The Warship Ambush
On the deck of the warship, eight pirates sat or stood in miserable silence, all dripping wet.
"It's sunk again!"Shiki's blond hair was still soaked, his swords Sakura Ten and Kiku stuck in the planks as he glared at Ochoku. "That's the seventh island this year! Can't you control your strength, you maniac?"
Rocks sat beneath the mainmast, casually bandaging the wound on his chest. He sneered."What? You got a problem with that?"
"Of course I do!" Captain John wrung the water from his sleeves with forced elegance, though the veins on his forehead betrayed his fury. "I just buried three crates of gold from an arms deal on that island! Now they're all at the bottom of the damn sea!"
"Gurararara!" Newgate laughed heartily, clearly used to this kind of chaos. "Forget that—what's our next target?"
Ochoku's bone rosary hung wetly around his neck as he muttered darkly, "All my treasures are gone too."
"Hey, hey, hey!" Silver Axe pulled out a bundle of soaked charts, nearly in tears. "My treasure maps! They're all ruined!"
Stussy leaned lazily against the railing, twirling her wet hair with her fingers, her lips curving into a teasing smile. "Rocks… at this rate, there won't be a single island left in the New World for you to destroy."
Tanma sat quietly in the corner, watching these monsters bicker like children. He honestly didn't know whether to laugh or cry.
"Hmph." Rocks rose to his feet, the faint leak of his Conqueror's Haki making the wooden deck creak under pressure. "Enough whining. Why not just rob another warship?"
"Robbery… again?" everyone echoed in disbelief.
"What else?" Rocks grinned, showing sharp white teeth. "Or do you want to swim to the next island?"
Everyone: "…"
"Damn it, fine!" Shiki drew both his swords, eyes flashing. "Let's get a bigger one this time!"
"I second that." Captain John adjusted his tie, regaining his composure.
"Gurarara! Then let's move!" Newgate hefted his massive bisento, Cong Yunqi.
Silver Axe sighed, waving a soggy map. "Just… please let it be a Navy ship. Those are nice and big."
Tanma glanced around at this band of lunatics who had gone from complaining to plotting mass destruction in under a minute. He sighed quietly.(Are these people even sane…?)
In the distance, an unsuspecting Navy vessel slowly approached.
The blue sea was calm, the sailors relaxed—some even sipping coffee as the gentle waves rocked the deck.
Then—
"Finally! There it is!!"
The seven pirates stood on the shattered bow of their ship, eyes gleaming like wolves spotting prey.
"Look! A Navy ship!"
"Gurarara! Just in time!" Newgate's massive fist crackled with the Tremor-Tremor Fruit's power.
Ochoku clasped his hands together, a wicked smile twisting his lips. "Let's save their souls today."
And Shiki—"Hahahaha! My turn, babes!"
Golden lightning flashed as Shiki shot into the sky, soaring toward the warship at terrifying speed!
The sailors looked up, faces draining of color."Th–That's the pirate Shiki!!""Open fire! Quickly!!"
Cannons roared, muskets blazed—bullets and shells filled the air like a storm.
"Lion Chikiri-an!"
With a roar, Shiki's twin blades unleashed dozens of golden sword waves. The shells exploded midair, bullets ricocheted harmlessly away.
He landed on the deck like a phantom, golden mane flaring."Swish! Swish! Swish!"
Before the Marines could even react, they dropped one by one, unconscious.
"Done!" Shiki sheathed his swords with a smirk.
Moments later, Rocks and the others boarded.
Captain John stepped onto the deck, tsking at the fallen sailors. "Shiki, you're too fast. Leave me at least a few to play with next time."
Silver Axe poked a fainted Marine with his rifle. "I wanted to test my new gas bombs…"
Stussy walked elegantly across the deck, high heels clicking, lips curling in amusement. "Oh? Not even a single officer left to tease. How dull."
Tanma stood off to the side, watching the chaos unfold as if this were some bizarre shopping trip instead of a raid.
Rocks kicked open the captain's cabin door, laughing. "From now on, this ship belongs to us!"
Tanma frowned slightly, scanning the peaceful sea."This doesn't feel right…"
"Huh?" Newgate tilted his head.
"This is the New World," Tanma said quietly. "Why would a Navy ship be sailing this deep into pirate territory so casually?"
The deck fell silent. Every pirate froze.
Then—
BOOM!!!
The deafening thunder of artillery filled the air!
The calm ocean exploded into chaos as dozens of massive warships emerged from the mist—an entire fleet of Marine vessels surrounding them from all directions!
"We've walked into a trap!" Shiki's golden hair flared as he drew his swords once more.
"Tch… an ambush, huh?" Captain John's sapphire cufflinks gleamed as his flintlock slid smoothly into his palm.
Rocks grinned, slamming Calamity into the deck."Now this… is interesting."
His Conqueror's Haki erupted in a surge of dark lightning that twisted the air."Everyone! Kill them all!"
"Boom! Boom! Boom!"
Cannon fire rained down like a torrential storm!
Newgate laughed madly, punching the air—his Tremor-Tremor Fruit shattered the very atmosphere, detonating incoming shells midair!
Shiki soared skyward, his golden slashes slicing through the masts of several warships in one stroke.
Ochoku's bone rosary flared crimson, the beads transforming into blood-red chains that wrapped around Marines like constricting serpents.
Captain John's gunners opened fire, every bullet finding a head with lethal precision.
Silver Axe hurled explosives across the decks, his laughter echoing between the blasts.
Stussy glided through the chaos like a phantom, every flick of her wrist sending another Marine crashing down.
Then—A blinding flash lit up the center of the battlefield. The sea split open as a towering column of fire erupted skyward.
Even Rocks narrowed his eyes against the heat."…A Logia?"
The flames twisted and condensed into a man's form. A crimson Marine coat fluttered in the searing wind.
It was Admiral Shinji Ryoga.
His golden eyes burned like molten lava, and a cruel smile crept across his face."Rocks! Today is the day you die!"
His right arm transformed into pure flame as he thrust it forward.
"Ember Cannon!"
A fireball nearly a hundred meters wide descended like a miniature sun——straight toward the Rocks Pirates' ship!