...
The light screen reached the critical moment where Luffy made up his mind to accept Rayleigh's suggestion, but the image suddenly cut off as if the power had been abruptly disconnected…
At the same time, the glow rapidly dimmed until it finally turned into a massive gray stone slab suspended in midair.
Simultaneously, the transparent barrier that had isolated God Valley from the outside world—an impenetrable wall—popped like a bubble under sunlight…
With a soft "pop," it completely vanished without a trace.
The Marine fleet outside, which had been on full alert with cannons loaded and aimed at the barrier…
had been preparing for another round of probing bombardment when the target suddenly disappeared. The commanding officer broke out in a cold sweat and hurriedly ordered a halt to the attack.
If they hadn't stopped in time, they would have nearly accidentally hit their own allies near the edge inside the barrier.
"What the hell? Why did that thing suddenly go dark?!"
Roger scratched his head in confusion and leaned in to examine the now-dull light screen.
Everyone around him—pirates, Marines, and God's Knights alike—had expressions filled with astonishment and bewilderment.
However, this shock quickly turned into wild joy on some faces.
Especially among the Celestial Dragons, who had been cowering behind the God's Knights, terrified out of their wits by the earlier visions of the future!
"It's… it's finally gone! That terrifying thing is gone!"
A bloated Celestial Dragon wearing a glass helmet, his ugly face twisted in ecstatic relief after surviving a catastrophe.
He no longer cared about appearances and scrambled toward the ships docked at the shore on all fours: "Run! Get out of this damn place!"
The instant he took his first step…
"Bang!"
A crisp, piercing gunshot rang out like the declaration of the Grim Reaper, shattering the brief silence over God Valley.
The bullet struck the Celestial Dragon's chest with perfect precision. Blood instantly bloomed in a glaring red flower across his luxurious clothing.
The joy on the Celestial Dragon's face froze, turning into incredulous terror before his body collapsed limply to the ground.
"No way in hell am I letting you damn bastards escape!!"
The shooter was an unremarkable-looking pirate from the Rocks Pirates.
He held the still-smoking firearm with no trace of fear on his face—only the exhilaration of vengeance and a bone-deep hatred…
He had become a pirate because his country could no longer pay the exorbitant Heavenly Tribute and had gradually fallen into ruin!
And his wife and children had lost their lives because of these damned World Nobles. Thinking of this, the pirate glared at the panicking group of Celestial Dragons with venomous eyes.
This sudden scene left everyone stunned.
"You scum!!"
Saint Figarland Garling instantly erupted in fury, veins bulging on his forehead. Killing a World Noble right in front of him was the most blatant provocation against the God's Knights and the World Government's authority!
Seeing that killing was now possible, Saint Garling immediately realized that with the light screen and barrier gone, the rule forbidding mutual slaughter seemed to have been lifted as well!
In that case—what did he have left to endure?!
"Clang!"
Saint Garling decisively drew his long sword. A razor-sharp silver sword wave shaped like a crescent moon sliced through the air, aimed straight at the head of the pirate who had fired the shot!
Wherever the sword wave passed, the ground was plowed into a deep trench, demonstrating its terrifying power.
Yet facing this lethal attack, the pirate showed no fear—only a relieved, calm smile!
As if he had long since cast life and death aside.
"Clang!"
A deafening clash of metal rang out, hurting everyone's eardrums.
Just as the sword wave was about to devour the pirate, Rocks made his move!
Holding the young Teach in one arm, he had already gripped his own saber in the other at some point. With what seemed like a casual horizontal slash, he precisely shattered Saint Garling's sword wave—his movements effortless and light.
Not only that—in the instant he dispersed the sword wave, Rocks twisted his wrist. An even more violent, even more dangerous shockwave roared forth along the blade!
It surged back toward Saint Garling at a speed impossible to follow with the naked eye!
"Pfft!"
Blood sprayed! Saint Garling hadn't expected Rocks' counterattack to be so swift and fierce—he didn't even have time to fully block!
He only felt a chill on his forehead before a deep, bone-exposing gash appeared, blood streaming down his cheek.
"Hey, hey, hey! Killing my guy right in front of me,"
Rocks handed the young Teach in his arms to Eris beside him, then gripped his long saber with both hands. Terrifying Haki coiled around it like a tangible substance!
He grinned, baring a smile full of malice: "You trash really don't take me, Rocks, seriously at all, huh?! Just because you Celestial Dragons are all delicate and precious? So what if I kill one! Since you want to protect them…"
As he spoke, Rocks' aura surged higher and higher, giving the impression of a long-suppressed prehistoric beast. His voice sounded as if it came from the depths of the underworld: "Then let me see just how many you can protect today!"
With the restraints gone, old and new grudges would be settled at once!
Rocks wasted no more words. Anyone who dared use his family as leverage was already unforgivable!
His figure shot forward like a phantom. His long saber swung, unleashing a terrifying shockwave capable of blasting away everything around it—aimed straight at the God's Knights and the trembling Celestial Dragons behind them!
"Protect the Celestial Dragons!!"
Saint Garling ignored the searing pain on his forehead and roared hoarsely.
The other God's Knights members reacted extremely quickly. Fully aware of their grave responsibility, they moved almost the instant Rocks did—every member swung their weapons simultaneously!
Several powerful slashes and shockwaves converged into a torrent, meeting Rocks' attack head-on!
"BOOM!!!"
