Cold sweat instantly soaked the backs of all the Marines.
"Wh-what kind of joke is this..." A young marine's legs went weak as he collapsed onto the deck. "The most powerful pirates in the New World... all gathered here..."
"Could it be... the great battle of God Valley three years ago... is about to repeat itself?"
The flying fleet finally landed on the sea's surface, stirring up towering waves.
"Gyahahahaha!" Golden Lion laughed heartily. "Seems we've arrived just in time! The Celestial Dragons' hunting game isn't over yet!"
Whitebeard gripped his Cloud Cutter, assuming his classic stance.
His right hand clenched into a fist, his left arm held out horizontally, the power of the Tremor-Tremor Fruit beginning to gather in his fist.
"Gurararara! Let me clear away these bothersome warships first!"
"Wait, Newgate." Raiver's voice rang out.
Whitebeard paused his movement, looking toward the Divine Right. "What is it, Raiver boy?"
"If you throw that punch, the tsunami it triggers might flood the entire island," Raiver said. "Don't forget, the treasure we want is still on that island. If it gets washed into the sea, our efforts would be in vain."
Charlotte Linlin also spoke up. "Mamamamama! Newgate, Raiver is right! If those treasures and Devil Fruits end up in the ocean, I'll never forgive you!"
Whitebeard glanced at the two of them, then at Domon Island in the distance, and finally lowered his stance.
"You're right. Then we'll do it another way."
But Raiver had already moved first.
He drew the Supreme Grade Sharp Blade "Black Dragon" from his waist, its blade as black as ink.
Without assuming any particular stance, he simply swung the blade—casually.
Swish.
A dark red slash shot forth from the blade, sweeping horizontally!
The slash flew just above the sea's surface, cutting through the seawater wherever it passed, creating a vacuum trench dozens of meters deep.
The seawater on either side of the trench didn't even have time to rush back in before the slash reached the Marine fleet.
"Don't even think about it!" Vice Admiral Douglas roared, leaping from the deck.
"Iron Body: Adamantine! Armament Haki: Full Body Hardening!"
He poured all his Haki into his right fist, which instantly turned as if cast from black iron.
Then, he threw a full-powered punch!
Fist met slash.
The next moment, Vice Admiral Douglas's fist, along with his body, was split in two.
His corpse fell into the sea, splashing up two sprays of blood.
The slash continued unabated, flying onward, sweeping past the flagship behind him.
That 150-meter-long steel giant battleship, equipped with thirty-six heavy cannons.
Like butter sliced by a hot knife, it split into two halves.
The steel plates at the cut melted and vaporized, revealing the terrified soldiers inside.
Then, the two halves of the ship began to tilt and sink.
Having done this, Raiver's figure flickered and vanished from where he stood.
The next second, he had already appeared on the shore of Domon Island.
"Gyahahahaha! Raiver, you're not planning to hog all the treasure for yourself, are you?!"
Seeing this, Golden Lion laughed heartily, his entire body lifting off from the Lion King.
He streaked across the sea like a golden lightning bolt. As he passed a certain warship, he casually swung out a golden Wave Cut—
Swish!
The warship was sliced in half at the waist, sinking into the ocean amid explosions.
Whitebeard laughed heartily: "Marco! Jozu! Vista! Let's go!"
"Yes, Pops!"
The three young division commanders followed Whitebeard as they leaped from the Moby Dick.
Marco transformed into his phoenix form wreathed in blue flames, Jozu covered his entire body in diamond, and Vista drew his twin swords.
Though they were only around fifteen or sixteen years old, their strength was already formidable.
"Mamamamama! Katakuri! Perospero! Let's move too!" Linlin roared.
"As you command, Mother!" Katakuri, also around fifteen or sixteen, already displayed extraordinary talent.
He held a custom-made trident, his eyes calm beyond his years.
As the pirates landed, Raiver glanced back at the fleet behind him, his voice carrying across the sea:
"Before we begin, let me confirm the rules once more—all seized treasures and Devil Fruits will be centrally stored.
After the battle ends, distribution will be based on contributions.
If anyone dares to embezzle…"
He left the sentence unfinished, but everyone understood.
This was the agreement they had reached during their journey.
Otherwise, fighting among themselves over plunder would only give the Marines an advantage.
"Gurararara! The kid's right!" Whitebeard boomed. "If anyone causes trouble, I'll be the first to deal with them!"
Golden Lion curled his lip: "Got it, got it! Let's hurry onto the island! Any more dawdling and the Celestial Dragons will escape!"
Linlin nodded too: "Mamamamama! Hurry up!"
The Marine defensive line crumbled like paper under the assault of these great pirates.
"Monsters... they're all monsters…"
"Run! Get away!"
"Requesting backup! Request Headquarters support!"
The surviving Marines began to scatter in disarray.
A vice admiral gritted his teeth as he tried to direct the defense, but it was futile.
He rushed into the communications room and grabbed a Den Den Mushi:
"Calling Headquarters! Calling Headquarters! This is Domon Island in the North Blue!
The great pirates of the New World—Raiver, Golden Lion, Whitebeard, Charlotte Linlin!
They've all appeared here! They're attacking the Celestial Dragons' festival! We can't hold them off!
Repeat, we cannot hold! Request immediate support!"
The panicked voice of a Marine Headquarters communications officer came through:
"What?! Please hold on!
The Fleet Admiral anticipated this and has already dispatched three top-tier fighters—Garp, Sengoku, and Zephyr—for support!
Estimated... estimated time of arrival is half a day!"
"Half a day…" The vice admiral smiled bitterly. "I doubt we can last even twenty minutes."
He hung up and looked out the window.
The pirates had all landed and were advancing toward the center of the island.
From deep within the island, the agonized cries of the slaves had ceased at some point.
Replacing them was another sound—
the terrified screams of Celestial Dragons.
...
At the central highland of Domon Island, on a temporary viewing platform.
Saint Jaygarcia Saturn stood there, his face so dark it seemed dripping with gloom.
He wore a black suit, held a cane, and wore the formal hat symbolizing his status as one of the Five Elders.
But at this moment, his hand gripping the cane trembled slightly—not from fear, but from rage.
"These pirates... how dare they attack a World Nobles' festival again!"
Behind him, dozens of Celestial Dragons were in chaos.
They wore glass helmets and lavish attire, but now they were in a state of panic—some screaming, others cursing, and some collapsing to the ground.
"Saint Saturn! Get us out of here!"
"Those filthy pirates! How dare they!"
"I'll have the Marines execute them all!"
Saturn paid no attention to these useless fools.
He turned to the Chief of Cipher Pol Aigis Zero beside him.
"Immediately escort all Celestial Dragons to a safe zone.
Cipher Pol will clear the path, and the God Knights will cover the rear."
"Yes! But Saint Saturn, the enemy's forces... we need reinforcements."