The battlefield was in complete chaos.
The Marines outnumbered the Rocks Pirates two to one—tens of thousands against mere thousands—but thanks to Romu's Flower-Tree World Descends, they had not only failed to gain the upper hand, they were being steadily pushed back.
If not for the presence of elite fighters like Sakazuki and the others holding the line, the Marine forces at the island's center might already have collapsed.
Among the commanders, the Rocks side held a slight advantage.
Whitebeard was locked in a brutal melee against multiple CP0 agents and members of the Vinsmoke Family at the same time. Even surrounded, he showed no sign of yielding. When he glimpsed the forest spreading across the battlefield, he threw his head back and laughed.
"Gurararara…!"
"Romu!"
"I didn't know your Devil Fruit could do something like this! But don't forget—my Tremor-Tremor Fruit isn't weak either!"
He swung Murakumogiri in a wide arc, forcing his opponents back. Then he inhaled deeply—his already massive chest swelling even further.
Muscles bulged.
Veins throbbed.
With a thunderous roar, he smashed both fists forward into the air.
Crack—!!
Space itself fractured.
A violent shockwave tore outward, shattering the air like glass and blasting his enemies away.
Nearby, Shiki spun his twin swords—Oto and Kogarashi—like a pair of golden windmills, sparks exploding each time they collided with Zephyr's iron-hard body.
Even Wang Zhi, Silver Axe, and John—who had initially intended to hold back—were now fighting with everything they had.
Big Mom cackled madly, Napoleon transformed into a massive blade in her grip, lightning and flame from Zeus and Prometheus crashing down upon the Marine ranks.
Why were they fighting so desperately?
Because they all understood one thing:
This battle had only one true core.
The clash between Rocks and the combined forces of Kong and Garp.
If Rocks won, they lived.
If Rocks fell, the rest would be crushed like insects.
Everyone on the field knew it.
Which was why Sengoku had ordered Garp to support Kong—stall Rocks until reinforcements could secure the rest of the battlefield.
In a war of monsters, the apex determined everything.
Romu stood calmly atop his floating crimson blossom.
He watched the chaos below, a faint smile playing at his lips.
"They're really fighting for their lives."
His gaze drifted upward—toward the center of the sky.
Rocks.
The true trump card.
Romu's safety net.
No matter how this battle ended, he would win.
If Rocks triumphed, Romu would harvest the defeated Marines—more nourishment.
If Rocks fell like in the original timeline…
Then Romu would absorb a dying Rocks.
Perhaps even awaken his fruit.
At worst?
He would retreat unharmed.
Rocks was not just a captain.
He was Romu's insurance policy.
High above, Rocks clashed with Kong and Garp.
Romu had known Rocks was strong.
But seeing it with his own eyes was something else entirely.
The future Fleet Admiral.
The legendary Marine hero.
Two monsters at the peak of the era.
And yet—
Rocks fought them both without losing ground.
"How did Garp and Roger defeat him in the original timeline…?"
Romu muttered.
Then—
"Romu!"
A cold, authoritative voice thundered behind him.
"Stop running!"
Buddha Sengoku.
Now fully transformed into his towering golden Buddha form.
Radiant.
Imposing.
Emotionless.
Romu had intentionally withdrawn earlier to assess the battlefield.
But now he turned to face him.
"You finally gave up running?" Sengoku said calmly.
Romu spread his hands.
"No. I just got curious."
He tilted his head, eyeing the massive golden form.
"Are you solid gold? Or just gold-plated?"
Sengoku did not react.
In his Buddha state, his heart was tranquil. His will unshaken.
He drew back one arm.
"You can test it yourself."
Golden light surged.
Then—
He struck.
No flashy technique.
No elaborate wind-up.
Just a simple punch.
Yet the pressure was suffocating.
Unavoidable.
"Is this supposed to be a lecture?"
Romu muttered.
But he was already moving.
"Wood Golem!"
The forest below surged upward, condensing into a colossal wooden giant.
Romu leapt onto its shoulder.
"Coated Dragon Strike!"
Armament Haki flooded over the golem's arm and the wooden dragon coiling around it, turning them pitch black.
The dragon's head glowed emerald green with concentrated life-force.
Then it swung.
Fist met fist.
Boom—!!!
The sky shattered.
Golden radiance and emerald vitality exploded outward, painting the heavens in blinding color.
Shockwaves rippled across the island.
Even unconscious Celestial Dragons bled from their ears.
The impact was titanic.
And neither side yielded.
On the distant observation island, Rayleigh pushed up his glasses.
"Captain…"
Roger stared at the battlefield.
"I told you. Romu's a monster."
Excitement flickered in his eyes.
"Guess it's our turn."
Without hesitation, he leapt into the sea, swimming toward God Valley.
Rayleigh followed.
So did the others.
Bullet fused nearby trees into crude glider wings and soared toward the battlefield.
From the shore, observers stared in disbelief.
"That's the Roger Pirates!"
"Are they helping Rocks?!"
"No… that doesn't make sense…"
Redfield tightened his grip on his umbrella sword.
"Roger… whose side are you on?"
Back in the sky—
Kong and Garp stared at Romu in shock.
"He blocked Sengoku's punch head-on?!"
Even they would not willingly take that strike directly.
Yet Romu's wooden colossus endured.
Though cracked, it regenerated instantly.
Then—
"Two old men."
Rocks' wild laughter echoed.
"Don't lose focus in a fight."
They barely dodged his follow-up strike.
But this time—
Something changed.
Garp felt it first.
A familiar presence.
Rapidly approaching.
His lips curled.
"Don't worry, Kong."
"It's Rocks who should be worried."
And then—
A booming laugh rolled across the battlefield.
"Romu!"
"Looks like we meet again at God Valley!"
Roger Pirates.
Arrived.
The war had just escalated.
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