Chapter 18: Saint Shalria: How Could It Be Him?!
"Robin-nee… Nami…"
Hearing the heartfelt words from the two beauties of the Straw Hat crew, Rok felt genuinely moved.
He truly hadn't expected them to stand with him at a moment like this.
This wasn't just some ordinary incident anymore.
Even the arrogant Trafalgar Law and Eustass Kid had immediately grabbed their crews and bolted, terrified of getting dragged into the fallout.
Maybe this was the biggest difference between the Straw Hat Pirates and every other crew on the seas.
"Hey, you idiot! Don't go getting all emotional on me! I'm only here because of that 400 million berries, got it?!"
Nami's cheeks flushed the instant she felt Rok's burning gaze. Her heart was racing, and she hated how flustered it made her feel.
So she waved him off with a huff and turned away, pretending to be mad.
Of course, that was just an excuse.
No one would risk their lives for 400 million berries.
The real reason the Straw Hats hadn't left?
Besides recognizing Rok as a true friend, they all felt responsible.
If they hadn't come to rescue Camie, Rok would never have killed a Celestial Dragon.
So, both emotionally and logically— they weren't abandoning him.
"Rok, what's the plan now? You're even crazier than me."
Luffy's usual goofy grin was gone, replaced by rare seriousness.
Even he understood what killing a Celestial Dragon meant.
But he didn't think Rok was wrong.
Since stepping onto Sabaody, he'd seen countless people suffer at Celestial Dragon hands.
Scum like that didn't deserve forgiveness.
"I've got it covered. Marines are already gathering outside—tons of them. I need you guys to hold them off. The Celestial Dragons? Leave them to me."
Rok's Observation Haki had already picked up the massive military presence outside.
Just the local garrison, but still a huge number. Word had clearly spread.
BOOM!
As if on cue, the main doors exploded inward under cannon fire.
Marines poured in like a tidal wave.
But with Luffy, Zoro, Sanji, and the rest holding the line— regular soldiers weren't getting through anytime soon.
"Marines!! Save us! I am Saint Rosward!!"
Terrified, Rosward began screaming the moment he saw uniforms, hoping his status would make them fight to the death for him.
His cries were drowned out by the clash of steel and rubber.
"Rok… Rok… why does that name sound so familiar?"
Unlike her panicked father, Saint Shalria remained eerily calm.
Or rather— even now, she still looked down on everyone in the room.
That was how deeply her arrogance was carved into her bones.
But the name "Rok" tugged at something in her memory.
"No more games, Saint Rosward. Get on your knees and kowtow three times. I might let a dog like you live."
Rok stepped forward, Undead resting lightly on his shoulder, voice dripping with ice.
"You're dreaming, you filthy— AAAAAAAGHH!!!"
Rosward tried to stay defiant, raising his pistol with a snarl.
He never finished the sentence.
With a flash of steel, his gun hand was severed clean at the wrist.
Blood sprayed across the floor.
For the first time in his cushioned life, a Celestial Dragon felt real pain.
"Kneel or not?"
Under that cold, merciless voice and the agony screaming through his body, Rosward broke.
His legs buckled. His head lowered.
"Father! You can't kneel to a lowly human!!"
Just as his knees were about to hit the ground, Shalria finally snapped.
The pressure of Rok's presence had already cracked her composure, but seeing her father—superior even among Celestial Dragons—about to bow?
That was unthinkable in her world.
Yet her scream changed nothing.
Rosward knelt.
And the next second— a black pistol barrel was pressed against his forehead.
BANG!
CLANG!
"Don't make killing your own father the last thing you do. You'll lose your mind, Celestial Dragon lady."
Everything happened in a flash.
First—Shalria, in hysterical rage, tried to shoot her kneeling father.
Then—an old white-haired man appeared out of nowhere and blocked the bullet with his body.
Even Rok was caught off guard by the twist.
"Pluton Silvers Rayleigh!"
Rok instantly recognized the legendary figure.
Former vice-captain of the Roger Pirates. The Pirate King's right hand. The Dark King—Rayleigh.
"Douglas D. Rok, huh? You're one surprising man, kid."
Rayleigh glanced at Rok calmly, no trace of emotion on his face—but he clearly knew exactly who Rok was.
"There's a lot of Marines outside. I can't get involved further. Try to get off the archipelago in one piece, Rok."
After stopping Shalria's bullet, Rayleigh walked away to remove Camie's explosive collar.
Now— nothing stood between Rok and his true target.
"Tell me, noble Saint Shalria— do you still want me as your slave?"
Rok slowly lifted the Sogeking mask.
Shalria's mind shattered the moment she saw his face.
"It's… you?!"
Her beautiful eyes widened in pure, uncontrollable shock.
How could it be him?!
Wasn't this man being hunted by the World Government and Navy Headquarters?!
And hadn't he been critically wounded—poisoned beyond saving—by some Vice Admiral?!
For the first time in her life, true fear crawled into Saint Shalria's heart.
There were actually humans… this terrifying.
But even now— her pride refused to fully break.
Because she was a Celestial Dragon.
"You're as stubborn as they come. Too bad you were born one of them. Maybe inons wouldn't be so rotten otherwise."
Rok gave a cold, pitying laugh.
He could see it— Shalria was the type who, once she believed something, would die before changing her mind.
In her world, Celestial Dragons were gods. They deserved everything.
"Then die."
Undead rose slowly.
Rok's eyes were steady, merciless.
One dead Celestial Dragon or three— the sentence was the same.
Today, the seas would be baptized in Celestial Dragon blood.
A new era begins now.
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