Chapter 213: Eustass and Kozuki Toki's Daughter, Morgans' Backer! (Please Subscribe!)
sea circle calendar 1496.
East Blue.
An unnamed island.
Shelz Town.
Outside the town, in a Villa yard.
Eustass was holding his daughter, Karina Mola, in his arms.
When Kozuki Toki first gave birth to this daughter for Eustass, she thought he would name her Eustass Karina.
However, after Eustass's explanation, Kozuki Tokiunderstood that the name Eustass Mola had its surname and given name order reversed compared to the people of their World.
Karina is three years old by lunar reckoning, and two years old by actual age.
She is very beautiful and cute, with black hair like Eustass.
"Sticking to your father all day, how improper."
Kozuki Toki walked out of the house and quickly picked up her daughter.
But Karina's chubby little hands kept pulling at her father, unwilling to let go.
"Stop messing around, won't Mother play with you?"
Kozuki Toki quickly said.
Eustass looked at the mother and daughter and smiled.
Second floor.
By the balcony.
Whitey Bay, the Ice Witch, sat there. She watched as Princess Karina was taken away by Kozuki Toki, and only then did she breathe a sigh of relief.
Two years had passed, and Kozuki Toki's daughter had already celebrated her second birthday.
Yet, her own belly still showed no signs.
Karina clung to her father every day; she needed her father to eat with her, her father to coax her normally, and even her father to lull her to sleep.
She had absolutely no time left.
Not long after, Whitey Bay went downstairs and pulled Eustass up to the second floor.
Later.
Over an hour later.
Eustass stroked Whitey Bay's large buttocks.
He breathed a sigh of relief.
"I heard that a kendo dojo recently opened in a village in the town."
Whitey Bay said.
"Hmm, I heard about it."
Eustass nodded.
When they first arrived, no one had even named the town.
Eustass was powerful. While staying here, even if he was just living in seclusion under a hidden identity, any pirates who came to harass would be secretly dealt with by him.
Even if the Marines and nobles who oppressed commoners came, Eustass would still sink them into the sea.
Over time, people in the East Blue heard about what was happening here. Although they didn't know exactly what had transpired, they understood that it was very safe here.
People flocked here to live and settle.
As time passed and the population grew, a town formed, and someone gave it a name.
It was called Shelz Town.
And on the outskirts of Shelz Town, there was a small village that, in recent years, was named Shimotsuki Village.
A new family recently arrived in Shimotsuki Village. Although they had a given name, they had no surname, likely to avoid enemies and intentionally conceal their identity.
The owner of that newly opened kendo dojo was named Genzo.
Eustass held Whitey Bay, deep in thought.
Genzo had arrived, the kendo dojo had opened, so Kouzaburou must have also arrived.
As for Zoro?
Forget about wandering, Zoro hasn't even been born yet.
"I'll go visit this afternoon."
Eustass said.
Whitey Bay looked at him in surprise. Was that kendo dojo very powerful? Powerful enough for Eustass to visit.
Eustass rubbed Whitey Bay's 'granary' and smiled.
He was going to Genzo's kendo dojo simply to see where his idol, Zoro, would live and grow up in the future.
Genzo might be a hidden master, but he was definitely not stronger than him.
Otherwise, Genzo's family wouldn't have fled Wano Country.
Before Eustass transmigrated, as a One Piece fan, it was understandable for him to want to see where his idol, Zoro, lived and grew up.
Afternoon.
Eustass sat in the yard, basking in the Sun and enjoying his leisurely time.
Some things had happened in the past two years, and Eustass had learned a lot through the World Economy News Company's newspapers and Morgans.
Firstly, in 1494, the Ohara scholars formed a Poneglyphexpedition team, setting sail from Ohara in the West Blue, leaving a hidden danger for Ohara's destruction.
However, when Morgans visited Eustass in 1494, Eustasshad Morgans conceal this report.
Secondly, in the same year.
The World Economy News Company reported on the Whitebeard Pirates' embarrassing incidents.
World Economy News Company:
"Oden's Hair is Black, Oden's Wife's Hair is Silver, and His Son Has Pink Hair!?"
"Shocking! Oden's Son Allegedly Not His Biological Child!"
Morgans even dug up the incident from back then, when Oden was 'that' with Jozu.
"The Unspeakable Things Between Oden and Jozu..."
"Kozuki Oden × Kozuki Zero √"
The Whitebeard Pirates were so enraged that they wanted to kill Morgans, but Morgans' backer was Eustass. Oden was furiously helpless and couldn't do anything to him.
Crucially, people genuinely loved reading such news. For a time, Kozuki Oden made an indelible contribution to the sales of the World Economy News Company.
In sea circle calendar 1495, Garp once again refused promotion to Admiral.
And in the same year, Roger refused the alliance with Golden Lion Shiki.
As a result, the two engaged in the Edd War in the New World.
Shiki was truly unlucky; halfway through the battle, a storm came and destroyed Shiki's Flying Pirates.
Roger narrowly won.
This shows how strong Shiki was at his peak.
The later, crazed Shiki fighting Luffy was a Shikiweakened, weakened, and further weakened.
Soon after.
Eustass arrived at a coffee shop.
Second floor.
A bird-man sat in the corner, wearing a black top hat with a red and white feather, a black cape, a light blue shirt, and red and white striped trousers.
He had an extremely strange appearance, with an albatross head, a bird's beak for a mouth, a body covered in fluffy white feathers, and even his hands were wings.
He was Morgans.
President of the World Economy News Company, one of the Underworld Emperors. Ostensibly running a newspaper business, he was actually spreading his intelligence network across the World.
Of course, as a user of the Bird-Bird Fruit, Albatross Form, he couldn't fly... "Senior, please sit down quickly."
Morgans saw Eustass and quickly stood up respectfully.
Over the years, Morgans had been running around the World.
He had observed the lower classes for a long time, as per Eustass's instructions.
Morgans also understood how difficult life was for the common people in this World.
At the same time, he also figured out one thing: in this World, both Marine recruits and the countless pirates each year came from the lower classes.
At least the nobles of the World Government member nations were well-protected by the Marines.
And because of this, they were like pets raised by the World Government.
Indulging in pleasure, lacking ambition, neither accomplished in academics nor martial arts.
Because they knew that as long as the World Government didn't fall, and they continued to provide celestial tribute, their decadent lives could be passed down to their descendants for decades, even centuries, without change.
Therefore, most of the World's strong individuals came from the lower classes, not from the pleasure-seeking, dispirited nobles of various nations.
So Morgans also understood Eustass's other implication.
To overthrow the World Government, you have to win over all the lower classes of the World to your side.
Without a source of soldiers, the World Government, no matter how powerful, couldn't function.
Chapter 214: Commissioning a Famous Blade from Kouzaburou, Roger's Visit! (Please Subscribe!)
Morgans admired the senior Eustass.
Yet he also knew that even if you rallied the masses and incited them to revolt, it wouldn't accomplish much.
Because top-tier combat power was what decided victory in this World of extraordinary strength.
Morgans wanted to change the World too.
So over the years he had thought it over and finally decided to secure Eustass as his backer.
Every month he sent forty percent of his newspaper's profits to the senior.
"What's wrong—trouble?"
Eustass asked.
"No, not really. Those Gorosei fellows act as if nothing concerns them; no matter how I probe the bottom line in the papers, they barely react."
Morgans said.
Eustass chuckled; the Gorosei were always like that.
"This month's token of appreciation—please accept it."
With that, Morgans hurriedly handed it over.
Eustass pocketed it. Morgans wanted a patron; taking some money was only fair.
Besides, raising a wife and kids cost a fortune.
He himself was a colossal glutton; the household expenses piled up fast.
"I hear Oden has had another child—Kozuki Hiyori, a green-haired girl…"
Morgans could barely keep from laughing.
"Must be a genetic mutation."
Eustass mused.
"Who knows—haha."
Morgans burst out laughing; Oden was about to give him another wave of headlines.
After a coffee, Eustass and Morgans chatted a while, then parted ways.
Eustass strolled the streets and soon reached the Shimotsuki Village dojo.
He stepped inside, greeted master Koshiro, and walked into the yard to watch the four new disciples yelling and swinging bamboo swords.
At Eustass's hip hung two famous blades: the Great Grade Sword ama-no-habakiri and the Great Grade Sword Enma.
Koshiro glanced at the twin blades and twitched; he seemed to know who this man was.
That Enma was the work of Kouzaburou—his father.
How could he not recognize it?
Back when the family still lived in Wano, his father forged Enma and presented it to Kozuki Oden.
Never had he imagined that shortly after Oden set sail, Eustass would snatch Enma away.
As for ama-no-habakiri, it was forged by Kozuki Sukiyaki—though in sword-smith circles Sukiyaki used the alias Tenguyama Hitetsu.
"Fine blades."
Koshiro remarked.
"Yep—took them off some fool."
Eustass patted the crossed swords at his waist.
Koshiro was lost for words.
Footsteps sounded unhurriedly.
A skinny top-knotted elder in a black sakura kimono and geta clacked past, pipe clenched between his teeth.
The old man glanced back at Eustass, looked away, then sensed something wrong.
He jerked his head back again, eyes locking on the two famous swords at Eustass's hip.
