Chapter 385: Tied Down...

At this moment—

in an unknown sea area not far from God Valley.

A dozen or so warships flying the banner of the Fallen Angel Pirates blocked the route ahead, while across from them lay the Roger Pirates' ship. Both sides faced off in a tense standoff.

"Tsk tsk, quite the show of force…"

"Could the Fallen Angel Pirates be aiming to wipe us out?"

"We Roger Pirates haven't really crossed them, have we?"

The Trio, Silver-Gold-Copper each narrowed their eyes in a grave expression. The other crew members also looked uneasy and started to sweat. While it wasn't that the Roger Pirates were afraid, they couldn't deny the Fallen Angel Pirates were formidable. If a fight broke out, it wouldn't be trivial.

"Hey hey, Fallen Angel Pirates—what's your deal?"

Roger called out toward the flagship in front, his voice full of annoyance:

"I can't recall ever offending you!"

"Sorry, Roger…"

Oka hefted his giant hammer, speaking in a low voice:

"Your main aim isn't just to seize those God Valley treasures, but to settle the score with the Rocks Pirates, right? For the time being, you'll have to calm down and wait here!"

"What!?"

Roger's expression changed; he was both startled and furious:

"Bastard, I've been waiting a year for this!!"

"I see…"

Dark King Rayleigh stroked his chin thoughtfully.

"You've teamed up with Rocks against the World Government? Or perhaps you want to let the Rocks Pirates and the World Government fight it out?"

"That's none of the Roger Pirates' concern," Fire Calamity Afar said with a faint smile as he stood beside Oka.

"In any case, it's better if we don't start a conflict until that matter is finished."

"NO, that's not happening—"

Roger shook his head resolutely, outright refusing:

"Being a pirate is about living free and following your heart!"

At his words, his crew—Rayleigh, Scopper Gaban, and the rest—wordlessly stepped up behind their captain, all on guard against the Fallen Angel Pirates' fleet, silently indicating their agreement.

"So you want me to bury you all at sea, is that it?"

Oka's gaze cooled, and he flashed a sneer.

They bore no grudges with Roger's crew, but eventually, when they overturned the World Government, they would have to eliminate any disorderly forces that wouldn't submit. So if it came to fighting Roger now, he didn't mind; he wouldn't hesitate to wipe them out early.

"No, it means we'll crush you."

Roger bared his teeth.

His Supreme Grade Blade "Ace" flashed as it left the scabbard in a split second, unleashing a brilliant slash toward the warship in front.

"Shōgetsu Two-Sword Style: Flying Dragon!!!"

Just then, a figure took flight, swords drawn, unleashing an intense slash in the shape of a ferocious dragon roaring through the air. It collided violently with Roger's incoming blade wave.

"Boom… BOOM…"

A thunderous sound reverberated as shockwaves rippled, wind howled, and waves roiled.

"From Wano… the samurai…"

"The famed descendant of that dragonslayer…"

"The Pegasus Swordmaster, Shimotsuki Ushimaru, right?"

Seeing that angelic figure land after beating his wings, Roger, Rayleigh, Gaban, and company tensed and recognized him.

"Gol D. Roger, you chose this path to death yourselves!"

At that, Cyril Oka and Afar traded glances. With piercing eyes, both hefted their weapons, standing side by side. Simultaneously, they roared:

"Elbaf Spear—!"

Crackle…

Before their eyes, one of them transformed at visible speed into a fierce creature wreathed in lightning, clutching a huge hammer that crackled with arcs of electricity.

Sizzle…

The other's flames behind his head roared higher, veins bulging. His blade was enveloped in raging fire, his aura surging.

"That stance…"

Roger's eyes shrank, alarmed:

"Damn, they're going to destroy our ship!"

Rayleigh's face twitched, sweat forming on his brow. Sword in hand, he lunged forward:

"Roger, let's do this together!"

"Divine Evasion!!!"

"Dark King!!!"

"Conqueror!!!"

…

Meanwhile, in the first half of the New World, near the entry region:

Not far from G-1 Fortress, a great number of warships had gathered. Sengoku the Buddha, Black Arm Zephyr, and Hero Garp each stood on separate vessels, scanning the sea where the Fallen Angel Pirates' fleet sailed in, particularly the colossal shape that had suddenly appeared overhead. All three grew grim, adopting a defensive formation.

"We can't let them come closer. If the fighting drifts nearer G-1, the fortress could be endangered… Ice Age!!!"

Stomping the deck, Black Arm Zephyr shot forward. Landing on the sea, he unleashed powerful freezing waves. At visible speed, the ocean's surface froze solid, stretching toward the enemy.

Crack… crack…

Within moments, the entire sea around them had iced over, blocking the Fallen Angel Pirates' warships from advancing any further.

"Sengoku, how are things on your end?"

A Den Den Mushi in Sengoku's hand, mimicking the face of Fleet Admiral Kong, barked loudly:

"The Rocks Pirates discovered the Celestial Dragons' event at God Valley somehow and have attacked… The World Government demands immediate Marine reinforcements. Can you or Garp spare the manpower?"

"Fleet Admiral Kong, I'm afraid it's not looking good!"

Sengoku scanned the scene warily, eyes fixed on the giant flying warship in the distance.

He spoke heavily into the Den Den Mushi:

"Although intelligence says only 'Heavenly Calamity' Gerd out of their Five Great Calamities is present, we can clearly sense from here that the massive aerial warship holds at least three intense Conqueror's Haki signatures… Among them are two unfamiliar yet formidable auras—certainly no pushovers. Plus there's the Hajrudin, the Ace brothers, and other giant warriors on board!

Thus, Sengoku's expression turned dire. He said bluntly:

"If any of us leaves our position, this line might collapse. There's a risk the World Government's critical G-1 Fortress here in the New World would be overrun… At that point, the Holy Land Mary Geoise would be exposed to pirate attacks any time, in grave peril!"

He well understood that besides certain members of the Holy Knights, Five Elder Saint Saturn was at God Valley, able to quickly summon reinforcements with Kaido's Paw-Paw Fruit. The Rocks Pirates alone shouldn't pose an existential threat to the Government itself—maybe they'd kidnap or kill some weaker Celestial Dragons, but that was all. So Sengoku remained cautious but not overly alarmed. As for saving those Celestial Dragons, well… sorry, but they had no bandwidth.

"What!?"

On the Den Den Mushi's other side in Marineford, Steel-Bone Kong tightened his fist around his spiky hair, seething in anger:

"Damn it, is Fallen Angel El pushing for total war with the World Government?"

He hadn't expected the Fallen Angel Pirates to pin down the Navy like this at such a critical juncture.

"Probably not fully, but I suspect they're letting the Rocks Pirates and the Government tear into each other. They've deployed their forces to keep us occupied," Sengoku deduced, gaze flicking back to the enemy fleet.

"If we rush away, G-1 might indeed fall to them."

"Grr—"

Steel-Bone Kong, hearing Sengoku's words, scowled, then made his decision:

"In that case, I'll go myself!"

After all, the Navy had to send somebody, or the World Government would hold them accountable. Sengoku, Zephyr, and Garp were tied up here. Hence, the only choice was Kong, the Fleet Admiral himself.

~~~

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