The audience watching the Den Den Mushi broadcast gasped in awe. Was this the true might of a New World emperor?
The Hell Pirates, like the Rocks Pirates, had the strength to take on two Marine admirals at once. If they teamed up, could Marine Headquarters even stand a chance?
Historically, emperors were too prideful to ally, always clashing in bloody rivalries, posing no real threat to the Marines. But now, the relationship between Rocks and Brook seemed less hostile—at least on the surface, they maintained an alliance without open conflict. Their joint antics in the first half of the New World hinted at a deeper connection.
Still, everyone knew Rocks and Brook weren't exactly bosom buddies. Brook had taken out several Rocks Pirates officers—Sandy, the Kurozumi siblings—and during the Emperor Alliance, he'd teamed up with Vesper to oppose Rocks, even eliminating their affiliate captain, Dawei. The bad blood was undeniable.
This so-called alliance was a fragile façade. The moment one side gained the upper hand, they'd bare their fangs and devour their "ally." But as long as their power and influence remained balanced, this uneasy partnership might hold—and taking on the Marines together wasn't out of the question.
...
"Mama mama! So many souls!"
Charlotte Linlin morphed into a ravenous demon, gleefully harvesting the life essence of Marines with her Homies army. Brook's ghostly legion backed her up, weaving through the chaos.
Golden Lion Shiki's human-mimicking baboons leaped off their warships, tearing into the fray. The samurai squad, led by Ashura Jakun, stormed a Marine vessel, their peak swordsman skills clashing with a Marine vice admiral—a near-great swordsman.
The duel was fierce, both fighters vying to cross the threshold into great swordsman status. Though Jakun was younger and slightly less seasoned, his raw talent shone, letting him trade blows without being overwhelmed.
Stussy, under Newgate's cover, snatched a CP0 opponent from the fray. As the most gifted near-CP0 member, she held her own against her veteran foe.
Empowered by her Mythical Zoan Siren Fruit, she pushed the CP0 agent back, blow by blow.
"Number 10086, provisional CP0 agent Stussy," the CP0 barked. "This is your last chance to return, or you'll face a fate worse than death!"
He couldn't fathom how a top-tier spy, groomed by CP since childhood, could betray them and become such a formidable enemy.
"10086? Isn't that the Hell Pirates' recruitment hotline?" Stussy quipped. "If you want to join us, I could put in a good word!"
Stussy might've had doubts about her past, but she was Brook's woman now, trusted with vast influence and wealth. Only a fool would return to being a thankless CP0 grunt with zero benefits.
"You stubborn fool!" the CP0 growled.
"Tch! Faceless mask-wearer, skulking in the gutters like a rat—go to hell!"
Fury ignited, Stussy's Siren Fruit-enhanced physique amplified her Rokushiki techniques. Her derived ultimate move was devastating.
With a flick of her finger, Stussy unleashed a conical wind bullet, its sheer force making the CP0's face pale.
Tekkai!
Unable to dodge the lightning-fast Gloomwind Drill, the CP0 braced with a defensive technique.
"Suhohoho! Want to die quick? Use Tekkai!" Stussy teased, giggling behind her hand. "Not every Marine's Tekkai is equal!"
The piercing Shigan punched a hole through the CP0's chest, blood spraying and bones shattering.
"Next life, ditch the 'stand-and-take-it' moves. Offense is the best defense—or at least practice the ultimate technique: Run!*"
Stussy's leg swept, unleashing a razor-sharp Rankyaku that decapitated the CP0, leaving a deep gash in the deck.
...
"Worororo! I'm taking down a vice admiral today!"
Beast Kaido, battered and bloodied, roared after defeating a Marine rear admiral. His scarlet eyes and feral aura sent shivers through the Marines.
His bravado drew the attention of a Marine vice admiral, who charged to crush the promising young pirate.
Just as the vice admiral moved to strike, a massive shark jaw snapped at him, forcing him to defend.
Scarlet's blackened, Armament Haki-coated shark teeth gleamed. Even a vice admiral wouldn't dare take a bite from that terrifying maw—one chomp, and you're gone.
"Don't you dare touch our top rookie, Vice Admiral!"
Scarlet's shark grin clashed with his deep, rumbling voice.
"Scarlet, perfect timing! Let's take this vice admiral down together!"
Kaido's wounds were already healing, his monstrous resilience shocking even Scarlet. No wonder Brook valued him so highly.
Biu!
A gunshot rang out. The rear admiral Kaido had just defeated struggled to his feet for a sneak attack but was dropped by a bullet to the head.
"Focus on the battlefield, Kaido!" Scarlet bellowed. He doubted the rear admiral could've landed a hit—Kaido's combat instincts and durability were top-notch.
"Worororo! Just a defeated loser!" Kaido laughed. "Silva's aim is unreal!"
...
Across the battlefield, a Marine rear admiral fighting Crocus collapsed, his goat-like face reverting to human form as he screamed in agony.
His Devil Fruit powers were nullified, his body drained of strength—terrifying in the heat of battle, where powerlessness meant death.
Crocus swiftly bound the rear admiral. Silva's Seastone bullet, lodged in the man's leg bone, would require surgery to remove.
Silva's marksmanship was surgical—hitting the target without piercing through, keeping the Seastone in place to disable the Devil Fruit user while sparing their life, per Brook's orders to capture ability users alive when possible.
Fishman Tom and Tiger led their Fishman crew, slaughtering Marines who fell into the sea or capturing ranked officers. According to Captain Brook, these captives could be sold back to the World Government for a tidy sum.
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+400 chapters on p@treon/tambeerg