— — — — — —
"Kill them!"
"Slaughter those Celestial Dragons!"
"This is our war to the top!"
"KeHahaha—!"
Amid the chaotic laughter, Rocks was like a man possessed, his wild roars echoing endlessly across the battlefield.
"Roar!" Countless pirates charged into the fray like madmen, unleashing their unrestrained fury.
"Counterattack!"
"Hold the line!"
Compared to the others, Sengoku was the one taking charge, coordinating the battlefield. In fact, calling him the commander-in-chief wouldn't be an exaggeration.
"For justice!"
"For justice!" The navy soldiers thumped their chests with one hand, their sheer presence radiating a formidable and awe-inspiring energy.
Watching the unwavering resolve of the Marines, Joey couldn't help but sigh in admiration.
"Say what you will, but the navy is truly the only force in this world that exists solely for peace. They uphold order on the seas, preventing this world from plunging into the chaotic Warring States era of clashing warlords."
"Huh?" Tilting her head, Mondée asked curiously, "Big brother, do you really hold the navy in such high regard?"
Joey explained patiently, "Mondée, what do you think?"
"Me?..." Mondée seemed lost in thought but couldn't find the right words to respond.
Joey continued, "The navy maintains balance in this world. If they were to suddenly stop their operations, countless nations would descend into chaos."
"Pirates would run rampant, and governments would struggle to maintain peace. At that point, the entire world would spiral into an era of warring factions."
Mondée pondered for a moment before replying hesitantly, "So, according to what you're saying, if the navy just stopped supervising, then many countries would...?"
As she spoke, Mondée suddenly realized something and gasped.
"Wait...!" She inhaled sharply and looked at Joey with wide eyes. "Big brother! If the navy were gone, pirates would attack nations, and once these countries have a reason to retaliate, those people...?"
Joey nodded approvingly. "Exactly, Mondée. Think it through. Whether I'm right or wrong, you need to analyze the situation. Just as you said, without the navy, pirates would target nations, and what happens next?"
Mondée nodded, her expression serious. "Those with ambitions! Right now, their schemes are kept in check by the navy's justice. If that balance disappears, they'd go berserk in an instant."
Joey smiled, clearly pleased. "Good! You're starting to think critically. Remember, this isn't urgent for now. The war has just begun. What we need is an opportunity—a moment to step into the battlefield."
Mondée and Custard watched the battlefield intently.
This kind of war was an unmissable experience. Even if they didn't participate, just observing could teach them invaluable lessons. For those who study battles, such moments are incredibly enlightening.
— — —
"Hmph!"
Zephyr sneered as he squared off against the enemy. "Hey, hey! Golden Lion, are you seriously trying to break through our defenses? Do you think it's that easy?"
"Jihahahaha!" Shiki grinned maniacally. "You troublesome bastard. If you're here to cause problems, then I'll just kill you first! After that, I'll deal with those damn Celestial Dragons."
Zephyr remained calm. "Unfortunately for you, that's not going to happen."
"Black Arm... Finger Pistol!"
The Six Powers technique, when wielded by Zephyr, reached its absolute peak.
With terrifying Armament Haki infused into his attack, Zephyr launched a strike so powerful it seemed to obliterate everything in its path. Despite being called a "finger pistol," in his hands, it hit with the force of an explosive warhead.
Zephyr and Shiki clashed fiercely, neither yielding an inch.
Currently, both men stood at Silver Rank Level 3.
These weren't the weakened versions of Zephyr and Shiki from the future. No, this was their prime—monsters in their peak form.
The future Zephyr, who would lose his family, his students, and even his right arm, was still far off.
The future Shiki, who would lose his legs and have a ship's wheel lodged in his head, was still just a nightmare yet to come.
At this moment, both men were in their strongest state, capable of drawing out 100%, even 120% of their abilities. That confidence radiated from their every move.
"How terrifying...!" Katakuri murmured in awe. "Golden Lion and Black Arm... Are they even human?"
To witness their overwhelming strength in person was something he could never have imagined. It was truly monstrous.
Nearby, Cracker swung his massive sword, slicing through the enemies surrounding him. He exhaled heavily, glancing at Katakuri. "Brother, focus! This is a battlefield, not the place to zone out!"
Katakuri turned to him with a grin. "Bad habit, I know, but isn't that why I have you?"
Cracker couldn't help but shake his head with a wry smile. Fine. What else could he say? That's just what family was for—trusting each other without question.
Suddenly, a terrifying slash of sword energy tore through the battlefield.
"Ahh!" Screams of agony erupted as marines were cut down en masse.
Compote descended, wielding a blade even longer than herself. With a resounding crash, the ground quaked beneath her strike as if it would collapse entirely.
Katakuri and Cracker couldn't help but groan. "Sister Compote, you're getting way too violent!"
Compote shot them an annoyed glare. "What kind of brothers call their sister violent?"
With a terrifying gleam in her eyes, Compote unleashed an even stronger attack.
The overwhelming sword aura seemed as though it could devour everything in its path.
