Tải xuống ứng dụng
69.44% One Piece: Path to Power / Chapter 121: [121] Sworn Enemies of the Gods

Chương 121: [121] Sworn Enemies of the Gods

[2770 words]

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

[An Hour Later]

*Rumble*

Boom!

Bam!

Powerful bursts of air and shock pulsated at a rhythmic pace, sending tremors through the already ruined Superbia in the form of powerful shrieks and bangs every ten seconds.

"U-Ugh, I can't take it anymor—guh!" The man suddenly fell to his knees, his eyes whitening from the mental shock.

*Thud!* Tens of other marines fell one by one, much like flies.

A shaken man watched the display with a grim expression.

"Puru," "Puru," "Puru." "Katcha~!"

"This is the Marine Outpost outside Superbia. What is the nature of your emergency?" a formal voice asked.

The man slowly answered, "T-This is Rear Admiral Dongshire. My troops have all fallen unconscious," he shared with great struggle. "I-It seems to be Conqueror's Haki, pulsing out from Apollo Island without end… Auugh!"

"..."

"Rear Admiral!?"

"Please report, Rear Admiral Dongshire!"

.

[On the Other Side of the Call]

"..."

"Katcha~!"

The marine respondent shook his head in uncertainty. He couldn't help but look around and feel the same chaos befall the other two dozen respondents.

"Did you caller faint too?"

"Yeah, something about their mind feeling great weight."

"Conqueror's Haki? Just about every troop stationed at sea surrounding Apollo Island has collapsed, it's opened a hole in our formation!"

The chain of news quickly made its way to the top of the pyramid, leaving Sengoku to massage his temples. "Apollo Island, that's where Fulcrum went on her own," he murmured. "What could it be that is evoking such Haki?"

He looked to the distant skies, which pulsed with red and purple waves of pressure, sending tremors all over the nearby seas.

Basara sat to the side, not exactly disturbed by the news. "Looks like she fell upon some difficulty. It would be best for that Underworld rat to die!"

"Don't be ridiculous; she's imperative to the imminent future!" Zephyr snapped from the side.

Tsuru seemed just as bewildered, saying, "It knocked out even a Vice Admiral near the island seas. Such Haki is extraordinary!"

"All the threats have been reported to have departed. I can't connect the dots," Sengoku pondered.

"Isn't it outside of our jurisdiction for another nine hours?" Basara spat with disdain. "Let her deal with whoever's there."

"..."

His words were brash but not incorrect. Their duty was to wait out the 12-hour immunity before moving in, and that is precisely what followed.

[Eight Hours Later]

"It's still going on. It must be a powerful opponent!"

"Looks like Fulcrum is stronger than anyone thought. Her Haki is noteworthy!"

"We can only wait it out…"

The Marines' worry gave birth to many theories.

Some thought Fulcrum had encountered a great enemy pirate who wanted to claw at Sol's great treasures.

Some thought she was training. Some thought it was simply a residual effect from the recent war. But none could imagine the debauchery that had occurred for the previous eight hours.

After another twenty minutes, the banging finally concluded. All but the shallow breathing that remained at Apollo Island.

A beautiful girl with long purple hair lay defeated upon a white bed. Beads of sweat ran down her face.

The young man sat up, stretching his body. "That was fun… nice to release the built-up stress from the past few months."

A victorious smile broke out on the dark-haired pirate as he ran his hands through the young woman's hair. 

"I, I can't keep up without Toki's help…" she murmured, hiding under the blanket.

"Don't say that. It works nicely to train Conqueror's Haki, too," he casually said, fully recovered from previous injuries.

Damien stood up, looking around for some clothes, only to remember what happened. "Oh right, I only have rags left from my regal attire." He clicked his tongue; the convenience of having self-reforming clothes would be missed.

.

Aurora stared at the shirtless Damien with narrowed eyes. Although she adored seeing her soulmate's dense and shredded muscles, she also had some other thoughts in mind.

"Thank goddess, that trenchcoat of yours is gone," she whispered. "I don't understand how men don't get tired of wearing the same clothes every single day."

