The G-2 base was plunged into darkness and chaos. Although the backup power kicked in after a few seconds, the base's internal defense systems and most of the surveillance were completely paralyzed. On the Pinnacle of Glory, Zephyr looked at the extinguished surveillance screens, felt the violent tremors from the core area of the fortress beneath his feet, and his iron heart sank to the bottom.
He had lost. Utterly and completely. Not only had he lost this battle, but he had also lost all his dignity and pride as the commander of G-2.
"Wahahaha! Looks like my crew has prepared the appetizer," Rocks retracted his fist, no longer attacking. He looked at the ashen-faced Zephyr, a victorious, mocking smile on his face. "Now, it's time to enjoy our main course."
Before his words had even faded, he turned to leave. "Stop!" Zephyr let out an inhuman roar. His massive body once again erupted with a powerful aura, his crimson eyes burning with a reckless madness. "Even if G-2 is reduced to ruins today, I will keep you scum here forever!" Like a cornered, wounded lion, he launched his final, most ferocious attack.
"Iron Arm: Justice Shatter!" Zephyr poured all the Haki of his entire life into his arm. The air around him was drawn in by this force, forming a small storm. He slammed this blow, which condensed all his anger and honor, at Rocks's back, vowing to take him down with him.
"Gurararara... your opponent is me!" An even more massive figure blocked Rocks's path. It was Newgate. He had broken away from his opponent at some point and was now gripping his naginata with both hands, pushing his own strength and the power of the Tremor-Tremor Fruit to the absolute limit. A pure white, crack-like halo covered the blade of his naginata. It was the power of vibration that could shatter everything.
"Sea Quake!" Newgate swung his blade, and the space in front of him shattered like a broken mirror! Zephyr's "Justice Shatter" and Newgate's "Sea Quake," two attacks representing the world's top-tier destructive power, collided head-on in mid-air.
BOOM!
There was no shockwave, no explosion. In that instant, it was as if all the sound in the world had been sucked away. Then, a deep, huge crack appeared in the solid mountain of the Pinnacle of Glory, starting from the point of impact. The crack, like a狰狞 scar, quickly spread throughout the entire mountain. The next second, this mountain, which symbolized the glory of G-2, collapsed with a deafening, teeth-grinding roar!
"Go!" Rocks seized the opportunity and shouted at Linlin and Wang Zhi. The four figures, under the cover of the collapsing mountain, sped toward the secret dockyard.
Zephyr was sent stumbling back by the full force of Newgate's blow, his blood roiling. He watched helplessly as Rocks and the others disappeared into the dust, unable to pursue. He turned to look at Newgate, this man who also possessed the disposition of a king, and asked in a hoarse voice, "Why? Why would a man like you follow a madman like Rocks?"
Newgate shouldered his naginata and grinned. "Gurararara... I'm not following. We're partners. Besides, his ship has the best booze and the best food."
This answer left Zephyr stunned.
In the secret dockyard, Dolum had already violently broken open the bridge door of the Azure Dragon. He was now sitting in the huge command chair, his hands flying across the complex control console like phantoms. His eyes shone with fanaticism, and he muttered to himself, "Power core connection is normal... energy circuit self-check is complete... hull integrity is one hundred percent... oh, my god, this is the most perfect masterpiece of the God of Shipwrights!"
"Dolum! Hurry up!" Gatz urged from outside. He was blocking the passage with his body and anchor, holding back the marine soldiers who had rushed over.
"Coming! Everyone, hold on tight!" Dolum slammed the last red start button. VWOOM— A low hum, like an ancient dragon awakening, came from deep within the ship. The countless indicator lights on the hull of the jet-black giant ship lit up in succession, and a massive and terrifying aura slowly awakened.
Outside the bridge's huge observation window, the figures of Rocks, Linlin, Wang Zhi, Ren, and Silver could be seen rushing over from a distance. "Open the door! Welcome the Captain!" Dolum roared and pressed the switch for a huge hatch on the side of the hull.
Just as Rocks and the others were about to board the ship, a roar came from the top of the dockyard. "You won't get away!" Zephyr, dragging his injured body, had actually smashed through the roof of the dockyard and was descending from the sky. His fist, carrying the last of his strength, slammed toward the opening hatch. He wanted to stop the pirates' escape at the last moment.
"Too late," Rocks snorted. He didn't even turn his head, just waved his hand back. An invisible gravitational field instantly appeared, slowing Zephyr's descent for a split second. In that split second, Rocks and the others had all rushed into the ship.
"Dolum! Fire!" Rocks gave his first order as the new captain.
"You got it!" Dolum roared excitedly. He pulled a lever marked with a skull. "Azure Dragon's Roar!"
The bow of the Azure Dragon, which was shaped like a ferocious dragon's mouth, opened wide. A highly compressed, destructively glowing ball of energy quickly gathered within it. BOOM! A thick beam of energy shot up into the sky. It wasn't aimed at Zephyr, but directly at the final gate of the dockyard in front of them, a gate that was dozens of meters thick and cast from refined steel!
In the face of the Azure Dragon's main cannon, the so-called iron wall was like paper. It was instantly melted and pierced, leaving a huge hole. The sea route ahead was forcibly opened!
"Depart!" Dolum pushed the control lever. This super-warship, which had changed hands before it was even officially launched, was like a black dragon that had broken all its chains. With a ferocity that completely belied its massive size, it smashed through the last of the slipway's locks, charged out of the dockyard, and into the vast, open sea!
Behind it was the collapsing Pinnacle of Glory, the ravaged G-2 base, and Zephyr's bloodshot eyes, filled with unwillingness and humiliation. In the end, he had failed to stop them. He had personally gifted these future hegemons of the seas the strongest ship of a king.
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