Chapitre 144: [144] Cradle of the Gods (I)

[3333 words]

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[God Valley, West Blue]

The island was small and situated in the Outer Sea of West Blue. It had tall, steep clouds and canyons covered with vegetation. Between the central two tall peaks was a small city, once home to a thriving population, now in shambles.

The Celestial Dragons had always seen this land as their own—it was the Cradle of the Gods, after all!

The citizens were descendants of the slaves owned by the original King, Amas-Rothua Tnaryt. They were allowed to live here by his grace, but that didn't mean they would be treated well by other World Nobles.

[God Valley Image (in Discord)]

The might of the World Government had been exercised to ensure the protection of this divine occasion, overseen by the Fleet Admiral and the Chief of Cipher Pol.

"This is Xerxes," a hoarse voice echoed through hundreds of transponder snails. "All agents are advised to be on the lookout for any enemy ships. Continue your mission with absolute success."

As of now, dozens of ships arrived at the coast of the sacred land, depositing entire groups of World Nobles. Already, 100 Celestial Dragons had arrived at the heart of God Valley, with a few more ships still arriving.

Such a gathering was essentially priceless to the World Government; they could not fail!

Meanwhile, giant ships slowly docked on the opposite side of the coast. They carried rare slaves, artifacts, weapons, treasures, and fine goods.

…

A towering man wearing a brown uniform stood with an oppressive shadow around him. His sole eye locked onto the marine reporting to him.

"Admiral Basara, everything is all set."

The Mountain Maker lowly hummed, breathing in the fresh air of God Valley. It was his duty to command 100,000 troops stationed here!

The soldiers filled the sidelines of the island, turning its previous green appearance into the white of sailor's clothing—the entirety of God Valley was strongly manned, invincible even!

…

[Two Hours Later]

A small squad of marines walked with a dignified spirit. They were tasked with escorting a caravan of mystical beasts collected across the seas.

The fact that they were allowed to step so deep into the Cradle of the Gods had left them breathless.

"Even looking at the castle from afar leaves me without words!" Rear Admiral Fod breathed. His eyes were twinkling from the golden majesty of what stood before him.

His companion, another Rear Admiral, was just as dazzled. "This is the palace where the First Twenty came to declare their descendants as Gods of the world! It's been standing for seven hundred years!"

Although they were only disallowed from entry, the two elite marines were endlessly humbled. The air they breathed was the same that canonized the World Nobles seven centuries ago!

The castle, an opulent masterpiece of architecture, stood majestically amidst the verdant hills of God Valley. Its golden façade shimmered under the sunlight, adorned with intricate carvings and large, sparkling gemstones embedded in its walls. Towering spires reached towards the sky, crowned with ornate domes gleaming with precious metals' brilliance.

The grand entrance, flanked by elegantly sculpted statues, welcomed visitors with a sweeping staircase leading into the heart of the palace. Surrounding manicured gardens, lush with greenery and carefully shaped hedges, added to the enchanting atmosphere, while distant cliffs loomed protectively over this regal abode, embodying a sense of both beauty and power in its design.

[Cradle of the Gods Image (in Discord)]

Thousands of Holy Guards stood tall every few steps. They were like robots; they didn't move or talk, and it seemed that they did not breathe either. They wore thick armour over their torsos that covered their faces and heads. Each held a spear.

[Holy Guards Image (in Discord)]

…

Dozens of Celestial Dragons continued through the halls and into the main seating area.

The ceilings were nearly fifty feet high! Giant golden chandeliers hung from above, emitting light that shone in tandem with the giant windows at the front.

Nearly 200 golden seats decorated the area, each plated with rare gems and minerals enough to buy small nations.

[Main Area (image)]

Name tags were embedded in each chair, reading the names of its designated host. Each of the 19 Houses was present. This included:

Donquixote Family.

Figardland Family.

Amas-Rohtua Family.

Marcus Family.

Ethanbaron Family.

Jaygarcia Family.

Shepherd Family.

Topman Family.

Nerona Family.

The other ten were also present, though they were lower-class than those mentioned earlier.

Soon enough, everyone was accounted for, and the host could begin. He looked around the sacred room and continued in a humble tone.

"Welcome, Saints and Saintesses. I am your humble servant, Spandune the Hunter, who has been granted the divine privilege to welcome you to God Valley!"

A few scoffs went off in the younger Nobles as they saw a mere human as their host, though they didn't voice any complaints. The biggest complaint was, "Why were they breathing the same air as this commoner?"

After all, none of them sported their usual fishbowl helmets, as God Valley was considered sacred.

The black-haired Spandune sheepishly smiled, trying his best to stay standing up.

