Desperate Situation

"What should we do?"

Louis gripped the side of the dilapidated large ship tightly, his body rising and falling with the vessel's drift. Giant waves crashed just inches from his face as they swept past the ship.

The storm at sea grew more violent. The strong winds threatened to tear Louis from the ship. He only had to look up to see many unlucky souls being blown into the sky by the gale, struggling futilely before plunging into the sea.

This ship wouldn't last much longer, Louis knew. Although the already tattered vessel had largely avoided the direct impact of the strong winds due to its broken mast and torn sails, the colossal waves churning on the sea's surface remained the greatest threat. Waves, each higher than the last, could sink the ship at any moment.

The fate of the other ships on the sea made this clear. Their absolute numerical advantage had become a disadvantage. They were arranged too densely, ships packed tightly together. With just one large wave, several, a dozen, even dozens of ships immediately collided. The sea vessels capable of sailing the New World were undoubtedly built from the toughest wood, but even so, under such impacts, they would instantly collapse. Hulls would shatter, decks would splinter, and with the excessive amount of ammunition they carried, the intense collisions could spark a fire, sending several ships into the sky.

"Golden Lion Pirates."

Louis looked up. The situation in the sky was even more dire. "It's over."

The ability possessed by the Golden Lion was the Float-Float Fruit, which allowed him to negate the gravity of himself and other non-living objects he touched, enabling him to levitate them and manipulate them.

In other words, the Golden Lion's ability was likely the counter to gravity-based powers. The things he levitated in the air had no gravity and could be manipulated freely. Not being affected by gravity meant any gust of wind could blow them away.

"RUMBLE!!"

Far more tragic than the situation at sea, the ships in the sky were like willow catkins in the wind, continuously crashing into each other with no room to dodge. The ships at sea could still maneuver and evade through the helmsman's control, but the ships in the sky couldn't move at all without the Golden Lion's manipulation. And the Golden Lion was currently in a fierce battle with Roger, making precise control of dozens of warships in the sky a joke.

The Golden Lion Grand Fleet was finished.

"It's about time."

Louis tapped the dial on his wrist, revealing a small Den Den Mushi inside. "Now, we can only place our hope in the Navy?"

He had been forced onto this battlefield and was now in a life-or-death crisis. The only ones who could potentially get him out of this sea area now were probably the Navy.

"Hahahaha! Still not surrendering, Golden Lion!"

In the sky, the colossal warships constantly vibrated. Ships were repeatedly crashing into the flagship of the Golden Lion Pirates. Even with the Golden Lion's control, it looked precarious. Roger laughed heartily. Despite his terminal illness, his speed was still imperceptible. A simple dash far surpassed Louis's Soru in speed.

"Tch! Die, Roger!"

"BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM!!!"

Spears made of mud rained down from the sky, instantly smashing the already fragmented deck into complete ruin.

"Ahahaha!! I told you,"

Roger easily dodged all of the Golden Lion's attacks, leaped forward, and his long saber cut through the heavens. "You're finished!!"

"Clang!"

The Golden Lion blocked with his twin swords, and Roger's attack drove him into the ground, piercing through several decks. He was pinned to the ground by Roger.

"Just admit it! Golden Lion, your fleet,"

Roger's face showed a clear smile. "Your empire! Your ambition! Everything about you is finished!!"

"What a joke!!"

Everything around them shook. The terrifying Conqueror's Haki caused the already damaged ship to begin disintegrating. "ROGER!!!"

The Golden Lion roared, "Lion's Wrath - Thousand Cutting Valley!!!"

Fierce slashes erupted from the Golden Lion's twin blades, sending Roger flying into the sky. "A mere fleet! Who do you think I am! Roger!!!"

"Yeah, really, this still can't shake you?"

In the sky, Roger spoke with some annoyance. "Truly beyond imagination! Shiki, then I'll have to get serious, won't I?"

"As long as I deal with you! Even if I'm alone, I'll quickly gain a stronger force!! You, just die obediently for me!!"

The Golden Lion charged into the sky. "I am the man who will rule the world from the sky! Golden Lion!!!"

"It seems you still don't understand, Shiki,"

Roger descended from the sky, his eyes shining. "What true strength really means."

Shiki and Roger, rivals for decades, today was the day of their final showdown.

"Bururururururu!"

On the wind-swept deck, a man with round hair and a beard braided into pigtails took out a restless Den Den Mushi from his pocket. "Is it here?"

"Click."

As the call connected, the roaring sound from the other end came through directly.

"Is it CP?"

The man with braided pigtails and a beard, draped in a justice cloak, the highest combat power of Marine Headquarters, Admiral, Buddha Sengoku, said gravely.

"Yes."

A rather young voice came from the other side, sounding a bit cautious. He immediately reported a string of garbled code, the agreed-upon password. "Is the person on the other end Admiral Sengoku?"

"It's me, I've been waiting for a long time,"

Sengoku breathed a sigh of relief, a smile appearing at the corner of his mouth. He also stated the password. "You contacted us, which means the situation has developed to a point where we can intervene, right?"

"Yes, the fierce storm destroyed the Golden Lion's grand fleet. The pirates who can still cling to life are now like birds startled by a bow. At the same time, the members of the Roger Pirates, after this intense battle, are likely exhausted and struggling in the storm. Roger's and the Golden Lion's battle is raging. This is indeed the most opportune moment for the Navy to intervene."

"The voice on the other end sounded a little anxious. 'I hope the Navy can come quickly. If the Golden Lion snaps out of his rage, provoked by Roger, and retreats, then this entire operation will be in vain.'"

"We'll be there soon. And, kid, what's your name?"

Sengoku said, "Where are you? I'll send someone to pick you up."

This was standard procedure. Even though they were from different departments, anyone who risked their life to infiltrate the enemy's fleet and send back intel deserved protection.

"Yes, Fleet Admiral Sengoku. My name is Louis, belonging to CP9."

This was exactly what Louis had been waiting for. "My location is hard to describe for now. When the Navy arrives, I'll—BEEP!!"

A piercing sound replaced Louis's clear voice.

"What happened?"

Fleet Admiral Sengoku frowned slightly. "Communication malfunction?"

"Forget it, just some CP agent,"

Sengoku's brows relaxed. "No need to affect the strategy!"

"Hey! Garp, stop sleeping! We're deploying!"

"Kuzan, you ready, kid! Clear us a path!"

"Sakazuki! Bomb them hard!"

A luxurious lineup of the Navy was about to join the fray.

Louis stared blankly at the shriveled Den Den Mushi in his hand. His body almost froze. He released his right hand, which had been gripping the ship's railing tightly. A fierce gust of wind swept him into the air, and he tumbled into the sea.

"Pfft!"

Louis surfaced from the seabed, veins throbbing on his face.

"SKELLO!!!!"

A huge wave immediately submerged him, refusing to let him resurface on this vast ocean.

Does any handsome guy have a book list? Knowing someone who has a book list counts too... I'm just asking, no other intentions...

I want a book list!!