# Chapter 470: Sea Calendar 1495
The situation on the Great Sea ebbed and flowed, and the name of Blood War Island spread widely.
More Pirates who were interested headed to this battlefield where they fought fiercely against the Marines.
Perhaps for the rank-and-file Pirates, holding this bloody battle didn't mean much beyond seeing Shiki's spirit.
But those with some status, standing at a higher level, could all perceive the significance brought by Blood War Island.
It tied down a large portion of the Marines' combat strength, diverting their energy, and significantly reducing the chance of them causing trouble.
Noteworthy was the Roger Pirates, who fought their way from the Grand Line to the West Blue, and then fought their way directly back to the New World, reaching the Tyrant Dragon Pirates' territory directly through the Calm Belt.
In the West Blue, the better prepared Marines launched another major crackdown on the Roger Pirates.
The Roger Pirates, who had quietly slipped away from Ohara, could be said to have reaped great rewards.
In Ohara, they gained more than they had imagined.
This time, the Marines' strength was stronger, and the World Government also dispatched multiple powerful combatants, including CP0 Agents and Holy Knights candidates.
Last time they came up empty-handed, and the second time they didn't participate, so they naturally wouldn't miss this third crackdown.
Targeting Fish-Man Sambell, who was able to significantly influence the war situation, the World Government also specifically dispatched Strongmen to deal with him.
This made it not as easy for the Roger Pirates as last time.
Facing the tight net set up by the Marines, the battle lasted for about half a day.
A sudden giant whirlpool appeared, and the Oro Jackson and all the Marine warships were caught within the whirlpool.
Affected by the impact of the battle, the Oro Jackson unexpectedly escaped from the whirlpool, while the other Marine warships were all tied down by the whirlpool, finding it difficult to break free.
The unexpected natural disaster interrupted the Marines' third crackdown targeting the Roger Pirates, resulting in the Roger Pirates' escape, and furthermore caused a huge uproar.
There were simply too many people paying attention to this battle.
The formation of this whirlpool was also very unusual.
Under the relatively normal conditions of the Four Seas, it didn't make sense.
Particularly, it just happened to appear in the center of the battlefield between the Roger Pirates and the Marines, as if it were done intentionally.
Soon, someone guessed that it was the Roger Pirates' special ability, the ability to influence nature.
A hint could be noticed in the news of the Roger Pirates' past pursuits.
And the more direct evidence was the footage from many years ago, Roger's combat during the Sword Tournament period, especially the last few battles, where he exhibited the extraordinary ability to influence nature more than once.
Originally thought to be Roger's swordsmanship, now it seems it was some kind of innate special ability.
This important news was noted by the Major Powers, especially the Monsters who had fought with Roger in the past.
They could feel this strength, which was getting stronger and stronger in combat, more clearly.
Recalling it now, so that's how it was.
They didn't expect that besides being used in combat, it was even able to change natural weather.
Next time they encounter the Roger Pirates, they must be careful and pay attention to the changes in weather and environment.
If Roger were given some more time, this giant whirlpool could be intensified, and the dozens of warships encircling and suppressing the Roger Pirates would all be swallowed, sucked into the deep sea.
If not for the Roger Pirates making a quick escape first, causing the whirlpool to gradually weaken, a few warships were almost swallowed.
Afterwards, the Marines did not give up and launched two large-scale crackdowns again in the West Blue.
One time the Roger Pirates escaped beforehand, and another time their operation was affected by large-scale severe weather conditions.
During this process, Roger also discovered more applications for Hearing the Voice of All Things.
Fair winds and favorable currents greatly accelerated the pirate ship's sailing speed.
He was also able to learn to some extent whether someone was pursuing them.
Furthermore, he could influence the weather beforehand, instead of waiting until the battle began to unleash its power.
Now that the Roger Pirates had escaped back to the New World, it would be quite difficult for the Marines to wait for the next opportunity.
After hosting the bloody battle, the Flying Pirates remained relatively quiet.
But with their great prestige, they still maintained an astonishing speed in rapidly expanding their faction.
The Flying Pirates' total military strength had already swelled to an astonishing hundred thousand, and this doesn't even count the Affiliated Pirate Groups affiliated with the Flying Pirates.
Compared to other Pirate Crews, their advantage was even more overwhelming.
Just like that, several peaceful months passed.
As time reached the point of Sea Calendar 1495, the Flying Pirates further announced the news that they would be hosting a Pirate Expo three months later.
Taking this opportunity to consolidate their status.
This was not the first time the Flying Pirates had hosted a Pirate Expo, but its significance was very great.
For the Great Sea, this was even more so.
Up until now, the only factions that have successfully hosted a Pirate Expo were the Pluto Pirates, the Flying Pirates, the John Pirates, the Silver Axe Pirates, and the Five Peaks Pirates – five Pirate Crews in total.
Since the Flying Pirates declared war on the three major Pirate Crews, it had already been three years since any faction hosted a Pirate Expo in the New World.
Now that it's being hosted again, for the other factions in the New World, it was undoubtedly a big surprise.
Although there are still three months, the New World, which maintained a certain level of chaos, started to become lively again.
People love a spectacle, especially for Pirates.
In the Pluto Sea Area's East Sea, just as Hades had predicted.
The Tyrant Pirate Group, which had grown and developed, could not hide their prominence and became a target that was invited by the Flying Pirates.
Originally, the Tyrant Pirate Group was just developing slowly.
Many members, through cultivation from a young age, especially after successfully graduating from the Royal Military Academy, their level of knowledge was not bad.
Of course, most of them could not be considered excellent.
After all, their innate genes were a factor.
As the Kingdom's powerful combatants of the future, their cultivation was mainly focused on strength.
In terms of learning, they only needed to just pass; there weren't very high requirements.
Out on the Great Sea, their level of knowledge was definitely above average.
If they were treated as brainless brutes, that would be a huge mistake.
Furthermore, on the ship, they also had a strategist-type advisor, Ike, the son of "Blade Edge" Aiji.
A rebellious and intelligent rascal, even if he only devoted part of his energy to learn, he still graduated from the Royal Military Academy with excellent academic performance.
And also had the identity as a young scientist.
Originally, Royal Military Academy teachers also had the idea of recommending him to enter the Royal Research Institute to learn, but it was rejected by him.
Compared to the boring Research Institute environment, he preferred excitement and liked creating destructive weapons.
The technology weapons he held, similar to a blunt sword, were personally crafted by him, holding considerable ability and capable of unleashing immense heat and electric current.
There was also one such talent among the children of Hades and the other Pluto Pirates cadres, Jayce, the son of "Holy Shield" Rogers, who integrated laser technology into his own weapon.
However, Jayce joined the Pluto Pirates, following Kasa.
Furthermore, Ike was also a Paramecia Type Loop-Loop Fruit Ability User, able to control time within a certain range, making people constantly return to the time from a few seconds in the past, while he himself was unaffected.
This Loop-Loop Fruit was a gift Edge gave to Ike, and it also left behind a considerable reputation on the Great Sea.
Especially because it was very troublesome.
When someone else cuts down with a sword, he can easily make others return to the state from a few seconds ago.
While he already knows how the opponent will act, he can react in advance.
Those with weak strength, especially ones who haven't mastered Haki, even their thoughts will return to the past, unaware that they are trapped in the prison of time.
The stronger one's strength, the shorter the duration of this control will be, and their own thoughts will not be affected.
Despite this, this is also a very terrifying ability.
Especially in group battles.
Combined with Ike's outstanding combatant strength, he is simply a terrifying assassin.
However, up until now, Ike has not been exposed.
They all understand the importance of low-key development.
(end of chapter)