Rocks was truly disturbed by Roger's words. He'd realized one thing: as a pirate, Roger had chosen to side with the World Government to deal with him!
Newgate, who had been fighting Garp for a long time, used an air shock to push him back. A wound was visible on his exposed chest and blood sometimes flowed.
The golden armor he wore, belonging to the God Knights, was torn in several places, and blood dripped from the corners of his mouth. Facing Newgate at his strongest with Shock Fruit power was not easy.
Their battle had just been incredibly fierce. If Roger hadn't appeared out of nowhere, one of them would have died today.
Newgate looked at Roger with trembling eyes, unsure what he was thinking.
Roger definitely didn't come alone.
Shortly after, Vice Captain Pluton Rayleigh arrived with other crew members. Standing behind Roger, they confronted the Rocks Pirates.
At that moment, the arrival of the Roger Pirates seemed to completely reverse the course of the battle. The Rocks looked grotesque now and hungered to devour Roger alive.
The expressions on the faces of the Rocks Pirates varied. Except for Linlin, who didn't know where to run, most looked around as if wanting to flee.
Rocks naturally sensed it and could no longer afford to hesitate. He roared, pushing his power to the limit, and the entire sky was suddenly shrouded in shadow.
The Black Conqueror's lightning crackled from his clenched fist. Rocks's silhouette crackled like electricity, his terrifying aura engulfing Roger completely. His decision had long been made: even if he failed today, he must kill that pirate scum Roger!
Roger stared seriously at the assaulting Rocks. One of the twelve abilities of his sharp blade Conqueror sparked around Ace as he charged at Rocks.
But upon clash, Roger instantly felt he nearly lost all sensation in the arm holding his sword. Rocks's power was more terrifying than he had expected.
Seeing Roger in distress, Pluton Rayleigh drew his blade to assist but Marine Garp was faster.
From the sky descended a black iron fist. Rocks's sole thought was to kill Roger. He punched without Garp noticing, and pulled back.
Rocks, enraged at seeing Roger and Garp standing together, caused the ground to tremble.
"Absolutely disgusting!"
Initially planning a preemptive attack to suppress Marine morale, he was disappointed. Things became more negative for him.
At that very moment, Linlin suddenly returned holding a blue Devil Fruit.
While everyone was fighting, she had used the Spirit Fruit ability to manifest her soul as part of the earth and at last claimed the Blue Dragon Fruit.
Upon seeing Linlin reappear, Rocks was overjoyed; he thought the woman still had some conscience. But his happiness was shattered when Linlin spoke those words nearly turned him to stone.
"Kaido, foolish boy, why do you work so hard!? Look what I found come with me!"
Kaido, delighted at seeing the Blue Dragon Fruit, ran toward Linlin. Together they turned, disappeared within breaths, and vanished from everyone's sight.
"..."
After a moment of silence, Newgate sighed sharply. He was deeply disappointed in the Rocks Pirate. He lifted Yunqie onto his shoulders, turned his back, and walked away without a word.
His speed wasn't great but the World Government had no intention of stopping him and let him leave boldly.
Shiki took a puff from his cigar. He was the calmest person in the field. A Lion Fruit user. As long as he wanted to leave, almost no one could stop him.
Since Linlin and Kaido had disappeared, Rocks stood silently still he had said nothing after Newgate left.
But Roger and Garp in front of him suddenly felt a suffocating, terrifying momentum. In despair, Rocks thought about dying.
Sartan's aged face showed victory, yet tensed. He knew Rocks was in the most dangerous position now.
Rocks slowly raised his head and coldly said:
"Roger... Celestial Dragons... Marines... All of you deserve to die!!!"
Boom!
A deafening explosion shook the earth instantly. Rocks, with a few loyal men, charged into the enemy camp. Limbs and broken arms flew through the air, and the entire battlefield became thick with bloody mist.
The World Government, Marines, and Roger Pirates all top-tier forces flooded the field to encircle and suppress the rampaging Rocks.
There was no fear on Rocks's face. He threw off his blood-soaked crimson cloak and laughed maniacally.
"Come with me! For freedom!!!"
...
After an unknown time, the roaring in God Valley slowly subsided.
At the valley's shore, Newgate shoved a wooden boat into the sea, then boarded it.
The Rocks Pirates ship had already been destroyed by approaching Marine warships, so he had to construct a relatively intact boat himself.
Facing toward God Valley, Newgate nodded and softly said:
"Farewell, Captain Rocks."
After saying this, he rummaged within his coat and thought:
"Actually, I took a Devil Fruit with me. It must have been prepared by the Celestial Dragons. It gave me an advantage."
...
On the Marines' warship:
Sengoku sat on a bench, wiping the blood from his body.
Many Marines were injured in the battle and the medical officers were already exhausted.
Trusting his strong physique, he refused treatment so that the limited resources could be used for other Marines.
As he was pressing a cotton swab into a wound with tweezers, an explosion was heard and Garp burst in through the door.
"Hey! Sengoku, are you okay!?"
"Pfft!"
Sengoku's mouth twitched in anger at the sight of the tweezers in his wound. Garp suddenly threw a wooden box and said nonchalantly:
"Did you see what I found?"
It had gold leaf pieces on it, indicating something valuable. Sengoku raised an eyebrow and slowly opened it. Inside lay a silent golden Devil Fruit.
Sengoku looked at Garp in disbelief. Garp smiled and said:
"This must be the fruit from those Celestial Dragons. I found one. You know, I don't much like those people, so I'll give it to you."