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"The pirates cannot be allowed to get their hands on Pure Gold. This battle must be fought!"
In the grand hall, besides the Gorōsei (Five Elder Stars), Marine Fleet Admiral Akainu had also rushed to the Holy Land. Seeing the swordsman Gorōsei erupt in fury, Akainu stepped forward decisively, volunteering to take action.
"Calm down, Akainu. There are too many pirates surrounding Sabaody. If we start a fight, don't forget about the Revolutionary Army!"
The mustachioed Gorōsei spoke gravely: "Though Orrick's plan originates differently, it mirrors the Revolutionary Army's tactics— leveraging global forces to confront us. We must not act rashly!"
Much like Bald Zero's judgment, the Gorōsei concluded that Orrick was the sole instigator of this crisis, entirely unaware of Rowen's behind-the-scenes manipulations.
However, this did not alleviate their current predicament. With so many pirates and opportunists united, no matter the origin, they couldn't devise an immediate solution.
"So we're just going to let those scoundrels linger outside?!"
Akainu barked furiously: "Being surrounded in the Holy Land is a disgrace to the government!!"
"Enough!!"
Suddenly, Ferrick's thunderous voice cut through the tension: "You think we don't know that?!"
As the room fell silent, Ferrick, his white curls gleaming under the light, heavily struck his cane against the floor.
"Focus on your duties and wait for orders. That is the Marine's role. Understood?!"
The implication was clear: even if it was humiliating, the Marines must obey and swallow their pride.
"I..."
Akainu ground his teeth in frustration. Only now did he realize the Fleet Admiral's position was not as powerful as it seemed.
Even as Fleet Admiral, he remained subordinate to the Gorōsei, whose authority constrained the Marines in every aspect.
Absolute justice?
Yes— until the Gorōsei said otherwise.
Through gritted teeth, Akainu forced out a response: "Understood!"
"Good!"
Ferrick waved dismissively with exhaustion evident in his posture: "You're dismissed for now. We'll inform you of any decisions... Dragon and Zero have already reached Thunder God Island. They'll return in three to five days. In the meantime, ensure the Marines don't let a single intruder breach the defensive line. Can you manage that?!"
"Yes!"
Akainu saluted sharply, then turned on his heel, his Justice cape billowing as he stormed out.
Ka-Cha!
The heavy door latch clicked into place, sealing the room. The Gorōsei exchanged glances, their expressions grim.
"We'll have to inform Lord Imu about this."
Orrick's move was undeniably insidious, using the irresistible lure of immortality to provoke a global backlash.
The government's deterrence was symbolic, meant to crush greed before it could take root. But now, the outcome boiled down to two scenarios:
First- Fight!
A direct confrontation with the pirates and their amassed armies would result in catastrophic losses.
It's a mistake to think that beyond the Marine Admirals and former Yonko, there are no other top-tier fighters. The vastness of the sea ensures countless unknowns.
For example, before the World's Great Conscription, who knew about Admiral-level talents like the elusive Ryokugyu or the now-revealed Fujitora Issho?
Or second- Compromise!
Negotiating with the major powers could avert the worst damage to the government's rule. Lesser pirates might then be dealt with by paying a minor price.
The threat posed by these individuals isn't solely their strength but their potential to destabilize governance. With the Revolutionary Army waiting in the shadows, any heavy-handed actions might drive these figures into enemy alliances.
Consider Gold Emperor Gild Tesoro: his Gran Tesoro welcomed all, be they Revolutionary Army members or pirate criminals, treating them equally. The government was powerless against him.
"This matter had surpassed the Gorōsei's limits of control. The only solution was to bring it to Imu, the true sovereign of the World Government, and the sole being entitled to sit on the Empty Throne."
But...
Turning to Imu now would be an admission of failure.
Within the government, Imu was indispensable, but the same couldn't be said for the Gorōsei. They, too, were replaceable.
"I'll go."
Breaking the silence, Ferrick spoke up: "This all started because of my wayward son. It's time I faced the consequences."
Ferrick had escaped unscathed from Orrick's previous rebellion. Now that Orrick had stirred up trouble once more, Ferrick felt the weight of responsibility.
"No, we'll all go together!"
