Back when Brook teamed up with his four top fighters to take down Dawei, it was a calculated strike. Brook, Redfield, and Charlotte Linlin pinned Dawei in place, keeping his monstrous strength at bay.
Then, Golden Lion Shiki and Whitebeard Newgate crushed Hammerhead Shark Dalma and Siren Goddess Calypso. With the heavy hitters down, they all ganged up on Dawei, finally bringing the so-called "greatest pseudo-emperor" to his knees!
If Dawei was the strongest of the three pseudo-emperors, then Roger's trio should at least hold their own against Saracha, another pseudo-emperor.
The Roger Pirates' mid- and high-tier officers were no slouches either—true elites. They might not outshine the Butcher Pirates' two 500-million-Belly bounties, Baden and Gileka, but with officers like Spencer and Langram working together, they could put up a solid fight!
"Roger, let's wait for Saracha to leave before we make our move. Or we pull back now and come back in a couple of days!"
Rayleigh trusted Roger's instincts, which had saved their hides countless times. If Roger sensed danger from Saracha, it meant the guy was likely to come for them.
Roger weighed their odds. A clash could lead to heavy losses—too risky for the prize.
As Saracha vanished from sight, the Roger Pirates bolted in the opposite direction, racing back to their ship. But Saracha's face darkened when he realized they were slipping away.
"Why play the treasure-hunting rat when I can make you my hunting dogs!"
Saracha wasn't about to let a chance at mastering Conqueror's Haki Coiling slip through his fingers. Dropping all pretense, he chased after the Roger Pirates.
So vigilant—did they catch a whiff of his malice? Or was the Butcher Pirates' fearsome reputation enough to spook them?
With his officers and elite pirates in tow, Saracha pursued. Today, he'd capture that pirate who claimed to "hear fluctuations"—could it be a rare treasure-hunting Devil Fruit?
...
Meanwhile, Roger sensed Saracha's aura closing in, a bad omen creeping up his spine. Something told him running wasn't the answer. The key to turning this fight around lay in finding whatever was calling to him.
Even if the three of them couldn't outright beat Saracha, they wouldn't go down easily. Gritting his teeth, Roger made his call.
"Trust me one more time, crew! We're heading that way!"
Instead of retreating to the ship, Roger chased the mysterious voice beckoning him. His crew, used to their captain's wild whims, followed without question.
"That's it, that's it! Go hunt for that treasure!"
Saracha, seeing Roger's crew veer away from the sea, eased off the chase. He wanted to give them time to track down Emperor's secret treasure vault.
Thus began a cat-and-mouse game across Bulidian Island, a battle of wits and endurance. But who was the hunter, and who was the prey? That remained to be seen.
...
New World, Normandy Island
Brook's condemnation and threats had rattled even the arrogant Rocks. He dismissed the idea that mere "ants" could sway the outcome, agreeing to a war of elites.
Only pirates with bounties could set foot on Normandy Island—their wanted posters were their entry tickets. Even those with ten-million-Belly bounties were just grunts here. Hundred-million-Belly pirates formed the backbone, while five-hundred-million-Belly big shots and eight-hundred-million-Belly top officers ruled the roost.
By comparison, Rocks' crew was outnumbered by the Vesper Pirates and Hell Pirates, especially after the Ice Demon Pirates were crippled and the Butcher Pirates vanished mysteriously.
Rocks' officers felt the pressure, but the Vesper and Hell Pirates weren't exactly a united front. Shirokiri and Orion glared at Brook with open hostility, and Jevalle, another top officer, had long despised the Hell Pirates. Three of the top four officers held grudges against Brook's crew!
Rocks hadn't clashed with Brook before, so this fight was a chance to size up the Hell Pirates' true strength.
The war pitted Rocks against two foes: Vesper and Brook. Shirokiri and Orion, citing injuries, left the fight against Skal to Redfield, instead picking off grunts with sly, sinister grins aimed at the Hell Pirates.
Brook didn't like the vibe. He ordered his officers to stick together and fight as a unit, quietly wary of the Vesper Pirates' intentions.
Even with more heavy hitters, the Emperor Alliance could only barely suppress Rocks' crew. Both sides held back, scheming and saving their strength.
Vesper himself played weak, letting Rocks focus his fury on Brook. That moment confirmed it for Brook—this so-called alliance was a sham!
Better to keep everyone at arm's length, wary of each other. The Hell Pirates could always slip away if needed.
...
After a battle lull, Brook made his move. He led his crew aboard the Golden Ark and hightailed it off Normandy Island. Furious, Vesper had no choice but to team up with Shirokiri and face Rocks head-on, only to see his crew battered and pushed back.
Then the Hell Pirates pulled a fast one, raiding Rocks' home base. They forced Rocks' crew to retreat to defend, hitting their rear officers and bringing the war to another stalemate.
Brook declared the Hell Pirates a third power. He claimed all of Saracha's territory, threatening that any resistance would face the wrath of Golden Lion Shiki and Whitebeard Newgate's cataclysmic attacks.
Rocks, in turn, seized all of Wilank's territory, avoiding a war of attrition with the Hell Pirates. He kept a hungry eye on the Vesper Pirates, choosing to bide his time, consolidating his islands and recruiting new pirates.
Thus, a new balance emerged in the New World. Rocks' crew dominated with 90 islands, the Vesper Pirates held steady at 45, and the Hell Pirates forcibly took Saracha's turf, claiming 42 islands.
The three emperors stood tall, but Rocks' vast domain lacked the manpower to hold it. Supernovas like Naguri, and World began carving out their own paths, vying for emperor status.
Rocks' crew was truly checked by the Vesper and Hell Pirates. The next emperor clash wouldn't come until Vesper's death or until Rocks fully mastered his sprawling empire!
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+300 chapters on p@treon/tambeerg