To the west of Iron Shield City, artillery fire continued to roar as cannonballs rained down on Shakky, Redfield, and Bra Kara.
"Shakky, you two go ahead! I'll hold off this Navy Admiral!!"
Redfield, now crackling with electricity, unleashed a net of lightning to detonate the incoming shells midair, while the terrifying figure of a Navy giant was rapidly closing the distance.
He hadn't expected that a simple trip with Shakky to earn some extra cash would lead to an encounter with a Navy Admiral—and not just any admiral, but one arriving on a standard rear admiral's warship.
By the time Redfield noticed him, the hulking Admiral had already smashed into him and knocked him flying in an instant—rescuing three captured prisoners in the process.
If the Admiral hadn't chosen to save them first and had attacked directly instead, both Shakky and Bra Kara might've been gravely injured or captured right then and there!
Shakky didn't waste words. Knowing she'd be a burden in this battle, she grabbed Bra Kara and bolted, calling for Brook and the others to send reinforcements immediately.
"No pirate of the Hell Pirates will escape my Steel Fist of Justice!!"
Admiral Kong was rapidly advancing through the air using Geppo (Moonwalk), each step bursting through the air with sonic booms, propelling him forward at blinding speed.
Redfield watched the approaching admiral, noting how the man's muscle-covered body shimmered like polished steel—like a walking weapon.
Steel Fist of Justice...
Kong, a powerhouse of raw physical combat, swung his fist midair. The sheer pressure from it split the atmosphere itself, sending out a devastating shockwave that came crashing toward Redfield.
Eyes bloodshot, Redfield didn't even dare take this one head-on. The terrifying Armament Haki infused in Kong's attack made his instincts scream. Without a second thought, he turned into lightning and flashed away, narrowly dodging the blow.
He was still too green to take this monster head-on. Maybe in another ten or twenty years…
BOOM!
The ground exploded as Kong's punch landed, blowing open a crater hundreds of meters wide. The shockwaves triggered a small earthquake, collapsing buildings in its wake.
"Hmph… the Thunder Fruit really is fast. No wonder it's called the fastest Devil Fruit alongside the Light Fruit!"
Kong locked onto Redfield and resumed the chase, eyes catching the floating Golden Island above. If they could capture the Hell Pirates and seize that sky island, the Navy would have funding for decades!
Assuming the World Nobles—the Celestial Dragons—didn't snatch it for themselves first…
---
Meanwhile, Brook was still trying to figure out why an Admiral had suddenly shown up. There hadn't been any Den Den Mushi spies signaling their location.
No time to think about it now—he had to get to Shakky and the others fast. A head-on clash with an admiral might even be worth it, just to show the Hell Pirates what kind of monsters stood at the top of the world.
Charlotte Linlin flew through the sky with Brook at top speed, followed closely by Golden Lion Shiki and Whitebeard Newgate. Thankfully, the island wasn't large, and they quickly linked up with Shakky and the others.
Turns out Shakky and Bra Kara had only been blown back by the shockwave when Kong rescued Viscount Nass—luckily, no serious injuries.
"Captain Brook! It's Admiral Kong! Hurry, we need to get Redfield out of there!!"
Shakky knew Redfield was outmatched. The Hell Pirates were still a rising force—one forcibly catapulted into the spotlight by the World Government's fear and paranoia.
"Got it. You and Stussy take the others back to Golden Island. Tell Tom to prep the Erebus and stay on standby to extract us!"
Brook wasn't sure how many forces the Navy had deployed. If a second admiral showed up, they'd have to retreat. Right now, they could only handle one.
They just needed time—more time for the Hell Pirates to grow into true monsters of the sea.
"Understood!"
As a seasoned sailor, Shakky didn't argue. She grabbed Stussy and leapt onto Zeus the thundercloud, racing back toward the island.
Once she reunited with Shiki and Newgate, they exchanged quick glances and then split off. They found Fishman Tom and the others, brought new members Kaido and the little mermaid onboard the golden airship Erebus, and returned everyone to the Golden Island.
The Erebus was equipped with a lightning storage engine and a stockpile of Thunder Fruit energy. Even without Redfield actively charging it, the ship could operate for a long time.
