Chapter 28: God, Slave and Devil

Slightly north of the island’s center, the battle between monsters grew even fiercer.

"GYAHAHAHA!!"

"Tch…!!"

Slashing attacks and gunfire, infused with overwhelming Haki, tore through the island—yet still failed to bring down the beast before him.

Rocks D. Xebec laughed fearlessly, never relenting in his assault, while Saturn regenerated from each wound and counterattacked. To any observer, their battle would be incomprehensible.

How many fatal blows had it been now? Each time Rocks delivered one, Saturn simply healed and rose again. Grinning wildly, Rocks taunted:

"Don’t know what kinda trick you’re pullin’, but that regeneration’s impressive!! But… it ain’t enough to stop me!! Pathetic!! A Gorosei—I finally thought I’d found a worthy opponent!!"

"…!!"

Saturn’s presence was no longer even human, yet Rocks pressed forward without hesitation. And despite his regeneration, Saturn couldn’t land a decisive blow.

The fight was nearly one-sided.

This was the true strength of the "Demon of the Seas," the "Bane of Gods"—power even the enigmatic Gorosei couldn’t match.

"Just regenerating ain’t gonna entertain me!! GYAHAH!! Still, gotta admit, you’re annoyin’… But I’m startin’ to figure you out…!! And how to kill you…!!"

"…!!? You—don’t tell me—!!"

"GYAHAHAHA!!! Didn’t read the reports? Or were you just careless? Mid-fight or not, all I gotta do is touch you to learn your secrets…!! You underestimated my Haki!!"

"Damn it…!!"

Saturn realized his mistake too late. The strikes to his head mid-battle—Rocks had extracted something from them. Information that should never have been exposed.

"GYAHA… GYAHAHAHA!!! Fascinatin’!! More questions than answers!! The more I learn, the more I wanna know!! This mystery’s too temptin’!! The Gorosei… The Celestial Dragons… The pinnacle of gods…!! This world’s still got mountains of secrets!!"

"Rocks… You bastard…!! (He must be eliminated…!!)"

"My instincts were right!! If I slaughter you all and unravel every mystery—I’ll be the one to rule this world!!!"

Rocks, drunk on the fragments of truth he’d seized, roared with triumph. His ambition burned brighter than ever—killing this monster before him was no mistake.

Meanwhile, Saturn’s dread deepened. Rocks’ threat level had just skyrocketed. He hesitated—how to erase him? Would he need to consult the others? Or would it take all of them striking at once?

Even then, success wasn’t guaranteed. But doing nothing would invite catastrophe.

"…It can’t be helped."

"GYAHAH… Plannin’ somethin’? Then bring it on!! I’ll crush everything in my way…!! I’ll be the reaper you fear!!!"

As Saturn steeled himself, Rocks—reading the shift in the air—prepared to drown them all in annihilation…

When suddenly—

"Hm!?"

"! This presence…"

Two massive auras approached. Rivals to his own.

Rocks grinned. The chaos was about to escalate. God-slaying would have to wait.

"—GYAHAH…!! You’re early, ain’tcha… Roger. And Garp…!!"

"—CAUGHT UP TO YOU, ROCKS~~~!!!"

"—Rocks!!! Your reign ends here…!!!"

The men who arrived were Rocks’ greatest foils—the pirate Gol D. Roger and the marine Monkey D. Garp.

The natural enemies of Rocks and the "gods" like Saturn.

And now, they stood together.

Rocks’ smile stretched wider than ever.

---

If I moved through the air toward the island's center, the ones waiting there were—inexplicably—children.

No, wait. Slaves? Well, if they're slaves, then of course there'd be kids among them. That made sense. But something about them felt familiar… Maybe, just maybe, I actually knew them.

"I don’t know who you are… but hand that over!!"

"!!"

"If you don’t give it up, I’ll have to kill you!!"

The bigger kid flinched and backed away from me, but the darker-skinned one—the one I’d just roundhouse-kicked in the face—shouted at the top of his lungs.

"Eat it!! Kuma!! Don’t think, just do it!!!"

"Kuma… Huh?"

Hearing the larger kid’s words—the one who’d just been called "Iva-chan"—I felt a jolt of recognition. Wait, why are these two here?!

That said, since this was outside the scope of what I knew, I had no choice but to accept it. Hmm, so these two knew each other even back then… Well, well. That’s interesting. Not that it means I’ll go easy on them!

"I don’t really get it, but since we’re here, you’re gonna entertain me!!"

"Eat it and survive, Kuma!! Even if just one of us makes it… that’s OUR victory!!!"

"…!!"

