One Piece: Hell Pirates

Before dawn, the atmosphere over the waters of Squid Island changed drastically.

Thunderclouds rolled above the sea, surging with violent intensity. A sudden flash of purple lightning tore through the sky, illuminating the dim island with a terrifying brilliance.

The ocean churned with massive waves crashing against the coastline. The roaring sea woke the pirates, leaving them unable to sleep.

"With weather this rough, Jack probably won't risk setting sail," Roger said with a grin as he watched the storm from a rocky outcrop. "But did you make sure your ships are secure?"

He glanced at the anchored pirate vessels, clearly concerned—especially about the massive Queen Anne's, the flagship of the Ewald Pirates.

"Don't worry," Teach Angel replied calmly. "The ship my father left behind isn't that fragile."

Still, the raging sea and stormy skies made it unlikely that Jack would launch an attack anytime soon.

"Hey, Roger," Angel added, glancing at him curiously, "didn't Captain Brook try to recruit you? I mean, with your potential and strength, you're the kind of pirate he'd want under his banner."

"Brook?" Roger laughed. "Yeah, he called me the Son of Destiny or something like that. Said I'd be the best in the world at something one day. I still have no clue what he meant."

Angel's expression shifted. Son of Destiny? That title carried weight. Captain Brook clearly saw something extraordinary in Roger.

Although the Roger Pirates hadn't been in the New World for long, their strength was undeniable—they could go toe-to-toe with Jack for hours. Still, in Angel's mind, the Hell Pirates were the most dazzling crew around.

Brook commanded four users of Conqueror's Haki—something that had never been seen before. Could there really be two " Son of Destiny"? Was Roger destined to shine just as brightly as Brook?

That might explain why Brook treated Roger as an equal, never pressuring him to join, unlike how he had approached Angel. Perhaps Brook saw something of himself in Roger.

Angel didn't fully understand Brook's intentions—but she knew one thing for sure: she was under orders to befriend Roger's crew, not force them.

The New World's weather, as always, changed fast. The violent thunderclouds weakened quickly, as if they had expended all their power. Another gust of wind swept across the sky, scattering the remaining clouds.

Dawn finally broke. A golden beam of sunlight pierced the horizon—but Roger and Angel had no time to admire it.

Three pirate ships appeared on the horizon, cutting through the sea like they had wings.

Their sails were fully open, and the wind propelled them forward at unnatural speed.

"Shit—Xiaofeng!" Angel face went pale. "He's a high-ranking officer of the Diger Pirates. Wind Control Fruit user. Bounty: 800 million berries. We need to retreat! Head toward Captain Brook's position!"

Without hesitation, she pulled out a small horn and blew into it. The sharp blast echoed across Squid Island.

The Ewald Pirates heard the signal and immediately sprang into action, scrambling aboard the Queen Anne's as it began preparing for departure.

"Roger, we're outnumbered!" Angel called out as she ran. "We have to retreat—regroup with Brook!"

The ship started moving at full speed, heading toward the direction Brook was expected to arrive from.

Dammit… if I'd known the Diger Pirates were coming, we should've escaped last night!

"Angel, wait!" Roger shouted. "It's more dangerous at sea. We can't outrun a Wind Control user out there—he'll toy with us. We've got a better chance holding them off here on the island. At least we can use the forest for cover. If Brook really is on his way, we can hold until he arrives."

Angel skidded to a halt, turning back with wide eyes.

"Are you insane, Roger?!"

Even Rayleigh looked stunned. Retreat was the logical move, but their captain was talking about making a stand?

Roger's expression turned deadly serious.

"Trust me, Rayleigh. This time, if we fight with everything we've got—we'll break through our limits."

He looked to Rayleigh, Gaban, and the rest of his crew with fire in his eyes.

"I know it's crazy. But I believe in us."

Rayleigh blinked, then grinned. "You're the captain. If you're going crazy, I'm going with you."

His demeanor changed instantly—no longer the calm first mate, but a golden-haired warrior radiating battle spirit.

"Haha! Let's make today the day Gold, Silver, and Bronze carve our names into the New World!" Gaban roared, raising his axe high in the air.

The Roger Pirates erupted with excitement. With their top three fighters ready to go wild, the whole crew was swept into their momentum—like berserkers heading into battle.

Angel, who had already started running, paused.

She clenched her fists. "Damn it… fine!"

She trusted Roger's judgment. If he really was the "Child of the Era," maybe he could turn the tides here.

The Queen Anne's dropped anchor again. Its crew disembarked and stood beside the Roger Pirates, preparing to make their stand.

"Well, look at that…" a voice sneered from the beach.

Xiaofeng stood on the deck of the leading ship, a smirk on his shiny bald head. His Wind Control powers had pushed all three pirate ships into the shallows at breakneck speed.

Elite pirates descended from the ships, sliding down ropes and splashing into the surf as they rushed toward the shore.

Angel's face darkened when she spotted a familiar figure—Beaver, her father's former strongest officer.

He came in person?

"Miss Angel," Beaver said with a sly smile. "Lord Jack is extraordinary. What more could you ask for? Why must you be so difficult?"

Angel's glare was full of fury. She knew Beaver didn't care about her answer. If she had joined Jack, his position would've been even more unstable. Hell, he probably hoped she'd die here.

"Traitor," she spat. "Don't speak to me."

She never blamed Beaver for joining the Diger Pirates after her father's death. What she couldn't forgive was how he had suggested disbanding the Ewald Pirates entirely and folding into Jack's crew.

That had crossed the line.

As long as Teach Angel lived, the Ewald Pirates would never be erased from the New World!