He was one of the lucky ones who got the Five Elders' approval a few decades ago by bringing crucial intel on the now-ruined Polemos Island, a feat that would greatly ease the destruction of a treacherous people.

"I would also like to express my undying fidelity to the Noble who granted me the opportunity to stand before you—Saint Figarland Garling!"

Spandune widely directed his arms towards a sole person who sat not too far away.

The Noble was tall and enchanting, with sharp features and handsome. He wore burgundy regal attire topped with a coat that reached his shins. His hair was styled to resemble half a crescent moon.

Unlike the other Celestial Dragons, Garling had a mighty and illustrious aura around him, sharp as the prized saber at his hip, truly befitting a man with the blood of the Creators!

That, alongside his esteemed placement in the God's Knights, left him deeply respected, even among other World Nobles!

[Saint Figarland Garling Image (in Discord)]

Garling expressed no visible happiness and half-nodded at Spandune, something the latter took as a great honour.

"Ahem, well then, let us begin the glorious event in the Cradle of the Gods that has been held every century since the birth of the World Government 700 years ago today! By the blessed sun, it also fell on the same day as the Native Hunting Competition!"

"By the orders of the once-king Tnaryt, these mortals were allowed to care-take God Valley, but their identity of sub-human exists till this day!"

Upon the host's words, a company of waiters and servers rushed in from the side.

They held up incredibly delicious and mouthwatering meals made from the highest-quality food the world had to offer!

Meanwhile, the back doors opened to bring something else in.

"Do enjoy the Prime Slave Auction as you enjoy the delicacies!" Spandune explained, welcoming the guards with chains.

They slowly brought in the prized goods, lining them up.

Spandune rubbed his hands with a bright smile, doing his best to accommodate the Nobles' needs.

"Giants, Mermaids, Minks, Former Royals, Battle Maids, Veteran Pirates… everything you would want is present!" he exclaimed.

The Dragons oohed and aahed at the marvellous stock; some of the younger ones even pointed at the slaves they wanted, begging their parents.

One such Noble was a young woman with pink hair fanning out in the shape of a star. She wore a stylish outfit in mint green and white adorned with gold accents and featured a bold "L" on her chest.

"The slaves here are top notch quality…but the one I want is the most handsome of them all…I want Einar D. Damien!"

She was Donquixote Skymoor Roxia—an avid collector of slaves, particularly those of high status, either in virtue or infamy.

The usually stoic woman bloomed a creepy smile, twiddling her gloved fingers. "He's earned the privilege to be my favourite, Kya-nanana! I can't wait to have him host my teacup parties!"

[Roxia image (in Discord)]

"Ahahaha! You are your weird fantasies, Roxia," a young man's voice cut the lady's imagination into pieces.

The pink-haired saintess glared at her fellow God.

He had white hair and hazel eyes covered by dark sunglasses. The man boasted a wide grin, showcasing his teeth. He was dressed in a white, unbuttoned shirt with a dark undershirt, conveying the man's casual yet somewhat flamboyant style.

"Amas-Rohtua Vadin!" Roxia snapped with crossed arms. "Don't you have better things to do than annoy me… Considering your habit of splurging your House's wealth!"

[Vadin Image (in Discord)]

Dozens of other gods laughed to themselves as well. This was their day—a sacred day where they could spend their wealth after being forced to stay at Mariejois due to the pirate threat.

It was music to the Spandune's ears as he slowly began listing the goods and their prices.

…

Meanwhile, in a different part of the island...

"What a damned event," came a suppressed voice.

A man with a giant afro sat in a large room that broadcasted the event. It was the Navy's temporary command room.

Sengoku massaged his forehead as he saw the auction going down. His justice clashed with it, though he could only relent to reality in favour of the vast majority.

However, a shaken snail diverted his attention: "Puru," "Puru," "Puru."

"Katcha~! This is Admiral Sengoku."

"It's me," Basara said as the snail took on the one-eyed Admiral's appearance. "We've lost contact with our Northern fleet; they all went offline together!"

"...I see."

A deep tremor disrupted their chat, leaving Sengoku with narrowed eyes.

The snail confirmed his guess: "They're here…the Rocks Pirates."

Meanwhile, a few Celestial Dragons were shouting to quiet the noise, hoping to enjoy their meal.

Sengoku ignored the three transponder snails linked to Cipher Pol as he felt another tremor.

Boom!

This time, it was loud enough to echo in the divine halls, disrupting the ceremony.

"I'll be right there, Basara."

…

*Rumble*

A dull sound bellowed out at the Northern coast.

A huge platform made of pure earth was soon raised, almost looking like a new part of the island.

Moss and seaweeds littered the newly-birthed ground, making it obvious who was behind this.

