"Set sail!"
At Roger's command, the massive anchor was hauled aboard, and the newly unfurled sails caught the morning breeze with a soft whoosh.
The Oro Jackson, a golden masterpiece embodying dreams and craftsmanship, silently glided out of the dock, drawing the gaze of all of Water 7. Its hull cut through the water almost soundlessly, leaving only a smooth, gentle gurgle behind, as if the sea itself were admiring the ship's grace.
"This ship… it's truly dancing with the sea," Bluemarine murmured, running a hand along the polished rail. His eyes reflected awe and fascination, drawn in by the subtle vibrations emanating from the hull.
Roger, standing tall at the bow, turned back toward Master Tom on the shore. "Tom—thank you! This ship is the best in the world!"
Master Tom's burly figure, like a small mountain, remained steady. He didn't wave. Instead, he grinned his signature hearty grin and shouted with all his might:
"Go! Turn this world upside down! DON!"
The sound thundered across the harbor like cannon fire.
The Oro Jackson's speed gradually increased, and the magnificent silhouette of Water 7 shrank into a distant dot. Crew members leaned over the railings in twos and threes, excitement shining in their eyes.
"It feels… completely different!" Nozdon exclaimed, sprinting across the spacious deck. "So roomy!"
"This is how a pirate ship should feel," Isaac said, leaning against the main mast. His hand rested on the hilt of his sword, his sharp gaze sweeping the horizon. Even his taciturn expression softened into a faint smile.
Kyle approached the main cannon, built into the figurehead, and ran his hand along its cold barrel. Every inch of the planks beneath his fingers seemed imbued with soul and power.
"What's on your mind, Kyle?" Rayleigh asked, approaching with a wine glass in hand.
"I was just wondering… what would its first 'laugh' sound like?" Kyle replied with a grin.
Rayleigh smiled and raised his glass, gazing toward the distant horizon. "I think we'll find out very soon."
No sooner had he spoken than Miller Pine rang the crow's nest alarm bell, its urgent clanging cutting through the morning calm.
"Enemy attack! A large Marine fleet directly ahead!"
The previously relaxed deck instantly tensed. Crew members surged to the bow and saw a dense line of black silhouettes emerging on the horizon.
As the distance closed, menacing muzzles, fluttering seagull flags, and the massive formation resembling a wall of steel sent chills down their spines. At least twenty warships formed a crescent, completely blocking the Oro Jackson's forward path.
"No way…" Punk Rock whispered, eyes wide. "Did they really move an entire Marine branch here?"
"No," Colonel Mu Gulian said, cigar clenched between his teeth. His gaze was grave. "This isn't a branch-level force. Look at the flagship—it's the newest battleship, only deployed at Marineford."
Kyle's pupils narrowed. He sent subtle electromagnetic waves forward for long-range scanning, and the figures on the flagship became clear: a man laughing while picking his nose; another wearing round glasses, stern and imposing; a tall, calm woman; and a burly, purple-haired man.
"This is… troublesome," Kyle muttered.
"What is it?" Roger asked, eyes alight with excitement rather than fear.
"Garp's here," Kyle replied gravely. "And Sengoku, Tsuru, and Zephyr."
The Marines' new generation of monsters had assembled, intent on encircling and annihilating the Oro Jackson just as it set sail.
Yet the next moment, Roger erupted with laughter, a booming, unrestrained sound.
"Kuhahahahaha!" He stomped on the railing, drew his cutlass, and pointed toward the Marine fleet. "Splendid! This is the greatest welcoming ceremony for the Oro Jackson! Lads!"
"Oh oh oh oh oh!" The crew erupted, their spirits inflamed by Roger's audacity.
"Finally, real sparring!" Isaac's body trembled with anticipation.
"Let them witness our power!" Nozdon shouted.
"Lads!" Roger raised his cutlass high. "Kyle! Let our new companion's first 'laugh' resound across the sea!"
"Exactly what I intended!" Kyle grinned. He placed his hands on the main cannon.
Compressed shockwaves filled the barrel. The twin maiden figureheads seemed alive, their golden eyes flashing as light coalesced into a supersonic white shockwave.
