"Hm?"
Rocks and the others had exceptionally keen senses. This barely perceptible disturbance immediately caught their attention, and they soon spotted Gigue and the other three peeking out from the alley entrance.
Seeing that they were just children, the Rocks Pirates instantly lost interest.
Linlin chuckled. "Mama, so they've even captured little brats like these as prey?"
Rocks, however, stroked his chin and swept an interested gaze over Gigue.
"That kid's interesting. Was that fighting spirit just now? After seeing my strength, he still wants to fight me?"
Gigue could no longer spare any attention for Rocks and the others. He clutched his chest tightly and cursed under his breath.
"Damn it, what's going on? Slow down already!!"
Ivan and the other two panicked when they saw Gigue's condition, all assuming he was having an "episode."
Yet Gigue did not feel weak in the slightest. Instead, he was filled with intense excitement. To put it simply, he wanted to grab a brick and charge at Rocks.
In fact, his strength was now astonishing. One hand pressed against his chest while the other gripped the edge of the wall, and he had actually crushed that section beneath his fingers.
This was the first time such an abnormality had happened. Gigue even began to wonder,
Am I having a final burst of strength before death!?
Rocks had already withdrawn his gaze. Gigue had only piqued his interest slightly. Ahead, Saint Garling and the Divine Knights were watching them like tigers eyeing prey.
He rolled his neck a few times and said casually,
"Newgate, how about giving those Celestial Dragons a little welcome gift with your ability?"
Newgate, his long golden hair flowing behind him, stepped forward. He clenched his right fist, and a translucent white halo emerged around it before he threw a heavy punch.
"Crack!"
A sound like shattering glass rang out. Several fissures spread from Newgate's fist, and in an instant, all of God Valley shook violently as buildings collapsed.
This was the power of the Paramecia Tremor-Tremor Fruit. In the hands of Newgate, who was currently in his prime, its power was displayed to the fullest.
Behind them, Kuma used his body to shield Gigue and the other three from the endlessly falling bricks and stones.
But the earthquake that followed had begun to reshape the terrain. Kuma wrapped his arms around Gigue and the others and rolled away with them, only to end up buried beneath a pile of rocks.
At the palace, Saint Garling had already ordered several Divine Knights to rescue the Celestial Dragons.
Newgate's attack was actually weaker than Rocks's opening punch, but it caused far more trouble. That blow alone had likely crushed countless feeble Celestial Dragons to death.
Saint Saturn could no longer remain composed. He had been stalling because he knew that the Divine Knights here would likely struggle to oppose the Rocks Pirates alone, especially while being distracted by the rescue of the Celestial Dragons. He had to wait for the Marines.
Finally, just as he had been waiting desperately, the Marines led by Fleet Admiral Kong arrived. Garp shouted,
"Where's that bastard Roger!?"
He had been enjoying his vacation. If Sengoku had not told him Roger would also appear, he would never have bothered coming to deal with the Celestial Dragons' bullshit.
Sengoku, still an admiral at the time, grabbed him and said gravely,
"Forget Roger for now. Look, the entire Rocks Pirates are here. Today's situation may be even more troublesome than we expected!"
Admiral Zephyr looked around at the ruins everywhere. His brow furrowed as he said,
"That was Newgate's ability just now, wasn't it? That destructive power is terrifying."
Rocks was not surprised by the Marines' arrival. Looking at the Marines opposite him, he said mockingly,
"Well, well. Just as expected of the Celestial Dragons' dogs. You've all come running to protect your masters, have you?"
The Marines were instantly enraged by his words, yet for a moment, no one spoke to refute him, because Rocks was telling the truth.
The hot-tempered Garp immediately exploded. His fists became coated in pitch-black Armament Haki, and his body vanished from where he stood, only to reappear above Rocks and the others the next second.
He dove down like a comet, his iron fist gleaming with a metallic luster and carrying terrifying force as it shot straight toward Rocks below.
"Fist Bone Meteorite!!!"
Rocks stood with his arms folded and did not even raise his head. Newgate, beside him, leaped into the air and collided with Garp midair, his fist wrapped in shockwaves.
The boom and cracking sounds rang through the skies. The shockwave from their clash instantly blew apart the clouds above God Valley, and blinding sunlight flooded the land. Rocks grinned broadly.
After their clash in midair, Newgate and Garp separated at the same time and returned to their respective sides.
A pile of rocks trembled a few times. Kuma's head emerged from it, and he then pushed the stones aside, revealing Gigue and the other three in his arms.
Gigue's pupils contracted slightly as he looked at those "familiar" faces.
The current situation placed the Rocks Pirates between enemies, with the Marines ahead and the Divine Knights behind them. Yet Rocks remained supremely confident.
Gigue did not think Rocks was being arrogant at all. Although the manga had never shown Rocks's strength, Gigue had just witnessed it himself. A single ordinary punch had forced Saint Saturn to unleash his full power. Saint Saturn had needed to protect the Celestial Dragons behind him, but that was still enough to show how terrifying Rocks truly was.
But even more outrageous were his crewmates: the young Newgate, Linlin, Kaido, and Golden Lion Shiki without a ship's wheel stuck in his head. What kind of dream lineup was this!?
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
Several more figures descended. Saint Saturn and the Divine Knights had arrived to join up with the Marines.
The moment Saint Saturn arrived, all the watchers hidden throughout the town gathered as well. They wore matching black suits and stood neatly behind Saint Saturn.
Rocks did not take these people seriously at all. He lowered his folded arms, stared at Saint Saturn opposite him, and said,
"You World Government have some nerve! You dared to steal Rocks's treasure! Today, I won't just take back what belongs to me. I'll also make everyone understand who should truly rule this world!"
Saint Saturn had regained his composure. With an expression as still as an ancient well, he said flatly,
"The Celestial Dragons are the rulers of the world. Whether people or objects, everything in this world should belong to the Celestial Dragons. You are nothing but a lowly pirate."
Those words displeased not only the Rocks Pirates, but even the Marines behind Saint Saturn showed disgust on their faces. Only the Divine Knights acted as though it were perfectly natural.
Rocks was genuinely disgusted. He waved a hand and roared,
"Get them! Today, I'm wiping out every last one of you Celestial Dragons!"
Before either side could begin, Gigue had already called Ivan and the other two over, and the four of them sprinted into the distance. They had no right to stand around as spectators now.
Before you continue