"Basara, I sent the order to move in the troops."

Sengoku's eyes were currently hidden by the shine across his spectacles, making it impossible to know what the man was thinking.

"Fifty thousand will fight first; the rest will wait and act as backup. This won't be a quick fight… we'll cycle the troops to ensure they remain at maximum stamina."

Basara heard the explanation and nodded in agreement.

While the army moved into the newly risen platform, a line of pirate ships debuted.

They spanned from end to end of the horizon, creating quite the sight. Many ships boasted their own Jolly Roger, though the ROCKS banner at the top made it obvious whose flag they were under.

The Admirals waited as a few other big names arrived.

Thud!

"They've brought quite the array of ships… Bwahahaha! I like this side of the island more."

"For once, I can agree with you, Garp."

The tens of thousands of marines rejoiced, raising their weapons to the sky.

"Two Admirals, Admiral Candidate Zephyr and Vice Admiral Garp, are with us!" they exclaimed.

The morale hit the skies, roaring across the seas.

"No matter what, the pirates cannot break beyond the coast!" Sengoku warned his colleagues.

Basara hummed, raising his arms.

*Rumble!* Boom!

At his command, giant walls soon rose from the bottom of the sea to nearly 100 meters in the sky!

The surging seas displaced Dozens of enemy ships. The situation worsened as the twin walls shifted toward one another, pushing the pirate ships into close proximity. It stopped with just enough room to accommodate the Titanic.

"Sailing to their deaths so foolheartedly," Basara sneered, his concentration locked onto the long line of enemy ships forced within a narrow channel.

They also no longer needed to worry about any flanks.

Sengoku hummed in agreement at the enemy's boldness. This was different from Borealis' Auction or Sol's Pirate Festival; before, it was the Navy having to venture to pirate seas, but now, they had the chance to prepare for the enemy coming to them.

'The seastone will be the final nail in their coffin,' the Buddha thought, admiring the metal plating at the inner part of the two walls.

[Damned Channel of Ships Image (in Discord)]

A sharp hissing wind picked up, carrying the aroma of the salty sea air.

With a click, the Buddha picked up his snail. His eyes sharpened at the distant enemy fleet while his authoritative voice reached thousands of ears.

"Initiate Protocol Sixty-Six."

…

[Pirate Side]

The joyous scum roared out in delight as they sensed the endless treasures of God Valley not too far away.

The advent of hundreds of ships were forced into a channel barely 80 meters wide, but it had little immediate effect.

"Are we supposed to be scared of these measly walls? Give me a break!"

"I want to bathe in their Gods' blood, dine at their flesh and enslave their young!"

"Cough-Cough-Cough! We of the Pandemic Pirates will lead the charge!"

Thirty-five thousand pirates! Not just any pirates, but the worst in existence! Yet that broken relationship between their forces left glaring problems.

"Puru," "Puru," "Puru."

Thousands of snails went off simultaneously. Their nostalgic ringing brewed up an ominous atmosphere. Thousands of fellow "pirates" took in a deep breath as they heard the four words.

Shing!

Boom!

Pew! Pew!

Kaboom!

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Bam!

"What's goin- Augh!"

"Ouugh!"

*Splatter* Boom!

Across the hundred-plus ships was chaos. It sparked like a virus, spreading across every vessel.

Blood rained and splashed without mercy, creeping into the floorboards and dyeing the sea below with a fresh red hue.

Heads rolled, bodies fell, and lives ended.

Thousands of personnel acting as pirates jumped into combat.

Bullets flew, cannons fired, blades slashed. Backstabs, headshots, kills, it was all there. Within a heartbeat, thousands of men died; their lives ended before they could even react.

BOOM!

Suddenly, an entire ship exploded! Debris rained down from above: wooden planks, metal bars and limbs.

Boom!

Kaboom!

Boom!

Dozens of ships carrying hundreds of pirates went off like a chain explosion, bringing red-hot flames to the air.

An orange dawn fell upon the mountain channel, baking the others in heat and fire. Mushroom clouds dominated the now-ashy skies, hiding wails and cries of pain under its damning darkness.

BOOM!

Thousands died by the second as the insurgents attacked together, and Rocks Pirates were quickly reduced from 35,000 to 28,000!

"Damn it! We got rats!"

A pirate roared upon his battle-torn ship. He was Ruben, a mighty pirate who had joined Rocks' banner after the Scorched Sea War.

Grim reality flashed in the man's eyes as he felt the deaths around him.

A rifle was raised, striking down three marines many kilometers away.

Ruben smirked and looked at an enemy commanding officer through the scope.

*Click*

"Dammit! These trashy guns jam so often!" He cursed, tossing the rifle away.

