"Sir! Up ahead is Naval Base 66. Should we take the three adults there for treatment first?"
The CP guard leading the way rushed back at top speed and reported to the CP leader.
The CP leader turned his head, glancing at the bloodied Rosward Saint family lying on stretchers.
At this moment, no word could describe the depth of his frustration and despair.
His mind was a chaotic mess, filled with numbness as he mechanically executed the simplest course of action—returning the noble Rosward Saint family to the Holy Land, Mariejois.
As for what would happen afterward—whether Rosward Saint would wake up and have him executed on the spot, relegated to operating a human-powered lift, or enslaved—it no longer mattered to him.
This escort mission had been a disaster, a complete failure. His future was as good as gone.
"You stay here and guard the three adults. I'll head to the naval base and call for a military doctor," the CP leader ordered coldly.
Then, he quickly stepped into the air, using Moonwalk, and sped off toward the base.
However, mere seconds later, upon arriving at the naval base, he froze in shock at the sight before him—lifeless, desiccated bodies of naval soldiers scattered everywhere.
The sight of these abnormal deaths sent chills down his spine, filling him with a strong sense of foreboding.
This place was dangerous!
What unnerved the CP leader even more was that his Den Den Mushi had lost its signal.
He couldn't contact Government Base 69, nor could he reach the medical department in the Holy Land.
Something was seriously wrong.
With an ominous feeling growing in his chest, the CP leader hurried back to Rosward Saint's family and ordered everyone to speed up their march toward Government Base 69.
....
At that moment, a kilometer away atop a red tree canopy,
Rorschach placed his hand on Dafrons' chest.
"Zzzzzz."
A faint electric current sparked from his palm, surging into Dafrons' chest to jolt his heart.
With just one shock, Dafrons, who had been unconscious, abruptly woke up.
The moment he saw Rorschach, he furiously threw a punch.
"Bang!"
Rorschach calmly clenched his fingers, catching Dafrons' fist firmly.
"Whoosh!"
The wind stirred as Dafrons' eyes gleamed with malice. His left hand opened like a claw, aiming for Rorschach's eyes.
"Stop. You're no match for me."
A deep blue aura of Haki enveloped Rorschach's head, forming a thick barrier that blocked Dafrons' hand completely.
"Roar!"
With a furious roar, Dafrons' body began to swell, shifting into a half-beast form.
But in the next second, a fist clad in dark blue Haki struck him square in the abdomen, sending his massive frame flying through the air. His legs buckled as he crashed to his knees on the treetop, blood dripping from the corner of his mouth.
"Ha… ha… You damn Navy scum! If you've got the guts, kill me!"
Dafrons glared at Rorschach with bloodshot eyes full of hatred.
It was this seemingly youthful boy before him who had killed his invincible elder brother, Aristo.
Aristo, who had endured the same suffering alongside him, who had left their homeland together, trained desperately together, and vowed revenge against the Navy and the World Government, was now dead.
The faith that had driven Dafrons to keep moving forward crumbled in an instant.
All he wanted now was death.
Looking at the towering man in front of him, brimming with hatred, Rorschach spoke in a deep voice.
"I will kill you."
"Then do it! If I even flinch, I'll admit I'm nothing but a coward without balls!"
Dafrons stopped attacking Rosha.
The boy's power was overwhelming, far beyond what Dafrons could handle.
Every ounce of strength he had mustered was nothing more than a joke in Rosha's eyes.
"I can give you a choice in how you die," Rorschach said calmly, showing no anger.
Dafrons frowned. "What do you mean? Are you trying to humiliate me?"
Rorschach shook his head and pointed in a certain direction. "In that direction, there's currently a 100-man escort team from the World Government. They're protecting three Celestial Dragons, heading to the Holy Land of Mariejois."
"What? Celestial Dragons?"
Dafrons' eyes widened instantly, bloodshot veins appearing on his eyeballs.
He had heard from his brother before—
The true culprit behind the Baterryla Island tragedy in the South Sea was the World Government's orders.
The Navy merely executed those commands.
If the Navy was the blade that slaughtered their wives and children, then the World Government was the one wielding it.
And the Celestial Dragons? They were the rulers of the World Government.
Dafrons' elder brother had always dreamed of killing a Celestial Dragon.
But Celestial Dragons were lofty beings, living year-round atop the Red Line, surrounded by endless guards.
Attacking a Celestial Dragon, or even catching a glimpse of one, was as difficult as reaching the heavens.
His brother once said that if he could kill just one Celestial Dragon, he could face his wife and children in the afterlife without shame.
And now, there were not one, but three Celestial Dragons here!
Three times his brother's dream.
If Dafrons could kill these three Celestial Dragons, not only would he fulfill his brother's dream, but he would also seek justice for everyone who had died on Baterryla Island.
The thought made Dafrons' eyes instantly redden.
"What do you want me to do? Why are you telling me this? Aren't you part of the Navy?"
His voice was hoarse as he stared intently at Rorschach .
"Do you really need to know?" Rorschach looked at him. "I'm simply giving you a choice. Either I kill you now, or you fulfill your dream and then let me kill you."
"In the end, the result is the same—you die. So... make your choice."
"You're right. I don't need to know the reason."
Dafrons suddenly grinned widely, revealing his bloodied teeth.
"You little Navy brat. Looks like you're a bit different from the others. Heh. Asking a pirate like me to do such a thing for you? That's outrageous. But I like it... I like it a lot."
He stood up from the treetop and gazed in the direction Rorschach had pointed, his smile growing even brighter.
"I'll do as you wish. I'll grind those three Celestial Dragon scum into dust, inch by inch."
"You're not quite strong enough yet. I'll give you a little boost," Rorschach said as he stood up, extending his right hand.
Dafrons looked on in surprise as thin currents of electricity began to flow out of Rorschach's arm, gathering in his palm.
Gradually, a ball of crackling lightning took shape, glowing brightly.
"What's this? A lightning ball?" Dafrons asked, confused. "You want me to use this thing to blow up the Celestial Dragons?"
"No, I'm going to place it in your heart," Rorschach replied.
Holding the pulsing lightning ball aloft, he explained, "With the stimulation of this lightning ball, your heart rate will gradually increase until it explodes."
"As your heart rate increases, so will your blood flow, and with it, your strength, speed, and reflexes—all of them will reach new heights."
Hearing this, Dafrons chuckled and shook his head.
"So it's a failsafe, huh? I'm guessing that if I try to run or betray you, this ball will blow me up on the spot?"
Rorschach neither confirmed nor denied it. "What's your choice?"
"How long do I have from activation until the explosion?" Dafrons asked instead of answering.
"Three minutes," Rorschach replied.
"That's enough."
Dafrons patted his chest and grinned widely.
"Let's do it. In three minutes—no, in one minute—I'll reduce those three pieces of trash to ashes!"
"Brother Aristo, if you're still watching from the other side, keep your eyes on this moment!"
"This is my wrathful vengeance against the gods!"
(End of Chapter)
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