"Cough, cough !"
Koshiro started coughing, and a messy cloud of smoke spilled from his mouth.
He hurriedly patted his chest, staring at Tengetsu Ares' arm like he'd seen a ghost. He sucked in a sharp breath.
"Ares… you… you really never trained Ryuo before?!"
For a moment, Koshiro even suspected Ares had already mastered Ryuo and was just messing with him.
But after a beat, he dismissed the thought.
Ares wasn't that kind of man.
"I didn't learn it before. My learning talent is just strong," Ares said. Feeling the Haki flowing around his fist, he couldn't hide his excitement.
Then he turned and walked up to a tall tree.
"Let's test Ryuo's power."
Ares threw a punch.
His fist stopped several inches from the trunk, never making contact yet the Haki on his knuckles surged like a strange arc of light and pierced straight through the tree.
A hole exploded open in the trunk.
And the trees behind it several more were punched through as well, each one left with a clean, fist-shaped void.
It looked like the old saying brought to life hitting a bull through the air, striking without touching.
Seeing it, Ares' face lit up. He was thoroughly satisfied.
"This technique is insane!"
"With this, I can train the inside of my body… and I can use it against enemies with terrifying durability, too."
Like Charlotte Linlin, that "iron balloon" of a monster.
Koshiro watched Ares and could only sigh in admiration.
"Ares, your Haki is far stronger than mine. That was just a casual strike, and your Ryuo pierced that far. Once you truly refine this technique, it'll be even more terrifying."
"Ryuo is only a method," he added. "The true key is how strong your Armament is. With your talent, your Armament will grow quickly."
The stronger the Haki, the more lethal the internal destruction Ryuo could produce.
"Koshiro-san, thank you!" Ares grinned from ear to ear. "You've helped me a lot. Tonight, we're drinking until we can't stand!"
He was genuinely overjoyed.
A true Supreme Grade blade was hard not only on the outside, but on the inside too solid as one whole, without weakness.
Ares wasn't "strong outside, weak inside," but his internal toughness still wasn't enough.
Ryuo was a solution to an urgent problem.
A method that could finally temper organs and internal structures effectively.
...
Marineford Navy Headquarters
Buru-buru
Buru-buru
Fleet Admiral Kong, broad-shouldered and imposing, picked up the Den Den Mushi. On the other end came the voice of the Five Elders.
"Kong. Put aside what you're doing and come to Mary Geoise."
"Yes. I'll head there immediately."
Kong's expression turned heavy. In his mind, there was only one likely reason.
The Rocks Pirates.
Inside the room, Garp lounged on the sofa, casually picking his nose.
"Don't tell me they're calling you over to blame you for the failed rescue?"
They'd caused chaos on Hachinosu and released a mass of prisoners, sure.
But those prisoners were quickly hunted down by the Rocks Pirates' commanders.
And CP0… had sent back one bad report after another, until they finally declared the plan a failure and withdrew from Hachinosu.
"What it is, I'll know once I'm there," Kong said, then pointed at Garp sternly. "You stay at HQ for once. Don't go wandering off."
"Otherwise when I need you, you'll be nowhere to be found."
He threw on his Justice coat, ordered a warship prepared, and immediately set off for Mary Geoise.
...
Hachinosu Pirate Island
Clear skies.
A high platform had been built in front of the Skull Castle.
The surrounding streets, buildings, rooftops everything was packed with people. Countless pirates craned their necks, eyes locked on the stage.
"Rocks really is the number one pirate… executing a Celestial Dragon in public? That's an event big enough to shake the seas!"
"Have you noticed? There aren't any reporters. The World Government probably banned the papers from covering something this humiliating."
"Celestial Dragons… those 'descendants of the creators.' Normally you stay as far away as possible. One wrong move and the forces that protect them wipe you out."
"Do you think an Admiral will show up today? Admirals are supposed to protect the Celestial Dragons."
"An Admiral? Please. Admirals wouldn't dare come here. Do you have any idea how many pirates are gathered on this island? Even the Navy wouldn't dare."
"Executing Celestial Dragons… damn, that feels good! I saw my old captain once, turned into a slave made into a Celestial Dragon's mount. It was disgusting. Miserable."
"This is a first in the seas. It used to be the Navy executing pirates. Now the wheel turns. Today it's our turn to execute Celestial Dragons!"
"..."
The pirate crowd buzzed, a sea of voices and a sea of eyes fixed on the platform.
On the stage stood a man in a cape, his face arrogant and fierce. A Den Den Mushi sat in his hand as he spoke.
"I'm sure you all know what's about to happen…"
"Celestial Dragons always claim they're descendants of the creators. But I, Rocks, don't believe that."
"They're parasites."
"Selfish, greedy leeches!"
"They take every race across the seas and turn them into slaves, trampling dignity underfoot. They toy with people, treat them like playthings like mounts like objects to satisfy their desires!"
"They disregard life and steal lives as if it's nothing. They're more cruel than pirates!"
"They demand absurd 'protection' payments from allied nations tribute they call Heavenly Tribute."
"And for nations that refuse to join? They raise the butcher's knife and bring it down!"
"They ignite war after war inhuman, merciless wars!"
"..."
Rocks' voice, amplified through the Den Den Mushi, spread across half of Hachinosu.
The island went quiet.
They listened as he exposed crime after crime of the World Government.
Under his words, the pirates' emotions were guided and stoked rage, hatred, bloodlust…
Some had eyes so red they looked ready to rush up and kill the Celestial Dragons with their own hands.
Sensing the crowd had been fully stirred, Rocks signaled his men.
"Bring them up."
When the Celestial Dragons saw the ocean of pirates, their faces went white. They shrank back, bodies trembling uncontrollably.
Rotten eggs, spoiled vegetables, even buckets of animal blood hurled and splashed from both sides.
Along with curses so filthy they could rot the air.
In moments, the Celestial Dragons reeked. They were covered head to toe in filth.
As "world nobles," they'd spent their days wrapped in luxury. They didn't even want to breathe the "dirty air" touched by ordinary humans.
The Egbert family's will was fragile to begin with.
Under that kind of humiliation and shock, they collapsed fainting outright.
"Put them on the platform," Rocks ordered.
Pirates dragged the unconscious Celestial Dragons up to the execution stand.
Rocks grinned viciously and barked, "Wake them with ice water! Use plenty. I want them conscious the whole time!"
Soon
Cold water was poured over them again and again until they jolted awake, eyes filled with despair.
"Ze hahahaha…"
Rocks' smile was wicked. He planted a boot on one Celestial Dragon, crushing him down until he stumbled and collapsed like a pile of mud.
"Look at their eyes," Rocks said, sweeping his gaze over the crowd. "Look at how many people in this world want you dead."
"Your very existence is a disaster."
He raised his arms and laughed.
"I know you all want to see the Celestial Dragons executed. But before that…"
"I, Rocks, have something to announce."
"The Rocks Pirates will launch total war against the World Government!!!"
"If you want to destroy the World Government with us then stay on this island, and join the war!"
"We will create a New World…"
"A New World truly ruled by pirates!"
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