Ibadombo underestimated the strength of Admiral Kong. The Navy giant dove into the sea after him, moving even faster than the fleeing pirate. The ocean surged violently as Kong closed the distance in moments. With a single devastating punch, he shattered Ibadombo's defenses and left him broken and bleeding.
Dragging the battered pirate back to shore, Kong dropped him at the port. Vice Admiral Pepon had already secured several shipyard workers and squeezed the truth from them: Saint Charles Martin had been thrown onto Ibadombo's ship from the sky.
Panic clawed at Pepon. If a Celestial Dragon truly died under his watch, his career was finished. Worse, he might end up branded a traitor, like Vice Admiral Dorodo before him. He had no choice—he had to chase the pirate ship and either rescue Saint Martin or at least confirm his fate.
"The Celestial Dragon has been kidnapped," Kong growled, his expression grave. His aura pressed down on Ibadombo like a mountain. "Call your crew. Do it, or I'll make you wish you were dead."
Ibadombo wheezed, blood spilling from his mouth. "They betrayed me. Ran without me. You think I can call them back now?" His face twisted with hatred. To hear that his crew had abandoned him—and that they might have killed a Celestial Dragon—burned him to his core.
Rocks… you used me as a pawn. I'll never forgive you.
"Hmph. Take him to Impel Down and treat him," Kong ordered. "I'll deal with the others myself."
Without hesitation, the Admiral's fleet set sail after the fleeing ship. Pepon followed as well, desperate to prevent his own disgrace.
---
On Ibadombo's Ship
The deck seethed with fear. The crew had betrayed their captain, and now they carried the corpse of a Celestial Dragon. Neither the Navy nor the underworld would ever forgive them.
"We strip the corpse," one pirate muttered, voice shaking. "Burn the clothes. Dump the body at sea. Then we hide."
The others hesitated but obeyed. They tore off Saint Martin's ornate garments and hurled his body into the depths, where fish quickly swarmed.
Greed soon replaced fear. The medals and treasures sewn into the robes glinted like salvation. Pirates snatched at them, eyes hungry. Memories of the gold and jewels in Ibadombo's captain's quarters stirred darker impulses.
"The fewer of us left, the bigger the shares," one sneered.
Steel rang. The ship erupted into slaughter. Men who had called each other brothers turned blades in an instant. In less than ten minutes, corpses littered the deck.
"Enough!" barked the squad leader, drenched in blood but still standing. He piled Ibadombo's treasure on deck. "Divide it. Then we scatter. If we keep fighting, none of us will live to spend it."
Nervous eyes darted, but the survivors relented. He split the treasure among them on the spot.
"At the next island, I'm gone," the leader said coldly. "Whoever wants this cursed ship can keep it."
But none were fools. No one wanted a vessel tainted with the blood of a Celestial Dragon. When they reached land, they abandoned the ship, lowering the flag and leaving it to drift. The leader bought a fishing boat with a fistful of gold and vanished into the horizon.
Unknowingly, their desperate flight had accomplished its purpose—they had tied down Admiral Kong, giving Rocks and Brook exactly the opening they wanted.
---
At Sea and Headquarters
Kong's warship surged forward, with Pepon alongside. Together they pursued the doomed ship, determined to uncover the fate of the Celestial Dragon.
Meanwhile, Shakky reported everything to Brook. The moment Ibadombo struck at the Celestial Dragon, Rocks' Blade Gibek and Brook's flying fleet had already launched toward the Valley of the Gods.
The target was clear: the Celestial Dragons' greatest stronghold in the New World.
Word reached Marineford quickly. Reports piled high on Fleet Admiral Kukulkan's desk, the pieces forming a terrifying picture.
"Rocks and Brook dare to strike the Valley of the Gods itself," Chief of Staff Wilmark said grimly.
Kukulkan's fists slammed the table. "Then I will move personally. Wilmark, stay here and direct Kong once he returns. We must crush this madness before it spreads."
The Holy Land had dispatched three of the Knights of God, with two already stationed at God Valley. They could hold for a while—but Marijoa itself remained their true priority.
------------
As the combined forces of the Rocks Pirates and the Hell Pirates advanced toward the Valley of the Gods, Admirals Hoss and Coss Davo were bombarded with furious calls through the Celestial Dragons' Den Den Mushi.
