"Annoying little lackeys."
No one knew exactly who said it, but as bullets flew, the forty Elite Camp recruits each displayed their unique abilities. Some dodged at incredible speed, while others, like Smoker, simply ignored the bullets entirely, letting them pass through their bodies.
Whoosh!
In almost an instant, over ten of them charged straight into the group of armed pirates. Like cutting through vegetables, they unleashed a flurry of attacks, toppling nearly a hundred small-time pirates in a chaotic frenzy.
Blood sprayed everywhere.
"Looks like the whole island is full of pirates. Don't let the Black Horn Pirates' officers or captain escape. Split up!"
"Understood!"
Someone's suggestion was instantly approved. The forty new recruits dispersed upon landing, pairing up in twos or threes, with a few operating alone.
---
On the streets:
"Pirates are pirates after all… burning, looting, and pillaging…"
Others might not notice, but Roya, whose soul was extraordinarily powerful—indeed, fundamentally different—could sense the countless resentful, dark energies permeating the island.
Without seeing it with his eyes, Roya could roughly perceive the hidden darkness across the island simply by sensing these malignant auras.
"Pirates like Luffy aren't really pirates—they're adventurers chasing dreams. But these… these are the true pirates of the world!"
Roya never considered himself a paragon of justice. Sometimes he even felt a little… mischievous. He certainly did not agree with Akainu's extreme form of justice.
Yet he did not recognize these so-called "true pirates" either.
For him, justice and evil were irrelevant. Roya's thinking resembled Garp's—he acted according to his own ideas. The difference was that Roya was entirely unbound by any stance.
Whether Marine or pirate, these labels didn't matter to him. Compared to Garp, he was even more free-spirited.
Roya held Engetsu in his hand, stepping forward calmly across the bloodied streets, until he stood before a pirate who appeared utterly terrified.
"Excuse me, do you know where Rhodes is?"
"At… at the central hotel…"
"Good."
A flash of sword light, blood splattering.
Roya remained unaffected by the gore and corpses. He calmly stepped over the bodies, eyes fixed on the central hotel—a building taller than any others on the island.
Roya, expression serene, walked out of the street. Ahead, another group of enemies appeared. This time, he ignored them entirely and unleashed a single slash.
Ittōryū: Kasō!
Boom!
Blazing flames surged forward under the astonished gazes of the pirates.
The inferno shot skyward, visible from almost every part of the island—a towering, scorching wall of fire.
"That guy… already using his ability?"
At a street corner, Very Good punched a pirate to the ground, then squinted at the distant flames, twitching his mouth.
Being forced to use abilities so quickly—this wasn't good.
Yet before the thought even settled, another street erupted in flames!
Boom! Boom! Boom!
The fire swept uncontrollably along the streets toward the central hotel, forming a blazing pathway. Wherever Roya went, fire consumed everything in his path.
Very Good nearly dropped his jaw at the sight of the continuous wall of flames.
This was absurd!
Even a Logia-type flame user couldn't create such devastation.
Though he knew Roya was strong and had heard of his past deeds, seeing it firsthand was entirely different.
Previously, he had assumed that since Roya lacked elemental transformation abilities, he could at least dodge the flames and fight. But now, that idea seemed laughable.
The fire, stretching across multiple streets, would engulf anyone thrown into it—even ten men would be incinerated entirely, leaving nothing behind.
"Hey… that fire… could it really be Roya's power?"
"Is that really his ability? Too exaggerated! Even Smoker's abilities don't cause this much commotion…"
Not only Very Good, but other Elite Camp veterans were also utterly shocked, staring at the towering inferno sweeping multiple streets.
Elsewhere, Drake and other first-year recruits of Roya's squad looked on, their expressions difficult to describe.
Hina repeatedly twitched her mouth, covering her forehead.
"That guy… still wants to pull a stunt like the practical exam?!"
---
At this moment, atop the central hotel, unnoticed, Zephyr had already arrived. He surveyed the entire island from above.
The towering inferno made him frown.
"Messing around again, huh?"
"Roya is talented in every way… except one thing—he loves to cause chaos. Just like Garp back then!"
Zephyr had captured countless pirates without killing a single one, earning him the nickname "No-Kill" aside from Black Arm. But after Zephyr's family was killed by pirates, and he resigned from his admiral position, his mindset had changed.
The state of the island exceeded Zephyr's expectations. He hadn't anticipated the island being almost entirely a pirate hub.
For this to happen in just half a year, no mere Black Horn Pirate crew could accomplish it—even one that had retired from the Grand Line.
Indeed, Zephyr suspected the island had long been a pirate haven, unnoticed by the Marines. The Black Horn Pirates had merely taken control six months ago. As for the hidden mastermind, Zephyr had a rough idea.
After a moment's thought, Zephyr shook his head.
He no longer handled these matters. His sole job was to train new recruits. His presence here was simply to make the elimination of the Black Horn Pirates a practical mission. Once the mission was complete, he would leave with the Elite Camp, leaving the rest to Marine Headquarters.
---
Beneath the central hotel, directly below Zephyr, a group of people were observing the island—they were the Black Horn Pirates' officers.
"Such outrageous fire…"
"Are they not ordinary Marines?"
"Marines in the South Blue wouldn't have this many ability users. Most must be from the Grand Line. Seems they're coming for us."
Their tone was serious, but they were all experienced Grand Line pirates, each with bounties in the tens of millions. Serious, yes—but not fearful.
At that moment, Rhodes walked up from behind, coldly addressing everyone present:
"We've only controlled this place for six months and we've been exposed. Regardless of whose fault it is, we must eliminate these Marines quickly and relocate. Otherwise… you know the consequences if the Young Master becomes angry."
His words made the pirates tense.
Glancing out the window, Rhodes smirked coldly.
"Though these are Grand Line Marines, there are only a few dozen. We are no ordinary pirates either."
They weren't pirates beaten back from the Grand Line—they had voluntarily withdrawn, changing their goals.
"Let's go. Take them out!"
"Yes!"
The pirates drew deep breaths, their eyes flashing with cold, feral determination, and followed Rhodes out of the central hotel.