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The massive pirate crew coming head-on was extremely famous throughout the first half of the Grand Line. Their combined bounty reached 460 million, with three high-ranking cadres and a staggering 235 crew members.
A pirate crew of this sheer scale was undeniably a giant force within the Grand Line.
What made them even more terrifying were their powerful top-tier combatants. In competition, few dared to oppose them, for that would only invite disaster.
Any pirate crew that managed to reach this stage was inevitably composed of the elite among elites, and with such frightening numbers, they made one's scalp tingle.
"I hear a bunch of rookies popped up, arrogant in these seas, already wiping out two pirate crews. Interesting."
"These past days, brothers have been going stir-crazy. Life without battle is just too damn boring!"
"We stand upon these seas for wine, money, and women. All of it makes the blood surge, makes the heart race."
"And beyond those pleasures, only battle remains. To shed blood in combat, to savor the thrill of severing an enemy's head, that's the sweetest intoxication there is!"
On the prow of the middle ship among three massive vessels, a towering man tilted his head back, downed fiery liquor, burped, and spoke these words with cruel delight.
Behind him, his crew members grinned with excitement, already drawing the weapons at their waists.
"But what disappoints me is… the target I thought would give us a proper war turns out to be nothing but a little chick."
Captain Galenbi shook his head in regret, eyes filled with disdain for the small boat floating a hundred meters ahead.
In sheer size, any one of their ships could crush that tiny vessel. In numbers, the disparity was laughable. As for strength, Galenbi had absolute faith in his brothers.
"Captain, let's kill them! Even a sparrow is still meat. Brothers haven't drawn blades in far too long, it's time to let them drink blood again!"
Behind him, a long-haired man licked his lips and spoke with a twisted grin. His eyes were blood-red, like he hadn't slept in days, brimming with madness and cruelty.
"Then kill them."
Galenbi waved his hand casually, as though it was no more than a chore.
To him, such a small rookie pirate crew wasn't even worth the thought.
"I heard they one-shotted Lombard, the guy with a 100 million bounty."
"That's a little impressive, but it's nothing. Captain Galenbi is worth 250 million, he can one-shot weaklings of that level anytime."
"Slaughter them, take the edge off. Once we reach the New World, it'll be our era!"
Men who sailed these seas were filled with ambition and grand desires. This massive pirate crew didn't spare Rojen's group a second thought, already daydreaming about life in the second half of the Grand Line.
As the ships drew rapidly closer, Galenbi's crew didn't even bother to roll out cannons, so little did they regard their opponents.
Boarding combat was what made their blood boil anyway, what better way to vent the frustration of dull, monotonous days at sea?
In the blink of an eye, the two sides were just a hundred meters apart.
"One man, one ship. End it quickly."
On the Logan, Rojen spoke in a calm voice.
At his side, Crocodile and Jason nodded in agreement.
This time, Trens didn't move, instead leaning on the rail with his gun slung over his shoulder.
The six disciples of the Dragon-Elephant School looked restless, crowding around Rojen.
"Captain, we want to fight too!"
"Have you mastered Rokushiki yet?"
Rojen's tone was flat.
The six fell silent, looking dejected. After cultivating the Dragon-Elephant Merit, their physical strength had indeed skyrocketed, but at this stage, they still hadn't reached the requirements to practice Rokushiki.
Jason had already passed on the training methods; all that was left was for them to reach the necessary level before they could attempt it.
"Once you've mastered Rokushiki, you can start taking the initiative in battles."
Rojen's calm words drifted out, and in the very next moment, his figure twisted and vanished, reappearing high in the air.
At the same time, Crocodile and Jason exchanged a glance, their bodies flashing as they too rose into the sky.
The three of them, without warning, ascended, stepping into the air itself. In full view of everyone, they walked forward as though climbing invisible stairs, each step kicking up spiraling whirlwinds that propelled them faster and faster.
Every stomp left ripples in the void, their bodies moving at least ten meters with a single stride.
The speed was terrifying. In just three breaths, they had already crossed thirty meters.
"H-Hey, am I seeing this right? Those three… they're walking in the air!"
Galenbi's pirates erupted in disbelief. The men who had been watching Rojen's group were dumbstruck, eyes wide.
"You've got to be kidding me! What the hell is going on with those three?"
Even Galenbi saw it, and for the first time, a faint sense of dread crept into his chest. Perhaps… he had underestimated these people.
After all, how could normal men possibly walk in midair, striding dozens of meters with each step as if it were nothing?
Five or six seconds later, Rojen and his companions dropped from the sky, landing squarely on Galenbi's fleet.
One man, one ship, each of them stood tall on a different vessel. Their expressions were calm, almost indifferent, as they swept their gazes across the pirates before them.
"How dare you? Do you have a death wish?"
"Just a single man dares to set foot on our ship? You're far too bold!"
"Do you think we don't exist?!"
That casual, fearless posture, like they owned the ships they landed on, sent Galenbi's pirates into a frenzy, shouting furiously.
One man per ship? Did these three actually mean to duel an entire crew each? Were they insane? No, this was pure arrogance!
Galenbi's face turned red with rage, veins bulging in his neck. He took a furious gulp of wine, then roared:
"Get them! Kill them all!"
At his command, more than two hundred pirates howled and charged, weapons raised, intent on hacking these arrogant invaders to pieces.
But then, something terrifying happened.
Sand. A flood of sand, endless and suffocating, suddenly filled the air.
They could see it clearly, the grains drifting from the shoulder of the grim-faced man, at first flowing slowly, then suddenly bursting forth like a raging storm. In moments, the sky was thick with swirling yellow sand, roaring like a furious dragon as it surged to cover an entire ship.
On another ship, the pirates faintly heard a deep, resounding shout:
"Power Amplification, Four Hundred Times!"
"Subduing Dragons, Eighteen Palms!"
Golden light exploded outward. Dragon-shaped shadows surged forth, their roars echoing as they rampaged across the ship. Each golden dragon spiraled violently, every turn unleashing a crushing impact born from sheer, overwhelming strength.
"The ship,
it's splitting apart!"
A pirate shrieked in terror as the deck beneath his feet cracked open with a deafening sound.
(End of Chapter)