In my field of vision, Kuma brought the fruit in his hand to his mouth—wait, was that the Nikyu Nikyu Fruit? Or something else? I was curious, but since he wouldn’t be able to use its power right away, I decided to swing my spear instead.

"Kids or not, in battle, there’s no distinction!! So I don’t care if you die!!"

"Ugh…!!"

My spear tore through the flesh of Kuma’s shoulder. Hmph. Still weak. Well, what else could you expect from an untrained slave kid who couldn’t even use Haki? After fighting Roger’s crew and Garp’s Marines earlier, this felt especially pathetic.

Honestly, since one of the treasures had already been eaten, I didn’t need to keep fighting them—but I was interested, so I pressed the attack. Whether they lived or died didn’t matter. My enjoyment came first.

"Here comes the follow-up!! Feel free to fight back—huh!?"

"Run… Kuma…!!"

Just as I was about to strike, Ivankov desperately lunged at my leg. Gutsy, but still weak.

"Annoying!! Take this!!"

"Ghk…!!"

"Iva-chan…!!"

I kicked Ivankov square in the face again, sending him flying. Then, hearing Kuma’s worried cry, I unleashed a barrage of UFO fire in his direction.

"Try and counter that!!"

"W-waaahhh!!"

A scream followed. Was I really that terrifying? Rude. I’m considered the weakest girl in the Rocks Pirates.

Well, I guess anyone would panic if a UFO suddenly started blasting at them. Still, as I moved in for the kill—

"The other treasure’s still…!!"

"Ah—hey, hey, HEY!! That’s a no-no!!"

—I spotted other slaves trying to steal the remaining treasure behind me and skidded to a halt. Immediately pivoting, I abandoned my current prey. Fighting familiar faces was fun, but my mission came first!!

"Die!"

"GYAAAAHH!!"

So I just stabbed them clean through with my spear. Unlike with Kuma, this was a direct hit. Drive a spear through someone’s center, and they die. Simple as that. That’s the beauty of spears.

"Survival of the fittest!! If you wanna blame anyone, blame your own weakness!!"

"—Oi, Nue!! Where’s the treasure!? Where’s Roger!?"

"You’re late, Kaido!! Over here!! Look, treasure galore!! Enough that pocketing a little extra won’t even make a dent!"

Just as I finished mercilessly slaughtering a few more slaves, Kaido finally caught up. He was probably held up fighting random stragglers along the way. Why not just plow through them? But then again, this is Kaido. As I casually pocketed some gold and loaded it onto my UFO—

"—Whose treasure do you think you’re touching…?"

"—Whoa!?"

"Gyahah!!"

A voice cut in from behind just as I was gleefully looting. A slash followed, forcing me to block and dodge. The impact rattled me, but I managed to evade. I heard Kaido shout, but I couldn’t afford to look back. Standing before me was some weird-haired swordsman-looking guy.

"Who the hell are you!? Some creepy-haired weirdo!?"

"Filthy scavenger… Hyena. To lay hands on the possessions of gods… You deserve annihilation."

"Guh!"

I didn’t know who he was. But that arrogance… It rang a bell. Not sure, but maybe a Celestial Dragon?

Wait, no—this wasn’t the time for guesses! This guy’s hair was ridiculous, but he was strong!

"Kaido!! We’re teaming up on this one!!"

"Yeah!!"

"—Oh-ho! This one’s lively prey too!"

"!?"

Just as I called for Kaido’s help, another enemy joined the fray. Not pirates, not Marines—some other group. A woman intercepted Kaido, and more enemies kept pouring in.

"Need backup!? Garling!!"

"Unnecessary… Focus on reclaiming the treasure and exterminating the trash!! Gods’ Knights!!"

"Right!"

"Who’re you calling trash!? DIE!!"

"Tch… This one’s no pushover either…!"

The so-called "Gods’ Knights" moved at the command of the man named Garling. Kaido started rampaging, but the fact that they could hold their own against him meant they were no joke.

And the strongest among them? The one in front of me—Garling. Something about him felt familiar, but I didn’t have the luxury of trying to remember!

"『Peaceful Dark Cloud』!!"

"Hmph…!"

First, a distraction—my specialty! I summoned a pitch-black cloud, effective even against the strongest fighters, and followed it up with a barrage of UFO fire.

"! This trash… I recognize you… Could it be…?"

"If you’ve got time to mutter, you’ve got time to die by my hand!!"

I pressed the attack, but Garling kept staring at me, murmuring under his breath. …Wait, does he recognize me too? If he’s a Celestial Dragon, that wouldn’t be surprising… but that just means I’ll have to pay him back in full!

