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BOOM!!
A violent tremor nearly caused the War Castle to collapse. Rockwell was engaged in a fierce battle with Vinsmoke Judge, holding his own without losing an inch of ground. His Armament Haki completely blocked the electrical currents released by the high-tech weaponry.
Inside the great hall, Germa soldiers surrounded the pair three layers deep.
"Is Father the masterpiece of Vinsmoke technology? He's amazing!" Ichiji, Niji, and Yonji showed no fear of a battle at this level; they watched with relish.
The bruised and swollen Sanji, feeling despondent and having zero interest in the fight, stealthily crept toward the hall's exit. He didn't want to be spotted by his brothers; being caught deserting would mean another painful beating.
Just as he carefully reached the open entrance of the great hall...
BANG—!
A dull, heavy impact assaulted his ears. A soldier guarding the gate in a Germa Raid Suit seemed to be struck by something terrifying. He flew in from outside the castle, smashing into several other soldiers along the way before rolling into the hall!
Sanji looked closely and discovered a fist print had completely punched through the soldier's chest, exposing the bones and organs within.
Blood sprayed across the floor...
Such a massive commotion naturally caused everyone in the hall to turn their heads. Even Vinsmoke Judge and Rockwell separated from their intense clash.
"Who dares invade the Germa War Castle!!" Judge shouted in rage, looking out the door.
It was impossible for his soldiers to fight among themselves; they only obeyed orders. This sudden event could only mean an outsider had invaded the Vinsmoke Family.
They were the ones who usually attacked other nations; who in the North Blue dared to stroke the tiger's whiskers? Judge was instantly furious.
"It's only been a few days, but your memory seems terrible, Vinsmoke..." Following the light streaming in from outside, Arthur landed and walked step by step into the great hall.
"Thunder Emperor!!"
Ichiji, Niji, and Yonji didn't fully understand what kind of existence Arthur was, but they couldn't forget the domineering figure they had seen just a few days ago.
The adorable Reiju and Sanji, who had just reached the door, looked curiously at the man who had silenced their "strongest" father.
"Lord Arthur!!"
Rockwell, having just separated from Judge, finally laid eyes on the great pirate he had been unable to forget for over a decade—the image branded into his heart.
He rubbed his eyes, trembling with excitement, afraid he was hallucinating.
"Thunder Emperor, what are you doing here?"
Vinsmoke Judge asked in a deep voice, bracing himself as if facing a formidable enemy. His soldiers, receiving a silent command, instantly surrounded Arthur.
Glancing contemptuously at these fragile artificial humans, Arthur couldn't be bothered to answer. He turned his head, frowning slightly as if in thought.
"You are... if I remember correctly, the first person who asked to follow me thirteen years ago?"
This short, stubbly man was the first pirate to voluntarily ask to follow Arthur since he set out to sea. It had left a deep impression.
Arthur was sixteen then, a novice! Thirteen years had passed. Although the "Pure Gold" kept his appearance almost eternal, it was undeniable that he was now twenty-nine years old!
He maintained the look of a twenty-three-year-old and would likely remain young forever...
Arriving in this world at eight, ascending to the Sky Islands at thirteen, returning to the sea at sixteen, and now twenty-nine. He had roamed the seas for thirteen full years.
From being an unknown to suppressing the New World; from witnessing Roger become the Pirate King to his execution; from establishing the Thunder God Pirates to becoming a legend beneath the heavens, fighting almost every top-tier master on the sea.
Since the Great Pirate Era began, he had experienced every major event personally, culminating in his current status among the "Four Emperors and One Sovereign." His name shook the world!
As eras shifted, he was both a witness and a recorder!
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"It is my honor to be remembered by Lord Arthur!" Rockwell was overcome with excitement.
His slave trade covered the entire North Blue, so he naturally had his own intelligence channels. Plus, Arthur had been constantly in the newspapers over the years. Rockwell heard news of the Thunder Emperor all the time.
Back then, when Rockwell first met Arthur, he knew such a man was destined to stir up storms in the New World. He hadn't expected that years later, this great figure would become one of the rulers of the New World, holding supreme hegemony.
At that time, Rockwell had been full of dreams and hot blood, wanting to enter the New World, only to be dismissed as worthless by Arthur due to his lack of strength.
But now, he believed he had the strength to chase that dream.
"After so long, you still want to follow me?" Arthur asked with interest, completely ignoring the Vinsmoke Judge who was about to explode with rage nearby.
For a man to persist in a single goal for so long... regardless of his skill, his perseverance alone was admirable.
Rockwell's current state reminded Arthur of his First Division Commander—Shiryu.
Both offered lifelong, undying loyalty.
Shiryu followed because Arthur was the first to acknowledge him and give him a stage for slaughter. Rockwell, however, was spontaneous. He had held on for so long...
"It has always been my dream!" Rockwell looked at Arthur and spoke with firm conviction.
"Good!"
Arthur smiled and pointed casually at the Germa soldiers surrounding them. "It looks ugly being surrounded like this. Kill them all... and you will be the Captain of the Thunder God Pirates' 8th Division!"
Due to the rebellion in the Thunder God Pirates, Naguri had fled the New World, while Byrnndi World and Bill were dead. Three of the ten division captain spots were empty. Rockwell could fill one of the vacancies.
"Thunder Emperor... you go too far!!"
No matter how much Vinsmoke Judge tried to endure, he was now fuming. Invading the War Castle without a word was one thing, but now Arthur wanted to use Judge's subordinates as a testing stone?
Where was the justice in that? Did having strength mean one could do whatever they pleased?
Faced with overwhelming power, Judge instantly forgot that he himself worshipped strength—he even allowed his sons to bully their own brother because of it.
"Kill him!!" Judge waved his high-tech spear, pointing the tip at Rockwell.
"Hahahaha!"
Rockwell, having received Arthur's acknowledgment, had no more reservations. His thick, powerful arm swept out, sending several Germa soldiers flying. Then, spreading his fingers, he clawed viciously at the head of an approaching soldier. His immense finger strength crushed the genetically modified, hardened skull into powder.
"Father, kill him!"
"Let him know the power of Germa!!"
Ichiji, Niji, and Yonji shouted from the sidelines, united against the enemy. The gentle Reiju looked worried, but out of the corner of her eye, she saw Sanji slipping out the main gate and secretly followed him.
All of this happened under Arthur's gaze.
With Reiju's help, Sanji, who had long suffered his brothers' bullying, finally found the courage to flee this loveless family!
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