Chapter 139
A bad feeling?
Rayleigh frowned.
For someone at Roger's level, instincts were razor-sharp. If an ordinary man said he felt uneasy, he'd be laughed off as overthinking.
But Roger?
With nerves as thick as iron cables, what kind of danger could make him uneasy?
Rayleigh was still pondering—
When reality answered.
In the chaotic storm clouds above, a sudden streak of fire blazed across the sky. Against the torrential rain, it looked jarringly out of place—like some massive object moving so fast that friction ignited flames around it.
Rayleigh froze.
Roger froze.
"Strange… the weather report didn't say anything about a meteor shower tonight."
Roger muttered.
Rayleigh smacked him on the back of the head.
As the fiery mass grew brighter, they realized—
It was heading straight toward them.
They focused their gaze.
Their expressions changed drastically.
That wasn't a meteor.
It was a small island—descending from the sky.
Even from afar, signs of human habitation were visible. Whatever had once lived there was long gone.
And the island falling from above was roughly the same size as the one beneath their feet.
If the two collided—
The Roger Pirates would be swallowed by the raging sea below.
Why was an island flying in the sky?
Both men thought of the same arrogant face.
Of course.
Only one man possessed such power.
A calamity-bringing ability capable of endless destruction.
"Everyone on alert! The Golden Lion Pirates are likely incoming!"
Roger wasted no time. He drew Ace from his waist.
Rayleigh unsheathed his blade as well, shouting toward the cave where the crew rested.
"Nani?!"
A red-nosed, youthful-looking boy shot up from the ground, clutching his head in alarm. His exaggerated expression made him look almost comical.
"Shiki?! You mean the Shiki who can make things fly?! Captain, let's run! That guy's no joke—he's the absolute ruler of the New World! And I heard one of his subordinates is a monster just as strong! That's not someone we can handle!"
Compared to the fearless veterans of the Roger Pirates, this new crew member was undeniably timid.
But before he could finish—
A fist landed squarely on his head.
Thud!
A lump instantly formed.
Tears welled in his eyes.
"That hurts, damn it! Shanks, what was that for?!"
The boy who hit him—also young, wearing a straw hat—snorted.
"Running without even fighting? That's not how the Roger Pirates do things, Buggy! Don't you want to see how strong that so-called monster really is?"
"I absolutely do not!!"
The two pressed foreheads together stubbornly, neither backing down.
Thud! Thud!
Scopper Gaban, veins popping on his forehead, knocked both of them flat with two swift blows.
"This isn't the time for nonsense. Captain, prepare for battle. Shiki didn't come here for tea. And don't forget—Roldy bears quite the grudge against you."
Roger's face flushed slightly.
At God Valley, that slash…
It had nearly turned them into enemies of both pirates and Marines alike. Only the overwhelming strength of the three top-tier fighters aboard their ship had saved them from annihilation.
And now—
Shiki's purpose was obvious.
This old rival had risen to terrifying prominence.
"Alright, boys—let's move!"
"OHH!"
The Roger Pirates followed an elite path. Their numbers were less than one percent of the Golden Lion Pirates' fleet.
Yet not one of them showed fear.
Even Buggy, who had panicked moments earlier, now drew the four daggers at his waist.
Roger stepped forward first.
His opening move—
"Divine Departure!"
Time had passed since God Valley.
Roger had now entered his absolute prime.
The Divine Departure of today far surpassed the one from back then.
Terrifying Advanced Conqueror's Haki Coating surged alongside razor-sharp sword intent.
The descending island collided midair with the slash—
And shattered into fragments within a blink.
The crew remained within the cave as debris rained down against the mountainside. Tremors shook the cavern repeatedly, but they remained unharmed.
"Jihahahaha!!!"
A wild, domineering laugh echoed from the sky.
Power radiated from that sound alone—the ambition to conquer the world laid bare without restraint.
Buggy trembled involuntarily, nearly dropping his daggers.
"Roger!!!"
A massive pirate ship emerged from the clouds.
Its golden lion figurehead roared with ferocity.
Beside it floated another vessel, its prow shaped like a wolverine—sleek, sharp, built purely for offense, like a drawn blade.
And standing at the bows of those two ships—
Were two figures who seemed capable of holding up heaven and earth.
"Shiki!!!"
Roger burst into laughter.
His Conqueror's Haki exploded outward, surging skyward in a straight line toward the Golden Lion.
Shiki met it head-on.
The clash of Conqueror's Haki split the heavens.
Color drained from the world.
Thick storm clouds parted, sunlight pouring down upon Shiki and Roldy alike.
But rather than brighten their faces—
It only deepened the shadows cast across them.
Kings had met.
And the sky itself trembled.
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