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The fork in fate and the choices of reality…
Seeing the "future that should have happened," Rocks's brows furrowed tightly. In those eyes that always burned with conquest and arrogance, a rare trace of solemnity flashed through.
Without this sudden light screen's arrival, his fate would have been completely different.
Eris and the newborn Teach would have fallen into mortal danger, while his own family members would have turned into grotesque monsters lunging at him.
The version of himself in that scene, though valiantly unmatched, carried an unmistakable weariness.
"Heh…"
Rocks let out a low, cold laugh, his right hand unconsciously stroking the hilt of the sword at his waist: "Looks like this weird thing… actually saved my life."
At least now, Eris and Teach were safe.
At least now, he had saved his family and prevented further casualties!
And the true culprit behind all that tragedy was sitting right across from him—the Five Elders, whose five old faces were now filled with shock, rage, and barely concealed panic!
Rocks's gaze was like a poison-tempered blade, locking onto the Five Elders without mercy.
He needed no evidence, no deduction. Everything the light screen had shown was crystal clear.
Aside from these five old monsters who held the highest power in the World Government, and that one "rat," who else in this world had such capability?
"Old bastards…"
Rocks's lips twisted into a ferocious grin. His voice wasn't loud, yet it chilled the surrounding air: "This debt… I've noted it down."
At the same time, the dozens of islands and kingdoms now covered by the light screen had plunged into unprecedented chaos.
Ordinary people had never witnessed such a sight.
A gigantic screen had suddenly appeared in the sky, broadcasting the unimaginable melee inside God Valley.
Garp's earth-shattering power, the savage clashes of pirate overlords, the cold brutality of the Celestial Dragons, the desperate wails of slaves… every frame assaulted their understanding.
"Is that… the Marines slaughtering civilians?!"
"The Celestial Dragons using living people as target practice?!"
"Pirates… some pirates are actually protecting slaves?!"
Panic spread like a plague.
People gathered in plazas, on streets, at home windows—heads tilted upward, faces pale, bodies trembling as they stared at the unbelievable scene.
This was no longer the simple opposition of "just Marines" versus "evil pirates" in their minds. It was a raw epic that tore away every pretense and exposed the cruelest face of the world.
Yet amid the fear, something else began to sprout.
After the initial terror, some kings and nobles of kingdoms felt a "the bigger the spectacle, the better" thrill.
"Quick! Prepare the ships! To God Valley!"
"An event like this happens only once in a century—how can we miss witnessing it with our own eyes?!"
"Who knows… maybe we can pick up some benefits…"
Opportunists, schemers, and pure curiosity-seekers gathered their guards and set off toward God Valley.
They keenly smelled the scent of "upheaval." No matter the final outcome of this battle, the world's structure was bound to undergo massive change.
Gaining first-hand intelligence early might bring even greater profits in the future.
Among them, one young figure stood out particularly.
"Hurry! Faster!"
Morgans—the future president of the World Economic Journal, still a fledgling but sharp-nosed young reporter—was rushing toward God Valley without pause…
"God Valley! That's where news big enough to overturn the world is happening right now!"
His crude notebook was already densely filled with keywords: Marine massacre of civilians, Celestial Dragon atrocities, Rocks, Roger's duel, mysterious light screen, monsters…
To him, the truth of the news wasn't important—explosiveness was.
And right now, everything happening in God Valley was headline-worthy.
"If I can get first-hand material this time…"
Morgans's eyes gleamed: "The World Economic Journal… no, the entire world… will remember my name!"
Inside God Valley, the atmosphere was equally subtle.
Rocks's family members were all safe and sound now, protected by him.
Turning his gaze back to the Five Elders, the chill in Rocks's eyes was like an ice pick.
On the Roger Pirates' side, Gloriosa anxiously tugged at Roger's sleeve: "Roger, I think… maybe we should leave right now.
Look how much bigger this light screen's range is getting. While the Five Elders still don't dare act rashly, let's get out of here quick…"
She pointed at the brutal scenes on the screen, her chest tightening inexplicably: "I just have this feeling… if we stay, something even more terrifying is going to happen."
Roger looked at Gloriosa, brows furrowed.
He wanted nothing more than to leave this chaotic place immediately.
But glancing around, while Rayleigh, Scopper Gaban, and the other core fighters were mostly fine, many crew members were still unconscious from injuries sustained in the earlier battle, currently receiving emergency treatment from the ship's doctors.