Damien scoffed at the accusation. "I'd rather be ready to jump into action in two minutes while wearing old clothes than spend two hours deciding what to wear."

Aurora hummed with a smirk, floating out from under the sheets and landing before the male pirate, fully nude. Damien clicked his tongue in slight annoyance as a burst of aether swirled, clothing the Empress again, hiding the glorious view.

"It only takes me two seconds to get ready," she quipped, reaching to fix her hair.

"And it just so happens that I've been collecting some nice clothes for you. Much better than that dark and brooding coat from earlier." The girl went into designer mode, unleashing torrents of purple energy. At her command, a plethora of shirts and pants floated and slowly spun in the air.

"..." Damien was left speechless at the sight of the dozens of clothing sets. Sure enough, Aurora had been waiting for the day he lost his regal attire.

Aurora hummed at a few shirts, cupping her chin in thought, sparing some glances at the unclothed pirate.

Five minutes later, the Sin Incarnate stood before a spanning mirror, looking at his reflection with some surprise. "I guess it's not bad to try on something new."

Aurora stood beside him, her head reaching his shoulder as she admired the sharp outfit with twinkling eyes—she was enamoured.

The mirror revealed a darkly charismatic presence, highlighted by his striking attire and intense gaze. He wore a form-fitting, deep purple shirt with intricate black and lighter purple floral and swirl patterns covering the entire fabric, creating an almost tattoo-like effect. The pants were dark and a mix of formal and tactical.

The woman shook her head from the reverie and made a few more changes.

"The shirt alone is a little too mundane…" she muttered, reaching for Damien's sleeves, rolling them up. Her hands then went for the buttons and loosened a few.

"There we go!" Aurora remarked in joy, taking a final look at the pirate.

The partially unbuttoned shirt revealed a well-defined chest, contributing to his sharp yet dangerous appearance. His dark, tousled hair, crimson streaks, and red-tinged eyes made for a mysterious and somewhat menacing demeanour.

"I couldn't possibly ever guess your favourite colour," Damien said with a smile, looking at the purple-haired, purple-eyed girl who picked out a purple shirt for him.

Aurora huffed an exhale, raising her proud chin at the comment. "Purple is a royal colour, which is why my great-grandfather, Amethyst Aurelius, chose it as our surname."

[New Look Image + Older Damien (in Discord)]

[Half an Hour Later]

In his new get-up, Damien stood at the shore of Apollo Island again, Aurora by his side. They enjoyed the breeze while the girl finished a report from Unso Island.

"How is it?" the young man asked.

"There will be a huge hike in the Heavenly Tribute tax for the coming year," Aurora answered, staring at the gentle tides. "They've bumped it up to fifty percent!"

The Heavenly Tribute was a yearly taxation system imposed on every nation under the World Government.

Over 160 nations gave up a significant percentage of their annual worth to the benevolent Mariejois. Due to the tremendous amount of wealth to be transported, the World Government had set up the Revenue and Taxation Bureau (RTB) to facilitate every shipment and ensure every berry was present.

The Commissioner of the RTB had authority equal to that of an Admiral, ensuring the 15-20 transports every month went without a problem! 

Damien pondered at the update, nodding, "The base tax is forty percent, but such dark times lead to huge hikes."

He clicked his tongue at the daylight robbery, which was understandable considering the Navy's losses. 

"You know what to do?" he questioned.

Aurora smiled proudly, "Since they've bumped up the tax on the world… It's only right for me to bump up the cost of using the Styx Passages."

"That's my girl," Damien laughed, playing with her hair.

.

The final minutes of the immunity encroached quickly as the pirate duo breathed in the calm seas; as the saying goes, after the storm comes a rainbow.

"There's a small thing you should know about, Damien," Aurora said, her eyes still enthralled by the beauty of the New World.

"What's up?"

The girl's expression warped into a more serious one as she answered, "The Navy. They've recently brought in two super recruits, Marine Supernova even."

Damien raised an eyebrow in intrigue. "Oh, who is it?"

"The first is the son of Garp—Monkey D. Dragon," Aurora stated. "He has the ability to spawn storms and manipulate weather."

