Faith Collapsing Beneath a Replayed Tragedy

War raged through the town on that island.

Pirates from the New World brandished their weapons, cruel grins plastered across their faces and madness filling their eyes as they freely destroyed everything in the town.

They were searching for the Whitebeard remnant commanders hiding here, while also venting the fear they had long endured under the Whitebeard Pirates' rule.

Especially those pirates who had once held grudges against the Whitebeard Pirates. Before Whitebeard's death, with him being one of the Four Emperors, they had not even dared to entertain thoughts of revenge, much less invade towns flying the Whitebeard Pirates' flag—places under Whitebeard's protection.

But Whitebeard had been dead for two years now, and a year ago, the Whitebeard remnants had suffered devastating casualties in their final battle against Blackbeard, the new Four Emperor.

The Whitebeard Pirates' prestige had plummeted in the pirates' hearts, as though they had become a sickly cat stripped of its tiger claws.

Pirates with old grievances against the Whitebeard Pirates, as well as those consumed by ambition, began stirring restlessly. One after another, they set their sights on the Whitebeard Pirates and joined the campaign against them.

"Ha ha ha ha! Whitebeard is dead, and the Whitebeard Pirates were crippled by the Blackbeard Pirates. They're basically finished now! Brothers, let's pay them back double for everything the Whitebeard Pirates did to us before!"

A pirate captain grinned viciously as he stomped hard on the Whitebeard Pirates' flag beneath his feet—the symbol that had once filled them with fear.

And now, wasn't it theirs to trample however they pleased?

"Pay them back double! Pay them back double! Kill, kill, kill!"

The pirates' voices rang through the sky. Illuminated by the flames, their figures carved themselves deep into the minds of the terrified civilians fleeing for their lives, like incarnations of demons bringing calamity upon the world.

"Whitebeard is gone, but where are the Whitebeard Pirates? Where is the guardian we respected most, admired most, and took the greatest pride in? Why haven't they come to save us? Drive these demons away!" The townspeople cried themselves hoarse, their eyes filled with terror.

The peaceful lives they had once lived under the Whitebeard Pirates' protection had finally been shattered in recent days. Just like the other places protected by the Whitebeard Pirates, they had merely been struck later—but they had been unable to escape the same fate.

"Ha ha ha! You want the Whitebeard Pirates to save you? Keep dreaming! They're nothing but a bunch of cowards hiding their heads now. They can barely protect themselves!" The pirates not only destroyed the civilians' homes, injured their bodies, and even took their lives; most cruelly of all, they were dismantling their former faith piece by piece.

Father Whitebeard!

Some civilians cried out in grief, only to hear the pirates' piercing laughter before being met by their bloodstained blades.

Such a tragedy had already happened two years ago. This was merely a replay of one among countless tragedies.

In a hidden place within the town.

At that moment, a large man lay there, his entire body covered in IV tubes. Beside him stood several pirates holding weapons, the Whitebeard Pirates' skull emblem tattooed on their bodies.

As they watched the town fill with war, smoke, and blood, these pirates clenched their weapons in fury. They desperately wanted to rush out and fight to the death against those who dared violate the Whitebeard Pirates' dignity.

But when they looked at the man lying on the hospital bed, concern appeared in their eyes. They had to protect their captain, because aside from those guarding him here, everyone else had already gone out to fight the invading pirates.

Suddenly, cold sweat appeared on the man's forehead. His face twisted with sorrow and anger, as though he were trapped in some nightmare. Under their anxious gazes, he abruptly opened his eyes.

"Captain Jozu!?" they cried in delight. Seeing Jozu awaken, they were so overwhelmed that tears streamed down their faces, as though they had finally found their backbone.

The moment Jozu woke, he heard the earth-shaking cries outside. He could not help sitting up. His massive, muscular frame made the bed creak as soon as he moved, as though it might collapse at any moment.

"How long was I unconscious? And what is happening outside?" Jozu asked his subordinates. Judging from the commotion outside, something major had to be happening.

"Ever since you led our Third Division to stay behind and fight former Admiral Kuzan, covering the other companions' escape, a week has passed. On the fourth day after we escaped Kuzan's pursuit, you fell unconscious, and you've remained that way until now." One pirate hurriedly explained everything that had happened recently to Jozu.

Former Marine Admiral Kuzan had joined the Blackbeard Pirates and had also taken part in pursuing them. Some time ago, they had encountered Kuzan and several pirate crews that had pledged allegiance to the Blackbeard Pirates.

The Third Division had stayed behind to cover the others. Jozu had been severely wounded in his battle with Kuzan, but because Kuzan seemed to have something urgent to attend to and suddenly left, they had avoided being completely wiped out.

As for Jozu's second question, the pirate answered angrily, "Blackbeard, in order to track us down, incited more than ten pirate crews that held grudges against us to attack every town under our protection. Two days ago, pirates attacked this town. Fortunately, Captain Snow-White Pendant came to our aid and fought a bitter battle against those pirate crews. Otherwise, things would have been even worse."

After hearing his subordinate's report, Jozu's face filled with fury. To the shock of those around him, he tore out the IV tubes from his body and said in a voice like rolling thunder, "Go. Help those pirate scum who dared come here remember the terror of the Whitebeard Pirates!"

Hearing this, the group could not help worrying. "But your body hasn't fully recovered yet."

"I don't want to disgrace Father. Even if it costs me my life, I won't hesitate!" Jozu said in a deep voice. Though his body was still somewhat weak, his aura had already erupted!

"Yes!" In Father's name, they no longer had any hesitation. Killing intent surged from their bodies as they prepared for battle!