Bang!
Bang!
Bang!
A terrifying aura suddenly swept across the battlefield.
Every single person present stiffened as if frozen in place.
Strong.
No.
Overwhelmingly strong!
To be precise, Arthur's strength among the gathered fighters could only be considered average. The truly monstrous ones were Roger, Shiki, and Edward Newgate. And yet, at this moment, even they could feel it clearly—
This presence… was even stronger than theirs.
The realization shook them to their cores.
Was there really someone on the seas who had reached such a level?
If it were an old monster from a previous era, they wouldn't have been surprised. Age and experience could easily account for such strength.
But this was different.
Their Observation Haki told them clearly—
This presence was young.
Like a blazing sun still rising, filled with explosive vitality and endless potential.
"…Hmm."
Arthur murmured softly.
"With strength like that… there's only one person it could be."
The others were confused.
Who could it be?
Then—
Slow, steady footsteps echoed across the battlefield.
A man in a crimson suit emerged, holding a black umbrella, his movements elegant and refined. His pale face carried a faint, courteous smile, and his presence radiated a chilling nobility—like a noble vampire from ancient legends.
An oppressive silence followed.
Everyone recognized him.
Bartholomew Redfield.
Once a noble from a fallen superpower, Redfield was a man who sailed alone, conquered alone, and stood at the pinnacle alone. A pirate who had never needed a crew.
A monster whose strength alone rivaled entire pirate fleets.
A man said to be capable of standing against the Roger Pirates, the Whitebeard Pirates, or even Shiki's fleet—by himself.
Arthur spoke first.
"Redfield… You're interested in this treasure too?"
Redfield chuckled softly, his crimson eyes settling on Arthur.
"You've grown stronger, Arthur. I look forward to the day you can finally stand as my equal."
Arthur smiled faintly.
"And I look forward to that day as well. Don't forget your promise."
"Of course."
"A wager is a wager."
Their exchange confused everyone else, but one thing was clear here.
These two actually had history.
Long ago, when Arthur was still young, Redfield had made a wager with him:
If Arthur ever defeated him fairly, Redfield would become his subordinate.
If Arthur failed—
He would die.
A brutal agreement.
Redfield had since left his homeland to reclaim his family's lost territory—and judging by his presence now, he had succeeded.
Arthur casually asked,
"So? Did you reclaim your island?"
Redfield replied indifferently,
"Some insignificant fools. Of course I took it back."
The atmosphere shifted.
Idle talk was over.
Now came reality.
Everyone present understood something clearly:
This battlefield had split into two sides.
The remnants of the Rocks Pirates.
And everyone else.
The treasure of Rocks D. Xebec belonged to them.
Outsiders were not welcome.
Roger laughed loudly.
"Looks like this treasure won't be easy to take!"
Whitebeard grinned. "So you're interested too, Roger?"
Roger smirked. "Of course! If I get it, doesn't that prove I'm the strongest?"
Before anyone could respond—
"Gura Gura no Mi—Tremor Slash!"
"Divine Departure!"
Boom!!!
Whitebeard and Roger clashed head-on, their attacks colliding midair, splitting the heavens apart.
The sky cracked.
Lightning erupted.
The shockwave tore through the battlefield.
Arthur narrowed his eyes.
"So they've both reached that level… Haki coating."
Conqueror's Haki layered onto attacks.
Arthur wasn't there yet.
Not because he lacked talent—but because his strength lay elsewhere.
His dragon bloodline.
That was his true path.
"Kill them!"
"Charge!"
The battlefield exploded into chaos.
Pirates clashed from all sides as the war truly began.
Bundy World lunged forward.
"Let's see what this war is worth!"
He charged straight at Captain John.
John, drunk as ever, lifted his blade lazily and blocked the attack effortlessly.
"Don't underestimate me just because I'm drunk…"
Steel flashed.
World was forced back instantly.
Captain John, once a core member of the Rocks Pirates, revealed why he had survived that era.
This was no ordinary pirate.
Elsewhere, Redfield turned his gaze toward Arthur.
"You've made quite a name for yourself."
Arthur smiled calmly.
"Not compared to you."
Redfield shook his head.
"I'm still searching for that Devil Fruit… the one meant for me."
Arthur raised an eyebrow.
"A Mythical Zoan?"
Redfield nodded.
"Exactly."
Even Kaido, overhearing this, narrowed his eyes slightly.
A Mythical Zoan…
That explained everything.
Arthur chuckled.
"Then you'll have to keep looking."
Redfield smiled faintly.
"Indeed."
Finally, Arthur spoke clearly, his voice carrying across the battlefield:
"This treasure—"
"Belongs to the Rocks Pirates."
"It may fall into our hands…"
"But never into yours."
His words were calm.
Absolute.
A clear declaration of war.
And with that—
The greatest gathering of monsters the world had seen in decades erupted into all-out war.
--------------------------------///
Advance Chapters on Patreon!
p(a)treon(.)com/HudaLin
-Remove the parenthesis to access patreon normally
Thanks for the Support!