In the southern region of the Sorbet Kingdom, inside a grand cathedral.
The current king of Sorbet, King Bulldog, and the dowager queen, Koni, had both been imprisoned here by the Knights of God, reduced to mere hostages used to threaten Bartholomew Kuma.
Even the villagers and fishermen living near the cathedral had mostly been rounded up, simply because they were acquaintances of Kuma or Bonney.
"Old man, hand over the contact information of that so-called tyrant Kuma, and do it honestly!"
Saint Forth stomped down hard, snapping King Bulldog's leg with a sickening crunch. His cold tone carried an edge of irritation—right now, he only wanted to resolve the "Wild Dragon" matter quickly.
According to the most recent reports, more and more pirates and criminals were converging upon Sorbet Kingdom. It had also been confirmed that both Kaido of the Beasts and Charlotte Linlin had vanished from their own territories.
The situation was beginning to spiral out of control.
"I really don't know… you can't just abuse a king of a member nation like this…"
The aged King Bulldog's pale face was drenched in sweat from the excruciating pain. These Celestial Dragons were truly demons from the depths of hell—lawless destroyers.
To think they would lay hands even on a member nation that dutifully paid the Heavenly Tribute… How would the other kings of allied nations see this?
Such arrogance… One day, these Celestial Dragons would pay an unimaginable price for their crimes.
"Crack!"
With another merciless stomp, Saint Forth shattered King Bulldog's other leg.
"You dare teach me how to act? Useless. Just die already!"
He kicked the bleeding king across the floor, eyes full of cruelty as he swept his gaze over the trembling hostages.
Yes, member nations had their so-called "rights," bestowed by the World Government itself. But those rights could be stripped away at any moment, at the whim of the Celestial Dragons.
They were the highest nobles, the descendants of gods, wielding supreme authority.
Their words were law. Every action they took was justified.
To be a slave to a Celestial Dragon, to serve as their plaything—this was not cruelty, but a divine blessing upon the lowborn.
"Bulldog!"
The short-statured dowager queen, Koni, rushed forward in terror, desperately pressing her hands against the king's broken leg. Her face was streaked with tears.
Why was her kingdom always plagued by such endless disasters?
First it was King Bekori, who brought nothing but calamity. And now, the Celestial Dragons—these tyrannical devils.
Did the Sorbet Kingdom even have a future left?
"Filthy peasants, if Bartholomew Kuma does not appear within two days, all of you will die!"
Saint Forth slung his golden dragon-shaped sniper rifle across his back and left the cathedral with a scowl. He strode toward the bustling northern towns, intent on hunting the kingdom's civilians for sport.
Earlier that very day, the World Government had formally stripped the Sorbet Kingdom of its membership status. The announcement was circulated to all allied nations, meant to calm their concerns.
From this moment, Sorbet was no longer under protection—it was a target for Celestial Dragon "purification."
The declaration may have been perfunctory, but what could the other nations do?
Would any of them dare defy the World Government or the Celestial Dragons?
Some kings even took the initiative to praise the Celestial Dragons, calling them wise and righteous for destroying Sorbet—a kingdom that had birthed the "tyrant" Kuma.
Kuma, who had followed the Wild Dragon Souta Kiryuu, had the audacity to declare war on the Celestial Dragons. Naturally, his homeland deserved to be annihilated. Every citizen of Sorbet should atone with their lives.
Such servile declarations pleased the Celestial Dragons greatly. Kings who knew their place would be favored, and their nations rewarded.
···
On a nearby island, just off the Sorbet Kingdom's coast—
The "Righteous Warriors" of the New World, who had arrived with the Deep Sea Current Fleet, had already landed at the port.
Yet the blind swordsman, Issho, knew their so-called righteousness was a farce. Their motives were far from pure.
Is it the blueprints for Pluton, or the treasure of Pure Gold they're after?
His powerful Observation Haki had already overheard fragments of truth.
In reality, most of these so-called warriors were nothing more than pawns brought by Gild Tesoro, the Golden Emperor, and Umit, King of Shipping, acting as part of their grand scheme. Only a small handful were genuine bounty hunters and treasure seekers searching for Pluton's blueprints or Pure Gold.
But… could the rumors be true, that the Celestial Dragons intend to wipe out Sorbet's people?
Issho could not stomach such cruelty. He would do all he could to protect the innocent, even if it meant standing against fate itself.
"More and more warships are appearing in these waters… It seems the rumors were true. The Navy is really protecting the Celestial Dragons as they massacre Sorbet's citizens."
In the island's taverns, countless pirates and treasure hunters had gathered, waiting. Many came to spectate, others in hopes of obtaining the Pluton blueprints or Pure Gold.
But none dared enter Sorbet yet. They would wait for Souta Kiryuu's Wild Dragon Crew, or some other great pirate force, to make the first move.
The moment someone struck, they would swarm in like hyenas, looting everything of value.
"I heard the blueprints for Pluton appeared in Sorbet's royal palace. Someone even risked their life to smuggle out photos—it's already causing a frenzy on the black market."
"These Celestial Dragons claim they're moving against Kuma, but in truth, it's all for the Pluton blueprints."
In dark corners of the underworld, information brokers boasted loudly, waving around photographs and selling them for obscene prices.
The ancient writing on the designs remained undecipherable, yet most pirates believed this truly was the legendary weapon.
One photo even bore the name "Pluton," alongside sketches of warship components.
The whispers spread: the Celestial Dragons had come for Pluton, and Sorbet's destruction was merely their cover story.
Even Issho struggled to discern fact from rumor. Yet one thing was clear—on Sorbet's shores, slaughter was real.
From afar, he could see black pillars of smoke rising into the sky. He could hear the cries of the dying, even from across the sea.
The Sorbet coastline was ringed by Marine warships, barring entry to outsiders. No pirate crew dared draw near.
Issho could wait no longer. At the shore, he unleashed the power of his Gravity Fruit. The earth beneath his feet rose into the air, lifting him skyward. He soared directly toward the Sorbet Kingdom.
Far above, an airship raced toward the same destination.
Inside, Kuma's heart burned with anxiety. Time and again he tried to activate his Paw-Paw Fruit to return early, but Bonney and Souta Kiryuu stopped him each time. They refused to let him rush into danger alone.
Even Souta himself was uncertain of the full might of the Knights of God. For now, they would wait for allies.
The Four Emperors, the Revolutionary Army, pirate crews great and small—every faction seeking Pluton or Pure Gold. Souta Kiryuu would plunge them all into chaos, creating the perfect storm for opportunity.
...
Hey everyone! Want to read ahead and unlock up to 100 early-access chapters? 📖Plus, enjoy even more exclusive novels! Join my Patreon now and dive into the adventure!
patreon.com/Rawink00