"…No matter. You’re still worth cutting down."

"Guh!? Blocked!?"

I tried skewering him from within the dark cloud, but he effortlessly parried my spear—no, repelled it. The opening backfired, forcing me to defend. I coated myself in Armament Haki just in time to avoid a fatal blow!

"Quit charging in like a dumbass and leaving yourself wide open!!"

"!"

"…! Whitebeard!!"

—But just as Garling’s blade was about to descend, he stepped in front of me, intercepting the strike with his naginata.

Whitebeard.

With a single swing, he forced Garling back, then snapped at me without even turning.

"Didn’t I say to prioritize the treasure!?"

"I was just killing time because you guys were slow!! Besides, I already grabbed most of it, and there’s still—WHOAH!!"

"Over here!! The treasure’s here!! Whitebeard and Nue too!!"

"Show no mercy to pirates!! The Rocks Pirates take top priority—leave the rest for later!!"

Whitebeard’s arrival was soon followed by Roger’s crew, and then Marines under Garp’s command, all launching attacks. Another free-for-all. And this time, those so-called "Gods’ Knights"—the Celestial Dragons’ little martial arts club?—were mixed in too.

"Hand over the treasure!! That’s ours!!"

"Not happenin’!! Captain’s orders!!"

"Stand down, you pirates!!"

"To think so much filth would gather in one place…!!"

The battle raged on without pause.

At this point, who was fighting whom? The lines blurred completely. Allies clashed with enemies, and anyone who stood in the way became a target.

"Worororo!! Now this is gettin’ fun…!! Let’s go, Linlin!!"

"Yeah!! Bring it on!! —WHOA!!"

I dodged an incoming attack and took to the skies. Staying grounded was too risky—with so many powerhouses around, attacks could come from anywhere.

Fighting in this chaos meant exploiting openings, getting creative. Kaido was having the time of his life, and so was I—but if you weren’t strong, survival meant thinking ten steps ahead.

Part of me wanted to watch Captain Rocks’ battle too. Either option sounded fun. So, what to do…?

"—Hm? Wait, is that…"

—And then, I spotted him.

On a separate part of the island, tucked behind jagged rock formations, hiding like a rat—a Celestial Dragon man in garish attire.

"……………………Fufu."

"! Hey, Nue!! Where the hell are you going!?"

"Just found some prey worth hunting!! Be right back!!"

In that instant, my decision was made.

Fight or spectate? Normally, the former. The latter was risky, but not unheard of.

Yet the moment I saw them, something primal itched inside me—

A sadistic urge I hadn’t felt in years.

Grinning uncontrollably, I soared toward my new target.

---

"Tch… Ran away, did he?"

"What the hell was that? Hey, Garp."

"The Five Elders…? No, but that form just now…"

Deep in the valley, slightly removed from the island's center, Rocks, Roger, and Garp stood amidst the aftermath of Saturn's abrupt retreat—a monster who had fled the moment they appeared. Though questions lingered, the air crackled with tension.

"Gyahaha… Well, ain't this a mess. Gotta clean you two up first… But before that—" Rocks tilted his head, grinning. "Tell me… What do you think the world is?"

"—The hell should I know?! DIE!!" Roger roared, already lunging.

"Hold it!! I get the anger, but wait!!" Garp barked, eyes sharp. "What're you driving at?!"

Rocks chuckled at their polar reactions. "Yeah, figured that’d be your answers. I don’t know either… That’s why I set sail. Ain’t that why you did?"

"Wahaha! Damn right!! The sea’s where the romance is!! I sailed to turn the world upside down!!"

"…Wrong," Garp growled. "I just wanted peace. Couldn’t let scum like you run wild."

Rocks’ grin widened. From the depths of the canyon, his voice echoed like a challenge.

"Gyahaha… Doesn’t matter. But ain’t it funny?" His blade scraped against stone as he drew it. "Here we are—three so-called ‘devils’—standing together before one of those ‘gods.’"

"…What?"

"Hah—?"

The word "devil" hung in the air, sharp as a knife. That title—it should’ve belonged to Rocks alone.

"The Will of D." Rocks’ voice dropped, low and knowing. "Who’ll inherit that grand, stupid dream? Me? You two? Or someone else?"

"The hell… are you babbling about?" Roger’s grip tightened on his sword.

"…D. Yeah, it’s my family name," Garp muttered, brow furrowed.

But neither could dismiss it as nonsense. Rocks spoke with the weight of certainty—like he’d brushed against the world’s darkest secret.

"I’ve seen things on my journey. Learned this much—" Rocks raised his blade, the steel catching the dim light. "My ambition… the hunger to rule this world… It’s got roots. Something ancient."

