At the same time, in the shipbuilding and coating area of the Sabaody Archipelago, beneath Mangrove 53, inside a dockyard where several pirate ships were moored along the coast.
"An Ancient Zoan Devil Fruit?"
In the messy open-air grounds, Gin and Killer spun their weapons at high speed, staring intently at Drake, who had inexplicably appeared and attacked them, as well as a burly monk they didn't recognize at all.
Aside from the hostility in his eyes, Gin couldn't help but feel confused. He spoke with a wary tone, "What do you mean by a Devil Fruit? What does that have to do with us?"
"Are you playing dumb with me? The Warlord of the Sea, Demon Lion Allen, issued a challenge to all pirates on the Sabaody Archipelago. The news already spread all over the island last night," Drake said coldly, his eyes narrowing as he held a sword in one hand and an axe in the other.
"Hahahaha, whoever defeats a division commander will receive an Ancient Zoan Devil Fruit. Those were your own words, weren't they?" Beside him, Mad Monk Urouge grinned widely, revealing two rows of bright white teeth. He chuckled playfully, "Since you dared to issue such an arrogant challenge, I had to come and see for myself whether it's true or false."
"What did you say?" Hearing this, Gin and Killer were taken aback. They turned to look at each other, both wearing expressions of utter bewilderment.
When had they ever issued such a challenge? They didn't even know about it themselves. Wasn't this pure rumor-mongering?
"Could someone be trying to sow discord and secretly make enemies for us?" Gin quickly thought of this possibility, but after pondering it for a moment, he couldn't think of anyone who would do such a thing.
Moreover, how did the other party know that they had several Ancient Zoan Devil Fruits on their ship?
"No, wait a minute. I think I know who it is." Killer suddenly spoke up, seemingly realizing something. He involuntarily clenched his fists, veins bulging on the back of his hands. "Do you remember what that bastard said before we landed yesterday? He said he prepared a little gift for us on the island."
"You mean, the captain..." Realizing the truth, Gin recalled Allen's deliberately mysterious expression from yesterday. Looking back at Drake and Urouge, everything seemed to make sense now.
"This... isn't this way too reckless..." Gin's eyes twitched as he roughly guessed Allen's intentions.
Killer was furious, gritting his teeth as he said, "That bastard is clearly pushing us into a fire pit."
"Ahem, the captain did this..." Gin tried to defend Allen, but as the words reached his lips, even he couldn't find a suitable excuse.
However, Drake and Urouge opposite them weren't going to give them time to argue.
"Hahahaha! Perfect, there are two officers here. We'll take one each and stay out of each other's way," Urouge said with a grin. Hugging a massive, pitch-black pillar that resembled a giant pencil, he leaped high into the air and charged at Gin.
Drake's body began to expand, green scales forming on his skin as he gradually transformed into his human-beast dragon form.
"I'm not particularly interested in fighting, but if I can get an Ancient Zoan fruit this easily, it will be very helpful for my future plans." With that, Drake's eyes darkened. He crouched and kicked off the ground, diving forward with his sword and axe trailing behind him.
"A dinosaur? In that case, leave this guy to me." Killer's gaze burned with intensity as he quickly charged to meet Drake. Flying low to the ground, his body continuously sprouted chitinous exoskeletons, rapidly transforming into the human-beast form of the Prehistoric Devil Flower Mantis.
Clang!!
The sharp mantis scythes clashed with the sword and axe, sending fierce sparks flying. The two were locked in a stalemate, their weapons vibrating and grinding against each other.
Behind them.
Bang!!
Urouge plummeted from the sky, viciously smashing down the giant pencil-like steel pillar.
Gin hastily leaped backward as the ground exploded into a deep crater under the heavy, forceful strike.
"This strength... he's like a monster."
"Hahahaha! This is just the beginning! Since you publicly provoked everyone, let me see what you're capable of." Urouge grinned widely, his eyes filled with nothing but a thirst for battle.
"If that's the case, then keep your eyes wide open and watch closely." Gin's lips curled into a cold smirk. Spinning his twin tonfas, he leaped forward and charged at top speed.