Rocks' objective was clear: capture the Valley of the Gods in a single day. Anything longer, and reinforcements from the World Government and Navy would arrive in overwhelming numbers.
---
"You want me to block Hoss's fleet while you deal with Coss Davo?" Brook repeated, listening to Rocks' voice crackle through the snail. He knew the assignment came with danger.
Admiral Hoss's forces included three of the Navy's most fearsome martial masters: Bloody Hand Braver, Iron Fist Garp, and Black Arm Zephyr. Together, they could nullify the advantage of Rocks' Dark-Dark Fruit.
Even though Garp was only in his early thirties, his strength already surpassed that of most admiral candidates. His mastery of Armament Haki rivaled Rocks himself—making him a terrifying opponent.
"Yes," Rocks answered. "With Shiki and Newgate, you should have no trouble crushing them."
Rocks' tone dripped with confidence, but Brook knew better. He saw through the older man's schemes. Rocks wanted him distracted, while he himself plundered the Valley of the Gods for its treasures.
"Yohoho… and if you loot everything while I'm fighting here, wouldn't I be left empty-handed?" Brook countered lightly.
Rocks laughed, covering his deception with praise. "Don't underestimate Coss Davo. He's stronger than you think. Maybe you'll strike first and seize the Valley of the Gods before me. Who knows? Hahaha!"
Brook narrowed his eyes. Rocks was cunning as ever, but he had no intention of letting himself be used. Plans aside, the spoils of war would still be fought over.
"Then let us each rely on our own strength," Brook said, cutting the conversation short.
---
At Rocks' request, the Hell Pirates moved to block Admiral Hoss's fleet en route to God Valley.
When Hoss saw the massive flying fleet blotting out the sky, he exhaled with relief. At least Brook hadn't gone straight for the Valley. His mission was now clear: delay the Hell Pirates until reinforcements arrived.
On the battlefield, opponents quickly found their marks.
Redfield, the Red Earl, fixed his gaze on Bloody Hand Braver.
Whitebeard Newgate's spirit flared, drawn to clash with Iron Fist Garp, whose raw aura rivaled Roger himself.
Shiki the Golden Lion, forced to keep the fleet mobile for a quick raid, engaged the rising star, Black Arm Zephyr.
Admiral Hoss himself spread his wings and confronted Brook.
---
"Brook," Hoss began, his tone firm but diplomatic. "You've only risen in these last few years. Don't throw it all away by joining Rocks in this madness. In the end, you'll be destroyed along with him."
Brook's laughter was light but sharp. "Yohoho… you sound just like an official speech from the World Government. But tell me, Admiral Hoss, do you truly believe the New World has ever been theirs to control?"
Hoss frowned but said nothing. He knew the truth: the New World was chaos incarnate. Its magnetic storms and extreme climates had always frustrated the Government's grip. They could conquer it with overwhelming force, but within decades it would slip back into piracy and rebellion. It was a cycle the World Government had failed to break for eight hundred years.
"Why don't we simply wait here?" Brook offered. "My goal is the treasures of the Valley, not this naval blockade. Let Rocks and your other Admirals wear each other down."
The fleets hovered in uneasy silence, the air charged with tension.
Then Garp's booming laugh broke it. "Oi, are we fighting or not? If you're not coming down, Brook, I'm leaving!"
"Yohoho… if you want to go, take one of your ships with you," Brook said smoothly, more than willing to create trouble for Rocks by letting the Navy redeploy.
"Garp! Shut your mouth!" Braver snapped. "If you abandon us, we'll be at their mercy!"
Hoss cut in sharply. "Brook, you plan to let Rocks bleed against God Valley while you swoop in to plunder the spoils. I won't let that happen. This battle must be fought. Even if only for show, we'll fight until we bleed!"
Brook sighed. "Then let's see how strong you really are, Admiral Hoss."
---
Holy light erupted as Admiral Hoss spread his wings wide. A luminous horn jutted from his forehead, glowing with divine energy.
"Then come, Brook!" he roared.
A beam of searing white light shot from his horn, streaking across the skies toward the golden fleet.
And so, the clash began.
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