The mustachioed Gorōsei suddenly stood: "The situation hasn't deteriorated to the point where you need to offer your life as penance. I believe there's a way through this."
He looked around at his colleagues, their eyes softening. "Gentlemen, for decades we've weathered storms— be it Rocks or Roger. What haven't we faced?"
"To think a mere Pure Gold could topple us... Utter nonsense!"
…
"Fire the cannons!"
Xiū Xiū Xiū…
Boom— Rumble!!!
The Qilin's bow opened its massive maw, unleashing a volley of five artillery blasts that shattered the pirate ships blocking their path into splinters.
Standing at the bow, Rowen inhaled the acrid scent of gunpowder lingering in the air. His expression was calm, unyielding.
"Admiral, we're running low on ammunition! Should we break through?"
A soldier hurried over and spoke in a grave tone.
After passing Thunder God Island, the fleet had encountered a sharp escalation in resistance. The pirates all understood the weight carried by the name "Soryu (Azure Dragon)" across the seas. Once they learned he was part of the convoy, over 90% of them abandoned solo ambushes and instead converged en masse for an all-out attack.
Facing a pirate force far exceeding their own in numbers, even a Buster Call fleet was locked in fierce combat.
So intense was the battle that the Qilin's ammunition was nearly depleted just from the effort of holding back the pirates.
"Breakthrough? Don't make me laugh!"
Hearing this, Rowen grinned and let out a sharp laugh. "You've all done well. Now, take a rest. I'll handle the last leg myself!"
Zī Zī!
Suddenly, the leaden clouds in the sky lowered ominously. Thunder roared across the heavens, lightning flickering with a terrifying brilliance, bringing a deafening rumble.
'Awakening Technique · True Zenith Tempest – Prison of Bright Heavenly Thunder!!'
Bēng kā…!
Countless bolts of thunder cascaded from the sky. The pirates, who had been celebrating the faltering Marine cannon fire with jubilant cries, froze in terror. They looked up at the flashing thunderlight in the sky, their faces pale with horror.
"No! Soryu (Azure Dragon) has made his move!!"
"Scatter! Move, don't bunch up!"
"Get out of my way! If you want to die, don't drag me down with you!"
But the pirates' frantic shouts came far too late. Knowing their opponent was Soryu (Azure Dragon), they should have prepared for this moment instead of losing themselves in the euphoria of a fleeting victory.
Boom— Rumble!!!
A colossal thunder pillar lit up the world, turning the dark, stormy horizon beneath the clouds as bright as day. The sound shook the very minds of those who heard it.
The roaring thunderstorm unleashed a terrifying tide that swallowed the pirate fleet without exception.
As the thunderlight rampaged, pirate after pirate was scorched into charred corpses, while ship after ship burst into flames and exploded.
Moments ago, the pirate army had boasted confidently. Now, they were reduced to utter chaos, crying and screaming as they were slaughtered. The devastating electric surge left their formation in shambles.
As the thunderstorm formed an unbreakable prison, trapping all the pirates, Rowen calmly lowered his hand. Using a spark of electricity, he lit a cigar, taking a deep drag. Turning to the wide-eyed soldiers beside him, he said,
"Notify CP0. Begin the pursuit!"
"Breakthrough?"
"Breakthrough, my foot!"
He sneered coldly, his lips curling into a chilling smile.
"I said it during the Summit War: a pile of trash. Whoever dares comes, dies!"
"Now is the time to fulfill that promise!"
Standing atop the golden bow of the Qilin, Rowen puffed out his chest and roared:
"All units, heed my command! CHARGE! Kill them all— leave no one alive!!"
"Yes, sir!!!"
The electrifying surge still lingered, crackling in the air, as the massacre began.
Several kilometers away, pirates and scouts watching the scene through binoculars swallowed hard, their throats dry and trembling.
They had almost forgotten— no matter what happened, Soryu (Azure Dragon) was always an unmovable mountain weighing down on their chests. A terrifying monster whose mere name left all pirates gasping for breath.
Unless they could defeat him, dreaming of seizing Pure Gold was a futile fantasy.
Just then, one pirate felt an ominous sensation and instinctively turned his head.
"That ship... could it be?!!"
(End Of Chapter)