Chapter 130: Stifled Rage – Showdown with the Beasts Pirates

No sooner had the Marines left than Jozu led his men to Hachinosu.

The once-thriving pirate haven was now a wasteland of rubble and ruin; none of its former prosperity remained.

"Get to work! Just like Big Bro said, hurry up and plant our flag. If anyone else shows up, drive them the hell out!" Jozu barked.

"Don't worry, Commander. We've got this!"

The Marines had assumed their show of force had cowed the pirates. The two Admirals returned triumphantly to New Marineford, only to receive shocking news after.

"Those pirates won't dare make a move now!" Ryokugyu gloated.

"Good work eliminating the Wang Zhi Pirates. Next, we target the others." Akainu nodded.

"Why didn't we go after an Emperor instead?" Fujitora voiced the question gnawing at him.

If the goal was to strike fear into pirates, then logically, the Four Emperors would be the prime targets. Why not go after them?

Akainu stayed silent. Ryokugyu, however, chimed in.

"That's right, Fleet Admiral. We're totally capable of taking on a Emperor. Taking down one of them would have way more impact than someone like Wang Zhi. It'd strike real fear into the pirates," 

Still, Akainu said nothing.

It wasn't that he didn't want to.

But attacking an Emperor required direct orders from the World Government's highest authority.

Now that he was Fleet Admiral, Akainu finally understood that the so-called "Emperors of the Sea", the Yonko, were creations of the World Government in a sense.

Why were there only four emperors?

Why were there standing orders forbidding action against them unless otherwise instructed?

Now he knew: it was all to maintain balance among the World Government's allied nations.

"Taking action against an Emperor requires direct orders from the top. Besides, Emperor crews, they're not ordinary pirates. Even you two might not be enough," Akainu finally explained.

Ryokugyu and Fujitora didn't press further. Just then, hurried footsteps echoed from outside.

"Report, Fleet Admiral!"

"What is it?"

"News from Hachinosu!"

"What intel? Didn't we wipe them all out? What's left?" Ryokugyu scoffed.

"Right after we withdrew, Whitebeard's 3rd Division Commander Jozu led the Whitebeard Pirates to occupy Pirate Island. They've already raised their flag and declared it their territory. They're even planning to build a sea train route. However, they are now engaged in a standoff with the Beasts Pirates," reported Rear Admiral Penn.

"WHAT?!" Ryokugyu shot up in anger.

"We just left, and the Whitebeard Pirates swoop in to take the territory? Kill one pirate, and a stronger one takes his place. It's impossible to wipe out pirates, especially if we don't deal with the Emperors. The New World will never be free of them," Fujitora said.

"Fleet Admiral, let's move against the Emperors! Even the Whitebeard Pirates can't stand against the full might of the Marines! The Navy has the strength to take them down!" Ryokugyu urged.

Akainu, equally furious, said grimly, "I'll speak with the World Government and request authorization to move against the Emperors."

The two Admirals waited for the go-ahead. Without orders from the top, they couldn't act.

....

Meanwhile, on Hachinosu, a tense standoff was indeed unfolding.

The Beasts Pirates had also set their sights on the island.

"Oi! You're late!" Jozu waved mockingly from the shore as the Beasts Pirates approached.

"Queen-sama, Jack-sama, what now?" the Beast Pirates' officers asked.

"What else? We take them down and claim the territory," Queen said, puffing on his cigar.

"Bring the ships in closer," Jack commanded.

"Yes, sir!"

"Commander Jozu, they're advancing!"

"I see them. Is everything ready? Fire!"

Cannon emplacements that had been built over the last few days rolled into position. Both sides began bombarding each other across the sea.

The Beasts Pirates had superior firepower, thanks to Wano's factories. They quickly gained the upper hand and made landfall.

"Charge!!"

"Kill them!!"

Jozu led the charge and clashed directly with Jack.

"RRAAGH!!"

Jack transformed into a massive mammoth and charged forward. His enormous size made him a battering ram no one could stop.

But Jozu rushed in as well, his body completely diamond-covered, and smashed into Jack head-on.

"You're dead!!"

Jack was unimaginably strong, which is why he was known as "The Drought." With the power of an ancient mammoth, his strength was terrifying.

BOOM!

Diamond met ivory in a shockwave that shook the island.

Jack came to a halt. Jozu grinned at him.

"Is that all you got?"

Furious, Jack swung his trunk at Jozu.

But Jozu caught it, held his ground despite being pushed back, and eventually stopped.

"Get up here!!"

Grabbing Jack's trunk with both arms, Jozu roared and hurled him through the air.

WHOOSH WHOOSH WHOOSH!

The wind howled as Jack's massive body spun through the air before crashing to the ground.

"Trash."

Queen glanced at Jack indifferently and muttered.

Jack groaned and stood up. "I'm fine, Queen-ani…"

"Who cares if you're fine? I was wondering why you weren't dead yet, useless!" Queen replied.

Jack didn't dare argue. He got up, silently.

"So the Whitebeard Pirates moved fast and took this place," Queen said.

"It's close to our territory. This island now belongs to us," Jozu replied.

"Keep dreaming. It's Beasts Pirates territory now. Get lost," Queen snapped.

"Then make us," Jozu shot back.

"Looks like we'll have to settle this with fists."

"Two Calamities? Not bad. But we don't back down either." Jozu smirked.

"You alone can't hold this place," Queen sneered.

"Our reinforcements are almost here," Jozu smiled.

"Doesn't matter how many show up. We'll take it. ATTACK!!"

BOOM!!

An explosion erupted behind the Beasts Pirates.

From the flames, two figures emerged: Thatch and Rakuyo.

"Looks like we made it. You alright, Jozu?" Satch asked with a grin.

"I'm fine. Perfect timing," Jozu laughed.

"4th Division Commander Thatch… 7th Division Commander Rakuyo?!" Queen's eyes narrowed.

"Queen and Jack, huh? Two Calamities, this won't be easy," Rakuyo said.

"Three Commanders still ain't enough!" Queen spat.

"Then let's see who's stronger. Winner takes the island."

"BRING IT!!"

"FIGHT!!!"

"KILL THEM!!!"

.....

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