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"Big sister, did you hear that? He said they defeated Zephyr!"
A young woman in the Phoenix Pirates whispered to Minco, her voice laced with disbelief.
Minco's eyes were wide with shock, and she nodded slowly, yet a cold knot of denial sat in her gut.
She knew Zephyr's strength all too well. She had personally witnessed the infamous Crazed Lion Pirates, a fearsome crew, get utterly demolished by Zephyr's fists in less than thirty seconds!
What kind of power was that? It was a nightmare, an absolute wall that a pirate crew like hers could never hope to breach.
"You're lying! Who are you trying to fool with that nonsense?"
"The Crazed Lion Pirates were wiped out by Zephyr, I saw it! And you defeated him? That's impossible!"
"Maybe Zephyr got a scratch, but defeated? If Zephyr is fine, then you're just making things up!"
A wave of loud, angry disbelief immediately rose from the crowd, challenging Trens' claim. They shouted, demanding proof, but for a moment, the six members of the Nether Soul Pirates offered no reply.
"Zephyr wasn't injured at all! You're lying!"
The pirates' initial shock quickly soured into anger, and they glared fiercely at Trens and his companions.
The Dragon-Elephant Six grew visibly anxious, but Trens remained unnervingly calm.
Just as he opened his mouth to speak, a voice filled with sudden panic and shock cut through the noise:
"I… I saw it! Yesterday, I saw Zephyr being helped away by Marines in District 21!"
"At that time, Zephyr was covered in blood, and there was sand all over him!"
The warehouse fell into an immediate, heavy silence. Every face in the room slowly morphed from anger to stunned realization.
Then another voice spoke up, clearer this time:
"I saw it too! Zephyr was surrounded by a whole team of medics, and they were scrambling to treat him!"
"Me too! I saw him in District 30!"
"When I saw him, Zephyr was being strapped down onto a stretcher."
In an instant, multiple accounts confirmed the story: Zephyr had been injured. As the witnesses spoke, the collective gaze of the pirates toward Trens and his group shifted dramatically. Fear mixed with profound awe.
"My God… they really damaged Zephyr!"
"Unbelievable! From now on, the Nether Soul Pirates are my new heroes, absolute legends!"
"Incredible! I've never even heard of a rookie crew in the first half of the Grand Line laying a hand on a Marine Admiral, they're astonishing!"
In the blink of an eye, the crowd was looking at Trens and his crew with shining, almost reverent eyes.
"If they actually defeated Zephyr, their bounties are going to skyrocket!"
Blanc, who had been sitting cross-legged, heard a man behind him whisper quietly, "It seems to be true, Captain! These guys are terrifying!"
Blanc nodded slightly, remaining silent but thoughtful. To inflict serious damage on an Admiral, he knew precisely what that meant. There was an insurmountable gap between his crew's strength and theirs.
"Big sister, it's true! They're incredible, I really want to see their captain!"
"Yes! I heard his name is Rojen, and his bounty is $350 million. Truly terrifying… I wonder what kind of man he is."
Among the Phoenix Pirates, the hushed discussions turned into excited chatter.
Minco's eyes sparkled with a deep curiosity about this Rojen.
Zephyr was a monster, she'd seen his power firsthand. A single glance from him had been enough to shatter her courage, leaving her without the will to fight.
It was an indescribable, crushing presence. She couldn't begin to fathom how Rojen and his crew had overcome that pressure, dared to fight, and actually won.
"Zephyr was severely injured. That is the truth. So, as I said, we still have a chance!"
Trens spoke again, his voice ringing with renewed conviction.
"If you want to act, to seize this island by force, instead of hiding here and enduring the suffocating uncertainty…"
"Then you must summon your courage and do what a true pirate should do!"
Trens scanned the crowd, his eyes bright and piercing. The rigorous True Energy training had transformed his entire aura, giving him a commanding presence.
In that moment, his imposing force was undeniable and fierce.
In just a few words, he completely reignited the fiery, reckless spirit in the pirates' hearts.
Yes! They were pirates! They sailed the seas freely, unafraid of storms, battling both nature and man. Why should they fear a mere group of Marines stationed on this small island?
"Life and death are nothing, if you don't accept this, then we fight!"
Old Third of the Dragon-Elephant Six roared, his voice thick with challenging emotion!
Instantly, the atmosphere in the underground warehouse surged to its absolute peak.
Countless pirates began shouting their determination to break out. Fists clenched, low growls of fierce excitement rumbled through the crowd. Since yesterday, they had been pursued like beaten dogs, their pride crushed. Now, given a chance for revenge, these pirates would seize it without hesitation.
They all lived by their wits and their blades, who was afraid of whom?
Trens and the Dragon-Elephant Six exchanged a look, broad, satisfied smiles spreading across their faces.
Their objective was achieved. The waters around the island, briefly calm, were about to turn turbulent again.
And the pirates, now reinvigorated and fearless, would bring the Marines far greater trouble than before.
Sabaody Archipelago, Marine Base.
"Hey!"
Zephyr, swathed in thick bandages and still drenched in sweat, spoke roughly into his Den Den Mushi, his expression grim.
"This is Sengoku."
The voice on the other end caused Zephyr's face to twitch, though his dark expression didn't change.
"What do you want?"
"Did you fight the Nether Soul Pirates?" Sengoku asked, his tone grave.
At the mention of the name, fury surged across Zephyr's face. "What is it? Are you calling to mock me?"
Being beaten into this state by four rookies who had just started their pirate journey was a profound humiliation for Zephyr, it had become his most painful, personal taboo.
"I just want to warn you, don't underestimate them. Crocodile, Jason, and Trens aren't your main problem yet…"
"But Rojen, you must be extremely careful!" Sengoku's voice was serious and weighty.
"He is the one who defeated Kizaru's men! He is extremely dangerous!"
"I understand!" Zephyr replied impatiently, though a seed of caution had definitely been planted in his mind.
He was a veteran, and while stubborn, he couldn't simply ignore advice from the Fleet Admiral. Sengoku's warning about Rojen was now a marked point in his memory.
"Rojen!"
Squinting his eyes, he clenched his fists. Those four, he wouldn't let them go. Marine medical facilities were top-notch, and his injuries were healing rapidly. Soon, he would be completely recovered.
And then… he would find those four and eliminate them himself.
Back in the underground warehouse, Trens took charge, immediately beginning to coordinate the different pirate crews. Before long, an enormous pirate alliance began to take official shape.
This monumental coalition was named the Sabaody Archipelago Pirate Combat Alliance.
It comprised ninety-three pirate crews, totaling over 1,300 pirates. It was the most shocking, widespread pirate alliance of the era, an event that stunned both the Marines and the world!
(End Of This Chapter)