The Voice of All Things

As Sakazuki reached the shore, the Buster Call fleet had already arrived. Large numbers of Marines disembarked, tending to the wounded from the Four Blues Branch, bandaging and treating their injuries.

Clutching his chest, Sakazuki walked forward.

A short distance away, Vice Admiral Morris, overseeing operations, turned at the sound of approaching footsteps. His eyes widened at the sight—Sakazuki was covered in wounds, his hands slick with blood.

"Medic! Get over here now!" Morris barked, gesturing urgently. "Check on Sakazuki!"

A team of medical officers rushed forward, bringing a stretcher with them.

Morris approached, his brows furrowing. "How did you end up in this condition?"

"N-no… Cough… Cough."

Sakazuki frowned when he saw the medics rushing over with a stretcher. He was about to refuse, but a sudden coughing fit forced him to give in. With a reluctant sigh, he lay down on it.

"I was hunting down a pirate," he explained as the medics began their examination. "Ran into Big Mom. She got to him first and took him away before I could finish him off."

The medics worked quickly, binding his wounds. The moment they finished, Sakazuki pushed away the hands trying to hold him down and sat up, stretching his limbs.

Morris folded his arms. "I see… That explains it."

"Hm?" Sakazuki glanced at him. "Explains what?"

"Why Big Mom went on a rampage against the fleet. We've got a lot of injured soldiers because of her."

"Uh… cough cough." Sakazuki cleared his throat, looking slightly embarrassed. It was, after all, his fault.

"Hahaha! It's rare to see you with that kind of expression, Sakazuki."

But that only made Morris even more amused, as if he'd just discovered something new and interesting about him.

...

Meanwhile, at the center of God Valley, battle raged on.

Clang!

Sparks flew as two swords, both coated in Conqueror's Haki, clashed. The sound of metal rang through the battlefield, yet the blades did not make direct contact.

At the point where they crossed, a small black-purple sphere flickered, sending waves of energy rippling outward. With a sharp sizzling sound, countless arcs of black-purple lightning exploded, wreaking havoc in every direction. Everything in its path was erased, reduced to nothing but ash.

Suddenly, a figure appeared at Rocks' left. His right fist, wrapped in an almost tangible layer of Armament Haki, was so dense it seemed almost solid, smashed forward.

Rocks let out a furious roar.

"Ha!!"

A new surge of power exploded from within him, sending Roger flying.

Boom!

Roger crashed through countless crumbling ruins, debris scattering in his wake.

Rocks then turned, his left hand coated in Conqueror's Haki, meeting Garp's iron fist head-on. The impact sent shockwaves rippling through the air, a sound like shattering glass echoing around them.

Crack!

The moment their fists connected, a network of fractures spread outward as if the very space itself was shattering.

For a brief moment, they held their ground.

Then, with a deafening explosion, the space between them shattered completely, and both were sent flying backward.

Behind Rocks, Nusjuro appeared. The black and red aura around his cursed sword churned as he swung at the pirate.

Still airborne, Rocks twisted his body, bringing his own sword up to meet the strike.

Clang!

Crackling energy burst forth as their swords clashed. A blinding white light flashed, followed by an eruption of black and purple lightning, devastating everything in its path.

Using the momentum from the explosion, Rocks propelled himself skyward. At that moment, Warcury appeared below.

With a single step, he shot into the air like a missile, his right arm pulled back, muscles coiling with power. His fist, wreathed in Conqueror's Haki, came crashing toward Rocks.

With no time to dodge, Rocks raised his sword to block. The next second, he plummeted like a meteor, hurtling toward the ground.

And below—

Kong, standing unnoticed, clenched a fist. A conical shockwave, condensed into an almost solid form, shot straight at Rocks.

BOOM!

The thunderous impact tore through the sky, shaking the battlefield. From the shore, every Marine soldier instinctively turned toward the sound. It was like a bolt of lightning splitting the heavens.

The shockwave of clashing Conqueror's Haki shredded the clouds, sending arcs of lightning dancing across the sky.

The battle showed no signs of stopping.

From a distance, Sengoku, Rayleigh, and others remained vigilant, spreading their Observation Haki to the limit, never letting Rocks out of their sight.

Clang!

Zzzzt!

Blades clashed once more, sending crackling lightning surging through the battlefield.

Nusjuro, wielding a cursed sword, was locked in fierce combat with Rocks. Suddenly, he seemed to notice something.

"Not good!"

A sharp cry of alarm escaped his lips. His gaze darkened, determination flashing in his eyes. Instead of resisting, he withdrew his strength, allowing Rocks' strike to send him flying.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

Before anyone could react, an explosion of Conqueror's Haki swept across the field, blasting away the thick dust that filled the air.

Nusjuro wiped the blood from his lips, gritting his teeth as he forced himself up from the rubble. Looking at Kong and Garp, he spoke.

"Hold off Rocks."

Then, turning to Warcury, he ordered, "Get to the underground chamber. Now!"

With a single step, he vanished, dashing toward the ruined palace.

Realizing the urgency, Warcury's expression darkened. Without a word, he rushed toward the palace as well.

…..

Underground Chamber, God Valley.

Roger stood next to an enormous warship.

The bodies of countless CP agents lay sprawled across the floor, lifeless.

His right hand rested on the ship's hull, almost as if he were caressing a child. Through his ability to hear the voice of all things, he could sense the ship's emotions—joy, as if a child had finally found its parent.

Roger's lips curved slightly, yet there was no joy in his eyes.

'The bloodline of the D…'

He could hear it—the warship's emotions, its silent call. For a brief moment, Roger hesitated, his heart wavering. But he quickly pushed the thought aside.

He couldn't take the ship with him. He couldn't let Rocks have it either. And if it remained here, the World Government would eventually decipher its secrets.

If that happened…

Roger shut his eyes, expanding his Observation Haki and listening to the voices of all things. He sensed the warship's history, its past, and—most importantly—its weakest point.

The moment his Haki spread, the warship seemed to understand what was coming. The joy it had felt before vanished, replaced by a sorrowful wail, as if it were crying.

"Sorry, kid."

Roger slowly opened his eyes, his face devoid of emotion. He drew his blade, its edge crackling with Conqueror's Haki, his deep voice echoing through the chamber.

He raised his sword.

"Stop!"

A furious roar rang out as Nusjuro appeared, gripping his cursed blade. A surge of overwhelming Conqueror's Haki crashed toward Roger, followed by a massive slash.

Roger didn't move. His face remained blank as the attack streaked toward him.

He swung his blade.

"Divine Departure."

His voice was cold, emotionless.

The legendary sword Ace, one of the twelve Supreme Grade swords, sliced through the warship's iron plating and pierced deep inside.

A surge of Conqueror's Haki erupted inside the ship. Black and purple lightning streaked wildly, as if guided by an unseen will.

It struck a critical point in an instant.

At the same time, Nusjuro's attack sent Roger flying. His body slammed into the underground wall, embedding deep within the stone, leaving behind a massive, sword-shaped crater.

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