The distant figure looked like a man still in his prime.
A tall, muscular body, thick black hair, and dual blades gripped in his hands as he stood excitedly among the many crew members.
This image was completely different from the frail, hunched old man Orin remembered. But Orin was far too familiar with the old man—he could recognize him at a glance.
"Who would've thought… the old man was such a beast back in his youth~"
In the world of pirates, strong men aged in two possible directions.
One, like Rayleigh and Garp, who retained their figures with just a few more wrinkles and white hair.
Oda once said, men with dreams and conviction would not lose their form or see their strength severely decline even in old age.
But those without ideals—like Gloriosa or Bakkin on Rocks's ship—would never age gracefully like Shakky. Instead, their bodies shriveled, their aura faded, and they gradually became grotesque.
"Looks like the old man took a heavy blow from the fall of the Rocks Pirates…"
Seeing the energetic, excited figure wielding twin blades wrapped in Armament Haki, Orin couldn't help but curl his lips.
This was going to be troublesome.
He shot down a petty officer with a single round.
Ssshhhhh…
The Black Gun in Orin's hands crackled with black and red lightning, brewing terrifying power. He shifted the barrel, ready to injure a few captain-level figures.
Because he had crossed over in such a rush, Orin hadn't brought many Seastone bullets. For now, he used ordinary ones.
But infused with Ryuo and Conqueror's Haki Infusion, their destructive power was top-tier nonetheless.
"The Roger Pirates are already injured. For fairness's sake, you lot should take some wounds too."
Orin didn't want the Roger Pirates to suffer heavy losses, nor did he want to utterly crush the Rocks Pirates.
If too many captains were left behind here, the Rocks Pirates would have nothing left in the future. The old man would only be heartbroken for a long time.
One side was the old man. The other was Captain Roger. Orin was caught in a bind.
"Bondage… really does hinder a man's steps forward, huh…"
He sighed helplessly. Orin didn't want to be bound by ties, but sometimes he had to admit—he was too sentimental.
"Then… the first one will be Whitebeard."
Through the scope, Orin spotted the distant figure.
Whitebeard stood on the prow of the ship, domineering and resolute, ready to face Roger.
His body radiated Conqueror's Haki Infusion. A white halo slowly gathered in his hand.
Buzzzzz…
The whole sea trembled faintly.
Bakkin, clinging to his back, sparkled with admiration for his overwhelming might.
"Kuralala… Roger! I never liked taking orders from Rocks, but our fight isn't finished yet. Today, you die here!!!"
His eyes gleamed with ferocity. He was about to unleash a seaquake, to overturn the Oro Jackson and the surrounding ocean.
"Captain Newgate, so cool!!!"
Keek was thrilled, expecting disaster to befall the Roger Pirates, his face beaming with smug delight.
But then—
"Pointless…"
A calm whisper rang out, seeming to pierce space itself.
A bullet, wrapped in flowing red energy and black-red lightning, appeared silently midair.
Newgate, gathering power in his fist to shatter the sea, had no time to react. His Observation Haki warned him, but teleportation was teleportation—no human brain could respond in time.
As the gunpowder smoke rose, Orin lit a cigarette. A scarlet flash flickered in his eyes as wisps of smoke curled from his lips.
He never doubted, nor needed to look, whether his shot hit.
The future was already written.
"Puah…"
Thud-thud-thud-thud—
On the Rocks Pirates' ship, a towering figure staggered backward, clutching his chest.
Blood spilled from his mouth, staining the iconic crescent-shaped mustache red.
Everyone was aghast!!!
Especially Bakkin, on Whitebeard's shoulder. Her face froze in disbelief as she looked at the mighty man, now grimacing in pain.
She fell to the deck, panic flashing across her face before she rushed to his side.
"Newgate!! What happened to you—"
"I'm fine!!!"
Boom—
His naginata slammed into the deck, halting his retreat and carving a deep crater into the planks.
The Black Gun's modified bullets, even with sheer kinetic force, rivaled massive cannonballs.
Whitebeard clutched the grievous wound in his chest, coughing blood again.
Though he forced calm on the surface, his heart was shaken.
This was Conqueror's Haki Infusion—no mistake. But how had it been wrapped around an invisible bullet?
The young Whitebeard, teeth bloodied, scanned the surroundings grimly until his eyes locked on a figure—
A man with long black hair, exhaling smoke with composure.
Whitebeard's eyes went bloodshot. He roared to the Rocks Pirates' ships:
"Everyone pay attention—an extraordinary enemy has appeared!!!"
Just from that gaze, he felt the aura and presence of a king-level warrior.
And with the smoking Black Gun, and the bleeding hole torn into his chest by that Conqueror-infused bullet, he knew—
This mission would not go smoothly.
"Nani??"
"What are you saying, Newgate!!"
"What happened to your chest wound?!"
The other captains, hearing his roar, turned their attention toward him. Their standoff with Roger faltered slightly.
That was the opening.
Orin's figure vanished, reappearing atop the Roger Pirates' lookout, right in the center of everyone's sight.
"Just making Rocks's crew give me respect. Don't blame me for being underhanded…"
In Black Gun form, Orin was unbeatable—as long as he shamelessly embraced it.
His scarlet eyes gleamed, futures unraveling before him like toys, all within his grasp.
"Shiki, Charlotte Linlin, Kaido…"
As his crimson pupils rotated, one after another, their bodies erupted in blood the instant their names were called.
The sight stunned Keek, who moments ago brimmed with excitement.
"The captains who could destroy heaven and earth… actually…"
Staring at the mysterious figure, he swallowed hard, dumbstruck.
"In this world… could such a monster truly exist!?"
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Pls Drop some Power Stones
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