On the island, the pirates' assault was closing in on the center, while the Marines scrambled to respond.
"Report! The Rocks Pirates are approaching from the southeast!"
"The Roger Pirates are attacking from the northwest!"
"We're being pincered!"
Before the words faded—
BOOM——!!!
"It's Roger!!" a Marine Vice Admiral roared. "Hold this position at all costs! The treasure hasn't been moved yet!"
But another dire report came from the opposite side:
"Bad news! The Rocks Pirates are breaking through from the other flank!"
At the end of the southeastern street, Silver Axe charged at the forefront, hefting his massive axe.
Behind him, John deployed his Mechanical Arm, capable of firing cannonballs, launching grappling hooks, and even discharging electric currents.
Further back surged the overwhelming numbers of the Rocks Pirates crew.
Silver Axe cleaved through obstructing barriers with his axe, bellowing:
"I'll be the first to rescue Shakky!"
"Kekehaha! Dream on!" Golden Lion Shiki descended from the sky, brandishing twin swords:
"Shakky is mine! Silver Axe, what are you doing? Let go of me!"
John refused to be outdone: "Shakky, we're here to save you!"
Before even locating Shakky, the three Officers had already turned on each other.
Simultaneously, Sommers—a member of the God's Knights—arrived before a building in the town.
Noticing the Marines guarding the location, he frowned slightly:
"You should have already moved Shakky from here, correct?"
The responsible Marine stammered:
"Lord Sommers! Well... Shakky, she..."
"What about her?" Sensing something amiss, Sommers shoved the Marine aside and barged into the room where Shakky was held.
Then he froze.
Inside, Marine soldiers lay scattered across the floor, all unconscious.
"What kind of joke is this..." Sommers' face darkened. "You were all taken down by a woman in shackles?"
Shakky turned to face Sommers, her expression devoid of fear, replaced by a calm that bordered on provocation:
"Sounds like the pirates are causing quite a ruckus, isn't that right?"
Sommers stepped closer, the fury in his eyes intensifying:
"A woman who knows her own worth—that's not very endearing."
Channeling all his rage onto Shakky, he suddenly raised his hand—
SMACK——!!!
A sharp, resounding slap!
Shakky staggered from the blow, nearly falling.
But she quickly regained her footing, spinning around to deliver a swift, powerful kick aimed at Sommers' head!
The kick was fast and vicious—enough to send an ordinary person flying.
But Sommers was a God's Knights member; he easily caught Shakky's ankle, preventing her from breaking free.
"An attack of this level..." Sommers sneered, "is still far too inadequate."
Shakky gasped in surprise, trying to pull her leg back, but her opponent's strength was overwhelming.
At that moment, an Iron Thorn Mace materialized in Sommers' other hand.
He swung it down brutally!
THUD——!!!
The mace struck Shakky's calf, the iron spikes sinking deep into flesh!
"Argh—!!" Shakky finally cried out in pain, unable to suppress it.
Sommers released his grip, and Shakky collapsed to the floor.
"That's right, pirates are swarming to capture you and bring you back."
Sommers crouched down, lifting Shakky's chin with his spiked club: "You're really quite popular."
"They've turned the competition into a complete mess. Even if you survive, you'll ultimately belong to Saint Garling."
"So I'll just kill you now."
Sommers raised his spiked club, aiming it at Shakky's head:
"The pirates traveled thousands of miles to rescue you, but all they'll find is the cold corpse of their beloved."
He grinned, revealing a twisted smile:
"I really want to see what expressions they'll make."
A nearby Marine urgently advised against it:
"Saint Sommers! If you do this, Saint Garling will never let it go!"
"Shut up!" Sommers didn't even turn his head:
"As long as you don't say anything, this will just look like an accident."
"Hit by a stray bullet, or crushed by collapsing buildings - simple."
He hesitated no longer, bringing the spiked club down hard!
But in that instant—
Sommers suddenly sensed a bone-chilling killing intent from behind him that made all his hairs stand on end!
He wanted to turn around, but it was already too late.
A figure appeared behind him like a ghost.
Silver hair, glasses, calm eyes like still water.
Silvers Rayleigh.
"I'll send you to the underworld."
"Higan Blade Scythe—!"
His sword left its sheath.
Crackle crackle—
The blade erupted with dark red Conqueror's Haki Lightning.
Then, a crimson blade light swiftly swept across Sommers' back.
Squelch! Whoosh—
Sommers' body turned to dust under this single slash.
Rayleigh sheathed his sword and walked over to Shakky.
Shakky sat on the ground, holding her injured leg, staring blankly at this man who had suddenly appeared.
Tears uncontrollably welled up in her eyes.
Rayleigh took out a carefully folded piece of paper from his chest pocket and opened it.
There were only three words:
"Come get me."
Rayleigh reached out his hand, his voice trembling for the first time:
"I came to get you... Shakky."
Shakky's tears completely overflowed.
She threw herself into Rayleigh's arms and cried loudly.
All the grievances, fear, despair, and pain of this past year erupted at this moment.
"Mr. Rayleigh... you're too slow..."
Her voice choked with sobs, her fists weakly pounding Rayleigh's chest.
Rayleigh held her tightly, this usually calm and wise "Dark King" now also had reddened eyes:
"Forgive me... for making you go through this."
"I was so scared..." Shakky sobbed, "...so scared every day... afraid I'd never see any of you again..."
"I'll never let anything happen to you again." Rayleigh's voice was firm as steel, "I swear."
Outside the door, Roger and Gaban were peeking through the doorframe.
When they saw the two embracing inside, the two big men cried uncontrollably, tears and snot flowing together.
"Wahhh... so touching..." Roger wiped his tears with his sleeve.
"Save it for later, you bastard!" Gaban scolded while crying, "This isn't the time to be moved!"
Roger snapped back to reality, wiped his tears, and shouted outside:
"Everyone! We've got Shakky back! Let's take the treasure and get out of this damn place!"
Thunderous cheers came from the Roger Pirates outside.
But the cheers were soon drowned out by more explosions and battle cries.
At the base of the canyon's cliff, hidden within the entrance of a cave.
A Celestial Dragon lay stiffly on the ground—the very one Dragon had shot down with his gun.
Just then, the air rippled slightly, and Raiver's figure appeared abruptly beside him.
Raiver lowered his head, gazing at the Celestial Dragon who had been knocked unconscious by a tranquilizer dart.
Without a word, he simply raised the Black Dragon Blade, aiming it at the Celestial Dragon's legs.
"No sleeping here."
The blade descended.
"Get up!"
"Swish—"
"Ugh, aaaaaah—!!!"
Pain beyond the threshold violently yanked the Celestial Dragon from his deep slumber.