The Golden Island itself could only stay airborne thanks to Golden Lion Shiki, but after Vegapunk's modifications, there might be other ways to control its flight.
Sniper Hiruba and scientist Vegapunk were already adjusting the advanced artillery mounted on Golden Island, preparing to fire devastating blasts at the Navy below.
After delivering Kaido and the mermaid, Fishman Tom led a crew back aboard the Erebus, heading full-speed to the battle site. Never underestimate the firepower of the Erebus—it was every bit as deadly as Golden Island.
---
Redfield, meanwhile, was stuck on the defensive under Kong's relentless assault, dodging every attack in frustration.
"Kong!! For the humiliation you've brought me today… I'll defeat you one day with my own hands!!"
He'd never been hunted like this before—completely outmatched, not even able to fight back. Not even when he fought David Kyons had he felt this humiliated.
"Hmph! Little punk, you're done for. I'm dragging you back to Impel Down personally!"
Kong's patience was wearing thin from chasing the elusive lightning-user. He hated fighting fruit users like this. Real men fought head-on!
With a massive blow, Kong disrupted Redfield's lightning form, forcing him to reappear in the distance, blood leaking from the corner of his mouth.
The sheer force of Kong's Haki-infused aura had injured him from afar. He could feel the power of true Armament mastery.
"Heh… You're not getting away, brat!!"
Kong launched forward again—only to be forced back by a fierce slash, followed by fire and lightning attacks from multiple directions.
"So… the rest of the Hell Pirates are finally here? Good! That just makes it easier. I'll take all of you in at once!!"
Kong finally started treating the battle seriously. Those earlier attacks were just warmups—none of them could crack his steel-like defenses.
"Admiral Kong…"
Brook narrowed his eyes at the terrifying figure, muscles like forged iron, radiating dominance with every step.
Golden Lion Shiki and Whitebeard Newgate joined him shortly after—and just like that, another major battle had begun. The entire elite force of the Hell Pirates was on the move.
Devil Fruit powers clashed violently in the sky, and a terrifying pressure descended over the battlefield. Civilians screamed and began fleeing in panic as chaos erupted…
---------------
Admiral Kong stood alone against the five mighty pirates of the Hell Pirates, showing not even the slightest trace of fear. Brook's Underworld energy, Newgate's shockwaves, Shiki's stone lions, and Charlotte Linlin's thunder and fire...
Redfield also returned to the battlefield swiftly, his body crackling with lightning as he joined his companions. It was clear—they intended to give this overconfident admiral a brutal lesson.
"Admiral Kong, I'm here to help!!"
Another marine wearing the cloak of justice came charging in, afro bouncing, radiating golden light as he transformed into a towering Golden Buddha. He landed steadily beside Admiral Kong.
"Haha! Sengoku, you're full of ambition. No matter what pirates you face, you stay fearless. If you help take down the Hell Pirates, I'll personally recommend you for a promotion to Vice Admiral!"
Kong had always been optimistic about the current up-and-coming trio—Sengoku, Garp, and Tsuru. Each had their own strengths and distinct qualities. Garp was his favorite, a man after his own heart—relying solely on raw physical prowess.
Garp's strength was skyrocketing, but he'd become too headstrong lately, chasing Roger's crew all the way into the New World. He wasn't following orders properly anymore.
Though Garp had once been Kong's top pick, Sengoku had now racked up far more military achievements. At this rate, Sengoku's promotion would soon outpace Garp's.
Sengoku and Tsuru, both top officers of the new generation, had eaten Devil Fruits. Yet Kong still admired them both. Their minds were sharp—sharper than Garp's. Even Kong had to admit, the wisdom of Sengoku and Tsuru was something to respect.
In today's Navy, rank promotion wasn't based solely on strength anymore. But a powerful officer would naturally gain military merit quickly—unless they pissed off a superior, ignored orders, or just slacked off.
"Thank you for your praise, Admiral Kong. As marines, it's our duty to bring justice to pirates!"
Sengoku, already considered the leader of the new generation, was no weaker than the current elite vice admirals. With enough military merit, his promotion would be immediate. He never believed himself inferior to monsters like Golden Lion Shiki or Whitebeard Newgate.
