A black speck appeared on the horizon.
It drifted into the fog-covered waters, changed direction several times as though struggling to navigate the strange currents, then finally began moving toward the Golden Lion’s position.
The surrounding sea stretched for dozens of nautical miles.
Aside from a single lonely island, there was almost nowhere to set foot.
No ports.
No reefs large enough to serve as shelter.
Nothing but open water.
Which was exactly why Shiki was smiling.
He had an entire armada beneath him.
Fifty ships.
Out here, with no land nearby, that advantage was enormous.
If any of Roger’s fighters were knocked into the sea, Shiki’s fleet could immediately tear them apart from every direction.
Above them, clouds began gathering.
Lightning flashed through the dark sky.
Brilliant streaks tore across the storm clouds, briefly turning the horizon white.
No one knew what was waiting inside those clouds.
But the weather itself seemed to be watching.
“They’re here.” Shiki’s grin widened.
“Move the ships closer.” “Signal the others.” Then— BOOM!
A distant explosion rolled across the sea.
High in the crow’s nest of the Oro Jackson, Gaban’s eyes sharpened.
He dropped to the deck just as the rest of the crew began emerging from below.
Gaban shook his head with a helpless smile.
“So he really is here.” “The Golden Lion has no intention of letting us pass quietly.” Roger picked up his sword.
A grin spread across his face, and battle lust flickered in his eyes.
“That idiot still wants me to submit to him.” He rested the blade across his shoulder.
“Looks like we’re fighting.” “Good.” Douglas Bullet slammed both fists together.
Boom!
A ring of compressed air burst outward from the impact.
His entire body seemed to come alive at the thought of battle.
Bullet.
Even his name suited him.
A man born to charge straight through whatever stood in front of him.
Rayleigh, however, remained serious.
“Fighting on the open sea is troublesome.” His eyes swept across the surrounding ships.
“Prioritize destroying their vessels whenever possible.” Whenever the Roger Pirates entered battle, Rayleigh was usually the calmest person aboard.
Roger’s strength and instinct often created the opening they needed.
Rayleigh was the one who recognized that opening— And turned it into victory.
“If we can avoid fighting, we avoid it.” Gaban’s voice was quieter.
Then he glanced toward the younger members of the crew.
“And if everything goes wrong, the apprentices surrender.” “Huh?!” Buggy immediately poked half his face out from behind the mast.
“Gaban!
I can’t believe you actually care about me when you’re not bullying me!” He nodded vigorously.
“Don’t worry!
I’ll surrender immediately!” Shanks stood nearby with Gryphon at his waist.
Unlike Buggy, he puffed out his chest like a tiny warrior.
“I won’t surrender!” He shouted at the top of his lungs.
“If I’m going down, I’ll go down fighting!” “I’m not surrendering just to save my own skin!” Bullet looked down.
Shanks barely reached his waist.
For a moment, Bullet’s stern expression didn’t change.
Then his mouth slowly stretched into a broad white grin.
“Heh.” Not bad, kid.
…
More ships were appearing across the waters.
Most of the vessels approaching from the east had come from the Azure Sky Sea.
They had rushed toward Edd War for one reason.
To witness the outcome.
Everyone believed the same thing.
There would be a battle.
There had to be.
The Oro Jackson slowly entered the encirclement.
Roger knew exactly what was happening.
But by now, changing course was no longer an option.
“We’re boxed in, Roger!” At the helm, Seagull Guns Nozdon and Sambel threw their arms wide and laughed wildly.
Their massive bodies tensed against the roaring wind.
“Then we fight with the Oro Jackson to the end!” “If she sinks…” “We go down with her!” Roger looked around.
Ships ahead.
Ships behind.
Pirates on every side.
“Tchahahaha…” His grin deepened.
“So that’s how it is.” “It isn’t just Shiki’s trap.” His gaze swept over the distant vessels.
“Half the sea came here hoping to watch me die.” Roger laughed.
“So hunting the Oro Jackson has become some kind of badge of honor now?” Rayleigh sighed.
“This really is troublesome.” Then he looked toward Roger.
“You keep Shiki occupied.” “I’ll break his flagship.” “No.” Bullet stepped forward.
“I’ll do it.” He stared at Rayleigh seriously.
In terms of pure combat ability, Bullet already stood among the strongest fighters on the ship and was often spoken of in the same breath as Rayleigh.
He had earned the title Demon Heir.
But unlike Rayleigh, Bullet lacked that same calm judgment and refined control over Haki.
His Conqueror’s Haki had awakened— But he still couldn’t properly control it.
Before the two could argue any further, an enormous warship cut through the waves and slowed to a stop near the Oro Jackson.
Then laughter rolled across the sea.
“Jihahahahaha!” Every eye turned toward the towering vessel.
“Roger!” Shiki’s voice thundered over the water.
“So we finally meet here!” He spread his arms.
“You really are a difficult man to find!” Golden hair flowed behind him.
A golden coat hung from his shoulders.
At his sides rested two famous blades— Oto and Kogarashi.
Golden Lion Shiki stood above the Roger Pirates like an emperor overlooking his prey.
His presence seemed to press down on the sea itself.
Waves rolled outward from the enormous ship.
Around them, Shiki’s fleet closed in.
Golden Lion ahead.
Countless pirate ships behind.
Then Shiki grinned down at Roger.
“How about it?” “Become my right-hand man.” For a moment, there was silence.
Then Roger laughed.
Rayleigh did too.
“Your right-hand man?” Roger shook his head.
“No thanks.” His grin widened.
“I’d rather stay free.” And just then— Two small black vessels drifted into the battlefield.
Simple.
Narrow.
Almost like coffins floating on the waves.
They passed between the surrounding pirate ships without hesitation.
Against a fleet this enormous, the two vessels looked absurdly small.
Which only made them stand out even more.
Author’s Note : Want to keep reading?
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