Kouzaburou's brow twitched: one blade he had forged, the other by Kozuki Sukiyaba—both meant exclusively for Kozuki Oden.
Yet here they were in an outsider's hands.
Kouzaburou strode over, glaring at Eustass with ill-concealed hostility.
"A sword is for killing—no?"
Eustass said, looking down at the old man who stood craning his neck.
Kouzaburou was choked silent.
Enma's very meaning was exactly that.
"Well spoken."
With a cold snort Kouzaburou turned and left.
"Then next time I'll just kill Oden."
Eustass called after him.
"Y-you…"
Kouzaburou and Koshiro stared in shock; how had this man recognized them as Shimotsuki?
The Shimotsuki clan was a great family of Wano—and vassals to the Kozuki Family.
Kouzaburou stayed silent a long while, then sighed.
"Kill if you must; we're already nothing to them now."
With that, Kouzaburou walked off.
Eustass grinned—old Kouzaburou putting on airs?
He'd just turn around and behead the man's liege.
"I want a sword."
Eustass stated.
Kouzaburou didn't even pause; no way would he forge a weapon for an enemy.
"Fine—then I'll go slaughter the Kozuki right now."
Eustass spun on his heel and left.
Kouzaburou rushed back and caught his arm:
"What kind of blade? What dimensions? What steel?"
Eustass looked back at the flustered old smith and smirked.
Weren't they "nothing to them" now?
"A present for my daughter. Start forging today; when she's grown up I'll give it to her."
Eustass said.
"Very well—I'll make it the finest I can."
With that Kouzaburou turned away to prepare.
Eustass left the dojo.
In another World giving a little girl a sword would be called insane.
But this World was a dog-eat-dog ocean of powerhouses.
Eustass didn't want his child a mere ornament—unable even to protect herself.
In such a brutal World, a blade was the perfect gift.
One month later.
Shelz Town, seaside.
A vessel built wholly from Adam Tree timber sailed slowly across the sea.
Aboard the Oro Jackson.
In a burgundy Captain's coat and skull-adorned hat, Roger stood on deck.
He had earlier poached Kozuki Oden from Whitebeard to chase the Poneglyphs and reach Raftel.
But when they reached Fish-Man Island King Neptunehelplessly told him the red Road-Poneglyph there had been taken by Eustass two years earlier.
Left with no choice, Roger searched everywhere for Eustass's whereabouts.
After Toki bore their child, Eustass had gone into hiding.
Roger asked Eustass's two disciples and finally learned his residence, then hurried over.
He hoped to persuade Eustass to let his new comrade Kozuki Oden translate the red Poneglyph.
"Almost there… Hard to believe the once uncrowned king—an existence even the World Government dared not provoke—would settle his family in this obscure corner of the East Blue."
Beside Roger,
Rayleigh, golden hair flowing, sighed in wonder.
"You don't understand, Rayleigh."
Roger shook his head, gazing enviously at the little island.
Terraced rice paddies bustled with farmers at work.
In the town and surrounding villages, crowing cocks and barking dogs mingled with children's laughter while smoke curled from every rooftop.
"Such a peaceful life—really wonderful."
Roger murmured. "If circumstances allowed, I'd want this too—how blissful."
Chapter 215: The Red Poneglyph Stele – Roger's Dream! (Subscribe, please!)
A few years ago, Roger was diagnosed with an incurable illness.
From that moment on, he knew his time was short and he had to fill it with meaning.
For instance, ending this wretched era—wiping out the Celestial Dragons.
But Roger understood: he was dying, and the task was far, far too great.
Watching the smoke curling above the town, Rogerenvied Eustass from the bottom of his heart.
If he could, he would choose that life too.
Marry, raise children, a warm family… the ship tied to the shore.
Roger stepped off the gangway with Rayleigh and Kozuki Oden in tow.
"Roger, I'd rather not go…"
Oden said, face twisted in reluctance.
He had no wish to see Eustass.
"Oden, some things have to be faced—you can't keep running."
Roger urged gently.
"Just make rubbings of the stele and bring them back; I'll translate them."
Oden hurriedly added.
He was training Ittoryu again, but his strength had long since waned; beating Eustass remained a distant dream.
He refused to walk over and swallow insults.
"All right, stay here then."
Roger sighed.
He planned to speak with Eustass later and smooth things over for Oden.
Soon after.
Shelz Town.
Outside the Eustass Family Villa gates.
Roger rapped on the iron gate.
"Who is it?"
Whitey Bay stepped out and called.
One glance at the visitors and her expression chilled.
Roger—of all people!
She'd long known he'd lured Oden away from their old man.
Hence, none of Dad's kids held any fondness for him.
"Who're you looking for?"
Whitey Bay asked coldly.
"I'm after Eustass. Captain of the Roger Pirates—need to talk business."
Roger replied.
"He's not home. Be on your way!"
Whitey Bay snapped, waving him off irritably.
"Sorry to bother. We'll wait outside—haha."
Roger scratched his head, chuckling sheepishly.
Before long.
Eustass returned.
He spotted Roger and Rayleigh sitting by the gate and wasn't the least bit surprised.
Exactly as expected.
After all, he'd told King Neptune and his two girl disciples to leak his whereabouts on purpose.
Eustass had taken a red Poneglyph from Fish-Man Island; four such stones were indispensable for reaching Raftel.
If Roger didn't come to him, how would he ever find Raftel and become Pirate King?
Of course, handing over rubbings would come with conditions.
Eustass had rested for years; his hands were itching.
He meant to fleece Roger and Rayleigh for a bit of fun.
"Ah, the illustrious Captain Roger."
Eustass greeted, smiling as he approached.
"I don't deserve such praise, really."
Roger beamed, delighted that this great senior had even heard his name.
"Greetings, senior. Gol D. Roger—this is my right-hand man, Rayleigh."
He introduced himself and his companion.
"Good day. Follow me."
Eustass turned homeward; Whitey Bay hurried to open the gate and welcome him.
"This senior looks far too young…"
Rayleigh stared, stunned.
Roger nodded. Rumor placed Eustass on the seas as early as circa sea-circle year 1457.
Decades later he still looked youthful, still in his prime—outrageous and enviable.
In the courtyard Eustass sat opposite Roger and Rayleighand poured them tea.
"Thanks—though some Death-Heat Spaghetti would hit the spot."
Roger quipped cheerfully.
Rayleigh nearly face-palmed; they were here to ask a favor, not clown around.
"Haha, joking, joking."
Roger waved his hands, though he muttered, "Still want that pasta though…"
Eustass realized Roger's temperament mirrored Luffy's—
both total goofballs in front of their crews.
"So, what brings you here?"
Eustask inquired.
"Word is you… took the red Poneglyph stele from Fish-Man Island?"
Roger asked cautiously.
"What of it?"
Eustass replied.
"Could we take a look? We're striving for something monumental—please!"
Roger's face turned grave as he bowed earnestly.
"Elaborate."
Eustass sipped tea while Kozuki Toki handed him a sack of rice crackers.
Crunching crackers and sipping tea, he regarded Rogercomfortably.
"Here's how it is."
Roger laid out his dream and recounted the texts he'd seen on ordinary Poneglyphs during his voyage.
"There are thirty Poneglyphs in total; four are Road Poneglyphs—the red ones.
Our collection is still incomplete, so our information may be patchy.
But one thing is clear: eight centuries ago the World Government was no righteous body, and the justice they preach through the Marines is mere propaganda.
Take the Bridge Kingdom: centuries of construction, yet every so often disasters strike, razing it so slaves must rebuild it anew.
The World Government treats the World's people as playthings and slaves!
I visited Jaya, saw Shandora's ruins, sought Poneglyphs on many isles.
Shandora was destroyed simply for preserving a Poneglyph!
The World Government cares only for its throne, not the people's lives.
For centuries their greed for the celestial tribute has shattered countless families,
driving folk to piracy…"
Roger clenched his fists. "Please—give me the stele! I will wipe out the Celestial Dragons and bring dawn to the World!"
Eustass watched, moved. In later years many commoners cursed Pirate King Roger,
yet who understood his true intent?
They were merely commoners duped by government propaganda.
With education scarce in the Pirate World, widespread illiteracy made manipulation easy.
Roger's execution sparked the Great Pirate Age out of desperation—
dying before fulfilling his dream, he could only gamble that ONE PIECE would lure adventurers to Raftel,
hoping that whoever uncovered its secret would reveal the truth.
Then the World, armed with knowledge, might choose to change.
"Rubbings I can give," Eustass said, "but two conditions must be met."
Chapter 216: Eustass vs. Roger Rayleigh! (Subscribe please!)
"Speak. I'll do my best to agree."
Roger nodded, staring at Eustass solemnly.
"I want you and Rayleigh to fight me."
Eustass said, then looked toward the Dark King Rayleigh.
"This..."
Roger and Rayleigh were both surprised; they never imagined the condition would be this simple.
A single bout with Eustass—no mention of winning or losing—and the copies would be handed over; Roger had never expected it to be so easy.
Still, Roger had absolute confidence in his and Rayleigh's strength.
Roger was no longer the rookie who'd just set sail; after everything he and Rayleigh had been through, he believed they'd caught up to the old legends.
