Rocks Pirates Attack! (Please Vote and Follow)

After the rules of the event were briefly announced, the "Escape Rabbits" were released. Nearly a hundred thousand natives and 150 problematic slaves from Mary Geoise were set free, including twelve members of the Davy Clan.

Before the "Escape Rabbits" could run very far, some Celestial Dragons impatiently opened fire. Several slow-moving native children and elderly people lost their lives as a result.

However, the Celestial Dragons who fired their guns were not punished. The host understood their impatience and merely gave them a verbal warning not to disrupt the rules of the event.

Giving the "Escape Rabbits" enough time to hide and flee was also an important part of making this event more entertaining.

An hour passed quickly. Amid the anxious anticipation of the Celestial Dragons, the Human Hunting tournament finally officially began!

"If you kill them in one shot, there'll be an 'extra reward'! Have fun to your hearts' content, my noble compatriots! Luxurious prizes have already been prepared for the winners!"

"Wooooh!!"

The two hundred participating Celestial Dragons mounted ostriches and set off one after another, while the members of God's Knights also began making ruthless declarations.

"Watch how I win, children..." Garling said with a wicked smile.

"The Manmayer Family will claim the champion's trophy!!" A God's Knight wearing an octagonal hat and holding a flintlock pistol licked his lips.

"I won't let you win, Garling!" said a God's Knight wearing a gas mask and wielding twin blades.

A curtain of terror hung over the entire island like a shadow. People hiding everywhere waited in torment for fate's judgment. For these natives with little fighting ability, resistance was nearly impossible. Their only hope of survival was to endure the three weeks promised by the Celestial Dragons.

As long as we hide for three weeks, there's hope of surviving, right?

That was what many people thought, and it was the only faint light supporting their struggle through fear.

But that was exactly what the Celestial Dragons wanted. They wanted the "Escape Rabbits" to struggle, because killing motionless prey brought no sense of accomplishment.

Only when the prey refused to stop struggling and resisting did the game become interesting.

Ostriches raced across the land of God Valley. The Celestial Dragons on their backs scanned their surroundings like demons, cruel smiles on their lips as they could barely wait to kill...

"Please, don't cry..."

A woman hiding behind a rock nervously covered the mouth of the baby in her arms, praying that her child would not cry out.

But fear crawled inch by inch into her heart with the drumbeat-like hoofsteps of the ostriches. Even the woman's husband had gone pale. Unable to help himself, he peeked out to assess the situation, praying that the Celestial Dragons would quickly leave the area.

But things went against their wishes. As the baby's clear cry rang out, the ostrich's footsteps grew louder. A Celestial Dragon spotted the family of three hiding behind the rock and excitedly pulled the trigger.

Bang!!

The husband had no time to resist, the wife had no time to flee, and the baby in swaddling clothes never made another sound. After the satisfied Celestial Dragon rode away on the ostrich, only dead silence remained, along with bloodstained rocks and the bodies of the family of three piled together.

Similar scenes unfolded throughout the island. Den Den Mushi hidden everywhere crawled silently, expressionlessly transmitting what they saw to the Holy Land of Mary Geoise.

"Saint Garling of the Figarland Family has already reached 100,000 points! An overwhelming lead! Is he aiming for even higher-scoring 'Escape Rabbits'?!"

"The Barbet Family and the Manmayer Family are close behind!"

"Puhahaha! I really want to go watch in person!"

"Ah! Lord Garling is so handsome! ♡"

"Which family did you bet on?"

"For the 'clan battle,' the Shepherd House! For the 'individual battle,' Gunko!"

"Huh? Really? That's not bad, but Gunko is still a God's Blade directly under the Knights, isn't she?!"

Meanwhile, in the waters outside God Valley.

The warship fleet stationed there had begun withdrawing to more distant waters. This was an order from the World Government. After completing the World Government's mission to "use tranquilizer guns to control all natives," these Marines had fulfilled their duty.

Although many high-ranking Marines had guessed what was happening, they pretended to know nothing and tacitly kept silent.

The more one knew, the more dangerous it became. There were some things the Marines absolutely could not know about.

"Everyone accounted for?"

On the warship, an officer draped in a coat bearing the word "Justice" asked.

"Yes! Of course!"

The one answering was a colonel wearing the same Justice coat. Though he saluted respectfully on the surface, he was deeply worried inside and had lied about the situation.

Where did that guy Dragon go?

To most people, Dragon was merely an ordinary Marine soldier with a strong sense of justice.

But the colonel knew the surname Dragon had hidden...

Monkey... without a doubt, he was that man's son. If anything happened to him, the colonel could not bear the responsibility.

Don't tell me... he entered the island on his own?!

At that thought, cold sweat immediately streamed down the colonel's back. He was hesitating over whether to report the situation to his superiors when an explosion interrupted his thoughts.

Boom!!

A violent explosion suddenly erupted in the eastern waters of God Valley.

"It's the Rocks Pirates!" a Marine shouted.

In the eastern sea, several pirate ships flying skull flags surged forward, led by Rocks' Fury!!

After the Rocks Pirates set out, the other pirate crews on Hachinosu refused to be left behind and followed Rocks into action.

"Oh! Men!

Shakuyaku, treasure, Devil Fruits!! While we're here, let's stop killing each other! Let's cooperate for now and help one another!

When we return, we'll split the treasure evenly! No objections, right?! Men!!"

Rocks stood at the bow with one hand resting on his sword, staring greedily in the direction of God Valley as he shouted.

Though Shakuyaku was not his true objective at all, he still had to put on a show to guard against the people around him.

Unfortunately, the officers did not seem inclined to play along with Rocks.

"What are you talking about, Rocks? Shakuyaku can't be divided equally!" Catfish Rikishi Babel said.

"Obviously, she'll fall for whoever saves her first, right?"

"Yeah! I won't yield on that!!"

Shiki and Xiong stated their positions one after another. Both intended to be the first to save Shakuyaku, and they had fought over this more than once during this time.

"No, Shakuyaku will fall for whoever gets the most treasure!"

John also voiced his opinion. Shakuyaku was important, but his main purpose in coming to this island was still treasure.

"Do whatever you want. I'm worried about her as a friend... well, though it wouldn't be bad if she fell for me." Whitebeard seemed far more cool and reserved.

"Hah? What are you talking about, Newgate?!" Buckin objected.

"If I save Shakuyaku, Roger will thank me, right? Hmm?" Gloriosa rubbed her cheek with her slender fingers.

"Ochoku, who stayed on the island, is banned from entering the bar! I never expected that guy to be the culprit..." Streusen also began to smile sinisterly.

"What fools! Even if the world turns upside down, Shakuyaku will never look back at any of you!"

Charlotte Linlin mocked everyone's lovesick behavior while considering her next move. According to the intelligence she had obtained, there was a Devil Fruit on God Valley that she absolutely had to acquire.

"Linlin, can you give me the Devil Fruit?" Kaido sidled up to Linlin and shamelessly asked.

Lilith and Yale did not join the discussion. Instead, they quietly approached Annus. "Lord Annus, what should we do next?" Lilith asked in a low voice.

Annus gazed at the distant God Valley. The iceberg-like indifference on his face melted away, revealing a smile that set Lilith's heart aflutter.

"Listen carefully. There are three people I want to save!"