--------------------

Roger, Rayleigh, and Gaban—the famed trio of gold, silver, and bronze—had already locked their sights on Jack, Xiaofeng, and Beaver. Their eyes burned with the thirst for battle, and Xiaofeng responded with a grim sneer.

More than a year ago, Redfield had looked at him the same way. Now, that bastard had a higher bounty than him, and it still made him sick to his stomach. Back then, the Red Earl's bounty was already 550 million berries.

But now? These three rookies didn't even have bounties over 300 million berries, yet they dared to stare at him like predators? It was laughable. Pure ignorance mixed with suicidal bravado.

Did they really think every pirate could be as monstrous as Redfield? Or were they delusional enough to believe they were all prodigies—capable of defeating the strong while being weak? Redfield was an anomaly, not a blueprint.

But after witnessing the rise of monsters like the Hell Pirates, Xiaofeng had stopped showing mercy to so-called Rookie overlord. Now, seeing the burning gaze in the eyes of Roger's crew, his killing intent surged.

---

"Ms. Angel, leave the small fry to us! You just focus on the cleanup!"

Roger, sword in hand, kept his eyes fixed on Jack, giving Angel a calm order. At the same time, his heart began to thrum like war drums. His skin flushed red, his aura surging—he had entered his Secret Technique state once again.

"Hah... Jack, this is the guy you said might be stronger than me? Don't make me laugh!"

Xiaofeng scoffed, unsheathing his blade and charging at Roger in a blur.

But just as he was about to strike, a blade intercepted him.

"Sorry. Your opponent is me. Roger's got a date with Jack, not you."

Rayleigh's sword clashed against Xiaofeng 's, sparks flying. He pushed him back with calm precision and raised his blade with a cold glint in his eye.

---

"Haha! The new generation's cockier than ever!"

Xiaofeng let out a cruel laugh. He had no interest in entertaining arrogant upstarts. A storm kicked up around him as he launched at Rayleigh with full force.

Their silhouettes blurred with speed, blades clashing dozens of times in mere moments. Sparks exploded in every direction as their weapons danced in deadly rhythm.

Meanwhile, Roger charged toward Jack with his sword Ace gleaming.

Beaver made a move toward Angel, trying to eliminate her under the chaos. But his path was blocked by Gaban, who stepped forward, dual axes raised high.

"Think you can sneak a kill under my watch? Try me."

Gaban grinned, the corner of his lip missing, giving him a hideously intimidating appearance. Just the sight of him made the rookie from the Ewald Pirates burst into tears.

---

Gaban roared into the fight, his twin axes sweeping with brutal strength. As the saying goes—those who wield axes don't lack muscle. Gaban's raw power actually edged out Rayleigh's, allowing him to match Beaver blow-for-blow.

Angel and Bull wanted to jump in and finish Beaver quickly alongside Gaban, but he waved them off.

"If Roger and Rayleigh are going one-on-one, there's no way I'm taking backup! We're gold, silver, and bronze! No cheating!"

They had no choice but to turn and join the chaos elsewhere, leading the crew members of the Roger Pirates and the Ewald Pirates to clash with Jack, Xiaofeng, and Beaver's underlings.

With the arrival of Angel and Bull—both well-known New World pirates—the tide quickly turned. The invading elite pirates were thrown into disarray and began to fall one after another.

---

However, the main trio—Roger, Rayleigh, and Gaban—were still on the defensive, struggling under the might of their veteran opponents. But even while suppressed, they refused to falter. Pushed to the limit, they tapped into their inner potential and refused to retreat.

Elsewhere, aboard the Golden Ship, Brook was responding to Angel's call for reinforcements. The ship surged forward at maximum speed, its lightning systems already overloading. The wind dials weren't even being recycled anymore—they were burning through all stored energy.

Zeus and Prometheus strained themselves pulling the Golden Ship forward, their speed cranked up as high as possible.

"That's going too far, Brook," said Shiki the Golden Lion, pacing the deck. "I heard from Angel that Xiaofeng and Beaver are here too? What's that old bastard Diger trying to pull? Is he declaring war on us?!"

Brook didn't answer. Instead, he turned to the intelligence officer with a chilling calm.

"Antonio, track the Rocks Pirates immediately. If anyone is going to make a real move, it's them—not Diger."

Brook wasn't afraid of the Overlord Pirates anymore. His true concern was Rocks. Diger? He was already nearing his end. This old man was just throwing one last tantrum, desperate to pave a future for his son Jack.

But if Diger wanted war, then war he'd get. Brook didn't mind sending him straight to the Underworld—hell was too good for him.

"Shiki," Brook said coldly, his dark blue eyes glinting with killing intent. "Don't forget, our only real enemies in the New World are the Rocks Pirates and the Navy. Everyone else, including the Diger Pirates, are just stepping stones."

Shiki let out a loud laugh. "Hah! You're right, Brook. If the Overlord Pirates are nothing but skeletons to us, the Diger Pirates are just meat waiting to rot. If they want war, let's burn 'em down."

The truth was simple. The Hell Pirates had a way out. If they needed to vanish into the shadows to regroup, they could. But the Diger Pirates? They had nowhere to run. If they poked the bear, they'd be the ones hunted—by Rocks, by the Navy, and by the Hell Pirates.

"Yohohoho~ If Diger wants to keep sending his goons into our turf, then it'd be rude not to take advantage of the gift."

Brook chuckled, but his eyes were as cold as death.

"Maybe this is my chance to break through to Conqueror's Haki. If not, then I'll let Diger find out what it feels like to bury his own son."

Brook didn't take loss lightly. And he never forgot a slight. If Diger didn't hand over that juicy piece of Conqueror's Haki willingly, then things were only just beginning.

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