The Collapse of the Lawless Group

Although Garling's choice of timing had been flawless, he had still underestimated Annus.

Even isolated and severely drained of stamina, Annus remained a towering mountain the weak could never surmount.

After only a few exchanges, two of the three Holy Knights had collapsed and convulsed, unable to withstand the blows of Soul Special Attack Thunder.

Only Garling was still stubbornly resisting.

"I never expected you to have grown this far... Annus... In a few more years, perhaps you'll surpass even me?"

Rocks, having recovered a little of his strength, felt deeply moved. Among the entire pirate crew, he had witnessed Annus's growth more clearly than anyone else.

From a brat who could not even use Haki at first, to someone who had honed all three types of Haki to their limits, only seven years had passed at most.

Even from Rocks's perspective, such talent was terrifying.

Considering Annus's age, he still had plenty of room to go even further in the future.

And now, Annus already stood near the pinnacle of the world, fully on the same level as Rocks himself.

Unless the king of those sewer rats in the World Government, or legendary figures such as Joy Boy, Davy Jones, or Elbaf's "God of War" were revived, who else could stop this young man's advance?

"Still not planning to give up?"

Annus had grown tired of Garling's struggle. The island's foundation was already showing signs of sinking; they could not drag this out any longer.

"Davy's bloodline must be eradicated! Those who shelter Davy's blood—even if you escape this island, we will hunt you to the ends of the earth!"

Garling's face darkened as he delivered that vicious threat.

But aside from making threats, there was nothing else he could do.

"Are you done? Your last words? If you are, then you can rest."

Garling's threat did not make Annus hesitate in the slightest. He raised the battle spear transformed from the Golden Scepter and cleanly severed Garling's head.

Under the devastation of Conqueror's Haki, Garling's headless body collapsed to the ground, electricity twisting wildly from the severed neck.

After watching for several seconds and confirming that Garling, along with the other two Holy Knights, Maffy and Somaz, had temporarily lost the ability to move, Annus finally left without concern.

By the shore, Rocks' Fury had already been heavily surrounded. Few ships that had yet to set sail remained, and most of them were Marine warships.

However, for the sake of concealing his departure, Annus ultimately chose to seize a pirate ship.

A warship might have been more comfortable, but it would also bring more trouble.

He was not in good condition, had no subordinates at his side, and was dragging Rocks along as baggage. He would avoid trouble whenever possible.

"Calamity! And Rocks! Great, they're both injured! This is our chance!"

The process of taking over the pirate ship was not complicated. That group of pirates believed their numerical advantage was enough to let them claim the huge prize of Annus and Rocks's heads, making their names known to the world.

So they charged in without a second thought.

But while Rocks had indeed lost his ability to fight, Annus had not. Killing those pitiful weaklings took no more than a thought.

"Before I make a move, I need to ask: who is in charge of operating this ship?"

To sail upon the sea, a ship needed a navigator and a boatswain.

The former required highly specialized skills and was responsible for judging winds and currents, then plotting the route.

The latter managed the pirates, acting as the navigator's hands and feet to operate the entire ship.

Without those two positions, a pirate crew could not even be formed. The ship simply would not be able to function.

Operating a ship across the sea was a technical job, and Annus was not particularly skilled at it. He usually left that work to his subordinates.

With no subordinates by his side now, he could only borrow the pirates on this ship.

"Where are we going next? Back to Hachinosu?"

After Annus dealt with the pirates trying to kill them and used absolute force to subdue the navigator and sailors aboard, Rocks took the initiative to start a conversation.

"I'm not returning to Hachinosu. I plan to make a trip to Water 7, meet up with my subordinates there, and then return to the Sky Island."

After placing the unconscious Dragon in a cabin and ordering a sailor to take good care of him, Annus answered Rocks.

He had no plans to search for Lilith, Yale, and the others.

For one thing, he did not know which island Kuma had sent Lilith and the others to when he used his ability.

For another, he believed that with Lilith's intelligence, she would definitely think to head for Water 7 on her own and meet up with the main force.

Just as his subordinates deeply trusted Annus, Annus also deeply trusted his subordinates.

"You're going back to the Sky Island?" Rocks was taken aback upon hearing that.

"Of course. I've had enough of the Blue Sea already..."

Annus walked to the stern again and casually sent down several bolts of lightning, destroying the Marine warships trying to pursue them.

"Why are you asking so many questions? Shut up and rest. Until you recover your full strength, you must follow my arrangements. As for what you plan to do after you recover, I won't interfere. Just don't drag me down with you."

"Worororo, how cold, Annus. I'm your captain, you know!"

Rocks smiled. Exhausted in both body and mind, he leaned against the deck and stared up at the sky.

"Stop dreaming, Rocks. That lawless group, the Rocks Pirates, will never be reassembled."

"..."

Indeed, just as Annus had said, the Rocks Pirates had disbanded. From the moment he, their captain, had killed his own crewmates, he had lost the influence he once possessed.

"I understand... But can I ask you to take care of my wife and son? Only by entrusting Alice and Teach to you can I rest easy."

"I was already planning to do that. Later, I'll bring your wife and son back to the Sky Island," Annus answered casually.

"The Sky Island? That works. In a place like that, they should be able to avoid the World Government's pursuit." After giving it some thought, Rocks nodded in approval.

If there were places in this world beyond the reach of the World Government's lackeys, then apart from Fish-Man Island deep beneath the sea, there was undoubtedly the Sky Island, ten thousand meters above the clouds.

Making arrests in such perilous places was usually far more troublesome than on ordinary islands.

Several hours later, aboard the pirate ship they had seized, Annus successfully escaped the waters of God Valley with Rocks.

Not long after Annus's ship departed, countless branching bolts of enormous lightning tore through the sky. The island of God Valley completely collapsed and gradually sank into the sea amid thick fog.

Thus, the God Valley Incident, which had affected the course of history, finally came to an end.

The World Government classified this incident as an "absolute secret" of the highest S rank. Only Marine Headquarters, Marine G-11 Branch, and CIPHER POL No. 6 retained records of the classified mission and special rewards related to it.

The list of participants in the Human Hunting Tournament was also abolished.

All records concerning the location, area, population, and other information about the venue, God Valley, were erased as well.

The number of deaths caused by the incident—unknown.

Although the World Government tried to bury this incident completely in darkness, the collapse of the lawless group known as the Rocks Pirates, led by Rocks D. Zebek, who had once thrown an entire era into turmoil, still became an echo that could not be concealed, shaking the world.