So both welcomed the spar with confidence.
"I'll go first!"
Roger shouted, clutching the hilt of his Supreme Grade Blade, Ace—one of the Twelve.
Yes, Roger's Supreme Grade sword was literally named Ace—"No, let me start!"
Rayleigh cut in excitedly; he'd longed to test himself against Eustass.
"Why argue—just come at me together."
Eustass said, rising and walking out of the yard.
"Huh?"
Roger and Rayleigh stared; the man was that confident?
By now they had grown into two of the World's top fighters, and every powerhouse believed in himself—none ever thought he'd lose.
Even against a living legend of the past.
Soon after.
Seaside, sandy beach.
Eustass, Roger and Rayleigh arrived for their match.
Out at sea.
On a pirate ship.
A straw-hat-wearing, red-haired Shanks, in a white shirt and red trousers, leaned on the rail, watching CaptainRoger, First-Mate Rayleigh, and the mysterious Eustash on the shore.
Around Shanks the crew gathered, eyes fixed eagerly on the island.
Not far away,
a pale-red knit-capped kid with a comically big red nose ran over:
"Shanks, what are you guys looking at?"
Buggy jogged over, hot dog in hand, and patted Shanks' shoulder.
"Watching the Captain and the others fight a legend."
Shanks replied.
"Who's that?"
Buggy asked, puzzled.
Eustass had lived in seclusion for years; his name had faded from the papers.
Buggy was only thirteen—far too young to know the man's exploits.
With Eustass absent for so long, news about him had dwindled, leaving Buggy completely in the dark.
"Eustass Mola—said to be so strong that Marines, pirates and the World Government all steer clear."
Shanks explained.
"How strong? Stronger than the Captain? Tell me more!"
Buggy pressed.
"Dope—Eustass' heyday was before we were born!"
Shanks smacked Buggy's head.
"Tch, so you don't know either."
Buggy pouted.
"You're asking for a beating."
Shanks glared.
"Bring it, you're the one asking for it!"
Buggy clenched his fists. Moments later the two buddies were scuffling on deck, pinching and grappling... On the beach,
Eustass glanced at the ship.
Young Buggy and Shanks?
Quite the lively fight.
"Ah, those two are such a handful."
Roger sighed, "Forget them—let's focus on our own battle."
With that, Rayleigh gave a wry smile.
The next instant a sea breeze kicked up sand.
Roger and Rayleigh whipped out their blades, vanished on the spot, and shot toward Eustass; their weapons wreathed in Conqueror's Haki like black lightning streaking across the sky.
Eustass chuckled; with Yama in one hand and ama-no-habakiri in the other, both blades cloaked in Conqueror's Haki, he slashed out, blocking Roger and Rayleigh's simultaneous strikes left and right.
"Screeech!"
Steel crashed; black lightning erupted outward. Rayleighand Roger exchanged a glance, muscles bulging as they pressed harder.
"Whew~ youngsters these days are so strong~ so scary~"
Eustass quipped in a mock-monkey tone.
"Stop pretending—you're barely trying!"
Roger roared through clenched teeth; even with Rayleigh's help they couldn't push Eustass back.
"As expected of a legend who shook the seas decades ago!"
Rayleigh exclaimed, tightening his grip and continuing to bear down.
Four blades clashed, sparks flying and steel ringing.
Aboard ship,
Oden, his right arm crippled and reduced to single-sword style, stared grimly at the island.
He never imagined that not even Whitebeard could beat Eustass—nor could Roger.
Is the man a monster?
Eustass had appeared around the year 1457 of the sea circle calendar, yet today he showed no sign of aging or decline.
The realization weighed on Oden; the hope of defeating Eustass felt ever more distant.
"Kamisaki!"
A black slash erupted from Roger's blade; Eustassanswered with Yama, sending out an azure wave.
"Booom—!"
Rayleigh said nothing, his sword cloaked in Conqueror's Haki as he hacked at Eustass.
With ama-no-habakiri wreathed in the same dark aura, Eustass met the strike head-on.
The overwhelming force stunned Roger and Rayleigh; Eustass' power numbed their hands and set their palms aching.
An instant later Eustass surged, and the two quickly braced the backs of their blades with their left hands, teeth clenched.
In the next breath Eustass swept both swords outward, sending the pair flying.
"That guy's a monster!"
Kozuki Oden was shaken to the core.
"Is he even human?"
Jabba, twin axes slung across his back, stood on deck, stunned.
"Damn it!"
Oden glared at ama-no-habakiri and Yama in Eustass' hands; the sight enraged him—those were his swords!
Without a word to anyone, Oden leapt overboard, long blade gripped in his left hand, and charged Eustass.
"Bring it on—give me back my swords!"
Oden roared, Armament Haki coating his left-hand blade as he slashed at Eustass.
"Hm?"
Eustass glanced sideways; ama-no-habakiri wrapped in Armament Haki met the attack.
"Oden, get back!"
Roger shouted in alarm from afar. This was meant to be a friendly match, but Oden bore a grudge; if he closed in, he'd be lucky to escape with his life, let alone all his limbs.
Chapter 217. The Birth of the Pirate King! (Part 1) Please Subscribe!
Eustass slashed out with ama-no-habakiri in his hand, while Oden, his face filled with extreme rage, chopped back with his sword.
The utterly infuriated Oden simply could not listen to his Captain's dissuasion.
"Die!"
Oden roared, and in the next instant, Eustass, holding ama-no-habakiri, directly sent Oden flying.
The long sword in Oden's hand was instantly broken, and a long wound was split open across Oden's body.
"Boom boom boom..."
Oden flew out like a cannonball, snapping one large tree, then a second, a third, a fourth, a fifth... He flew a great distance until he finally reached a small hill in the center of the island, where he slammed into the cliff face with a loud crash, embedding himself within it.
"Why bother, sigh..."
Gaban rubbed his forehead helplessly; he had noticed Oden wasn't right just now.
He quickly grabbed Oden then, but Oden wouldn't listen to advice at all.
On the cliff face.
Oden's vision went black, and he immediately fainted.
[The host has defeated Kozuki Oden, the Disgrace of Pirates!]
[Reward obtained: Lifespan +6!]
Eustass's face lit up with joy; Oden's reward had increased again.
Sure enough, his idea of 'raising a Gu' was correct.
"This guy..."
Roger glanced at Oden helplessly. "Forget it, let's continue. I'll fight him back for Oden!"
Eustass looked at Roger. This guy really takes care of his brother.
"Come on. If the two of you can defeat me, I'll return Enma and ama-no-habakiri to Oden."
After Eustass finished speaking, he crossed his two swords in front of him.
Roger's face brightened with joy. With Conqueror's Hakicoating his blade, he exchanged a look with Rayleigh, who held a sharp sword, and they charged forward together.
The next instant.
The figures of Eustass, Roger, and Rayleigh instantly rushed towards each other. Swords clashed, generating continuous tremors. The ground cracked from the impact of the aftershocks, which spread outwards, bending the trees in the forest.
"Sugoi!"
Shanks looked at this scene in shock, determined to become such a powerful individual in the future.
"Clang clang clang—!"
Eustass fought continuously against Roger and Rayleigh. The two of them were repeatedly knocked away by him, only to charge forward again, fighting him without fear.
They fought and failed repeatedly, failed and fought repeatedly.
The failure of the battle could not defeat the fighting spirit and passion in their hearts.
"Ahahaha! As expected, you are strong! Anyway, I don't have long to live. To be able to fight such a powerful person, even death would be worth it!"
Roger was knocked flying by Eustass, rolled a great distance through the forest, stood up, and shouted with laughter.
"You two are also very strong."
Eustass looked at Roger and Rayleigh in the distance and sighed.
"In that case, let's continue!"
After Roger spoke, he roared again and charged with Rayleigh, slashing towards Eustass.
Blades clashed loudly, and the cold light flashed, captivating the heart.
The three fought from the east side to the west side, destroying all the trees and boulders along the way.
The members of the Roger Pirates quickly followed, but two hours later...
Two figures suddenly flew out, knocking down a large number of trees along the way. They flew from the edge of the island to the small hill in the center of the island, crashing into the cliff face with two loud booms.
[The host has defeated Roger, Captain of the Roger Pirates!]
[Reward obtained: Lifespan +7! Strength ×2!]
Eustass looked at Roger in surprise. Not bad; as the Pirate King, he gave two rewards at once.
[The host has defeated Pluton Rayleigh!]
[Reward obtained: Alcohol Tolerance ×2! Fishing Skill ×2!]
Eustass was speechless.
This... is outrageous.
Is the System trying to encourage him to become a fisherman?
Roger and Rayleigh walked over, bringing Oden with them.
Being embedded in the cliff face couldn't actually hurt them.
They only needed to wrap their entire bodies in Armament Haki, push a little, and they could crush the stones of the cliff face.
"Hahaha, I never thought that even though I don't have long to live, I could still fight a powerhouse like you. I have no regrets!"
Roger shouted excitedly.
"It's nothing. Let's go. I'll prepare the Rubbings for you."
After Eustass spoke, Roger's face lit up.
This was exactly what he came for.
Eustass glanced at the little Red Hair and the little Buggynot far away, then turned and walked away with Roger.