Seeing the prey escape, Ruben instead picked up his bone sword, reeled it back like a spear, and shot it across the turbulent seas, nailing the enemy's heart.

"Heh," the man chuckled. He found pleasure in the chaos, that is, until it came to him.

*Swish!*

The sharp pain shot up his spine, freezing his body. If not for the anger in his eyes, Ruben may have succumbed to the fatal stab.

"Vanheim," he growled, recognizing the curved blade's user—it was his own right-hand man who stabbed him in the back!

"You bastard!"

Ruben roared through the pain of the blade protruding thirty centimeters from his chest and bashed his right elbow into the figure behind him. The cry of pain from Vanheim brought no satisfaction to the Captain.

Vanheim's pink eyes widened from the pressure around his throat. He squealed while his back slammed into the wooden railing, his mind shaking.

"We made a pact to conquer the seas together… Why'd you do this!"

The traitor grunted through the solid grip, meeting his Captain's eyes in fright. "Y-You're leading us to our death!"

Ruben sneered, wasting no time for talk, and grabbed Vanheim by the back of his head. With a quick show of force, he jammed Vanheim's right eye into the blade still protruding out of his chest.

Blood dripped from the writhing pirate before he was tossed aside.

BOOOM!

Ruben's ears rang from the sudden explosion. A quick look revealed the ship was sinking fast. The fire had already spread through the cabin and onto the sails—more traitors.

The veteran pirate cared little for his ship, and like many other top dogs under the Rocks Pirates, he jumped off the weeping ship and into the cold seas below.

The water was filled with debris and blood. Ruben glanced to his left and right and lightly grinned—tens of thousands of his fellow monsters had done the same as him. They would swim a kilometer to the shores to take their anger out on the Marines and Nobles!

Then came the grim reality.

Ruben paused in his stroke. He took a deep breath from the ashy skies, slowly lighting up in flames.

"What the hell is that!?"

"That's a bit much now!"

He ignored the nearby pirates' dismay and clenched his jaw in solemnity.

*Ruuhhh* An ominous wind blew as giant globs of hellfire made their debut. They didn't know where it came from, but a voice echoed within the walls of the channel:

"Meteor Volcano!"

Ruben clicked his tongue, sighing his frustrations, "Basara, that crafty fox!"

Some ships remained floating through the chaos, having dealt with the insurgents.

"The volcanic rocks are aimed in the mountainous channel. So I'll just rip apart these metal walls!"

Soon enough, the thin fleet continued its advent, caring little of the men they lost.

One such ship belongs to the Captain of the Bomb Pirates.

"Boo-Boo-Boo! Let's see if your little wall can take my heat!"

He grabbed a fistful of hair along his extremely long mane and clumped it into a ball.

"Watch out, Grendel is using his Bomb-Bomb Fruit!"

"Keratin Bomber!"

Grendel shot out the clump of hair that flew across the sea and onto the metal walls.

*BOOM!* The explosion was beyond that of the ships; instead, it was enough to melt metal!

It waved across the thick walls, bathing it with the hot flames.

"..."

"N-No way, the wall didn't even budge!"

"Seastone plating! Damn that Fulcrum!"

The swimming Ruben grunted at his inevitable death—they couldn't break out from the walls, and they couldn't get to the shores in time…

He looked up to see a twenty-meter-wide boulder doused in lava aiming right at him. The attack would surely claim his life, and yet his eyes were defiant.

"You can burn us to the ground, but we will rise from the ashes—no one can stop the massacre of your Gods!"

[Attack Image (in Discord)]

…

Basara continued to release his rocky lava fists, courtesy of his versatile Devil Fruit.

The mountains he erected acted as a natural chokepoint, and the fireworks show considerably whittled down their numbers.

The marines gulped as the heat assaulted their faces, but that soon turned into a boisterous roar of morale. The Admiral watched without a hint of pity, continuously releasing his infernal attack.

His one eye watched the crumbling fleet. Flashes of his beloved Seigi Island baked in flames seemed to overlap with the hell before him.

"Rocks...you brought war and death to my home. Now, I bring the same to your people!" Basara's words were venomous, and his heart was burning with justice.

"This is the end of the line for the Rocks Pirates…I'll make sure of it!"

To Be Continued…

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Author's Corner.

As explained in the Ohara Chapter, God Valley was the kingdom of Tnaryt. Its citizens are descendants of Tnaryt's slaves. Roxia is a very old giveaway character, while Vadin hails from a Celestial Dragon House that you should remember.

Sengoku's Protocol Sixty-Six is in effect and has claimed thousands. Basara seeks to keep that kill streak up.

