spider silk while
the surrounding trees crumbled into dust.
"Are you jesting? That Navy halted Waldo's onslaught with but one
hand!"
The speaking pirate's exultation turned to apprehension. With Waldo at
the helm, they had entertained hopes of repelling the Navy's assault. Yet
now, it seemed the Navy had dispatched a genuine juggernaut, and they
were in dire straits.
Such thoughts pervaded the hearts of all who bore witness to this
spectacle.
"This level of power, while formidable, hinges solely on Devil Fruit
augmentation!"
With Garp's right hand gripping the blade, he smashed it into the ground
with crushing force.
Waldo's pupils constricted sharply. Without opportunity for defense, he
could only shroud his vital points with Armament Haki, yet still, he was
sent hurtling into the earth with brutal force.
Boom!
The surface trembled violently as Waldo's form crashed down. Cracks
fissured through the earth around him, and the trees shattered into
splinters.
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