Rocks Pirates, Make Their Entrance!

"Heh, the world's most beautiful woman? Hmph, just the flattery of ignorant fools. I don't believe anyone in the world is prettier than me!"

A beautiful female Celestial Dragon wore an arrogant expression and sneered repeatedly.

"I've seen her picture. She really is beautiful—worth collecting."

A triangle-eyed Celestial Dragon licked his lips. Shakuyaku's appearance surfaced in his mind, and his eyes were filled with lust.

"Enough. I declare Shakuyaku mine. No one is allowed to compete with me!"

"Tch, you say she's yours, and she's yours? Why should she be? What a joke. Talk after you take first place!"

As everyone argued, Saint Garling, who had remained silent all along, suddenly stood. His gaze swept across the crowd as his domineering presence spilled forth, and he loudly announced:

"Everyone, there's no need to argue. Do me a favor—Shakuyaku is the wife I have my eye on, and I'm determined to have her! Whoever dares compete with me will become my enemy!!"

"Enemy? Who's afraid of whom?! I insist on becoming your enemy! That woman—I'll turn her into a slut anyone can marry! Hah hah hah hah..."

"Someone, bring me my gun. The hunt has begun!"

"Hehehe, I hope this time will be entertaining."

"Let's see who hunts down the first prey!"

Several hundred Celestial Dragons impatiently walked out of the palace and began this bloody hunt.

The slaughter began!

Chaos descended.

A gunshot marked the start of today's bloody massacre.

"Wahahaha, the first prey is mine!"

"Damn it, someone beat me to it! I clearly spotted it first."

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Amid gunshots and flying arrows, one civilian after another fell into pools of blood, their breaths gone.

"Murder! Run!"

"Can someone tell me what's going on? Where did these damned demons come from?!"

The islanders were stunned by the sight before them. They did not understand why those finely dressed people killed anyone they saw, nor did they understand why the Marines, who claimed to uphold justice, were protecting those executioners.

Faced with life and death, there was only one thought in their minds...

Run!

The farther, the better!

Escape this island!

Those who ran too slowly had already fallen into pools of blood, their blood gradually congealing.

Before long, corpses littered the island, and cries of anguish rang without end.

Under the protection of Cipher Pol Agents and Marines, the Celestial Dragons began a grand manhunt for the island's civilians. The civilians fled, the Celestial Dragons pursued, and there was nowhere on the island for them to fly away to.

Watching the scene before him, Xia Luo clenched his fists, fury blazing in his heart, yet he never made a move.

He kept taking deep breaths, forcing himself to calm down and not act rashly.

It was not that Xia Luo did not want to act. He simply could not. With his current strength, he could save no one and would only throw away his own life.

Xia Luo did not consider himself a saint, much less some self-sacrificing savior. He had come to God Valley for the Azure Dragon Fruit, not to save people.

Though rage churned within him, Xia Luo would not create unnecessary trouble or expose his whereabouts before obtaining the Azure Dragon Fruit.

"Ivankov..."

Xia Luo's gaze fixed tightly on Ivankov and his group.

At the beginning, Ivankov had stuck together with several companions, including Ginny and Kuma, but the chaotic crowd quickly scattered them.

Now only Ivankov and Kuma remained. The two of them were hiding in a filthy ditch, avoiding the Celestial Dragons' pursuit.

While fleeing, Kuma had accidentally been struck by an arrow from a Celestial Dragon while protecting Ginny. The arrow was embedded in his back, and blood flowed nonstop.

Fortunately, Kuma's physique was extraordinary, so he was not in serious danger for the time being.

Time passed.

After an unknown amount of time, an incomparably powerful wave of Conqueror's Haki swept across the entire island. Large numbers of civilians collapsed on the spot, and all the surveillance Den Den Mushi on the island fell unconscious.

Xia Luo's head jolted as though someone had smashed it with a hammer. He felt dizzy and nearly collapsed.

"Damn, it's still that powerful from so far away. No wonder he's the man with the most guts among pirates—Rocks!"

After speaking, Xia Luo looked toward the sky and saw two figures floating overhead, one gold and one pink.

The golden figure had flowing golden hair, a cigar clenched between his teeth, and a sword in each hand. His face was full of arrogance, his domineering presence overflowing, and his manner utterly insolent.

The pink figure had an incredibly stunning body, two enormous breasts, long legs that could crush someone, a bicorne hat on her head, a thundercloud beneath her feet, a massive sword in her hand, and flames swirling around her. Her aura was formidable.

