Chapter 19: Roger Pirates vs Rocks Pirates

The Decisive Moment of Confrontation

The clash had barely ended when the Rocks Pirates erupted into chaos.

“D-did they just—?!”

“Roger’s crew’s lost it!! Challenging the Captain?! They’ve got a death wish!!”

“Even Whitebeard got knocked back!! Is he dead?!”

“The hell you say!! If that could kill me, I’d be long gone!! Move it!!”

At Rocks’ order, the pirates charged after the fleeing Roger Pirates. The air shifted instantly into battle mode—but something felt off.

Rocks—the man who crushed every foe without a scratch—had been sent flying.

He didn’t seem shaken. But the crew?

Their confidence had cracked. Usually, they charged with cocky grins, playing with their prey. But now? Most looked tense.

Hesitating.

And that hesitation was all Roger’s crew needed.

They sprinted straight for the shore.

The Rocks Pirates weren’t an army. No ranks. No structure. Just monsters fighting how they liked. That’s what made them so dangerous.

But some still took command when needed.

Like the man pushing himself up from the dirt—

“Guh... Hey!! Half of you—cut 'em off at the ships!!”

“Tch! Didn’t need you to say it!! Don’t bark orders at us!!”

“Shut it!! Just move!! You wanna tell the Captain they got away?!”

“R-right!!”

Whitebeard’s shout snapped them into action. Pirates who’d been chasing blindly now broke off, rushing to flank the retreating enemies.

Whitebeard didn’t follow.

He stared at Roger’s crew, grim.

“Picking a fight like this... with him... You’re even crazier than the rumors said, Roger.”

Even caught off guard, he hadn’t expected this.

But deep down, under the anger—under the sting of humiliation—

He felt something else.

Excitement.

Someone had finally stood up to the monster above them all... and won.

But that thrill only fueled the fire in his chest.

"You think you can just... walk away after this...?!"

Not a chance.

Not even for him.

“—Hmph!!”

He slammed his naginata into the ground, then pulled the air itself apart.

The island rumbled.

“W-what the—?!”

“The ground’s tilting!! It’s Whitebeard!!”

“Damn it!! That bastard’s dragging us down too!!”

The earth heaved like a ship in a storm, tremors rippling in every direction.

And through it all, Whitebeard roared—

“Try runnin’ now!! We ain’t some crew you can just walk away from!!”

A threat. A challenge.

Maybe something more.

For the first time, Whitebeard felt an emotion he couldn’t name.

“Whoa—?! The ground—!!”

“Tch!! Whitebeard’s power...?!”

“No time to stare!! MOVE!!”

“R-right!!”

The Roger Pirates tore through the dense brush, heading for the shore.

They were strong—top of the New World—but they were still outnumbered.

The main force of the Rocks Pirates alone was a thousand strong. That didn’t even count their allied fleets.

They had to escape.

Because if they didn’t, Roger wouldn’t either.

So the senior members fought harder. Cut down anyone in their way. And kept looking back.

At him.

“—Go on ahead!! I’ll hold 'em off!!”

“Wha—?! Captain!!”

“Don’t argue!! Just move!! We’ll back up Roger!!”

Gaban’s voice snapped them out of it. He and the others turned to cover their backs.

But then—

Laughter rang out.

“Jihahaha!! Think you can run?! Idiots!!”

“Not a chance!! Hah-hah-MAMA-MAMA-MAMA!!”

"! Those two—!!"

The chase wasn’t just on land.

Shiki. Linlin.

Flying high, closing in.

Both Devil Fruit users.

Both deadly.

Their weapons gleamed as they raised them overhead—

“—Lion’s Thousand Ravines!!”

“—Ikoku Sovereignty!!”

Blades. Shockwaves. Enough power to split a ship.

But both attacks—

Stopped.

Someone had jumped into their path.

“—Your fight’s...!!”

“Wha—?!”

“Impossible!!”

Roger’s cutlass, coated in Haki, met both attacks in midair.

“—WITH ME!!!!”

“Guh—?!”

“Tch!!”

Both titans were knocked back.

He stood between them and his crew.

Only one person had expected that.

“Damn it... What is this power...?!”

“Mama-mama...!! You’ve got guts!! I’ll take that fire for myself!!”

But before they could counter—

A voice.

“—Shiki!! Linlin!! Chase the others!! Leave Roger to me!!”

“!! Captain...!”

“Tch...! Fine...!”

Rocks’ voice.

He stood there, blade on his shoulder. Calm.

That voice alone made even Shiki and Linlin obey.

