"Hahahah!" Imu laughed out loud, his voice echoing through God Valley like a monstrous bell.
"I don't have any business with you maggots. You can scrap now… or you won't be able to run later. " Imu said, a cold glint flashing sharply in his eyes.
Guahahah! Captain John burst into laughter.
He tossed his wine bottle aside clank!
and wiped his mouth with his forearm.
Hoosh—he licked his lips and raised his sword.
"Move aside, Shiki. He's mine. I've struck jackpot this time… I can't let him go."
"Zehahahaha! Careful, ya fellas." Rocks said, voice booming like thunder. "I know this sucks, but if you wanna leave this island alive, then cooperate with each other!"
And boom, Rocks slashed forward, aiming directly at Imu.
BOOOOOOM!
The ground erupted, the God valley trembling violently as Imu's figure vanished.
In the next instant, Imu appeared right in front of Rocks.
Boom boom boom!
Rocks and Imu's figures flickered across the battlefield, disappearing and reappearing. The only sign of their battle were violent shockwaves and the ear-splitting clashing sounds reverberating every few seconds.
"Wait, he's mine! I can't lose him!" Shiki yelled, rushing forward with crazed eyes.
"Linlin, what should we do?" Kaido asked anxiously, clutching his kanabo tighter.
Linlin chewed her fingers, thinking for a split second, then her eyes gleamed with greed.
"Attack him, Kaido. If we seize him, then I can get lots of devil fruits from the World Government. I'm pretty sure they've a ton stored in their treasury!" She said, running after Shiki with a wide, maniacal grin.
Kaido's eyes lit up instantly.
"If you get devil fruits, then remember to save one for me! You promised me, remember?" he shouted as he followed Linlin with excitement.
"What a nuisance…" Newgate muttered with an annoyed tone.
But despite complaining, his massive figure vanished immediately, moving to join the battle.
---
Hahahah! Imu laughed wildly as he punched at Rocks' aiming at his heart and head, each strike carrying enough force to blow apart a mountain.
Rocks blocked each hit with his sword, but every blow felt like a mountain pressing directly onto his arms. His arms trembled.
Rocks counterattacked, swinging his sword wildly, sparks exploding each time metal met Haki.
Imu's figure disappeared again whoosh!, and he reappeared right in front of Rocks instantly.
"Ugh—!" Rocks was surprised, but he suppressed his reaction, keeping his composure. He swung his sword down toward Imu's head with all his strength.
Imu raised his hand to block it—
Shing!
The blade sliced into his hand, separating his hand from his body drawing blood… but Imu didn't care. Not even a little.
He saw an opening,
and drove his fist straight into Rocks' gut.
BOOOOOOM!
"Ughhh!!" Rocks' face twisted in pain as his body was blasted backward.
He flipped in mid-air, forcing his body to stabilize, and swung his sword again in a wide arc. Imu dodged with ease, he also regenerated his hand with ease.
"Hahahah, Xebec!" Imu shouted, madness lighting up his eyes. "Don't you wanna become king of the world? You can't become king if you're this weak!"
Imu grinned—
a wide, insane smile that looked less human and more like a demon enjoying a hunt.
"Ya don't need to lecture me, ya rat king," Rocks replied in an irritated tone.
---
"Wait, you guys! I'm coming too!" Kaido yelled, trailing behind the others.
"I don't care about you guys. Just know he's mine," Shiki said with an excited tone. His expression reflected pure greed, so did the others'… except Whitebeard, who stayed calm unlike others.
Suddenly, Shiki felt his heart tighten.
He immediately shifted to the side at the last second.
But—
Shff!
An arrow-like projectile grazed his side, creating a shallow but bleeding wound.
"Eek!! Who is it?!" Shiki yelled, stopping instantly as blood trickled down from the small cut. He scanned the surrounding.
And then he saw a figure standing a bit away from him.
A young woman stood there with an expression that was cold.
She had a slim build and short hair. Her right eye glowed bright cyan, while her left shone deep crimson. She wore a jacket with overlong sleeves, a hat, and a short flowing crimson cape that reached down to her lower back. Bandages wrapped around half her face and legs.
Gunko
Blade of God.
And from her sleeves—
that's where the arrows were coming from.
"I'm afraid I can't let you go any further," Gunko said with a cold expression.
