After the Marines and Roger Pirates began their clash, the five CP0 agents showed no intention of joining the fight at least, not immediately.
When they would make their move was a mystery known only to them.
Aboard one of the Marine ships, a CP0 agent turned to their leader and asked,
"If we let the Marines suffer too many losses, it'll be hard for us to explain to our superiors. So, when are we jumping in?"
Their original plan had been to ambush and eliminate one or two of the Roger Pirates' executives before revealing themselves to directly engage.
The idea was to let the Marines bear the brunt of the battle initially after all, the dead weren't their people, so why should they care?
However, unforeseen events had exposed their presence prematurely, forcing them into the open. Stealth was no longer an option; direct confrontation was inevitable.
The CP0 leader was hesitant, worried about the potential for the Roger Pirates to retaliate in a last-ditch effort. Even if they secured victory, being taken down with them wasn't a prospect the CP0 agents were eager to face.
Without looking back, the CP0 leader replied,
"I'll say when it's time to move. As for your concerns if we capture the Roger Pirates, no one will care how many casualties the Marines suffer. The higher-ups only care about results, never the process."
The leader was clear: staying alive was more important than worrying about the Marines' losses. The agents, accustomed to working in the shadows, had long lost the bloodlust for open combat.
What they didn't know, however, was that their delay would cost them the opportunity to act. By the time Reno's group returned, their chance would have vanished entirely.
With Reno's ability to make their ship fly into the sky, the Roger Pirates would be out of reach. While many CP0 agents could use Geppo (Moonwalk), it was only enough for short bursts not nearly sufficient to chase a flying ship.
Aside from a handful of capable flyers, like bird-type Zoan users or someone like Borsalino (Kizaru), their options were limited, and even those who could follow would likely meet their end.
Aboard Reno's Ship
Though Blue Star Island wasn't particularly far from the battlefield, it still took about ten minutes by ship. Reno and his group were already on their way, hurrying to the scene.
"Hurry up! Get this ship moving as fast as possible!"
Oden was impatient, urging the crew to move faster. He was deeply concerned about Roger's worsening health, knowing that prolonged intense combat could be catastrophic. On top of that, he was eager to join the fight himself.
One of the crewmates, looking flustered, replied,
"Oden-san, this is already the ship's maximum speed. There's nothing more we can do!"
Watching Oden's frantic pacing, Reno grinned and teased,
"Big guy, that battlefield is a meat grinder. Are you in such a rush to get yourself killed?"
Oden's face darkened instantly. Glaring at Reno, he retorted,
"A dog's mouth never spews ivory. If you can't speak properly, just shut up! No one will think you're mute!"
Reno and Oden had been bickering throughout the journey, much to the amusement of the rest of the crew, who watched the show and occasionally egged them on.
The ship's atmosphere was surprisingly lighthearted, filled with laughter that could easily be mistaken for a party rather than a march to war.
As the banter continued, the ship drew closer to the battlefield.
On the Battlefield
The clash raged on as fiercely as ever. Battles rumbled both in the sky and on the Marine ships, with explosions and shockwaves shaking the area.
"BOOM! RUMBLE!"
The sky above grew dark with storm clouds as lightning crackled and thunder roared. High above, several figures moved with lightning speed, their collisions shaking the heavens and earth.
"BAM!"
Garp delivered a powerful punch against Roger's sword, sending the Pirate King flying backward. Roger skidded through the air for tens of meters before stabilizing himself.
As he steadied his stance, Roger wiped his mouth, glancing at the blood staining his hand. Internally, he thought, Looks like my body won't hold out much longer.
Though Roger's speed was impressive, Garp had sharp eyes and quickly noticed the blood at the corner of his opponent's mouth.
"Roger, what's going on with you?"
Garp questioned loudly, pausing his advance.
The punch hadn't been particularly powerful, and Roger had blocked it with his sword. His injuries clearly weren't from Garp's attacks but seemed to be preexisting.
Garp's mind raced as he considered this. What's with this guy lately? Almost every time we fight, he's already injured. It's not even fun anymore.
Roger's illness was a closely guarded secret, known only to a few of his closest crewmates. Naturally, Garp had no idea about it.
Feigning nonchalance, Roger smirked and quipped,
"We pirates don't live like you Marines. We're always fighting three days for a small scuffle, five days for a major battle. A few injuries here and there? Just part of the lifestyle!"
----------
Patreon Advance 30 Chapters: patreon .com/FicVibe