After all, he was one of the rare few in the Navy who had awakened Conqueror's Haki. His belief was absolute—the Navy must dominate the seas and become the true master of the world. He'd never allow pirates to ravage the oceans and disrupt peaceful lives!
"Hahaha~, even the Navy has Conqueror's Haki, huh? Hey, golden Buddha boy, why don't you ditch the Marines and join us? With your majestic Buddha form and that Haki, you'd fit right in with the Hell Pirates!"
Shiki the Golden Lion grinned, clearly impressed by Sengoku's golden transformation. This kind of grandeur fit the Hell Pirates' aesthetic perfectly.
"The Navy only pays a few hundred thousand berries a month. Why slave away for that? Join us and conquer the New World!"
"You bastard pirates! I, Sengoku, am a sworn enemy of all pirates! I'll suppress every last one of you today!"
Sengoku's voice boomed with conviction. The golden Buddha grew even larger—over ten meters tall now—its divine presence radiating power. Sacred and unshakable, it loomed like a god of judgment.
"Damn! He's huge!"
Even Shiki and the others had to admit—this Rear Admiral wasn't weak. His power was dangerously close to theirs, though none of them knew just how far his Haki had developed.
"Leave this guy to me. I'll handle him fast!"
Whitebeard Newgate stepped forward, eyes locked on Sengoku. The golden Buddha form made it obvious—this was a tank. And Newgate's Tremor-Tremor Fruit was made to shatter tanks like this. He needed to finish this fight quickly and go help Brook and the others deal with the admirals.
No one objected to Newgate's decision. Shiki, especially, believed the strong should clash with the strong. He'd been itching to test himself against these high-level marines.
"Hah~, Sengoku kid, you alright? Beat that big guy, and the Vice Admiral rank is yours!"
Admiral Kong's tone was serious. Whitebeard had an 800 million berry bounty. Most elite Vice Admirals wouldn't dare face him one-on-one.
Although Sengoku's strength was said to rival elite Vice Admirals, he still had to prove himself. This was his shot. If he could defeat Whitebeard, he'd cement his place at the top.
"Don't worry, Admiral Kong. I'll take him down—even if it costs me my life!"
Rear Admiral Sengoku's gaze locked onto Newgate. He might've been slightly behind Garp in terms of pure physical strength, but the mythical Zoan-type Buddha fruit closed the gap.
Newgate stared at the giant golden Buddha before him. He could feel it—this was no ordinary opponent. Somehow, their fates felt intertwined. Like they'd be fighting for a long time to come.
Luckily, Newgate himself was a towering giant of a man. So in terms of raw size, he wasn't far off from the golden Buddha. He gathered his signature quake energy in his hand and launched the first attack with a powerful punch!
The golden Buddha wasn't backing down. A massive shockwave exploded from his palm, colliding with Newgate's quake punch. The clash shook the island.
Blow after blow, the two titans began separating from the rest, carving out their own battlefield. Every clash rocked the earth beneath them.
Civilians across the island were fleeing toward the sea in a panic. Count Iron Shield immediately evacuated his hometown along with the rescued Viscount Nass, heading toward the island that housed the capital. Their clan still held influence there.
Two wealthy merchants also tried to flee with Viscount Nass, abandoning their wealth and cargo. But the furious Viscount, filled with rage, turned on them mid-escape and killed them.
They were saved by the Navy… only to die at the hands of the man they tried to help.
Watching Sengoku and Newgate clash in the distance, Brook wasn't too worried. Right now, Newgate and the others were even stronger than they were at the same point in the original timeline. They'd all learned how to use Armament Haki (Ryuo) proficiently.
In pure strength, Newgate likely had the edge over Sengoku. After all, even the wounded Shiki—rudder lodged in his head—took both Garp and Sengoku working together to defeat. In a true one-on-one? Neither side could take the other down easily.
Brook's real concern now was Kong.
He wanted to get a good read on the admiral's strength, then find the right moment to retreat. Taking down a Admiral-level marine wasn't easy—especially not one like Kong, whose pure physical stats made him a tank with ridiculous HP and defense.
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