"It's been a long time since someone like you has appeared on these seas."
Saint Topman Warcury spoke with something close to admiration, boundless calculation glinting in his eyes.
"Unfortunately, your mind seems lacking. Heroes are as countless as fish crossing a river. You are not the only one, Rocks. But all of them were swallowed by the tides of the era—and you will be no exception."
Saint Ethanbaron V. Nusjuro's hand rested on the hilt at his waist. The blade of Shodai Kitetsu slid half an inch from its sheath, releasing a chill that seemed to crawl up from the depths of hell.
"The foundation of the World Government cannot be opposed by one man—nor by a fool leading a band of fools. This was a trap laid for you. Your pride will drag you into the abyss."
Saint Shepherd Ju Peter's voice was cold.
"As insects, as vermin, you should bathe obediently in the grace of the gods. Whether it is candy or blades—it is all divine benevolence. That is the destiny you were born with."
Saint Marcus Mars' arrogance far surpassed even that of ordinary Celestial Dragons.
"Someone like you has already transcended the ordinary. If not for what happened back then… had you simply knelt, you might have become a king among mortals beneath the World Nobles. What a pity."
With reinforcements at his side, Saint Jaygarcia Saturn regained his composure. Lowering the brim of his hat, his tone turned icy.
"What a long-winded sermon. Kneel? You expect me to kneel before five weaklings like you?"
Rocks D. Xebec covered his face and burst into laughter.
The next second, the laughter stopped.
His eyes—brimming with boundless ambition—locked onto the five elders.
A sphere of absolute black gathered beside him.
"Born as vermin? Why? Trash like you hold the highest authority in the world. Degenerate creatures lounging in the Holy Land are called 'lords.' Is that justice?"
"Countless atrocities. Endless cruelty. The world is screaming. The world is enraged."
"And I—am that rage incarnate!"
"You want to lecture me? Fine."
"But you'd better survive first."
The negativity in Rocks' eyes reached its peak.
The black sphere beside him shot toward the Five Elders at terrifying speed.
Their previously calm expressions shattered.
They felt the monstrous force contained within.
Saturn reacted first—though not the fastest among them by nature, his retreat was the quickest.
In the blink of an eye, the sphere reached them.
Then—
It detonated.
Blinding black light burst outward.
Strangely enough, black light could be blinding.
Yet it was.
The sphere—formed from the life force of half of God Valley—erupted with unimaginable power.
The explosion roared like a nuclear detonation.
Shockwaves spread outward from the epicenter.
Rocks stood before the platform, smirking.
In front of him yawned a crater over a kilometer wide—punching straight through the island itself. Seawater surged into the abyss as waves poured into the mangled wound of the earth.
Dust and debris filled the sky.
The Five Elders—
Were reduced to shredded flesh.
Even the powerful figures rushing toward the scene from over a kilometer away felt their organs tremble, blood trickling from the corners of their mouths.
"Gahahahaha! See that? That is power! Boundless power! There's no such thing as 'inevitable fate!' Before absolute power, such words aren't worth even the naïve kindness of that brat Roldi!"
Rocks laughed wildly, saliva flying, madness etched across his face.
"That's a bit harsh, Captain. I was the first to arrive after receiving your order—and you're talking behind my back?"
Roldi had arrived at some point.
Rocks' laughter died abruptly. He nearly choked.
Looking up, he saw Roldi hovering midair using Geppo, soft popping sounds echoing beneath his feet.
In his hand was a notebook and pen.
He seemed to be… writing something.
Silence fell.
It was hard to imagine a tyrant like Rocks—cold and ruthless in the eyes of the world—wearing such a strained smile.
He looked—
Embarrassed.
Even a little flushed.
"Cough! Looks like you really were the first to arrive. Good! I didn't train you for nothing! Reliable as ever, Roldi!"
He gestured toward the treasure piled nearby.
"These are the spoils of this little celebration. Go ahead—pick one for yourself. A reward from your captain."
Roldi landed on the platform.
His eyes lit up.
Immediately, he scratched out what he had written in his notebook and stuffed the paper into his pocket.
Without hesitation, he stepped to the treasure pile and grabbed one of the three ornate boxes displayed at the top.
Rocks' face twitched.
Regret washed over him.
He shouldn't have spoken so generously.
That brat held grudges.
He had absolutely been recording Rocks' insults in that little notebook.
And the box Roldi took—
Without question—
Contained one of the three immensely powerful Devil Fruits prepared by the Celestial Dragons for this event.
"By the way, Captain—what happened? Why summon us all here? Didn't you say this operation would be autonomous? You just used up your captain's command like that?"
That had been their agreement before the war began.
Rocks could issue a Captain's Order to compel his Division Commanders—but only a limited number of times.
After all, the crew wasn't made up of weaklings. Push them too far, and they might leave.
"Hmph. You'll see soon enough."
Rocks' mood darkened.
He stared into the dense smoke.
Roldi followed his gaze.
Rocks' Observation Haki was incredibly refined—he could already see what lay within.
Roldi's, however, was comparatively weak.
He saw nothing.
Then—
A massive spider leg tore through the smoke.
The sound of hooves clattered.
With the land destroyed beneath them, the air itself howled as something enormous moved.
A deep, boar-like growl echoed.
A violent gust of wind swept through—clearly not natural.
Five pairs of crimson eyes glowed within the haze.
"Captain… what are they?"
Roldi swallowed.
Not from fear.
From curiosity.
He had never seen such grotesque creatures.
A chilling aura seeped outward, like something crawling from hell itself.
And they were—
Ugly.
Every last one of them.
Rocks knew exactly how to ignite his subordinate's battle spirit.
"Them? Aren't they the ones you hate most?"
Roldi's expression changed instantly.
Killing intent condensed around him like frost.
Even Rocks felt a chill, as though caught in subzero wind beneath a blazing summer sun.
"You mean…?"
Rocks grinned.
"Yes."
"They are the gods of this world."
A beat of silence.
Then—
"The highest authority of the World Government."
"The Celestial Dragons—"
"The Five Elders."
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