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"What, you want us to help Marshal Brownie? You think he can't handle Rocks?"
Garp tilted his head and threw a questioning glance at the officers behind him.
Vice Admiral Kong, arms crossed and brows furrowed, answered gravely.
"No, Garp. Now is not the time. If we intervene now, the Rocks Pirates' top brass—Kaido, Linlin, Whitebeard, Shiki—they won't just sit there and let us attack their captain."
His voice was low, solemn—full of the weight of tactical judgment.
"If we spark an all-out war with the Rocks Pirates before Roger and Wald arrive, the consequences could be catastrophic for us."
Garp frowned deeply. He wasn't one to stand by while a comrade fought for his life.
"But..."
"Don't worry, Garp."
Admiral Zhenwu interrupted, his arms behind his back and his eyes fixed firmly on the battlefield.
"Marshal Brownie might not be at Rocks' level... but don't underestimate him. He's the Marine Marshal for a reason."
In this era of monsters—of Yonko-tier pirates and terrifying devil fruits—Brownie still held the reins of Marine Headquarters. That fact alone spoke volumes about his might.
Yes, everyone could see the difference in strength. But even so—it wouldn't be easy for Rocks to crush him instantly.
"I got it." Garp nodded after a moment.
"Still..." Zhenwu added, his eyes narrowing. "If an opening appears... if we see a crack in Rocks' guard... we strike. A quick, precise blow could change everything."
They didn't know when the Roger Pirates or Wald Pirates would arrive. If Brownie were defeated before they arrived... the entire balance would shift dangerously.
They couldn't rush in and trigger a premature war. But neither could they remain idle.
They needed to wait—observe, and strike when Rocks' attention faltered.
Even a single clean hit could wound him. And a wounded Rocks... could be finished.
Across the battlefield—
Shiki, the Golden Lion, leaned casually on a jagged rock. He reached into his coat, pulled out a cigar, lit it with a flicker of his flint, and took a slow puff.
"Heh... the captain's still as terrifying as ever," he muttered, smoke curling upward.
Most of them had joined the Rocks Pirates because of Rocks' sheer power.
He had gathered the most dangerous pirates of the age into one crew—Whitebeard, Big Mom, Kaido, Shiki, Captain John, Silver Axe... even Ayr.
Rocks was a man who could crush mountains and split islands with raw power.
They believed that under his command, they could seize unimaginable wealth and rule the seas.
"Ma~mamama... Even a Marine Marshal can't match Captain Rocks?"
Charlotte Linlin chuckled, her laughter like nails on stone.
Kaido—young, wild, and brimming with power—rested his kanabo on his shoulder. His blood was already boiling.
"So we're just watching? I want to fight."
He grinned like a wolf. Kaido didn't care about plans or treasures. He wanted to clash with strong foes—test himself.
"Not yet, Kaido."
Linlin's eyes glimmered with cunning.
"I didn't come to this war just to be Captain Rocks' lapdog. I'm here for two things: to make sure Rocks dies here... and to find Uranus."
Yes. Linlin had come to the Valley of the Gods with ulterior motives.
She wanted Rocks gone—and she wanted one of the three Ancient Weapons: Uranus.
The Marines were stalling. So was she. Let Rocks and Brownie wear each other down.
When the time came... she would strike. Either to snatch Uranus... or to ensure Rocks fell.
Kaido wasn't the only one kept at bay.
Many other Rocks commanders—like Whitebeard and Shiki—were simply observing.
They had already gained wealth and power under Rocks. But none of them were loyal.
They were waiting for the day they could break free of his shadow. Rocks was too strong. They couldn't rebel outright.
But here, in the Valley of the Gods—with Brownie bleeding and Rocks battling with all his might—there might finally be an opportunity.
If Rocks fell here... they'd be free.
"To think, this is the force you recruited to conquer the world, Captain..."
Watching Rocks fight, Ayr muttered to himself, his voice tinted with quiet bitterness.
Ayr had been dubbed one of the most dangerous men alive by the Marines. His Fairy Eyes, capable of summoning Tengai Shinsei, had already caused havoc across seas.
He was loyal—to a point.
If all of them, all these monsters aboard, truly fought for Rocks... they would rule the world by now.
But he knew the truth.
He was the only one who'd fight for Rocks to the end.
Everyone else? They wanted him dead.
Back on the battlefield—
The clash between Rocks and Brownie raged on.
Though Brownie had taken a critical hit earlier, his body refused to fall. He was a beast in human form—unrelenting.
His breath was ragged, his uniform torn, blood soaking into the rocky earth beneath his boots. But his eyes still burned with will.
In both their gazes, there was only one thing—the opponent before them.
This was a death match.
"ROCKS!!!"
Brownie surged forward, blade crackling with both Armament and Conqueror's Haki, his war cry shaking the heavens.
"Still resisting?" Rocks sneered, blocking with his own obsidian-coated blade.
"You're strong, I'll admit... but this won't change your fate."
"I know you're stronger than me..." Brownie growled, voice tight.
"But that doesn't mean the Marines will lose! This place—this battle—is where you fall!"
"Then show me." Rocks smiled coldly. "Show me if your justice... can end me."
As he raised his blade again, his aura surged wildly—Conqueror's Haki blasting in every direction, splitting the sky overhead.
"ROCKS!!!"
Suddenly—
A voice rang out behind Rocks.
A blur of motion. Zephyr—the "Black Arm"—had arrived.
Coated in thick Armament Haki, his fist was a cannon aimed at Rocks' skull. Fast. Deadly.
He'd masked his presence, suppressing his aura until the last moment. Rocks, locked in combat with Brownie, didn't sense it in time.
A direct hit could crush boulders—crack skulls.
If Zephyr landed this blow, even a monster like Rocks would be grievously wounded.
BOOOOOOM!!!
The earth shook. The air exploded with pressure.
But—
The figure that flew backward... wasn't Rocks.
It was Zephyr.
His body slammed into the ground like a meteor, forming a massive crater, blood spraying from his mouth.
Rocks hadn't moved. He hadn't dodged.
And yet Zephyr had been the one sent flying.
"ZEPHYR!!!"
Garp's eyes widened.
Ayr narrowed his eyes.
So... he noticed. At the last second.
Rocks had somehow detected Zephyr's sneak attack mid-clash and countered in that instant—without turning around.
Such monstrous instinct... such mastery of battle... it was beyond comprehension.
Rocks stood still, blade resting on his shoulder.
He didn't look back.
"Trying to sneak up on me?" he said, voice low.
"I eat men like you for breakfast."
The Valley of the Gods fell silent for a moment.
Then—
The war resumed.
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