After destroying all the warships and coastal artillery, the Rocks Pirates successfully made landfall. The entire crew surged ashore like a tidal wave.
This was the crew's first full-scale operation.
As captain, Rocks naturally led from the front. Chu Qiye stood at his right side, near Edward.
The officers formed the first row. Combatants followed behind.
Thus marched an unprecedented pirate force—vast, imposing, like a world-famous painting.
Every single one of them a villain.
Under the leadership of eight Vice Admirals, a Marine force numbering in the thousands charged toward them.
Rocks cracked his neck and sneered.
"Brothers—let these pieces of trash witness the power of the Rocks Pirates!"
With that, he unleashed his Conqueror's Haki. The overwhelming pressure radiated outward from him in waves.
Chu Qiye and the others understood instantly and released their own Haki as well.
Conqueror's Haki—the "spirit of a chosen king," one in millions.
Yet aboard the Rocks Pirates, it was practically commonplace.
Six members had already awakened it.
Six waves of supreme will expanded outward like rippling tides, colliding and surging.
The pressure shot skyward. In an instant, the island darkened, thunder rumbling overhead.
Faced with the crushing force of six Conquerors, more than half of the charging Marines collapsed immediately.
Only officers of Major rank and above remained standing—and even they were drenched in sweat.
"Fwahaha… Let's enjoy ourselves!"
With a sweep of Rocks' arm, the pirates charged.
Flames burst. Flesh and blood flew.
Marine screams mixed with pirate laughter in a grotesque symphony.
Even Chu Qiye—who had been hanging back—finally joined the fray.
His chosen opponent was a Giant Vice Admiral.
"Immortal-Binding Talisman!"
His fingers moved like flowing dragons, swiftly tracing two talismans.
They transformed into semi-solid chains, binding the Giant Vice Admiral tightly, immobilizing him.
With the Giant restrained, Chu Qiye kicked off the ground and launched himself high into the air, driving a punch straight into the Giant's face.
The blow twisted the Giant's features grotesquely.
Boom.
The massive body crashed to the ground.
Standing atop the fallen Giant's head, Chu Qiye muttered,
"A mere branch-base Vice Admiral… not quite enough."
The battle was completely one-sided.
A massacre.
The Marines had no chance to fight back.
"Monsters! They're all monsters!"
"Retreat! Report to Headquarters!"
…
All eight Vice Admirals and twelve Rear Admirals were annihilated. The remaining Marines broke into chaos, fleeing in every direction.
"Jahahahaha! This is too fun!"
Golden Lion Shiki, wielding his twin blades Oto and Kogarashi, cut through fleeing Marines like slicing vegetables.
One swing severed three or four Marine Majors at the waist. Blood sprayed two meters high.
Beside him, Kaido fought with equal brutality.
Neither left corpses intact.
Chu Qiye and Edward felt a twinge of distaste—but said nothing.
Pirates killing Marines was the natural order of this world.
When the slaughter slowed, the crew began looting the base, rushing inside to seize spoils.
The Marines didn't keep much cash—but their weapon stores were abundant.
Chu Qiye and Edward joined the search.
"Qiye, if you find where they stash their money, tell me first."
"OK." Chu Qiye made a hand sign.
Crew rules stated that whoever found the treasury first got an extra share.
Chu Qiye knew Edward loved money.
But every coin he gained would be sent back to support his hometown. He kept nothing for himself.
"I don't have a proper weapon yet. Keep an eye out for one for me too."
"No problem."
Chu Qiye had no interest in treasure.
But named blades?
That was different.
This was an important Marine branch. Perhaps there might be a Meito hidden somewhere.
He didn't dare hope for one of the Twelve Supreme Grade Blades.
Even a Great Grade Blade would satisfy him.
"Once I unlock Divine Machine Refinement, Supreme Grade or not—they'll all be trash."
Unfortunately, he had only unlocked Tongtian Talisman so far. Spirit Binding and General Dispatch and Fenghou Qimen still lay ahead.
Divine Machine Refinement was years away.
For now, he just needed a decent weapon.
After all—
Swordsmanship was king.
Hand-to-hand combat had no future.
Up to now, he had used a surgical scalpel as his weapon, even developing several blade techniques of his own.
Just as Chu Qiye was focused on searching the armory, the problem he had always worried about finally surfaced…
"Hey! You bastard! I saw that axe first! Give it back!"
"Idiot. Just because you saw it first means it's yours? Don't make me laugh."
"You're asking to die!"
The insulted pirate didn't hesitate—he drew his blade and attacked.
Anyone worthy of joining the Rocks Pirates was no pushover. The other retaliated instantly.
The two clashed fiercely, every strike aimed to kill.
Around them, other pirates simply watched.
Not only did they not intervene—
They started placing bets on who would win.
Even Rocks made no move to stop it.
In his view, the pirate world was one of survival of the fittest.
The weak deserved to be eliminated—even if they were his own crew.
Once the weak were culled, stronger ones would replace them.
Repeat the cycle.
That way, the Rocks Pirates would always remain the strongest.
…
Chu Qiye thoroughly searched the Marine armory.
He didn't find a named blade.
But he did discover an exquisitely crafted silver flintlock pistol.
He liked it immediately and claimed it as the first trophy of his pirate career.
Decades later, that silver pistol would become a legendary weapon of the seas—
The Silverwing Reaper.
When Chu Qiye stepped back outside with his prize, he froze.
"????"
"Enemy attack?"
The ground was littered with pirates—dead and wounded alike.
Others stood nearby watching casually, offering no help.
The moment they spotted Chu Qiye, the injured pirates rushed toward him.
"Lord Qiye! Save me—I'm dying!"
"Ship's doctor! Treat me first—quick!"
"Are you courting death? I was here first!"
"You've got one arm chopped off and you're still talking big?"
…
"…"
Chu Qiye had absolutely nothing to say.