At the center of the battlefield, the "battle" between Rocks and Harald had reached its climax.
The two clashed wildly in the air, their blades weaving together in a dazzling display, each collision erupting with deafening roars.
Dark red Hegemonic Lightning Storms continuously exploded, sending towering columns of water erupting from the surrounding sea.
The fight appeared intensely fierce, but anyone with powerful Observation Haki would have noticed something amiss.
Though their attacks seemed vicious, both cleverly avoided striking vital points.
The energy from their clashing Haki primarily radiated outward rather than penetrating their opponent's body.
This was an act.
A performance for the surveillance ships.
Finally, after one particularly violent clash, an unprecedented light erupted from Rocks' Black Blade.
"Final strike—!!"
He roared, bringing his Black Blade down with immense force!
Harald raised his sword to block, but at the moment of impact, he perfectly dissipated part of the force, then—
BOOM—!!!
With a massive explosion, Harald's gigantic body was "violently sent flying" by Rocks, shooting backward like a cannonball toward the distant sea!
SPLASH—!!!
The Giant King crashed into the ocean, sending hundred-meter-high waves soaring.
Rocks hovered mid-air, panting heavily—also part of the act.
He raised his Black Blade and shouted to the fleet behind him:
"Men—charge through!!"
"Charge—!!"
"Long live Captain Rocks—!!"
The fleet erupted into thunderous cheers, all thirty warships advancing at full speed, sweeping past the Giant Race's vessels and breaking through the blockade.
Meanwhile, on the surveillance ship, CP agents were frantically recording:
"Giant King Harald engaged in fierce combat with Rocks but was defeated and forced to retreat!"
"The Rocks Pirates have broken through the blockade and are advancing toward the West Blue!"
...
Every three years, the Celestial Dragons would select a resource-rich island from among the World Government's non-Member States to host a game known as "Human Hunting."
They would slaughter all the native inhabitants, plunder every resource, and reduce the island to scorched earth.
This was the "entertainment" of the Celestial Dragons.
This time, the chosen location was God Valley.
At this very moment, in God Valley.
The residents were herded into the central square, kneeling on the ground, crying out in despair:
"Please save us! Such a tragedy cannot be allowed to happen!"
"What have we done wrong? Why are you doing this to us?!"
But their pleas fell on deaf ears.
On the high platform at the center of the town square.
A Celestial Dragon stood holding a microphone; he was the host of this hunting event.
Below the platform stretched a vast square, crowded with 250 Celestial Dragons.
They wore lavish outfits of various colors, transparent bubble helmets covering their heads, their faces adorned with excited, cruel smiles.
The host cleared his throat and began in an exaggerated tone:
"Welcome to the triennial 'Human Hunting' tournament!"
The crowd below erupted in cheers.
"After introducing the nine rare Devil Fruit prizes—" the host drew out his words:
"Now, I shall reveal the ultimate prize of this grand competition!"
A spotlight illuminated one side of the high platform.
There, an iron cage was slowly pushed forward.
Inside the cage was a woman.
She appeared to be in her late twenties, with cascading black hair and exquisite features.
Even dressed in coarse slave outfit, she could not conceal her breathtaking beauty.
Her eyes were calm, devoid of fear or pleading, holding only an unfathomable indifference.
It was Shakky.
"The former Empress of Amazon Lily in the Grand Line, hailed as the world's most beautiful woman, her name is Shakky!"
The host excitedly announced:
"Make her your wife, or reduce her to your slave—the choice is yours!"
The Celestial Dragons below immediately erupted:
"Wow! So beautiful! I must have her!"
"She's mine! Don't anyone dare compete with me!"
"Name your price! I'll pay any amount!"
The host tried to maintain order:
"Quiet! Quiet! This is a first-class treasure, preserved with utmost care immediately after capture, untouched and pure!"
Beside the high platform, several members of the God's Knights were also watching.
One member gazed at Shakky in the cage and marveled:
"Truly astonishing, how beautiful. Sommers, you must present her to Lord Shepherd's family."
Sommers grinned: "Wishful thinking. If I win, she'll become my slave."
Saint Garling stood nearby, arms crossed, and said calmly:
"Don't dream. She is my wife, Sommers."
...
Elsewhere, in a corner of the town.
Dragon—or rather, Monkey D. Dragon.
He was moving swiftly along a narrow alley.
Earlier, he had disobeyed orders and infiltrated the island on his own, wanting to do something.
But everything he saw shook his sense of "justice" to its core.
In a corner, following a trail of blood, he found a severely injured woman.
The woman leaned against the wall, a gruesome wound on her abdomen from which blood continuously flowed.
Her face was pale as paper, her breathing faint, but upon seeing Dragon, a glimmer of hope ignited in her eyes.
"Please..." she said with her last ounce of strength, "take my children away from this island."
"Don't let him... get these two children."
With these words, her hand fell limp, her eyes slowly closed, and she stopped breathing.
Dragon clenched his fists, seeing in the woman's arms two red-haired infants sleeping peacefully.
They appeared only a few months old, their small faces still marked with tear stains, but now asleep from exhaustion.
Dragon carefully picked them up.
The infants stirred, opened their eyes, looked at this unfamiliar man, and then... smiled.
That innocent smile seemed so glaring in this hellish environment.
An indescribable emotion surged in Dragon's heart.
He looked down at the infants in his arms, then at the dead woman, and finally toward the direction of the square from which cheers echoed in the distance.
"I want to save you..." he whispered, "and also save those children I've never met."
"Otherwise, I have no right to stand here."
...
Meanwhile, in the slave detention area.
Dozens of iron cages were lined up, each holding several slaves.
Among them were men and women, old and young, all sharing the same numb expressions and heavy shackles.
In one of the cages, a mother and her child were imprisoned.
"Come here, Teach," Mother said softly, stretching out her hands. "It's alright, come to Mommy."
Little Teach obediently crawled over and nestled into his mother's embrace.
She held him tightly, whispering in his ear:
"No matter what happens, you must survive. Whatever occurs, you must live on, Teach."
Little Teach nodded, only half understanding.
--Enjoying the story? Want more chapters? Check out my Patreon and support me for 40+ advance chapters.
Just search for "LegendaryTL" on Patreon!"
Thanks!