The air roared with cannon fire, a relentless storm of bullets and shells hammering the Saber of Xebec, flagship of the Rocks Pirates. From the shore, a barrage of muskets and cannons unleashed a curtain of lead so dense it swallowed the pirate crew whole!
Vesper stood at the port, commanding his officers. He knew this level of firepower was no match for a titan like Rocks, but appearances mattered. The onslaught would slow the Rocks Pirates' advance, buy time, and maybe—just maybe—nick their ship.
A spiraling sword aura erupted from the Saber of Xebec, slicing through the bulletstorm. The sheer range left onlookers stunned. At the ship's bow stood Ochoku, the Rocks Pirates' great swordsman, his hulking frame clad in golden armor. With a flowing black beard reminiscent of a legendary warrior, the dual-wielding heavy swordsman from a mysterious Eastern nation in the New World towered over the deck, gripping a traditional double-edged blade.
"Punk!"
Shirokiri stepped forward, drawing his single-edged saber with a calm flourish. A casual slash unleashed a sword aura that shattered Ochoku's spiraling attack into nothingness.
"Keep firing! Burn through every last bullet!" Shirokiri bellowed. Even if they couldn't hurt the Rocks Pirates, draining their stamina was better than nothing!
In mere minutes, across a 700-800 meter stretch, Vesper's crew unleashed a staggering 2 billion Belly worth of gunfire and cannon shells. The barrage was so fierce it pinned the Saber of Xebec in place!
"Haha! That's it, keep pounding 'til they're crying for their mommas!" Shirokiri laughed, his voice drowned out by the thunder of guns and cannons. This was war—firepower that could level a World Government nation, rivaling or even surpassing the Navy's Buster Call!
When cannons roar, gold pours!
War burned money, but the spoils—territory, resources—made it worthwhile. Vesper, who'd ruled his turf for two or three decades, was among the richest pirates alive. A few billion Belly in cannon fire? Pocket change.
Rocks hadn't expected such fierce resistance. Vesper's crew had always packed a punch in past turf wars, but this was a whole new level—gunfire and cannonballs like a relentless rain of steel!
"Vesper, you old bastard, you're swimming in gold!" Rocks growled, slicing through a swath of projectiles with a single swing. The barrage was endless, forcing even him to join his officers in clearing the onslaught. "I'm not letting Brook snatch this turf!"
If not for Vesper's mastery of Conqueror's Haki, Rocks could've knocked out the enemy gunners from a kilometer away. Their Haki clashed, Vesper's aura holding Rocks' at bay, protecting his crew from being stunned. This was advanced Conqueror's Haki in action—the pinnacle being Conqueror's Haki Coiling!
This was why Vesper was disappointed in Shirokiri and Salem. Without Conqueror's Haki, their mid- and low-tier crew would be wiped out instantly by an enemy's Haki burst, leaving no chance to fire back. With their own Conqueror's Haki users, they could at least shield their gunners, wearing down the enemy and leveraging their numbers.
Otherwise, what good was a crew if they dropped like flies to a single Haki wave?
...
Half an hour later, the Saber of Xebec had crawled just 500-600 meters, now within 100-200 meters of Island. Vesper's crew had burned through over 6 billion Belly in shells, with cannon barrels and musket muzzles glowing red-hot, some even scrapped from overuse.
Every 100 meters of the Rocks Pirates' advance cost Vesper's crew over a billion Belly in firepower—a sum exceeding Rocks' own bounty! Even the combined bounties of his officers couldn't match the wealth torched in this half-hour.
Vesper had rallied over 10,000 troops, with 5,000-6,000 musketeers and cannoneers, each burning roughly a million Belly in ammo. The scale was terrifying.
"Haha! What, Rocks thinks one flagship and a few dozen support ships can take us down?" Jevalle laughed. "Even a so-called overlord can't solo an army! And with Brook's crew backing us up, Rocks is toast!"
"Don't underestimate him!" Vesper snapped, his tone deadly serious. He knew Rocks' true terror. This barrage might tire out Rocks' officers, but for a monster like Rocks—who could fight ten days and nights without breaking a sweat—this was nothing.
"Jihaha! Alright, boys, charge!"
Still 100 meters from shore, Rocks leapt into the air, his massive blade swinging with earth-shattering force, as if to cleave Jevalle Island in two. Coiled with invincible Conqueror's Haki, the strike was unstoppable—only Vesper himself could hope to block it. Even Shirokiri would fall in one hit.
The sheer menace of the New World's mightiest overlord froze countless grunts in place, their guns and cannons forgotten.
Rocks' officers followed, sprinting across the sea's surface. For these powerhouses, the water was as solid as air under their Geppo, propelling them forward. Splashes erupted as Skal, Grimm Vane, dual-wielding Ochoku, Rocket Jonas, and others dashed across the waves, their momentum unstoppable.
Rocks' slash forced even Vesper back, the collision's shockwave hurling musketeers and cannoneers into the air. A massive vortex of wind formed, laced with dark red lightning, like the apocalypse itself.
Even top officers like Shirokiri and Skal hesitated to join the fray between Rocks and Vesper. The ferocious clash of Conqueror's Haki Coiling attacks sent chills down their spines.
Rocks had come out swinging with full power, no testing blows. His murderous intent hit Vesper like a tidal wave—there was no room for negotiation. Today, Rocks meant to kill him.
-----------
+300 chapters on p@treon/tambeerg