章節 143: [143] The Beginning of the End
[3700 words]
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[Briefing Room, Marineford]
[New Year's Day of 1486]
It was a prestigious gathering; the highest available level of the Navy was present.
The dozens of top dogs and their penchant for cigars had created a small cloud of smoke at the ceiling. However, the smoke didn't take away from the authority in the room—a U-shaped seating to accommodate those of Vice Admiral rank and higher.
"Usually, a new year marks a time for celebration, for the future to come," a deep voice mumbled in disappointment.
It came from a highly muscular man with a mountainous hairstyle and freshly shaven face to appear more youthful.
His voice turned solemn and heavy: "Yet now a cloud of war and mayhem has taken over the New World. I'm afraid what's to come will determine the next era."
Naturally, the man talking was Kong, the Fleet Admiral of the Navy Headquarters.
The next man to speak had white hair and a stylish goatee of matching colour. "We attained a new row of intel from our agents at Hachinosu," Asahi, the Director of the MCIS, informed.
"Rocks D. Xebec has exercised the majority of his firepower: 35,000 pirates in total."
Such words were disputed by the only admiral present—Sengoku's eyes scanned the intelligence report through his glasses with furrowed brows. "Rocks isn't the type to leave behind top officers, let alone one of his Titans."
Another voice, this time female, added to the conversation: "His particular distaste for the World Government must converge toward the Celestial Dragons. He must be after every single one of them."
It was the Great Advisor Tsuru. She placed aside the information while the purple-haired man to her right aired his thoughts.
"He's willing to give up a Titan to ensure the massacre of the World Nobles," Zephyr mused, crossing his muscular arms in solemnity. "That leaves three Titans and four Tragedies, led by their Supreme Commander… Such a force can easily overturn nations, let alone the entire New World!"
Kong heaved a dull sigh, his eyes narrowing in thought.
The collective bounty of the Fleet leaving Hachinosu was around the twenty billion mark!
"..."
The silence continued in the large room and across the round table. Dim light peaked through the shut windows, reflecting off half the people present.
"Let's focus on the Titans."
Asahi lightly coughed, showcasing his mastery over the subject.
"I have been in touch with CP-0's findings and corroborated it with SWORD," the man informed. Bringing up another sheet of paper. "We found the weaknesses of Titans other than the Golden Lion."
The Director of the Intelligence Service went on to list:
"Edward Newgate, aka Whitebeard. He has a strong connection to his homeland of Sphinx Island, frequently sending back ship's worth of resources. He even struck dead a fellow countryman and former Overlord, Esso Borealis, for betraying Sphinx."
"Charlotte Linlin tends to become lost in her hunger pangs, leaving her in a berserk state that may be exploited to take her down. Outside of that, her children are young, and some of them can be used against her."
"Einar D. Damien… Originated from the West Blue. One of my oldest agents, Raiden, the Commander of the 111th Branch Base, confirmed the young pirate's first movements at Greta Island five years ago."
Asahi finished with a solemn declaration: "Although Raiden is no longer an active agent and has chosen to exile himself, I can vouch for his word—Einar D. Damien's first sighting was at Greta Island!"
A nearby Vice Admiral was the first to react with a hurried question, "Are you saying you can track his home island!?"
"We should hold the island hostage, demand his leave from Rocks, or even use it to get him to backstab his Captain!" One of the youngest top marines roared, smashing his fist on the table.
"I agree! It would go well with the Protocol!"
…
The fresh intel took the briefing by storm as a vast array of havoc-inducing suggestions were thrown out.
'The Fleet Admiral would have acted on this already, which means there are obstacles,' a thoughtful Zephyr mused.
He ran his left hand through the cold, metal right limb, recalling the young pirate who had disarmed him.
"Our outposts are most barren in the West Blue due to the Four Mafia Families. It makes it difficult to send agents to investigate the dozens of islands neighbouring Greta and confirm the origin of the Sin Incarnate," Asahi added, shutting down any further discussion.
