Celestial Dragons considered themselves nobles of the world and never thought much of anyone else.
They disdained breathing the air of so-called "lowly commoners," so they wore bubble helmets.
Although Celestial Dragons weren't strong fighters and might not even be able to beat an ordinary person,
few in the entire New World dared to attack them, not even the most vicious pirates.
They wouldn't dare attack a Celestial Dragon rashly.
Killing a Celestial Dragon would bring the World Government down on you. No one would be foolish enough to kill one without a reason.
But the Rocks Pirates had no such fear. After all, they had already openly opposed the World Government.
They had slaughtered an Affiliated Nation, and the World Government had long since come to regard them as a thorn in its side.
Killing another Celestial Dragon would be like having dessert after a meal.
The Rocks Pirates' ship continued to approach the Marine warship.
"I-it's... it's the Rocks Pirates!"
A Marine holding a telescope on the warship broke out in a cold sweat and shouted in terror.
"What!"
The Marine Vice Admiral aboard paled in alarm. They weren't too afraid of encountering other vicious pirates.
After all, they had a Celestial Dragon on board, and pirates would be wary of that status.
But the Rocks Pirates were different. They didn't care about the Celestial Dragons' status at all, and weren't afraid of being hunted by the World Government.
After all, just a few days ago, they had destroyed a World Government Member State.
"Retreat, now!" the Marine Vice Admiral shouted urgently.
Once the Rocks Pirates had their sights on them, they were as good as dead if they didn't run.
"What's going on?" Saint Charlo stood on the ship and demanded an explanation.
"Lord Saint Charlo, the Rocks Pirates are here. We need to leave at once," one of the black-clad men beside him replied, a bead of cold sweat forming on his brow.
"Why should we leave?" Saint Charlo demanded coldly.
The black-clad man swallowed nervously.
If we don't run now, we're dead!
"They're extremely dangerous pirates. We should leave first, Lord Saint Charlo."
"They're just pirates. What's there to panic about? Fire the cannons and sink them!" Saint Charlo replied calmly.
"This... They..." The black-clad man was about to say more.
Bang!
Saint Charlo, a Celestial Dragon, drew the pistol from his waist, aimed at the black-clad man's head, and pulled the trigger.
The man's body fell to the ground.
"You dared to disobey my orders?" Saint Charlo glanced at the man's body, his expression as calm as if he'd crushed an ant.
"Fire the cannons and sink their ship!" Saint Charlo shouted at the Marines.
The Marines, who had been preparing to turn the ship around and head back, exchanged glances at the Celestial Dragon's command.
The Marine Vice Admiral had ordered them to leave, but the Celestial Dragon was telling them to fire. For a moment, they didn't know what to do.
"Leave!" the Marine Vice Admiral shouted, frowning deeply.
This wasn't the time to worry about the Celestial Dragon's status. They had to get out of there to save their own lives.
Even if they disobeyed the Celestial Dragon, they could just take their punishment when they got back.
"You lowly rabble, are you looking to die? I said fire!" Saint Charlos raised his pistol and aimed it at the Marine Vice Admiral, threatening him.
"They're not opponents we can defeat," the Marine Vice Admiral replied gravely.
"They're just a few pirates. Do you really think they'd dare attack me?" Saint Charlos asked casually.
He had lived for decades, and not a single pirate at sea had dared attack him.
Even the most vicious pirates didn't want to provoke him when they encountered him.
So he believed that no one in the entire New World dared lay a hand on him.
"Retreat!" the Marine Vice Admiral shouted again.
"Retreat? Where do you think you're going?" Rocks asked with a cold smile.
Their argument aboard the ship had kept the warship moored by the shore.
By now, the Rocks Pirates' ship had drawn close.
"You lowly rabble! Aren't you going to kneel when you see me?" Saint Charlos turned, raised his pistol toward Rocks, and demanded haughtily.
"Hahahaha..."
The Rocks Pirates' crew, officers included, burst into laughter.
A Celestial Dragon with no fighting ability at all thought he could threaten their captain, Rocks?
The thought was too funny.
"Gyahahaha... Even a Navy Admiral wouldn't dare talk to us like that," Golden Lion laughed, floating in midair with a cigar between his teeth.
"I've never seen a Celestial Dragon before. How'd he get so fat?"
"So that's a Celestial Dragon? Why does the World Government protect these stupid pigs who can't fight?"
"They've got nothing better to do but go crazy."
The Rocks Pirates' crew chattered among themselves. In the past, they might have been somewhat wary if they'd run into a Celestial Dragon.
After all, the World Government protected them, and killing one would bring the full force of the World Government down on them.
No one wanted to invite trouble.
But now, they weren't afraid in the slightest. After all, their captain was Rocks!
While the crew continued to talk, Patri Vic had already made his move.
"Fire Style: Dragon Flame Song Technique!"
Four enormous dragons wreathed in blazing flames erupted from Patri Vic's mouth. They streaked toward the Marine warship at blinding speed.
Boom!
The four fire dragons crashed into the Marine warship, setting it ablaze. Countless Marines died on the spot.
Patri Vic had destroyed the warship in a single attack. Even the Rocks Pirates' officers were surprised by his strength.
"Ah... You filthy lowlife! How dare you attack me!" Saint Charlos roared, his face contorted with rage.
The four fire dragons hadn't hit him directly, but a tongue of flame had caught on his body, leaving him in unbearable pain.
Bang! Bang! Bang!!!
The Celestial Dragon pulled the trigger and fired three shots at Patri Vic.
Bang!
Patri Vic's body was covered in Armament Haki, rendering the bullets completely ineffective.
"Those self-important Celestial Dragons... One day, I'll drag you down from your lofty perch." Rocks grinned and muttered under his breath.
The next moment, Patri Vic calmly waved a hand.
On the Marine warship, countless trees burst from the ground and grew wildly, towering like pillars as they surged toward the vessel with overwhelming, destructive force.
The Marine warship was sunk on the spot. Neither the Celestial Dragon nor the Marines survived; they all died instantly.
"Though they're two completely different kinds of power, their destructive force really is impressive," Golden Lion remarked, somewhat surprised.
"He's clearly no pushover," one of the officers said, crossing his arms as he assessed Patri Vic.
"Was he hiding his strength on the ship all along?" Silver Axe asked in surprise, his giant axe resting on his shoulder.
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