The words brought a look of surprise to the Sin Incarnate's face. 'So Dragon, the future most heinous criminal, was an enemy created in the Navy itself,' he thought.

"Though he should be quite young being Garp's son."

Aurora nodded, "He's only sixteen but has been dubbed a rising star."

Damien didn't find it odd knowing Dragon's lineage, though another thought came to mind: "Who's the second?"

"Well, his case is a little odd," Aurora paused for a second, somewhat unsure. "He seems to have had a run-in with you."

"Is that so?" Damien rhetorically asked with a light smile, his curiosity peaked.

"Yeah, he was present when you stormed G-2. He goes by the name of Shinrai."

Now, it was Damien's turn to pause in thought. A figure came to mind from that day, months ago. A brave marine, or at least a marine feigning bravery, stood up to Damien right before his supposed fall.

"He should have died, let alone when I sank the base itself to the bottom of the ocean."

Aurora narrowed her eyes, "He was found unharmed through the ordeal. I don't know how that happened, but Kong is keeping a tight lid on his stars."

*Vvooo!* The previous passionate demeanour vanished and was replaced with the cold eyes of an assassin. "Should I take care of them?" she asked, holding an ethereal dagger that had claimed countless lives.

It was a simple statement awaiting a response.

Damien smiled at her expression, which resembled a death statement to be given. "Calm down, my dear assassin," He ran his hand through Aurora's silky hair, instantly turning her docile. 

His eyes turned a little more calculating following his words: "This Shinrai must have survived with the help of a Devil Fruit he found at G-2… Plus, getting a bold recruit isn't necessarily disadvantageous."

While enjoying the touch, Aurora became curious: "What do you mean?"

"A powerful Navy is bad news for me, but a weak Navy is even worse," Damien answered as a few faces of pirates appeared in his mind. "If I go around killing the top dogs, then there will be no one to contain monsters like Shiki, Big Mom and, of course, Rocks."

The infamous evils of the Rocks Pirates were fresh in the world's mind. Aurora knew of this, but she had other reservations.

"Is that why you left Kurowashi alive?" She asked in a muffled tone.

The Sin Incarnate paused in thought, seeing the gem-like eyes of the Underworld Emperor. He also felt the strands of apprehension exuding from her, mixed with melancholy. 

Sure enough, Aurora's mind flashed with the dark memories of her home being ravaged and her family executed, all under the cold eyes of the Black Eagle.

"I know your hatred for him," he softly answered, pulling her into his embrace. The warmth of his body tore her away from the dreadful past. "Don't worry. His misery is only beginning." 

[A Little While Later]

The Marines finally got the green light to move in. 

The fleet did so immediately.

Under Sengoku's command, they quickly salvaged what remained. The first priority was the forces at Superbia, the ones stationed at Helios Capital, and the two Forts.

It wasn't a surprise when the Admirals found the destroyed forts and walls alongside the majority of the Prideful Pirates dead. 

What did surprise them was that so many of them were cruelly drained of life… turned to bones and nothing but fleeting minerals. A horrifying image, to say the least.

.

Over the next twelve hours, Sengoku, Garp, and Zephyr scoured Superbia, clearing endless collapsed buildings, landmarks, and mountains.

In the wake of the Pirate Fest, huge waves and tsunamis had graced the island, leaving it in dust and rubble.

Of the 300,000 civilians, at least 40% died from such causes, while many were left injured and in a critical state. While the remainder had been knocked unconscious over a half-dozen times in the past few days, it was a true hellish experience.

The Marines' actions were not simply for Morgans' eyes but also for Sengoku's justice.

Though he wasn't naive enough to think he could save everyone and was ready to shed blood to maintain stability, he also wasn't the type to let innocent people die.

Garp was quite vocal in his actions, smashing ruined lands to facilitate the aid's arrival.

Vice Admiral Tsuru utilized her Wash-Wash Fruit as needed, bringing in some recruits. It was a long process but necessary; after all, the Marines were the good guys.

"Kong-san, I didn't ask then, but the Celestial Dragons… what's going on with them?" Sengoku asked over the snail.

