Chapter 292: Identity Exposed
Chapter 292: Identity Exposed
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Everyone on Cake Island stared at the giant ship descending from the sky. Some were paralyzed with fear, while others were struck with astonishment.
"What's happening?"
"Someone attacked Cake Island? Are they insane?"
"Wait… I think I've seen that pirate flag before."
"Wait a second… isn't that the Burning Heaven Pirates? How dare they come here?"
Amid the commotion, an invisible force field appeared. The red stone near Katakuri—the signpost Poneglyph—suddenly vanished and reappeared next to the massive ship in the sky.
"The signpost Poneglyph!"
Charlotte Linlin froze for a moment before fury overtook her. Rage and murderous intent poured from her, her terrifying aura spreading across the island and causing the ground to tremble.
They had killed her children, tarnished her reputation, and now they dared to steal the treasure she valued most.
They had crossed the line.
She would turn them to ash.
Boom!
The ground beneath her feet collapsed as Charlotte Linlin shot into the sky like a thunderbolt, charging at the massive ship with devastating force.
Suddenly, a figure appeared in her path.
Boom!
A dull crash echoed as her massive body was sent hurtling back to the ground even faster than she had ascended. She smashed into the earth, leaving behind a massive crater.
Suspended in the air was a black-haired young man, surrounded by crackling blue lightning and an overwhelming aura.
Cake Island fell silent.
The Pirate Emperors were untouchable figures who ruled the New World. For someone to withstand a direct blow from one without being obliterated was a testament to extraordinary strength.
But to defeat one head-on? That was unthinkable.
A moment later, murmurs erupted across the island, growing louder with each passing second.
"He blocked Mama's attack! Who is he?"
"Isn't the captain of the Burning Heaven Pirates Boa Hancock, the world's most beautiful woman? Then who's this man?"
"Wait… why does he look so familiar?"
"Now that you mention it… I think I've seen him before too!"
"The Dragon King! He's the Dragon King! The peerless villain who caused chaos in Mary Geoise and killed hundreds of Celestial Dragons! It's him!"
Recognition spread like wildfire, and Cake Island was thrown into an uproar.
The Dragon King—a name that had once shocked the entire world.
Four years ago, many believed the Dragon King would rise to become the fourth Pirate Emperor. But after two brief appearances in Mary Geoise, he vanished without a trace, leaving the world to wonder about his fate.
No one expected that the Dragon King, who had disappeared for four years, would suddenly resurface now.
"The Dragon King?"
Katakuri's pupils contracted as his expression darkened.
Reputation was not baseless.
Even though the Dragon King had only appeared twice and had been absent for years, no one dared to underestimate him.
A bounty of 5 billion berries was not assigned lightly.
The questions surrounding the deaths of Smoothie and the others, the rumors of a mysterious superpower, and the uncertainty about their defeat—all were now answered.
Crash!
Charlotte Linlin climbed out of the crater, her movements uncharacteristically clumsy. While her posture was disheveled, she bore no visible injuries. However, her face was a mask of pure rage.
"Mom!" Katakuri called out urgently. "He's the Dragon King, the one who caused chaos in Mary Geoise!"
"The Dragon King?"
Charlotte Linlin narrowed her eyes, her expression shifting slightly.
Being knocked down by an unknown nobody and being repelled by a peer of equal strength were two entirely different matters.
On the ship, the hierarchy of the Burning Heaven Pirates was clear. Boa Hancock stood as the figurehead, followed by Nico Robin and another woman. The captains, clad in their Burning Heaven suits, formed the next tier.
Yet now, the Dragon King stood at the forefront, his commanding presence undeniable. Even Boa Hancock had stepped back, taking her place in the second row.
However, Hancock wasn't the only one standing in the second row—there were three others.
Katakuri had never seen these three individuals before, but each exuded a subtle aura of danger, making him uneasy.
Aoki paid no attention to the murmurs and discussions below. He had expected to expose his identity by appearing this time. His focus was entirely on the red stone beside him.
