A Clever Rabbit Has Three Burrows

"Click!"

When Admiral Snow Lion learned that the Rocks Pirates had all set out, he knew his plan to escort the Devil Fruit back to Marine Headquarters was unlikely to succeed. He was such a prominent target that he would undoubtedly be the first one they went after. He had no choice but to think of another way.

"Rear Admiral Norse!"

"I'm entrusting you with the mission of escorting the Devil Fruit back to Marine Headquarters."

After hanging up, Snow Lion immediately sought out his trusted subordinate, Rear Admiral Norse. He planned to pull off a switcheroo. After all, a rear admiral's strength was insignificant on a battlefield of this scale, and no one would pay him any attention.

"Admiral Snow Lion, this..."

Norse had been given the mission at a critical moment, and he immediately understood the responsibility resting on his shoulders.

"I'm too prominent a target. I can only entrust this difficult mission to you."

"Understood, Admiral Snow Lion. I'll do everything I can to see it through."

Norse knew that if Snow Lion had entrusted him with this mission, the situation must have grown quite dire.

Norse didn't refuse. He simply asked with some concern,

"Then what about you...?"

"If we're lucky, I'll see you at Marine Headquarters."

"Yes, sir!"

Norse gave a formal salute, his voice choked with emotion. He knew what kind of danger Admiral Snow Lion was about to face. The Rocks Pirates were known as the most vicious pirate crew, and no one could be confident of surviving a fight against them.

"Good. Once the people of the Tyr Kingdom have gathered the Devil Fruits, take them immediately, get on a small boat, and head for Marine Headquarters. Remember, don't wear your Marine uniform. Disguise yourself as a pirate—that'll give you a better chance of making it."

"Understood, Admiral Snow Lion. You take care of yourself, too."

Norse saluted once more, then turned and left.

As Norse walked out, he clenched his fists. He knew the Marines were still too weak. Otherwise, they wouldn't have let the Rocks Pirates run rampant throughout the New World.

The latter half of the New World!

A ship flew a black flag bearing a skull wearing an old-fashioned captain's hat. Two crossed bones adorned either side of the hat's brim, and the skull's eyes were vivid red crosses, giving it a bloody, terrifying appearance.

This flag had stirred countless waves throughout the Pirate World. Just one look at it was enough to evoke a sense of bloodshed and terror. It symbolized power, fear, and ambition—and belonged to the pirate crew that every pirate dreamed of joining: the Rocks Pirates!

At the head of the fleet was naturally Rocks's flagship, the Dark.

Close behind it sailed seven somewhat smaller pirate ships, carrying the various division commanders!

Farther behind came countless small boats.

A soldier on lookout spotted the fleet in the distance and hurriedly shouted down to the soldiers below.

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

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

A soldier below shouted in alarm.

"Yes! It's the Rocks Pirates! Go report it!"

The lookout, his face filled with terror, urged the soldier below to hurry and report the gravity of the situation.

"Ah, I know! Keep watch. I'll report it right away."

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

They had spent every day lately on edge, praying that the Rocks Pirates wouldn't come here.

But their prayers were useless. The Rocks Pirates had come after all.

"Woooo!"

A deep, muffled alarm sounded, its noise spreading across the entire island.

"The Rocks Pirates have arrived."

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

"Everyone, it's time to set out."

King Tyr immediately left the hall and stepped into the plaza.

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

"Fight to the death!"

"Good! Soldiers, follow me!"

King Tyr led the charge, guiding everyone toward the battlefield.

Meanwhile, reporters had gathered around the harbor. After all, word that the Rocks Pirates were attacking the Tyr Kingdom had already spread.

But the Rocks Pirates' members were faster.

"Boys, storm the Tyr Kingdom!"

"Yeah, let's go!"

"Charge!"

"I'm coming for the treasure!"

Countless pirates aboard the Rocks Pirates' fleet didn't even wait for the ships to dock. They leaped off and ran toward the harbor.

"Open fire!"

"Bang! Bang! Bang!"

Gunfire erupted all around.

As more and more fighters clashed at close quarters, the harbor was drenched in blood in an instant. A hazy crimson sheen began to spread across the sea.

"Gyahahahaha!"

"I'll go on ahead."

Golden Lion sensed his opponent racing toward him and immediately took to the air.

Newgate and Charlotte Linlin also hurried toward the center of the battlefield.

Once they entered the fray, countless soldiers were cut down on the spot. Even those lucky enough to evade them were crushed by the shockwaves of battle.

"Lion Thousand-Cut Valley!"

Golden Lion charged into the enemy ranks and began slaughtering soldiers under the eyes of countless onlookers.

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

"Ah... my hand..."

After Golden Lion unleashed several slashes,

"Gyahahaha!"

"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 and gathered in the sky, forming a gigantic stone lion that roared as it charged toward King Tyr, destroying everything in its path.

When Tyr saw Golden Lion coming, he clenched his fists, coated his whole body in Armament Haki, and charged at the lion's head.

"Boom!"

The instant the two clashed, heaven and earth trembled. A huge circle was instantly cleared around them. But Golden Lion was at the peak of his strength.

Tyr was forced back hundreds of meters. When he landed, his face was flushed, and he fought back the urge to cough up blood. He knew he represented the entire nation. He couldn't be the first to show weakness.

Golden Lion was also knocked back by the shockwave, but he hadn't suffered much damage.

"Golden Lion, coming to the Tyr Kingdom will be the biggest mistake of your life."

After catching his breath, Tyr transformed into a streak of black lightning and appeared in front of Shiki in an instant, punching toward his head!

"Gyahahaha!"

"Then let's see if you have what it takes."

Shiki let out a wild laugh.

"Slash Wave!"

He swung the twin swords in his hands, releasing a golden cross-shaped slash that blazed with light and tremendous force. It met Tyr's attack head-on and forced him back.

The enormous lion, dozens of meters tall, then collided repeatedly with Tyr.

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

The battlefield quickly broke into several separate clashes.

Explosions rang through the air from time to time.

Rocks stood at the bow of his ship, the Dark, without disembarking. He wondered what kind of underhanded scheme the Marines would use to achieve their goal.

But no one noticed that, on the other side of the island, Norse had already taken the Devil Fruit and sailed away in a small boat.

Tyr then joined the fighting, but he was also keeping an eye on Admiral Snow Lion's position. The moment he'd stepped onto the battlefield, he'd sensed a vague threat—and he was watching Long Yi and Long Er as well.