Kong's stern voice responded, "A grand event will happen soon, Sengoku. The leaders of the nineteen Noble Houses have voiced their desire to calm the seas."

"Many things are happening in the background. Cipher Pol is moving at its highest capabilities. Even Endou-san has been working overtime."

The Fleet Admiral sighed in resignation, his fatigue conveyed through the snail. "I see you as my successor, Sengoku. Do as you're tasked, don't ask too many questions, and my seat will be yours eventually."

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

[Room of Authority, Pangaea Castle]

Five men rested in the Room of Authority. They were the Supreme Authority of the World Government.

The Sword Elder slightly unsheathed his Supreme Sword—Shodai Kitetsu. "Balance has been tipped. The world is left hanging by a thin thread of order that weakens by the day."

Marcus Mars sighed as he massaged his temples. "With Sol's downfall, a vacuum of power has appeared in the New World. From one D to another. Rocks, Roger, Damien; they are far too dangerous to be left alive any longer."

Topman Warcury gnashed his teeth, "All our efforts have been voided by those insufferable Rocks Pirates! The fateful day approaches, and we lose more and more control with the passing second!"

*Shiing* Nusjuro fully released his sword, distress evident in his eyes. "Rocks has gotten stronger, and Roger has gotten far too close to the Final Island…"

He went on to say, "And that young pirate… Einar D. Damien. His father was just as problematic as he has now become!"

Saturn also chimed in while tapping his cane in a dull beat: "The D. will always blow up a storm! It was a mistake on our part to let him grow. The little seed left behind by Ares has sprouted and grown into an entity that seems to only know how to oppose the order we impose."

The voice then grew solemn as a sharp glint flooded the eyes of the Elders. It may be time to extinguish another light from history again.

"..." A deafening silence pervaded the atmosphere as each Elder was left solemn.

Saint Ju Peter, who had been quiet until now, finally gave his thoughts: "At the very least, the Rocks Pirates have lost a vast amount of their troops. It should take a while for them to return to their strength."

However, Warcury wasn't as optimistic: "We lost ten thousand at G-2 and another 25,000 in this Scorched Sea War; it's unforgivable!"

*Tut* *Tut* Saturn tapped his cane, reining in the others' attention. "What of the plan? It seems Xerxes' actions have bore fruit."

Nusjuro nodded, recalling a recent report, "The Operation is in progress. Two top agents of SWORD and Cipher Pol have weeded themselves into the Rocks Pirates; they will remain hidden till needed."

Ju Peter nodded in some satisfaction. "The Black Death has shown a desire to depart from Rocks' banner; it seems the operation has a great chance of success."

Warcury leaned into his seat, his eyes growing distant, "Time will tell…"

...

[The Next Day]

A great storm swept the seas, bringing a flurry of newspapers that concerned the world's stability!

Alongside the plethora of news came a haul of bounties totalling an inconceivable amount!

To Be Continued…

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

Author's Corner.

Finally, a complete update on Damien's appearance.

The Marines have begun investing in future powerhouses, starting with the two rising stars. Although it came at a hike from the previous hike of 45% (Chapter 91) to 50%. You may also recall the RTB mentioned in Chapter 8 when Damien's claim over the bounties was taxed, annoying him.

By the way, the cliffhanger was not at all purposeful.

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


Chương 122: [122] Echoes of the Scorched Sea

[2660 words]

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

[A Small Tavern in Sabaody Archipelago]

A small group of dark figures sat at the edge of the bar, their presence dulled by the gloomy air around them.

"Any news of the target?" one of the shrouded persons asked.

"Nothing," a female voice answered, heaving an annoyed sigh. "As we reported months ago, she must have long died!"

A short silence later, the lankiest one of the shadows spoke, "Kade has always been correct with his foresight… our hollow answer isn't enough!"

"'Lord' Kade needs to accept his human nature!" a bulky shadow cursed, clenching his fists. "Chasing after a dead woman while the world goes to hell, just why is he Deputy Chief anyway?"

"Enough," an authoritative man spoke, silencing his companions. "Chief Xerxes sees Kade in a very bright light. Our mission holds till we bring solid proof of death for the Veil of the Night, Amethyst Aurora."

