Just three days after Devil's Island sank beneath the sea, the Rocks Pirates seized a new base — a vast natural harbor littered with the bleached bones of ancient sea monsters.
But their so-called "peace" lasted less than five days.
"Ochoku! You bastard, did you steal my wine?!"
The calm of early morning shattered under Newgate's furious roar.
His massive hand clutched an empty jug, amber wine dripping from the sleeve of Ochoku's crimson robe.
"Did you see me?" Ochoku said coolly, wiping the corner of his mouth. The rosary of human bones in his hand glinted with blood. "Besides… it was just some wine. Don't be stingy."
"I'll leave your head behind, then!"
Newgate slammed his fist into the ground.The Tremor-Tremor Fruit's power burst outward."Airquake: Earth Cracking!"
The entire harbor convulsed like a stormy sea.Ochoku's gaunt figure darted between the fissures, ghostly fast, his bloodstained robe fluttering.
His palm began to glow with a strange crimson light."Blood Seal Palm — Karma Fire Red Lotus!"
The scarlet palm print met Newgate's shockwave mid-air. The collision shattered the nearest coral reefs into dust!
"Tch… two idiots, fighting again."
Malone muttered as he silently raised his jewel-encrusted flintlock. The sapphire cufflinks on his wrist caught the morning light.
Bang!
The bullet was instantly blocked — by a peacock-feathered fan that flicked open in front of him.
From atop the mast, Stussy crossed her long legs and smiled playfully."Mr. Malone, surprise attacks are so ungentlemanly."
John's towering figure stepped between them, coat flaring. Twenty gun barrels glinted beneath it."She's right! If you're gonna fight—fight fair!"
At the far end of the harbor, Tanma and Shiki clashed once again. Their swords screamed as they met.
"Brat! Time to settle our last score!"Shiki's golden mane flew wildly, Oto and Kogarashi swirling with Armament Haki.
Tanma's sword, Calamity, hummed, stirring a sea breeze around them."Come, Shiki."
"Lion's Might — Thousand Slashes!"
"Sky-Soaring Dragon Flash!"
Golden sword beams collided with silver tornadoes, and the bay erupted into waves hundreds of meters high.
From the skull-shaped throne overlooking the chaos, Rocks D. Xebec's temple vein throbbed.
"What a bunch of damn fools!"
He stood, Conqueror's Haki bursting like a tidal wave.
"I said, CUT IT OUT—!"
Before he could finish, a massive forty-meter palm strike smashed into his throne!
Rocks burst from the rubble, dust covering his face, eyes burning with rage."You're all looking for death!!!"
He seized Calamity in both hands, black Haki flaring.With the force of a meteorite, he swung.
BOOM!!!
The slash landed where Tanma and Shiki had been fighting. The impact cratered the harbor, crushing rock walls into powder.
Through the smoke, two figures leapt back—
Tanma skidded ten meters before steadying himself, while Shiki took to the sky atop floating debris.
Both glared furiously.
"A sneak attack…?" Tanma wiped blood from his cheek.
"Rocks! You insane bastard!" Shiki's hair bristled like a lion's mane.
Their eyes met—
—and in that instant, both thought the same thing:
Kill Rocks first!
"A Lone Wild Goose Glimpses the Shadow!"
Tanma's figure split into four identical afterimages, attacking from every direction. Sword aura tore deep gouges into the ground.
Rocks' grin turned savage. He swung Calamity in a black arc."Pathetic trick!"
Clang!
Steel met steel. Sparks scattered. Tanma's real body was blown back, his hands numbed by the shock.
Before Rocks could advance—
"Lion's Skyfall!!"
Shiki dove from above, twin blades swirling with golden energy like a falling meteor!
Rocks blocked. The ground cracked three meters deep beneath his feet.
"Interesting," he growled, his eyes gleaming. "Then I'll play with you!"
Tanma's phantoms and Shiki's slashes struck in perfect unison.Rocks destroyed three afterimages—just in time for Calamity to pierce his cloak from behind!
"Tch!" The blade struck his hardened Haki and failed to cut through—but the opening was enough.
"Twin Sky Cross Slash!"
Shiki's blades traced a golden cross across Rocks' chest.
For the first time, Rocks staggered backward, blood spilling from his wound.
He grinned madly."Ha… hahaha! That's more like it! You think this is the end?!"
Tanma's pupils shrank. Rocks' aura suddenly vanished—
Bang!
His elbow, wrapped in Haki, slammed into Tanma's gut.Tanma flew like a cannonball, crashing through three rock walls, vomiting blood.
Before Shiki could move, Calamity's black blade came crashing down.
Clang!!
Shiki crossed both swords to block, but Oto's blade cracked from the impact! His knees buckled, blood dripping down his hands.
"Do you see it now?" Rocks' pupils glowed crimson. His Haki burned like living black fire."This… is my true power!"
He kicked sideways—Shiki barely managed to block, but was hurled dozens of meters away, crashing into the harbor wall.
"Agh…" Tanma groaned, pushing himself up with Calamity as it pulsed with green wind."Shiki! You still alive?"
"What do you think, kid?" Shiki grinned through blood, his eyes blazing with fury.
They both roared—
"Sky-Soaring Dragon Flash — Twin Dragon Strike!"
"Lion's Twin Skyfall!!"
Cyan dragon aura and golden lion spirit merged into a colossal spiral storm that tore toward Rocks. The air itself screamed.
Rocks didn't flinch.Calamity glowed black, coated in his supreme Ryuo.
"Annihilation!!!"
BOOOOM!!!
The collision sent a shockwave that turned the sea into a circular tsunami.
Newgate had to brace himself, using his quake powers to deflect flying debris.
When the dust settled—
Tanma knelt, Calamity buried in the dirt. His breathing ragged.Shiki stood trembling, both swords driven into the ground, blood matting his hair.
And Rocks—
Rocks stood tall in the ruins, Calamity planted beside him. His chest wound was torn open, but his grin only widened.
"Now that's more like it… but you're still nowhere close!"
His Conqueror's Haki flared again, violent as a hurricane.
"The next strike…"
From afar, Newgate's expression twisted. "Everyone—RETREAT TO THE SEA!"
Stussy, John, and Malone sprinted toward the ship.Ochoku's bone beads shattered in his hand as he dove straight into the ocean.
Tanma and Shiki met eyes—no words needed.
Run.
When Rocks' final slash came down, the island itself cracked apart.Black lightning consumed the sky—
—and Skeleton Bay sank into the depths of the sea.