Very soon, the entire G-3 Branch had assembled.
"Boom——"
The engines of the warships began to heat up, rumbling heavily as ripples spread across the surface of the harbor.
Thousands of Marine soldiers stood in perfectly aligned formations, standing tall and silent on the vast drill ground.
Rayne Hawke stood atop a raised platform, his gaze sharp and piercing like a hawk's as he swept his eyes across the gathered Marines below.
He could see that many soldiers still had bandages wrapped around wounds from yesterday, their faces showing lingering exhaustion and pain.
But their backs were straight, and their stances unshaken.
"Not bad."
Hawke's voice was clear and steady, carrying to everyone's ears.
"I know you're tired, and I know you're still injured."
"I know the battle alert came suddenly and without warning."
"But a soldier's duty is to fight!"
"Now, I have only one question for you."
Hawke's gaze sharpened, as if piercing straight into each Marine's soul.
"Can you still lift your weapons?!"
"..."
Silence.
And then, after that brief silence came an earth-shaking roar!
"Yes!!"
"Yes!!!"
"YES!!!"
The deafening shouts of thousands merged into a single powerful wave of sound, making the drill ground tremble ever so slightly.
"Good!"
Hawke nodded in satisfaction.
This—this was the spirit he wanted.
His voice suddenly turned cold, filled with unrestrained killing intent.
"Our mission today is not to repel them. Not to drive them off. Not to warn them!"
"Our mission is only one!"
"Annihilate them completely!"
Hawke raised his arm high.
"We'll wipe out the incoming pirate crew."
"We'll erase Mock Town, the nest that raised them."
"Erase Mock Town from the face of this sea entirely!"
"Let the pirates' wails and blood carve G-3 Branch's name into history!"
"From this day forward, let the entire Paradise know—"
"G-3 gives the orders here!!"
"!!!"
"This…"
The soldiers' eyes widened in shock.
Erase Mock Town?!
That lawless haven of pirates?! That so-called paradise of criminals?!
But…
There was no "but"!!!
An indescribable frenzy surged up from the depths of their hearts.
This was the battle they craved!
This was the iron-blooded might and unyielding dominance that the Marines, the embodiment of Justice, should wield!
Let Justice be written in blood!
"Annihilate them completely!!!"
Everyone roared together once more.
"Good!"
Hawke surveyed the scene before him.
"All units, board the ships!"
"Yes, sir!!"
"Wooooo——!!!"
A long, piercing blast of the steam whistle echoed across the entire G-3 Branch.
The massive fleet slowly began to depart the harbor.
Three colossal warships formed the core of the fleet.
Five large warships and ten medium-sized warships fanned out to the sides, their cold, steel cannons gleaming menacingly in the sunlight.
This unprecedentedly massive fleet, carrying thousands of bloodthirsty Marines, cut through the waves at full speed.
...
On the incoming pirate ship.
The lookout of the Bellamy Pirates was scanning the distant Marine base through a telescope, searching for the best angle of attack.
Suddenly—"!!!"
His pupils shrank violently.
"C-Captain!!"
The lookout's voice trembled uncontrollably.
"What is it?"
"T-The base… there are ships leaving the harbor!"
"Heh, finally decided to come out, huh?"
Bellamy sneered, flexing his wrists.
"Perfect. I'll show these Marines the power of the 'New Era'!"
"N-No… it's not just one ship!"
The lookout's voice cracked into a scream. "It's an entire fleet!!!"
"What?!"
Bellamy snatched the telescope out of his hands.
Through the lens, he saw warship after warship steadily sailing out from the G-3 Branch's harbor.
Three colossal warships like moving mountains.
Five slightly smaller large warships.
Ten medium-sized warships spread out in a crane formation, guarding the wings.
Rows upon rows of cannon muzzles, a steel forest glinting with deathly cold light, were all aimed directly at their lonely pirate ship.
"..."
"Gulp…"
Bellamy swallowed hard, cold sweat soaking his back in an instant.
What kind of sick joke was this?!
How could a branch have this kind of setup?!
Even the fleets from Marine Headquarters weren't this intimidating!!!
His pathetic little ship wasn't even enough to wedge between the teeth of this steel armada!
They were doomed.