To disobey? Meant death.

And for the Roger Pirates?

The same truth held.

No one could stop Rocks.

No one—

Except the man stepping up to face him.

“—Stay back, Rocks!!”

“Gihahaha!! Make me, Roger!!”

This time, there was no holding back.

Rocks’ blade turned pitch black with Armament Haki. Conqueror’s Haki exploded from his body.

Roger didn’t flinch. His own Haki surged to meet it.

Their swords didn’t touch—

Yet the sky cracked.

“!!!”

A clash of kings.

Will against will. Power against power.

Shockwaves ripped through the air, born from Haki alone.

And everything shook.

"RAAAAAAAAAAAH!!!"

"GEHAHAHAHA!!!"

——At first glance, their clash seemed evenly matched.

But in truth...

Rocks held the advantage.

Against Roger’s full-power strike, Rocks pushed back with a grin still plastered on his face—effortlessly. When Roger was finally sent flying, landing hard and gasping for breath, the difference between them became undeniable. Rocks hadn’t taken a single step back. His breathing hadn’t even faltered.

"What’s wrong, Roger?! Is that all you’ve got?! If so... you’re even more disappointing than I thought!!!"

"Tch...!! Shut your mouth, Rocks!!! I ain’t losin’!!! I’ll take you down right here!!!"

"GEHAHAHAHAHA!! Still talkin’ big even after feelin’ the gap between us?! At least you’ve got spirit!!! But you know... that ain’t enough to sail these seas...!! You’re too damn early, Roger...!!! GEHAHAHA...!!!"

"You don’t know ‘til you try!!! That’s why I set sail!!! A fight where the winner’s decided from the start is boring!!! Ain’t that what you think too, Rocks?! Don’t go actin’ like you’ve already won... when this fight’s just started!!!"

"! —GEHAHAHA...!! You cocky little...!! Tryin’ to lecture me about bein’ a pirate...?! Fine then—show me!! Show me this defeat you claim I’ve never known...!!!"

Their wills collided. Their ambitions clashed.

A pirate who sought freedom—Gol D. Roger.

A pirate who sought dominion—Rocks D. Xebec.

Their battle... had only just begun.

---

The shockwaves of their Conqueror’s Haki rippled across the entire island, birthing a storm beyond imagination.

And of course—

It reached even us in the sky.

"Tch...!! Look, Kaido!! The whole island’s shakin’!! This fight’s insane!!"

"WORORORO!!! Yeah, it’s wild!! I can’t stop tremblin’!! To think we get to be part of a war like this!!!"

In his dragon form, Kaido soared beside me as we surveyed the chaos below. Whitebeard’s tremors rocked the land, but even that was dwarfed by the sheer destruction of Rocks and Roger’s duel.

It was like hell itself had descended.

The island quaked. Trees were uprooted. Waves turned violent. Winds howled. Lightning split the sky. The earth burned.

This was a battle beyond reason—one only possible with the overwhelming might of the Rocks Pirates.

And yet...

Even for us, a fight like this was rare.

Just as Kaido said—I couldn’t stop shaking.

It was hilarious.

Absurd.

That ordinary humans could wield such power, could clash like this—no story, no fantasy, could ever compare.

"Ahahahaha...!! Oh, there they are, Kaido!! The Roger Pirates!!"

"Ooh...!! Then let’s go, Nue!! We’re crushin’ ‘em!!!"

"Yeaaah!! Crush ‘em~!!"

Kaido couldn’t hold back any longer—he descended toward the Roger Pirates like a meteor.

I followed, raising my arms triumphantly as we charged.

I knew these faces. I’d spent months alongside them. I knew their strength.

Against foes like them, Kaido and I stood no chance in a straight fight.

But that’s exactly why it’s fun.

Especially for me.

Because I knew how strong they were—I knew how exhilarating this would be.

So as the Roger Pirates neared their ship, Kaido and I struck.

Like a suicide squad? Maybe.

But for now, this was our role—speed and chaos.

We’d hit first, hit hard, and savor the fight while our enemies were still fresh.

"Red, Blue, Green!! And~~~ Rainbow!!"

I summoned my four colored UFOs, launching a surprise assault from above. Kaido joined in—breathing fire, lightning, and ice in his dragon form.

"—Caught up to ya!!"

"—WORORORO!!! You ain’t gettin’ away!!"

"!! Nue!! And—that’s Kaido?!"

"! What the... a dragon?!"

Our voices rang out as we attacked. Even Gaban and Rayleigh noticed—but most were too stunned by Kaido’s transformation to focus on me.

