The Battle Begins

Newgate was locked in a heated battle with the strategist, Cthulhu. It had started at a fever pitch, but it was clear that Cthulhu was no match for Newgate.

"Open fire! Shoot!"

The cannons roared, and countless bullets rained down on them.

"Clang, clang!"

But it was no use. Newgate wasn't an old man yet; his stamina hadn't begun to decline. Even with his bare body, he could withstand ordinary bullets.

"Gurararara!"

"You're getting annoying."

Whoosh!

Suddenly, a crescent-shaped streak of blue light flashed past. The soldiers' vision spun, and then they lost consciousness, never to open their eyes again.

At Newgate's level, injuring or killing him with guns alone was no simple matter.

His formidable physique, speed, and defense made him immune to these basic attacks.

"Quake Shock!"

Realizing he wouldn't take Cthulhu down quickly, Newgate grinned excitedly and unleashed the power of the Tremor-Tremor Fruit. Cthulhu was a worthy opponent, after all, and the best way to show respect was to give it his all.

Cthulhu was sent flying in an instant, but quickly got back to his feet.

His body swelled, his arms and legs grew thick, and his original form disappeared. In its place stood a ten-meter-tall giant ape.

It turned out that Cthulhu was a Zoan user who had eaten the Giant Ape Fruit.

"Newgate!"

Boom!

Cthulhu stomped a huge crater into the ground and appeared in front of Newgate. He raised his boulder-sized fist and swung it at Newgate at incredible speed.

Clang!

"Gurararara!"

"Now that's more like it."

Newgate met his blow with his right hand, coated in Armament Haki, while swinging his other hand toward Cthulhu's head.

Cthulhu reacted quickly, leaning back to dodge the blow.

Whoosh!

"Take this!"

Cthulhu wasn't distracted by Newgate's taunt. He clasped his hands together, then brought them down on Newgate like a giant hammer.

Thud!

Newgate's massive frame didn't slow him down; he dodged swiftly, stomping his right foot against the ground and appearing beside Cthulhu's right flank in an instant.

His fist, coated in Armament Haki and infused with the power of the Tremor-Tremor Fruit, slammed into Cthulhu's head. Cthulhu quickly raised his arm to block, but the punch still sent him flying. Several buildings crumbled into ruins along his path.

Newgate charged forward, and the second battle began in an instant.

"Elbaf Spear!"

On another battlefield, Charlotte Linlin opened with one of her signature moves.

Giles knew he couldn't dodge the attack. He swung his long sword, its blade glowing faintly white, and brought it down hard on Charlotte Linlin.

"Peerless Slash!"

Boom!

The two waves of energy collided, and a terrifying shockwave spread out around them. But Giles's Peerless Slash only held Elbaf Spear back for a single second.

Then Giles was blasted away by the powerful shockwave.

Thud! Thud! Thud!

Charlotte Linlin charged forward with heavy, pounding steps, swinging her massive sword and bringing it down hard on Giles.

Boom!

The earth shook violently, as though an earthquake measuring eight on the Richter scale had struck. The pirates and soldiers of the Tyr Kingdom still fighting in the distance felt the ground buck beneath them and could barely stay upright.

Charlotte Linlin's sword had been stopped by Giles.

The tremendous force pushed Giles dozens of meters backward.

"Cough, cough!"

"You're strong!"

Giles got to his feet, wiped away the blood, and glared fiercely at Charlotte Linlin.

"But even so, I won't let you set foot on this land beneath me and do whatever you please."

Giles knew he might not last much longer, but the resolve in his eyes was enough to make anyone look twice.

As the fighting raged across the battlefield, Carl sensed Admiral Snow Lion stirring at its edge.

"Found you, Admiral Snow Lion."

Admiral Snow Lion hadn't expected Carl to spot him despite how well he'd hidden himself.

He'd planned to ambush Charlotte Linlin, since she was the only one on the battlefield whose strength was comparatively weaker.

His most important task was to hold back the Rocks Pirates. He had already sent Norse away with the Devil Fruit.

The longer he held them off, the safer Norse would be.

He simply hadn't expected to be discovered before he could join the fight.

"Thunderbolt Fist!"

Carl didn't waste time. The moment he spotted Admiral Snow Lion, he charged at him at full speed.

"Lion Claw!"

Admiral Snow Lion roared.

Knowing he could no longer hide, Admiral Snow Lion had no choice but to fight. Still, he deliberately made sure his roar carried across the entire island.

He swung his arm, its clawed hand partly transformed into a beast's and coated in Armament Haki.

Boom!

Though they were fighting at close range, the shockwaves their clash produced were no weaker than those from the other battles.

"So that's where he was hiding."

Rocks smiled and murmured from aboard the ship.

He hadn't expected Admiral Snow Lion to be so good at hiding that even he hadn't noticed him.

But according to Rocks's Haki, there didn't seem to be anyone powerful on the island.

Could the Marines really have no scheme this time?

Rocks had been somewhat overconfident. His Observation Haki had only picked up the top fighters on the battlefield; he hadn't paid attention to those who were a little weaker. As a result, Norse had slipped right past him without his knowledge.

"Admiral Snow Lion, you have to hold on!"

Far away, already out at sea, Norse heard Admiral Snow Lion's roar. He knew the admiral was buying him time. He had to get as far from the battlefield as possible.

"I'll get the cargo safely to Marine Headquarters."

Norse glanced down at the package in front of him. If he couldn't deliver it safely to Marine Headquarters, then Admiral Snow Lion's efforts would have been for nothing.

Norse could only row harder.

"Kid, why did you join the pirates?"

Here, Admiral Snow Lion and Carl clashed and immediately separated. Admiral Snow Lion retreated a few steps, then asked the question that had been on his mind.

"At first, maybe it was just to witness the heights of strength. But now, I only want the people to have the freedom they deserve."

Admiral Snow Lion's pupils contracted. He knew what Carl meant, but he also knew how difficult it would be to make it happen.

"I never expected you to have such ideals!"

"I guess I underestimated you."

Clang!

The two fought as they talked.

Carl knew Admiral Snow Lion probably wouldn't make it off the island alive today.

He could sense Rocks watching them the entire time.

In fact, he was exactly right. Rocks's ultimate plan was to wreak havoc at God Valley. The Marines' powerful fighters were part of their strength, so weakening them was a chance he couldn't pass up. He definitely wouldn't let Admiral Snow Lion leave the island alive today.

After all, there were only so many Admiral-level fighters on the seas at this time.

The Marines couldn't replace them in a mere few years.

"Your ideals are noble, but you'll never achieve them."

Admiral Snow Lion admired Carl, but he knew a few things about how the world worked. Someone like Carl couldn't make even the smallest waves.

"Just wait and see."

Carl knew there was no point in arguing. He would have to make it happen himself. That was the path he had resolved to follow.

"I really hope you live to see that day."

Carl wanted Admiral Snow Lion to live long enough to see that day, too. In his eyes, most Marine Admirals—unlike people such as Akainu—represented justice and kindness to ordinary people.

"Yes, live..."

"If I really could see that day..."

Knowing he probably wouldn't leave the island alive, Snow Lion couldn't help feeling wistful.

He knew Rocks wouldn't let him escape alive.

He could only hope the things he'd sent Norse to retrieve were worth it.