They had kicked an iron wall this time.
"Turn around—!! Turn the damn ship around right now!!"
Bellamy screamed, all his former arrogance gone.
In a panic, he fumbled in his coat and pulled out a Den Den Mushi.
This attack on G-3 Branch was supposed to be his offering—a show of strength to prove his worth to the young master Doflamingo he idolized.
Now, begging for help would undoubtedly lower his standing in Doffy's eyes.
But…
What good is pride when your life's on the line?!
"Buru-buru~ buru-buru~"
The Den Den Mushi rang several times, but no one answered.
And then—
"BOOM——!!!"
The fleet opened fire.
The thunderous roar of the cannons shattered the calm of the sea instantly.
Dozens of shells, trailing blazing tails of fire, tore through the sky as they screamed toward the pirate ship.
"BOOM——!!!"
One shell struck the ship's starboard side dead-on, the violent explosion blasting a gaping hole into the deck.
The entire ship rocked violently, and Bellamy's Den Den Mushi flew out of his hands, crashing to the ground.
"C-Captain! We're under fire!"
One of his crewmates, face drenched in blood, yelled frantically.
"No shit! I can see that!!!" Bellamy roared back.
"No, Captain, look at that shell!!"
The crewmate pointed to the sky, his expression twisting into horror.
"There's… someone on it!!!"
Bellamy snapped his head up.
On the shell launched from the central battleship of the fleet, a lone figure was standing tall atop it!
His posture was straight and steady, and the cloak on his back, emblazoned with the word "Justice," billowed violently in the howling wind.
...
The wind screamed past his ears.
Beneath him, the spinning shell tore through the air with devastating force.
Hawke stood with his hands casually in his pockets, savoring the sheer speed of it.
"Hmm…"
A faint smile curled Hawke's lips.
"So this is the perspective of Admiral Kizaru, huh?"
"Other than the wind being a bit too strong, I've gotta say, it feels pretty damn good."
"BOOM——"
Hawke landed smoothly, the shell beneath his feet continuing onward, piercing straight through the pirate ship's deck.
Standing at the edge of the gaping hole it left behind, Hawke glanced at the chaotic, panic-stricken pirates scrambling across the deck.
A jet-black coating of Armament Haki instantly engulfed his fists.
"Bang!"
Hawke swung his left fist.
The force ripped through the air, collapsing a pirate's chest instantly and sending him flying.
"Bang!"
Another punch.
No wasted movements. No fancy techniques.
Just pure, unrestrained, and absolute violence.
Blood splattered across the deck.
Screams filled the air, the only soundtrack to the slaughter.
"MARINE!!!"
Watching his crewmates fall one after another, Bellamy's bloodshot eyes burned with fury.
"How dare you!!!"
He roared, the muscles in his calves suddenly transforming into tightly compressed springs.
"Spring Sniper——!!!"
"Bang!"
The deck exploded beneath his feet as Bellamy's figure blurred, vanishing into a near-invisible afterimage, rocketing straight toward Hawke with unstoppable force.
He had turned himself into a living cannonball.
But facing this full-powered, all-or-nothing strike…
Hawke simply swung his right fist to meet the oncoming blur.
"BOOM——!!!"
Fist and body collided with an earth-shaking impact.
"..."
Bellamy felt like he had slammed into a meteor traveling at supersonic speed.
His entire body shot backward faster than he had charged forward, crashing violently into the mainmast before sliding to the ground.
Blood spewed from his mouth like a fountain.
"Vrrrmmm——"
By now, the massive fleet had completed its encirclement, fully trapping the battered pirate ship.
"Shff! Shff! Shff!"
Dane led the Marines onto the deck, quickly subduing the few pirates still conscious.
"Step—"
Hawke walked slowly toward Bellamy, lifting his boot.
He stomped down hard on Bellamy's pain-twisted face and ground it mercilessly into the deck.
"So, you're the clown of this so-called New Era?"
"Fufufufufufu——!"
Just then, the Den Den Mushi Bellamy had dropped suddenly erupted with a strange, mocking laugh.
The Den Den Mushi, wearing tiny sunglasses and grinning wide, perfectly mimicked its owner's expression.
"Bellamy… sounds like things are getting lively over there, hmm?!"
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