Fair enough.

A dragon Zoan was rare enough—but one this massive?

Dozens of meters long, dwarfing even the largest Beast Forms.

And this was still Kaido growing.

He’d only get bigger.

Stronger.

A true monster.

...I’d have to keep up.

But for now—

We had a fight to win.

"Surprised?! Kaido’s a dragon!! And me? A total mystery!! So listen up, everyone!! We’re your opponents first!!"

"WORORORO!! My sister here owes ya one!! So I’mma pay ya back hard!!!"

"! Sorry, but we don’t got time for rookies like you, Nue!!"

"True. It’d help if you backed off now... but I doubt you will."

Gaban and Rayleigh kept running, dismissing us.

No time for you.

Just walk away.

As if.

"You’re fightin’ us whether you like it or not!! Go!! My UFOs!!"

"WORORORO!! DIE ALREADY!!!"

Kaido’s attacks rained down as my UFOs opened fire—flames, lasers, and specialized rounds. The rainbow UFO unleashed them all, homing in automatically.

But I didn’t stop there.

I dove in close.

Ranged attacks were fun, but this?

This was where the real thrill was.

——Or it would’ve been...

"!!"

"Take this!!"

"Guh—OOF...!!?"

"Ugh...!!?"

Kaido and I were swatted from the sky like flies.

Rayleigh’s sword sent Kaido crashing down.

Gaban’s axe left me writhing in the dirt.

...Yeah.

Still outmatched.

I knew their strength. I hadn’t expected to win.

But still—damn.

Kaido’s size made him an easy target.

Yet...

We stood.

"Tch... Not... done yet...!!"

"Hahh... Haa... A half-assed hit like that won’t keep us down...!!"

"...! I knew you were tough, Nue... but still standin’?"

"That Kaido kid’s just as stubborn...!! But we told ya—we ain’t got time!! Later, brats!!"

"Tch... Don’t... run...!!"

"We ain’t... lettin’ ya...!!"

Battered but unbroken, we staggered after the fleeing Roger Pirates.

Rayleigh and Gaban had already written us off.

Like hell.

We weren’t nearly done.

I raised my trident. My UFOs had been shot down—no surprise. Their durability wasn’t there yet, especially against Haki users.

Kaido hefted his club, charging alongside me.

But we wouldn’t last much longer.

Rayleigh was monstrous—on par with our top fighters.

Gaban was no slouch either.

I focused—Observation and Armament Haki flaring—ready to counter—

"!!!"

"Ack...!!!"

——It was useless.

A single strike.

And just like that—

Everything went black.

---

"…Looks like we might just make it to the ship!"

"Yeah…! Damn, those two are ridiculously tough for no good reason… I ended up hitting them for real at the end there."

"I pulled my punches, but they still looked ready to get back up… Regardless, that should keep them down for a while. More importantly, we need to think about what comes next…!"

At the rear of the fleeing Roger Pirates, Rayleigh and Gaban finally caught sight of their ship and allowed themselves a brief moment to breathe. Though their pursuers hadn’t let up, Roger’s efforts to hold them off had bought just enough time to get the ship ready to sail.

But setting sail didn’t guarantee escape. The enemy would undoubtedly give chase, and with their numerical disadvantage—not to mention the enemy’s Devil Fruit users—a naval battle would be risky at best.

And above all else—they still had to retrieve Roger.

Ideally, Roger would defeat Rocks and return on his own, but even Rayleigh and Gaban, who had absolute faith in their captain, couldn’t be certain of that outcome. In fact, they were bracing for the worst.

Which was why Rayleigh, as vice-captain, turned to Gaban—one of their most experienced crewmates—and gave his orders.

"—Gaban. Take the crew and set sail first."

"!! —Rayleigh! You’re planning to stay behind too?!"

"Yeah. It’s the only way… I’ll assess the situation and bring Roger back…!"

Rayleigh stopped in his tracks, leaving Gaban no choice but to accept—though he didn’t even have time to argue before another attack came hurtling from the forest.

"You’re not getting away~~~!! Ha~hahaha MAMA-MAMA-MAMA!!!"

"Tch… I really wanted to crush that bastard, but fine. I’ll settle for his crew…!!"

It was Big Mom and Golden Lion—the two Rocks Pirates officers Roger had knocked out of the sky earlier. Now, they were back, flying in pursuit.

With no time to debate, Rayleigh slashed at Shiki while intercepting Linlin, shouting over his shoulder—

"Go! I can’t hold them for long!"

"Guh…!! Damn it!! Fine!"

