Saturn howled in agony.
A strange demonic power lingered inside his ruined right eye, completely preventing it from regenerating.
[What is this power…?] Suddenly, a voice echoed directly inside Saturn’s mind.
He froze in surprise.
“Lord Imu!” [Seize that power!] “Yes, Lord Imu!” Ignoring his injured eye, Saturn raised one of his enormous spider legs.
However, instead of attacking Dæmon, he slammed it into the ground.
Boom!
An enormous pentagram appeared before him.
Wisps of black smoke rose from the summoning circle as black lightning descended upon its center.
A gigantic figure gradually took shape within the darkness.
The newcomer stood more than forty meters tall and appeared while kneeling on one knee.
Hovering in the air, Dæmon watched the scene with astonishment.
Was Saturn communicating with Imu just now?
Dæmon knew that Imu could speak to the Five Elders and God’s Knights across great distances.
However, the giant summoned through the pentagram looked extremely familiar.
“Harald, capture him,” Saturn commanded coldly.
“You failed to uphold your side of our previous agreement.
Do not disappoint me again!” Dæmon raised an eyebrow.
“As expected.
It really is the King of Elbaf.” Harald slowly rose to his feet with an enormous longsword in his hand.
He frowned at Saturn before turning his attention toward Dæmon.
Surprise appeared on his face.
“You are…
the brewer Rocks mentioned?” “My name is Dæmon.” Dæmon calmly examined the giant.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you, King Harald.” Harald carried the blood of the ancient giants.
Two large horns grew from his head, while a thick black beard covered much of his fierce face.
Two years earlier, he had fought Rocks in a battle that ended in a draw.
Afterward, their friendship had completely fallen apart.
Since Harald had been summoned through a pentagram, Dæmon guessed that the Giant King possessed some kind of mark connecting him to the World Government.
Only those who carried such a mark could be transported through the summoning circles.
“Rocks would be deeply disappointed if he saw you now.” Dæmon remained suspended in the air with both hands tucked into his coat pockets.
Harald tightened his grip on his enormous sword.
A complicated expression appeared on his face as he slowly closed his eyes.
After a moment, he opened them again.
His hesitation had disappeared.
“Everything I’ve done has been for Elbaf!” Harald raised his sword.
“I’m sorry, Brewer!” With a furious roar, he swung the enormous blade downward.
The natural strength of a giant was terrifying.
Even an ordinary swing could generate winds powerful enough to tear through the surrounding forest.
Harald’s sword was also coated in Advanced Conqueror’s Haki.
Black lightning erupted from the blade as it descended.
“I have no interest in fighting you.” Dæmon chuckled and spread his wings.
“Goodbye.” With a single powerful flap, he transformed into a streak of black light and instantly flew past Harald.
Dæmon descended toward the forest, scooped up Stussy—who had been happily watching the battle—and carried her away.
“Go after him!” Saturn roared.
“We absolutely cannot allow him to escape!” Imu had personally issued the order.
No matter what happened, Saturn had to obtain Dæmon’s power.
Harald’s sword struck nothing but empty air.
However, the enormous slash continued beyond God Valley and tore through the ocean.
Boom!
The sea split apart for several thousand meters.
Towering walls of water rose on both sides of the vast divide.
Stussy clung tightly to Dæmon, wrapping both arms around his neck.
When she looked back and saw the ocean being torn apart, a chill ran through her entire body.
“How terrifying…” She stared at the pursuing giant.
“Why is the King of Elbaf still obeying the World Government?” “Who knows?
Perhaps he’s lost his mind.” Dæmon had no desire to involve himself with a fool—especially one powerful enough to split the ocean with a single attack.
He climbed higher into the sky and looked down upon the entire island.
Dæmon released his Observation Haki.
His senses spread outward until they covered nearly all of God Valley.
Violent battles were occurring everywhere.
Powerful clashes repeatedly shook the island, sending explosions and waves of Haki through the atmosphere.
The Rocks Pirates had encountered serious resistance.
Their opponents were clearly no ordinary fighters.
They were most likely members of God’s Knights.
“Let’s find the competition prizes first.” Dæmon suddenly paused.
Several powerful presences had appeared near the western coast.
Those auras…
…
God Valley, Western Coast.
“It’s the Oro Jackson!” The Marines stationed along the coast screamed in terror.
A legendary pirate ship sailed toward them at tremendous speed.
The Oro Jackson had been constructed from the priceless wood of the Treasure Tree Adam.
Its bow featured a pair of mermaids and a forward-facing cannon, while three masts carried enormous red sails.
A pirate flag fluttered above the ship.
Its design featured a white skull with a large golden mustache.
“The Roger Pirates have arrived!” “Notify every unit!
The Roger Pirates are attacking the western coast!” “Damn it!
