[send power stones please]
A black-red gale tore through the sky.
Like autumn wind scattering fallen leaves, it shredded the layered storm clouds that had blanketed the heavens.
Blinding noon sunlight poured down.
Light returned to the world.
More than half of the defenders instinctively shut their eyes, raising their hands to shield their faces. They had stood too long in darkness — their pupils could not withstand such a violent flood of light.
A few breaths later—
Vision returned.
They all looked up.
And in the next instant—
They froze.
Mouths open.
Eyes bulging.
Above them, suspended in the heavens…
The sky had split.
On both flanks, darkness churned like ink.
In the center, stretching for several kilometers, a clear blue corridor opened — like the gates of hell thrown wide.
Countless black specks rained downward.
Like demons released from the abyss.
The foreign garrison trembled. Their pupils shrank to pinpoints.
They hadn't heard Zephyr's earlier warning.
They had no idea what they were seeing.
Ten full seconds passed before the black dots grew large enough for recognition.
"Damn it — it's an aerial assault!"
"It's the Rocks Pirates!"
"Return fire!!"
Soldiers roared, veins bulging as they raised their rifles—
Too late.
Thousands of pirate ships bearing skull flags crashed down like falling fortresses.
In an instant, outer perimeter Marines and kingdom soldiers were crushed or hurled aside by the impact shockwaves.
Those who dodged were blasted into the air by the pressure.
And then—
Pirates leapt down with curved blades flashing.
Central Region — Near Split Mountain
The troops stationed here were elites.
Calm.
Disciplined.
Opposite them stood thousands of elite pirates from the Rocks crew.
Shiki did not immediately descend. Instead, he floated midair atop fragmented stone, forming a drifting rock formation like a suspended battlefield.
At the very front—
Rocks D. Xebec stood with arms folded.
Black cloak snapping in the wind.
Looking down on the world.
To his left and right, seven captains aligned in formation.
On the high platform by Split Mountain—
Kong, Zephyr, Sengoku, and Garp all stiffened in shock.
Beside the sacrificial altar—
The Five Elders stared at Rocks with visible tension.
They had expected him not to come.
They had prepared to cleanse the area after the ceremony.
But instead—
He descended directly above them.
In the air, to Rocks' left—
Rōmu stood with a toothpick in his mouth, hands in the pockets of his wide-leg trousers. His gaze looked unfocused—
But his Observation Haki was locked firmly on the Five Elders.
To the right—
Whitebeard rested Murakumogiri on his shoulder, scanning the battlefield. His eyes lingered on Garp.
Shiki floated with a cigar between his teeth, golden hair whipping wildly. His gaze fixed on Zephyr.
Behind them—
Wang Zhi, Silver Axe, and Captain John all wore grim expressions.
They expected a grand stage.
Not this.
Marine Admirals and Vice Admirals.
CP0 and CP9.
The Vinsmoke family in combat suits.
And the Five Elders themselves.
Even these hardened pirates felt a chill.
At the front—
Rocks chuckled lightly.
"Well."
"If we don't fight seriously today…"
"We die."
He was no fool.
He knew many of his captains lacked loyalty.
But today—
They had no choice.
Silence Before the Storm
On the island's outer perimeter, ordinary pirates and soldiers clashed in chaotic battle.
But at the center—
Two sides faced each other in absolute silence.
The air felt thick enough to wring water from.
Then—
Shrill, arrogant voices shattered the tension.
"You filthy lower beings! How dare you interrupt our sacred ceremony?!"
"Useless Marines! Why are you standing there?! Arrest them!"
"Burn them alive on the altar!"
From within Split Mountain's fissures, over a hundred Celestial Dragons screamed hysterically.
They had never known fear.
And they still didn't.
Every Marine present clenched their jaws.
But none dared silence them.
Kong stepped forward.
"Rocks!"
"It's not too late to withdraw!"
"No matter how strong you are, today you will lose!"
"The Marines, the World Government, the kingdoms — all their top forces are here!"
Before Rocks could answer—
The Celestial Dragons shrieked again.
"Kill them!"
"Execute them all!"
Rocks burst into laughter.
Wild.
Unrestrained.
Echoing through the valley.
"These are the trash you protect?"
His smile vanished.
He raised a hand and dragged a finger slowly across his throat — aimed directly at the Five Elders.
"You five old bastards are still alive?"
"Listen carefully."
"I will not lose."
"And every Celestial Dragon here today…"
"Dies."
Behind him—
Rōmu's eyelid twitched.
Provoking the Five Elders directly…
He really is the most arrogant man in the world.
But why?
What is Rocks truly after?
Before Rōmu could finish the thought—
The kimono-clad Elder stepped forward, holding the Supreme Blade Shodai Kitetsu.
"Rocks."
"You traitor."
"Redeem yourself with blood."
Traitor?
The word struck the field like thunder.
Rōmu reacted first.
…Was Rocks once a Celestial Dragon?
Before anyone could speak—
Rocks' long hair lifted without wind.
His eyes burned crimson.
"Traitor?"
"You insects."
"Pray that hell still has standing room."
And then—
It erupted.
Black.
Pure black Conqueror's Haki.
Not dark red.
Black.
It rolled outward like an ancient beast awakening.
The Five Elders' expressions tightened as they unleashed their own overwhelming aura.
The collision was about to begin—
Suddenly—
All five Elders stiffened.
Their hearts skipped.
They looked toward the Holy Land.
"…Im-sama?"
The kimono Elder's voice trembled slightly.
Without hesitation—
"Withdraw."
"This matter is secondary."
He turned to Kong.
"Handle it."
"If even one escapes…"
"Prepare your apology."
The Five Elders vanished.
The True Beginning
"Don't run!"
Rocks stepped forward—
But Kong roared.
"Pirate!!"
He tore off his Justice coat and lunged.
His fist tore through the air with a sonic boom.
"Get out of my way!"
Rocks did not dodge.
He swung both arms back—
Black lightning erupted.
The Conqueror's Haki returned—
Stronger.
Kong's punch landed—
And he was blasted backward.
The island trembled.
Split Mountain cracked.
Floating stones shattered.
Clouds were dragged inward into a spiraling vortex.
Heaven and earth changed color.
The black Conqueror's storm swept the battlefield.
All officers below Colonel rank collapsed instantly.
Rear Admirals and Vice Admirals struggled to remain conscious.
Admiral-level combatants stood firm—
But only by pouring every ounce of will into resistance.
The storm intensified.
It became physical.
A pressure like divine wrath.
Outer troops were lifted and smashed back down.
Blood sprayed.
The sky darkened.
Thunder cracked.
This—
Was Rocks D. Xebec's Conqueror's Haki.
A Distant Island — Witnesses
Miles away, another island overlooked the battlefield.
Pirates.
Bounty hunters.
Revolutionaries.
Kingdom agents.
Even the Roger Pirates and the "Lonely Red" Baloric Redfield watched from afar.
When they saw the black storm engulfing God Valley—
They were speechless.
"How is that possible?"
"That's Conqueror's Haki?!"
"It can't be this strong!"
Even Redfield's face tightened.
"We're not even in the same league…"
Roger glanced at Rayleigh.
"…We might actually need to step in."
Then his gaze shifted—
Toward the battlefield's center.
Where Rōmu stood behind Rocks.
"I have a bad feeling."
"That guy…"
"Will make a move."
And strangely—
Compared to Rocks' overwhelming black dominance—
It was Rōmu's unique aura…
That unsettled Roger far more.
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