These two were clearly from the same ship.
Yet, Red Hair would become one of the Four Emperors in the future, while Buggy would only become a pirate who relied entirely on luck, cheating, kidnapping, and deceiving people.
Folks, who understands? This Red Nose even tricked his subordinates into joining him~
They traveled all the way to the small town.
Eustass returned home, opened the trapdoor to the Underground Room, and led Roger and Rayleigh inside.
Oden stood outside the Villa yard, looking at Kozuki Toki, who was standing in the yard holding her daughter.
For some reason, he felt like crying.
Some things hadn't happened, but he always had a feeling in his heart that he had lost something very important.
"Carina, see that? That kind of weird uncle—when you grow up, stay far away from people like him. He's not a decent person."
Kozuki Toki said, holding her daughter Carina.
Oden: "..."
Underground Room.
Eustass brought Roger and Rayleigh here, leading them to the Red Poneglyph tablet.
Roger was stunned, and Rayleigh was also stunned.
"You... you just put the stone tablet here?"
Roger had thought Eustass would have to lead him through many secret passages.
But he never expected that Eustass would just place the Red Poneglyph tablet near the entrance of the Underground Room.
He wasn't worried about anyone stealing it at all.
Thinking about it, the Gorosei of the World Governmentnever paid attention to the Poneglyphs, and other pirates didn't dare to provoke Eustass. Why would Eustass need to hide it carefully?
He only put it in the Underground Room because he felt it was taking up too much space.
"Ah, I just put it here. No one dares to steal it anyway,"
Eustass said with a smile.
Roger and Rayleigh were speechless. Fine, you're strong, so you can be willful.
Not long after.
Rayleigh and Roger took the Rubbings and prepared to leave.
"Wait, weren't there two conditions?"
Roger asked.
"When you return. We'll talk again after you come back from the Final Island."
Eustass said.
"Alright, it's settled then!"
Roger nodded.
"Take care."
Eustass patted Roger's shoulder and said.
"Thank you very much!"
Roger hugged him and then took his leave.
Eustass watched Roger and Rayleigh leave. He returned to the Underground Room and moved the Red Poneglyphout.
Looking at his own yard, Eustass dug a pit, placed the stone tablet inside, and only left a small section exposed.
"Hmm, this is quite good too. In the future, we can eat on this table on summer nights, and it will be cool."
Eustass laughed.
At the edge of the island.
Roger sensed what Eustass had done and stumbled.
Good heavens, this guy is way too willful... Spring of sea circle calendar 1497.
Roger sat on the deck and contacted Senior Eustass using a transponder snail, telling him that he was about to reach the Final Island and hoped Eustass could also come and see the true face of the Final Island.
Just as Roger finished speaking, Buggy, who was excitedly talking on the deck, turned completely red, accidentally collapsed, and developed a high fever.
Chapter 218: The Birth of the Pirate King! (Part 2) Asking for Monthly Tickets!
East Blue.
Eustass received Roger's message. Sitting in the courtyard, he pondered for a while and decided to visit the Final Island.
However, the Final Island actually had no name originally.
The name Raftel for the Final Island was given by Rogerafter he arrived there.
Raftel, Laugh Tale, a joke.
Eustass always felt that what was on the Final Islandwould be very surprising when seen.
"I'm going on a long trip."
Eustass stood up and said to Kozuki Toki, who was beside him.
"Come back soon."
Kozuki Toki quickly said.
"Mm."
Eustass nodded... New World.
On an unnamed island in a certain sea area.
Eustass arrived here by ship and met Roger and others who had returned from sea, having brought the feverish Buggy back.
Buggy had a persistent high fever on the way to the Final Island, but after Roger and the others brought him back, and while Roger and the others were waiting for Eustass, Buggy's fever subsided smoothly.
"Captain, Captain, since my fever is gone, can I follow you and go see the Final Island too!"
Buggy shouted excitedly. Roger chuckled, rubbed Buggy's head, and nodded in agreement.
"Oh oh oh!"
Buggy happily ran around, hugging his companion Shanks.
"Hey, hey, that's enough, damn it, let go of me..."
Shanks was also happy that his companion had recovered and could go to the Final Island.
But the two young men hugging each other was a bit strange.
"Hahaha, in the future, this great lord can also brag to my subordinates that I was a great contributor who fully helped Captain Roger reach the Final Island!"
Buggy, transforming into Roger's crew's bragging master, said with a laugh.
"Hahaha!"
Everyone burst into laughter.
Soon after.
Eustass docked his ship on the small island, boarded Roger's pirate ship, and set off together for the Final Island.
However, just as the ship had sailed a certain distance, the same distance as when Buggy previously had a high fever, Buggy, who was full of energy and chasing Shanksall over the ship, once again developed a high fever, turned completely red, and collapsed with a thud.
Eustass, who was drinking and chatting with Roger, suddenly also turned red and developed a high fever.
The Roger Pirates were forced to stop their voyage.
"The Final Island is a bit special."
Roger looked at Eustass and Buggy, who were resting with high fevers, and said with a gloomy expression.
Buggy had a high fever twice, and Eustass, being a Devil Fruit user, also immediately developed a high fever upon arrival.
It was already very clear that there was something wrong with the Final Island, some kind of influence that made it difficult for Devil Fruit users to approach.
However, Roger glanced at Eustass's condition; Eustass's physique was too abnormal, so even with a high fever, he wasn't as miserable as Buggy.
Eustass's abnormal physique and extremely strong recovery meant that he only felt a slight fever, and his physical strength wasn't too affected, still able to use about seventy percent of his combat power.
Soon after.
Everyone once again returned to the departure island.
Buggy was definitely going to be left behind.
Shanks was responsible for taking care of his companion, Buggy.
While Eustass's problem wasn't too big, he still decided to stay and help Roger take care of Buggy and Shanks.
"You can still hold on, are you really not going to take a look?"
Roger asked, looking at Eustass.
The two sat by the sea, looking at the distant horizon where the sky met the sea.
The Final Island was not far now.
"I don't care about such things."
Eustass shook his head and said.
In his previous life, he was also fascinated by Raftel and ONE PIECE, but ever since the Pirate World introduced the concept of predestination, he wasn't too keen on these things.
Now, no matter what Joy Boy did, he felt that the other party was like a Joker.
If he could watch the show, he would; if not, so be it.
"Really, you don't care?"
Roger looked at him in confusion, the Final Island, something countless people pursued.
"I lack neither money nor beautiful women, so I'm not interested~"
Eustass laughed, lying on the shore, listening to the ebb and flow of the tide, gazing at the starry sky.
For over eight hundred years in the Pirate World, no one was attracted by the brilliant stars in the sky, yet people were always attracted by fatalism. What narrow-minded fools.
What Eustass pursued was not this small ocean, but the starry sky and all the Worlds.
Become stronger, stronger, and stronger, pursuing immortality!
"What if Joy Boy was conveying an ideology?"
Roger asked with a smile.
"Ideology, hahaha!"
Eustass was amused, looking up at the sky and laughing loudly, his voice echoing between heaven and earth.
"Why should ideology be controlled by others? Are the people of this World pigs? Has a thousand years not been enough for ideological sparks to collide?"
Eustass scoffed.
Roger was speechless. Indeed, if even ideology had to be conveyed by others, then the people of this World were truly useless.
Following Eustass's gaze, Roger looked up at the sky.
He looked back at Eustass and suddenly understood that the other's ambition had never been confined to this sea.
The next day.
Early in the morning, Roger left Buggy and Shanks on the island. Eustass watched the Roger Pirates depart.
Eustass returned to the inn, looking at Buggy, who was lying in bed, resting with a high fever.
He poured himself some Water, got some snacks, and ate and drank.
Shanks sat by the bed, changing Buggy's wet towel.
He looked at the relaxed Eustass in confusion, then at the high-fevered, unconscious Buggy.
Was the physical difference that great?
One was mostly fine, while the other was unconscious with a high fever.
Eustass drank Water, looking out the window.
Then, he glanced at the two swords at his waist.
According to the original plot, after Roger learned the truth, he was forced to choose the original plot's ending because he had an incurable disease.
Because there were many things Roger didn't have time to do before his death.
To open the Great Pirate Era through his execution?
'How could the first Pirate King die at the hands of his enemies...'
Eustass clenched his weapons and stood up to leave the room.
Several days later.
Roger returned; they had seen the Final Island and named it Raftel.
Eustass discussed it with Roger, who looked at him gratefully and nodded, agreeing with Eustass's way of handling things.
That day, the World Economy News Company directly reported on the Roger Pirates' arrival at the Final Island.
And the World Government, to set Roger up for failure, directly used public opinion to give him the title of Pirate King.
The World Government hoped someone would kill Roger, but unfortunately, Eustass wasn't interested, Whitebeard only cared about playing house, Big Momonly cared about marrying men, Kaidou only cared about dominating Wano Country, and Golden Lion Shiki was crazy with a ship's rudder stuck in his forehead.
One year later.
sea circle calendar 1498.
New World, Raftel.
Eustass sat here and looked around. He had noticed when he arrived that the air in Raftel was releasing particles that suppressed Devil Fruit users, somewhat similar to Sea Stone factors.