"..."

The lead figure lowered his head in thought, his eyes shut. 'Although rescued by the Sin Incarnate at G-4, she had taken a lot of damage and since then disappeared. If she didn't succumb to her injuries, then just where did she go?'

There were endless outcomes for a missing pirate: death, betrayal, disease, slavery, retirement, to name a few.

"If Deputy Chief Kade is correct, then it means the Veil of the Night has somehow lived off the grid for over two years… that is no easy feat, and it leaves Einar D. Damien with a sharp dagger at his disposal."

The other personnel remained quiet, pondering the possibilities. 

A bellowing cry from outside the tavern burst the bubble of thought. The lead shadow glanced with narrowed eyes at the rumbling beyond the creaky doors—it sounded like a stampede.

"Perhaps our mission will be put on hold… the news of the war has come!" The man shook his head and waved his hand.

*Pwoo!* An ominous breeze and the shadowy people disappeared into a purple portal.

The streets were far more packed than ever as tens of thousands of citizens, workers, merchants, pirates, and those of whatever other profession reached for the sky to grab the hail of bundled newspapers.

A young and fiery merchant opened his copy, looking at the headline. After all, a war was doom for some but a money-making opportunity for others!

And the bolded words did not disappoint: "THE SCORCHED SEA WAR!"

The nearby fisherman sighed in disbelief, scanning a few images while scratching his balding dome. "How can these people be considered human…"

Images of Roger vs. Whitebeard, Shiki vs. Redfield and Damien vs. Sol were just the first part, conveying a small amount of chaos that had taken place on the first day of the war.

"The previous Pirate Festival saw a huge spike in violence and death all over the world… I still remember it to this day!" an older widow wept, wiping the tears running down her face. 

The newspaper fell from her grasp, showcasing the unholy sight of the armoured Damien in his Hadean Release.

.

"Is he a bad guy?" a childish voice asked.

"Yeah, yeah, they even say he's the incarnation of sin!" another added.

A young girl ran to the sole adult, grasping their leg and not letting go. "I'm scared!"

The middle-aged man sighed at the terrified group of children around him. What was meant to be a trip from their tiny navigation school to see the booming Sabaody had turned into a mess.

"L-Look at this… he left a hole in the ocean!!!" 

The spanning scar of the Scorched Sea took up an entire page, leaving the thousands nearby to absently stare at the abyss, Damien's Abyss.

It was beyond anything they had seen; Mother Ocean had always been untouched, always the doom of the monstrous Devil Fruit users of the seas. But now the Sin Incarnate had torn it open and the marine fleet with it!

The headmaster crouched down, huddling the quivering children. "Listen up, everyone. This is exactly what the Navy is here for… they will protect you!"

The man spoke with as much firmness as he could muster, but the sight of five beacons of justice being swallowed in flames had left most people broken.

.

A large family seated around a cafe table were all lost in the news. The elderly woman, perhaps the grandmother to the five younglings, waved her cane. "Remember to behave yourselves, children, or the Sin Incarnate will come for you in the night!" she howled in a scratchy voice.

The woman's waving cane drew the attention of many other families nearby, her words even more so.

The demonic figure seeking to end the brave Navy's path of justice was indeed something to fear!

"At least the Navy was able to save many of the innocents of Superbia!" a family man exclaimed.

His companion nodded, "Thankfully, Sengoku-sama was there."

A woman on the side added, "It's good that over 50,000 pirates fell at such a terrible event. One less pirate is a hundred innocent lives saved!"

Due to the government's deal with World Economy News Paper, they saved some of their reputation as the world's guardians. Hundreds of thousands were saved, and tens of thousands of pirates were either dead or imprisoned.

But that didn't stop the names of the Roger Pirates and Rocks Pirates from echoing in everyone's minds! Especially with the attached posters.

