Vesper gripped Sax Vey's neck with a steely hand, but Rocks' face showed no trace of worry or panic. A cold-blooded overlord like him didn't bend to threats.
Sure, he'd been pissed when Jevalle took out Rocket Jonas, but it was just anger—no grief, not even for a second.
"Vesper, I let Shirokiri and Salem walk. What more do you want? You really think you can force me to team up with Brook and wipe out your crew?"
Rocks' voice was flat, his expression unyielding. Sax Vey was a solid fighter, and Rocks didn't want to lose another officer for nothing, but he wasn't about to beg.
Vesper's eyes glinted with defiance.
"All I want is for you to stay put until Brook shows up. I need to have a word with that backstabbing bastard. Is that too much to ask? Or are you not worried he'll raid my Madagascar Island while you're here? You know how that jerk operates!"
Vesper knew his time was up. His only play was to stall Rocks—and if he could drag Brook into this mess, even better. It'd give Shirokiri and the others time to escape.
He wasn't done scheming, either. If he couldn't destroy Rocks and Brook's alliance, he'd make them bleed. Those two had crushed his pirate empire—Vesper wouldn't let them walk away unscathed, even in death.
Rocks' eyes narrowed.
"You're right. That's exactly why I'm gonna finish you quick and hit Madagascar Island before Brook gets his hands on it."
Rocks hadn't forgotten how Brook stole his shot at Golden Lion Shiki. If not for that, he'd be ruling the skies with a fleet of airships and Sky Islands under his thumb.
Sax Vey's face paled, his heart sinking.
Done for. Just a pawn in their game. Damn it, I'm not ready to go out like this!
If he got another shot at life, he'd train speed first—fast enough to outrun anyone, even his own crew!
Rocks didn't hesitate. His blade flashed, his attack relentless. Vesper had underestimated his ruthlessness, but he wasn't one to waver either. Wrapping his hand in Conqueror's Haki Coiling, he snapped Sax Vey's neck and hurled the body at Rocks.
The move only fueled Rocks' fury. Losing two officers in one fight? Unacceptable. His attacks grew fiercer, overwhelming even Vesper's defenses.
"Hahaha! Rocks, if you won't call Brook over, I'll make you pay more. You've lost two officers, and you won't get a single piece of my treasure hoard—it's all going to Brook, the real winner here!"
Vesper burned his life force, throwing everything into the fight. If he was going down, he'd drag Rocks' pride with him, sowing chaos to weaken his rival's side.
Rocks scoffed. "Brook? He wouldn't dare take it all."
With a single slash, he sent Vesper flying, then barked orders to his crew.
"Raid Ten Kings Island! Strip it clean!"
The promise of looting the wealthy Ten Kings Island sent his officers and dozens of pirate ships into a frenzy. Captain John and Grimm Vane led the charge, their eyes gleaming with greed.
Only Ochoku, the loyal sword-obsessed warrior, stayed behind, watching the clash of titans for a chance to grow stronger.
...
Meanwhile, the Hell Pirates' Golden Ark had reached Madagascar Island, the heart of Vesper's pirate empire. The island gleamed with riches.
"Jahaha! Nothing beats a good old-fashioned heist!"
Golden Lion Shiki rubbed his hands, grinning. Madagascar Island was the New World's wealthiest, Vesper's imperial capital.
"Hit the palace hard!" Brook ordered. "Parrot, Bra Kara, get ready to grab the loot. Shakky, Stussy, prioritize Devil Fruits and rare treasures—load up on gold and Belly only if there's room! Shiki, if you can float the whole palace in one go, make it quick!"
The Castle Fruit and Pocket Fruit might not hold all of Vesper's hoard, so they'd secure the best stuff first. If Shiki could uproot the palace's foundation, even better.
"Yohoho! Let's roll!"
Shakky's face flushed with excitement—she lived for moments like this. Stussy's eyes sparkled, her enthusiasm contagious.
"No problem, Brook! Forget the palace—I'll lift the whole damn island and haul it back to our turf!"
Shiki prepared to dive in, ready to use his Float-Float Fruit to rip Madagascar Island from its roots.
"Hold up!" Brook interrupted. "Let's avoid wrecking the palace in a fight. Time for a Conqueror's Shockwave Array!"
The so-called "array" was just a plan Brook had tossed out yesterday, but it sounded grand enough.
"Jahaha! Let's show these Madagascar chumps who's boss!"
Shiki soared to the farthest edge of the island. Brook and Charlotte Linlin took off on their Hera and Thundercloud Zeus, heading to opposite corners. Redfield, ever sharp, transformed into lightning and zipped to the final direction.
Only Edward Groudon Newgate, unable to fly, stood stoic on the Golden Ark, waiting for orders. No one could guess what was brewing in his mind.
Moments later, a Den Den Mushi crackled. Five bursts of Conqueror's Haki erupted from all sides of the palace. In an instant, countless pirates and civilians on Madagascar Island collapsed like dominoes, overwhelmed by the sheer force.
The palace plunged into chaos. Only the toughest elites remained conscious.
"Evacuate! Get Lady Amber out now!"
The terror was palpable. What kind of enemy could infiltrate the heart of Madagascar Island's palace and unleash five Conqueror's Haki bursts at once? Most of the royal guard couldn't withstand the crushing pressure.
"Jahaha! Looks like we hooked a big one!"
Fresh off his Haki blast, Shiki, empowered by his Float-Float Fruit, zoomed toward the palace center, ready to float the entire structure. He hadn't expected to find a key figure surrounded by guards.
"Damn it! It's Golden Lion Shiki!"
"Why? Aren't the Hell Pirates our allies? Why are they attacking us?!"
"Run! Protect Lady Amber! We'll hold him off!"
Vesper's elite guards charged Shiki, while four of them hustled the unconscious Amber away.
"Jahaha! Think you can escape me? No chance!"
Shiki unleashed another wave of Conqueror's Haki, followed by a barrage of golden slashing waves that tore toward the guards and the fleeing group.
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+300 chapters on p@treon/tambeerg