"Boom!"
No cannonball emerged. Instead, the shockwave tore through the air, forming concentric sonic booms that radiated outward, shredding the calm of the sea.
Garp, anticipating the attack, launched his Armament Haki-covered fist to collide with the wave.
"Fist Bone: Impact!"
The forces collided above the water, producing a deafening roar. Waves erupted violently, smashing into nearby Marine vessels.
"All fleet, open fire!" Sengoku commanded calmly.
Hundreds of cannons fired in unison, sending steel storming toward the Oro Jackson, blotting out the sky.
"Light Illusion Mirage!" Kyle shouted, clapping his hands. The hull twisted with refracted light, creating three identical illusions across the water. Most cannonballs struck empty space, erupting in towering columns of seawater, though a few found their mark.
"I've got it!" Jabba bellowed, spinning his massive twin axes. He deflected all incoming fire, moving like a whirlwind.
"Break through the enemy lines!" Rayleigh ordered. "Isaac, left flank!"
"Yes!" Isaac and Rayleigh leaped over the waves stirred by cannonfire. Rayleigh's sword sliced through enemy ranks, leaving Marine soldiers in his wake. Isaac severed rudders and masts with brutal efficiency, rendering ships powerless.
"What energetic bastards!" Zephyr observed on the flagship, flexing his black arm.
"I'll meet Rayleigh!" Sengoku warned.
"This is truly a headache," Tsuru murmured, watching the Oro Jackson dodge with uncanny agility. Her eyes narrowed.
The Marine formation subtly shifted, attempting to trap them.
"They're going to surround us!" Spencer shouted.
"Then we'll punch through before they can!" Roger laughed, releasing his Conqueror's Haki.
An invisible pressure swept the sea. Weak Marine soldiers fainted instantly, giving the Oro Jackson room to accelerate.
"Tidal Roar Ripple!" Kyle slammed his palm against the sea, massive waves rising and crashing into enemy ships, clearing a path forward.
Close-quarters combat erupted. Miller Pine's hammer tore through decks; Nozdon barreled forward like a beast. Yet the sheer number of Marines pressed them hard.
Rayleigh grappled with Zephyr, each strike destabilizing a warship. Roger faced Garp directly, trading blows with his lifelong rival.
"Roger!" Garp's heavy punch sent him soaring from ship to ship.
"Not enough, Garp!" Roger laughed, swinging his sword again.
Kyle's naginata weaved through the chaos, yet the Marine formation held firm. Sengoku's commands were flawless; Tsuru's tactics cunning. The Pirates could not break through the encirclement.
"Roger! We need to retreat!" Kyle yelled.
Roger forced Garp back with a slash and grinned. "Lads! Had enough fun? It's time to move!"
Garp surged, shouting, "Leaving? You'll pay for that!"
"Kyle!" Roger called.
Kyle planted his feet firmly on the deck, raising his naginata. Ripples radiated outward. The sea boiled. The wind howled.
"What… is that?" Sengoku's eyes widened, a premonition of dread forming.
"Vortex: Azure Dragon Twister!"
Kyle swung downward, striking the deck. A massive hurricane formed, intertwining sound and water. A waterspout rose, engulfing the Oro Jackson, lifting it into the air, bypassing the Marines' encirclement.
"Are you kidding me?!" a Marine screamed.
The Oro Jackson flew dozens of miles before smoothly landing back on the sea. The fleet was left far behind.
The deck was battered, the crew wounded, yet laughter rang out.
"Kuhahaha! That was exhilarating!" Roger wiped seawater from his face, tears of joy streaming...
Kyle dropped his naginata, exhausted. Rayleigh handed him water, a look of approval in his eyes..
Roger placed a foot on the railing, gazing where the fleet had vanished. "See, World Government! This is our ship, our crew!"
The sea breeze ruffled Roger's straw hat, billowing the sails of the Oro Jackson, carrying these fearless pirates deeper into the Grand Line.
Ãdvåñçé çhàptêr àvàilàble óñ pàtreøn (Gk31)