"Brothers, charge! The treasure's ahead! Cut down these government lapdogs!"
"Hold the line! We can't let the pirates break through!"
"The captain's up front! Follow him! This era belongs to Rocks!!!"
"We can't stop them! How much longer until reinforcements arrive?! Bill—NO! You bastards!"
Like a raging tide, pirates crashed into the Marine lines.
Curved blades tore open a massive breach in the World Government's formation.
The pirates held the advantage in numbers—
but the Marines and government agents were far from weak.
Several powerful officers stepped forward, becoming the backbone of resistance.
Under the command of elite Marine Headquarters Vice Admiral s and Vice Admiral s, the pirates' advance slowed dramatically.
Then—
a violent gust tore through the battlefield.
A burly Marine Headquarters Vice Admiral , built like a comic-book hero, slammed two pirates' heads together with overwhelming force. Blood sprayed as they collapsed.
Righteous fury burned in his eyes as he turned toward his next target—
But his Observation Haki screamed a warning.
He tried to dodge—
yet his body could not keep up with his mind.
A massive hand clamped around his throat.
"Vice Admiral Pol… long time no see."
It was Roldy .
The familiar yet distant voice sent cold sweat pouring down Pol's forehead.
He swallowed hard.
Death brushed against his mind.
Pol was a veteran Vice Admiral of Marine Headquarters. His talent had only taken him this far; at best, he hoped one day to scrape into Vice Admiral through seniority.
This operation had seemed routine—
until the Rocks Pirates descended.
And now—
a mere Vice Admiral stood before the infamous Seventh Division Commander.
"Spare me! You traitor to the Marines!"
Pol had devoted most of his life to justice.
His belief was unwavering.
He slammed an elbow into Roldy 's arm, wrenching himself free.
But when he turned—
and saw Roldy clearly—
he froze.
He knew him.
Not closely—
but he had watched him grow.
The once unruly prodigy of the Marines now stood before him drenched in blood.
The smell of slaughter clung to him.
His once bright expression had hardened into something ruthless and feral.
Pol felt a deep sorrow.
The Marine recruit once filled with promise—
had become a true pirate.
"Captain Roldy !"
"Crush that loud-mouthed Marine!"
"Weren't you arrogant just now? Go on—shout again in front of Captain Roldy !"
The pirates roared with excitement.
They knew Roldy 's reputation.
Infamous for brutality.
Even if every Vice Admiral present joined forces, they likely wouldn't be enough.
Add a few Vice Admiral s—
perhaps the Marines could stall him briefly.
"There he is! Seventh Division Commander of the Rocks Pirates—'Rampaging' Roldy !"
"Bounty: 948,000,000 Berries!"
"Damn it! Why is a core executive here?!"
"Attack! Make the Marine disgrace pay!"
The ordinary soldiers burned with anger.
Most didn't know the full truth behind Roldy 's defection.
They only knew he had betrayed justice—
and joined the enemy.
To them—
he was a stain upon the Marines.
The soldiers charged forward.
"Stand down!"
"This is between him and me!"
Vice Admiral Pol raised his hand and roared.
As a Headquarters Vice Admiral , he understood the difference between himself and Roldy .
It was heaven and earth.
He could already imagine what would happen if ordinary soldiers engaged him.
He was a Vice Admiral .
It was his duty to stand in front—
even if it meant death.
"Come then!"
"Let me see how far that snot-nosed brat from back then has grown!"
Pol inhaled sharply.
Jet-black Armament Haki coated both arms.
Two other Vice Admiral s stepped forward to stand beside him.
Their eyes met.
They knew this would be brutal.
"…I don't really want to fight you."
The hesitation lasted only a moment.
Roldy hardened his resolve.
The day he became a pirate—
he had known this day would come.
Clashing to the death with former comrades was inevitable.
And today—
with fury burning in his veins—
he would take that step.
"Attack!"
Pol shouted.
The three Vice Admiral s vanished simultaneously.
Shave(Soru)—one of the Six Powers—was executed flawlessly.
They attacked from three directions at once, each unleashing their strongest techniques.
"In the face of absolute power—"
"All skill and strategy are meaningless!"
Savage intent exploded from Roldy .
Conqueror's Haki burst outward.
It was no longer the weak spark of its awakening.
The three Vice Admiral s felt their minds reel—
just for a fraction of a second.
But in battles between strong opponents—
a single moment decides life and death.
"Moa Moa: 30× Speed!"
"Fist of the Meteor Shower!"
His fists descended like a torrential storm.
In an instant, their attacks collapsed.
After just the first punch—
each man knew he was already injured.
Pol was certain—
at least two ribs had snapped.
And this was only the beginning.
Roldy 's punches bore traces of Garp's brutal Fist techniques—
mixed with wild, unorthodox savagery.
They were powerful.
Chaotic.
Impossible to predict.
The three Vice Admiral s were completely overwhelmed.
Then—
one of them left his guard open.
Roldy 's jaw tightened.
The muscles in his arm bulged.
A punch capable of sinking a warship—
launched forward.
Half of the Vice Admiral 's torso exploded into a crimson mist.
His eyes widened in disbelief.
He tried to speak—
but blood flooded his throat.
He collapsed, leaving behind only half a body.
"NO!"
Pol's cry was filled with despair.
When he looked back at Roldy —
there was only hatred in his eyes.
The reaper had extended his scythe.
And the one holding it—
was someone they once knew.
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