Kong leaned into his seat and took a loud sip of his tea before giving further orders.
"We lack the time and resources to narrow down a location...for now."
He addressed Asahi again: "What of the Fourth Division in general?"
The White Swan took a breath to put together an answer.
He recalled the recent addition to Damien's Division alongside other surges.
"There is a Solomon who the Sin Incarnate brought along. He has no past for us to trace. Unfortunately, before any intel regarding his abilities could be sent, the agent was forced to end the call and go dark till the storm settles."
"As for the Hellspawn, the only thing we've confirmed is an ability that allows him to generate electricity—there are too many such fruits to narrow down."
Further talks regarding the Fourth Division were quickly ended; it was only one piece of incoming threat to consider.
.
Suddenly, Sengoku, who usually only spoke on essential matters, audibly cleared his throat. "Can we address the elephants in the room, or missing from it in this case?"
The others all drew their attention to the two empty seats of the remaining two Admirals.
"You already know about Basara. Rocks left his home island in flames; thankfully, his sole pupil was spared," Kong answered with little emotion. "I believe he even left the young lad a Devil Fruit."
"If Basara sees value in a young lad, then I'm sure he can help maintain the peace of the seas," Zephyr commented; he felt great sympathy toward the mountain maker.
"And what of Kurowa-I mean, Kurojū?"
This time, it was Kong who went quiet.
Hesitation flashed in his eyes, only for him to reluctantly sigh.
"His task is to transport the World Nobles to God Valley." However, Kong paused with uncertainty and breathed out, "But I'm afraid he won't stay for the inevitable battle."
"!!!"
"An Admiral missing such an event is unfound!" Tsuru exclaimed, her raised voice conveying her disbelief. "Let alone his Devil Fruit can bolster the morale of our armies!"
"I know he has been lost in his rage, but he is still an admiral; his presence is necessary!" Zephyr expressed his thoughts as well.
Kong huffed, tapping his finger on the glass table.
*Crack* Spider web-like cracks spread across by the sheer force, conveying the man's frustration.
"In his current state, Masao's Devil Fruit ability has no use; he has lost his 'Dazzling Justice' and can no longer help in that sense."
Kong clenched his fist, gnashing his teeth. "I'm just as frustrated as the rest of you. I raised that boy, and now he actually dares to flaunt his 'Miserable Justice!'"
A few days ago, he had a long talk with Masao. It was then that he learned of his newfound 'justice through misery' —a code that sought to make people yearn for the Navy's peace by forcing them into suffering and pain.
*Huuuu* The Fleet Admiral loudly exhaled helplessly, shaking his head away from the aggravating thoughts.
With a softer tone, he continued, "Though it's not all bad news. With the Evil Spirit and the Hundred-Beast staying at Hachinosu, his existence is an asset." The top marine went on to set his point in cement, "Enough about Masao; we have more important topics."
His voice grew resolute and authoritative, and his face wrinkles were stretched to the fullest.
"The Five Elders have shared their thoughts for the coming war. I will echo their orders to you all…"
Dozens of veteran marines straightened in their seats; a direct command from the Overseers of the World was even above that of the Commander-in-Chief!
And it was as short and sweet as it was daming: "The Rocks Pirates will no longer exist beyond this sacred event."
The words plunged the room into dead silence. Such a thought was unfounded, but it wasn't unexpected considering the grave taboo they were en route to commit.
"Cipher Pol, under Xerxes, will aid us in our efforts. Everything will work out fine. This gathering will be our greatest chance to remove the scourge of the pirates!"
*Click* Kong then reached for his Transponder Snail and dialled a number, leaving the room in suspense.
"Puru," "Puru," "Puru."
"Katcha~!"
"Are you finally done with your little vacation, brat? I want you at God Valley to spearhead the assault on the Rocks Pirates."
The snail conveyed its caller's lax nature, matching a person lying at the beach. "You want me to go way out to the boonies to fight? What's the point?"
Kong sighed, massaging his forehead.