-----< WANTED >-----

< CAPTAIN⋅JOHN >

< 'Pirate Bandit' >

< 𝔅 569,000,000 - >

< DEAD or ALIVE >

-----< WANTED >-----

< SHAKUYAKU >

< 'Black Death' >

< 𝔅 933,330,000 - >

< DEAD or ALIVE >

-----< WANTED >-----

< SILVER⋅AXE >

< 'Blinding Light' >

< 𝔅 1,134,000,000 - >

< DEAD or ALIVE >

-----< WANTED >-----

< KAIDO >

< 'Hundred-Beast' >

< 𝔅 1,261,110,000 - >

< DEAD or ALIVE >

-----< WANTED >-----

< SCOPPER⋅GABAN >

< 'Twin-Axe' >

< 𝔅 1,370,550,000 - >

< DEAD or ALIVE >

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

"Heh, how ridiculous!" a rash voice boomed.

A few people on the sidelines turned to the grizzly man and subconsciously gulped. After all, the burly man was a well-known bounty hunter.

"Even the Hundred-Beast and the Twin-Axe can barely be considered minor foes in this war!? Griz-lalala! These pirates really are walking treasure heaps!"

*Shing!* A light hum followed by an ominous breeze.

Hundreds of nearby people felt chills running down their backs as they glanced at the cloaked figure.

"So you've reached such a level," the dark figure murmured, his sharp eyes locked onto the bounty before him.

It was a reward for the right-hand man of the Fourth Division's Commander. The same pirate who had dealt a grievous blow to Admiral Basara and now brought hell to Admiral Kurowashi.

-----< WANTED >-----

< ZENORA⋅INDRA >

< 'Hellspawn' >

< 𝔅 1,666,000,000 - >

< DEAD or ALIVE >

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

The hissing wind was born from the mystery man's weapon as he glared daggers at the bounty. "Such notoriety, yet you still run away from your true nature."

'That sword!' a young blue-haired man named Tashigan yelled to himself. A small book detailing the Meito was pulled out as he matched the blade in the unknown man's hands.

'That's it, the Damned Blade!' 

It was a long, sleek, intricately designed katana with a dark, ornate hilt and a subtly curved, razor-sharp blade. The distinctive grip exuded elegance and lethal precision.

Unfortunately, even the mysterious swordsman was quickly forgotten as the following collection of bounties evoked both awe and ridicule.

A 30-foot-tall tentacle man chuckled, stretching his eight legs across five tables. "That Morgans kid is really cheeky!" The blue-skinned man slapped the table in amusement.

-----< WANTED >-----

< SILVERS⋅RAYLEIGH >

< 'Dark King' >

< 𝔅 2,308,600,000 - >

< DEAD or ALIVE >

-----< WANTED >-----

< GOL·D·ROGER >

< 'King of the Seas' >

< 𝔅 4,064,800,000 - >

< DEAD or ALIVE >

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

"'King of the Seas'!? Hahn-Hahn-Hahn!" the squid-man nasally laughed. "This is like adding oil to the fire!"

"Good lord! F-Four billion!" a man cried out as his body fell with a thud from sheer shock.

Not even the Three Overlords of the Sea had managed to enter the four billion range, causing quite the uproar.

"B-But isn't it right? After all, Roger reached the final island, Lodestar, a little while ago… He truly did become the King of the Seas!"

A scarred old man with white dreads shook his head. "The Overlords are dead, leaving two top dogs… calling Roger the King is slinging mud at the Rocks Pirates!" he roared with gnashed teeth. "The WENP will spawn even more chaos with this blasted nickname!"

"K-Keep reading! The next part is entirely on the Rocks Pirates' top elites!"

Pages were flipped aggressively as another collection of bounties was shown with separate descriptions. With the numbers written in their usual bold and eye-drawing font, it was enough to cause an island-wide silence.

First, she was known for her charming appearance and world-class figure. Yet with that attraction came great dread. A woman with a bottomless belly that could destroy a village of Elbaf as a child—a true-born monster with the power to play with one's soul and responsible for the death of millions.

-----< WANTED >-----

< CHARLOTTE⋅LINLIN >

< 'Evil Spirit' >

< 𝔅 2,488,000,000 - >

< DEAD or ALIVE >

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

The next man was known for his overwhelming strength, capable of destroying the world! His name has remained ingrained in the minds of the masses since he alone took down the Overlord, Esso Borealis.

