The New World.
This was the Sound Country, a nation deeply connected to the Dusty Singing Kingdom, a kingdom that had long disappeared into the pages of history.
Sound Country was famous across the seas as the homeland of wandering poets and musicians. Its craftsmen were renowned for producing some of the finest musical instruments in the world.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
A sudden barrage of cannon fire erupted across the harbor.
The Marine warships docked at the pier were struck instantly, exploding into flames before the soldiers stationed aboard could even react.
"Pirates! Oh my God! It's pirates!"
Panic erupted at the harbor. The people who had been singing, trading, and performing only moments ago scattered in terror, abandoning their stalls as they fled in every direction.
"Wuwuwu!"
"Kill them! Plunder everything! We are the invincible Super Pirate Crew!"
More than thirty enormous pirate ships surrounded the medium sized island like a dark iron wall.
The pirates crowded along the edges of their ships, waving long blades and cutlasses while staring at the prosperous island with greedy and cruel expressions.
"So many pirate ships!"
"Quick! Inform the acting commander of the Marine branch!"
Inside the small sentry post near the pier, several Marines stared in horror at the approaching fleet.
"Colonel Benn! Pirates are attacking! Pirates are attacking! There are more than thirty pirate ships!"
The Marine holding the Den Den Mushi spoke with fear, yet forced himself to stand firm.
"We will try to stop them..."
Boom!
Before he could finish speaking, the sentry post was obliterated by another cannon blast. Flames swallowed the structure instantly.
...
At the Marine base deeper within the harbor, a tall and slender red haired officer stared toward the sea with a pale face.
He was the commander of Marine Branch GL 111 stationed in Sound Country.
"Oh my God... why did we receive no warning?"
His voice trembled.
"How can so many pirates suddenly appear in our waters?"
The main force of the GL 111 Branch had recently been reassigned elsewhere, leaving fewer than one hundred Marines behind to defend the island.
Against such a massive pirate fleet, they had absolutely no chance.
"Oh no... this is bad."
Colonel Benn quickly grabbed a Den Den Mushi, his hands trembling.
"Beep... beep... this is Marineford..."
The moment the call connected, he shouted frantically.
"Send reinforcements immediately! This is Marine Branch 111 stationed in Sound Country! We are under attack by a large pirate fleet! There are too many ships, at least thirty or even forty! Please send support immediately! Send people..."
His voice suddenly stopped.
Colonel Benn slowly lifted his head.
Above him, the sky had turned dark.
Hundreds of cannonballs were descending like a storm.
His voice became hollow.
"It's too late... it's all over..."
Colonel Benn slowly closed his eyes.
The next moment, the entire Marine Branch was swallowed by a sea of explosions.
Boom!
Boom!!
Boom!!!
The deafening blasts shook the island as the base was blown apart, buildings collapsing into burning rubble.
"Hello... hello..."
From the shattered Den Den Mushi, faint voices from Marineford continued calling anxiously.
But there was no answer.
The entire garrison of Marine Branch GL 111 had been completely annihilated by the bombardment.
They had lost every ability to resist.
...
Waves crashed against the harbor pier.
More than a dozen massive pirate ships had already docked along the shore.
Nine pirate captains with bounties close to 100 million Berries and seven others with bounties exceeding 100 million Berries stood together at the dock.
All of them were staring nervously at a luxurious and enormous pirate ship slowly approaching the harbor.
Creak.
The gangplank lowered.
A broad and imposing silhouette appeared at the top of the ramp, illuminated by a brilliant light that burst out from behind him.
Crack!
The intense glow was so dazzling that no one dared to look directly at it.
"Your subordinates greet the God King!"
More than a dozen pirate captains immediately dropped to one knee, trembling as they bowed their heads.
None of them dared to meet the gaze of the magnificent figure.
Around them, the other pirates crowded the ship rails, shaking with excitement as they looked toward their legendary captain.
Normally, this mysterious captain rarely appeared in public. He spent most of his time inside his ship, making moments like this extremely rare.
The pirates whispered among themselves in awe.
"Look at him! What an incredible figure! That shining light is said to be the aura of Conqueror's Haki. Anyone who sees it feels fear and suffocation!"
"Every time he appears it feels like an entirely different person. As expected of the legendary pirate who possesses the divine Talent Fruit!"
"I saw him fight once! He simply raised a glowing finger and an entire Marine warship exploded! They say he used the power of the Glint Glint Fruit to fire a laser beam!"
"That's nothing! I saw him casually wave his hand and shatter an entire pirate crew that challenged him!"
"So powerful! As expected of Shirogai, the God King, the strongest pirate in the world! Even the Marines fear him and the Four Emperors cannot stand against him!"
...
"Respected Captain God King!"
Mick the Vicious Executioner, a pirate with a bounty of 190 million Berries, looked at the descending figure with burning admiration.
"We have already destroyed the Marine defenses on this island and sealed off all escape routes! Everything here now belongs to you! Please accept it!"
Heavy footsteps echoed across the gangplank.
A sharp and sinister laugh followed.
"You've done well, my loyal subordinates!"
The so called God King slowly stepped forward.
He was a fat man with a protruding belly, wearing an oversized white suit. A golden crown was absurdly balanced on one of his toes while a long black wig hung around his shoulders.
He swaggered down the ramp while sneering arrogantly.
"Little ones! Go seize this country in the name of your God King, worth ten billion Berries! Plunder all of their wealth!"
His expression turned vicious.
"This foolish nation dared to rely on the Marines for protection!"
"Do they not know that the World Government, which stands above the Marines, is nothing more than a parasite feeding on this world?"
While no one was paying attention, he quietly pressed a hidden mechanism inside his sleeve.
Click.
Boom.
A burst of prepared alcohol ignited along his arm, erupting into flames.
The surrounding pirates stared in shock and admiration.
"Wow! The God King is using the power of the Mera Mera no Mi!"
Under their excited gazes, the so called God King waved his flaming arm toward the distant silent country.
"I want this foolish land to drown in blood!"
...
For a brief moment, the entire harbor fell silent.
Black glanced nervously at the pirates beside him.
He swallowed hard.
Why are these idiots not reacting?
Go kill people! Go plunder! Hurry!
If they wait any longer the flames will burn through the insulation I prepared!
The next moment, the pirates finally exploded into cheers.
"Kill!"
"Destroy that foolish nation! Long live the God King!"
"For the God King! Charge!"
Like a herd of unleashed beasts, the pirates rushed toward the distant country in a chaotic wave.