However, this thing suppressed Devil Fruit users but only caused them to have fevers. The stronger the physique, the smaller the impact, at most only weakening some combat power.
"You're here."
Roger stood in the distance, looking at Eustass.
"Mm, you have a son?"
Eustass turned and smiled at Roger.
"Ah, yes, now I can also end my glorious career with peace of mind, hahaha."
Roger sat beside Eustass, placing the famous sword Ace nearby.
"Have you seen those things?"
Roger turned to Eustass, took out a bottle of wine, and gulped it down.
"Not interested, I'm just here to see you off in glory."
Eustass chuckled softly.
"You're still as belligerent as ever."
Chapter 219: 219. The Birth of the Pirate King! (Part 2) Please subscribe!
Due to the special environment of Raftel, Eustass's strength was affected while he stayed there.
But even with the influence, he still possessed seventy percent of his strength.
To the outside World, Eustass would have Morgansspread the news, claiming that "Eustass attempted to seize ONE PIECE, and Pirate King Roger intervened."
Roger's curtain call would be more glorious on the battlefield than on the execution platform.
This was the ending Eustass wanted to give Roger, and Roger himself was happy to fight until death.
Moreover, through Eustass, the strongest figure in the World, and through the reputation of the Uncrowned King, he believed more people would eventually learn about ONE PIECE!
This method of promotion was far more explosive than the Pirate King's execution.
Not long after.
Eustass and Roger each picked up their respective swords, stood up, faced each other, and raised the sharp blades in their hands.
A strong wind swept through, causing the cloaks on their bodies to flutter wildly.
Under the scorching midday sun, Eustass and Pirate King Roger stood opposite each other, Conqueror's Hakiwrapping their blades, while the remaining Haoshokucollided in the air.
In the sky above, two masses of dark, oppressive storm clouds quickly flowed, colliding in the middle, and then rolling upward toward the firmament.
"Come on!"
After Roger finished speaking, he roared and instantly charged forward.
Overseas.
On an unnamed small island located on the way to Raftel.
The members of the Roger Pirates, wearing cloaks and hoods, stood by the sea, gazing far into the distance.
Roger would meet a glorious end in battle, and they were here to see him off.
In the distance.
On the vast sea.
A large number of Marine warships were rapidly sailing toward them.
Fleet Admiral Kong, Admiral Sengoku, Marine Vice Admirals Garp and Tsuru, along with many other Marine Vice Admirals, all arrived by ship.
Eustass deliberately had Morgans leak the information, and also instructed him to leak intelligence regarding Raftel's special environment.
The purpose was to give the World Government the illusion that they "could finally kill Eustass."
This way, Eustass could both beat Roger for a reward and farm another wave of Marines for rewards.
Seventy percent of his strength was enough for him to utterly crush the Marines, leaving them crying for their parents.
"Why, why..."
Buggy clenched his fists. He clearly knew that CaptainRoger had an incurable disease, but deep down, he couldn't bear for the Captain to leave them; he didn't want the Captain to die.
On the vast sea.
"Can we really defeat that guy?"
Vice Admiral Tsuru stood beside the Fleet Admiral and the others, speaking with a heavy expression.
"Yes, we certainly can."
Kong clenched his fist and declared that today, he, Kong, would wipe away decades of shame!
Admiral Sengoku looked seriously at the sea ahead. The Gorosei's order was clear: they were to guard the outer waters of Raftel and wait for the prey.
They couldn't go inside, as many high-ranking Marines were Devil Fruit Ability users.
They only needed to wait outside and conserve their strength while the enemy was fatigued.
"Seventy percent of his strength..."
Admiral Zephyr clenched his fist. He had a feeling that seventy percent of the opponent's strength was enough to deal with them.
At this moment, they recalled the scene from back then when Eustass suppressed all members of Rocks, along with numerous powerhouses like Sengoku, Garp, Tsuru, and Zephyr.
It was too terrifying; the opponent's strength was enough to inspire despair and extinguish any hope of victory.
Soon after.
The sound of massive rumbling echoed from afar.
In the sky above.
Two figures, grasping Famous Swords, were using Moonwalk. While attacking each other, they walked through the air using Moonwalk, gradually moving out of Raftel's sphere of influence.
"Rumble—!"
A cyan slash wave was cut out by Eustass, cleaving the wind and waves, rapidly heading toward Roger.
"Rumble—!"
Roger held his long sword and cut out a slash. A red slash wave instantly left the blade, cleaving the wind and waves, rapidly flying toward Eustass's slash wave.
The two gigantic slash waves collided in the air, forming an "X" shape. The air vibrated continuously from the impact, and fierce, unparalleled winds and waves spread in all directions.
In the air, there were also numerous residual smaller slash waves generated after the two gigantic slash waves had collided.
"Puff, puff, puff—!"
Numerous pirate ships that had sailed over from afar, hoping to watch the excitement, were instantly caught in the crossfire.
Sails, masts, and railings were instantly shattered, the hull's exterior was pierced, and the keels were broken.
Many pirate ships had sailed here, but just one wave of residual shock from the clash was enough to affect the ships that were too close, causing them to sink.
"Clang, clang, clang—!"
On the main Marine warship.
Garp stood beside his friend Sengoku. His hands were wrapped in Armament Haki, and his iron fists continuously clanged together, unable to contain his excitement.
He desperately wanted to step forward and fight those two guys.
Over the years, Garp was either chasing Roger or practicing his punches on the mountains of islands he passed by.
Garp flattened one mountain after another. He wreaked havoc on mountains with such effort because he wanted his iron fists to become harder, so he could knock down all these arrogant pirates sooner.
"Calm down."
Sengoku glanced at Garp and said.
"Hiss, hiss, hiss..."
He quickly looked to the other side.
Zephyr nervously wrapped his arms in Armament Haki, clenching his fists so tightly that they sparked as if steel was rubbing together.
Sengoku looked solemnly at Roger, who was battling Eustass in the sky.
'It seems everyone is really looking forward to this battle.'
Sengoku mused internally.
Next, he glanced at the three young men standing behind Garp and Zephyr.
Behind Garp stood a young man wearing a black cloak, a purple shirt, a purple bandana, and small round sunglasses.
He was Kuzan, currently by Garp's side, holding the rank of Major General, and a Logia-type Glacial Fruit Ability user.
The current Kuzan was not yet the disillusioned man he would become in the future.
The current Kuzan upheld "Burning Justice." His heart was ablaze with fervor, and he was extremely eager to fight alongside his seniors in a joint operation to defeat Eustass, this great stone pressing down upon the World Government and the Marine.
To Kuzan's left was a fierce man wearing a red shirt, draped in a Marine cloak, wearing a Marine hat, and carrying a Famous Sword strapped to his back.
He had a fierce look on his face, clenched his fists, stared angrily at the sky, and yearned for battle.
He was Sakazuki, holding the rank of Major General.
Sakazuki had only recently obtained the Logia-typeMagma Fruit. Previously, he had used Swordsmanship, so he hadn't yet figured out what to do with his sword in the short term.
Standing beside Sakazuki was Borsalino, whose appearance was comical, though not as comical as he would be decades later.
He wore a white knitted hat, a pair of orange sunglasses, an orange shirt, and a Marine cloak.
Borsalino was relatively lazy and didn't take on as many missions as Sakazuki and Kuzan, so his promotion was slightly slower than theirs; he was currently only a Commodore.
Of course, rank does not represent strength.
The three high-ranking combatants of the third Marinegeneration were aboard the same ship, intending to launch a joint operation to defeat the weakened Eustass.
In the sky above.
"Clang, clang, clang—!"
The sharp blades held by Eustass and Roger continuously slammed together. The sound of clashing metal echoed across the sky, and the residual shockwaves generated by every clash spread outwards, preventing people from daring to approach.
In the next instant.
Roger's Famous Sword was knocked away by a strike from Eustass, who then ruthlessly slashed Roger. Rogerwas thrown far into the distance, spraying blood, like a kite with a snapped string.
"Ah ha ha ha ha!"
Roger flew toward a nearby island, bathed in the golden afterglow of the setting sun, and crashed onto the ground with a bang. "Eustass, you won't get my treasure!"
Eustass arrived using Moonwalk and pierced Roger's body with a single sword strike.
The cold light of the long sword in Eustass's hand flickered, stained red by Roger's blood. He looked at Roger solemnly, seeing him off on his final journey.
Roger's lips curled into a grin, his heart relieved.
The two exchanged a look and both smiled.
By leveraging Eustass's reputation, the fame of ONE PIECE on Raftel would become even louder than in the original storyline.
If even Eustass, the strongest in the World, desired this thing, countless ambitious powerhouses across the globe would rush toward the New World.
"Hey, Roger!"
A pirate standing on the distant shore quickly shouted.
"What exactly did you leave behind on Raftel!?"
"That's right, even My Lord Eustass wants it!"
Roger dropped the Famous Sword in his hand, let his blood flow onto the ground, and laughed loudly.
On the Marine warship.
The voice of the Gorosei came through the transponder snail in Kong's hand, filled with extreme anxiety and panic.
Kong's expression changed upon hearing this. He immediately rushed forward using Moonwalk, and Sengoku, Garp, Zephyr, and the others quickly followed suit.