First the Rocks Pirates, and now the Roger Pirates!
What is going to happen to this island?!” Boom!
A massive sword slash tore through the coastline.
One of the Marine warships was sliced cleanly in half.
Standing aboard the Oro Jackson, Roger held his Supreme Grade Blade, Ace.
He leaped from the deck and landed on the beach.
“I’ve been waiting an entire year!” Roger stared toward the center of God Valley with excitement burning in his eyes.
“What I’m searching for definitely exists on this island!” Rayleigh and Scopper Gaban followed closely behind him.
Rayleigh rested a hand on his sword and smiled.
“It seems we can make quite a scene today.” “You don’t get to have all the fun just because you’re the captain, Roger!” Gaban added.
The remaining members of the Roger Pirates poured onto the beach behind them.
“Let’s enjoy ourselves!” …
God Valley, Southern Coast.
“Reinforcements!” “The reinforcements have arrived!” “It’s Vice Admiral Garp’s ship!” The Marines stationed along the southern shore erupted in cheers.
A dog-headed warship cut through the waves as it rapidly approached the island.
Garp stood atop its figurehead.
Unable to wait for the vessel to dock, he launched himself toward the shore.
“Where is he?!” Garp shouted while flying through the air.
“Someone tell me where Roger is!” …
Above the forests of God Valley, Dæmon withdrew his Observation Haki and concealed his presence.
“So everyone has arrived.” He glanced back.
King Harald was still pursuing him through the forest.
“Hold on tightly.
I’m going to accelerate and lose him.” “Of course.” Stussy tightened her arms around Dæmon’s neck.
Dæmon’s wings flapped violently.
He suddenly descended and plunged into the forest, flying between the trees at extreme speed while remaining close to the ground.
…
Meanwhile, at the center of God Valley, the main prize platform stood between two towering mountains.
The surrounding Celestial Dragons had already fled from the chaos.
Six treasure chests had been left completely unguarded.
Two children quietly emerged from behind the platform.
One of them possessed an unusually large face and an enormous dark-purple afro.
Emporio Ivankov hurried toward the prizes and lifted two treasure chests.
“Quickly, Kuma!
Carry the others!” “O-Okay.” Bartholomew Kuma was remarkably large for his age.
He obediently lifted the remaining four chests and stacked them across his broad shoulders.
Explosions continued echoing from every direction.
Waves of Conqueror’s Haki occasionally swept across the island, causing both children to tremble.
“We need to find somewhere safe!” Ivankov looked around nervously.
“Our goal is the Paw-Paw Fruit.
Once we obtain it, we can use its ability to escape from this island!” “Follow me!” The two children quietly fled with the six treasure chests.
Before long, they discovered a small storage building filled with miscellaneous supplies.
They carried the chests inside and placed them on the floor.
Ivankov and Kuma each opened one.
Ivankov pulled out an unusually shaped Devil Fruit and stared at it in amazement.
“This is the Mythical Zoan-type Fish-Fish Fruit, Model: Azure Dragon!” His eyes widened.
“It’s said to be one of the strongest Zoan Devil Fruits in existence!” He turned toward Kuma.
“What did you find?” Kuma reached into his chest and removed a pink fruit shaped like a fleshy paw.
Ivankov immediately became excited.
“That’s it!
The Paw-Paw Fruit!” He held up the Azure Dragon Fruit.
“We’ll each eat one.
Don’t be afraid of losing your ability to swim.
These powers are our only hope of escaping!” Kuma nodded firmly.
Both children raised their fruits and prepared to bite into them.
Bang!
The storage room’s door suddenly exploded inward.
A towering woman charged through the entrance.
Charlotte Linlin grabbed Ivankov by the collar and snatched the Azure Dragon Fruit from his hands.
“A valuable fruit like this isn’t meant for a little brat!” Linlin grinned.
“You should thank me for taking it off your hands.” The Rocks Pirates!
Ivankov’s expression changed drastically.
He turned toward the stunned Kuma and screamed.
“Run!
What are you standing there for?!” Kuma finally reacted.
He gritted his teeth and sprinted toward the exit while clutching the Paw-Paw Fruit.
“Eat it!” Ivankov shouted after him.
“Use its power and survive!” The thought of abandoning his friend filled Kuma with pain.
He squeezed his eyes shut, opened his mouth, and prepared to bite into the Paw-Paw Fruit.
At that exact moment, a hand closed around his wrist and stopped him.
Kuma’s eyes flew open.
A man and woman had appeared beside him.
The man holding his wrist was none other than Dæmon.
Dæmon smiled pleasantly at the frightened child.
“Little friend, why don’t you give that fruit to your uncle?” His smile deepened.
“In return, Uncle will help you leave this island.”