Without any hesitation, Is tore open the bag, leaned against the ship's railing, and began eating.
This was the first time since transmigrating that he'd had snacks.
As for the taste… it was alright. Not as good as he remembered from childhood.
"I really didn't expect you all to take part in this battle," Monkey D. Garp remarked, leaning against the railing as well.
"Is it that surprising? You all look completely shocked," Madara Uchiha said, somewhat puzzled.
"Of course it is! If I hadn't seen it with my own eyes—Celestial Dragons fighting alongside the Marines—I'd sooner believe that Rocks D. Xebec fell into the sea and drowned! Hahahaha!"
Garp was rough around the edges and never one to speak politely, but in Is' eyes, he was far better than those who fawned and flattered at every turn.
"Garp, that mouth of yours is sweeter than honey," Is shot back dryly.
"Hahahahaha—!"
Laughter echoed across the ship.
Suddenly, Is' smile faded. His expression turned serious.
"How long will it take to reach the battlefield where Rocks and Roger are fighting?"
"Under normal circumstances, about half a day. But…" Garp glanced outside, feeling the ship cutting through the air at incredible speed before adding, "At this pace, I'd say less than two hours."
"Let's hope… they can hold on until we get there," Is muttered.
The sea was ever-changing, and so were the people upon it.
There was no guarantee Rocks and Roger would remain in place waiting for them.
By the time Is and the others arrived—
They might already be gone.
Or still locked in a life-and-death struggle.
Or perhaps… Rocks would have already defeated Roger.
There was even the possibility that this battle had already existed in the original timeline.
If that were the case, then Roger wouldn't die—he would escape and eventually become the Pirate King.
But there was another possibility.
The butterfly effect caused by Is' existence.
If that was the case…
Then the outcome was far from certain.
Roger might very well meet his end here.
New World, the island where Roger and Rocks clashed.
The battle had raged on from violent storms into clear skies.
But the reputation of the Rocks Pirates was not built on words alone.
Before the battle had even ended, the Roger Pirates were already on the brink of collapse.
"I never expected you'd manage to hold out against us for this long," Rocks D. Xebec said, pointing his blade toward Gol D. Roger. "But the outcome is clear. You no longer have the power to turn this around. Your defeat is only a matter of time."
Roger's expression was grave. He tore off the tattered remnants of his clothing, revealing a body covered in dense muscle—and countless scars.
Some were old.
Others were freshly inflicted in this very battle.
Beside him, Silvers Rayleigh gripped his sword with one hand while clutching his right eye with the other, blood staining his fingers.
"You alright, Rayleigh?" Scopper Gaban asked from the side.
"I'm fine… didn't hit the eye," Rayleigh forced a smile.
"Roger, surrender," Rocks said calmly. "You and I are both pirates born from this sea. Join me—and together, we'll rule the world."
He truly admired Roger's strength. If he could recruit him, the Rocks Pirates would undergo a qualitative leap in power.
That was why he asked again.
He simply couldn't bear to kill someone like Roger.
Seeing Roger remain silent, Rocks spoke once more:
"Are you really willing to watch your crew march toward destruction? Both our sides have already suffered heavy casualties today."
Roger glanced back at his crew.
Rayleigh. Gaban. The others.
They all smiled at him.
Roger tightened his grip on his sword.
"My choice will never change… even if this becomes my grave—
even if it becomes the grave of the Roger Pirates."
This time, it was Rocks who fell silent.
Though he admired Roger, he would never allow him to grow into an obstacle on his path to conquering the world.
With a wave of his hand—
The pirates behind Rocks surged forward.
All kinds of Devil Fruit abilities erupted in a dazzling display.
Given the current situation, the Roger Pirates wouldn't last much longer.
Several hours later.
Roger, Rayleigh, and Gaban were all severely wounded.
The Rocks Pirates had driven them into a corner.
"It's over, Roger!!"
"Hahahahaha—!"
Roger threw his head back and laughed.
"I never imagined… I'd end like this."
"Shing!"
He tossed his sword to the ground. The blade pierced into the earth.
"You win, Rocks!!!"
"I didn't want it to end this way… but you left me no choice," Rocks said coldly.
Suddenly—
A massive wave erupted from the distant sea.
Everyone turned to look.
As the waves fell…
The first thing that came into view—
was the flag of the Marines.
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