"I can't say, Garp. But we need you there! Our reports haven't been verified, but if the danger is real, it'll be a disaster for the World Government!"
The man on the snail proceeded to pick his nose, waving off the emergency.
"This is about the Celestial Dragons' little field trip, isn't it?" the man asked. "Why should I care if they're in trouble? I always said it'd come back to bite you if you messed with Hachinosu. It's their fault for poking the hive!"
The other top marines zipped up their mouths in the hope of not pissing Kong off anymore, allowing the conversation to go on.
"What did they expect? You don't just swipe the crown jewel of Pirate Island! Of course, Rocks would come to take it back!"
"!!!" Kong's eyes widened in shock. "Where in the world did you hear about that!?" he thundered.
Garp continued, ignoring the question, "You must've assigned them extra protection for their stupidity, right? So what's got you so flustered that you need me there too?"
Kong sighed once again, putting his daily sigh count into the hundreds.
"Well, there's something we didn't account for… it seems Roger's on the move there too!"
"!!!" This time, it was Garp who was left in shock, "Lead with that next time! I'm on my way!"
"Katcha~!"
…
Kong then leaned into his chair and spoke to everyone present.
"Our enemy is the most fearsome pirate crew to have sailed the seas in centuries," he solemnly stated.
"Rocks D. Xebec holds the reins to the pirates of the New World. Therefore, his death will not only end this damned pirate era but also pirating itself for good. Failure is not an option; the entire Navy will be put into action, and no matter what, justice will prevail!"
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[The Titanic]
The Fleet had prepared to depart.
Damien now stood at the magnificent ship, walking out from the Captain's Quarters—just now, he had a little chat with Rocks himself.
He recalled the meeting: "Xahahaha! This is a little special; the Government will be in full swing since they wanted to mess with me…"
"Guess I missed the whole stealing of the crown jewel thing," the Sin Incarnate commented.
"Hehe, Xerxes, that wily fox has some stealthy agents. But it's fine. I can drive those golden bastards to extinction while retrieving it!"
Damien narrowed his eyes, wondering about his captain's confidence. "You think they'll crumple that easily?"
"Xahaha! I have a secret weapon that the Government stands no chance against!"
…
'Maybe it's from his Awakening?' Damien thought on his way back.
The pirate shook his head, unable to fully decipher the meaning behind Rocks' words.
Now, he could examine his surroundings, which were similar to those of the Scorched Sea War. But this time, they had 35,000 troops spanning over a hundred ships.
'So much evil intent, but that has nothing to do with me.'
Damien's Empathy skill naturally decoded the emotions around him; all seven deadly sins were present.
"!!!" The young pirate suddenly felt a vile and snake-like stare from the side.
Matching the eye level, he found a familiar face. A man with long pink hair, a coat and a wild grin.
'This guy still feels odd, but I can never sense anything truly out of place from him with my Haki,' Damien thought to himself.
The only things that flared were his instincts, something he had grown up never to ignore.
Captain John smirked from afar before walking away.
"Speaking of snakes...it's time to cut a few loose ends…"
…
Damien eventually made his way to his ship with eight other men on board. They each stood across the deck, breathing in the salty sea air, watching as the dozens of ships came together into a formation.
"Kuhuhuhu! It's quite the spectacle," came a dull laugh from the towering Solomon.
He wore his usual get-up, simple trousers that showcased his tattooed and muscular body. This time, he also sported the spanning scar he acquired from Indra alongside the pulsating stamp of the sacred lightning.
Kaen poked Solomon with his elbow, joining his admiration for the line of ships covered with thick smoke. "Hehe, I like this guy. He can appreciate my taste in art!"
The much smaller Pablo said, through his smokey breath, "This advent feels quite somber. I hope to see you all on the other side, mi amigos!"
"Arai hopes everyone well."
"Majajaja! Let's destroy the Navy and the World Nobles!"
"I, too, wish to see the despair in the faces of those Celestial Dragons; I hope to carve their fear into my memory," Hensō commented, boasting an indifferent mask.