"So, this is the signpost Poneglyph?"
He inspected it carefully, ensuring it was undamaged. Only after confirming its pristine condition did he feel a sense of relief.
He hadn't expected the signpost Poneglyph to be housed in the very building he had destroyed. When he first saw the red stone, his heart had skipped a beat.
If even a small corner had been broken, making the coordinates indecipherable, it would have caused a massive problem.
Fortunately, the Poneglyph lived up to its legendary durability.
With a wave of his hand, Aoki sent the signpost Poneglyph into his alternate space. At the same time, Hancock, Esdeath, and others materialized beside him, followed by dozens of silent, solemn soldiers clad in Burning Heaven suits.
Katakuri's voice rang out, low and tense. "Dragon King, why are you involving yourself in the affairs between us and the Burning Heaven Pirates?"
Hancock stepped forward, her gaze cold and commanding as she looked down at those below.
"Let me formally introduce you. This is the captain of the Burning Heaven Pirates, Dragon King Aoki!"
"Captain?"
Everyone was stunned.
Gradually, the realization dawned on them. Boa Hancock had always referred to herself as the vice-captain of the Burning Heaven Pirates, but the captain had never appeared, and few had given it much thought.
Now, the elusive captain had finally revealed himself, and he was none other than the Dragon King, once renowned across the world.
Katakuri's initial shock was quickly replaced by a trace of regret in his eyes.
If they had known the Dragon King was the captain of the Burning Heaven Pirates, they would never have sent Smoothie and the others to hunt them down. Those tragic deaths could have been avoided.
No, if they had known of the Dragon King's connection to the Burning Heaven Pirates, they might never have turned hostile toward them in the first place.
Aoki extended his hands.
Boom!
Endless blue lightning surged forth, covering Cake Island in an aura of overwhelming destruction. The oppressive energy made everyone tremble.
"If you are not part of the BIGMOM Pirates, leave immediately. Anyone still on Cake Island in half an hour will be killed!"
Aoki's voice resonated across the island.
For a moment, silence reigned. Then, chaos erupted as people fled in all directions.
Over the years, there had been individuals and groups who dared to challenge the BIGMOM Pirates. Though few ever dared to bring the fight to Cake Island, some had tried.
But most of those challengers were no more than fools or opportunists. The BIGMOM Pirates' cadres usually crushed them without Big Mom having to lift a finger.
The Burning Heaven Pirates had been regarded as one of the stronger opponents among such challengers, but even they were considered no match for the BIGMOM Pirates.
However, with the Dragon King's sudden appearance, the dynamic shifted entirely.
The Burning Heaven Pirates now had a figure who could stand toe-to-toe with a Pirate Emperor.
No one could predict the outcome of the impending battle—not even those who still believed in Big Mom's invincibility. For now, survival instincts prevailed, and they chose to flee.
When two titanic forces collided, the aftermath alone was enough to obliterate anyone caught in between.
Katakuri ignored the fleeing crowd, his focus fixed on the Burning Heaven Pirates hovering in the air.
As he scrutinized them, a frown slowly etched itself onto his face.
He had noticed some troubling details.
The Burning Heaven Pirates had more than just the Dragon King.
Katakuri, having participated in the first attempt to encircle and suppress the Burning Heaven Pirates, was no stranger to their members and tactics. However, the scene before him revealed something troubling, leaving his heart weighed down.
What disturbed him even more was another discovery.
The ordinary soldiers of the Burning Heaven Pirates—those standing silently in formation—were all wearing Burning Heaven suits.
Katakuri knew the power of this mysterious equipment firsthand, as the BIGMOM Pirates had managed to seize two suits in their previous battles. The abilities these suits granted were undeniable.
In the past, the Burning Heaven Pirates only possessed around ten of these suits. Yet now, there were more than fifty soldiers standing before him, each clad in one.
Could such a sudden increase be possible?
If all these suits were genuine…
Katakuri dared not think further. The implications were too overwhelming. His expression darkened further, a heavy sense of unease settling over him.