Opening Battle!

As the time for Roger's execution drew nearer, Loguetown seemed like a storm was brewing. The original residents of Loguetown had all been evacuated to nearby islands, and the town, once inhabited by ordinary people, had now become a naval base.

From the four seas and the Grand Line, countless individuals were quietly making their way to the East Blue, towards the town known as Loguetown. They wanted to witness firsthand the final moments of the Pirate King, whose name was known worldwide. They sought to become participants and witnesses of this historic moment!

Especially after learning that Loguetown was Roger's birthplace, many speculated about the navy's decision to choose Loguetown as the execution site. Without a doubt, this was a demonstration of the navy's power.

Due to the special connection between Loguetown and Roger, many pirates began calling it the Town of Beginnings and Endings.

For a while, the previously obscure island in the East Blue became world-famous because of Roger.

The world was abuzz, the East Blue was bustling, and Loguetown was lively.

After the original residents of Loguetown were relocated, the navy did not refuse entry to the people flocking to the town from all over. Whether they came from the four seas or the Grand Line, as long as they chose to enter Loguetown despite the navy's warnings, their lives were their own responsibility. After all, an execution needs an audience, doesn't it?

In these days, the navy stationed in Loguetown was busy preparing for the execution. They moved quickly and with tension. In the center of Loguetown, a tall execution platform was becoming more complete each day.

Many also noticed that the number of navy warships along the coast was increasing.

Occasionally, serious-looking marines with strong auras disembarked from the warships, gathering in this small town.

Even in the nearby seas, the number of navy ships had surged, with warships patrolling back and forth daily.

Inside the naval base prison in Loguetown, Garp and Sengoku, sitting outside a cell and resting with their eyes closed, suddenly looked up simultaneously, gazing out the window.

Even Roger, bound by shackles, couldn't help but look towards Loguetown's port.

Sengoku's eyes, in particular, showed a hint of coldness.

"They say you captured Roger!"

"They say Roger is going to be executed in front of the whole world!"

"I absolutely do not believe these things!"

An angry roar echoed, reverberating over Loguetown. The contained Conqueror's Haki and anger in the voice stunned many marines, who then looked up in shock towards the source of the voice.

In an office, Sakazuki, Borsalino, and Kuzan also looked towards the sky outside.

"A troublesome guy has arrived," Kuzan remarked, sitting lazily on a sofa, his tone indifferent.

Kizaru, Borsalino, sitting with his legs crossed and sipping tea, showed no sign of concern about the supposed trouble.

"We haven't seen those other guys yet, but now a powerful lunatic shows up. This is really troublesome," Kuzan said with a sigh, though the cold air emanating from him suggested he was quite irritated.

Just this morning, Kuzan had received a call from headquarters informing him that his close friend, Vice Admiral Jaguar D. Saul, had freed a World Government prisoner, Nico Olvia, and escaped with her.

The World Government was furious, and so was the navy.

As one of the navy's higher-ups, Kuzan knew that Nico Olvia's historical research was something the World Government could not tolerate, and that helping her escape would implicate Saul as well.

"Let's go and wipe out that scum of the sea completely!" With those words, Sakazuki, a cigar in his mouth, headed towards Loguetown's port.

At Loguetown's port, the navy saw Bullet appear and shouted, "Kill him! That guy is alone!"

As soon as the words were spoken, gunshots and cannon fire erupted, engulfing Bullet in a swarm of attacks.

Facing the dense barrage, Bullet merely sneered.

In an instant, countless attacks, from bullets to cannonballs, converged on Bullet.

Amid the continuous explosions, the area where Bullet stood was filled with bullet holes and craters, the smoke enveloping him completely.

Soon, the barrage ceased.

The onlookers anxiously gazed at where Bullet had stood.

As the smoke cleared, they saw Bullet unharmed, not even his clothes were damaged. Many marines turned pale.

"Is it Armament Haki…"

"Even with Armament Haki, to withstand so many attacks without a scratch… this monster…"

"Has Vice Admiral Akainu not arrived yet?"

"Buzz! Buzz!"

As the marines whispered among themselves, they suddenly felt a darkening overhead. To their horror, they saw Bullet holding the bow of a massive warship, swinging it down towards them.

"Ice Age!"

At the critical moment, a voice shouted from a distance. A figure appeared at the stern of the ship, pressing a hand against it. A cold aura quickly spread from Kuzan's hand, freezing the entire warship from the stern, including Bullet.

"It's Vice Admiral Kuzan!"

Seeing the frozen ship, the marines cheered. Having a powerful ally was reassuring.

Crack! Crack!

Amidst the sound of ice breaking, Bullet's voice rang out.

"You think you navy scum could capture Roger!?"

"I don't believe it!!"

With a roar, Bullet shattered the ice encasing him.

"Whether you believe it or not, does it matter?"

As Bullet's words fell, a figure suddenly appeared at his side, a leg shining with brilliant light kicking him away, smashing him through numerous buildings.

"You bastards!"

A furious roar came from the rubble, but before more could be said, a cold voice cut through.

"Great Eruption!"

A fist made of magma clashed with a fist covered in dense Armament Haki.

...

"You've got some terrifying youngsters in the navy," Roger said, smiling at Sengoku and Garp sitting in front of him.

He clearly recognized the attacker as his former crew member, Douglas Bullet.

Roger knew Bullet's strength, ranking among the top-tier on the seas, but he was being firmly suppressed by the combined efforts of Borsalino, Sakazuki, and Kuzan.

Capturing him was just a matter of time, especially since capturing alive is much harder than killing.

"Jealous? If you had joined me in the navy, the navy could have been ours," Garp said nonchalantly, making Sengoku's forehead veins bulge.

"Ha ha ha, I'm not one to be bound," Roger laughed heartily.

Meanwhile, on a rooftop not far from Loguetown's port, two figures watched the battle between Douglas Bullet and the three Vice Admirals.

"Your juniors are impressive, Dragon. It looks like Bullet is going to lose soon," Nicholas remarked, watching the distant flashes of lasers, magma, ice, and Conqueror's Haki.

One-on-one, the outcome was uncertain. Two-on-one, Bullet could hold out for a while. But one-on-three was overconfident.

"Let's go. With Bullet causing a commotion, the World Government's attention will be on Loguetown. It's time to meet those other friends you mentioned."

"They should have arrived by now."

A breeze blew past, leaving the rooftop empty.

Kuzan, Sakazuki, and Borsalino stood in a triangular formation, their cold gazes fixed on Bullet in the center.

"A Conqueror's Haki user, quite impressive."

"He really came in with a bang!"

"Since you're here, let's end this today, Douglas Bullet!"