Salem froze when he heard Vesper's order to hold off the swarm of Rocks Pirates' officers. Was his captain throwing him?
Pushing his limits, Salem darted between foes, shadow-stepping to intercept Skal, Grimm Vane, Ochoku. Each clash was a fleeting dance—he didn't aim to wound, only to stall their advance, buying precious seconds.
At the same time, Salem barked orders for his crew to launch a desperate, all-out charge. A suicide rush to slow the enemy, giving the Vesper Pirates a sliver of time to retreat.
...
A spark of hope flickered. Jevalle with a 600-million-Belly bounty, had just taken down Rocket Jonas, boosting the Vesper Pirates' morale!
But the tide turned fast. Silver Axe and Captain John crushed their opponents, forcing Lady Ravena of Tranquil Island and Jokade to flee in defeat.
Even worse, Sabachi, the weakest of the island kings, fell to Jennifer, the giantess warrior. The Rocks Pirates had clawed back the advantage!
"Listen up, Vesper Pirates! I'll let you small fry scurry off, but Vesper, you old fossil, and Jevalle, you bastard—you're not leaving alive!"
Rocks' voice thundered with rage. Rocket Jonas, a loyal crewmate from the Four Seas to the Grand Line, had been slain by Jevalle. To Rocks, that was a blood debt demanding repayment.
Salem's mind churned at Rocks' words. Reason screamed to run, but years of loyalty to Captain Vesper tugged at his heart, leaving him torn.
"Shirokiri, get out of here! You know what needs to be done!"
Vesper saw his crew crumbling like a house of cards. He knew he had to stay and hold the line. With a swift kick, he sent Shirokiri flying out of the fray, abandoning any hope of escaping with his son.
He steeled himself to face Rocks head-on, buying time for Shirokiri to escape with Amber and ensure the Vesper lineage lived on.
...
Sensing Vesper's resolve, Shirokiri didn't argue. The grizzled, forty-something pirate made his choice. He spun back, knocking Ochoku and Grimm Vane aside, and broke through the enemy lines with Salem in tow.
Rocks halted Skal and the others from pursuing Shirokiri. Instead, he ordered them to corner Jevalle and make him pay for Jonas' death.
Rocks wanted Shirokiri and Salem to limp back to Brook, stirring trouble for the traitor who broke their alliance. Let Brook taste the chaos of a restless territory!
"Rocks, I've gotta hand it to you—your schemes outplayed both me and Brook!"
Vesper, seeing defeat looming, struck up a conversation with Rocks, buying more time for Shirokiri's escape. He watched helplessly as his trusted officer Jevalle was toyed with and brutalized by the Rocks Pirates.
"Jiehaha! Blame Brook's ambition. He's got the guts to match it, or I wouldn't even bother with him!"
Rocks' strategy was a brazen gambit. He knew Brook couldn't resist the bait—a massive territory and a ten-year truce for safety. No pirate would turn down such a feast, especially with guaranteed security. That's how Rocks lured the cunning, Brook into his trap!
"You let Shirokiri and Salem go just to mess with Brook, didn't you? But are you sure those two can take him down? How about we team up against Brook first? They're a bigger threat than an old relic like me!"
Vesper hadn't given up. He grasped at one last lifeline, hoping to fracture the alliance between Rocks and Brook.
"Too late, old man! My Conqueror's Haki oath is set in stone. Break it, and my Haki's done for—you know how it works! Stop squirming and die already! I've got your base to plunder! Jiehaha!"
Rocks' mood lifted as he watched Jevalle's brutal execution. He didn't mind trading a few words with the doomed Vesper.
...
The mention of his base being raided ignited Vesper's spirit. He had to buy Shirokiri more time, even if it meant burning his life away!
"RAAAGH!"
Blood-red steam poured from Vesper's body, thicker than ever. He unleashed his strongest slash at Rocks, then charged toward the Rocks Pirates' officers.
Hostages were his best bet to stall. The seasoned Vesper made his move, eyeing Skal, Grimm Vane, or Ochoku. Even if Rocks didn't care about their lives, grabbing one would slow him down and cost him an officer. If Rocks wanted Brook and Shirokiri to clash, Vesper would make him bleed for it!
The Rocks Pirates' officers scattered as Vesper lunged, thinking the old overlord was out for revenge over Jevalle's death.
Vesper's top-tier Observation Haki sized them up instantly. Skal was the strongest—maybe able to block a strike or two, giving Rocks time to intervene. Grimm Vane was the slickest, already bolting toward Rocks. Ochoku, the great swordsman, had future-sight Observation Haki and was just as fast.
That left Sax Vey, with a 700-million-Belly bounty, and Jennifer, the 550-million-Belly giantess. Silver Axe and John, uninvolved in Jevalle's killing, were too far off.
Vesper's decision flashed in an instant: Sax Vey, slower than even Jennifer, was the target.
Amid the island's roars and clashing steel, Vesper feinted at Rocks and dove straight for Sax Vey.
No surprises—Sax Vey was caught. Vesper held him hostage as Grimm Vane sighed in relief.
Better you than me, he thought, knowing Rocks' ruthless nature.
...
Rocks and Vesper faced off again, the latter clutching Sax Vey. The Rocks Pirates' officers circled back, surrounding the trapped overlord despite his captive.
Even the dozens of Rocks Pirates' desperadoes, fresh off their ships, were drawn to the spectacle, ignoring the fleeing Vesper Pirates. They wanted to witness the fall of a legend like Vesper.
As for the Vesper Pirates' stragglers? Let them scurry off, back to Shirokiri and Salem, to stir up trouble for Brook...
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+300 chapters on p@treon/tambeerg