One Piece: I'm not Roger

As Betty waved her flag like a saint, most of the hundred thousand civilians were filled with courage under the power of the Pump-Pump Fruit. Their overwhelming momentum quickly crushed the World Government's side.

The slaves picked up construction hammers and whatever weapons they could find, rushing fearlessly toward the enemy. Although the guards' temporary defensive line injured more than a thousand people, the slaves understood that they had only one chance. If they failed now, there would be no future waiting for them.

The slaves of the Kingdom on the Bridge advanced one after another, stepping over the corpses of their fallen companions. Under Betty's encouragement, even their wounds seemed far less painful.

The Revolutionary Army's advantage steadily expanded, and it appeared that the battle would soon be over.

Watching from the sidelines, Aether couldn't help but revise his opinion of Betty. At least on the battlefield, she was worthy of admiration.

However, there was one thing Aether really wanted to complain about.

Why didn't her clothes reveal any gaps during all that movement?

It was truly disappointing for a man. How could a mere glimpse of the "Eastern Hemisphere" compare to a global live broadcast?

In truth, Aether neither opposed nor supported Betty's method of leading ordinary people into rebellion.

Although the civilians became much stronger, the casualties suffered by sending them onto the battlefield would inevitably be greater than those of a properly trained army.

Still, this was a rebellion fought for their own freedom.

If they weren't willing to fight for themselves, why should others sacrifice their lives to save them?

Not everyone was like Monkey D. Luffy, acting purely according to his heart rather than any consideration of gain or loss.

With Betty leading the charge, the tide of the people completely overwhelmed the guards, routing them in an instant.

The ordinary people, enslaved for so many years, harbored deep hatred toward the guards, the World Government's henchmen who had treated them as less than human.

They showed no mercy to the guards who begged for their lives.

These wicked men were forced from the bridge by the raging crowd, releasing the same screams that had once echoed there regularly.

Below the bridge, the sea churned violently as sea beasts tore into flesh and blood.

The situation had effectively been decided.

In the distance, the high-ranking members of the Revolutionary Army continued pursuing the fleeing experts, including several World Government agents.

Once those experts were eliminated, the operation would conclude perfectly.

During this time, Aether noticed that the Revolutionary Army's mid-level combat strength was quite impressive. There were four powerhouses capable of rivaling a Marine Headquarters Vice Admiral.

Further below, Robin's performance also caught Aether's attention.

Every use of her Devil Fruit ability took down dozens or even hundreds of guards.

It seemed she had become considerably stronger over the past three months.

Just as everyone believed the battle was over, a massive fire tornado erupted from the ground, engulfing numerous Revolutionary Army members and civilians.

Terrifying flames consumed everything in their path, reducing people to charred remains amid agonized screams.

Mori's enormous body was suddenly blasted out of the fire tornado, crashing heavily onto the bridge.

"Ouch! Ouch! Ouch!"

Mori repeatedly slapped at the flames clinging to his body.

He had only been wearing a pair of overalls to begin with, and now even those had been burned into rags, leaving him looking extremely disheveled.

However, a closer inspection revealed that Mori had suffered little actual damage. The scorching flames had merely reddened portions of his skin.

The toughness of Mori's physique left Aether genuinely impressed.

As expected of a giant.

The sudden turn of events prompted some lower-ranking Revolutionary Army members to retreat according to plan, while the remaining capable officers surrounded the fire tornado.

The appearance of those flames had already allowed the Revolutionary Army to identify the true enemy.

Three months earlier, they had suffered defeat at the hands of those same flames, resulting in the death of one of their division commanders.

The fire tornado gradually dissipated, revealing five figures within.

At the front stood a young man dressed in elegant white noble attire, appearing no older than twenty-five.

Behind him stood four men in white suits.

Two wore masks that concealed their faces.

Clearly, these four were CP0 agents assigned to protect a Celestial Dragon.

The true target had finally appeared.

Aether immediately shook off his boredom.

Watching a one-sided battle had been rather dull.

The Celestial Dragon, who was likely a member of God's Knights, appeared both young and powerful.

Flaming bird feathers covered portions of his skin, giving him a resemblance to Marco's phoenix flames.

He was most likely the user of a Mythical Zoan Devil Fruit.

Aether rubbed his chin and remarked thoughtfully,

"So the Celestial Dragons also produce geniuses. Still, bringing four bodyguards everywhere is a bit of a deduction. Out on the sea, the most reliable thing is always your own strength."

The appearance of the true enemy caused the four army commanders and vice-commanders to become extremely vigilant.

They possessed intelligence on four of the five opponents.

The young Celestial Dragon leading them was known as a genius among the Celestial Dragons, someone rumored to possess strength comparable to an Admiral, though whether that assessment was exaggerated remained uncertain.

As for the unmasked CP0 agent beside him, he was also well known.

He had once fought Jinbe, a former Warlord of the Sea and current member of the Aether Pirates, to a draw on land using nothing but powerful martial arts.

Betty gritted her teeth and glared at the leading man with undisguised hatred.

"Markas Luke, I'll kill you to avenge Wubi-senpai!"

During the operation three months ago, Division Commander Wubi had sacrificed himself while facing this Celestial Dragon and his Fruit ability.

To cover Robin and the others' retreat, Wubi had stalled Markas Luke for a single minute.

That one minute had cost him his life.

He had been burned to nothing by the Bi Fang Divine Fire.

The Bi Fang resembled a one-legged crane and was a divine beast that controlled flames.

Markas Luke first offered everyone a gentlemanly smile.

Then his face twisted into a grotesque expression, creating a striking contrast.

"Belo Betty, Commander of the Revolutionary Army's East Army. If you have the ability, then come and try. I'm already looking forward to bringing you back to Mary Geoise and savoring you slowly."

After delivering those malicious words, Markas Luke returned to his refined appearance and turned toward the CP0 agent beside him.

"Loyal dog, tell them who His Saintship is."

The masked CP0 agent trembled.

Having served him for several years, he knew better than anyone how cruel and perverse this Celestial Dragon truly was.

Even two of the accompanying CP0 agents had died at his hands.

The agent hurriedly stepped forward.

"This is Saint Markas Luke, user of the Mythical Zoan Bi Fang Divine Bird Fruit, the future commander of God's Knights, and a rising star among the noble Celestial Dragons."

As the introduction concluded, Saint Markas Luke unleashed an overwhelming burst of Conqueror's Haki.

The dark-red pressure instantly knocked numerous Revolutionary Army members unconscious.

In Aether's estimation, the intensity of his Conqueror's Haki was already near the highest tier, no weaker than Hancock's.

With powerful martial arts, advanced Haki, and a Mythical Zoan Devil Fruit, the opponent's potential caused Aether to abandon his casual attitude.

A trace of killing intent flashed through his eyes.

He truly hadn't expected the Celestial Dragons to possess such a genius.

But a prodigy of the Celestial Dragons absolutely could not be allowed to live.