-----< WANTED >-----

< EDWARD⋅NEWGATE >

< 'Whitebeard' >

< 𝔅 2,846,000,000 - >

< DEAD or ALIVE >

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

The next name was the newest addition to the Titans.

"Thaddeus Enigma, North Blue Massacre, G-4, Vice Admiral Zephyr, and the newly-archived Supreme Blade Ryushi," a traveller recalled, massaging his forehead.

A young woman shut her eyes at a few images of the pirate in question. One such image unveiled Damien with torn clothes, boasting his untouched torso after taking a plethora of abuse and walking away without any glaring injuries.

"I've seen that beast Garp flatten mountains with his fist… so just how can this guy live after taking that on!?" a veteran pirate roared in disbelief.

Four images, side by side. The first one showed the gaping hole in Damien's chest, and the next image showed the glistening-black bones with dripping flesh. The third was of the half-regrown chest, followed by the skin that sported nothing but some purple bruises.

And then, to top it off, an updated reward:

-----< WANTED >-----

< EINAR·D·DAMIEN >

< 'The Undying' >

< 𝔅 2,987,600,000 - >

< DEAD or ALIVE >

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

Beyond that was a man with just as much terrifying fruit power. With his Float-Float Fruit, he could send entire islands into the sky. He was known for his incredible arrogance and strength.

He was said to equal the likes of Whitebeard and Roger but far exceed them in the slaughter and massacre of the seas.

-----< WANTED >-----

< SHIKI >

< 'Golden Lion' >

< 𝔅 3,004,990,000 - >

< DEAD or ALIVE >

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

A small squadron of marines was also present, all in hopes of keeping the crowd under control.

"The Sin Incarnate got a bump of half a billion for his actions this time around," the Rear Admiral admitted, his words carrying great frustration. "If not for the Golden Lion's tendency to cause great civilian deaths, I'm sure he would have been surpassed in reward!"

"Omoji-san… there's one more page left."

The decorated marine turned to the recruit and released a hearty sigh. Naturally, he knew what the final page of the paper hid.

In fact, the tens of thousands of people over the archipelago knew it, too, but their hearts made them second-guess their desire to flip the page.

After all, it documented the sole man who held the leashes of these titans.

Alas, curiosity killed the cat, and a brave young lad flipped his copy of the news, looking at the savage pirate and the personification of all things evil. 

He was everything a pirate entailed and far more; a disaster solely meant to eradicate, boasting a death toll in the millions! The pirate's name and appearance alone caused 200 reported heart attacks all over the world every year! 

-----< WANTED >-----

< ROCKS·D·XEBEC >

< 'The Abyssal Sin' >

< 𝔅 4,670,500,000 - >

< ONLY DEAD >

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

[At a Church in Grove 67]

An older man wearing the attire of a priest knelt before a giant statue. Tens of nuns did the same behind him, along with over 300 people of varying ages.

A few bounty posters were laid on the ground before the mass of faithful believers. "Oh Divine One, have mercy on our souls and send these devils to the deepest pits of the afterworld!"

""Please, Lord!""

Similar scenes occurred worldwide, whether in the Four Outer Seas, Paradise, or the New World. People were afraid, and they went where they felt safe. Some prayed to God, some accepted reality, and some were so afraid that their primal instinct to procreate and continue their family line was awakened by the fear of death.

"Look, they updated the Threat Index!"

The Threat Index was a list of criminals categorized initially into six levels. However, due to recent events, changes were warranted.

Level 6: Threats not worth mentioning by higher powers.

Level 5: Emerging threats, usually Super Rookies of their respective eras.

Level 4: Threats known for their brutality and destruction, usually belonging to the New World.

Level 3: Threats that could cause the collapse of smaller kingdoms.

Level 2: Threats that could be said to bring enough destruction that would warrant the eyes of Navy Admirals. Usually, pirates with at least a billion berry bounty.

Level 1: The absolute terrors of current times with the power or the capital to cause untold amounts of chaos. Usually, these threats were the main topic of discussion in the Reverie.

