The massive fleet crushed a thousand waves, forging ahead irresistibly.
However, this unstoppable momentum ceased upon entering the Calm Belt.
In waters with neither wind nor currents, progress could only be made by human effort.
The pirates laboriously rowed with long oars, slowly advancing through this dead silent sea.
They didn't need to worry about Sea Kings though; almost every monster on board had Conqueror's Haki. What Sea King would dare approach?
"Hey, kid, can't you use your ability to whip up a gale and speed up the fleet?"
On the wide deck, Golden Lion pointed a finger, and two swords flying in mid-air suddenly accelerated, shooting towards Roa like two meteors.
"That's asking too much! Uncle Shiki!"
Roa spun his body, his dual swords drawing a crescent in the air, perfectly deflecting the incoming flying blades. "One ship is fine, but two hundred ships? How is that possible! I'm still just a seven-year-old child!"
"Useless brat,"
Shiki blew a smoke ring.
"You're being too harsh, Uncle Shiki!"
Roa shot out, his dual swords mercilessly slashing towards Golden Lion. "Lion's Might: Dust-Sealing Absolute Sever!"
The flying sword cut an arc through the air, clanging as it repelled Roa.
"I've never heard of that technique."
Golden Lion looked disgusted.
"Hahahaha! Doesn't it sound good?"
Roa laughed heartily. "I think I have a talent for naming!"
"Just a kid's babbling."
Golden Lion adhered to a suppressive style of education.
"Hmph, take this, Uncle Shiki!"
Roa lunged again.
Black mist could only boost his basic attributes; technique still needed to be practiced by himself.
And his various uncles and aunts doted on him greatly, almost always willing to spar with him when they had time.
Today was no different. After Uncle Shiki, Aunt Linlin and Brother Kaido also sparred with Roa for a while.
By the time the fleet sailed out of the Calm Belt and officially entered the West Blue, it was already evening. Roa was half-dead from hunger due to overexertion.
He couldn't help but yell at the top of his lungs, "Captain, I'm starving! Can I get something to eat?"
"Behave yourself!"
What he got in return was the Captain's cold voice. "Every pirate in this fleet has his use. If you want to hunt, wait until we reach God Valley."
Roa couldn't help but sigh.
How stingy, Captain.
Don't you know I'm still growing and need nutrients?
Anyway, the weaklings are useless, so isn't it better to put waste to use?
However, at this moment, other monsters must be taking action too, right?
A certain sea area in the West Blue.
"To massacre the residents of an entire country along with a large number of slaves?!"
Gol D. Roger, who hadn't yet grown his signature mustache and only had light stubble, wearing a captain's bicorne hat, the most renowned pirate in the New World besides Rocks, laughed heartily. "Hey, hey, hey! The world has actually been held in the hands of these lunatics for eight hundred years!"
Laughter came from behind him. "Captain, so this time, we're going to be heroes?"
"Heroes? Heroes have to sacrifice, I'm not doing that!"
Roger laughed loudly. "That bastard Rocks will definitely go! When he and the World Government start fighting like dogs, that's our chance! After chasing us for so many years, it's time for revenge!"
"Don't be careless, Roger,"
First Mate Rayleigh pushed up his gold-rimmed glasses. Though a notoriously infamous pirate, he inexplicably exuded a certain scholarly elegance. "The Rocks Pirates are already tough enough, and with the World Government involved, no one can say what might happen."
"Useless! Rayleigh!"
Jabba, the ship's third-in-command, with small sunglasses on his nose and dense black hair tied into a fluffy ponytail, laughed heartily. "Where would the Captain care about all that at a time like this?"
"Hahahahaha!"
Roger's laughter grew louder. "Since we're here! Wouldn't it be a shame not to cause a huge ruckus! My lads! Let's turn this place upside down!"
"Oh!!!"
The Roger Pirates, reporting for duty!
Not far from here, in another sea area, a huge dog-headed battleship rode the wind and waves.
"Wahahahahaha! Not just that Roger guy, even the Rocks Pirates are making a move?"
The burly middle-aged man, whose short, stiff black hair stood upright like steel needles, laughed heartily. "How many years has it been since we've had a battle of this scale!"
"Why don't we just use this opportunity to wipe out both of those factions!"
"Mr. Garp,"
To his side, his subordinate, a swordsman in a gray fedora, quietly reminded him, "If the Rocks Pirates truly appear, our combat strength will be far from enough."
"It's too late to call in more people now,"
The Marine Vice Admiral, known as Garp the Fist, shook his head. "The Holy Knights from the Celestial Dragons' side have also been deployed. Although no one knows what kind of power they truly possess, since the Government isn't rushing, it should be fine."
The corners of his mouth stretched higher and higher. "I just need to focus on dealing with Roger!"
His subordinate nodded gently.
"But then again,"
Garp stroked his chin, somewhat puzzled. "What are the Celestial Dragons doing in this backwater?"
A few days later, West Blue, God Valley.
This was an island with a rather peculiar topography. In the center of the island stood a uniquely prominent high mountain, which was split in half by a canyon. The canyon's steepness made it look as if it had been cleaved open by a divine sword.
Thus, the island earned its name, God Valley.
Currently, battleships surrounded the island, forming a tight cordon. The Marines on board vigilantly guarded, allowing no unauthorized person or object to enter or exit.
However, the Marines themselves didn't know what was on the island, nor what was happening there.
They knew, yet they didn't know.
And on the island, the triennial Celestial Dragon Hunting Competition was about to officially begin.
"Wah!"
Accompanied by a scream, blood spurted from the back of the King of God Valley, a man who still had no idea what was about to unfold on the island, and he collapsed to the ground.
"Hey! Garling! You cheated! The competition hasn't even started!"
A Celestial Dragon wearing a bizarre mask and holding a long spear said in great dissatisfaction.
"I was a little impatient. It's fine if you deduct ten thousand points from me,"
The man with golden hair styled like a slanted crescent moon calmly flicked the blood from his blade. "Anyway, I'll win in the end."
"You're too arrogant!"
Another Celestial Dragon shouted. "Our Donquixote family will never lose to you!"
"The victor will of course be our Figarland family!"
Garling Figarland, with his crescent-shaped hair, showed no expression. "In any case, quickly make the rabbits run. If you bore me in the next three weeks, that will be a grave sin."
"Wow! This bastard is so arrogant!"
At this moment, a melodious music began to play through the loudspeakers placed throughout the island.
"Thank you for waiting, everyone! The triennial Hunting Competition is about to begin! As per usual custom, for the next three weeks, please fully display your martial prowess until all approximately one hundred thousand rabbits on the island have been cleared!"
"The one with the highest total points at the end will be the winner, and as per usual rules, the winner takes all; he will claim all the prizes!"
"So, are you ready?"
...
"Are you ready?"
Somewhere in God Valley, a big-headed boy spoke loudly. "The shitty competition is about to begin, and our plan is about to begin!"
"We've been waiting for this, big brother!"
A cheerful pink-haired girl responded with a grin.
Beside her, a tall, simple-looking boy with a flat top nodded dumbly. "Mm!"
"Then, we just wait for chaos to arrive!"
The moment the big-headed boy's voice faded.
The loudspeaker's voice echoed throughout the island.
"Competition! Start!"
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