"I'll ready the drinks after we're done with this mission. It's all on me, or in me, I should say!" Voyd Nomu laughed, chuckling at his saké fruit power.
Damien smirked at their enthusiasm, though his eyes hid a sharp gleam.
"Unfortunately, not all of us will return alive."
"..."
The pirates blanked, staring at their boss.
Their Commander ignored their questioning gazes and dropped a few words: "The two things I find the most despicable are liars...and traitors."
The words were laced with a solemn air, bouncing across the ship as if silencing the rowdy pirate fleet gathering around them.
The Suicidal Rambo, who had seen much war, was swamped with grim topics; the boisterous atmosphere quickly dissolved into panic.
"And well, when those two come in a package, then I can't help but want to eradicate it."
The crimson eyes fell onto a single pirate amongst the others. The rest of the Division Mates followed Damien's gaze and began to space out subconsciously.
The one under the Commander's cold eyes had long, nicely-combed white hair.
"Ehh, w-what do you mean by this, Bossman?" The dark-skinned man audibly gulped, "T-The joke is going too far…"
Damien's gaze conveyed nothing but silent disappointment, forcing the man to take a few shaky steps back.
Sweat ran down his facial markings, but his confused expression quickly warped into pain: "Auugh!"
He was quickly lifted off the wooden deck nearly ten feet into the air, a sharp blade protruding from his chest. Miserable grunts spat from his mouth as his quivering hands grasped the katana responsible for his pain.
"Voyd Nomu," Indra's collected voice broke out. He stood 11 feet tall, his arm extended to hold the enemy in the air, with Tenmei piercing through a lung.
"A new generation pirate hailed as a Supernova when the World News Agency was still in power," the swordsman recounted. "All your feats were awfully loud, yet no one actually knew of your existence even after boasting a bounty of two hundred million."
"You claimed to be born in a Cult of West Blue, yet your home island exists only on paper."
Nomu, who was leaking copious amounts of blood, grasped at the white blade with both hands, desperately clinging on to life.
"I-I-I am no traitor…!"
Indra narrowed his eyes, lacking even a hint of pity.
"Don't insult my intelligence. You've been desperately trying to unearth my Devil Fruit ability to report to your superiors. Do you really think I wouldn't notice?"
Nomu gulped; his breathing spiked.
He painfully looked around, hoping to find an anchor to latch on to to save himself. Yet Nomu saw disgust in the other's eyes and felt his life slipping away.
.
Damien finally spoke, this time with a smile, "You wanted to know what power I granted my right-hand man?"
"Well, it happens to be the invincible Rumble-Rumble Fruit."
Shockingly enough, even after Indra's thirst for battling top opponents in the past year, he never let the extent of his powers show. And when he clashed with Kaido and Big Mom, none remained conscious long enough from the thunderous battles.
Nomu heard the news, feeling despair cloud his vision.
"Twenty-four calls," Indra spat. "That's how many times you rang up your leader at SWORD. A marine agency that has left the Navy, existing as a secret force."
The revelation brought shock to the dying pirate's face, feeling wholly seen through.
Indra pulled back his blade, forcing the man to collapse to the floor in a pool of his own blood.
"I heard every word your transponder snail conveyed. The only things you leaked were things I wanted you to leak."
"Haaa, Huuuh, Haaah…" Nomu clawed across the ground, his bloodied fingers digging into the floorboards. He looked up and saw the eyes locking onto his body and knew his time was up.
.
"G-Golden Supernova!"
.
Like a grape, his body exploded into a spectacle that reached the ship's crow's nest.
The others watched as a few droplets from across the ship and toward the sea suddenly shook.
Voyd Nomu's body splashed into the familiar liquid, reforming from the few droplets away from the Suicidal Rambo.
'No matter what, I need to report this to the Captain!' the man told himself in deep panic.
Nomu willed his body to turn fluid, dancing across the sky and toward a random ship nearby.
By now, the other pirates had naturally noticed the Fourth Division's antics, watching in great interest.
