New World
The Hell Pirates' absence gnawed at the Vesper Pirates, their impatience growing with every passing minute. Two hours had dragged by—well past the planned timeline!
Salem, in particular, felt a creeping dread that wouldn't relent. Vesper, meanwhile, was locked in a brutal struggle, pinned down by Rocks' relentless assault, with no chance to issue a retreat.
In a fleeting moment of distraction, a gleaming sword struck—Ochoku, the great swordsman, seizing his chance for a sneak attack. Though his blade was swift, Salem's skill narrowly outmatched him, parrying the blow just in time!
If that strike had come from someone like Skal or the late Sandy, even Salem would've been gravely wounded.
Behind them, dozens of Rocks Pirates' ships began landing. Rocks had abandoned his territory's defenses, throwing his entire force against the Vesper Pirates in a bold all-out attack.
Rocks' reinforcements had arrived, but the Hell Pirates—wielders of the Float-Float and Wind-Wind Fruits—were nowhere to be seen. Salem knew they'd been played.
He could guess Brook's plan: let Rocks weaken the Vesper Pirates, then swoop in to mop up the remnants. Brook wasn't stupid—he knew the "lips and teeth" alliance meant their survival was intertwined. But Salem's strategy was clear: fall back to Ten Kings Island, preserve their strength, and wait for Brook. Playing the fool too obviously would render their alliance useless.
What Salem could never imagine was that Brook had no intention of coming. Instead, the Hell Pirates were sailing straight for Vesper's stronghold, Madagascar Island, to plunder its overflowing riches!
Gold and jewels? Brook would leave those for Rocks. But the rare supplies and treasures? Those were his for the taking.
...
As Salem prepared to override Vesper's authority and order a full retreat, the sky darkened ominously. The last thing he wanted to see unfolded before him: Rocks was unleashing his full power.
Darkness from the Dark-Dark Fruit enveloped Island, plunging it into an apocalyptic gloom reminiscent of the World Dark News's destruction. Even Candor, with his Vulture Fruit, couldn't escape the suffocating blackness.
"Jiehaha! Thinking of running, Vesper? Or are you waiting for Brook to save your sorry hide? Bad news, pal—you're not getting any backup! Brook and I struck a deal. Your territory? I handed it to him. Soak in the despair, you old fool! Haha!"
Seizing Vesper's shock and waning morale, Rocks landed a ferocious punch, infused with raw power, that buried Vesper deep into the earth. He wasn't just aiming to kill—he wanted to crush Vesper's spirit and set a trap for Brook, letting the Vesper Pirates' remnants harass him later.
Just like the Ice Demon Pirates' remnants or Edward's stragglers, who pestered Rocks' territories with annoying but persistent raids, Vesper's survivors would become Brook's problem—a festering nuisance.
"What?! Brook betrayed us?!"
Shirokiri, seeing Vesper slammed into the ground, wasn't fazed by the attack but reeled from the news of Brook's treachery. Without the Hell Pirates' support, defeat was inevitable.
Vesper, battered by Rocks' onslaught, was already faltering after just two hours. The longer the fight dragged on, the worse his position became.
They'd pinned their hopes on Brook's arrival to turn the tide. Now, that hope was shattered by devastating betrayal.
"No way! Brook's not that dumb! You're just messing with our heads!"
Vesper erupted from the ground, blood-red steam coiling around him. His supreme-grade sword pulsed with Conqueror's Haki Coiling as he slashed at Rocks. But Rocks parried with a single counterstrike, his terrifying strength forcing Vesper back several steps!
"Jiehaha! Keep fighting, then! Time'll show you the truth! To win Brook over, I gave him your entire territory. What man could resist that kind of prize? Especially Brook! Right, old man?!"
Rocks' taunts jabbed at the Vesper Pirates' nerves, while he laughed inwardly.
Brook, you've fallen right into my trap.
He'd deal with Vesper, the core of the crew, and leave the messy aftermath for Brook. The Hell Pirates and Vesper's remnants would tear each other apart.
By dangling Vesper's territory as bait, Rocks ensured Brook stayed on the sidelines. Sure, he'd lose out on the land and help Brook kill Vesper, but it flipped the chessboard in his favor.
Without Brook's interference, Rocks could clean internally. Meanwhile, Brook would be stuck wrestling with Vesper's entrenched remnants—far tougher than any Supernova. Those territories, ruled by Vesper's crew for years, were a web of loyal factions that'd slow Brook's takeover to a crawl.
Who said Rocks was just a brute with muscle?
When it came to strategy, even Brook fell into his trap!
Emboldened, Rocks hammered Vesper with increasing ferocity, his strikes growing sharper. His plan: kill Vesper, storm Madagascar Island, loot its wealth, and leave the Vesper Pirates' remnants as a "gift" for Brook.
The more Rocks fought, the fiercer he became, while Vesper began to believe the betrayal. Rocks giving up his territory to Brook—and playing the hired muscle? Unthinkable!
That scheming Rocks and greedy Brook—they'd both pay!
Why hadn't he waited a few more months? Once his grandchild was born, he might've retired to the mountains, leaving this chaos behind.
For his family's legacy, Vesper fought like a man possessed. He had to survive, return to Madagascar Island, and save his soon-to-be daughter-in-law, Amber!
"Shirokiri, back me up! Salem, hold them off! Everyone, fight and fall back!"
Vesper's faith in his crew crumbled. His only goal now was to escape with Shirokiri, his son, and Amber. The rest of the crew? They were on their own—this was his final order.
In that moment, Vesper made his choice: retire early. The alliance between Rocks and Brook filled him with despair.
...
Rocks considered letting Vesper limp back to stir trouble with Brook, letting them fight. But both were cunning foxes—any rift might heal if they united against him.
No, Vesper had to die. Only then could Rocks set the New World's grand game in motion. The Vesper Pirates' remnants alone would keep Brook busy for a long time!
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