Battle of Edd War (Part One)

Although the Marines had dispatched quite a few people, including no shortage of powerful fighters searching the Edd War waters, finding Nangong Yan's trail was no easy task. Nangong Yan currently had no pirate ship of his own. When traveling, he either transformed into a Golden Crow and flew high in the sky or used Kamui to travel. Neither method was easy to detect, so all their efforts were ultimately futile.

Nangong Yan stopped on a barren island that resembled a reef, entered the Kamui Dimension, and planned to see how Momousagi Gion, whom he had left alone for half the day, was doing.

Seeing Momousagi's condition, Nangong Yan could not help but smile. She sat quietly on the ground with her legs crossed, leaning against the wall. There was no despair on her face. Instead, she was studying the Kamui Dimension with great interest, her eyes carrying the thirst for knowledge of a scholar or scientist, as though she wanted to uncover every secret within it.

"Yo, looks like you're doing pretty well. As expected of a Marine rear admiral, your adaptability is quite impressive." Nangong Yan suddenly appeared before Momousagi and teased her.

Momousagi snorted and shot Nangong Yan a huge eye roll. "I'm hungry. I want a feast."

"Tsk, tsk, tsk. You say that with such confidence. Today, I've truly witnessed the Marines' thick skin. Are all female Marines this shameless?" Nangong Yan folded his arms across his chest and looked Momousagi over as though she were a monkey, making her scalp tingle.

"Don't insult the Marines! How could a wanted criminal like you understand the greatness of the Marines?" Momousagi immediately bristled and sprang to her feet, glaring viciously at Nangong Yan through the cracks in the stone.

"Tch. Another brainwashed fool. I admit the Marines have their merits, but they're still far from deserving the word 'great.' There are plenty of scum among them."

"Hmph, no point discussing feelings with a cow. I'm hungry and want something to eat." Looking as though they had nothing in common, Momousagi sat back down and spoke lazily.

"You want food? No problem. Just call me 'good big brother.' Make it sweet and alluring, preferably. This concerns the quality of your meals." Nangong Yan plopped down on the ground, a wicked grin on his face as though he had her completely figured out.

"Shameless! Don't even think about it!"

"Is that so? Then forget it. My supplies are running low anyway. It's better with one less person eating." With that, Nangong Yan got up and left without hesitation, making Momousagi so angry her liver hurt. Why doesn't this bastard have even a shred of gentlemanly manners? From what I've seen so far, he doesn't seem utterly vicious, but he's an absolute bastard. Especially the kind who deserves a beating.

Momousagi was cursing him in her heart when Nangong Yan suddenly returned with a huge pile of food. Her heart blossomed with joy. This bastard isn't actually that bad. He's just sharp-tongued but soft-hearted.

Unfortunately, what happened next disappointed Momousagi so thoroughly that she wished she could turn into a mosquito, fly out of the cage, and drain Nangong Yan dry.

Nangong Yan sat outside the cell directly opposite Momousagi, holding a mountain of food. There was wine and meat, vegetables and fruit, pastries and drinks. Every time he picked up a piece of food, he would raise it toward Momousagi in a distant toast, yet stubbornly refused to give her any. Eating slowly was one thing, but what was with all the winking and grimacing? And why was he smacking his lips so loudly?

The aroma of the food made Momousagi swallow involuntarily as she imagined how delicious it must be. Yet she refused to yield to Nangong Yan, so she simply closed her eyes. Out of sight, out of mind! But the lip-smacking sounds were particularly deliberate, like demonic music drilling into her mind and making her helplessly imagine just how tasty those foods were.

While Nangong Yan was teasing Momousagi, Golden Lion led his Golden Lion Grand Fleet into an encounter with the Roger Pirates in the Edd War waters. Dozens of massive ships rode the waves, advancing across the sea in orderly yet majestic formation like a well-trained army.

With a cigar clenched between his teeth and a golden cloak draped over his shoulders, Golden Lion stood at the bow, his golden hair dancing wildly in the wind and his entire body radiating domineering presence as he negotiated with Roger. A few minutes later, the talks broke down, and both sides decisively went to war. At Golden Lion's command, dozens of pirate ships shot toward the Roger Pirates like arrows loosed from bows, each vessel packed with fierce pirates wielding swords, blades, guns, and cannons.

