The sudden appearance of the cloud rivers shocked everyone in the Flying Sky Pirates. It wasn't just the hall—cloud rivers were descending all over STRONGWORLD.
From these rivers, warriors riding powerful Weiba surged forth, launching straight at the Flying Sky Pirates' crew without a word. This battle, as Rosinante had said, was an annihilation operation—no room for hesitation.
"Who the hell are you?! This is the Flying Sky Pirates, Captain Golden Lion's crew! How dare you—ah!" shouted one of the pirates at the Grey Kingdom soldiers, only to be cut down immediately by a blade strike from the enemy.
"Doesn't matter if you're Golden Lion or Silver Lion! I am of the Grey Kingdom, and the captain's order is annihilation—so die!" one soldier from the Sky Island Grey Kingdom said, firing a rocket launcher.
Grey Kingdom members were either natives of Sky Island or pirates from the Four Seas. Sky Island-born soldiers didn't care about legends like Golden Lion—they barely knew who he was. Those from the Four Seas had heard of Golden Lion, but he had been absent for years, and his operations were mainly in the New World—most had never personally seen the Flying Sky Pirates' strength.
Moreover, the Grey Kingdom had implemented a command system: every attack was led by an officer. With leaders setting examples, the rank-and-file soldiers had no fear. Most importantly, they had no reason to believe the Grey Kingdom was inferior to the Flying Sky Pirates. Rumors outside already hailed Rosinante and the Grey Kingdom as a new oceanic power, perhaps rivaling the Flying Sky Pirates.
"Enemy intrusion! Where are the officers and squad captains?!"
"Damn it, the Grey Kingdom dares to attack us? Kill them! Show them the Flying Sky Pirates' might!"
Experienced as they were, the Flying Sky Pirates immediately counterattacked. Within moments, fierce clashes erupted between the crews.
Although Grey Kingdom soldiers wielded all kinds of Sky Island weapons, individually they were weaker than the Flying Sky Pirates. After all, the Flying Sky Pirates had survived countless battles in the New World. Even minor members were formidable.
But the Grey Kingdom's forces were overwhelming. The cloud rivers delivered wave after wave of soldiers, seemingly endless, all led by officers. Their organization far surpassed the Flying Sky Pirates' uncoordinated ranks.
Soon, the Flying Sky Pirates began to be overwhelmed, each pirate often facing three to five Grey Kingdom soldiers at once, barely managing to respond.
"Are these… Grey Kingdom?" Kaen exclaimed upon seeing the warriors pouring from the cloud rivers.
Just by observing the Skypiea weapons they wielded, Kaen and the others immediately recognized them as Grey Kingdom forces. Having anticipated potential conflict with the Grey Kingdom, the Flying Sky Pirates had studied their combat capabilities beforehand.
"It seems the Grey Kingdom dared to attack… so Rosinante's plan to lure away Captain Lion succeeded," Kaen observed.
"Do they think that by drawing away Captain Lion, the Grey Kingdom can defeat us? They're naïve! Do they really think the Flying Sky Pirates are pushovers?" Sibang scoffed.
"Organize a counterattack! Every Grey Kingdom soldier must not return alive!" Bolly ordered coldly.
At that moment, a massive figure fell from high above, crashing into the Flying Sky Pirates' palace hall with a tremendous impact, leaving a large crater and shaking the entire hall.
"Who…?"
"What the hell is that?"
"Did it fall from the cloud river? Could it be…?" the Flying Sky Pirates' officers murmured.
"Hehe, how lucky. All the squad captains are here. If we wipe you all out, the Flying Sky Pirates are practically finished!" a colossal figure emerged from the crater.
"Grey Kingdom First Squad Captain, Jack—what audacity! Charging straight into the Flying Sky Pirates' headquarters with a thousand men," Bolly said coldly.
"It seems the captain's lure worked perfectly!" Jack ignored the Flying Sky Pirates' captains, scanning the area for Golden Lion, but found no sign of him.
"You dare ignore me? I heard you're also an Ancient Zoan Devil Fruit user. Let's see what you're truly capable of!" Bolly said with a cold glare.
"Emperor Crocodile Bolly, I've been wanting to measure my strength against you!" Jack replied with a smirk, ready for the confrontation.
"Now is not the time for one-on-one duels. Let's deal with these invading enemies first. The Grey Kingdom came prepared, and the captain has been lured away—we must protect the Flying Sky Pirates, or the captain will never forgive us!" Cantel said.
Hearing this, the squad captains and officers of the Flying Sky Pirates wore solemn expressions.
"Then let's resolve this quickly. You handle the rest of the trash!" Bolly commanded.
"Fine, we'll leave Jack to you!" Kaen and the others agreed, moving with officers and squad captains to support their comrades.
"Trying to leave? Not so easy!" Jack said calmly.
"You think you can stop all of us alone?" Kaen retorted coldly.
"Who said I'm alone?" Jack replied.
"Hehe, it's really lively here!" At that moment, someone descended rapidly, riding a powerful force.
"Hehe, truly a gathering of big names—each one notable in the New World. But Jack is right; escaping now won't be that easy," Doflamingo laughed.
"Shusha! Shusha!" Figures began rapidly descending from midair, emanating a formidable presence.
These… were all members of the Grey Kingdom? How could this be? A pirate crew barely a few years old already had so many experts!