In the next instant
fwip! fwip! fwip!
Other God Knights appeared around them, blocking their path completely.
"Haah?! How dare ya block our way?!" Shiki shouted with an angry tone, swinging his twin swords fiercely toward Gunko.
Gunko's figure vanished.
Whoosh—gone.
Suddenly an arrow came flying toward Shiki again, aiming precisely at his head this time.
"Eek! Damn you! You must really think I'm so easy?!" Shiki yelled angrily, crossing his twin swords to block the attack as sparks exploded on impact.
On other side,
Garling stood firm, blocking Edward Newgate's path.
"This is the end, you damned pirates," Garling declared coldly as he drew his sword and slashed straight toward Newgate.
Newgate responded effortlessly. He shifted his stance and swung his naginata, cleanly countering Garling's slash. Without hesitation, he twisted the shaft and unleashed multiple powerful slashes toward the surrounding God Knights.
Boom!
Boom!
Boom!
Boom!
Shockwaves tore through the battlefield.
Garling gritted his teeth and used his sword to deflect each incoming attack, sparks bursting violently with every collision.
Suddenly, Newgate sensed danger.
A sharp slash came from behind.
He tilted his head to the left, dodging it by a narrow margin—but his eyes widened instantly.
The slash curved midair.
It turned back toward him.
Newgate reacted immediately, swinging his naginata with overwhelming force.
BOOM!
The impact detonated outward, destroying the ground around him and blasting debris in all directions.
At a distance stood a lone figure, gripping a scythe.
He was tall and lean, dressed in a long dark coat and black trousers, holding the scythe casually in one hand. A cold blue glow burned in his hollow sockets.
"It didn't work… I see," the man muttered under his breath, tightening his grip on the scythe. "Troublesome."
Morvane.
God's Knight.
Devil Fruit: Kiru Kiru no Mi (Slice-Slice Fruit)
Type: Paramecia.
-------
"Hey, Rocks, what do you think about my proposal?" Imu asked, a slight, almost teasing smile on his face.
"What proposal?" Rocks yelled back, his voice sharp with irritation, clearly uninterested in entertaining Imu's offer.
For a moment, neither of them attacked. Imu held back, knowing he wanted to recruit Rocks, but even he knew it was unlikely. Still, he decided to try.
Rocks, on the other hand, didn't strike because he was recovering and carefully considering his next move.
"How about you submit to me? You know you can't win against me. This battle is pointless. Submit, just like your friend Herald," Imu said, smirking confidently.
"Never think that, ya rat. I ain't submitting to anyone. You know you can't make me bow," Rocks replied instantly, not even giving the words a second thought.
"Ahh… that's sad," Imu said, disappointment clear in his expression. "I thought you were smart… but it seems you're dumb."
Boom!
Rocks surged forward, swinging his sword ferociously, aiming straight at Imu.
Imu dodged each strike effortlessly while continuing to speak.
"You know you can't become king of the world. You just don't have the quality, the talent," Imu said, his smile cold and unyielding.
His hands lashed out, striking wildly at Rocks.
Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!
The island trembled violently with every collision, cracks spreading across the ground as shockwaves radiated outward.
"Ya? And why do you think I'm unfit for it? At least I ain't no rat hiding in sewers for over 700 years," Rocks shot back, mocking Imu, his sword slicing through the air with precision and power.
"Haha… I was giving you a chance, Rocks," Imu said, his voice now laced with menace. "But it seems you don't understand your situation. Your son and wife are in my hands. I can do whatever I please with them." His hair flowed wildly in the wind as the words sank into Rocks' mind.
"Ya bastard! Don't ya dare touch my wife and kid! I'll save them… after I kill you!" Rocks' eyes blazed with fiery rage. He could no longer contain himself and leapt back. Haki flared violently from his blade, glowing with intense power.
CURSE OF ABYSS.
Rocks roared as he appeared directly in front of Imu, swinging his sword down with full strength.
"Hahaha! You wanna play? Then let's play," Imu laughed, his hands instantly darkening with Armament Haki. Red lightning crackled and danced around them like molten fire.
BOOM!
The impact of their clash shook the entire God Valley. The ground fractured violently, huge fissures splitting the earth apart.
The sky was split in half.
Boom!
Massive chunks of God Valley's land collapsed into the sea, swallowed by waves from the sheer force of their collision.