"Wealth, fame, power, strength—if you dare, go! Everything you can imagine is there... the great treasure that can fulfill all dreams! ONE PIECE!"
The Gorosei wanted to stop Roger. They understood that Roger could not possibly make the complete truth public in a short time.
However, Roger could use Eustass's reputation to publicize ONE PIECE to the entire World, thereby ushering in the Great Pirate Era.
Once more and more people headed towards Raftel, someone would eventually reveal the truth, and powerful individuals would arise to overthrow the World Government.
In the end, they were still one step too late.
"Clang—!"
Eustass, holding Enma, forced Kong back with a single strike.
"I am your opponent!"
Eustass looked back at Roger. Rest in peace, Pirate King.
"Thank you..."
Roger opened his mouth, but no sound came out; he merely mouthed a silent thank you.
A glorious death in battle was always more acceptable to him than a tragic departure via execution.
In the distance.
Shanks and Buggy, wearing hoods, hid in the crowd. Of the two, Buggy was sobbing uncontrollably, wishing he could run over and hug Captain Roger.
Shanks held onto Buggy with one hand, while covering his face with the other, crying softly.
'What a beautiful day... ha ha ha...'
Roger lay on the ground, allowing his blood to continuously drain away, his body gradually growing cold.
He looked at the sparse, flowing clouds in the sky, the azure expanse boundless.
He hoped his son Ace would not follow him into piracy later on, but instead live a normal life.
He hoped the people on the sea could live easier lives, and wished the World Government would fall quickly, making the sky cleaner and bluer.
Pirate King Roger's consciousness faded, and his smile froze.
He was clearly a great pirate, the culprit who initiated the Great Pirate Era, yet he left the World with such beautiful aspirations.
Some people's lives, though short, are as vibrant as flowers.
sea circle calendar 1498, March 15th: Pirate King Gol D. Roger, dead in battle!
Chapter 220: 220. Fanning the Flames of the Great Pirate Era! ONE PIECE! (Subscribe!)
"Captain... ahhh..."
Buggy was about to shout when Shanks grabbed him by the collar and pressed his face to the ground.
"Shut up, wahhh..."
Shanks held Buggy down, tears streaming down his own face.
The Captain had told them he didn't have long to live—should he spark the Great Pirate Era with a staged execution, or die in a blaze of glory?
Back then, they'd been in agony; neither choice felt right.
Yet Roger had only grinned, utterly unbothered by death.
In the end, Roger chose to die in battle.
"If posterity learns the first Pirate King was hanged by the Marines, I'd lose too much face—ha! Might as well die by Eustass's hand."
He'd said it with that same joking smile.
So calm it shamed them all.
Eustass stood silent, watching the light fade from Roger's eyes.
He sighed; he knew he'd never face life and death as clearly as Roger had.
He wanted to live—longer, always longer.
In the next instant—
Eustass spun, Conqueror's Haki erupting; black clouds massed overhead, gales howled, his cloak snapping in the wind.
ama-no-habakiri in one hand, Enma in the other.
Eustass stared grimly at the gathered Marines.
Fleet Admiral Kong.
Admirals Sengoku and Zephyr.
Vice Admirals Garp and Tsuru, plus a dozen lesser-known officers.
The next generation's top fighters—Kuzan, Sakazuki, Borsalino—and dozens of rear Admirals and commodores.
Across the water, tens of thousands of elite Marines on a dozen warships.
"Come, losers!"
With that, twin blades sheathed in Conqueror's Haki, black-red lightning dancing along their edges.
"For Marine justice!"
Kong roared.
"For justice!" ×N
Sengoku and the rest, tens of thousands strong, thundered in perfect unison, their voices shaking sea and sky.
In that moment Marine morale soared higher than ever.
Strike while he's weak—kill him now: that was the World Government's order.
They believed Eustass had lost thirty percent of his strength; with every top fighter and vast numbers they could finish him.
Plus, Raftel's environment was deadly for Devil Fruitusers.
And a fever had already sapped some of Eustass's stamina.
The Gorosei were sure he couldn't last through a war of attrition.
All their elite forces plus tens of thousands of troops—surely enough to wear him down?
Eustass scanned the Marines; no sign of the Gorosei, nor the mysterious Imu.
Rumor said both Gorosei and Imu were Devil Fruit users—Eustass smiled.
No wonder they'd never set foot on Raftel.
The island wasn't instantly fatal to ability users, but it crippled their power.
The Gorosei and Imu had lived centuries; they cherished life above all.
They'd never risk coming here and being stabbed in the back by their own men.
Sending subordinates to scout was equally impossible.
Imu and the Gorosei trusted no one.
Hence they strictly forbade World Government or Marineforces from approaching Raftel.
"Only you lot?"
Eustass asked quietly, blades ready.
Not enough leeks for the soup~
"Hmph, Eustass, we're more than enough!"
Kong bellowed.
"Hahaha!"
Eustass laughed skyward, then sneered at the Marines. "So the Gorosei are Devil Fruit users, huh? The puppet-masters must be ancient—utterly terrified of death!"
"Well, Marines, anyone want to rise to heaven in one step and see the truth of Raftel?"
There's something there even the Gorosei fear~"
At those words, the watching pirates' eyes lit up.
If the Gorosei were afraid of it, they had to see it!
Across the World, via transponder snail feeds, pirates, bounty hunters, swordsmen, dreamers—and all who despised the Celestial Dragons—burned with excitement.
"Kill him—kill him! Slaughter him now!"
From the Marine transponder came Ethalon V. Nasujuro's frantic scream.
Mary Geoise.
The five elders sat around the table, watching the feed, panic and terror on every face.
"He knows—he must know!"
Shepherd Ju Peter thought.
"This man hasn't aged in decades; he's lived since ancient times—he must have secrets dangerous to us!"
Topman Warcury's mind reeled in dread.
"Kill him—kill him! Slaughter him now!"
Jaygarcia Saturn raged, face scarlet, roaring into the snail transmitter.
The New World.
Hearing their helpless fury, Eustass grinned.
The Gorosei were rattled—utterly rattled~
"So, people of the World—pirates, adventurers, bounty hunters—whatever your flag or creed."
Spotting the cameraman's image-transponder snail, he spoke to the lens.
Kong's body ballooned into a colossal gorilla, roaring as he charged.
"Attack!"
Sengoku bellowed, leading Zephyr, Garp, and Tsuru in the rush.
Sengoku swelled into a gigantic golden Buddha.
Garp's fist, said to flatten a dozen mountains, crackled with Armament Haki.
Zephyr and Tsuru led hordes of elite Marines in the pincer assault.
"Know this: come here and you can seize everything you dream of—wealth or the loftiest ideal—you'll leave with your arms full!"
With that, he leapt; one kick sent the giant gorilla flying, Kong skidding face-first across the ground. Another kick launched the golden Buddha, crashing into distant boulders. Twin blades swept out, two intersecting azure shockwaves forcing the Marines to scramble.
He followed with a cross-slash, twin arcs of cyan energy racing outward.
"For eight hundred years you and your forebears have been slaves, this sea a living hell."
"Come! Here lies the secret to overthrowing the Celestial Dragons—the one and only treasure: ONE PIECE!"
Across every ocean—East, West, North, South—and both halves of the Grand Line, Paradise and New World.
Countless fists clenched in resolve; even the indifferent felt the fire of rebellion.
Chapter 221. Imu's Mind Explodes! The True Uncrowned King! (Please Subscribe!)
Red Line, Mary Geoise.
"Aaaah! Damn it! Baka!"
The Gorosei were so furious they flipped the table over.
This guy, Eustass, went even further than Roger.
Roger merely kicked off the Great Pirate Era.
Eustass directly ignited a worldwide wave of resistance against the Celestial Dragons.
The reason people in the Pirate World feared the Celestial Dragons and dared not resist...
...was because most people didn't have the strength to flip the table.
But once someone told them where the "Secret Treasure" to defeat the Celestial Dragons was, they gained courage.
Celestial Dragons, gods?
But they didn't know that humans, since ancient times, as long as they possessed sufficient military might, dared to cut down even the gods they constantly worshipped from their altars.
Let alone a group of arrogant, self-proclaimed false gods.
Eustass hadn't even looked at what Joy Boy left behind.
But he understood that for the people of the Pirate Worldto defeat the Celestial Dragons, only two things were needed.
Sufficient military might.
And unwavering resolve.
After Eustass finished speaking, the interviewing reporter quickly fled.
If he didn't run now, he'd be silenced by the World Government.
Eustass faced the Marine's overwhelming army alone, looking down upon all the heroes.
The dark, oppressive clouds in the sky were black like doomsday, obscuring the light for ten thousand miles; the World seemed to have entered the deep night prematurely.
The fierce winds howled, and countless battle robes flapped loudly.
One man against an army.
The killing intent was thick, the atmosphere extremely serious, suffocating the onlookers.
Kong and Sengoku exchanged a glance, and the two charged forward again.
Garp, Zephyr, Tsuru, Sakazuki, Kuzan, and Borsalino led tens of thousands of elite Marines, surging toward Eustass in a massive wave.
The shouts of battle shook the heavens, and the earth trembled.
Flashes of blades and swords shimmered incessantly, and gunshots echoed without end.
