The Battle Begins! First, a Grand Gift for the Navy

Beep~ Beep~ Beep~ Beep~!

The moment the Rocks Pirates appeared, the Navy lookout immediately sounded the alarm.

The alarm rang out across the sky, and every Marine could hear it clearly.

"They really came! The most evil Pirate Crew in history—the Rocks Pirates!"

The moment the alarm sounded.

Three recruits who had only joined the Navy a few months ago, yet already earned the title of Monsters-

Kuzan, Sakazuki, and Borsalino were all startled at once.

The Navy had already laid a tight net, yet these pirates still dared to launch an attack!

They really weren't afraid of dying!

"Brats, of course they came. Their opponent is the Rocks Pirates, after all. Don't make that face."

Vice Admiral Tsuru, still young and strikingly beautiful, said calmly from nearby.

It was as if everything had been within her expectations.

"Rocks, Whitebeard, Shiki, Rono, Silver Axe, Ochoku, Charlotte Linlin, and John!"

"All seven Division Commanders are here! Rocks has brought out his entire crew!"

Even with thorough preparations, Marine Admiral Kong still drew in a sharp breath when he saw the attackers!

The seven Division Commanders, plus Rocks himself!

The World's Strongest Pirate Crew had all arrived!

"In any case, we must stop them outside the Golden City!"

"Under no circumstances can we let them get near the Golden City and harm the Celestial Dragons."

Kong's muscles bulged as his presence flared. He led a large force of elite Marines, preparing to set out to stop the Rocks Pirates.

"Admiral Kong, wait!"

"Although the Rocks Pirates have appeared, Golden Lion Shiki isn't on the ship!"

At that moment, another Admiral Candidate, known as the Wise Strategist-

[Sengoku] suddenly spoke.

Kong stopped in his tracks, and the Marines following him also froze in place.

Golden Lion, Shiki!

The Rocks Pirates' Second Division Commander!

Besides that, he had another nickname—the Flying Great Pirate!

As if remembering something-

A massive shadow appeared on the ground...

Kong, Sengoku, Zephyr, Garp, and the Marines present abruptly looked up at the sky!

Just as expected!

Rumble, rumble!

It was as if the entire sky had been covered!

Above the Golden City, an island was actually falling at free-fall speed!

Once it fell, the entire Golden City would be buried along with it!

"Gyahahahaha! How's my grand gift?"

"Navy, Celestial Dragons, you can all die!"

In midair, Golden Lion laughed as he looked at his handiwork, utterly pleased with himself.

"He actually... actually threw an island down!"

"Is this the strength of the Rocks Pirates' Second Division Commander?"

"Ooh~ How scary~ The Flying Pirate, Golden Lion Shiki!"

Kuzan, Sakazuki, and Borsalino all widened their eyes!

It was obvious that Golden Lion's attack had far exceeded their expectations.

"Brats, don't just stand there. Don't forget the task I gave you."

Tsuru calmly reminded them from nearby.

After Vice Admiral Tsuru's reminder,

Kuzan, Sakazuki, and Borsalino finally remembered why they were there.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

The three of them released a surge of power and transformed into their elemental forms.

At the same time, the twenty elite warships anchored outside the Golden City seemed to have been ready for this. Their cannons all aimed at the sky.

"Were you prepared for an aerial attack all along, that woman Tsuru?"

Seeing this, Rocks said without surprise from the figurehead of the pirate ship.

"Meteor Volcano!"

"Ice Age!"

"Yasakani no Magatama!"

Although they were only recruits, the three had already developed their strongest techniques.

They simply seemed far less imposing in pressure and range than they would at their future peak.

Fortunately, their destructive power wasn't much weaker.

Besides, their opponent was only an uninhabited island. Their destructive power at the moment was already enough.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

The elite warships on the outskirts opened fire at the same time, combining their attacks with the three recruits' special moves!

Rumble! Rumble!

The cannonballs, mixed with attacks from three Logia users with tremendous destructive power, pierced the island Golden Lion had thrown down!

The twenty elite warships unleashed indiscriminate firepower equivalent to two Buster Calls!

Together with the three Logia users, whose destructive power was immense, it would only take a few minutes to smash an island.

Before long, the island Golden Lion had thrown down turned into a shower of rubble that fell from the sky.

"Great! We're saved~!"

The Marines present wore expressions of relief after surviving a catastrophe.

"Those are the three Navy recruits Captain Rocks mentioned?"

"They're really lucky to have eaten Top-Level Logia Devil Fruits."

"They even managed to neutralize Commander Shiki's move."

Quite a few members of the Rocks Pirates exclaimed in amazement.

Even recruits could unleash tremendous destructive power after eating Top-Level Logia Devil Fruits.

"Damn it! A few rookie brats actually broke my move?"

Golden Lion immediately felt that his pride had taken a hit.

He plunged down through the air like a human cannonball, charging straight at the three recruits, Kuzan, Sakazuki, and Borsalino!

He would take care of those three first, all at once.

"Just in time!"

Seeing the Great Pirate Golden Lion charging at him, the young Akainu charged forward instead of retreating!

His right arm, transformed into magma, was blazing hot as he prepared to strike Golden Lion.

"Shiki, don't even think about laying a hand on my students. I'm your opponent!"

Boom!

The next moment, a figure flashed into the sky and collided fiercely with Shiki as he descended through the air.

The clash of Haki produced a terrifying shock wave!

The shock wave kept spreading, like a force-eight typhoon. The nearby Marines had to cling tightly to something to keep from being blown away.

The newcomer was none other than a Marine Headquarters Vice Admiral and one of the Admiral Candidates-

[Black Arm] Zephyr!

Boom! Boom! Boom!

Zephyr and Golden Lion clashed rapidly in the sky.

Sword Aura, Hand-to-Hand Combat, and Haki collided!

Each clash triggered an explosion!

"Sakazuki, don't be reckless!"

"We're still no match for these Great Pirates!"

While Zephyr fought Golden Lion,

Kuzan, Sakazuki, and Borsalino hurriedly retreated to a safe area.

"It's finally our turn to make an appearance!"

"Shiki, your task is done! Just wait while I go on a killing spree!"

"Hahahaha, Marines, you're finished! Golden City, here I come!"

Just then, taking advantage of the tremendous commotion caused by Golden Lion...

The Saber of Xebec took the opportunity to close the distance, reaching the vicinity of the Golden City!

Aboard the ship, Division Commanders Silver Axe, John, Ochoku, and Charlotte Linlin could hardly wait any longer.

"Damn it, was the Golden Lion just feinting an attack?"

"Was closing the distance his real goal?!"

Kong was filled with regret. Just now, the Marines' attention had been drawn by the commotion the Golden Lion had caused!

They hadn't noticed at all that the Rocks Pirates had suddenly drawn close!