'Gulp—'
Both of them couldn't help but swallow nervously.
Honestly, Compote was at most a Bronze Level 7 fighter.
But the combat prowess she displayed was simply unbelievable—shocking even.
"Hehehe—"
Joey observed the battlefield with growing satisfaction. "Katakuri and Cracker—those two punks have really improved. What's most impressive is their rich battle experience now!"
While Katakuri and Cracker hadn't fundamentally improved their levels, their combat capabilities had skyrocketed.
There's a vast difference between being self-taught and becoming a battle-hardened warrior.
And now, these two? They were undoubtedly seasoned fighters.
"However…" Joey's gaze shifted to another figure.
Katakuri and Cracker's growth was evident and didn't require much commentary.
But Compote?
At this moment, Compote was showcasing a level of monstrous combat strength that was nothing short of terrifying.
Truly!
On the battlefield, whether it was the Navy or the Pirates, everyone watching Compote felt...off.
Was Compote powerful?
Well, she was decent.
In her tier, she could be considered above average—but not by much.
The problem, though, was her shocking display of power.
And that wasn't even the end of it!
"Ha!"
No one knew where Compote suddenly pulled out a second massive blade from.
With both swords in hand, she unleashed a combination move, creating a devastating attack that left a horrifying crater in the ground.
Watching the sheer destruction Compote caused, Shiki instinctively glanced at his own dual swords.
At that moment, he was utterly bewildered.
What…was going on?
This wasn't how it was supposed to be!
"Impact Wave!"
"Kaishin (Seaquake)!"
Sengoku and Edward Newgate (Whitebeard) clashed and then separated.
Sengoku landed on the ground, his eyes narrowing as he looked at Compote rampaging with her dual blades. He muttered, "What a dangerous woman... Charlotte Compote! Is she some kind of monster?"
In reality, Compote's swords weren't ordinary weapons.
These dual blades had unique properties—they continuously absorbed her stamina and Haki.
Her left-hand blade, Dead Sea, absorbed Haki.
Her right-hand blade, Living Sea, absorbed physical strength.
These blades were crafted by Joey using rare materials from another world, specifically for Compote. They were on par with the Supreme Grade Swords.
Moreover, the swords' potential was tied to Compote's own growth and gave additional effects.
For example, if her stamina was 100 and her Haki was at 0, the combined limit of the blades would be 200. As Compote's power increased, so did the swords' capacity.
Without these swords?
Compote's aggressive fighting style would have already drained her.
Only someone with an extraordinary physique, like Linlin, could sustain them.
But with the dual swords forged by her brother, Compote forcibly unleashed the necessary power.
"Ha!"
Compote rampaged across the battlefield, while Katakuri and Cracker followed close behind.
They had no choice.
Their sister's reckless style forced them to cover the gaps, ensuring nothing spiraled out of control.
Otherwise, who knew what kind of chaos might erupt?
Clap.
Tsuru walked up behind Sengoku and asked, "What's your take on this?"
Sengoku shook his head. "Compote, Katakuri, Cracker—those three brats are terrifyingly talented. Ideally, we should eliminate them here."
Tsuru nodded in agreement. "That would be the best outcome. But Charlotte Joey? That man's goal is to train his siblings, not send them to their deaths. Taking down those three won't be easy."
"And besides…"
Sengoku vanished in an instant as Edward charged toward him.
The two collided once more.
There was no time to deal with those kids—his opponent demanded all his attention.
"Gurararara—"
Edward let out a hearty laugh. "Sengoku! What's wrong with you? Don't get distracted! You're making this boring!"
"Kaishin!"
"Impact Wave!"
Their attacks rippled outward, spreading devastation across the battlefield.
Whether it was the shockwaves of the Buddha Fruit or the quakes of the Tremor-Tremor Fruit, both were large-scale assaults.
If they weren't holding back, their unchecked power could have easily swept through most of the battlefield.
Clap.
Joey lightly tapped his chair, muttering, "Sengoku, Garp, Zephyr, Shiki, Edward, John, Wang Zhi, Silver Axe...?"
His sharp eyes scanned the battlefield rapidly.
He murmured in confusion, "Everyone's already engaged. So what exactly is Rocks planning?"
Joey's gaze lingered on Rocks, deep in thought.
After all, his younger siblings had grown significantly.
They no longer needed his constant attention.
Even though Compote seemed to be dominating the battlefield…
The truth was that Katakuri's talent far surpassed hers.
It wasn't just a matter of aptitude—it was raw potential.
Joey was genuinely excited.
Would Katakuri break through his current limits during this war?
From Bronze Level 9 to Silver Level 1?
That was a massive gap—like crossing an insurmountable chasm.
If Katakuri succeeded, he would undergo a true transformation.
At that point, Katakuri could become a true pillar of the family.
Right now, the family only has two pillars: Mom and himself.
While his siblings' growth was gratifying, they still fell short.
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80 advanced chapters are available at: patreon.com/_Coreal