Rayleigh and the others hidden on the island saw this and quickly withdrew, taking Shanks and Buggy with them.
This was a battlefield dedicated solely to Eustass.
He alone was enough.
There were also the bolder reporters, holding Visual Transponder Snails, standing in distant corners, fearlessly continuing the live broadcast.
On the dim battlefield, smoke filled the air, the sounds of battle were constant, and Eustass fought alone against the assembled heroes while surrounded by the Marine.
Across the World, countless people witnessed Eustass's battle firsthand, and only then did they understand what it meant to be Peerless in the World, and what the true Uncrowned King was.
All of the Marine's high-level combat forces were deployed, yet they were easily sent flying everywhere, and no matter how they charged, they failed to inflict even the slightest injury.
Elbaf Sea Region.
The children who grew up at Lambs House formed a pirate crew many years ago.
They watched the Visual Transponder Snail broadcasting the image of Eustass fighting tens of thousands of Marines.
One by one, they rushed toward the coast, intent on fighting the Marine.
The earth rumbled, and several members of the Giant Race quickly followed these youngsters, intending to support them.
Fish-Man Island.
Eustass's two female apprentices, Samantha of the Merfolk Tribe and Doris of the Snake Head Tribe, led the Mermaid Pirates and the Ryugu Army off the island to fight the Marine.
East Blue.
Shelz Town.
Whitey Bay, the Ice Witch, quickly dialed her old man's transponder snail, hoping he could go support Eustass.
"Gurararara, you guys are underestimating him too much!"
Whitebeard's hearty laughter came through the receiver, "Even a weakened Eustass is not someone the mere Marine can defeat!
What if there are thousands of troops? What if he's besieged by heroes?
The Uncrowned King—it is precisely because he needs no soldiers, relying solely on his strength, that he can easily suppress the power and arrogance of all his enemies.
He is the Uncrowned King!"
"But, but..."
Whitey Bay and Kozuki Toki were both worried.
"No need to worry!"
"Let this worldwide transponder snail broadcast allow Eustass's peerless military might to completely shatter Mary Geoise's eight hundred years of prestige!"
New World.
Aboard the Moby Dick.
Whitebeard ended the transponder snail call.
He looked solemnly at the vast sky in the distance, obscured by clouds:
'These two guys—Roger caused trouble before dying, and Eustass, though lazy and unwilling to manage a force, has stirred up a worldwide wave of resistance. Truly interesting.'
"Th-this..."
Marco stood at the edge of the ship, utterly shocked as he looked at the black clouds covering ten thousand miles above the sky.
"Just how terrifying is this guy's Conqueror's Haki? It's beyond the scope, isn't it!"
Vista, the Flower Sword, said in shock.
They had seen the scene after their old man's Hakiaffected the area.
But at most, it was just the patch of clouds directly overhead that was affected and rolled.
But the area of black clouds affected by Eustass's Haoshoku really spanned ten thousand miles.
"Is his ambition really just to be the King of the World?"
Blackbeard Teach watched this scene in shock.
They had heard their old man talk about the scenes affected by the Conqueror's Haki of the previous generation of powerhouses.
But they had never heard of such a terrifying range of influence.
What kind of ambition could generate such terrifying Conqueror's Haki?
Mary Geoise.
Flower Chamber.
Imu stood with their back to the Gorosei, listening as the Gorosei relayed the situation regarding Eustass and his terrifying Haoshoku.
Imu couldn't help but doubt life itself; the opponent clearly wasn't Joy Boy, so why did he possess the ability to destroy the World Government?
"I will go kill him."
Imu finished speaking, drew a long sword, and turned to walk outside.
"My Lord Imu, the Final Island is not far from the battlefield."
Imu remained silent for a long time, then spoke, "Have the Marine lure Eustass to another area."
Having lived too long, Imu did not want to give up eternal life just yet.
Imu can indeed live forever, but that doesn't mean Imucannot be killed.
Imu was confident in eliminating Eustass, but Imu feared inadvertently stepping into the range of the Final Islandand having their body affected, which would make it possible for Eustass to kill Imu.
Imu, having lived for eight hundred years, had observed Eustass's fighting and made a rough assessment of his combat power.
What shocked her was that Eustass's strength was actually comparable to her own, despite her eight hundred years of rigorous training.
Anyone hearing this would weep!
She lived for eight hundred years and trained diligently for eight hundred years, yet she couldn't surpass a young man.
Didn't that mean Imu's eight hundred years of training were wasted!
Imu's confidence in killing Eustass was based on Eustass's strength dropping by 30% after being affected by Raftel.
But if she went there, he would definitely lure Imu toward Raftel, attempting to slaughter her.
Imu dared not take the risk.
"Yes!"
The Gorosei bowed out one after another and went to issue the commands.
"Damn it!"
Imu angrily swung a sword, and the giant Slash Waves destroyed the surrounding palaces, causing many to collapse.
Now, Imu had more enemies to be wary of.
Currently, Imu needed to be wary of Eustass potentially showing up at any moment to try and kill her.
In the future, she would also have to worry about the next Joy Boy appearing and killing her.
Furthermore, there would be countless people causing trouble; the entire World would retaliate against Mary Geoise because of the grand show put on by Eustass and Roger.
Imu's state of mind was about to explode.
Chapter 222: 222. Killing Kong! Beating Aokiji, Kizaru, and Akainu! (Please subscribe!)
New World.
On the island.
Kong, who had transformed into a giant King Kong, and Sengoku, who had transformed into a Giant Golden Buddha, were consecutively struck and sent flying by Eustass's two slashes.
Eustass raised a foot and swept Sengoku, Garp, and the others away.
Then, he used Soru, stomping the ground dozens of times in an instant, and rapidly moved towards Kong.
Eustass held ama-no-habakiri and Enma, both blades imbued with Haoshoku, flashing past like a black lightning bolt.
Kong's giant King Kong fist was imbued with Haoshoku, preparing to counterattack Eustass.
However, Eustass's ama-no-habakiri slashed down, and the incomparably powerful Haoshoku directly broke through Kong's defense.
As ama-no-habakiri descended, a cold gleam flashed and vanished.
Blood splattered.
Kong's wrist was directly severed, and he screamed in pain as he retreated.
In the distance, Sengoku, who had transformed into a Giant Golden Buddha, along with Admiral Zephyr, Vice Admiral Garp, and Vice Admiral Tsuru, quickly surrounded him, using the tactic of 'Besieging Wei to Rescue Zhao'.
Eustass completely ignored their attacks, using Top-tier Observation Haki to evade them.
Then, he arrived in front of Kong and slashed down.
As ama-no-habakiri descended, the blade sliced through the air with a whistling sound.
The blade swept past Kong's head. Even with Haki and a double defense using Tekkai, Kong couldn't defend against Eustass's single slash.
"Crunch!"
A crisp sound of bones breaking echoed.
Kong's head rolled to the ground.
Eustass had already muted the system reward sound, planning to check the rewards later.
Right now, he just wanted to fully enjoy the battle.
"He, he killed Fleet Admiral Kong!"
The Marines were terrified. Fleet Admiral Kong was a stronger fighting force than even Sengoku and the others, yet he was killed just like that.
In fact, Kong himself hadn't anticipated his own death.
He used to frequently fight Eustass, and whenever he lost, Eustass would at most break his bones, never directly killing him.
But this time, he didn't understand why Eustass was so decisive.
The reason was actually quite simple.
Akainu, Kizaru, and Aokiji were all growing up, and there were new 'leeks' (victims) available.
Eustass naturally wanted to take out the expiring 'leek box' in one go.
"Come on, let's see who dies next!"
Eustass held his two swords, grinning ferociously at the Marines present.
Sengoku, Garp, Zephyr, Tsuru, as well as Aokiji, Kizaru, and Akainu, all had serious expressions, feeling immense pressure.
The Gorosei had instructed them to lure Eustass to another area, but they felt that before they could even lure him away, the Marines here would be completely cut down.
A Marine Vice Admiral quickly charged forward, raising his samurai sword and shouting loudly.
Eustass slashed out with Enma, directly decapitating the opponent.
Sengoku and the others roared and charged again.
Eustass slashed directly at Sengoku, blinding one of his eyes.
Sengoku screamed in pain, and Garp stepped in, telling Sengoku to retreat.
Eustass slashed Garp away. Garp managed to defend himself with incredibly powerful Armament Haki, but several bones in his body were still broken.
The next instant, Zephyr's arms, imbued with Armament Haki, struck towards Eustass.
Eustass continuously slashed twice, directly creating a large 'X'-shaped scar on Zephyr's body.
Then, he kicked Vice Admiral Tsuru directly, sending her flying. Vice Admiral Tsuru spat out a mouthful of blood and suffered multiple bone fractures.
Eustass continuously brandished his two swords, felling a Marine Vice Admiral with each strike. A single slash attack was unleashed, tearing the ground apart, and terrifying Impact waves flew out with the slash, spreading in all directions.
Large numbers of Marine officers screamed and flew back, some killed, others sent flying by the shockwaves.
"Sizzle, sizzle, sizzle!"
Aokiji's hands turned into ice, and he grabbed Eustass's ama-no-habakiri.
