"Deploy the nets! Bind him—lay multiple layers! This brute has monstrous strength!" Momonga coldly commanded , watching as Vincent thrashed in the water, swinging his warhammer and unleashing shockwaves.

"Pirates will always be pirates. To think they'd dare face a warship head-on at such close range—did they truly believe our cannons were for show? On the sea, strength alone doesn't guarantee victory. Without brains, you'll die just as quickly."

In the distance, three massive Marine warships were rapidly approaching.

"The battle is over. Relay orders for them to disperse," Momonga said to the messenger beside him.

"Yes, sir!"

Just as the messenger turned to deliver the command—suddenly—

Gurgle! Gurgle!

Gurgle! Gurgle!

The calmed sea surface began bubbling violently, massive sprays erupting everywhere—ahead, to the sides, behind.

Momonga's expression darkened.

He leaped into the air with Moon Walk, landing atop the warship's mast.

As he surveyed the scene, his face grew even grimmer.

"One, two, three, four... seven?! Damn it, how did so many pirate ships suddenly emerge from Fish-Man Island at once?"

Splash! Splash!

Before the Marines could react, towering waves burst across the sea as pirate ships surged through the surface, crashing down with thunderous force.

Pop! Pop! Pop!

The coating bubbles on the ships burst one after another, scattering dazzling rainbows across the water.

The messenger's hands trembled as he clutched the documents, frantically flipping through the records.

"The Silver Fox Pirates, the Ripper Pirates, the Bili Pirates..."

"Stop counting! While they're still disoriented, fire the cannons! Shoot! Eliminate all the pirates!"

Momonga shouted sharply, simultaneously pulling out the Den Den Mushi communicator from his pocket, which could directly connect with the commanders of nearby naval ships.

"Onigumo, Yamakaji, Gion! Order all ships to open fire! Something's not right—there are too many pirates appearing too suddenly!"

*****

On another warship, the tall and slender Gion leisurely drew her sword Konpira from her waist.

"Perhaps only an absolute justice can truly purify these seas when dealing with pirates!"

The long Konpira suddenly radiated light as a massive slash over a hundred meters long violently cleaved toward a small pirate ship in the distance!

"Hohoho, what's going on here, little girl? With so many pirate ships around, why did you have to aim at my little boat?"

On that small boat, a withered old man sat alone on the deck, holding a bottle of liquor.

Beside him lay a three-foot-long green sword adorned with gemstones, shimmering with an eerie green glow that seemed somewhat sinister.

The old man sighed but didn't draw his sword.

Instead, he tossed the liquor bottle in his hand.

Bang!

The fragile bottle shattered instantly under the sword's light, spilling amber-colored liquor.

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!

A sudden change occurred—the amber liquor expanded hundreds, even thousands of times, unleashing countless crimson torrents that seemed intent on dyeing the entire sea red.

BOOM!

Gion's terrifying slash was effortlessly dispersed by the liquor from a single bottle.

Violent winds erupted around the small boat, churning the waves into tumultuous surges.

"Crimson sword energy! Who are you?" Gion narrowed her eyes, gripping Konpira tightly.

The reason she had targeted the old man's boat from afar was because she had vaguely sensed a hidden sharpness emanating from it—a feeling as if a blade were pressed against her forehead.

"Hohoho, little girl, your sword is good, but your sword intent still lacks something. As for me—"

The old man on the boat was about to continue speaking when suddenly, his eyebrows twitched.

His expression changed abruptly as he extended a withered hand and slapped the deck.

BOOM!

The small boat, as if equipped with powerful springs, shot straight up from the sea's surface, soaring a hundred meters into the air in the blink of an eye.

A crimson aura erupted from the boat, propelling it even higher into the sky!

Within mere seconds, the withered old man and his boat vanished from Gion's sight.

Gion frowned deeply, puzzled by the sudden departure of this mysterious old man.

Boom! Boom!

On the sea, four naval warships were furiously bombarding several pirate ships.

The pirates, after a moment of panic, quickly stabilized their vessels and began retaliating with their own cannons.

Apart from two unlucky pirate ships shattered by concentrated fire from the warships, the others managed to hold their ground for the time being.

"Bring the warships closer! I'll cut their ships apart myself!" Gion brandished her long sword, her face brimming with killing intent.

Just then, the sea suddenly erupted into turmoil once more, as if boiling oil had been poured upon it!

This time, the waves were even more massive than when any previous ship had set sail!

"Something huge is coming up!"

Gion, Momonga and the others all turned their gaze here in unison.

The cannons on the warships were also adjusting their positions, aiming at the center of the sea.

As the splashes grew larger, a massive shadow beneath the sea became increasingly clear!

BOOM!

A towering wave crashed down as an enormous pirate ship burst forth from the water and slammed onto the ocean's surface!

It was a colossal three-masted sailing ship with a streamlined hull.

The bow was carved with two mermaids, their hands raised to support a straight ramrod.

Between the two mermaids stood a massive cannon muzzle.

On the four naval warships, Momonga, Gion and the others widened their eyes in shock.

"This… what is this?" Onigumo, standing aboard one of the pirate ships, had his black spider-like arms gripping the captain of that ship.

His gaze was vacant, the cigar in his mouth slipping out unnoticed.

The surrounding pirates all turned to look at the massive ship, and gradually, everyone began trembling uncontrollably.

In the water, the captain of the Warhammer Pirates, Warhammer Vincent, stared up at the enormous vessel, his mouth agape with disbelief.

Whoosh!

The ship's sails, previously furled, were now unfurled—two red and one white.

On the two massive front sails was emblazoned a skull wearing a hat with two curved mustaches!

Momonga's grip on his sword turned his knuckles white, his body trembling uncontrollably.

"The Oro Jackson!"

Gion's chest heaved with shock, her eyes locked onto the massive ship.

Thud, thud, thud.

Footsteps echoed across the silent sea as, under the stunned gazes of all, several figures appeared on the deck of the Oro Jackson.

Two tall and two smaller figures, all exuding formidable auras, surveyed the surrounding ships.

"He got away. Was that guy really the one we thought he was?" On the deck, Gaban with two black axes strapped to his waist, asked Rayleigh.

Rayleigh stroked his beard, pondered for a moment, then shook his head.

"Not sure. He seemed similar, but back then, his presence wasn't this eerie and sinister."

"Aaaaah! It's the Roger Pirates!"

From all directions, an uproar erupted as the pirates aboard the surrounding ships shouted fervently, their faces alight with fanaticism.

Meanwhile, on the four naval warships, the marines turned pale, their weapons clattering to the deck.

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