Chapter 204: Chapter 204: The War
A triangle of powers is the most stable, each titan wary of the others. But now, with the New World settling into a fleeting calm, cracks are forming in the Overlord Alliance.
The alliance is a mess. While the Rocks Pirates lick their wounds and regroup, the Vesper Pirates, led by the mightiest of the bunch, have seized Dawei’s stronghold on Puso Island.
Vesper, that cunning old fox, is flexing his muscle—hoarding talent and resources to stifle his allies’ growth. Even Saracha and Wilank aren’t spared his schemes!
The Vesper Pirates have absorbed the Sea Siren Pirates’ networks and trade routes, and with Vesper’s knack for management—and his status as the richest man in the pirate world—he’s running circles around the others. Saracha and Wilank are bleeding funds, outmaneuvered at every turn. Open rivalries and shadowy plots are souring the alliance.
Vesper seems hell-bent on turning the other crews into his vassals. Brook can’t help but wonder: Has Vesper gotten too cocky? Lost his edge with age? Or is he rushing to secure a legacy for his son and the Vesper Pirates?
Could it be his health is failing, pushing him to make such a reckless move? Doesn’t he realize this could shatter the alliance, leaving the door wide open for Rocks to swoop in?
As the strongest crew in the alliance, the Vesper Pirates would be Rocks’ first target. Without Saracha’s support, Vesper wouldn’t stand a chance against Rocks’ onslaught!
Brook mulled it over. In the original timeline, 46 years ago, a 13-year-old Kaido escaped the Marines. It took him two years to reach Rocks’ stronghold on Hachinosu, all on his own.
Kaido’s the type to chase the strongest, so he likely sought out Rocks to test his mettle, probably taking down a few of Rocks’ officers to earn their respect.
That means, 46 years ago, Rocks might’ve already claimed the title of New World’s strongest, drawing Kaido to him. Maybe Rocks had crushed all his rivals by then, toppling the other overlords.
By that math, Vesper’s got less than five years left—maybe far less.
If Vesper keeps this up, the alliance won’t just collapse; it’ll turn into a bloodbath. That plays right into Rocks’ hands, paving the way for him to unify the New World!
Brook figured it might be smarter to pull the Hell Pirates out of the alliance now. A wake-up call for Vesper to remember the tiger lurking nearby.
This way, they avoid outright enmity. If Rocks comes knocking again, they could still form a temporary alliance to fend him off.
Plus, it’d boost the Hell Pirates’ reputation. They’d be free from the alliance’s stifling rules, no longer milked dry by Vesper’s schemes!
...
While Brook schemed and refined his plans, the Golden Island sailed through treacherous waters, arriving above a battleground between the Valorant Kingdom and the Vodka Kingdom.
By chance, the Vodka Kingdom was launching another assault on Iron Shield City’s fortress. Cannons roared, but most soldiers cowered, too scared to charge. Only freaks of nature like Kaido could shrug off the bombardment.
In the Grand Line, few national armies wielded Armament Haki. Even high-ranking officers rarely mastered it.
The World Government kept a tight leash on the Four Seas and the Grand Line, monopolizing advanced training methods. Talented fighters either turned pirate, joined the Marines, or were left in the dark.
Through the Marines, the World Government weakened allied nations while maintaining control, ensuring no single nation produced a game-changer. Non-allied countries? They were plundered at will.
These nations fought with raw numbers and crude weapons, their wars never threatening the World Government’s grip.
That’s why the New World was a pirate’s paradise—no Marine stranglehold, and access to advanced training techniques.
In the Four Seas and Grand Line, only the Marines, certain pirate nations, and New World veterans knew how to cultivate Haki.
Rookie pirates without connections had to reach the New World to even dream of learning it.
The relentless artillery barrage on Iron Shield City gave the Vodka Kingdom’s commanders a headache. Valorant’s forces were no pushovers, unlike their past foes.
Their only option was to send in the youth brigade, armed with iron shields, for a suicidal charge to draw enemy fire. The regular troops would follow, capitalizing on the distraction.
The general’s eyes locked onto a horned warrior, just eight years old but already over three meters tall. This kid was a prodigy, impervious to blades and bullets—a secret weapon!
With him soaking up enemy attention, the troops could breach Valorant’s defenses and storm the city.
Under orders, even Kaido, nigh-invulnerable, donned armor. Every second he held out drew more enemy focus.
Clad in heavy plate, Kaido gripped a massive iron shield in his left hand and a spiked club in his right. He led the youth brigade like a spearhead, charging headlong into the fray.
Bullets pinged off his shield, a relentless duang-duang echoing. Iron Shield City’s gunners zeroed in on the unit, cannons swiveling to target them.
Shells rained down, blasting the youth brigade. Kids behind Kaido fell, some blown apart before they could scream.
Kaido ignored the frail "comrades" dropping around him. Shield raised, he pressed forward. Even when shells struck his shield, the shockwaves couldn’t stop him.
Iron Shield’s commander noticed the threat and redirected a dozen cannons to pound this fearless soldier. Meanwhile, Vodka’s general saw Kaido’s impact and sounded the attack.
Elite troops surged forward with a hail of gunfire, escalating the battle into a ferocious cannon duel.
Kaido, battered by the relentless barrage, was in rough shape. His shield was mangled, forcing him to dodge while charging the city gate.
The gate shuddered under heavy impacts, chilling Iron Shield’s commander. This monster had broken through a dozen cannons’ fire to reach the gate—and now he was smashing it!
What kind of freak was this? How could he dodge all those shells and stray shots?
Kaido tore off his shattered armor, unleashing his full strength. He hammered the gate, ready to break through and unleash hell. The constant bombardment had pissed him off—he needed to vent.
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