The night hadn't yet given way to dawn, but the seas around Squid Island were already churning with chaos.
Above the ocean, thunderclouds roiled, crackling with purple lightning that lit up the darkened island with an eerie glow, its raw power sending shivers through the air.
Waves crashed against the shore, their deafening roars waking the pirates and robbing them of any chance to rest.
"With this rotten weather and those monster waves, there's no way Shirokiri's crew would show up. But have you all secured your ships?"
Roger grinned, unfazed by the storm, though his real concern was the safety of their vessels—especially the massive flagship of the Edward Pirates.
"No worries, Roger. The ship my father left me can handle a little rough weather!"
Angelie wasn't overly concerned about her crew's vessel. Storms like this would surely keep even Shirokiri from sailing out!
"Roger, I've been meaning to ask—has Captain Brook never tried to recruit you? Your crew's got some serious potential!" Angelie said, her tone curious. She hadn't forgotten how Brook strong-armed her into joining the Hell Pirates as an allied crew.
"Brook, huh? Haha, he called me the 'Child of the Era,' said I'd be the best in some field someday. Still haven't figured out what he meant by that!"
Roger laughed heartily, his carefree attitude shining through. He'd been chasing the secrets of his Observation Haki, attuned to the voices of all things, the will of the D, and the strange hum of the Poneglyphs, which fascinated him endlessly.
"Child of the Era?"
Angelie's eyes widened, stunned by the phrase. Brook clearly saw something special in Roger—could he be destined to shine brightest in this age?
The Roger Pirates hadn't been in the New World long, but their strength outstripped most Supernovas. They could even go toe-to-toe with Shirokiri for hours!
Yet, to Angelie, the Hell Pirates seemed the true stars of the era. Brook, with four Conqueror's Haki users under his command, was practically unmatched in history. Could there be two Children of the Era? Would the Roger Pirates rise to rival the Hell Pirates' brilliance?
It made sense why Brook treated Roger as an equal, never pressuring him to join the Hell Pirates.
Angelie couldn't fathom Brook's full intentions, and she had no say in his plans. All she could do was follow his orders and build a friendship with Roger's crew.
...
The New World's storms came fast and faded faster. The thunderclouds softened, their energy spent, drifting away like tired ghosts. A gust of wind swept them aside, and the sky began to brighten as sunlight peeked over the horizon.
But Roger and Angelie had no time to admire the view. Three pirate ships appeared, their sails billowing as if propelled by a hurricane, racing toward the island at breakneck speed.
"Trouble! That's Vesper's top officer, Orion, the Wind-Wind Fruit user with an 800-million-Belly bounty! We've gotta move—head for Captain Brook's position!"
Angelie yanked a small beast horn from her belt and blew hard, its piercing call echoing across half of Squid Island. The Edward Pirates scrambled aboard the ship, ready to flee.
"Captain Roger, they've got numbers on us. We need to pull a strategic retreat!" Angelie shouted, already sprinting toward her ship. The ship roared to life, its crew preparing to sail toward Brook's incoming forces.
If she'd known Vesper's crew was sending reinforcements, she would've ditched Squid Island last night instead of waiting for Brook!
"Angelie, we're sitting ducks at sea against a Wind Fruit user. We're better off fighting on the island—hide in the forests, hold our ground. If Brook gets here in time, we can make it!"
Roger's voice boomed, stopping Angelie in her tracks. Fleeing across open water would make them easy prey for Orion's wind powers. A desperate stand on land was their best shot.
His eyes blazed as he stared at the approaching ships. He'd made up his mind—another life-or-death battle, a chance to break through his limits. He was still too weak, but he trusted Brook would arrive in time.
Deep down, Roger's gut told him this choice, like so many before, would lead to survival against all odds.
"You're serious, Roger?!"
Even Rayleigh wanted to bolt, his captain's plan sounding like pure madness.
"Trust me, Rayleigh! This fight's gonna push all three of us—me, you, and Gaban—to new heights!"
Roger's gaze was unwavering as he looked at Rayleigh, Gaban, and their fierce crew, his conviction infectious.
"Ugh, fine. You're the captain. If you're gonna go crazy, I'll go crazy with you!"
Rayleigh's blood ignited, his usual refined demeanor giving way to a golden-haired war god, his eyes burning with battle lust.
"Haha! Today, the Gold, Silver, and Bronze trio will make the New World tremble!"
Gaban raised his axe, his roar stoking the crew's fighting spirit to a fever pitch.
When the Gold (Roger), Silver (Rayleigh), and Bronze (Gaban) got reckless, the entire Roger Pirates gained a fearless battle aura, like a crew-wide berserker buff!
Angelie, mid-sprint, froze at the sight. Gritting her teeth, she decided to trust the "Child of the Era's" judgment.
The ship dropped anchor again, its crew disembarking to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the Roger Pirates, ready for all-out war.
"Hoh! Not running? You've got guts!"
Orion rubbed his gleaming bald head as his three ships, powered by his wind, crashed onto the shallow beach. Elite pirates swung down rope ladders, storming ashore.
Angelie's face darkened when she spotted Brelco, her father's former top officer. Was he really here to fight her himself?
"Miss Angelie, Shirokiri's a fine young man. Why make things so difficult?"
Brelco met her furious glare. If Angelie became Shirokiri's partner, it'd complicate his life. Better if she "accidentally" died in this battle.
"Traitor, don't talk to me!"
Angelie's voice was ice. Everyone had their own path, and she didn't begrudge Brelco joining Vesper's crew after Edward's death. But when he pushed to disband the Edward Pirates entirely and merge them into Vesper's, he crossed her line.
As long as Angelie lived, the Edward Pirates would never fade into the New World's shadows!
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