Rhett wandered wildly through God Valley, sweeping every corner except the main battlefield, anywhere that might hide a Celestial Dragon. His collection of "fertilizer" was almost complete.
To Rhett's regret, some Celestial Dragons were heavily guarded by CP0, clearly indicating their high status among the Dragons. Pirates surged toward them in waves, but after a few failed attempts, they seemed to lose their nerve. Pirates, after all, were cowards at heart. This left Rhett, who wanted to take advantage of the chaos, with no opportunity to strike.
If Rhett really wanted to kill them, he had the means, but it would expose him, and the cost wasn't worth it. Still, out of all the Celestial Dragons who had come, Rhett had managed to kill half of them himself.
He had thoroughly enjoyed the slaughter. Humming a tune, Rhett returned to the cave where Roger's ship was docked. By now, Rocks had been fighting Garp and the others for over three days.
Roger had been waiting, using his ability to hear the voice of all things to keep tabs on Rhett. Wherever Rhett appeared, hope and fear followed. Seeing Rhett return, Roger didn't say anything, but the smile on his face was impossible to suppress.
As for the rest of Roger's crew, with Rhett deliberately hiding his presence, it was hard for them to notice him. Yet, they all tacitly avoided asking questions. Rhett's return lifted everyone's spirits.
Rhett had his fill of killing, Roger's crew was in high spirits, and with most of the Celestial Dragons dead, Garp and Rocks had been locked in battle for three days—everyone was happy.
"Boys, let's go meet the Rocks Pirates!" Roger shouted.
Rhett looked at his captain. The intense fighting had already decimated the Rocks Pirates and the Marines. Now was the perfect time to step in without being seen as the Celestial Dragons' guard dogs—most of the Dragons were already dead. It was a win-win.
By showing up now, they could claim they were just passing by, lending a hand. The Celestial Dragons were all killed by Rocks, and who knows? The World Government might even thank them.
Whoever said Roger only knew how to adventure, step forward.
Rocks' breathing was heavy as thunder, his black coat torn to shreds, revealing a chest riddled with scars. Garp's iron fists had left several bruises on his face, and his Conqueror's Haki was no longer as ferocious as before.
"Damn Marines... damn Garp..." He spat out a mouthful of blood, grinning at the equally battered Garp. "What? Your masters are all dead, and you're still fighting?"
Garp smirked, his fists cracking with tension. "I fight for myself, not for those trash!"
Just as the two were about to clash again—
"Kuhahaha! How can a fight be complete without us?!"
A hearty laugh rang out from the edge of the battlefield.
Rocks and Garp both turned to see a dark red ship cutting through the smoke. Standing at the bow was the man with the straw hat—Gol D. Roger.
"Roger?!" Rocks' pupils contracted. "What the hell are you doing here?!"
Roger leapt down from the ship, Ace's sword drawn, its blade pointing directly at Rocks. "Of course, we're here to 'help'!"
Garp's mouth twitched. Roger, showing up after three days of fighting. "Help? Who are you helping?"
Roger blinked. "The side of 'justice,' of course!"
Rayleigh adjusted his glasses calmly. "We're just passing by, saw the Marines struggling, and came to lend a hand."
Gaban grinned, resting his axe on his shoulder. "That's right, we're just good citizens!"
Rhett stood at the ship's railing, the Black Tide Greatsword resting on his shoulder, a faint smile playing on his lips.
Roger and Garp versus Rocks. As for the Five Elders and the Holy Knights? Oh, they're mostly dead. The Science Defense God, the Finance God, the Holy Knights' leader—everyone else is gone.
Rhett sighed. "Tsk tsk tsk, what a shake-up."
Rayleigh and the others went to deal with the rest of the Rocks Pirates. The battle between Garp, Roger, and Rocks wasn't something they could interfere with.
"Hey, Garp!" Roger laughed, his blade still pointed at Rocks. "Though I don't like you much this time... let's team up!"
Garp snorted, his fists cracking. "Shut up! After we take him down, I'm coming for you!"
Rocks stood atop the ruins, laughing maniacally. "Fools of two eras... come at me together! Let me show you the true 'King of the World'!"
Rocks' Conqueror's Haki erupted like a tidal wave, black-red lightning tearing through the sky! Roger and Garp simultaneously unleashed their Haki, the three titanic pressures colliding, shaking the entire island to its core!
"Divine Departure!" Roger's slash tore through space, aiming for Rocks' throat!
"Fist Bone: Meteor!" Garp's iron fist, wrapped in top-tier Armament Haki, smashed toward Rocks' chest!
Rocks grinned, throwing both fists forward—
"BOOM—!!!"
The three forces collided, a shockwave sweeping across the battlefield, the earth cracking, seawater flooding in!
Rocks was blasted back dozens of meters, blood trickling from his mouth, but his fighting spirit burned brighter than ever!
"Kuhahaha! This is exhilarating!" He tore off his shirt, revealing a swirling tattoo on his chest that began to spin wildly. "You... are worthy of my full power!"
"Great Vortex: Divine Devourer!"
The energy of the entire island was sucked in, Rocks' muscles bulging, his skin cracking, yet he erupted with unprecedented strength!
Roger's eyes narrowed. "Life Return. Without energy replenishment, he's burning his life force!"
Garp grinned. "Perfect!"
"Roger!" Garp roared.
"Yeah, I know!" Roger laughed in response.
"Fist Bone: Galaxy Impact!" Garp's fist, wrapped in Conqueror's Haki, descended like a meteor!
"Portgas D. Ace: Judgment!" Roger's blade swung with a strike capable of splitting heaven and earth.
Rocks roared, both fists meeting them head-on—
"Conqueror's Domain: Finality!!!"
The world seemed to lose its color.
What was Rhett doing? Oh, watching the show.
Rhett stood at the bow of the ship, the entire Oro Jackson enveloped in a blood mist that protected it from destruction. Rhett remarked that even from this distance, his mist felt like it was being torn apart by their Conqueror's Haki.
"Well, I've done my part as a transmigrator," Rhett mused. "I've killed so many Celestial Dragons. Even if it's just slaughtering pigs, I deserve a break."
These were likely the three strongest men of this era. The old man hiding in the garden could wait. With Rhett's current strength, he had earned the right to spectate.
"Wow, Garp's really going for Rocks' kidneys. Ouch, that punch looks painful. Damn, he just sent the captain flying. Impressive."
Rhett was thoroughly enjoying his commentary on the battle when Kaido, a Rocks apprentice in his Fish-Fish Fruit: Baby Dragon form, made his entrance.