Golden Lion soared into the sky and unleashed a powerful attack. He drew the two famous blades, Oto and Kogarashi, from his waist. With an excited smile at his lips, he slashed through the air with both swords, unleashing the power of the world's greatest swordsman. Two incomparably magnificent silver-white sword beams descended from the sky. Before the sword beams even arrived, their terrifying pressure had already carved a dreadful trench across the sea, over a thousand meters long and dozens of meters wide.

That was not all. The Float-Float Fruit's power activated, and an immeasurable amount of seawater rose into the air, transforming into a sea-blue lion over a thousand meters long. It roared in the sky, its might unmatched. Following the sword beams, the sea lion fell from above, darkening the heavens. Its terrifying presence alone was enough to make ordinary pirates lose their nerve.

Seawater greatly restrained Devil Fruit users, but Golden Lion had developed his Float-Float Fruit to the point of awakening. Even Aokiji could place his hand in seawater and freeze the ocean. Golden Lion was at the height of his power during this era, considerably stronger than even peak Aokiji, so controlling seawater was naturally no challenge for him.

The Roger Pirates watched the attacks coming from every direction with complete calm. No, more accurately, everyone except ugly Buggy remained completely calm. The Pirate King's right and left hands leaped into the air from behind the ship. Dark King Rayleigh swung his sword twice in succession, releasing two sword beams only slightly weaker than Golden Lion's. Scopper Gaban's right arm was coated in an immense amount of Armament Haki, black and gleaming, as intimidating as an abyss. He threw a punch, and the air exploded. The air within several thousand meters had no time to escape before the terrifying force and control of that punch compressed it into a single air shockwave, which blasted toward the sea lion falling from the sky.

Sword beams collided with sword beams, and the air shockwave collided with the sea lion. The earth-shaking crash could be faintly heard dozens of kilometers away. Sharp sword energy scattered everywhere, tearing through the air and leaving slash marks behind. Seawater turned into raindrops and fell from the sky, drenching both the Roger Pirates and the Golden Lion Pirates. With the big shots taking action, the battle between the two sides erupted in full.

A third of the Edd War waters, spanning dozens of kilometers in every direction, became the battlefield of both sides. Shouts of battle, screams, gunfire, clashing weapons, crashing waves, and exploding air blended together, forming a battlefield that was both blood-stirring and merciless. The superpowered fighters from both sides turned the relatively calm sea utterly violent. The waves grew larger and larger, while the sky became increasingly overcast.

The Roger Pirates followed an elite path. Every official crew member was a powerful fighter capable of standing on their own. Even the apprentice crew members, Shanks and Buggy, possessed considerable fighting strength. The Golden Lion Grand Fleet held an overwhelming numerical advantage, but its members were a mixed lot. Though they held the advantage, defeating the Roger Pirates was far from easy.

Such a massive disturbance naturally drew the attention of the Marines and nearby pirates, all of whom rushed toward the edge of the battlefield. The Marines could only temporarily abandon their search for Momousagi. After all, this opportunity was rare, and no one wanted to miss it. If the plan succeeded, the Marines would greatly suppress the pirates' strength, and their influence in the New World would rise substantially.

Nangong Yan's expression changed as he teased Momousagi in the Kamui Dimension. His purpose in coming to the New World had been to watch the Battle of Edd War. Although he was inside the Kamui Dimension, he had still devoted part of his attention to the outside world. Now that the war had broken out, he could no longer spare time for Momousagi.

"Roger and Golden Lion have already started fighting. I'll leave the food here. Take it yourself if you want to eat." Nangong Yan placed the food where Momousagi could reach it, then stood up and prepared to leave without hesitation.

"Wait! I want to watch this war too." Momousagi hurriedly rose and pleaded. She naturally did not want to miss a battle between powerful fighters of such scale and caliber. Besides, leaving this damned space was her only chance to be rescued or escape!

"I know what you're plotting. You want to leave? Sure. Call me 'good big brother' in a sweet, coquettish voice, then kiss my cheek, and I'll take you out. Taking you out is risky. I don't do things without getting something in return!" Nangong Yan said with a beaming smile.

"You... bastard! Shameless! How can you make such an embarrassing demand?" Momousagi's expression changed, and her face flushed red.

"Even your insults aren't creative. How boring. Fine, don't come out. I don't have time to waste on you right now."

Nangong Yan's expression did not change. Momousagi's words did not hurt him in the slightest. His body gradually faded from the Kamui Dimension and was soon about to disappear completely.