The cadres of the Rocks Pirates each swallowed their own ES drugs, their auras surging wildly as they overwhelmed their opponents and bolted toward their pirate ships at full speed!
"I absolutely won't let you pirates escape!!"
Navy Fleet Admiral Kurotaka transformed into a massive, hundred-meter-long feathered serpent god, clashing relentlessly against Rocks' dark matter. God's Knight charged fearlessly into the dark substance, trading blows with Rocks head-on!
But in the next moment, he was stunned. He hadn't expected Rocks, hopped up on another dose of the drug, to be this terrifying—like a solid wave of Conqueror's Haki that hammered him with a single punch, sending him flying. He spat out a mouthful of blood in mid-air before crashing into the ruins!
At this point, Rocks was nothing short of a demon god. The ES drug had pushed his power to unprecedented heights, inflating his ambitions right along with it!
He was even tempted to quickly take down Navy Fleet Admiral Kurotaka and snatch his Fruit—a top-tier mythical Zoan ability on par with the Azure Dragon Fruit!
"Rocks! I've got no time for you! If you don't leave now, you're on your own!"
Brook caught sight of sniper Silva's anxious expression and knew things were getting dire. He couldn't be bothered with the Rocks Pirates anymore, swiftly rescuing his own crew back to the Golden Ark and pulling out immediately!
He even manipulated the Celestial Dragon souls to launch an assault, making the navy leaders hesitate and buying time for the Rocks Pirates' cadres to retreat. Redfield was also hammering the navy leaders with thunderous attacks!
Seeing the Hell Pirates scrambling to withdraw, Rocks reined in his greed. He erupted once more, his dark matter blanketing half of God Valley to cover his crew's escape!
"Gahaha~! Kurotaka! Next time, I'll take your head!!"
Rocks' terrifying Conqueror's Haki coiled around his sword strike, cleaving the hundred-meter feathered serpent god straight to the ground. If Brook hadn't pulled out, he might've gone all-in to claim that Feathered Serpent God Fruit!
Spotting the retreating Golden Ark, Rocks grumbled as he fell back to the ship, hauling his crew away from the island at top speed. Without the Hell Pirates, they stood no chance against the World Government and the Navy!
"We can't let them get away!!!"
Kurotaka soared through the sky, chasing after the Rocks Pirates' fleet. The other navy forces boarded their ships and gave pursuit.
But suddenly, the ground began to tremble, the sea itself ripping apart—this was Whitebeard Newgate's Tremor-Tremor Fruit in action. Brook, playing babysitter to save the Rocks Pirates, was ensuring their getaway!
By saving the Rocks Pirates' hides, Brook could hog all those Devil Fruits and treasures with a clear conscience!
The navy's grand fleet couldn't pursue, and the three God's Knights were all wounded. But the Navy Fleet Admiral, still in feathered serpent form, wanted to chase the Rocks Pirates solo—until Sengoku and the CP0 commander stopped him.
They were worried he'd just be handing Rocks the fruit on a platter. This pissed off the Fleet Admiral something fierce—was he really that weak?
Doubting he couldn't make it back from facing Rocks?
Sure, he was over eighty, but his combat prowess hadn't slipped much! He was still one of the sea's rare peerless powerhouses!
Even if he couldn't beat Rocks in his prime, he could at least use the fruit to wipe out part of the Rocks Pirates' fleet—he had that much strength left in him!
"Fleet Admiral, if you chase the Rocks Pirates alone and Brook's Golden Ark turns back to team up against you, it'd be a massive risk. The Navy can't afford to lose your leadership now!"
Golden Buddha Sengoku pleaded earnestly. With two admirals and two admiral candidates already down, the Navy HQ had suffered its worst blow in eight hundred years. If the Fleet Admiral didn't come back, the Navy was done for!
"Damn it! I'll stop at nothing to wipe out Rocks and Brook!!"
Navy Fleet Admiral Kurotaka's chest heaved with rage. Right before retirement, this massive disaster hits—Celestial Dragons and top navy officers dead in droves. A thousand years of legacy, ruined in one go; he'd carry this shame to his grave!
"For now, focus on rebuilding the Navy's strength and locking down news of this place, Fleet Admiral Kurotaka!"
The CP0 commander's voice came emotionless from behind his white mask. Not only had the Navy failed to protect the Celestial Dragons, but they'd lost so many high-ranking officers—it was a huge blow to the World Government and Navy alike.
If word got out worldwide, allied nations would doubt the Navy's power and lose trust. Hidden lowlifes and ambitious schemers across the four seas and the Grand Line would erupt into chaos!
In that moment, the navy leaders could sense the terrifying chain reaction looming ahead!
"I'll discuss this with the Five Elders. We'll promote two new admirals to steady morale!!"
Kurotaka's face twisted with worry. The fallout from the God Valley War was too severe—how could they possibly cover it up?
With both the Rocks Pirates and Hell Pirates escaping clean, the World Government couldn't bury the truth even if they tried!
Suddenly, a massive shadow loomed in the sky, drawing all the navy's eyes to the clouds above, as if a peerless beast lurked within!
"That's the 'National Treasure'!"
God's Knight Gabriel placed his right fist over his chest and bowed toward the shadow in the air, sighing inwardly. The 'National Treasure' had arrived just a tad too late—otherwise, they might've had a shot at pinning down both overlord crews!
But the Hell Pirates' Golden Ark had issued warnings twice—did they already know the 'National Treasure' was coming? Or was there a spy in the Holy Land Mary Geoise?
The other two God's Knights saluted immediately, while the navy leaders stared blankly at the mysterious object but followed suit with their own bows.
...
Holy Land Mary Geoise, the Empty Throne!
"A bit late?"
The tall, slender Imu murmured softly, then unfurled the world map once more, gazing at the ancient millennium chart marked with Hachinosu and Elan Island.
Scattered on the floor were the latest intelligence reports, fresh from the God Valley battlefield.
Brook, captain of the Hell Pirates—master strategist with six Conqueror's Haki awakeners under him. Slaughtered over a dozen Celestial Dragons. Heinous crimes, unforgivable.
Rocks D. Xebec, one of the D. clan, enemies of the gods. Killed five or six Celestial Dragons in God Valley. Dark-Dark Fruit user to boot, even stronger than Brook!
The ants of this era had gone too far—they must be eradicated!
But awakening the 'National Treasure' once came at a steep cost, and the 'energy' sacrificed by the Celestial Dragons this time was only enough for a round trip and the total destruction of one island. So, which pirate island to obliterate first?
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Fanfic is finished 955 chapters in total on p@treon/tambeerg