Damien sighed in disappointment, not faltering by the turn of events.
"Kaen."
The man in question moved immediately and pointed a hand toward the distant stream of saké.
A vicious grin appeared on the red-haired man, "Hehe, I enjoyed billowing flames with your ability, Nomu! So I'll give you the privilege of going out in a blazing glory!"
*Snap!*
Instantly, the steam of saké ignited in the air, sending out a massive plume of fire.
Boom!
It burst so sweltering that it began to melt a few ships nearby while burning dozens of sails as well.
"Auuughh! Uuguh! Ahhhh!"
Miserable cries echoed from the conflagration, voicing out the mind-numbing pain of being burnt to death. It was mixed with a hundred other pirates and celebrated by thirty-five thousand others.
.
Indra ran a stream of Haki, burning away the blood on his sacred blade.
Turning to Damien, he said, "His final call was to both the Captain of SWORD and Hakuchō, the Director of MCIS. I know every detail of their plan…"
The next few minutes left the Sin Incarnate privy to the fine details the Navy relied upon—a long list of enemies, plans and backup plans.
One such protocol would cement the death of thousands within seconds.
Indra then expressed his last remaining thought, "Should I alert the other Division Commanders of their plan?"
"..."
"No."
Damien lightly chuckled, his eyes locked onto the distant horizon, no longer caring about the dead Nomu.
Indra paused momentarily, examining the look in his Commander's eyes, "As you wish."
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The fateful day approached while both sides were preparing for the storm. The tremors affected even the Holy Land. While the Celestial Dragons were more than excited to let loose, their overseers had one final box to tick...
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[Pangaea Castle, Mariejois]
Five elderly men slowly walked across a dimly lit hall. Each looked solemn as they continued, slowly arriving at their destination.
*Creak*
The giant doors to the Throne Room opened, allowing the five old men inside. They were the Five Elders, also known as the Five Elder Planets!
They stopped to kneel across the long red carpet, bowing their heads to the throne far above—the Overseers of the World were submitting! Such an act that would leave every living soul in shambles!
The Empty Throne symbolized that a single figure did not rule the world—it sent a message of peace by making all royals equal before it, with none greater or lesser than the other.
Even the First Twenty plunged their swords at the side of the seat, showcasing their unanimous agreement for the throne to remain vacant.
Yet the Five Elders waited in patience and deep reverence.
[Empty Throne Image (in Discord)]
*Thump* *Thump* *Thump*
Light, rhythmic steps echoed as an elusive figure appeared, slowly scaling the staircase to the throne of the world.
"!!!"
The person took the seat, draping their arms over the gold armrests designed to look like lion head statues. Instantly, the Throne Room was plunged with the sanctity of gods!
.
"Balance has been shaken as you prophesied," Ethanbaron V. Nusjuro calmly stated.
Shepherd Ju Peter continued their unanimous thoughts, "We will carry across your words to bring the world back into its orbit."
Marcus Mars spoke next, "Have you decided which 'light' needs to be extinguished…"
"...from history this time?" Jaygarcia Saturn finished the sentence.
Topman Warcury concluded the thoughts of each of the Five Elders: "If so, share the name with us."
"..."
A deafening silence pervaded the fresh air of the throne room. The Elders no longer spoke and continued to kneel for however long it may take.
After what felt like an eternity, a sole piece of paper flew down from the throne above. It fluttered in the divine air of the spanning hall, slowly falling before the loyal servants under the throne.
The Five Elders peered at the paper and examined the figure in the picture. It was the bounty poster of Rocks D. Xebec, spelling his doom.
To Be Continued…
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Author's Corner.
Linlin, Kaido, and Kuroju will not be present at God Valley, but they will surely get involved in some way or another. The traitor Nomu has also been vanquished. Damien hopes the same for the Rocks Pirates but has little control over what's to come.
What do you think Rocks' secret weapon is against the World Government?
Images are available on Discord alongside other niche details: https://discord.gg/aJHHHPvb6q
章節 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…
----------------------------------------------
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
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