"For the sake of false intelligence, you entered the North Blue and nearly destroyed an entire kingdom. Shiki—this time, you've gone too far!"
A blinding radiance burst forth in the distance.
At first glance, it looked as though a second sun had risen upon the sea.
But upon closer inspection, it was a colossal humanoid figure—golden and resplendent—resembling the Buddha of legend.
Without question, this too was the power of a Devil Fruit.
Marine Headquarters Vice Admiral—Sengoku the Buddha.
User of the Human-Human Fruit, Mythical Zoan, Model: Daibutsu.
His strength was in no way inferior to a top-tier pirate like the Golden Lion. If the overlords of this era were the Rocks Pirates, then the Marines were the undisputed rulers who had stood firm upon the seas since time immemorial.
Pirates ran rampant in this age—
But the Marines possessed their own golden generation.
Sengoku was one of them.
There was no need for further words. The air between them was already thick with gunpowder.
The Marine warships opened fire without hesitation. Their artillery far surpassed that of ordinary pirates—greater range, superior accuracy, and devastating power.
But this was an era ruled by the strong.
Top-tier combatants could overturn everything.
Shiki casually raised a hand—
And the three pirate ships began to float.
They ascended into the sky as if by miracle. In an instant, the pirate vessels became flying ships, rising beyond the effective range of the Marine bombardment.
"Jahahaha! A true treasure only needs a scrap of information to make men act! As for you lot—snapping at my heels like dogs—you're starting to get on my nerves!"
Shiki curled one hand into a claw and seized at the empty air.
The previously calm sea began to churn violently.
Then—
A sight that left Roldy utterly stunned.
Massive pillars of seawater erupted skyward like writhing sea dragons. The waters gathered and condensed, forming six gigantic lion heads suspended in the sky.
"Lion's Majesty: Imperial Earth Roll!"
This was nothing short of a natural disaster.
Before Roldy, a new world was unfolding.
Shiki alone engaged the Marines head-on. And Sengoku was no pushover. The Marines showed no panic—clearly, this was far from their first clash.
Sengoku's already massive frame expanded further, transforming into a towering golden Buddha over twelve meters tall. Blinding light gathered in his palms. Behind his round glasses, his eyes flashed coldly.
He thrust his hands forward—
Shockwaves erupted in succession, shattering Shiki's lion-headed torrents instantly.
"Surrender, Shiki! Impel Down is where you belong for the rest of your life!"
Sengoku's presence surged again as he unleashed another shockwave—this one aimed directly at Shiki.
"Spare me the lectures! A place like that could never hold someone like me!"
Shiki cleaved the shockwave apart with a single slash. Once more, that overwhelming aura exploded from him, crushing down toward the Marine fleet.
But Sengoku answered in kind.
His eyes sharpened.
A Conqueror's Haki no weaker than Shiki's burst forth.
The clash of wills split the heavens. Crimson-black lightning ravaged the sky. The scattered clouds vanished entirely.
And yet—
Such power, enough to kill ordinary men a thousand times over—
Was only their opening exchange.
In the next instant, both figures vanished.
By the time Roldy managed to follow their movements, they had already collided above the distant sea. Twin swords and golden palms clashed at speeds beyond his perception. Thunderous detonations echoed across heaven and earth.
The shockwaves alone rocked the ships beneath his feet.
At his level, even observing such a battle was difficult.
"Idiots! What are you waiting for? Secure the loot and withdraw!"
A pirate's roar snapped the others out of their daze.
They had plundered countless times before. Without needing orders, several men rushed to the helms of the captured merchant ships.
Eleven merchant vessels ahead.
Three pirate ships behind.
They sailed swiftly into the distance.
The slave traders aboard were locked into the holds. No one bothered with Roldy. In their eyes, their captain had already shown interest in recruiting him. With such generous terms offered, his fate was no longer theirs to decide.
Besides—
The boy was strong.
Better to focus on claiming a larger share of the spoils.
Naturally, the Marines would not allow the pirates to escape.
Under Sengoku's adjutant's command, the warships pushed forward at full speed.
With Shiki occupied in aerial combat, the pirate ships had lost his protection.
Marine heavy cannons became instruments of death.
"You idiots! Move aside! Let us go first! There are slaves on your ships—the Marines won't fire recklessly!"
"Shut up! Who knows if those Marines might lose their heads? I'm not risking my life for you!"
To Roldy's surprise—
These pirates were far from united.
Allowing the merchant ships to trail behind would draw Marine fire, yet the pirates aboard them refused to take even the slightest risk.
Some might even be thinking—
The more comrades who died, the more treasure to divide later.
After all, it wouldn't be them dying.
A cannonball struck the stern of one pirate ship with pinpoint precision. Its speed dropped sharply—the propulsion clearly damaged.
To elite Marine gunners, it was now nothing more than a floating target.
A barrage followed.
Those quick enough leapt into the sea.
Those slower were swallowed by flames.
Curses and screams echoed from behind.
Roldy turned to a nearby pirate.
"Your comrades are calling for help."
"I hear them. That's perfect."
"Aren't they your companions? Shouldn't you try to save them?"
"Don't be naïve, you big brat." The pirate shot him a cold glance, cruelty flickering in his eyes. "Do you think pirates are some happy little family? We're a gathering of interests. Everything is about profit. You want us to risk our lives for them? Please. Them going down buys us time. The Marines won't pass up that kind of military merit."
Roldy fell silent.
There was still so much he did not understand about the sea.
About people.
The pirate's words proved true. The Marines slowed, beginning to capture those who had leapt into the water. Only two warships continued pursuit.
The pressure eased.
Tension on deck faded.
The pirates began laughing as they counted their spoils—
Only to discover that, across all ships combined, there was barely any treasure.
Just scraps.
And one empty cage.
The haul felt worse than nothing.
The clever among them had already realized—
That empty cage had once held Roldy.
The boy's value must have far exceeded their expectations.
But what could they do about it?