Cover Story – "Momonosuke's Journey, Part 6: 'Let Me Feed You Instead!'"
"You're awake?" When Momonosuke slowly regained consciousness, the first thing he saw was the gentle face of a black-haired girl. Kuina smiled softly. "Don't move. You've been unconscious for too long—your body's weak. Drink this herbal tonic first."
The small porcelain bowl was still steaming as she held it to him. Momo was so touched he nearly burst into tears. A girl like this… he liked her! He rolled his eyes, an idea forming. Just as he lifted his right hand, he immediately dropped it back down and cried out in pain, face twisted, eyes brimming.
"Eh? You hurt your arm too?" Kuina frowned, clearly concerned. With a sigh, she gently blew on the spoon. "Alright then, I'll feed you. Open up. It's still a little hot..." She didn't notice the sly smirk forming at the corner of Momo's mouth.
"What a pain! If she feeds you one spoonful at a time, we'll be here all day. You're still supposed to duel me later!" A gruff voice cut through the sweetness—Zoro, who had been impatiently waiting on the side, suddenly snatched the bowl. Before Momo could scream, he pried open his mouth and dumped the entire, scalding tonic down his throat.
"Aaaaargh—!" Across the Shimotsuki Dojo, disciples paused mid-swing as the sound of a pig being slaughtered echoed bizarrely across the training grounds.
———
Rosinante's expression twisted oddly.
"I don't think…" He shrugged. "You've got the clout to say that. Try surviving today first before running your mouth."
"We'll see soon enough, won't we?" Reba's eyes gleamed with menace, ready to retort—
When suddenly—
BOOM!
A deafening cannon blast rocked the air, immediately followed by a cacophony of shouts and war cries.
"Your Majesty! Trouble!"
"The pirates and rebels are attacking the city!"
A royal guard burst in, breathless with panic.
Reba flinched, momentarily stunned. But before he could react, Rear Admiral Momonga and the elite Marine recruits exchanged a brief look—then, wordlessly, they stood and filed out together.
They had already sent a distress call yesterday. Their mission now was to hold the line—
Buy time until reinforcements arrived.
Arguing with an incompetent partner like this was pointless.
"Tch."
Reba watched the Marines' retreating backs with a cold stare. Finally, he gave a snort and waved to his CP agents.
"Move. Let's go."
They were all in the same sinking boat, after all. He didn't plan to fight to the death—but he still needed to look the part.
BOOM BOOM BOOM—!
Outside the capital's walls, the thunder of cannon fire raged on.
The rebel forces surged forward in waves, wielding both hot and cold weapons. Tens of thousands darkened the horizon, a seemingly endless tide.
At the front lines stood figures dressed distinctly different from the rest—
The six pirate crews, hired at great expense by the lumber magnates.
"The Marines are finally coming out," sneered a tall, gaunt pirate captain with layers of black cloth wrapped around his head. He grinned up at the battlements. "Even that Rear Admiral Momonga's with them. Looks like they're ready for a final stand."
"Tch, I'd love to test myself against a Marine Rear Admiral," said another, licking his lips. "Never fought one before. Killing him would really boost my bounty, wouldn't it?"
"He's my opponent."
A low, commanding voice rang out behind them—
Authoritative and cold.
"You lot handle those Elite Camp brats. That's all you need to do."
The pirate captains clicked their tongues in frustration, but no one dared protest.
Because the man approaching them was built like a mountain, each step radiating sheer dominance.
That was Diamond Jozu.
Only in his early twenties, his bounty already exceeded 210 million Berries.
Once a division commander in the Whitebeard Pirates.
No one knew why he was here, or why he'd formed the "Diamond Pirates" instead.
But regardless—this man had made his mark even in the New World.
And none of them dared treat him as an equal.
The battle near the capital walls had descended into chaos.
Despite the rebels' massive numbers, they were stalled—the royal army, composed of elite soldiers, held strong. And with the Marines' support, the line didn't break.
The pirate captains exchanged looks.
Time to earn their pay.
"I'll go first—snag the opening kill!"
The black-wrapped captain laughed and charged, peeling the cloth from his head to reveal two sharp horns.
His body transformed, stretching into a massive, five-meter black bull.
With a bellow, he smashed through his own ranks, charging toward the thick city gates.
Another captain followed, transforming into an enormous hamster, slashing at the gate with oversized claws.
"Black Bull Garl, bounty 81 million Berries, Parkin the Forest King, bounty 84 million Berries…"
Momonga frowned, turning to the troops behind him.
"Both are Zoan-type users. We can't let them break through. Intercept them!"
"I'll go, Rear Admiral!"
"Me too!"
"Count me in!"
Several elite recruits leapt down from the walls, rushing to meet the monstrous intruders.
These were top talents—future Rear Admirals Menard and Kancel among them. Since Nao and Shiryu had graduated, these two had dominated every training assessments.
They couldn't beat the pirate captains outright—
But with support from the royal soldiers, they could hold them off.
A fierce melee broke out at the gates.
Meanwhile, three more pirate captains stepped into the main battlefield.
They weren't Devil Fruit users, but their physical power alone forced the defenders to commit significant resources to hold them back.