Xia Luo recognized them at once. "Golden Lion and... a younger Charlotte Linlin!"

"Jihahahaha! You held a hunting contest without inviting me? You really look down on people too much. I'll give you a greeting gift first! Shishi: Senjindani!"

"Mom, Mom! I'll say hello too—Ikoku!"

Slash! Slash! Slash!

Golden Lion and Charlotte Linlin struck first. Several enormous sword slashes dozens of meters long descended from the sky, cleaving several warships in two. Countless Marines aboard were killed or wounded, while the rest fell into the sea.

That attack blasted a gap through the Marines' encirclement.

The Rocks Pirates took the opportunity to charge through the gap and land on the island!

"Whoa! For the treasures on this island, charge!"

"Hahaha, Shakuyaku, I'm coming!"

"Shakuyaku, hold on!"

The members of the Rocks Pirates had different motives. Some had come for their wives and children on the island, some to save a beauty, some out of loyalty—but most had come for treasure.

Xia Luo gazed into the distance, a delighted smile appearing on his pale face. "I've been waiting for you, Rocks!"

At the same time, the sudden arrival of the Rocks Pirates threw the Marines and Cipher Pol Agents into panic.

"Quick, protect the lords! They must not be harmed!"

"Evacuate! Everyone, evacuate!"

"Request reinforcements! Notify the World Government and the Marines immediately! Tell them to send support at once!"

The Cipher Pol Agents shouted as they covered the Celestial Dragons' retreat.

Several Celestial Dragons complained, "Hey, what are you doing? Can't you see I'm having a great time killing?"

"That's right. What Rocks Pirates? Tell them to get lost!"

"Wuhahaha, prey actually delivered themselves to us? How many points are their heads worth?"

"Enough. If you don't want to die, evacuate now. I'll go meet them." Saint Garling looked into the distance with a grave expression. After speaking, he raced toward the Rocks Pirates with several members of the Holy Knights.

God Valley, already in chaos, became even more chaotic with the arrival of the Rocks Pirates. A great battle was about to erupt.

The opportunity Xia Luo had been waiting for had finally arrived. Ivankov and Kuma, who had been hiding in the filthy ditch, suddenly moved. Who knew where they found the courage, but they quietly slipped toward the elevated platform.

Seeing this, ripples stirred in Xia Luo's heart. He was excited, and without hesitation, he immediately followed them.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

Battles erupted across the island. The sudden arrival of the Rocks Pirates disrupted the World Government's plans.

The powerful Rocks Pirates gained the upper hand as soon as they arrived, beating the World Government's forces back again and again.

However, the Rocks Pirates did not press their advantage. Several officers even slipped away to plunder treasure, and Charlotte Linlin was among them.

Though the Rocks Pirates were powerful, they fought separately. Their members were a mixed lot with different thoughts, each making their own calculations.

That also sealed the fate of the Rocks Pirates.

Xia Luo followed Ivankov all the way and watched as the two took advantage of the chaos to snatch several treasure chests, then ran toward a temporary warehouse.

"Quick!"

Seeing this, Xia Luo quickened his pace. He was certain Charlotte Linlin had to be nearby. He could not let that woman beat him to it.

"Great, we got them!"

Ivankov carried two treasure chests on his shoulders, dancing with excitement.

Kuma followed behind him, carrying four treasure chests on his shoulders.

The instant the two entered the warehouse and let down their guard, Xia Luo, who had arrived first, decisively made his move.

Catching them off guard, Xia Luo kicked Ivankov away and snatched the two treasure chests from his hands.

Ignoring the shocked Kuma beside him, Xia Luo quickly opened the chests.

The next moment, a Devil Fruit resembling a sugar apple, with twin stems like dragon horns and covered in blue scales, came into view.

"A Mythical Zoan—Fish-Fish Fruit, Azure Dragon Form!"

Xia Luo's heart surged with excitement. Without the slightest hesitation, he grabbed the Azure Dragon Fruit and stuffed it into his mouth.

Charlotte Linlin was nearby. Eat it quickly—once it was in his stomach, it was safe!

"Blech!"

Xia Luo's face turned green. This was absolutely the worst thing he had ever eaten across both his lives!

"Disgusting, but... worth it!"

Feeling the power surging within his body, Xia Luo's lips curled wildly upward, and he had the urge to burst into laughter.

At that very moment, just as Xia Luo swallowed the Azure Dragon Fruit, an angry voice came from behind him. "Stop eating, you brat!"