Images are available on Discord alongside other niche details: https://discord.gg/aJHHHPvb6q

commentaire Commentaire 40

Voter

Chapitre 145: [145] Cradle of the Gods (II)

[3200 words]

A slight edit for Chapter 144: I removed the mention of Garling's hair colour, leaving it ambiguous due to a recent anime episode.

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Twenty-three thousand, that's how many pirates now remain.

It had been only twenty minutes since the battle began and considerably shifted in the Marine's favour. Or so they thought.

*Crack* A single crack appeared in the seastone alloy that built the wall.

BOOM!

The marines shielded themselves from the rain of rocks and debris as the loud bang echoed in their eardrums.

"Two of the Titans are on the move!"

"A-Above!"

The marines' jaws dropped as they saw the sky blackout. Giant shadows spanned across hundreds of meters. The previous hellfire was voided entirely out by the coming destruction. It looked as if the heavens had been shattered!

*Fwooo* *Vvoooo!*

Loud howling winds erupted as the giant landmasses broke through the clouds and covered God Valley with their massive glory.

"Damn you, Shiki!"

Sengoku immediately took to the skies, transforming into a Buddha on the way up, lighting the uncertain future with his brilliance.

A dark shadow glowing in warm Haki followed close behind—it was Garp!

BOOM!

The two of them let loose a single punch, Conqueror's Haki flowing alongside their simple yet mountain-crumbling attacks.

It began with a golden flash and then with an ear-rattling explosion. Three giant landmasses were turned to nothingness just like that, flooding the region with screeching winds.

"Cheh, of course, there's more where that came from…" Garp muttered, sensing a dozen more tiny islands en route.

…

"Charge," Basara commanded, his words washing away the surprise in the marines' eyes.

They roared a war cry in unison, rushing head-first at the pirates that had docked in the ruins of the walls.

It was a full-blown war now, 50,000 versus 23,000.

Explosions went off from distant cannon fire, and dust and blood shot into the sky.

Wails of pain and suffering broke out as bodies dropped by the minute.

Shing!

A sharp slash from a pirate, and three marines lost their heads.

Bang!

A sniper took out the pirate, and his writhing body fell, eyes still wide open.

BAM!

A Haki-clad punch sent out a powerful shockwave, obliterating the platform and swallowing the sniper and other gunmen without problem.

Such scenes repeated across the battlefield, leaving the coast swamped with bloodshed and dull screams.

…

"Wawawawawa! Come one, come all!"

"Such bloodshed is unsightly, but I'm afraid my axe has no eyes."

"Johohohoho! I got enough bullets for all 'ya!"

Boom!

Shing!

BAM!

Within moments, a thousand marines were pummeled and destroyed by these three notorious pirates.

"Captain John, aka the 'Pirate Bandit'...he's got a reward of 569,000,000 Berry!"

"Wang Zhi 'the Crisis.' A bounty of 670,000,000 Berry!"

"'Blinding Light' Silver Axe. He's worth 1,134,000,000 Berry!"

The sight of the three men left the marines shaken. "Dammit, the Tragedies of the Rocks are here!"

"Bink's Bane!"

"Kingdom Crisis!"

"Silver Cathedral!"

The combination of pink, blue, and silver attacks exploded an entire area about fifty meters wide, annihilating anyone in the middle!

The shrieking winds and showering flesh masked their miserable cries and wails. The air quickly turned ruddy and tasted of metal.

*Thud!* Yet some soldiers could hold these men down.

Silver Axe peered through his armoured body. "Ten Vice Admirals," he muttered.

…

Other conflicts broke out, even in the skies!

"Bwahahaha, you've gotta get some new tricks, Shiki!"

Garp cracked his knuckles, easily shredding apart a giant landmass the size of a mountain. He zipped through the sky, obliterating any such attacks from the skies.

"This is just another Tuesday for me!"

He rocketed at every mountainous island, turning them to debris every minute. The streak of white marine attire crushing apart such damning projectiles acted as a morale booster for the soldiers.

Sengoku had returned to the ground, but his shockwaves were loud and clear. They would make quick work of any escaping shards of earth, even if they spanned an entire warship.

Alas, while the two top marines held down Shiki, another Titan was making his move…

BOOM!

A barrier of earth suddenly shattered apart like glass, littering the ground. It was a fantastical sight—it was like the fabric of space being broken apart!

The marines nearby were blown away and into the air by the sheer force of the quaking winds; no place was safe from the tremors.

A grumpy Basara stood tall against the havoc, raising one hand to cover his face. He peered past the gaps of his fingers, witnessing his troops being eradicated.

"Gurararara!"

The laugh alone pissed him off. "This sacred land won't survive if you're allowed to wreak havoc."

