With a lazy kick Ozz sent the ambitious swordsman who wanted to make a name for himself straight into dreamland.
Behind him the fleet erupted.
These were the grunts Rocks had assigned to Ozz's ship. At first they grumbled. A nameless young captain with no years, no reputation, no legend? That sounded like a dead end.
But time on the sea exposes the truth. After watching Ozz crush opponent after opponent with overwhelming monster strength, every last one of them was conquered.
What did the sea call their captain now?
Black Reaper. Rocks' bastard son. The next king of the sea.
Who were they following really? This was not just a captain. This was the man who would one day take Rocks' seat.
In barely a year Ozz had built up a terrifying reputation and now held real weight on the sea.
Cheers rose wave after wave. At the front was the dual blade fighter, Gick.
He was Ozz's vice captain in name and the loudest in practice. Right now he was waving a transponder snail like it was on fire.
"Hey. Captain Ozz. Message from Captain Rocks."
Ozz picked up the fallen black blade, tossed it straight to Gick, then took the call.
"A Celestial Dragons' field trip?"
"A full sweep?"
The moment he heard the summons he knew. This was it. The big one. The final call. The battle where Rocks would be brought down.
This was also the battle where the old man lost his dream and limped home to his island.
"So it is almost here."
Ozz knew he could not stay long. Once God Valley was over, his time here would probably be up.
He glanced at Gick, who was happily testing the sword he had just been gifted, and shook his head with a look Ozz almost never showed.
"If Rocks losing is what made you sink into despair, old man…"
A flicker of black and crimson lightning slid across his palm.
"Then let me be the one who replaces Rocks in your heart."
This was the battle. This was why he had come back. Fight the strongest and push his power higher. Make sure the old man in this era did not break. That was Ozz's goal.
"Set sail. We have a real war."
"Yeahhhhhh."
...
God Valley.
Shackled slaves were gathered everywhere.
Men, women, children, even the old. Every one of them had a target painted on their backs. They ran in terror through smoke and fire.
"Run."
"Do not kill me."
"If I can just last three weeks I can live."
That was the cruel fantasy in God Valley. Survive the Celestial Dragon hunt and you got to live.
"What a boring fence-and-chicken game."
"Right, Saint Saturn?"
High above the burning field, an old man with a staff sat calmly watching, two Marine guards standing like statues at his side.
The sudden voice made both guards jolt. They spun around.
When they saw the tall stranger who had appeared out of nowhere they were about to shout and attack, but Saturn raised his hand.
"You two. Stand down."
"This…"
They did not understand, but they dared not disobey. They stepped back.
When it was just the two of them left watching the carnage, it was Saturn who spoke first.
"A Celestial Dragon like you. Why would you join the Rocks Pirates?"
His cold, lofty eyes had finally rippled. The man beside him was too abnormal.
"Celestial Dragon?"
"There is no need to test me. You are not wearing the chip, but I can sense it. That is a Celestial Dragon marker."
He stared at the tall, relaxed figure.
"You came from the future, did you not, Ozz."
From the beginning, all that talk about being Rocks' illegitimate son or Roger's brother had been nothing but World Government smokescreen. Their intel had already guessed part of Ozz's origin.
Now that they were face to face, Saturn could finally confirm it.
Yes. The one who had slipped ahead to God Valley to scout was Ozz. With his movement speed he left the Rocks fleet far behind. Coming over to greet an old acquaintance like Saturn was just a whim. He did not expect to be recognized.
"As expected of a Gorosei who has lived for centuries. Nothing escapes you."
Ozz did not deny it. He bit down on his cigar, exhaled smoke.
"I count as a Celestial Dragon, but not completely. It is just an identity."
"My real goal is to make sure there is only one victor in this battle."
"Only one?"
Saturn was not angered by Ozz's arrogance. He could feel this young Celestial Dragon's frightening power. What he did not get was this:
"If there can be only one victor, which identity wins?"
"Pirate? Or Celestial Dragon?"
Ozz just shook his head with a confident smile.
"No. I will win. And I will only represent myself."
The conversation was short. So short Saturn did not even figure out which family's scion this was before Ozz vanished from sight.
Boom.
A Marine battleship at the shore was suddenly shelled. The scene began to change.
On the east side of the island, a fleet cut through the sea and crashed into the hunt.
The lookout Marines took one look at the flag and their eyes almost fell out.
"It is the Rocks Pirates."
"Rocks Pirates? Why?"
"More pirates? What do they want?"
"Fire."
"Useless. Rocks Pirates, forward."
Cannon fire did not matter. Once the ships landed, every monster jumped ashore.
Whitebeard leapt down first with a beauty on his back.
"Hey Rocks. Since when am I your subordinate?"
"Newgate, you came too?"
"Whoever gets it first wins."
"That is mine."
The captains roared over each other, arrogant and vicious.
Then a figure dropped from the ship. Under countless awed stares, Ozz in a black coat landed at the very front.
He was smiling. There was light in his eyes as if he meant to stab every side on the field.
"God Valley War."
"The only victor will be me."
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