Within Marine Headquarters, backed by towering figures like Garp and Zephyr, Roldy had never truly lacked the qualifications for promotion.
His mission count was staggering.
His political impact and military achievements were more than sufficient.
He should have become a Vice Admiral long ago.
But his excessively brutal methods of retaliation had repeatedly delayed his advancement.
"Jihahaha! 'Rampaging' Roldy ! That's the brat's true nature!" Shiki roared. "You can thank your precious Marine education—but he was born to be a pirate! That was decided seven years ago!"
His laughter rang wildly.
Suddenly—
His figure flickered.
He reappeared above the Celestial Dragon's vessel.
Garp immediately gave chase, launching even more ferocious attacks, desperate to shut that mouth.
Many below had already heard Shiki's words.
But at least—
Roldy had not.
If strict orders were issued, perhaps the situation could still be controlled.
Even if it meant betraying that kid again…
"Shiki! You will not take another step forward!"
Garp's veins bulged, muscles swelling until his uniform tore apart.
His arms were coated in overwhelmingly dense Armament Haki.
Black-and-red lightning crackled in his eyes.
His aura surged to its peak.
"Embarrassed, are you?" Shiki sneered. "Trying to shut me up?"
His twin blades gleamed coldly as Conqueror's Haki erupted around them.
"On land, I might give you some leeway."
"But this is the sky."
"I am the ruler of the heavens!!!"
Both titans unleashed their full strength.
Garp's fists were broad and domineering, his mastery of Geppo astonishing—
Yet in the air, he could not rival the man empowered by the Float-Float Fruit.
Seawater surged upward.
Broken debris levitated.
Eighteen massive lion heads of compressed seawater locked down Garp from below.
Behind Shiki, clouds twisted into two colossal roaring lions.
"No one defeats me in the sky!"
"Just like your fragile lies—disappear!"
Their shockwaves battered the ships below.
—
On deck, Roldy stood firm.
Behind him: trembling agents and a furious Celestial Dragon.
Beneath his foot: a headless corpse.
In his hand: a struggling pirate.
"These two are going all out? Planning to kill each other?"
He frowned.
Garp and Shiki were roughly equal in strength.
But in the sky, Shiki held the advantage.
Garp knew that.
So why was he fighting without regard for stamina?
Why did his aura feel even fiercer than when he fought Roger?
He wasn't conserving anything.
"L-let me go!"
The pirate in Roldy 's grip clawed uselessly at his fingers.
The strength difference was absolute.
"That won't do," Roldy replied casually. "This is my mission."
"If you ruin it, how am I supposed to become Vice Admiral ?"
"That house depends on it."
He wasn't greedy.
The title meant little.
But the Vice Admiral 's residence—
That house—
It was a dream.
His dream.
And one he once shared with his aunt.
Without hesitation, he crushed the pirate's skull.
Blood splattered across his white suit, staining it crimson.
He carefully avoided his tie.
That had been Zephyr's birthday gift.
"So… how would you two like to die?"
Roldy bared his sharp teeth.
His pupils slowly turned red.
"So violent… 'Rampaging' Roldy indeed lives up to the name."
One pirate forced a grin.
Sweat trickled down his temple.
The other's legs were already trembling.
Weapons and strength meant nothing.
This was not a battle.
It was an antelope facing a tyrannosaurus.
"Roldy … are you really going to protect the people behind you?"
"You hate slave traders more than anything, don't you?"
The trembling pirate spoke quickly.
He had followed Shiki for years.
He remembered Roldy from long ago.
He remembered Shiki speaking of him.
At death's edge, inspiration struck.
"What do you mean?" Roldy asked coldly.
"Damn you, Marine!" shrieked the Celestial Dragon behind him. "Kill those worthless insects already!"
Roldy 's brow twitched.
He ignored her.
High above—
Garp sensed something wrong.
His gaze flicked downward.
When he heard the pirate's words—
Cold sweat drenched him.
"Shut up!!!"
Garp smashed a water lion behind him, grabbed a shattered pirate blade, and hurled it like a spear.
The blade pierced straight through the pirate—
And through the deck beneath Roldy 's feet.
It was a grave offense against a Celestial Dragon's vessel.
But Garp no longer cared.
Even if she died here—
Roldy must not.
"Jihahaha! A flaw!"
In full battle, that hesitation was fatal.
Shiki's blade flashed.
A massive gash tore across Garp's body from shoulder to abdomen.
Blood sprayed like a fountain.
"Old man!"
Roldy 's eyes widened.
Why would Garp make such a mistake?
"Roldy , why are you pointing your blade at those who would fight beside you?" Shiki shouted gleefully.
His excitement was not about wounding Garp—
But about breaking his defense.
"What do you mean?" Roldy demanded.
"Don't listen to that lunatic!" Garp roared.
But there was weakness in his voice.
"What do I mean?" Shiki laughed madly.
"It means—"
"The one who truly destroyed your hometown is standing right behind you."
Shiki's blade pointed downward.
Slowly—
Roldy turned.
And saw the Celestial Dragon's grotesque face.
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