High above in the sky, Shiki's twin blades clashed violently against Sengoku's massive Buddha palms.
Upon the sea, Whitebeard gripped the power capable of destroying the world itself—the tremors of the Gura Gura no Mi—and relentlessly battered Monkey D. Garp in the distance.
On the World Government's ships, Roldy carried out a massacre of terrifying brutality.
And everyone knew—this was merely the appetizer.
The true main course was the enormous pirate fleet steadily advancing.
As if prearranged, not only had the massive fleet of the Rocks Pirates arrived, but no fewer than five other pirate forces were sailing toward God Valley as well. Among them stood a familiar figure—the Roger Pirates.
At last, the Marines had something to do. The Vice Admiral s aboard the warships hurriedly directed their troops to return fire. Yet in a war of this scale, cannons were of little significance. Their manpower was insufficient, and the pirates vastly outnumbered them.
"Jihahahaha! Boys! See that island in the distance? That's where our ambitions will be realized! Those hopeless scum of the sea are there—and so are treasures beyond counting!"
"All hands! Full speed ahead! Charge!!!"
Cannon fire roared as the war fully erupted.
The soldiers along the coastline fought back frantically. The island's prepared artillery batteries began spewing flames as well. Two or three opportunistic crews attempting to sneak through were struck by concentrated fire, sinking into the sea amid wails of despair. Their fellow pirates showed no mercy, steering their massive ships directly over the wreckage.
But it was not only pirates and the World Government who had gathered here.
There would always be those who valued certain things above their own lives.
High among the clouds floated hot air balloons. Countless reporters, armed with the most advanced equipment in the world, pressed their shutters so rapidly their fingers blurred. They intended to record every detail of this unprecedented war.
This would shake the entire world.
Ships belonging to underworld brokers lingered on distant waters, rows of telescopes trained on the unfolding chaos. They needed this information to prepare for whatever came next.
There were many like them.
In a war of this magnitude, even a single piece of information was priceless.
The most vicious pirate crew in history, together with forces from across the New World, had openly declared war against the World Government—the hegemon that had ruled for nearly 800 years.
How could anyone afford to miss such an event?
The results of the first clash exceeded all expectations—the pirates held absolute superiority.
The World Government's artillery was powerful, but it posed little threat to true monsters. Of course, the first exchange could not determine the outcome of the entire war.
Amid the thunder of cannon fire, the pirate ships drew ever closer to God Valley. Their counterattack intensified, dense barrages nearly riddling Marine ships with holes.
As for the World Government vessels—they required no further attention.
Roldy had gone completely berserk.
At this moment, he had already destroyed two-thirds of the World Government fleet.
The sound of battle along the coast echoed deep into God Valley itself.
Seated upon a raised platform, Saint Jaygarcia Saturn slowly opened his eyes. Within those aged yet imposing pupils flickered a subtle ripple.
"So… they have come."
Saturn had anticipated today's events. Yet even he had not expected the pirates' offensive to be so ferocious.
Through his Observation Haki, he sensed that the pirates had completely shattered the World Government's first defensive line. The remnants fled in panic toward the island.
As the Saber of Xebec docked at the shore and Rocks D. Xebec stepped onto God Valley, pirate morale surged to unprecedented heights.
"Jihahahaha! Go! The treasure is inside! Take whatever you desire! Anyone who stands in your way—kill them all!"
Several Division Commanders followed behind Rocks.
Charlotte Linlin rode atop Zeus, her thundercloud homie. Watching Whitebeard and Shiki locked in battle, she knew—
this was her greatest opportunity.
"Kaido! Move!"
She called out to the apprentice trailing behind her before charging eagerly into God Valley. Kaido, clutching his spiked kanabo, hurried after her.
This act ignited the pirates' frenzy.
Hordes of pirates flooded into God Valley. It required no imagination to foresee what would happen once the World Nobles appeared before these maniacs.
The fate of the Celestial Dragons was already written.
"It's your turn. Go."
Saint Jaygarcia Saturn lightly tapped his cane against the ground.
Standing atop the platform beside him were several magnificently dressed figures, their auras extraordinary. Their faces bore the same arrogance as ordinary Celestial Dragons—but their presence was something entirely different.
"Pathetic fools. They couldn't even last five minutes."
The leading man was strikingly handsome, tall and powerfully built. His crimson noble attire was immaculate, a magnificent Western-style sword hanging at his waist. Most distinctive was his crescent-shaped hair.
"Commander Figarland, wasn't their defeat part of the plan? Precisely because of this, we now have our chance to perform."
The blond man beside him spoke respectfully, his tone devoid of any fear toward the pirates of the New World.
The reason was simple.
They were the Holy Knights.
The elite among the Celestial Dragons—the elite of the elite.
They possessed the noblest bloodlines and the greatest strength. Their status was so exalted that they even held the authority to judge other Celestial Dragons. They were the ultimate military power painstakingly cultivated by the World Nobles.
Only the best of the best could join their ranks.
In fact, among the ultimate prizes of this World Nobles' Grand Hunt was the opportunity to become an apprentice of the Holy Knights.
"I am well aware of your strength," Saturn cautioned. "But do not underestimate them. Rocks is no easy opponent, and his Division Commanders are equally troublesome. Your task is merely to delay their advance. Once reinforcements arrive, these pirates will meet their end."
Yet it was clear Commander Figarland did not take the warning to heart.
"Hmph. A pack of insects."
"Holy Knights—move out."
His voice lingered in the air, though he had already vanished.
Saint Jaygarcia Saturn gazed in the direction they departed. From within God Valley, the anguished screams of the nobles echoed faintly.
"Rocks… New World… your greed will lead you to your destruction."
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