Chapter 56 Not story
The ones who walked out were not the vicious, snarling pirates they had imagined. The man in the lead was tall, but he looked down-and-out, as if he could barely stand up straight. His companions behind him were equally dispirited. Some were drunk, some were pale and thin from hunger, and there was a little kid, carrying a huge ingredient box that was completely out of proportion with his body, looking as if he would be crushed by it at any moment.
They looked like a group of vagrants who had just suffered a terrible defeat, their confidence completely shattered.
This... is the legendary vicious pirate?
This is the final boss of our graduation ceremony?
The young marine elites looked at each other, their eyes filled with disappointment and contempt. "That's it?" The warrior carrying a large axe spat disdainfully. "That's not even enough for one swing of my axe."
Laurenne also frowned. She felt something was wrong, but she couldn't put her finger on it.
In the command center, Zephyr watched this scene and nodded in satisfaction. Very good. Everything is going according to my plan. First, push the students' potential to the limit with a cruel trial, and then use a group of seemingly powerful but actually weak enemies to build their absolute confidence. "Do you see, Momousagi," Zephyr said in a low voice. "This is despair. Even the fiercest beast will have its claws and fangs worn down before the iron wall of justice."
However, the moment his words fell, on the Pinnacle of Glory, Rocks, who had been playing the part of the down-and-out captain, slowly raised his head. His once dull eyes instantly burst with a world-scorning brilliance that could swallow the sun and the moon. He no longer hunched his back, but stood tall, his body like a mountain. The terrifying, world-conquering Haki that he had deliberately suppressed, like an ancient beast that had broken all its chains, awakened with a deafening roar!
In an instant, the entire Pinnacle of Glory changed! The sky seemed to darken, the air became as thick as water, and a fear that came from the depths of the soul seized the throat of every marine elite present.
"Wahahahaha..." Rocks's laughter was no longer weak, but filled with a wanton arrogance and cruelty. He cracked his neck, producing a series of popping sounds, and his gaze swept contemptuously over the stunned victors before him. "Thank you, Zephyr, for preparing this stage for us. It's very magnificent, and also very... fragile."
His crew members behind him also tore off their disguises at the same time. A sharp light shone in Newgate's lazy eyes, and an invisible vibrating force made the ground around them tremble slightly. Linlin licked her lips, her eyes filled with the ecstasy and greed of seeing countless delicious desserts. Prometheus the sun and Zeus the thundercloud emerged from her hair, letting out cheerful cries. The wine gourd in Wang Zhi's hand was open at some point. He took a large swig, and beneath his drunken gaze was a sharpness that saw through everything. Gatz slammed his giant anchor on the ground. BOOM! The hard volcanic rock was smashed, creating a huge crater, and cracks spread out like a spider's web. "Finally, I can stretch my legs! My bones were getting rusty!"
And the little kid who had been carrying the box, Ren, calmly placed the huge ingredient box on the ground and opened it. There were no ingredients inside, only an array of gleaming kitchen knives of various shapes and sizes. He picked up the one that felt most comfortable in his hand, its blade reflecting the cold light of the sun. "The warm-up is over. It's time for the main course."
This sudden, earth-shaking reversal made everyone's brain shut down. The contempt on the faces of the marine elites had long since vanished, replaced by endless fear and despair. They finally understood that they were not facing some cornered dogs. They were lambs who had wandered into a dragon's den.
In the command center, the smile on Zephyr's face froze completely. His pupils contracted, and he stared at the domineering Rocks on the screen. a chill ran up his spine to the top of his head. "You... you all..." When Rocks and the others removed their disguises, Zephyr, as an Admiral, instantly recognized their identities.
The Rocks Pirates!
Zephyr finally realized what a stupid, what a fatal mistake he had made. He wasn't taming beasts; he had let the wolf into the house! He had personally led the most ferocious Trojan Horse into the heart of his proudest fortress!
"All hands, on alert! All hands, on alert!" Zephyr's roar, distorted by anger and horror, echoed through the entire G-2 base via the broadcast system. "This is not a drill! This is not a drill! All combat personnel, proceed to the Pinnacle of Glory immediately! Target, the Rocks Pirates! Eliminate them on sight!"
However, it was too late.
Rocks looked at the group of marine elites before him, who had lost all will to fight and were trembling like leaves, a cruel smile on his face. He raised his right hand and made a grasping motion at the sky. "Alright, the game should be over."
An invisible, distorting gravitational force instantly enveloped the entire mountaintop. The weapons in the hands of the young marines, be they swords or guns, all flew out of their hands, uncontrollably flying into the air. Like iron filings attracted to a magnet, they eventually gathered into a huge, twisted storm of steel, hovering above Rocks's head. This move completely shattered their last line of defense.
"Now..." Rocks's voice was like the verdict of a death god, ringing in the ears of every despairing marine. "Who's first?"
The Pinnacle of Glory had already turned into a one-sided slaughterhouse. The air was thick with the smell of blood and despair, a most ironic contrast to the victorious joy that the marine elites had been exuding just moments before.
"Wahahaha! Too weak! You guys are less durable than the iron gates of the G-5 fortress!" Gatz's wild laughter echoed on the mountaintop. Every swing of his giant anchor was like a merciless battering ram, sending several marine elites, along with their shields, flying, breaking their bones and instantly incapacitating them. He wasn't even using his full strength, just enjoying the pure physical碾压, venting all the frustration he had accumulated on the ship.
"Sloppy footwork, weak will. You're not even worthy of my second thrust," Silver's figure moved through the chaotic battlefield like a phantom. The spear in his hand was no longer the restrained weapon it had been before, but had transformed into a deadly viper. Every thrust accurately pierced the enemy's Armament Haki, striking vital points, yet cleverly avoiding fatal spots, leaving only deep, bone-exposing wounds that made them lose all ability to resist in excruciating pain. To him, this wasn't even a battle, just a somewhat tedious practice to test his own skills.