The sailors struck the bronze bell repeatedly. Its deep tolls reverberated over Hachinosu's harbor, sending fine ripples across the sea.
"Captain Soren, the anchor's up!"
The first mate shouted at the top of his lungs, his voice torn apart by the gale.
"Set sail! Raise every sail!"
Soren stood at the bow, gripping his cutlass in his single hand as his gaze swept over the densely packed masts in the harbor.
"Blacktooth! Have your heavy gunships clear the way!"
He turned his head and roared toward the flagship on his right.
Blacktooth stood on deck, waving his serrated broadsword, the flesh of his face trembling.
"I don't need you to remind me, Soren! My gunners have been itching for this!"
He turned and bellowed at the sailors behind him.
"Open up all the powder magazines! Once we reach Marineford, fire every last cannonball!"
Barre's ship also began moving slowly, its massive hull bearing the White-Bone Goblet Flag at the bow.
"Don't get so caught up in firing your cannons, Blacktooth. If you hold up my raid on the treasury, I'll sink your ship first!"
Barre stood by the rail, wiping the pistol in his hand with a sneer.
"Hmph, John's lapdog. All you ever think about is money!"
Blacktooth spat, his face full of disdain.
Inside the harbor, more than two hundred pirate ships began moving at once.
The heavy iron anchors were hauled up by their crews, dragging great clumps of black sludge with them.
Countless black and red sails, painted with all manner of ferocious skulls, rose one after another, blotting out the sky.
"Yeah! Set sail! To Marineford!"
"Bring back the Young Master! Rebuild the Rocks Pirates!"
"Strip Marine Headquarters bare!"
The pirates' wild shouts merged into a roar that drowned out even the crashing waves.
Soren