"We can't leave yet."
Roger shook his head, then explained in a low, serious voice: "Our comrades are still unconscious—we can't take them with us. And besides…"
"Leaving now would actually make it easier for them to pick us off one by one!"
Though he usually acted carefree, Roger also had his calm and composed side!
"Hey! Gloriosa! Don't worry!"
Golden Lion Shiki flew over casually, hovering in midair with an utterly unconcerned expression: "Those old bastards over there? I ain't scared of 'em at all! Look at our side…"
Shiki started counting on his fingers: "Roger, Rocks, Whitebeard, me, those three big giants from the Giant Tribe, plus Rayleigh, Gaban, and the other tough guys… if it really comes to a fight, who wins and who loses is still up in the air!"
Gloriosa looked around. Indeed, just Roger, Rocks, Whitebeard, and Harald combined were enough to make any force tremble.
Add the Giant Tribe's Dorry and Brogy, plus the elites of two pirate crews…
This lineup truly had the capital to stand up to the Five Elders and the God's Knights.
"Alright…"
With a slight sigh, Gloriosa temporarily set aside the idea of retreating.
The scenes on the light screen did not stop.
It continued playing the "original future."
Rocks stood alone against an army of monsters formed from his own family members, every strike carrying soul-rending pain.
Big Mom Charlotte Linlin and Kaido argued furiously over the ownership of the Azure Dragon Fruit, nearly coming to blows at the edge of the battlefield.
In other fragments, the injured Monkey D. Dragon carried the crying little Shanks through the ruins, while Eris tightly held little Teach.
The red-haired and black-haired infants struggled to survive in the hell of God Valley.
Some treasure left behind by the fleeing Celestial Dragons became spoils for the Roger Pirates.
The future Ganju tried to interfere but was repelled by Scopper Gaban's axe.
The Marines took advantage of the chaos to capture lone or injured pirates, adding new names to their merit logs.
And then the most chilling scene appeared…
Some civilians who had barely escaped the central battle zone—clothes in tatters, covered in blood—rushed toward the Marine defensive line, raising their hands and crying for help.
What greeted them was merciless cannon fire.
"Open fire! Prevent pirates from sneaking in!" a Marine officer coldly ordered.
Cannon shells fell; screams and flames swallowed those desperate figures.
Inside and outside God Valley, everyone who saw this scene—pirates, Marines, and distant island civilians watching—fell silent.
This was "justice"?
Saint Saturn, the curly-haired old man among the Five Elders, stood hidden at the edge of the battlefield, quietly observing it all.
His face showed no emotion, as if the human tragedy before him were merely experimental data.
And at that moment…
A voice rang directly in Saint Saturn's mind.
The voice was strange—impossible to tell male or female, young or old, carrying no human emotion at all. Hollow, icy, yet possessing an unquestionable authority: "Saint Saturn, report the situation."
Not only could Saint Saturn hear this voice—through the light screen's synchronization, it clearly echoed across God Valley and every island and kingdom covered by the screen!
"W-Who is that voice?!"
"It came from that weird screen!"
"Wait… the one being called 'Saint Saturn'—isn't that one of the Five Elders?!"
"Who dares speak to a Five Elder in that tone?! And directly in his head??"
Countless people began murmuring in shock and suspicion.
In their minds, the Five Elders were the supreme rulers of the world, "gods"!
Yet now, a voice was issuing commands—almost like an order—directly into the mind of one of the Five Elders?!
The implications were terrifying upon closer thought.
In God Valley, all eyes turned toward the Five Elders, especially Saint Saturn himself.
Saint Saturn's face instantly became extremely ugly. He jerked his head up toward the light screen, shock and rage appearing in his eyes for the first time.
This light screen wasn't just replaying scenes—it had even captured and broadcast "that person's" transmission?!
This meant… their greatest secret was about to be exposed.
In the midst of this dead silence, a wild, arrogant laugh rang out.
Rocks crossed his arms, his lips curling into an utterly mocking grin: "Let's see how you hide now… king of the rats in the sewer."
His voice wasn't loud, yet it exploded like thunder in everyone's hearts.
Rocks… knew the owner of that voice?
Looking at the Five Elders' panicked expressions, Rocks's eyes brimmed with undisguised ridicule: "Always lurking in the shadows, manipulating the world, toying with everyone—now let's see where you can hide!"
"Time to… come out and get some sun, huh?"
Rocks's words caused an uproar across the entire scene…
...