His words were intended for the titan that had appeared—he was more than twice Basara's height. His glorious blond hair danced in the chaotic winds while he imposed his dominance with his signature 'stache.

"Then why don't you protect it?" Edward Newgate offered with a grin, rushing forward with his prized naginata.

…

All top marines, be it Vice Admirals or even the Admirals, had made a move. Yet one such man remained calm and collected, a powerful reserve unit.

"Haaaaah," a dull sigh escaped his tired lips. It came from a purple-haired marine with explosive muscles. He had a metal arm finely crafted by the world's finest.

"No matter what time, these pirates only know war."

"!!!" The Admiral Candidate suddenly narrowed his eyes, feeling a ship close in.

He ignored the chaotic air, cries of misery, and hordes of Marines, instead focusing on a sole vessel making its way through the debris-ridden shores of God Valley.

"In all this carnage, a lone ship remains untouched…" Zephyr murmured.

It wasn't long before he recognized the owner of the ship, the same ship that had skillfully docked at the pier.

"The Fourth Division of the Rocks Pirates Grand Fleet."

Zephyr's eyes fell onto the pirates disembarking in front of him, and his fingers dug deeper into the seastone arm.

"'Drug Lord' Droga Pablo, 'Stone Serpent' Arai, 'The Rampage' Majin, 'The Inferno' Ignio Kaen; you four alone combine to over a billion berries now."

He found a new face.

"You must be Solomon," Zephyr inferred, much to the man in question's delight.

The Admiral Candidate looked around, trying to find the others, but was left confused. "But where is your leader?"

"Kuhuhuhu, you should be worrying about yourself…"

…

[The Titanic]

One of the two ships that were still in working order was the ship that carried the true spirit of the Rocks Pirates.

"Look how they massacred my boy," Damien muttered, examining the once magnificent ship.

He was present when the Titanic was born and even named it. Yet after years of abuse and misuse, the mighty vessel had suffered quite the damage.

The once-thick masts were littered with cuts and slashes that had been deeply carved in.

The ore that could perfectly spread forces had been hit with endless gunshots, cannon fire and other projectiles. As it was never truly cleaned, the previous blood droplets had rusted into the metal, leaving it prone to damage from within.

The sails were cut up and filled with scratches; at first glance, the Titanic was crying!

The undying pirate sighed, ignoring the thick stench of blood that had seeped into every fiber of the once-mighty ship.

"Commander, we have incoming…"

Damien nodded, his eyes flashing red in Observation.

*Fwoooo* A sharp whistle blew about as a shadow crashed into the Titanic, digging through the main building and shredding deep into the ship's core.

Black lightning courses across the ravaged ship, leaving cracks and scars behind.

*Purrup* Water bubbled under the ship, ever so slowly finding tiny gaps to drip into the very bottom of the ship, rotting it from within.

"That seemed to have been Vice Admiral Garp," Indra concluded in curiosity from Damien's side.

"The sky is Shiki's territory, after all," Damien casually answered. "But Garp also crashed into that room…"

BOOM!

A loud explosion went off as the same white figure suddenly launched from deep inside the Titanic and soared out.

The haunting Haki following the Marine's advent was thicker, crueller and more menacing than what Shiki could produce.

Damien tracked the soaring Garp as he arced from one end of the Titanic to the edges of God Valley, landing in what was now a crater.

"..."

The marines all paused. So did the pirates. No matter who they were, they each took a deep breath as a particular figure stood atop the fallen Garp.

The towering figure with wild hair sported a crazed expression and a feral smile. Spit dribbled from his maw as the man felt a great thirst for battle and war. The wrinkles and scars that decorated his unholy visage stretched into a cruel grin.

A thick stench of death and blood emanated from the haunting figure, filling those nearby with pure dread. His presence alone knocked out a good five hundred marines to the floor.

"Xahahahaha!"

The creepy, hoarse laugh sent shivers up the Marines' back, echoing across the battlefield, sending shivers down everyone's backs.

Damien watched with narrowed eyes.

>=-=----[]---<>---[]---=-=<

[Rocks D. Xebec]

[Age: 47 years]

[Height: 14' 11"] (4.55 m)

[Devil Fruit: Death-Death Fruit (Complete Grandmastery) ↑]

[Fruit Rating: 7 Stars (Ultimate-Class Fruit)]

[Weapon: Mokushiroku of the Supreme Grade Series]

[Skills: Unholy Talent in all Colours of Haki, Overwhelming Strength, Overwhelming Presence, Shadow of Despair, Will of D, Screams of All Things]

[Haki: Grandmastery (II) of Observation Haki, Grandmastery (I) of Armament Haki, Complete Grandmastery of Conqueror's Haki]

[Strength: Beyond Yonko]

>=-=----[]---<>---[]---=-=<

"Looks like Rocks' Devil Fruit has reached its potential. Can he still be killed?"