Then, Aokiji's ice hands wrapped around Eustass, attempting to freeze him in place.
Soon after.
Eustass turned into a block of ice, standing on the field.
Everyone breathed a sigh of relief.
The next moment.
The ice block shattered.
Eustass slashed out, forcing Aokiji back. The next instant, Eustass used Soru to rapidly move behind Aokiji.
Aokiji's expression changed in surprise; he hadn't even reacted before Eustass was already behind him.
Eustass unleashed two consecutive slashes, directly sending Aokiji flying.
"Wh-what a terrifying guy!"
Aokiji watched the scene in shock.
"Meigou!"
In the distance.
Akainu's arm instantly turned into magma, and his magma fist, both fast and ruthless, rapidly slammed towards Eustass.
Eustass directly threw Aokiji out.
Akainu quickly withdrew his hand, retracting Meigou.
But he was still sent flying by Aokiji.
"How terrifying~"
Kizaru stood in the distance, sighing with a comical expression.
The next instant.
Kizaru held his hands in front of him, and brilliant, dazzling golden light appeared in his palms.
"Yata no Kagami!"
The mirror-like Yata no Kagami shot out golden light, which refracted and reflected beams towards the surroundings and the target.
The next instant, Kizaru instantly vanished, transforming into light particles, and rapidly attacked Eustass.
Kizaru flew in using Yata no Kagami at extreme speed, instantly appearing behind Eustass.
Brilliant golden light flashed in his hands, forming a long sword condensed from photons.
"Ama-no-Murakumo!"
Kizaru held the light sword and directly slashed at the back of Eustass's neck.
Eustass slashed out, directly severing the long sword in the hand of an unnamed Vice Admiral, then killed the opponent with another slash.
"Clang!"
Kizaru's Ama-no-Murakumo descended. Eustass didn't even bother to dodge, because Kizaru couldn't break through his defense at all.
"Oh no..."
Kizaru's expression changed in surprise.
The next instant, Eustass predicted Kizaru's future movements. Kizaru had just transformed into light particles and arrived in the distance when Eustassappeared behind him.
A slash descended.
A long scar was directly cut into Kizaru's back.
Kizaru's tattered cape fell to the ground, and he tumbled far across the ground in a sorry state.
Perhaps he wasn't paid enough; the future'Slacker King' was actually defeated.
"Inugami Guren!"
In the distance.
Akainu, seeing his comrade injured, was furious. His arm turned into magma, forming a dog's head, which stretched out and bit towards Eustass.
"Ice Block: Pheasant Beak!"
Aokiji's face was filled with extreme anger. Terrifyingly cold air condensed in his right arm, forming a giant ice phoenix. The ice bird soared, its icy wings striking out.
"Kill!"
Ten thousand Marines roared, raising their swords and weapons, their footsteps shaking the earth as they charged forward with shouts of rage.
Chapter 223: 223. The Marine Army is Annihilated! (Please Subscribe!)
Eustass brandished Enma with both hands, and a cyan slash wave detached from the blade, flying out quickly. With one strike, he directly severed Akainu's arm, which had transformed into a dog-headed magma arm.
"Aaah!"
Sakazuki cried out in pain, falling to the ground, clutching his severed arm and wailing.
Eustass instantly stomped on the ground dozens of times, using Soru to move at high speed, appearing before Aokijias if teleporting.
Aokiji's expression changed in surprise. The giant ice bird lost its target and crashed into the Marine crowd.
Numerous Marines wailed continuously; some were crushed to death by the ice bird, while others were impaled by the splashing ice spikes.
Aokiji crossed his arms in front of him, and two ice spears condensed before him, firing towards Eustass.
"Ice Block: Two-Spike Spears!"
Haoshoku Haki coiled around Eustass's hand, transforming into an invisible attack that instantly shattered Aokiji's two ice spears from a distance.
A punch landed heavily on Aokiji's face, sending him flying.
"Ice Time!"
Aokiji's body fell to the ground, half of his body turning into ice. The ground was frozen by terrifying cold air, and the ice spread rapidly towards Eustass.
Eustass held Enma and swung it horizontally at the ground.
A giant cyan slash wave instantly swept out, tearing up the ground. A large amount of ice spreading forward was shattered, and the slash wave along with numerous ice fragments spread in all directions. The mere aftershock of the collision injured a large number of pirates rushing nearby.
"This guy... is terrifying."
In the distance.
Borsalino stood up, his face solemn as he looked ahead, his expression serious.
Sakazuki, with a severed arm, was helped up by Borsalino. Kuzan came to their side. The future three Admirals, at this moment, encountered the person they had the least confidence in defeating in their lives.
Even Borsalino was no longer acting like an ape.
"How scary~ Marines~"
Eustass mocked in an ape-like manner, making Borsalino's mouth twitch.
He felt that the other party was imitating his style.
"This battle ends here."
Eustass said, instantly appearing before the three. Enmaand ama-no-habakiri in his hands slashed out fiercely.
Borsalino, Kuzan, and Sakazuki's expressions changed in shock.
Borsalino condensed a brilliant light sword in his hand, blocking in front of the three.
Kuzan produced an ice sword exuding terrifying coldness, also blocking Eustass's attack.
Sakazuki's severed arm elementalized, and an arm made of magma extended out, hammering towards Eustass.
ama-no-habakiri severed Kuzan and Borsalino's ice sword and light sword, then sent the two flying.
Next, Eustass's Enma slashed out, directly severing Sakazuki's magma arm and inflicting a wound on Sakazuki's body.
Sakazuki cried out in pain and flew backward.
Eustass disdainfully glanced at the numerous Marines present. ama-no-habakiri and Enma slashed out, and two giant, intersecting cyan slash waves flew forth.
"Rumble rumble rumble—!"
The earth itself was split open by the slashes. Countless Marines were either killed by the slash waves or sent flying by the aftershocks.
The army of tens of thousands of Marines was actually cut open by Eustass's two slashes, creating a huge gap.
The slash waves flew out of the island, cutting through wind and waves, destroying numerous Marine warships, and continued flying towards the distant sea until they disappeared from sight.
"Marines, who else among you wants to fight me!"
Eustass let his two swords hang down, his face scornful as he surveyed everyone present.
"Aaaah! die!"
A Marine Vice Admiral quickly ran over. He leaped into the air, holding a heavy spiked club in his hand, and smashed it fiercely towards Eustass.
Armament Haki coiled around Eustass's ama-no-habakiri. He raised his sword and swung a cyan slash wave towards the sky.
The slash wave was incomparably sharp, instantly flying forth and splitting the Marine Vice Admiral's heavy spiked club in half, then cleaving his body in two.
"Thud!"
The opponent fell to the ground, lifeless and dead.
"It seems the Marines have no successors."
Eustass said, and the tens of thousands of elite Marines couldn't help but breathe heavily. Could this demon really slaughter all their hopes here?
"That's right, as the World Government's watchdogs, you don't need much combat power, hahaha."
Eustass joked, then turned and left.
Sengoku, Garp, Kuzan, Sakazuki, and others watched Eustass walk away, their faces filled with unwillingness.
They never expected that even Eustass, whose body was affected, was still someone they couldn't defeat.
"Monster..."
"Demon..."
The dense Marine ranks quickly made way as Eustassapproached.
Their gazes towards Eustass were filled with fear, anger, unwillingness, hatred... "W-we are not watchdogs!"
A Rear Admiral in the crowd mustered his courage and roared.
"Oh? If the World Government tells you to go east, do you dare to go west?
If the World Government tells you to abandon saving refugees, would you defy orders for justice?
If the World Government tells you to fire on refugees, would you abandon your military career for justice?"
Eustass's three consecutive questions left many old Marines present in silence.
"I dare!"
"I dare too!"
"What's there not to dare!"
"For justice, we are willing to do anything. Don't spread rumors and shake morale!"
Many young Marines shouted loudly, and Eustass smiled.
In a few years, after the Ohara Incident, these young Marines would understand how insignificant they were.
"Hahaha! I'll wait and see!"
Eustass laughed heartily and left the island directly using Moonwalk.
To change the World, it still has to be the young people.
While older people have more experience, they have also suffered too many setbacks, making them increasingly timid.
The more such people there are, the more short-sighted they become, constantly compromising their interests for temporary stability.
"As long as I can still live, I'll just endure it..."
But often, such thoughts are the most dangerous.
The Celestial Dragons, who are the beneficiaries, will become even more greedy.
Constantly testing boundaries, constantly demanding more with greed.
If people somewhere are disobedient, just kill them, destroy that island, then change history and deny everything.
Young people, on the other hand, have just set sail with a heart full of ambition and courage, unafraid of hardships. Even when they encounter difficulties, they dare to grit their teeth and persevere.
However, in this World, the forces resisting the Celestial Dragons are like scattered sand, unable to unite. Coupled with the unique reckless mindset of the Pirate World, it's even harder for them to organize and resist.
Why did Rocks make the World Government afraid? Firstly, he held some secret leverage over the World Government.
Secondly, Rocks gathered most of the great pirates of that era together.
Eustass left the island using Moonwalk, while in Mary Geoise, the Gorosei were inquiring about Eustass's location through a transponder snail.
"Report, the plan failed, the Marine army is annihilated!"