The War Begins

"Captain Rocks, the Giant Warrior Pirates have reached the island at the forefront."

Hachinosu is surrounded by dozens of islands of varying sizes.

The person who delivered the news this time was a sentry stationed on that outermost island, relaying the message to those on Hachinosu via Den Den Mushi.

"The guests have finally arrived. We mustn't keep them waiting—let's set off."

With that, Rocks marched toward the harbor with an excited expression, his heavy, rhythmic footsteps echoing.

"Ready the cannons at once."

The moment Rocks received the news, he had immediately ordered the pirates on the island to prepare to take down the Giant Warrior Pirates in one fell swoop.

Consequently, by the time they reached the harbor, the armaments surrounding the docks were already fully prepared.

Clay, meanwhile, had brought Long Yi and Long Er to a stop a kilometer away from the harbor. They stood atop a building, observing the scene unfolding on the sea.

After all, rather than letting them run wild, it was far better to keep them close and under his supervision.

Clay knew exactly how bold they were; if he were even slightly negligent and they ran off to the battlefield and got hurt, he would never be able to face Lady Carl's instructions.

"They're here!"

Just then, Long Yi, lying prone on the roof, peered through his small telescope deep into the ocean. He saw a massive fleet speeding toward their direction.

"Really? Big brother, let me see!"

Long Er immediately began to wrestle the telescope away from Long Yi.

"Alright, stop messing around. Let me give you two a warning: once the fighting starts, do not leave my sight. Do you hear me?"

"We hear you, Brother Clay."

Long Yi and Long Er answered obediently at once.

However, the more well-behaved they acted, the more cautious and vigilant Clay became, for he knew just how lawless these two little tyrants could be when Carl wasn't around.

"Captain, we've reached Hachinosu!"

The pirate in the crow's nest immediately reported the information to Yorulu.

"I can already sense them."

Yorulu stood on the deck, his Observation Haki already detecting Golden Lion and several other commanders standing at the harbor, waiting for their arrival.

As the two forces gradually drew closer, dark clouds began to gather in the sky.

A gale swept across the sea, creating a scene that looked like the end of the world.

Yorulu was incredibly tall, standing a full thirty meters high, and his body radiated a terrifying aura that made one's blood run cold.

"Did my son die at your hands?"

As the Giant Warrior Pirates were about to reach the shore, Yorulu shouted loudly at Carl. His voice was as deafening as thunder; having seen Carl's photograph, he had recognized him standing at the harbor immediately.

"Who is your son?"

Carl asked, puzzled. He had no idea that the person he had casually disposed of on his way back from the Phil Kingdom was Yorulu's son.

"Yorulu, you actually dare to come to my territory to provoke me? Today, I will let you know who the true powerhouse is."

After speaking, Rocks, standing to the side, unleashed a powerful wave of Conqueror's Haki. His gaze locked onto Yorulu, and a fierce fighting spirit surged within him.

"Rocks, why are you here?"

Yorulu immediately voiced his soul-searching question. According to the intelligence he had received, Rocks was not supposed to be on this island.

Could it be false information? His brain raced frantically.

"I was the one who spread that news. I didn't expect someone with such developed limbs to actually believe it."

"Gahahahaha!"

"Since you've come, don't even think about leaving."

Rocks had been hoping for them to separate from the X Pirates. This was a natural, perfect opportunity.

For this, it didn't matter if the attack on the Tyr Kingdom was delayed a little.

Rocks didn't waste any more breath and instantly charged toward Yorulu. His speed was immense, his small frame whipping up a Force 8 gale.

Rocks' fists and feet, coated in Armament Haki, struck out at Yorulu like a violent storm.

Although Yorulu knew he had been tricked, as a warrior of the Giant race, he had no habit of fleeing from battle. He immediately launched a counterattack; besides, this was no time to retreat.

Just as they engaged, Golden Lion, Newgate, and the others joined the fray, each pairing off against a commander of the Giant Warrior Pirates.

With their opponents chosen, Golden Lion took on Fred, the vice-captain of the Giant Warrior Pirates; Newgate faced off against the First Division Commander, Herman; John and the Prince had to join forces to barely hold their own against the Second Division Commander, Eloi; as for the Third Division Commander, Bakura, he was left to Charlotte Linlin; and the remaining Fourth Division Commander, Angelo, naturally fell to Carl.

At the same time, the ships of the Giant Warrior Pirates docked one after another, coming into close-quarters contact with the pirates on the shore.

The battle erupted in an instant.

"Clang! Clang! Clang!"

The battle between Yorulu and Rocks was exceptionally intense. Every collision of their fists and feet produced a deafening sound that made the surrounding air tremble. Their speed grew faster and their power greater, as if the entire battlefield had been swallowed by an endless storm.

The surrounding pirates quickly retreated from the vicinity of their fight to avoid being caught in the crossfire.

The battlefield was instantly divided into six vacant zones; the shockwaves from the captain-level clashes were enough to tear ordinary pirates to shreds.

"Bang!"

"You must be Carl, right? Your strength is quite impressive."

"You're not so bad yourself, Angelo."

In one of the combat circles, Carl stood facing Angelo, the Fourth Division Captain of the Giant Warrior Pirates.

Angelo was a member of the Giant race, and his massive physique brought a tremendous sense of oppression with every move and every strike.

Furthermore, one should not assume that because they were Giants, their movements lacked agility; in Carl's view, they were actually even swifter.

Moreover, these captain-level Giants had all mastered two types of Haki.

For the moment, Carl was slightly outmatched in terms of raw strength.

However, Carl was weaving the Lightning Method into every move and strike, gradually numbing Angelo's body.

Just then, Long Yi and Long Er quietly slipped around the perimeter of the battlefield.

Taking advantage of the moment Clay was distracted by the scene of people attacking on the battlefield, they immediately broke free from his control.

Before long, the two of them found themselves facing off against a minor captain of the Giant Warrior Pirates.

"Little ones, being a pirate isn't a game of house."

Despite saying this, the pirate didn't hold back, brandishing his massive blade toward Long Yi and Long Er without hesitation.

"Hmph, we aren't afraid of you."

"Hahaha! Then come on!"

The pirate captain didn't waste any more breath, raising his long blade and hacking fiercely at the pair.

Although Long Yi and Long Er carried no weapons, their fists were encased in the golden Golden Light Incantation, allowing them to trade blows with the minor captain on equal footing for the time being.

"Huh? Where did they go?"

Although Clay had been drawn in by the fighting on the field, it had only been for a brief moment.

When he turned his head and realized Long Yi and Long Er were gone, he hurriedly looked around, only to find them no longer by his side.

He immediately swept his gaze across the various parts of the battlefield.

He spotted two inconspicuous flickers of golden light on the left side of the battlefield right away. Upon closer inspection, there was no doubt it was them, and Clay rushed over immediately.