"Nani?! How can this be?"
Tiger shot up in alarm, chest heaving as stormy rage churned in his eyes.
"Why would the Marines suddenly come here?"
Jinbe's broad face darkened. His voice shook, stuttering with guilt.
"I-It was Arlong… he snuck out before… a-and stole part of the Heavenly Tribute!"
"What? Has that fool lost his mind?!"
Tiger clutched his forehead, sweat pouring down as he forced himself to breathe. But even through his anger, doubt clawed at him.
"No… the Heavenly Tribute is escorted by Marine officers of high rank. How could Arlong, with his strength, possibly succeed?"
"He and his men smashed holes in the tribute ship's hull," Jinbe said bitterly, his head bowed, blue scales dull in the dim light.
"Then… where's the tribute now?"
Tiger seized Jinbe's massive shoulder, eyes blazing.
"It all… sank into the sea."
Tiger stumbled back two steps, then collapsed, clutching his head in despair.
"That idiot! He's doomed us all!"
"Brother Tiger, don't lose heart!"
A heavy hand smelling of rum landed on his shoulder—Roger's. The pirate captain turned toward Jinbe, grin sharp despite the tension.
"Little fatty, tell me straight. Who's leading the Marines this time?"
Jinbe bristled at the nickname, but the crisis left him no room to argue. He steadied his breath and answered grimly:
"It's Fleet Admiral Sengoku himself. And with him… three vice admirals: Akainu, Kizaru, and Aokiji."
Roger's grin widened. His saber Ace rattled in its sheath, resonating with his booming laugh.
"So it's Sengoku, eh? It's been a long time. Perfect chance to catch up!"
His voice rang like thunder.
"Crew! We've got work to do!"
Instantly, steel clashed across the Oro Jackson's deck. The Roger Pirates' eyes gleamed with bloodthirsty excitement.
Rayleigh polished his blade with calm elegance. Gaban's fingers trembled on the hafts of his axes. Bullet swung his fists like a war god descending.
They leapt from the ship, startling silver flying fish into the air as their boots hit the port.
Fishmen working nearby screamed and scattered, coral tools clattering across the ground.
Arlong, the cause of it all, cowered in a shell house, shaking like a leaf—typical of someone both weak and reckless.
"Brother, don't be afraid. I've divined it—you'll come through unharmed," said little Shyarly, barely five years old. Her chubby cheeks were serious as she held a glowing crystal ball.
Arlong hugged her tightly, joy flashing across his face.
"Really, Shyarly?!"
Meanwhile, in the palace, King Neptune dropped his trident with a crash. The mighty ruler's face had turned deathly pale, coral crown sliding askew. Stumbling forward on unsteady legs, his great tail slammed the ground in frantic rhythm as he rushed toward the port.
When he reached the Marines, he struck the coral tiles with his tail, bowing low.
"Welcome, Fleet Admiral Sengoku!"
Sengoku stood tall in his pristine Justice cloak, goat beard twitching with his breath. His gaze was like ice as he spoke:
"King Neptune. Hand over the Heavenly Tribute at once. Refuse, and Fishman Island will be erased from the map."
Neptune reeled, eyes wide.
"T-The Heavenly Tribute? But… we already delivered it!"
Sengoku's aura surged, crashing like a tidal wave. The emblem of Justice on his coat blazed in the gale of his power.
"Don't play dumb. Five days ago, your people stole a tribute meant for the World Government. Do you still dare deny it?!"
Behind him, the three vice admirals stepped forward in unison—Akainu's magma simmering, Kizaru's fingertips glowing with eerie light, Aokiji's boots frosting the ground with ice.
Neptune shook his head desperately, pearls falling from his crown as his hands waved.
"No… impossible! Our people are loyal, obedient to the World Government! We would never—this is a mistake!"
But his protests shrank into nothing under Sengoku's crushing presence.
"Enough lies, Neptune! Deny it again, and I'll order a Buster Call. You know what that means!"
Sengoku's voice boomed like a war drum, shaking the very air.
Marines all around raised their rifles in perfect unison, muzzles aimed at trembling fishmen.
Neptune's vision went black. He collapsed to the ground.
That was when a carefree laugh split the tension.
"Well, well, Sengoku… throwing your weight around, are you?"
Roger strolled into view, hands in his pockets, red cloak snapping in the current. At his hip, Ace gleamed with cold light.
Sengoku's pupils shrank. His voice broke into disbelief.
"R-Roger?! Why are you here? The Roger Pirates should be in the New World!"
Roger stopped in front of Neptune, eyes locking with Sengoku's. Their wills collided like thunderclaps, Conqueror's Haki exploding outward. The weaker Marines and fishmen dropped unconscious where they stood.
Cowering behind a distant reef, Buggy peeked out. He'd been through this enough times—this time, he made sure to hide far away.
"Sengoku," Roger said firmly, one hand tightening on Ace's hilt. "King Neptune did me a great favor. Do me a courtesy—leave the fishmen alone."
Veins bulged on his hand as his blade slid an inch free, sharp light flashing.
Sengoku's jaw clenched, golden energy swirling in his palms—the power of the Human-Human Fruit, Mythical Zoan: Buddha.
"Roger, you're a pirate. I'm a Marine. We're enemies. Do you think I'll back down for your sake? If Neptune won't hand over the tribute and the culprits, then there's only one outcome."
Tiger clenched his fists, ready to step forward and take the blame.
Roger's eyes burned.
"Then we'll fight!"
Ace tore free of its sheath with a ringing cry, slicing the air.
Rayleigh, Gaban, Bullet, and the others closed ranks at his side, forming an unshakable wall.
Sengoku raised his hands, golden light flaring.
"Very well, Roger. Today I'll end your crew once and for all!"
The vice admirals shifted into their battle stances: magma boiling, light bending, ice piercing the ground. Gion and Tokikake unsheathed their weapons, ready for war.
Roger thrust Ace skyward, voice booming with ferocity.
"Brothers! Wreck the Marines—turn this world upside down!"
"AYE!"
The roar of the Roger Pirates clashed with the shouts of the Marines, shaking Fishman Island to its core.
"Capture them all! Drag Roger and his men into Impel Down!"
Sengoku's command split the air like thunder.
The Marine forces surged forward like a tidal wave.
And thus began a battle that would shake the seas—Roger Pirates versus the Navy's might.
T/N: If you would like to read up to 20 chapters ahead for all my works, check out my P@treon: patreon.com/GhidorahWriter
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