Chapter 74: The Hell Prince Pirates
Dave raised his voice, addressing every Marine, agent, and bystander left standing. "The world has changed," he announced, his tone steely and unwavering. "I've no interest in destroying everything or everyone—only those who continue to abuse their power. If you stand with tyrants," he nodded to the quivering Celestial Dragons, "then you'll meet the same fate as those I've taken down today."
A heavy silence followed, broken only by the crackle of Enel's dissipating electricity and the last creaks of Tony's armor shifting as he relaxed his stance. Dave's message was clear. He wasn't a pirate in the traditional sense, nor a revolutionary, but a new kind of force—one that neither revered nor feared the structures of the old world. The message was more than just for the Marines and the Celestial Dragons. It was a signal to the entire world: a warning that there was someone out there who wouldn't tolerate the abuse of power, and who wouldn't be bound by anyone's rules.
The admiral, admirals, and Celestial Dragons understood, perhaps for the first time in their lives, what it felt like to be helpless. Sengoku, his form shrinking back to his human state, locked eyes with Dave one final time, the weight of resignation pressing down on his shoulders. He knew that this was only the beginning of a new, unpredictable era.
As Dave and his crew turned to leave, the Marines made no move to stop them. They simply watched, stunned and subdued, as the most dangerous man on the seas and his formidable crew departed. The world would never be the same, and everyone—Marine, pirate, and citizen alike—would soon learn that the era of untouchable Celestial Dragons and invincible Marines had come to a swift and shattering end.
****
The next day, the entire sea seemed to pulse with the shocking news. From the New World to the Four Blues, and aboard every pirate ship, including the infamous Moby Dick where Whitebeard's crew prepared for the upcoming battle to rescue Ace, the headlines blared out, a chaotic whisper growing louder with each telling.
Morgan, the relentless news king, had ensured that the story spread like wildfire. Pirates, Marines, and civilians alike held up the latest edition, eyes wide with disbelief or exhilaration. On the front page was an image that no one ever imagined they would see: the quivering, terrified forms of the Celestial Dragons, their arrogant postures replaced by looks of utter fear and defeat. Towering over them was Dave, alongside his Hellprince Pirates, captured in a powerful moment of triumph as they symbolically stepped on the very icons of the World Government's power.
The imagery was so brazen, so fantastical, that many doubted its authenticity at first. But the details, the descriptions of the brutal clash, and the testimonies of witnesses left no room for skepticism. Word of mouth spread even faster, rumors swirling of how Dave and his crew had taken on some of the most powerful forces the government could throw at them—and won.
On the Moby Dick, Whitebeard held the paper in one massive hand, a grin splitting his face as he studied the audacious display. "Looks like a new storm's brewing," he chuckled, his deep voice booming with approval. "This Dave... seems like he has no fear of the powers that be."
Marco, his first division commander, nodded thoughtfully beside him. "If the Marines weren't already scrambling with Ace's execution, they certainly will be now."