The Marine fleet drew closer as Roy and Atmos touched down on Hachinosu for resupply.
"Big bro, Ace and the others aren't here," Atmos said.
"Mm, I already know. Does anyone know where they went?" Roy asked.
"I asked around, but no one knows. They said Ace and the others left just a couple of days ago, but their destination is unclear. Though I think I heard Deuce mention back in Wano that he wanted to find the 'Burned Man,'" Atmos replied.
"They're looking for that guy, huh? That sea territory is pretty dangerous, and it's very likely they'll run into a clash with Red-Hair," Roy chuckled.
"Red-Hair… I just heard news, Eustass Kid went to challenge him. But now he's already been defeated, life or death unknown. And over on Pops side, they also took down Law. That guy really did betray us!" Atmos said angrily.
"Not surprising that both of them lost. You've been exhausted these past few days, take a rest. Eat your fill and then get some sleep," Roy said.
"Big bro, I, "
"Sleep."
Roy gave him a look, forcing him to obediently rest.
They had set out from Moby Dick Island, gone to Wano, been bombed by Ryokugyu, received treatment from Deuce for his injuries, then taken Ryokugyu to Karai Bari Island, and now arrived at Hachinosu, the Pirate Island. Atmos hadn't rested for seven consecutive days.
Roy didn't mind, he could always sleep on Atmos's back while flying. But Atmos had been flying nonstop for seven days, and his body was clearly reaching its limit. Roy had long since noticed early on, so he deliberately stopped here at Hachinosu for supplies and rest.
"Time-wise, we should still make it," Roy murmured, pulling out the fruit he had been carrying with him.
The person in charge of the Whitebeard Pirates on the island arrived, it was captain of a subordinate crew, Thunder Lord Makugai.
"Big Bro, we've prepared everything you asked for," Makugai said, bringing his men over.
"Keep an eye on Atmos. Let him rest properly, and don't let anyone disturb him," Roy instructed.
Makugai swallowed nervously, nodded firmly. "Yes!"
Roy entered the skull-shaped building, while Makugai and his men stood guard at the entrance, ensuring no one entered.
"Ahhh!!!"
A scream suddenly echoed from within, but within seconds it was cut off. A sinister, evil aura seeped out, making their spines go cold.
"Captain, what is Big Bro doing inside?" one of Makugai's subordinates asked nervously, glancing toward the building.
"Shut up! Don't ask questions," Makugai scolded his subordinate. He didn't even know what Roy was doing, he just followed Roy's instructions.
The subordinate quickly quieted down, standing stiffly at the door.
More screams came from inside, but each was short-lived, cut off almost as soon as they began. Finally, Roy walked out, his face full of excitement, spitting to the side.
"Big bro."
"Disgusting taste… Clean up inside," Roy said with a grin.
"O-okay," Makugai replied without asking any questions, though he noticed that Roy seemed somewhat different.
Roy walked away cheerfully, heading toward a nearby bakery. Pulling out a gold coin, he bought the entire stock of bread.
When Makugai and his men went inside to clean up, they were shocked, bones scattered everywhere.
Earlier, Roy had ordered them to bring people, criminals, bad guys, but not innocent civilians. Preferably slave traders.
Coincidentally, a group of forty traffickers had recently been captured on Hachinosu. They had been delivered here.
Now, looking at the bones littering the ground, Makugayi's men could only confirm, it was those very criminals who had just been brought in.
"These bones… don't tell me they were all…"
The subordinate's face went pale. I'f only bones were left… where did the flesh go?'
'Could it be… eaten?'
The thought made their hair stand on end. If Roy really ate people… that was terrifying beyond imagination.
"Shut up. We didn't see anything. Clean this place," Makugai ordered coldly.
"Yes!"
Terrified, his men didn't dare to utter another word. They quickly gathered the bones, clearing everything until the place was spotless again.
Meanwhile, Roy was enjoying food. Just then, someone came rushing over.
"Big bro! The war between the Cross Guild and the Navy has begun!"
"The roast meat ready yet?"
"Y-Yes, it's ready."
"And the wine?"
"A-Also ready."
"Hahahaha! Then what are we waiting for? Call everyone! Let's eat and drink while we watch the battle, my brothers!" Roy laughed heartily.
Everyone relaxed at his laughter, quickly preparing the banquet. Nearby Whitebeard-affiliated pirates who had returned to port also joined the feast.
The battle had begun. Though they were watching through the Cross Guild's broadcast, and various re-broadcasts, with some delay, the view was still clear enough.
The marine fleet landed on the shore. The scene reminded Roy of the war at Marineford that never happened in this world because of him.
In his timeline, the Summit War had been prevented. But here, because of his interference, a new kind of war was breaking out, an all-out clash between the Cross Guild and the Marine Headquarters.
The Marines had itheir own dramatic entrance. In the Marineford war, Whitebeard pirates had infiltrated from undersea.
But this time? Even more outrageous, A dog-headed warship dropped from the sky. On its prow stood a single man.
"He's here!"
Kuzan looked up at the ship with a familiar feeling. That entrance could only belong to one person.
"Hero of the Marine, Garp!!"
Moria gritted his teeth. This was an old warrior from the previous era, one who had fought Roger himself.
Even though Roy had revealed long ago that Roger wasn't actually captured by Garp, but had surrendered himself, it didn't change the fact that Garp was still a top power house and the Marine Hero.
"Run!"
The Cross Guild members below scattered, if the ship came crashing down, they'd be crushed to death.
Crocodile transformed into sand, vanishing before reappearing in an open space.
"Sandstorm!!"
He raised his hand, conjuring a massive tornado, hurling it upward to catch the falling warship, redirecting it with sheer force.
"I told you this entrance wasn't reliable!!" Helmeppo screamed from the ship.
"Where's Vice Admiral Garp?!" asked Kujaku.
"I don't know either!!"
By then, Garp had already leapt from the warship. His fist was coated with Conqueror's Haki, black lightning crackling around it. A massive shockwave halo gathered at his knuckles.
"GALAXY IMPACT!!"
His Haki-charged punch slammed into the earth. The shockwave that erupted was no less devastating than a meteor's crash, flattening everything in its path, and blasting countless pirates away.
"Garp!!!"
From the stage, Buggy screamed. Seeing this attack reminded him of the old days, when, as part of Roger's crew, they were relentlessly hunted by this same man. Back then, too, Garp had attacked them in exactly this way.
...
If you enjoy the story, my p@treon is 30 chapters ahead.
[email protected]/DaoistJinzu