Gaban clenched his teeth but knew the truth—keeping two flying powerhouses at bay was impossible. If they didn’t act fast, the enemy would overtake the ship. With a frustrated growl, he bolted toward the vessel.

Meanwhile, Rayleigh locked blades with Linlin—

"Mmm~~~? You’re Rayleigh, right?! Hahaha, MAMA-MAMA…! Move aside!! Or I’ll kill you!!!"

"Sorry, but I can’t do that…! You’re stuck with me for a while…!"

"Hah?! You think you can stop me?!"

"I already am…! You’re not as strong as the rumors said, little girl…!"

"Tch…!! Oh yeah?! Then let’s test that!!!"

Provoked, Linlin clashed with Rayleigh in a furious duel. Watching from above, Shiki scowled.

"Oi, Linlin! Don’t fall for cheap taunts!! We’ve got bigger fish to fry!!"

"Don’t you DARE order me around, Golden Lion!!! Next time you try that, I’ll kill you first!!!"

"Guh… Damn it…! Fine, whatever!! I don’t need your help anyway!! Crushing these weaklings is child’s play for me…!!"

With that, Shiki activated his Float-Float Fruit powers, levitating a massive boulder before reshaping it into the form of a roaring lion—

"Lion’s Roar — Great Stone Vortex!!!"

"!!?"

—And hurled it straight at the Roger Pirates’ ship.

The crew paled. If that hit, their escape would be over before it began.

"Jihahahaha!! No ship means no escape, right?!"

"Tch… Yeah, well… Don’t get cocky, bastard!!"

"!!"

At the last second, Gaban leaped up, splitting the stone lion clean in half with his twin axes.

The shattered rocks crashed to the ground, and as Gaban landed back on the ship, Shiki’s surprise twisted into a grin.

"Jihahaha!! Scopper Gaban…! Not bad at all!! How about it? Wanna join my crew instead?"

"Pass!! I’ve already sworn to follow one reckless idiot as captain!! Get lost, Golden Lion!"

"Jihaha, too bad!! Then I’ll just have to kill you like your captain…!!!"

With that, Shiki resumed his aerial assault. Gaban and a few others stood ready, weapons raised, tracking his movements from below.

—But then, one of the crewmen shouted in alarm, staring out to sea—

"—Oi, we’ve got a problem…!!"

"! What now?!"

The panicked cry reached even Shiki, who, from his vantage point in the sky, spotted it first.

"Tch!!? Is that—the Marines?!"

"…!! Perfect…! Oi, get the ship moving!! We’ll use them as a distraction and make our escape!"

Gaban grinned as he spotted the Marine warships flying the World Government’s flag.

To the Roger Pirates, the Marines were enemies—but right now, they were also the perfect chaos to exploit.

---

The New World

In the waters near a certain island, a Marine scout spotted them and immediately shouted to his superior.

"—Vice Admiral Garp!! We've found them!! It's Roger and Rocks, just as we suspected!! They've already engaged in combat!!"

"Tch, we're a step behind...!! Alright, men, battle stations!! We'll contain them, thin their numbers, and capture 'em all!!"

"Yes, sir!!"

The Marines moved with precision, preparing for battle under their leader's command. That leader was none other than Monkey D. Garp, the Marine Vice Admiral known as "Garp the Fist."

Cracking his knuckles, Garp fixed his determined gaze on the distant island where Roger and Rocks' ships lay.

"Just you wait, Roger...!! And especially you, Rocks...!! I've punched through mountains just to get my hands on you two...!! Time to show you the fruits of my labor...!!"

---

Minutes later, word of the Marines' arrival reached the heart of the island.

"Captain!! It’s a Marine fleet!! And Garp’s leading them!!!"

"! Gehaha... Well, ain't today just full of surprises? Feels like a damn festival...!!"

"Wh-what do we do?!"

"No need to panic. Gehaha... I could take 'em on... but no point wastin' manpower. Let’s make ourselves scarce."

"Understood!! Right away, sir!!"

As the subordinate hurried off from the now half-destroyed battlefield, Rocks wiped the blood from his face and glanced down at his slightly tattered clothes.

Then, he turned to the man lying motionless before him.

"—So... what about you, huh? Yeah, you, Roger...?"

No response.

Rocks smirked as he sheathed his sword, taking in the sight of the devastation he'd wrought.

"—Well... guess you can't hear me anymore, can ya...!!! GEHAHAHAHAHA!!!"

"............"

—Because there, sprawled on his back, eyes rolled white and drenched in blood...

Was Gol D. Roger.

Unconscious.