"Sengoku, you said it yourself—you're a Marine, I'm a pirate. We're enemies. So why on earth should I 'give you face'?"
Roger's booming laugh rang out as he threw Sengoku's own words right back at him, a mocking smile tugging at his lips.
Sengoku's expression instantly turned stormy, his face dark as iron. His jaw clenched as he muttered coldly:
"You forced me into this."
In the next breath, his body swelled and shifted into the towering form of the Buddha. Ten meters tall, radiating golden light, Sengoku loomed over the battlefield, divine and oppressive.
He leapt high, palms pressed together, then unleashed a colossal golden shockwave down upon the island.
The ground erupted as concentric circles of searing golden energy spread outward, forcing everyone on the docks back several steps. The weaker Marines—and even two apprentice members of the Roger Pirates—collapsed, knocked out cold by the sheer force.
"ALL HANDS—RETREAT FROM FISH-MAN ISLAND, NOW!" Sengoku's thunderous command echoed across the port, carried on waves of golden light.
While the Roger Pirates blinked in stunned silence, the battered Marine officers and soldiers seized the chance. They scrambled back toward their warships with desperate speed.
"You think you can run that easily?!" roared Bullet, murderous intent flooding off him as he prepared to chase.
"Stand down, Bullet!" Roger appeared in front of him in a flash, raising one arm to block him.
Bullet ground his teeth but obeyed, though his eyes still burned with frustration.
Meanwhile, Akainu staggered away with the others, his body still seared from battle. Shiro wasn't about to let him escape unscathed.
With a flicker, he teleported behind Akainu and slashed, a blade of energy carving through the air.
"Gah!" Akainu coughed up a fresh spray of blood, his already battered body nearly collapsing under the added wound. He staggered and almost hit the ground.
From his vantage point above the waves, Sengoku stood tall and grim. The warships loomed behind him, white sails snapping in the sea wind, his "Justice" cloak billowing like a banner.
When his sharp eyes caught sight of Shiro pursuing, Sengoku's gaze hardened. His palm glowed with golden light as he slammed forward another shockwave.
A deafening boom split the air. Golden energy tore across the sea, boiling the water into a massive shroud of steam.
At the very last instant, Shiro's figure blurred aside, narrowly slipping past what could've been a fatal strike.
Sengoku kept his post, shielding the retreat. Every time an enemy moved to intercept, another golden shockwave erupted from his hands—both to cover his men and to keep the pirates at bay.
Thanks to his overwhelming force, the Marine officers managed to board safely. Soon, the decks of the warships were packed with exhausted, battered soldiers who had survived by sheer luck.
Shiro prepared to move again—but Roger's voice cut sharply across the battlefield:
"Shiro! Forget them. Get over here and heal our wounded!"
Shiro froze, then turned. His eyes widened.
Fish-Man Island's once-bustling port now lay in ruins. Buildings lay in smoldering heaps, fires raged unchecked, wreckage bobbed on the waves. Smoke and the stench of blood hung heavy in the air.
Everywhere, the Roger Pirates lay scattered—slumped, bleeding, grimacing in pain. Many were gravely injured, their wounds pouring blood that soaked their clothes crimson.
They'd won the battle, yes. But the sheer tide of Marines had left the crew deeply wounded and exhausted.
Clicking his tongue, Shiro sprinted back. His hands glowed with the energy of the Paw-Paw Fruit, pink shockwaves bursting forth as he struck his palms together. Each touch drew out the crew's pain and injuries, which he then fed to his sword spirit. The blade pulsed faintly with absorbed energy as his comrades began to mend.
Just as relief began to settle in, a desperate wail broke the air:
"It's over! We're finished! Fish-Man Island will be erased by the World Government!"
The hopeless cry rang out like a funeral bell.
Turning, they saw King Neptune himself. His face was lined with despair as he gripped his golden trident, his hands trembling.
Roger strode forward, frowning. "King Neptune—why such fear? The Navy's been driven back."
But Neptune only slammed the trident into the ground, his voice choked with bitter frustration.
"Captain Roger, you don't understand. The Navy and the World Government are convinced we stole the Heavenly Tribute. They will come again. Once your crew departs, Fish-Man Island will be left to suffer their wrath!"
Roger froze. His brows drew tight, and he paced in silence. For once, he had no easy answer.
Finally, he turned to Rayleigh. "Rayleigh… how much money do we have left?"
Rayleigh blinked in surprise, but after a pause, answered honestly:
"Six years ago we crushed the Ward Pirates and seized their treasure. Selling their crew to bounty hunters added more. All told, we earned twenty-seven billion berries. After our years of spending, we've got about fifteen billion left. Why?"
Roger's eyes hardened with resolve.
"Then we'll give it to Fish-Man Island. If they add what they can, it will cover the 'lost' tribute. Hand it over to the World Government, and Fish-Man Island should be spared."
"What?!" Rayleigh's jaw dropped. "That's our entire treasury! What about feeding the crew? Supplies? Repairs?!"
Roger just laughed. "We've lived broke before. We'll live broke again. But if Neptune was kind enough to let us copy his Poneglyph, how could we turn our backs and let his people die?"
Rayleigh groaned, rubbing his forehead. "Fine. But you tell the crew."
When Roger announced it, the pirates erupted in shocked chatter. But not one of them opposed him. Their captain's heart was what bound them together.
Shiro slapped a hand to his face, groaning inwardly.
"Great. Following Captain Roger means going hungry three days out of nine…"
He sighed, shoulders slumping. But in the end, he said nothing.
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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