"Mr. Brandon, Miss Vivian, I'll leave that side to you." Onigumo then looked at several Elite Camp instructors.
"Got it."
Led by Brandon, the instructors—former Marine Headquarters officers—stepped forward to face the invaders head-on.
The rest of the elite recruits spread across the walls, holding every flank.
But Momonga remained still.
His eyes stayed fixed on the massive figure hundreds of meters away.
That was his true opponent.
The biggest threat on this battlefield.
"Heh…"..
Seemingly sensing Onigumo's gaze, Jozu the Diamond also looked up, baring his perfectly white and straight teeth in a grin. Then, he slowly lowered his arms, which had been crossed over his chest.
"He's coming!"
Momonga's pupils shrank.
Jozu had vanished—despite his enormous size, he moved with terrifying speed, charging toward the wall.
BOOM. BOOM. BOOM.
Each step shook the earth. Rebels and pirates alike were sent flying in his wake, bodies ragdolling through the air.
In a flash, he reached the city.
Jozu leapt high, his massive right arm cocked back—then hurled a devastating punch toward the walltop.
CRASH!
Stone exploded outward, leaving a yawning gap.
As Jozu pulled his fist back to strike again, a slash of sword aura ripped toward him from the side.
"Not on my watch!"
Momonga's blade followed his voice. But Jozu didn't dodge.
He grinned—and met the attack with his bare arm.
CLANG!
The clash sounded like metal on metal, sparks flying.
Momonga's sword stopped cold—buried in something far harder than steel.
"That's all you've got, Marine brat?"
Jozu scoffed, his now-diamond arm grabbing the blade.
With a snarl, he swung his massive left fist straight at Momonga's face.
WHAM!
The Rear Admiral flew like a ragdoll, slamming hard into the far wall.
His sword was knocked free, spinning through the air and landing near a gleeful pirate who snatched it up.
Jozu leapt again, fists raised like twin hammers, aiming to crush Momonga where he lay.
"Shit!"
Momonga grit his teeth, grabbing a random sword from the battlefield.
But it was no match.
Without his own blade, he was completely overwhelmed.
Bloodied and battered, he crashed to the ground again.
The weapon in his hands had already shattered.
"You slipped away twice before, but not this time!"
Jozu grinned, stalking forward.
"Still, you're a Rear Admiral. I'll give you a proper burial!"
Burial...?
Before Onigumo could understand, he saw Jozu grunt, suddenly plunging both hands into the ground. With a forceful effort, and a terrifying, earth-shaking rumble, the ground for over ten meters around was suddenly torn up and lifted high above his head!
Jozu the Diamond at this moment, was practically lifting a mountain!
What terrifying strength!
Momonga's eyes widened.
So those earlier fights… he wasn't even going all out?
This... this is the power of a Whitebeard division commander?
"Die, Marine!"
Jozu charged like a beast unleashed, boulder raised overhead.
The massive shadow blotted out the sky.
Momonga couldn't move.
He'd lost too much blood. Too much strength.
He closed his eyes.
"Is this... the end?"
He had been ready to die since the day he chose to pursue justice.
But not like this—not when he still had a mission.
If he fell now, the entire Elite Camp could be wiped out.
He couldn't accept that.
FWOOSH—!
Suddenly—
A wind howled past his ears. His hair whipped violently.
He opened his eyes—
Two colossal arcs of white sword energy surged in, slicing the giant boulder into a cloud of stone dust.
CRACK—BOOOOM!
Debris rained down. Momonga stared, dumbfounded.
Even Jozu looked stunned.
They both looked up—
And saw him.
A lone figure, floating in the sky above the battlefield.
Draped in a white coat emblazoned with Justice.
Tall and lean, handsome and sharp-eyed.
Twin swords glinting at his sides.
It was Nao..
"Sorry I'm late, Rear Admiral Momonga."
Nao gave a slight smile.
Then his eyes turned, locking onto Jozu with quiet menace.
"You've made quite the mess."
"But if you think you can kill my comrades under my watch…"
"You've got another thing coming."
The entire battlefield froze.
The pirate captains stared in disbelief.
"Reinforcements? Just one guy?"
"Where's the rest of the Marines?"
"He deflected Jozu's attack with one sword strike?! Who the hell is that?"
The Marine side, however, erupted.
"It's Nao!"
"Nao is here!"
The elite recruits and instructors lit up with joy.
Hope returned to their eyes.
The tide was turning.
What did it matter how fierce the pirates were?
Even if Jozu was a monster from the Whitebeard Pirates—
Their reinforcements had arrived.
And not just anyone—
Nao, the most powerful recruit in Elite Camp's history.
Their pride.
Morale surged like a flood.
The Marines, who had been teetering on the edge of despair, now fought with newfound fury.
The battlefield shifted in an instant.
"I've heard of you," Jozu said, squinting.
"Natsuya Nao, right?"
"Back on Pops' ship last year, some of the guys mentioned you. Said you beat that Warlord, William, huh?"
"Looks like you've got some real bite after all."
He cracked his knuckles.
"But don't get cocky."
"Beating trash like William doesn't mean you're ready to take me on."