Seeing this, Rocks frowned deeply.
Although he had no idea what exactly had happened to Is, one thing was clear—
The aura emanating from him now far surpassed what it had been before.
"What the hell did you do?!"
Rocks shouted at Is in shock.
Is ignored him.
Sheets of paper separated from his body once more, gathering in his hand.
But this time, they didn't form a blade.
Instead—
They condensed into a giant hammer.
Armament Haki and Conqueror's Haki immediately coated it.
The next second—
He burst forward, charging straight toward Rocks.
"As expected... just like I thought."
"This guy's speed is much faster than before."
Rocks muttered.
There wasn't enough time to think further as he instantly prepared to defend.
In the blink of an eye—
Is descended from above, swinging the hammer down.
BOOM!
A crisp explosion rang out.
Violent shockwaves erupted and swept across everything nearby.
The overwhelming force nearly drove Rocks' feet into the ground.
His face twisted savagely, veins bulging on his forehead as he glared upward at Is.
"Damn you!"
"Damn you!!!"
"Hah!"
Is roared and increased the pressure.
Rocks was forced downward instantly.
The surrounding ground collapsed at terrifying speed, cracks spreading outward like a spiderweb.
"AAAAAHHHH—!!!"
Along with Rocks' furious roar—
Black mist surged into the sky and violently blasted Is away.
Is slid backward through the air for dozens of meters before stabilizing himself.
The hammer in his hand transformed into a spear.
Whoosh!
Rocks leapt out of the crater and landed heavily on the ground.
At that moment—
His entire body was wrapped in black mist.
Bloodshot eyes.
Overwhelming rage.
He glared at Is and shouted:
"Aurelius D. Virel Is!"
"Even if I die today, I absolutely won't let you walk away unscathed!"
The moment his words fell—
His expression suddenly shifted.
As though sensing something.
He had barely turned his head when a massive figure appeared before him, fist already coated in Armament Haki.
The punch came crashing down.
BOOM!
Caught completely off guard, Rocks was blasted away.
His body flew hundreds of meters before smashing into a pile of ruins.
Only then did he stop.
RUMBLE!
Dust slowly rose into the air.
Is paused slightly.
But he wasn't surprised.
Because the newcomer—
Was none other than Marine Vice Admiral Monkey D. Garp.
"So... you still came."
Is muttered softly.
That's right.
In the original story, during the God Valley Incident, Garp earned the title of Hero of the Marines precisely because he joined forces with Roger to defeat Rocks.
"Are you alright, Saint Aurelius D. Virel Is?"
Standing below, Garp looked up and asked.
Is shook his head and slowly descended beside him.
"The Marines only sent you?"
"For now, I'm the only one who's arrived," Garp explained.
"But Fleet Admiral Kong and the others should be here soon."
The moment he finished speaking—
BOOM!
An explosion erupted.
A violent wave of force mixed with shattered buildings swept toward them.
Immediately afterward came Rocks' furious roar.
"GARP!!!"
Hearing the voice, both Is and Garp looked over.
At that moment—
Rocks had reached the peak of his fury.
The black mist around him continued expanding endlessly.
—
At the same time—
On another island.
This was the territory of another famous New World pirate crew:
The Roger Pirates.
They had already received news about God Valley.
A battle of such scale—
Naturally, nearby nations had noticed the commotion.
One of their crew members, after the previous battle against the Rocks Pirates, had drifted across the sea and eventually stolen a ship.
By coincidence—
He arrived at a nation near God Valley.
After learning that the Rocks Pirates were battling the Marines there, he remembered having Captain Roger's Den Den Mushi number.
So he immediately relayed the information.
"Rocks actually appeared at God Valley?"
"I heard there are a lot of Celestial Dragons living there."
After hanging up the Den Den Mushi, Roger sat atop a rock, his expression serious.
"If Rocks went to God Valley, he definitely has a purpose."
Rayleigh analyzed calmly from the side.
"If it were only treasure, there'd be no reason to risk attacking God Valley."
They understood Rocks' ambition.
To rule the world.
Almost everything Rocks had done on the seas was preparation for that goal.
This trip to God Valley likely meant—
Something there could give him a chance to achieve world domination.
Otherwise—
With Rocks' personality, no matter how desperate he became, he wouldn't attack God Valley just for wealth.
After all—
God Valley housed countless Celestial Dragons.
Launching an open assault there and slaughtering them—
Was a direct slap to the World Government's face.
What benefit would provoking the World Government bring Rocks?
"So... there must be something special on God Valley."
Scopper Gaban nodded in agreement.
"Should we go, Captain?"
Rayleigh asked with concern.
"If Rocks obtains whatever he's after... it could be bad for us."
He feared the Marines wouldn't be enough.
If Rocks truly gained something capable of helping him conquer the world—
The Roger Pirates might become the first target to be eliminated.
After all—
The Rocks Pirates had long viewed them as enemies.
"Rocks really doesn't know how to sit still."
Roger sighed.
He had fought against Rocks' crew before.
He knew exactly how terrifying they were.
They didn't act without reason.
For Rocks to mobilize his entire crew and directly attack the Celestial Dragons—
Only one possibility made sense.
An opportunity to dominate the world.
"Then let's set sail for God Valley."
Roger made his decision.
He feared the Marines alone wouldn't stop Rocks.
The Roger Pirates weren't numerous—
But every member was an elite among elites.
Just as the crew prepared to depart—
Rayleigh suddenly remembered something.
Cold sweat appeared on his forehead.
"Wait, Captain Roger."
"The Marines might not necessarily lose."