Damien fell into thought while Xebec lost interest in the downed Garp. His manic eyes stretched across the corroding terrain, peering through the lively forest.

"Xahaha! This island is blessed beyond what is natural… I've never felt such life before."

The monster licked his lips. He felt it fitting for the 'Gods' to be canonized here. And it's all the more fitting for them to die here, too.

With a feral grin, the evil pirate stepped ahead, every step leaving behind blackened earth. He paid no mind to the 5,000 marines surrounding him as he made his way to the Celestial Dragons deep in the island.

A damned melody sung as Xebec took another step.

*Thump*

An esteemed Rear Admiral took a hefty gulp. His panicked eyes fell onto his hands, holding up a famed blade.

*Thump*

Sweat dripped from the Marine's palms and onto the grip of his sword—his grip was tight, but he couldn't move!

'Move! Move! Move!'

A creepy laugh followed by a thunderous step.

"Thump*

The Rear Admiral looked to his left and right, seeing nothing but collapsing soldiers with pale faces.

He uttered a guttural cry in hopes of breaking out from this quaking Haki.

The Marine looked up with great difficulty, feeling a cold chill run down his back.

"Xahahaha."

'I-I'm dead…!'

The infernal presence, the damning laughter and the eyes that lacked humanity.

"Death is not the end, young marine…"

Rocks stepped ahead while his left hand reached the shaken Marine's chest. The soldier watched, frozen, as the pirate's cracked nails dug into his torso, ripping through his skin as he continued walking past him.

"Guhhh!" The soldier convulsed from the black toxin rushing through his bloodstream, overloading his system.

With a thud, he fell to his knees, foaming at the mouth as darkness plagued his vision.

A final breath and a final look—he saw Rocks D. Xebec, surrounded by lifeless marines, treading toward the divine castle, a shadow of despair following in his wake.

…

"Garp!" Sengoku roared from the distance, his eyes plagued with worry.

"!!!" The Buddha was suddenly shot back, a deep cut spanning across his chest while he slammed into a rolling hill.

"Jihahahaha! Sengoku, you know better than to look away when going against me!"

The Flying Pirate floated a dozen meters above the golden statue, his eyes tracking the departing Xebec.

"Hehe, show them your power, Rocks! Let me hear it…let me hear these Gods beg for their lives!"

There was a degree of fascination in the Golden Lion's eyes. He looked to his Captain with admiration and respect, grinning at the thought of the taboos about to be committed.

"Damn Shiki!"

The Buddha burst into a widespread shockwave, tearing out from his crash site. But it wasn't just the Admiral getting to his feet…

With a boom, a mighty shadow exploded from the withering land, fashioning an iron fist.

"That guy brings nothing but death and suffering with him," the bloodied man murmured, seeing the carnage.

"As annoying as it is to save those golden turds…I can't just let him destroy the World Government!"

Garp gave chase after the distant evil pirate, showing no hesitation at the sight of the skeletons along the way.

…

Much hell had broken loose, all falling in the calculating eyes of the Fourth Division's top dogs.

"The Marines lack the spirit from the Scorched Sea War," Indra commented.

His words earned a smirk from Damien, "Kurowashi, now Kurojū, can no longer wave his flag. The marines are crumbling without him."

A few thoughts went through the pirate's mind before he took action.

"Let's join in on the festival."

*Fwooo* Two dark figures zoomed from the weeping Titanic, landing at the shores of God Valley.

Damien's boots sunk half an inch into the blood-soaked ground as he took a whiff of the deathly air.

"D-Damien the Undying… so he's here too!" a Rear Admiral quivered.

Naturally, Indra scanned the world around him by his Commander's side. The heightened Observation of the swordsman was quick to make itself known: "The pirates have already fallen to nineteen thousand."

Damien hummed in satisfaction. He spared the Rear Admiral a nod, "You guys are doing well to cut down our numbers."

"I-It won't be long till you're all wiped out!"

The Sin Incarnate chuckled at his words, then turned his eyes elsewhere, squinting at a distant figure. "Looks like he's about to reveal his true colours…"

Indra followed his Commander's gaze and soon fell onto drunken Captain John. Said pirate wasn't too far away and felt their eyes.

"Johohohoho!" he laughed, wiping his gun with a dead marine's collar.

"Oye, John!" Wang Zhi tore past two Vice Admirals with a roaring cry. As the marines quickly recovered, he growled, "The hell are you not helping for!?"

"Johoho!" Captain John burst into laughter, his hand cupping his face—he had no marines after him!

"Johoh– Lahahahaha!"

Damien hummed at the change in voice, simply watching in intrigue.

