"Jahahahaha!"
A wild, lion-like laugh echoed across the sky.
A massive pirate fleet, numbering over ten thousand men, emerged from the clouds.
Thunder roared.
Storm winds howled.
And under the raging tempest, an overwhelming pressure descended upon the battlefield.
The Flying Pirates had arrived.
...
Gareth stood in the storm, gripping his twin spears tightly.
His eyes were sharp.
Calm.
But filled with solemn determination.
Compared to before, Gareth had undergone tremendous change over the past half-year. The once inexperienced knight had matured into a true commander, carrying himself with the dignity expected of a Round Table Knight.
"Lord Gareth!"
A knight knelt on one knee.
"The Flying Pirates have been confirmed! They are launching an attack!"
Gareth nodded calmly.
"Send the order. All units prepare for battle."
"The war has begun."
"If they chose the Vimas Region as their first target, then we must not disgrace our King."
He raised his weapon.
His voice turned stern.
"As knights, we do not exist to rely on the King's protection."
"We exist to protect the King."
"To shield our people."
"The war stands before us."
"Are you ready?"
"YES!!!"
A thunderous roar erupted from the knights behind him.
Each knight wore heavy armor.
Blood stains marked their armor, proof of the battles they had fought over the past six months.
They had grown through blood and fire.
Through war after war.
Now—
This was the moment of judgment.
Retreat?
Impossible.
Their eyes burned with determination.
Gareth was ready.
—
"Jahahahaha!!"
The sky darkened.
A massive fleet of floating ships covered the heavens.
Standing in midair—
Golden Lion Shiki floated above the battlefield.
He grinned.
"So you're Gareth, huh? Little girl, waiting for me?"
"Or do you think you're strong enough to fight me now?"
Gareth answered calmly:
"Mr. Shiki. I am not your match."
"But I am a member of the Round Table Knights."
"My duty is to stand here."
"If you wish to pass..."
"You will step over my corpse."
Shiki burst into laughter.
"Jahahahaha! Then I'll step over your corpse!"
"Men! Attack!"
"OOOOH!!!"
Thousands of pirates roared.
Madness filled their eyes.
Though not as insane as the old Rocks Pirates, the Flying Pirates inherited at least seventy percent of that madness.
They were lunatics.
Treasure.
Violence.
Destruction.
Nothing else mattered for them.
And then with manic face, they jumped from the sky.
...
This was the battlefield Gareth had chosen:
A vast plain, perfect for cavalry.
Gareth raised his spear.
"Charge!"
"AWOOOO!!!"
Thunder wolves appeared beneath the knights.
Thousands.
Each wolf crackled with dark purple lightning.
Gareth possessed the Blessing of the Wolf God.
With Morgan le Fay's assistance and his own training, the ability had evolved.
Now—
He summoned ten thousand Thunder Wolves.
This was why they were called:
The Thunder Wolf Knight Corps
"Charge!"
Man and wolf roared together.
They surged forward.
Blinding speed like lightning.
In a single charge...
Dozens—
Then hundreds—
Pirates fell.
Bodies scattered across the plain.
"What?!"
"Shit!"
"Don't underestimate them!"
"They're strong!"
The pirates grew serious.
These weren't weaklings.
They were the Flying Pirates, one of the strongest pirate fleets in the world.
And yet—
One charge had already killed hundreds.
That alone proved the terrifying strength of Gareth's knights.
Above the battlefield, Shiki narrowed his eyes.
"So strong…"
"Arthur, you've built quite an elite knight corps."
A cruel grin spread across his face.
"If I crush them… you'll feel pain, won't you?"
However—
Shiki did not move.
He wouldn't personally attack Gareth.
It would be disgraceful.
A top-tier pirate like him attacking a knight corps that wasn't even led by a top Round Table Knight?
Even if he won, his reputation would suffer.
Instead, he glanced at his commanders.
If they couldn't defeat Gareth—
They weren't worth keeping.
---
A striking woman leaned against the railing.
She had horns with half-fishman features.
A twisted smile crawled her face.
"Governor… they're strong."
"Just ten thousand knights…"
Shiki glanced at her.
"If you're interested, go try."
She laughed.
"Not yet."
"I want to see more."
This half-Fishman harbored deep hatred.
Rejected by humans and Fishmen alike.
She lived only for revenge.
And when she had once returned to Fish-Man Island...
All she could see was harmony and stability. Thanks to Arthur.
She hated it. Everything about it.
So she joined Shiki to destroy Britannia.
To plunge those damn Fish-Man Island back into chaos.
As for Shiki? He didn't care.
"As long as you fight, I don't care what you think."
---
Nearby stood another commander.
A figure resembling a scarred swordsman wearing Wano-style attire.
A Shimotsuki clan exile!
In his lifetime, he had survived punishment and escaped Wano.
Now he wanted revenge. Blood for blood.
When he drew his blade, a faint black sheen appeared.
A nascent Black Blade bare laid.
He grinned as thirsts of blood gleamed in his eyes.
"Round Table Knight…"
"Let's see if you're worth cutting down."
The half-Fishman smirked.
"You're going too?"
He grinned wider.
"Of course."
Slowly, He stepped forward.
"Let's crush those bastards into pieces"
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