"Have we forgotten a certain man?"
"Who?" Gaban asked curiously.
"We've met him before."
"We've fought him."
"And during our last battle against the Rocks Pirates... he indirectly saved us."
Rayleigh took a deep breath.
"You mean... Is?"
Roger suddenly thought of one man.
The Celestial Dragon—
Aurelius D. Virel Is.
A monster possessing terrifying strength.
And beneath him—
Equally terrifying subordinates.
"That's right."
Rayleigh nodded.
"If the Marines move, he might move too."
Their previous survival against Rocks had largely been thanks to Is' arrival.
Otherwise—
The Roger Pirates might've been annihilated.
"That guy's subordinates…"
"Even they can contend with Rocks."
Gaban recalled that night's battle, lingering fear appearing in his eyes.
"If that man also goes…"
"Then Rocks' chances are grim."
"But if he doesn't…"
"The Marines might not withstand Rocks."
They had fought both Marine headquarters and the Rocks Pirates.
They knew very well—
The overall power of the Rocks Pirates rivaled the Marines' top forces.
But the Marines couldn't dispatch everyone.
Someone had to remain behind.
"Celestial Dragon Is…"
"That guy really is absurdly strong."
"And his followers are all mysterious monsters."
"You're right, Rayleigh."
"The key to whether the Marines win lies in whether Is chooses to intervene."
Roger rested his chin in thought.
Is was powerful.
Powerful beyond reason.
Their previous impression of Celestial Dragons had been—
Spoiled fools waiting to die.
But after meeting Is—
Their perspective changed.
So among the Celestial Dragons…
There truly existed beings akin to gods.
"We've talked this much…"
"So are we going or not?"
Gaban asked the essential question.
"I think we should."
Rayleigh answered seriously after a pause.
"If Is didn't go to God Valley and Rocks gets what he wants…"
"That would be disastrous."
"So after all that, we're still going?"
Gaban laughed helplessly.
"I was considering every possibility."
Rayleigh shrugged.
Unlike the original timeline—
The Marines hadn't invited the Roger Pirates.
This was a decision they reached themselves.
After weighing everything.
"Set sail!"
"Destination—God Valley!"
Roger shouted to the crew.
The Roger Pirates began moving.
This war—
They would participate as well.
—
Elsewhere.
In the waters surrounding God Valley.
A gigantic Marine battleship floated at sea.
Countless black-clad guards and Marine powerhouses remained aboard.
Following Tatsumaki and the others' orders—
Their task was protecting Rozminian and the maids.
Inside the cabin—
The guards had prepared an extravagant meal.
The maids sat around the table.
The food looked delicious.
Yet none of them had any appetite.
"Sister Minian…"
"Onee-sama…"
A maid who had only recently begun serving Aurelius D. Virel Is looked worriedly toward Rozminian.
"Master… he'll be alright, won't he?"
"Yes…"
"Lady Tatsumaki told us to leave while they fought alone…"
"Will they be in danger?"
"The enemy is the Rocks Pirates…"
"The strongest pirate crew in the New World…"
"I'm worried about Master…"
Though they hadn't known Aurelius D. Virel Is long—
They had already accepted him wholeheartedly.
And were willing to serve him forever.
So naturally—
They worried for his safety.
"Don't worry."
Rozminian's expression remained calm.
"Master is very strong."
"And none of his companions are weak either."
"Our master is strong too?"
The maids looked shocked.
In their minds—
Celestial Dragons possessed status, not strength.
But their master—
Handsome.
Kind.
And powerful?
"Of course."
"Never underestimate Master."
"His strength is incredible."
"And so are his friends."
Back then—
When Rozminian traveled with Is—
She had witnessed his clash against the Roger Pirates.
Watching Is and Madara battle had completely changed her.
That battle was why—
She had fallen for him entirely.
"How fortunate we are…"
"To serve a master like him."
The maids smiled softly.
—
Elsewhere on God Valley.
Acnologia was battling another Rocks executive.
Armament Haki covered Acnologia's arm as he rushed forward.
BOOM!
Their fists collided.
Shockwaves exploded outward.
Cracks spread across the ground.
BANG!
Less than thirty seconds later—
The executive was sent flying like a meteor.
Hundreds of meters.
Only stopping after crashing into a building.
Dust engulfed him.
"You're weak."
Acnologia looked toward him calmly.
"Are you holding back?"
"Don't get cocky, brat."
The executive stood and walked forward coldly.
"Brat?"
Acnologia suddenly laughed.
He had lived for centuries in the world of Fairy Tail.
He understood this world's lifespan.
Most people considered one hundred years old exceptional.
Meanwhile—
This executive had only barely passed fifty.
Yet he dared call him a brat?
Who exactly was young here?
"Otherwise?"
The executive sneered.
"When I first sailed the seas, you hadn't even been born."
"How amusing."
Acnologia smiled coldly.
"Someone who hasn't lived even half my lifespan…"
"Calls me a brat?"
"It seems you've already prepared for death."
His killing intent surfaced.
"Not even half your lifespan?"
"You've dreamed too much, kid."
"I'll put you to eternal sleep soon."
Acnologia spoke casually.
As though discussing something insignificant.
"If I don't kill you today…"
"I'm not leaving God Valley!"
The executive roared, Haki exploding from his body as veins bulged in his arms.
Then he charged.
"I never intended to let you leave."
Acnologia answered calmly—
Before rushing forward as well.
Another brutal battle erupted.
—
Elsewhere on God Valley—
The clash between Is, Garp, and Rocks—
Was about to begin.
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