The pirates on the scene, the World Government forces, and even those watching from afar across the world were still reeling from what had just happened. The sudden resurrection of the Pirate King was a shock too massive to process, and the tearful words from Garp that followed carried such weighty revelations that they overwhelmed everyone. By the time they snapped back to reality, Sengoku was already making his move against Roger!
Boom!
A massive golden Buddha palm descended from the sky, crashing down toward Roger with devastating force!
The hearts of everyone watching skipped a beat.
But in the next moment, their eyes widened in unison, stunned by what they saw.
What did they just witness?
Roger, facing Sengoku's terrifying attack, merely raised a hand—casually, effortlessly—and blocked it! He stood there, unshaken, as if the strike was nothing!
Was this the strength of the Pirate King? To shrug off a full-force blow from the Navy's Fleet Admiral with such ease?
As the crowd stood in awe, Roger let out a light chuckle. "Tch, Sengoku, you're the Fleet Admiral now, and you're still this sneaky? Always going for a cheap shot! Did you forget what I'm capable of? Sneak attacks don't work on me!"
Sengoku's face twisted with rage at Roger's taunt. This bastard had caused so much trouble for the Navy, and he had the gall to call him sneaky? Who was the real schemer here?
Still, Roger's words jogged Sengoku's memory. He remembered Roger's mastery of Observation Haki—so refined that he could hear the voice of all things. A sneak attack would never catch him off guard.
But Sengoku wasn't about to back down. He turned to Garp, his voice booming with authority. "Garp, you idiot, what are you doing? Help me take down Roger! Or do you really want to be branded a traitor to the Navy?!"
His words snapped Garp out of his daze. Without hesitation, Garp clenched his fists, dark Armament Haki swirling around them, and launched an attack at Roger!
But just as the two prepared to team up—
Whoosh!
Pluto Rayleigh!
A figure appeared in a flash, intercepting Garp's punch with a swift kick that knocked it off course.
The crowd instantly recognized the newcomer.
Sengoku's voice thundered with fury. "Rayleigh, you dare get involved in this? Have you forgotten your agreement with the Navy?!"
Rayleigh shrugged, letting out a sigh. "I didn't want to get mixed up in this, honestly. But what can I do? I've got an unreliable captain. I can't just sit back and let him handle this alone."
"You bastard!" Sengoku cursed, but he was helpless to change the situation.
With just him and Garp, they might have had a chance to overpower Roger. But now, with Rayleigh joining the fray as Roger's ally, the odds were far less certain.
Still, Sengoku didn't panic. This time, it wasn't just him and Garp. They had a host of new-era Navy powerhouses on their side!
"To think I'd get the chance to fight the late Pirate King today!"
"What an unexpected turn of events!"
"Let's see what Gol D. Roger, the so-called Pirate King, is really made of!"
Voices rang out as figures darted forward, charging at Roger with killing intent. Fujitora, Green Bull, Peach Rabbit, Tea Dolphin… countless powerhouses, brought to prominence early in this world due to Lin Xuan's butterfly effect, joined the fray. Alongside them, numerous Navy Vice Admirals seized the moment when their opponents were distracted and rushed Roger as one!
Roger's eerie resurrection had marked him as the greatest threat. In silent agreement, they decided to eliminate him first before dealing with the others.
But at that very moment—
Boom!
A terrifying sword slash erupted, its blinding light forcing back every World Government powerhouse charging at Roger!
In the next instant, a figure with striking red hair and a flowing black cape appeared in front of Roger.
A voice followed, ringing in everyone's ears. "Captain Roger, I'm not too late, am I?"
The crowd focused and gasped. It was Red-Haired Shanks!
His arrival sent shockwaves through those on the scene and the countless others watching the live broadcast worldwide.
"It's Red-Haired Shanks! He's here too!"
"Have the Red-Haired Pirates and the Whitebeard Pirates joined forces?"
"A second Emperor-level powerhouse! And with the Pirate King resurrected, this battle at Marineford is shaping up to be unlike anything we've ever seen!"
"Can the Navy really stand against such a terrifying force?"
Amid the flurry of discussions, Roger's gaze settled on Shanks. A grin spread across his face. "Shanks, huh? Rayleigh told me you've been doing pretty well for yourself. You haven't let me down!"
Shanks, one of the mighty Four Emperors, blushed at Roger's praise, scratching his head sheepishly. "Thanks for the kind words, Captain. Compared to you, I'm just getting started!"
His words left countless pirates around the world dumbfounded, practically choking on their disbelief. You're one of the Four Emperors, and you're saying you're just getting started? Then what are we? Not even born yet?
But when they considered that Shanks was speaking to Gol D. Roger, the Pirate King himself, his humility suddenly didn't seem so out of place.
Meanwhile, Lin Xuan, still observing from a warship, was caught off guard by Shanks' appearance. "Strange," he muttered to himself. "Wasn't Shanks supposed to be holding off Kaido's Beasts Pirates right about now? Did my butterfly effect mean Kaido didn't show up this time? Or did Shanks hear about his captain's resurrection and rush over after dealing with Kaido?"
Lin Xuan quickly brushed the thought aside. It didn't matter either way. What mattered was the spark of an idea forming in his mind as he watched Shanks. If I could bring the old Roger Pirates back together for a reunion, that'd surely earn me a ton of reputation points!
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T/N:
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