Rocks Moves Out

"There's no helping it, now that he's shown up."

On the Execution Platform, Rocks drew his sword and held its gleaming blade before his eyes, studying his reflection in it.

His face was full of defiance, with the wild look of a man who feared nothing.

"Are you going?" Kaya asked, his hands behind his back.

"I'm the only one who can stop Harald. You know it too—that guy's a monster." Rocks slowly exhaled.

"You didn't expect him to come here, did you?"

"What do you mean? You make it sound like I'm worried we'll lose this war!"

"I'm going. I'll leave this to you... That's what you were going to say, wasn't it, Rocks?"

"You guessed right! Kaya, do me a favor. Can you send me over there from here?"

"As long as you're willing."

Kaya moved his fingers, and the Reishi in the air gathered beneath Rocks' feet.

Rocks seemed to feel it and steadied himself.

Boom!

The next second, a burst of air exploded beneath Rocks' feet, launching him like a cannonball!

"You used this move when you fought me!"

With those words, Rocks flew away from the Execution Platform, bursting through the air with unstoppable force as he soared across the sky.

At that moment, he drew everyone's attention.

No one had expected their boss, Rocks, to strike first. Was he about to fire the opening shot?

"Rakshasa Dark Sun!"

Rocks held his longsword at his side. A coat of matte black spread over the blade, and thick black-and-red currents flashed around it like bolts of lightning.

This was the technique behind Hirenkyaku.

Through Reishi Gathering, Kaya concentrated the Reishi in the atmosphere beneath Rocks' feet.

He then controlled the Reishi beneath Rocks' feet to move his body instantly to another location. The more Reishi he gathered, the faster the movement.

Rocks quickly streaked across the sky above Hachinosu like a red-hot meteor.

Out at sea, a massive figure leaped into the air.

"Rocks!"

"Harald!"

Boom!!

Blade met blade, their wills intertwined, and overwhelmingly powerful Haki poured out like a tidal wave.

The air trembled, the sky changed color, and a pitch-black sun hung high overhead!

Tangible Conqueror's Haki surged downward, destroying Hachinosu's coastline. Quite a few pirates' eyes rolled back as they instantly fell unconscious.

Worse still, some fired by mistake, and their cannons exploded where they stood, sending up clouds of black smoke.

The waves churned as though the sea god himself were furious!

Seawater battered the ships wildly from all directions. The invisible impact scattered the anchored warships, throwing the entire sea into turmoil.

"The sky split open?"

"That's way too much commotion!"

"They're all monsters!"

Marine Admiral Brian, Vice Admiral Garp, and the others stood at the forefront, shielding the Marine soldiers from the force.

Rocks and Harald clashed in midair. It was no exaggeration to say that each was the strongest opponent the other had ever truly fought!

A single clash had already split the sky.

After exchanging that blow, the two dropped back down. Harald's enormous body caused a small earthquake when it struck the ground.

That was right, he had jumped onto Hachinosu!

Many pirates grew nervous. Without Rocks, Harald could probably run rampant on the island.

"Idiot! In the end, aren't you still doing the World Government's bidding?" Rocks raised a hand to wipe his sword, then roared at him.

"What do you know?! I want to lead the giant race away from its violent past and have the world accept us! A villain like you could never understand!" Harald roared back.

"Elbaf is a nation of warriors! Under a foolish king like you, the giant race will be led to ruin!"

"Hmph... What about Loki?"

"..."

Rocks was suddenly at a loss for words. How was he supposed to answer that? It was like he had run off with the man's child, only to suddenly meet him again.

But whatever. He was a pirate. Did he need to explain what he did to anyone?

"You can't stop me!" Rocks attacked.

"Cut the crap, Rocks! Your ambitions end here today!" Harald swung his giant sword and fought Rocks.

It was a signal, a signal that both sides were going to all-out war.

After Harald had opened the first path, the enormous ship began to approach the shore. The pirates finally reacted and tried to stop it.

But the Marines followed close behind. The two sides exchanged fire as the distance between them rapidly closed.

The explosions of cannonballs, the sound of warships cutting through the waves, the drawing of swords and firing of guns, and the battle cries hurled back and forth... All of it formed a chaotic symphony.

The war was now in full swing.

Below the Execution Platform, the people there seemed ready to rise.

"What a pain. If you ask me, I should just lift Hachinosu into the sky. Then those Marines could only stand there and stare!" Shiki looked annoyed.

"Idiot! The execution isn't the point. The point is to force the Marines into a decisive battle with us!" Kyo snorted.

"You think I don't know that? Shut up, will you? Nobody wants to hear your explanation!"

"Do you want to die, Shiki?!"

"I don't mind fighting you right now!"

The two started arguing again, but then Newgate, beside them, suddenly took down his naginata.

Both men glanced sideways, their attention shifting at once.

"Are you going to fight?"

"That's rare, Newgate."

"Linlin and the others can't stop that mad dog Garp." Newgate glanced ahead. "There can't be the slightest chance of the Marines winning this war!"

With that, Newgate left.

Shiki and Kyo exchanged a glance. Both shrugged and sat back down, with no intention of joining him.

The Marines and the giants began to land.

This was bound to be the bloodiest moment. Every second, someone fell amid the spray of blood.

The pirates were defending, while the Marines were attacking.

So it was no easy task for the Marines to charge off their ships and make it onto the island.

The giants, on the other hand, charged like hundred-ton trucks, and no one could stop them. Many pirates were trampled to death like insects.

"Marines! Justice will prevail!"

Bright raised a black greatsword high, his voice carrying across the entire coast.

When the Marine soldiers saw that Admiral Bright had also landed, their morale soared. And it wasn't just Bright; other heavy hitters were there too.

"Fist Bone Impact!"

It was as though a bunker-busting missile had fallen from the sky, making all of Hachinosu suddenly tremble!

Then, as if an unknown quantity of explosives had detonated, blinding crimson lightning erupted. Its halo resembled a burning star, and the air shrieked as it was compressed by the force!

The immense blast of air became a massive shockwave of fist pressure, sweeping across the entire area like a falling meteor!

A thunderous boom shook heaven and earth as a violent, ring-shaped shockwave spread wildly in every direction. The ground split and collapsed with a roar, sending rocks and dust flying through the air!

Countless pirates lost their footing and fell, only to be engulfed by the spreading shockwave. Their bodies were forcibly driven into the ground.

Buildings were torn apart and destroyed, and the terrifying force swept across the entire town.

Even enemies outside its range who weren't directly hit would be grievously injured by the terrible vibrations and lose their ability to fight.

The aftershocks even shook the ships in the distance that had yet to approach!

"Ha ha ha ha ha! Pirates! Your end has come!" Garp raised a fist, hundreds of meters around him cleared out, and threw back his head in wild laughter.