"'Pirate Queen' Herja, 'Crazed Wind' Borealis, Thaddeus 'Medulla' Enigma, the 'Holy Terror' Sol. All these monsters were on that list until their fall!" a man shouted as he looked over the new list.

But there was a glaring change to the World Threat Index—a new level!

Level 0: The unparalleled threat, surpassing all others, capable of toppling the very foundation of the World Government and commanding multiple Level 1 threats.

This new tier had but one name: Rocks D. Xebec. A pirate who commanded four Level One threats while having an army of relentless and fearless pirates. This, along with his ambition to sit on the world's throne, gave birth to a new level of danger.

Of course, the middle initial D was not exactly invisible. Even an idiot could see the reappearances of this name, as four, including the deceased Sol, had already made their way to the first level. 

It was another thought for the Reverie scheduled in three years.

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

[A Few Hours Later]

"Haaah, I can't believe so much happened at that Festival," a man sighed as he sat down. His heart finally calmed down from the news report.

"Who could have expected the Marines to lose so many troops in a single attack? What a tragedy!"

"Even the dazzling Kurowashi-sama was left so broken, and they sank the ancient Ox Lloyd's Warship, too!"

"Charlotte Linlin, Silvers Rayleigh, Patrick Redfield, Edward Newgate, Einar D. Damien, Shiki, and Gol D. Roger," a young woman with long, black hair recounted. "Seven of the current eight Level One Threats were involved in the war!"

A final summary of the casualty count was as follows:

Pirate Casualties: 50,000-52,000.

Navy Casualties: 25,000-26,000.

Civilian Casualties: 120,000-150,000.

A former pirate leaned into his seat, staring at the sky. "The Overlords are dead, and Roger and Rocks remain..."

As the saying goes: "There can only be one king!" With the Overlords gone, the final crews, Rocks Pirates and Roger Pirates seemed destined for another world-shaking war.

The echoes of the Scorched Sea had made their way across all borders and into all waters, claiming a point in history, both mentally and physically:

"Look at that; the historians of Ohara just sent an update, too," a man remarked, looking at a secondary note sent out by the WENP regarding Damien's Abyss.

His friend nodded with fascination, "I want to see it myself! It's a landmark left behind by the Scorched Sea War!"

The man nodded. "The ex-pirate Clover has dubbed it one of the Seven Wonders of the New World!"

To Be Continued…

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

Author's Corner.

I had to rewrite this chapter quite a lot. I also planted some seeds for future stuff. However, it was your average bounty-update chapter to wrap things up.

This is the era before everything went to hell, so naturally, the numbers aren't as blown up as future ones. Four billion was unseen until Rocks and now Roger. 

Any thoughts on what else can be added to the Seven Wonders of the New World?

Images, notable character recaps and other extra details are all available on Discord: https://discord.gg/aJHHHPvb6q


Load failed, please RETRY

Tình trạng nguồn điện hàng tuần

Đặt mua hàng loạt

Mục lục

Cài đặt hiển thị

Nền

Phông

Kích thước

Việc quản lý bình luận chương

Viết đánh giá Trạng thái đọc: C121
Không đăng được. Vui lòng thử lại
  • Chất lượng bài viết
  • Tính ổn định của các bản cập nhật
  • Phát triển câu chuyện
  • Thiết kế nhân vật
  • Bối cảnh thế giới

Tổng điểm 0.0

Đánh giá được đăng thành công! Đọc thêm đánh giá
Bình chọn với Đá sức mạnh
Rank 200+ Bảng xếp hạng PS
Stone 107 Power Stone
Báo cáo nội dung không phù hợp
lỗi Mẹo

Báo cáo hành động bất lương

Chú thích đoạn văn

Đăng nhập

tip bình luận đoạn văn

Tính năng bình luận đoạn văn hiện đã có trên Web! Di chuyển chuột qua bất kỳ đoạn nào và nhấp vào biểu tượng để thêm nhận xét của bạn.

Ngoài ra, bạn luôn có thể tắt / bật nó trong Cài đặt.

ĐÃ NHẬN ĐƯỢC