The Cunning Rabbit Has Three Burrows

"Clack!"

Upon learning that the Rocks Pirates had mobilized their entire force, Admiral Snow Lion knew his plan to escort the Devil Fruit back to Marine Headquarters was likely doomed. As such a prominent target, he would undoubtedly be the first to be hunted down, and he had to find another way.

"Rear Admiral Norse!"

"The mission to escort the Devil Fruit back to Marine Headquarters must be entrusted to you."

After hanging up the den den mushi, Admiral Snow Lion immediately sought out his trusted subordinate, Rear Admiral Norse. He wanted to pull off a "cicada shedding its skin" maneuver; after all, a Rear Admiral's presence on such a massive battlefield was insignificant, and no one would pay him any mind.

"Admiral Snow Lion, this is..."

Tasked with the mission in a moment of crisis, Rear Admiral Norse instantly understood the weight of the responsibility resting on his shoulders.

"My target is too large. This arduous task can only be entrusted to you."

"Understood, Admiral Snow Lion. I will complete it with all my might."

Norse knew that since this mission had been handed to him, it meant the situation had reached a critical juncture.

Norse did not refuse, though he spoke with a hint of worry.

"And you..."

"If luck is on our side, we shall meet at Marine Headquarters."

"Yes!"

Norse gave a formal naval salute, his voice thick with emotion. He knew the risks Admiral Snow Lion was about to face; the Rocks Pirates were known as the most vicious pirate crew in existence, and no one could be confident of surviving an encounter with them.

"Good. Once the people of Tyr Kingdom have secured the Devil Fruit, you must take it immediately, board a small boat, and set sail for Marine Headquarters. Remember, do not wear your naval uniform. Disguise yourself as a pirate; that will increase your chances of success."

"Understood, Admiral Snow Lion. Please take care of yourself."

Norse saluted once more, then turned and left.

As Norse walked out the door, he clenched his fists. He knew the Navy's strength was still too weak; otherwise, they would never have allowed the Rocks Pirates to run so rampant in the New World.

The second half of the New World!

A ship flew a black flag featuring a skull wearing an ancient captain's hat, with two crossed bones beneath the brim. The skull's eyes were vivid red crosses, evoking a sense of bloodlust and terror.

This flag had stirred up countless storms across the Pirate World. At a single glance, it radiated bloodlust and dread, symbolizing power, terror, and ambition. It was the pirate crew everyone dreamed of joining—the Rocks Pirates!

Leading the charge was, naturally, Rocks' flagship, the Darkness.

Following closely behind were seven smaller pirate ships, each carrying a Division Commander!

Behind them stretched an endless fleet of smaller vessels.

A soldier on lookout duty spotted the distant fleet and hurriedly shouted to the soldiers below.

"The Rocks Pirates are here! Notify the Kingdom Guard immediately!"

"What? Are you sure it's the Rocks Pirates?"

A soldier below shouted back in a panic.

"Yes, it's the Rocks Pirates! Go and report it!"

The lookout on the watchtower urged the soldiers below with a look of terror, emphasizing the severity of the situation.

"Ah, I know! You keep watching, I'm going to report it right now!"

The soldier below scrambled away, running toward the town. They had received word earlier that the Rocks Pirates were coming to attack them.

For days, they had lived in constant fear, secretly praying that the Rocks Pirates would not come.

But it was to no avail; the Rocks Pirates had arrived.

"Woooo!"

A dull, mournful siren blared, its sound echoing across the entire island.

"The Rocks Pirates have arrived."

Upon hearing the alarm in the King's Hall, King Tyr immediately turned to his strategist Cthulhu and Giles.

"Gentlemen, it is time for us to depart."

King Tyr strode out of the hall and stood in the plaza.

"Soldiers, the Rocks Pirates have come to invade our territory. What shall we do?"

"Fight to the death!"

"Good! Soldiers, charge with me!"

King Tyr took the lead, charging toward the battlefield with his men.

On the other side, the area around the harbor was already crowded with reporters, as news of the Rocks Pirates' assault on Tyr Kingdom had leaked long ago.

But the members of the Rocks Pirates were faster.

"Boys, slaughter your way into Tyr Kingdom!"

"Yosh, let's go!"

"Charge!"

"The treasure is mine!"

Before the ships of the Rocks Pirates fleet had even docked, countless pirates leaped off and sprinted toward the harbor.

"Open fire!"

"Bang! Bang! Bang!"

Gunfire erupted incessantly.

As more and more men engaged in close-quarters combat, the harbor was instantly stained red with blood, and a hazy crimson film began to cover the surface of the sea.

"Gahahahaha!"

"I'll be heading out first."

Sensing his opponent rushing toward him, Golden Lion immediately took to the air.

Newgate and Charlotte Linlin also took the lead, rushing toward the center of the battlefield.

Once they joined the fray, countless soldiers were slaughtered on the spot; even those who managed to dodge the initial strikes were shattered by the shockwaves of the combat.

"Lion Thousand-Cut Valley!"

Golden Lion charged into the ranks of the army first, embarking on a killing spree under the gaze of countless eyes.

"Get out of the way, it's Golden Lion Shiki!"

"Ah... my arm..."

Just as Golden Lion unleashed several consecutive slashes.

"Gahaha!"

"Found you!"

"Lion's Might: Imperial Earth Scroll!"

"Roar!"

Under the control of Golden Lion's Float-Float Fruit, countless ruins rose from the ground into the sky, forming a massive stone lion that roared toward King Tyr, destroying everything in its path.

Seeing Golden Lion's assault, Tyr clenched his fists, coated his entire body in Armament Haki, and charged toward the lion's head.

"Boom!"

In the instant their powers collided, the heavens and earth trembled, and a massive circular clearing was instantly carved out of the battlefield. However, Golden Lion was currently at the peak of his strength.

Tyr was forced back hundreds of meters, landing on the ground with a flushed face. He suppressed the urge to cough up blood, knowing that as the representative of the entire kingdom, he could not afford to show any sign of weakness.

On the other side, although Golden Lion was pushed back by the shockwave, he suffered little damage.

"Golden Lion, coming to our Tyr Kingdom is the most regrettable thing you've ever done in your life."

After catching his breath, Tyr transformed into a streak of black lightning, appearing instantly before Shiki and throwing a punch at his head!

"Gahahaha!"

"Then let me see if you have the ability to back that up."

Shiki laughed wildly.

"Slash Wave!"

He swung his dual blades, unleashing a cross-shaped golden slash. The light was blinding, and the immense power behind it met Tyr's attack head-on, forcing him back.

Following this, the massive lion, standing dozens of meters tall, collided repeatedly with Tyr's body.

Elsewhere, Newgate and Cthulhu, as well as Charlotte Linlin and Giles, had also engaged in battle.

The battlefield was instantly divided into several skirmishes.

Booming sounds echoed through the air incessantly.

Rocks stood on the prow of his ship, the Darkness, without disembarking. He stood there, pondering what kind of schemes and tricks the Navy might use to achieve their goals.

Yet, at this moment, no one noticed that on the other side of the island, Norse had already set sail in a small boat, taking the Devil Fruit with him.

Tyr subsequently joined the fray, though he remained focused on observing the position of Admiral Snow Lion. From the moment he stepped onto the battlefield, he had felt a vague sense of threat, while simultaneously keeping a watch on Long Yi and Long Er.