Inside the dockyard, an explosive battle broke out.
At the same time, several other battles erupted across the island, aside from the Supernovas who had sought out Allen's crew.
Over at Mangrove 1, an area littered with slave trading shops, a much larger riot was quietly brewing in the bubble-filled streets.
"What the hell? I thought he was going to ask for directions, but he suddenly started shooting. Good grief." Zoro looked completely baffled as he flicked the blood from his blade onto the grass before sheathing his sword.
Behind him, two men and a woman dressed in white spacesuits with round glass bowls on their heads lay in a pool of blood. Several bodyguards in black suits were also sprawled out around them.
"Does this guy... even know what he just did?"
"He actually cut down... the Celestial Dragons..."
"He's crazy! He's absolutely insane!"
A large number of civilians knelt on both sides of the street, their faces filled with terror. They stared at the scene before them in disbelief, their voices trembling and hoarse as they spoke.
...
The Holy Land, Mary Geoise.
Inside a reception hall in Pangea Castle, the Warlords of the Sea and a group of Marines sat scattered around the room in various postures.
Suddenly, a Marine burst through the door, shouting in panic.
"Fleet Admiral! We have a terrible situation, Fleet Admiral!!"
Hearing the commotion, the people in the hall all turned their gazes toward him.
Seeing the Marine's behavior, Sengoku's face darkened. Feeling a sense of foreboding, he asked in a deep voice, "What happened? Is there movement from the Whitebeard Pirates?"
"No! It's not Whitebeard, it's the Celestial Dragons!" The Marine panted heavily, shouting frantically, "Saint Charlos and his family! They were cut down by a pirate on the Sabaody Archipelago!"
"What did you say?!"
Bang!
Hearing this, Sengoku slammed his large hand on the table and stood up, cursing in a fit of rage, "Bastards! At a critical time like this, why were the Celestial Dragons at the Sabaody Archipelago?!"
"I-It seems it's because... today is the slave auction house's monthly auction, so they..." The Marine trembled in fear, unconsciously taking a step back as he stammered his reply.
Hearing this, veins popped on Sengoku's forehead. He was so furious he nearly crushed his back teeth. If it weren't for the presence of several Warlords, he probably would have started screaming curses right then and there.
"T-There's... more..."
"What else is there?!" Sengoku demanded angrily.
The Marine shivered in fright, trembling as he said, "Um... the subordinates of Warlord Allen have also broken out into a battle with the Supernovas on the Sabaody Archipelago."
Hearing this, Sengoku whipped his head around, glaring furiously at Allen with wide eyes.
"What is the meaning of this?!"
"What do you mean? Isn't it perfectly natural for a Warlord to strike down pirates? What did my subordinates do wrong?" Allen said dismissively, lounging on the sofa and spreading his hands.
"You...! You'd better not have an ulterior motive!" Sengoku shouted, his face filled with extreme displeasure. He then turned to look at the other side, where Kizaru was lazily lying on a sofa.
"My, my, this is quite troublesome." Before Sengoku could speak, Kizaru immediately sat up, patting his head with a look of a headache, and volunteered, "Regardless, we can't just ignore something like this. I suppose I'll have to make a trip over there."
"Hmph, have Sentomaru take the Pacifistas with you. It's a good opportunity to test their performance before the war starts," Sengoku ordered sharply, his face showing an expression of glad you know your place.
Kizaru sighed and turned to the Marine who had come in to report, asking, "So, which idiot did such a foolish thing?"
"Sir! The pirate who attacked Saint Charlos and his family is Roronoa Zoro of the Straw Hat Pirates!"
"The Straw Hat Pirates, huh..." Hearing this name, Kizaru quietly turned his head, unable to resist glancing at Sengoku behind him.
Sengoku gritted his teeth and clenched his fists, so furious he wished he could tear a certain old bastard to shreds.
"Borsalino...! Move out immediately!"
"I know, I know. How scary..." Kizaru waved his hand with his usual sleazy expression, a profound look in his eyes.