Chapter 22 – The Valley of the Gods: Clash of Sovereigns
"Holy crap, Ding Li? Is that really you?!"
Roger's voice rang out, full of shock and joy.
Ding Li's heart stirred at the familiar tone. He turned, saw Roger, and broke into a grin.
Ding! "+865 emotion points collected…" (and more notifications flooded in).
Only then did Ding Li realize the full situation: He was standing dead center between three colossal forces. Roger's crew was one side. The Rocks Pirates were another. And the God's Knights led by Figarland Garling Saint were the third.
He mentally thanked his luck—he hadn't acted rashly earlier. Otherwise, he'd already be dead.
"Yeah… Roger. What a coincidence," Ding Li said, voice tinged with emotion.
Roger frowned deeply. "Ding Li! What the hell are you doing here? And why'd you bring your woman?! This place is dangerous!"
Rayleigh beside him looked curious. "Captain, you know this guy?"
Roger nodded, laughing. "Yeah. Goes back over a decade. Haha! He's an interesting kid."
Before Ding Li could respond, a loud, arrogant voice cut through from the Rocks side.
"Oi! We're not here to listen to your chit-chat! Weird kid—grab your girl and scram! Otherwise I'll kill you first! And Roger—what're you doing here? If you're smart, you'll leave too. Our captain can squash you with one slap! Hahahaha!"
It was Golden Lion Shiki, sneering from beside Rocks.
Ding Li knew he wasn't Shiki's match yet. He took a deep breath, swallowed his anger, and moved quickly—flashing to Roger's side, out of the direct center.
At that moment, Rocks D. Xebec's gaze locked onto Ding Li. A strange, inexplicable sense of familiarity surged in his chest. He couldn't place it, but it unsettled him. Still, the battlefield allowed no time for deep thought.
"Enough talk! Anyone who stays… dies!"
Rocks roared. An overwhelming aura exploded from him—Conqueror's Haki so potent it warped the sky.
At the same instant, Figarland Garling Saint snorted coldly. "Hmph. Insolent!"
He unleashed his own Conqueror's Haki without hesitation.
Two monstrous forces collided in midair.
Rocks' Haki was blood-red flame—wild, burning, chaotic, like a roaring fire dragon that scorched everything in its path. The sky itself seemed to ignite.
Garling's was pitch-black abyss—deep, devouring, swallowing light itself. Dark domains spread outward, turning sea and air into void.
The two clashed. A deafening explosion shook the heavens. Red and black twisted together in a terrifying, beautiful storm. Flame and shadow tore at each other, fused, exploded again.
The shockwave swept outward. Anyone below Vice Admiral level collapsed instantly—foaming at the mouth, unconscious.
Even the stronger ones staggered, faces pale.
Ding Li finally understood true Sovereign-level power. Both Rocks and Garling radiated an aura like towering mountains—crushing, majestic, untouchable.
The Rocks Pirates began to waver. They had never truly been loyal—only forced together by fear of Rocks. Now, facing an equal (or near-equal) opponent, their courage faltered.
They whispered among themselves: "If Captain loses… we run."
They weren't here to die for him.
The Navy/God's Knights watched the pirates like hawks. Roger's crew watched both sides.
Roger was conflicted—stay and fight, or leave?
Ding Li watched the battlefield with one thought only: Find an opening. Injure Garling. Then run.
The battle raged for nine days and nine nights.
Neither side gained clear advantage. Both titans were exhausted—but neither showed fatal wounds. At this level, harming an equal was nearly impossible.
Yet everyone could feel it: Rocks' aura was slightly stronger.
After another brutal exchange, they separated in midair, gathering strength for the next clash.
Garling spoke coldly: "Rocks. Give up. You die here today—you, the most heinous criminal in the world!"
Rocks laughed mockingly. "Why do you bark like a dog every few minutes? All talk, no bite? Hahaha!"
Garling's face twisted with rare fury. A Celestial Dragon—humiliated for nine days.
Before he could retort, Rocks attacked again.
"Super Tyrant Sea Fist!"
A punch wreathed in Devour–Devour Fruit power—dark, consuming, unstoppable.
Garling raised his sword. "Holy Light Sword: Final Calamity!"
A radiant slash met the fist.
The sword energy was swallowed whole.
Garling's eyes widened.
Rocks grinned savagely. "Surprised? I ate the Dark-Dark Fruit. Your energy attacks are useless against me!"
Garling realized the truth. He couldn't use ranged techniques. He had to fight up close—and even then, one mistake could end him.
"Rocks… I didn't expect you to hide such a power. But you won't leave here alive!"
Rocks sneered. "Still barking? Shut up!"
He charged again.
The entire battlefield held its breath.
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