Two forces capable of destroying heaven and earth collided violently in midair, erupting in a deafening explosion!
Furious shockwaves swept outward in all directions, sending sand and stones flying. Weaker pirates and Marines could barely stay on their feet.
Rayleigh, Scopper Gaban, Eris, and the others reacted swiftly, immediately covering the children in their arms's ears to protect them from the terrifying sonic blast.
The two sides' attacks did not fully cancel each other out.
In the end, Rocks' power proved superior!
Though greatly diminished, the remaining shockwave still surged toward the God's Knights' line like a maggot clinging to bone!
"Ugh!"
"Aaah!!"
"Damn it…"
…
The God's Knights members, seeing the incoming attack, dared not slack off. They roared furiously, each using their own methods—some blocking with swords, others neutralizing with abilities!
Their bodies were pushed backward by the massive force for more than ten meters before they barely managed to completely stop the aftermath of Rocks' casual strike.
Yet their sword-holding hands—even their entire arms—were trembling uncontrollably. Their faces were filled with shock and horror…
This was the power of the strong!
"Cough cough cough! Rocks… you've gone too far!!"
Saint Garling panted heavily, eyes bulging with rage as he glared at Rocks, who looked like a descending demon god. Though he spat harsh words, monstrous waves had already surged in his heart.
He knew Rocks was strong—but he never imagined strong to this extent!
A single casual strike had left their entire God's Knights in such a sorry state!
"Marines!!"
Saint Garling whipped his head around toward the nearby Marine soldiers, his tone urgent and commanding:
"Protect the Celestial Dragons! You—Garp—come with me! We're taking down this madman!"
Not far away, the heavily injured Dragon heard Saint Garling ordering his father around like this. His eyes filled with venom, grief, fury, and a deep despair at his own powerlessness to change the situation.
Garp's brows furrowed tightly, his heart in extreme conflict.
He also loathed the Celestial Dragons' actions, but as a Vice Admiral, protecting the World Nobles was his duty, and upholding order was his belief.
He looked at the murderous Rocks, then at the battle-ready Roger Pirates, and finally let out a heavy sigh.
Garp issued the order, then stepped forward to stand slightly ahead and to the side of Saint Garling. His towering figure became like a wall as he looked toward Rocks and Roger with a complicated expression.
He did not attack first, but his stance already made his position clear.
"Leave Garp to me!"
Roger "shing" drew his famous sword Ace, his face lighting up with excited battle intent.
Though brimming with fighting spirit, Roger was also giving Garp an out—pulling him out of this vortex.
Roger looked toward Rocks and shouted loudly: "Rocks! How about we team up for now?
Since Shakky and the fruit are already in hand, let's first join forces to wipe out these annoying World Government dogs—then we can have a proper, all-out fight afterward! How's that?!"
Gloriosa and Shakky were very tactful. They immediately stepped forward to take little Shanks and Shamrock from Rayleigh's and Scopper Gaban's arms.
Both women understood clearly: in the battle to come, Rayleigh and Scopper Gaban would be indispensable powerful combatants.
"Wait!!"
Seeing the Roger Pirates' entire crew brimming with battle intent—and the top-tier powerhouses of the Rocks Pirates like Whitebeard, Kaido, and Big Mom also itching for action—Saint Garling's heart sank to rock bottom.
The number and quality of the enemy's top combatants far exceeded the forces they currently had on site.
Even someone as arrogant as him had to weigh the consequences of a head-on fight.
"You wait right there!"
Saint Garling roared with outward bravado but inner fear. Then he closed his eyes. A strange mental fluctuation spread outward from him as the center.
He was using some unknown, mysterious communication method to send the highest-level distress signal directly to Mary Geoise at the top of the Red Line!
He needed reinforcements—and reinforcements of sufficient caliber!
Seeing Saint Garling start "calling for backup," Rocks didn't get angry—instead he laughed, the corners of his mouth curling into a mocking arc.
"Calling for backup, huh? Who can't do that!"
He snorted coldly, reached back, and a crew member immediately handed him a specialized Den Den Mushi.
He skillfully dialed a number and shouted boisterously into the receiver: "Hey! Harald! It's me, Rocks!
There's something huge here—something that can show pictures of the future! Get your people over to God Valley right now—you might even get to see what your Giant Kingdom looks like in the future…
If you still consider me a brother, trust me—hurry!"
Rocks' words were short but extremely tempting, striking directly at Harald's curiosity and emphasis toward history and the future.
The Roger Pirates didn't have many acquaintances here. Seeing both sides temporarily stand down and start calling for reinforcements, Roger could only temporarily sheathe Ace…
But the battle intent in his eyes didn't fade—in fact, it burned even brighter.
How could a spectacle this grand lack him—Roger?
Garp grinned at the sight, pulled out the Marines' special Den Den Mushi, and dialed Marine Headquarters with casual boldness: "Hey! Sengoku! Tsuru! Zephyr! Don't ask why!
Bring everyone who can fight and get to God Valley at full speed! There's something here that'll scare you to death! Hurry up… or you'll miss all the fun!"
Garp's tone had become extremely relaxed—as if he wasn't calling for backup but inviting old friends to an interesting gathering.
For a moment, the "purupuru" ringing of Den Den Mushi echoed one after another across God Valley.
And that now-dark light screen still hung silently in the air, as if quietly watching everything…
Awaiting the next time it would light up and reveal more unknown fates!
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