The man who sought to become King of the World, who forged the strongest pirate crew in history—now stood as a living testament to his bloodline’s legacy.

"I’ll uncover it. Crush the World Government. Drag the gods from their throne. And when I do—" His laughter boomed. "Every mystery, every answer… They’ll all be mine."

The sword in his hand wasn’t just a weapon. It was the embodiment of his will—the force that carved fate itself.

"You showing up here… It’s given me my first answer. And finally—" His eyes burned. "A worthy enemy to stand in my way."

"Enough with the cryptic shit!!" Roger spat. "I didn’t come for treasure—I came to break you! To build the greatest pirate crew the world’s ever seen!!"

"…And the other Celestial Dragons?" Garp cut in. "Don’t tell me you’ve already killed them."

Rocks glanced sideways, amused. "Relax. Not yet. Was just about to…" He smirked. "What, you wanna protect that trash?"

"Tch… It’s a Marine’s duty!!" Garp’s fists clenched. "I’ll smash you—and save my men, and every innocent soul you’d trample!"

Though his voice was strained, the resolve in it was unmistakable. Rocks threw his head back and laughed.

"GYAHAHAHA!! That your answer, Monkey D. Garp?!" His gaze snapped to Roger. "Then what about you, Gol D. Roger?! Won’t you join me? Help forge a pirate’s world?!"*

A recruitment—just like old times. Once, Roger had refused. Now, stronger than ever, he stood before Rocks again. And the answer hadn’t changed.

"I’m free!!" Roger’s voice was a thunderclap. "I don’t give a damn about ruling!! I’m here to end you, Rocks!! If I don’t crush you here—my crew, my friends—who knows what’ll happen?! So step down from that throne!!"

"…Yeah. GYHAHAHA!! Figured you’d say that." Rocks’ grin never wavered. "Guess that makes you both my enemies."

"We’ve been enemies, dumbass!!" Roger’s sword flashed.

"If you’re not stopped, more blood’ll spill!!" Garp’s fists radiated Haki. "I’m ending this here, Rocks!!"

The two legends glared at Rocks, their combined will enough to shatter a lesser man.

But Rocks only trembled—with laughter.

At long last… the stage was set.

"──Hey, you two… What if I told you…"

Rocks' voice cut through the tension like a blade, his grin widening as he delivered the absurd line with theatrical flair.

"…that I’d been prophesized to lose to you both here on God Valley?"

"──Hah?"

"──The hell?"

The air, thick with the promise of battle, went slack. Roger and Garp stared at him, dumbfounded, their expressions so perfectly synchronized it was almost comical. Rocks threw his head back and laughed—a deep, rolling sound that shook the canyon walls.

"Yeah, yeah, I know. Some fortune-teller whispered in my ear: ‘You’ll fight those two… and you’ll lose.’ So?" He spread his arms. "Would you believe that shit?"

"The hell kinda nonsense—! I don’t give a damn about prophecies!!" Roger’s sword flared with Conqueror’s Haki, his voice a roar. "I’m here to CRUSH YOU!!"

"If that prophecy’s real, then thank God for the heads-up, Rocks!!" Garp cracked his knuckles, grinning fiercely. "You ready to die today!?"

"GYAHAHA!! Damn right I am." Rocks’ laughter sharpened, his own Haki erupting in a maelstrom of dark energy. "But here’s the thing—I don’t believe in fate. Never have. So I’ll slaughter you both… and rewrite that goddamn script myself!!"

For the first time in his life, Rocks felt alive.

Born with monstrous strength, he’d never known struggle. Never tasted desperation. The world bent to his will—and it had bored him to madness. Even war, even conquest, was just a game of stacking bodies.

Until now.

Gol D. Roger. Monkey D. Garp.

Men who bore the same cursed initial as he. Men who might hold the key to the mystery of "D." Men who’d grown strong enough—just strong enough—to stand before him as equals.

Two against one? Perfect.

Victory would crown him King of the World. No one could stop him after this.

Defeat? Well, that’d mean death. And if there was one thing Rocks understood, it was that pirates who lost had no right to complain.

But prophecies? Fate?

"Future’s not set in stone," he snarled, his blade humming with power. "It branches. Twists. And I decide which path I take!!"

The first real battle of his life—against the only enemies worthy of the title—began with a shockwave that split the sky.

"!!!!"

Sword met fist. Haki collided with Haki. The very island trembled as three Conquerors clashed, their wills etching scars into the earth and heavens alike.

And so, the legend was forged—in a battle that would decide the fate of the world.