The pirates' slaughter never ceased for even a moment.
The World Government agents who had retreated into God Valley gritted their teeth as they resisted. They were already outnumbered—and in overall strength, they were no match for the pirates. It was a one-sided massacre, a battlefield no different from a giant meat grinder.
Shiki and Whitebeard bore the brunt of the fighting, holding back Sengoku and Monkey D. Garp. Meanwhile, the other Division Commanders charged excitedly into the island's interior.
On the surface, it seemed unfair.
Yet strangely, neither Whitebeard nor Shiki voiced any objection. Clearly, they both understood—there was no way the World Government had stationed only this much power here. The true forces must still be waiting within the island.
"Jihahahaha! Let it descend into chaos! Let it all burn!"
Rocks D. Xebec inhaled deeply, savoring the smoke-filled air. He walked at the rear of the main force, his pace leisurely, almost relaxed.
…
Elsewhere—
"So scary… it's really too scary…"
Inside a dust-covered wooden shack, beneath a gaping hole in the roof, a massive yet youthful figure crouched in the corner.
The boy was built like an adult, yet his face was still childlike. Dressed in tattered clothes, he trembled violently, tears streaming down his face—fear had completely overwhelmed him.
"Kuma! Where are you, Kuma?!"
The door was suddenly pushed open.
A boy with an unusually large head and purple hair rushed in, glancing around anxiously. When he spotted the trembling child in the corner, relief flooded his face.
"Kuma! Thank goodness, I found you! Why are you still hiding here? We have to run!"
The boy's name was Ivankov.
Yes—the very same Emporio Ivankov who would one day become a commander of the Revolutionary Army, the "Queen" of Kamabakka Kingdom.
But right now, he was only a child.
Born with an unusual appearance, he had been captured and offered to the Celestial Dragons as a plaything. Among the slaves gathered from around the world and brought to God Valley, he was one of them.
And the child he called Kuma—
was none other than Bartholomew Kuma, the future Warlord of the Sea, the gentlest man ever branded with the title of "Tyrant."
As a rare member of the Buccaneer race, Kuma's people were said to have committed an unforgivable sin against the Celestial Dragons. From birth, they were slaves.
In this World Nobles' Grand Hunt, Kuma had been designated as one of the thirty "exceptional prey."
The danger he faced far surpassed that of ordinary slaves.
"I can't run anymore… I really can't…"
Kuma wept bitterly.
He didn't know what he had done wrong.
Was his very existence a mistake?
He had done nothing—yet from birth he was enslaved, beaten, torn from his family. His screams of pain had been treated as pleasant music by his masters. Every day was inhuman torment.
He had thought of ending his life countless times.
Perhaps coming here was a form of release.
If he died here, the suffering would finally end.
"Kuma!"
A young girl's voice called out.
Kuma's sobbing paused.
He believed he had nothing left to care about—but…
"Hurry! Get up! Let's run together!"
Looking at the girl named Ginny, something stirred within him.
From somewhere unknown, strength returned to his limbs. From somewhere unseen, courage surged into his heart.
He stood up.
He didn't want to die—not yet.
Stepping out of the dilapidated house, he saw sunlight once more.
Around them gathered others who shared their fate. To the weak, huddling together was better than facing death alone.
A dozen or so slaves ran aimlessly in one direction.
"How long does this go on? Can we really escape?"
After running for who knew how long, one slave collapsed to his knees, gasping for breath, despair written across his face.
That emotion spread like a plague.
God Valley was surrounded by the World Government's military forces.
Where could they possibly run?
The Grand Hunt would last seven full days.
Where could they hide for seven days?
Bang!
A gunshot rang out.
A slave who had fallen to the ground was shot clean through the forehead. Blood burst outward. His eyes widened—then quickly lost their light as his body hit the dirt with a dull thud.
"It seems my luck is extraordinary today. I was lost… and yet I stumbled upon such a splendid gift!"
A Celestial Dragon stepped out from a nearby house.
Blood stained his clothing. The pistol in his hand still smoked—clearly, he had fired the shot.
"They're here! The demons are here!"
"Run! Run!"
"I don't want to die! I don't want to die!"
The slaves scattered like frightened animals.
None of them had the courage to face a Celestial Dragon.
Heads lowered, they fled in all directions. Ivankov, Kuma, and Ginny were among them. In moments like this, there was nothing they could do but run with all their strength.
Fortunately—
the Celestial Dragon's gun was not aimed at them.
"That brat got away?"
The Celestial Dragon clicked his tongue in irritation.
He had recognized that boy—one of the "exceptional prey." That was worth six thousand points. Equal to more than a dozen ordinary "rabbits."
Reloading his pistol, he gave chase.
The Celestial Dragons were the hunters in this Grand Hunt—
but that was not absolute.
Some unfortunate, arrogant hunters were swarmed by slaves lurking in the shadows. Their throats were slit by those strong enough to fight back.
Not all slaves were weak.
Among the "exceptional" and "elite" prey were more than a few pirates.
They knew they had no hope of survival.
And so they chose vengeance.
Chaos was the only word that could describe God Valley.
But the truly troublesome figures had yet to enter the battlefield.
At the coastline, Roldy destroyed the last remaining World Government ship.
He looked as though he had crawled out of a sea of blood.
Raising his head, he glanced toward the distant clash of Sengoku, Garp, Whitebeard, and Shiki. A sigh escaped him.
He could not face them.
So he turned away—almost as if fleeing.
With astonishing speed, Roldy charged into the depths of God Valley.
The foul stench in the air disgusted him.
"Today… every Celestial Dragon on this island—no exceptions—dies."
His expression was terrifying.
If an ordinary person heard those words, their courage would shatter.
But he meant every syllable.
He sprinted through the jungle like a beast.
Along the way, he saw pirates—some from the Rocks Pirates, others from different crews. He paid them no mind. A few fools who blocked his path were swiftly killed.
Soon, he reached the town.
What greeted his eyes—
was a vision of hell.
Blazing flames consumed shattered buildings. Severed limbs littered the streets. The faces of the dead civilians were frozen in despair and terror.
At that moment—
a Celestial Dragon stepped out of a house, humming cheerfully, a bloodstained blade in his hand.
The instant he stepped outside—
his eyes met Roldy 's.
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