"You were right to doubt me, Sin Incarnate."

'Captain John' was now speaking with a deeper voice, once filled with malice.

"I take it that you were the one who filled the ships with the explosives? Even letting in all those spies."

"Lahaha! You would be correct. Shakuyaku's departure left Rocks opening an unholy draft. You know how easy it was to bring in thousands of money-hungry men and even marine spies?"

The man with long pink hair suddenly began to tremble. His body turned fluid, and his skin warped like liquid. The hair shook and receded into the skull, while the clothing began to shed and become nasty.

"Truly a disgusting, vile creature you are," Damien spat.

*Fuuuu* A brown fog began to hiss from the man acting as Captain John, unveiling his true appearance.

It was uniform in colour, a mix of brown shades mashed together. Its wrinkly body looked more like loose clothing.

It had two pointy ears, a nose lacking cartilage, and two yellow balls for eyes.

"That's hurtful… this is simply the product of my ability," he refuted, seemingly offended.

Damien had previously read this power when he combed through the Devil Fruit Encyclopedia and echoed his thoughts: "Human-Human Fruit—Mythical Model: Doppelganger."

[Image (in Discord)]

The vile creature uttered a croaky laugh, nodding.

He shot a muddied arm to the side, ripping the head of a pirate clean off his shoulders.

"It gives me the ability to perfectly replicate another person," he said in his broken voice. "Even their Haki signature!"

Damien slowly nodded—it explained why his Haki failed to convey the truth hidden behind John's mask.

"I take it that John is dea– No," he paused and corrected himself, "Considering that coward, he probably sold his own spot to let you take his form."

The creature smirked, "Lahahaha! That's right, John was the one who approached us, us being Cipher Pol Zero!"

He then gave a curt bow and introduced himself, "I am 'Mimic' of CP-0; it's an honour to see you in the flesh… Or at least in my flesh, Lahahaha!"

Indra's right hand was glued to the grip of his sheathed Tenmei. Although he awaited a command from Damien, it didn't mean he wasn't paying attention to everything around him.

"Is it not unsightly to make a deal with pirates?" he asked.

Mimic shrugged, cracking his shoulders. "John was smart. He sensed the fall of Rocks coming, so he took upon the offer of our Chief at the Scorched Sea War without hesitation."

A smile soon arrived across the agent's face. "You do know I've been stalling?"

Damien shrugged while Indra remained at attention.

"I can hear your heartbeat," the Sin Incarnate explained. "It suddenly calmed down, which means your backup has arrived."

Mimic's breathing hitched right before he smiled once more.

*Purrup* A purple dot suddenly appeared by the man's side, expanding like a portal. Out came a lone person, bringing with him an ominous wind.

Indra's surprise was evident in his tone, "Another Mythical Zoan. The World Government invested quite a lot in Cipher Pol."

Damien laughed, agreeing with his right-hand man.

"Phantom, you kept me waiting," Mimic said, his voice suppressing the fear in his heart.

"No worries, Mimic, everything is going according to plan."

The one who had arrived was simply a cloaked figure floating in the air; his entire body was covered up to reveal red eyes.

"Spirit-Spirit Fruit – Mythical Model: Phantom," Damien concluded.

[Phantom Image (in Discord)]

The agent codenamed Phantom then tapped the purple portal, evoking a sharp whistle. Damien narrowed his eyes as he felt the portal turn from a door… into a bridge!

*Thump* *Thump* *Thump*

A few figures exited, not affected by the sounds of war around them. Naturally, it was a full squad of Cipher Pol Agents.

Though it was the man at the front that was the real deal.

Damien's Observation flared at the sight of the man.

He had dull-blond hair that was short at the top but long at the back and extended to his shoulders. His thick beard matched his hair colour. The man's aged face was scarred across his forehead and even down his left eye, and it was without a pupil.

The wild appearance resembled a lion!

"Einar D. Damien," his deep and fierce voice resounded. "You've caused the World Government and myself endless troubles."

The troublemaker grinned. Wasn't making a mess part of the job description for a pirate?

"The man seen as the 'Face of Justice…'" Damien lightly spoke, his curiosity peaked.

"We finally meet…Chief of Cipher Pol—Xerxes!"

[Xerxes Image (in Discord)]

To Be Continued…

----------------------------------------------

Author's Corner.

Rocks has begun an advent of chaos toward the Celestial Dragon, with Garp chasing from behind.

Captain John was shown much earlier as a vile existence. Now Damien realizes it was never John in the first place but a Cipher Pol agent. CP's top elite is also here, a man equal in authority to Kong.

Images are available on Discord alongside other niche details: https://discord.gg/aJHHHPvb6q

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