Chapter 37

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Chapter 37: World Destroyer

At the same time, the towering Red Line seemed to merge with the sky on the bloodstained cliff. In the Holy Land Mariejois, buildings with blue roofs and white walls stood clean and pristine. Surrounded by lush vegetation, rockeries, fountains, and artificial gardens, the grand and ancient structures sat upon a hillside adorned with birds and flowers, appearing like a paradise. This was the land of the gods in Mariejois, home to the revered and majestic Celestial Dragons.

Suddenly, a terrified exclamation disrupted the serene atmosphere of the divine land. "How can this be!!" In a magnificent building, an official in charge of managing the daily affairs of the world's nobles turned pale and collapsed to the ground in fear, shaking uncontrollably. His voice drew the attention of the other officials. As they entered the main hall and observed the life card slowly burning to ashes, they were rendered speechless in shock. 

"Master Shields Saint..." 

"That's Lord Shields Saint's life card..." 

"According to the latest intel, wasn't he in the North Blue? He had just boarded the official ship to return, hadn't he?" 

"How can this be…" 

All the officers exchanged looks of fear as they swallowed hard, their throats dry as if they were aflame. Celestial Dragon Shields Saint was dead.

"Quick! Report to the Five Elders!" The lead official, supporting his weak body, managed to stand and roared the order with fury.

Soon, the news spread rapidly, and Mariejois was abuzz with activity. CP agents in suits stealthily moved through the streets while the Holy Land's Guards galloped on horses, causing the residents to tremble with fear. Officials glanced toward the Stairway to the Sky with dread in their eyes, their hearts in turmoil—a Celestial Dragon was dead. This was the first time since the "Valley of the Gods" incident eight years earlier that a "god" had fallen again in this sea.

...

In the North Blue, a certain sea area was overshadowed by dark clouds that rolled in like thick walls on the brink of collapse. Torrential rain drenched the world, causing warships to pitch and toss on the turbulent waves as if giants tossed them invisibly. Thunder roared as artillery fire burst from the barrels of the ships, heating them to a red-hot glow.

The cannon fire exploded on the distant sea, throwing up magnificent spouts of water. "Byrnndi Waldo! You can't escape!" bellowed Sengoku from the warship, his black-rimmed glasses and bearded pigtails soaked as he stood at the bow, his gaze fixed on the pirate ship at the center of the bombardment. The relentless downpour splashed onto the deck, enveloping the ship in a misty veil.

Marines on the deck worked tirelessly, braving the rain to load cannons. Each discharge caused the warship to shudder. Meanwhile, on the pirate ship, a tall figure stood defiantly. He wore a bright red captain's coat and a menacing horned helmet. "World Destroyer" Byrnndi Waldo, the captain of the Ward Pirates and a man with a bounty of 200 million Baileys, dared any to challenge him.

As the cannonballs exploded, Byrnndi Waldo was undeterred. He simply stared with ferocity and a sinister smile crept onto his face. "In terms of firepower, I've never been outmatched."

Suddenly, he vanished. Moving so swiftly through the dense rain, he left a trail where the rain seemed to stop. The next instant, he reappeared on the opposite side of the deck, grasping a cannon.

"Boys, adjust the course! Let those World Government fools see the World Pirates' strength!" he bellowed. The pirates responded with fervor, chanting as one of them turned the ship's wheel.

"Full right rudder!" At that command, the pirate ship creaked as it leaned sharply in the tempestuous sea and gunfire. The deck was quickly awash, and pirates clung to the slippery railing to avoid being swept overboard. 

Byrnndi Waldo held firm to the cannon like a vise, angling it toward the massive warship as the pirate ship shifted. He sneered through the rain, "Did you sink one of the Celestial Dragons' official ships and chase me for a full day and night?"

"Come on, Sengoku! Witness the power that can destroy the world!" He pulled the cannon's fuse with force, and a dark cannonball hurtled through the rain.

"Fifty Times Cannon!" he called out as some unseen force emanated from the projectile. As it roared through the sky, the cannonball suddenly expanded and doubled in volume repeatedly until it was a massive dark sphere careening towards Sengoku's ship.

The object fell so quickly and with such might that it heated the air around it, creating fiery red waves. From afar, it resembled a meteor breaking through the clouds and plunging from the sky. This was Byrnndi Waldo's ability at work! The Momo Fruit could increase the speed and size of any object, which in turn exponentially increased the power of the amplified cannonball. Its explosive force was enough to obliterate a town easily.

Above, the crimson light grew, but suddenly, a massive shadow engulfed everyone on the warship. A strong wind descended from above, causing the ship to sink and the deck to crackle.

"Damn!" Sengoku roared, eyes blazing.

If the shell struck, it was likely that all the Marines, including Sengoku himself, would perish in the sea's wrath. Sengoku stomped his military boots onto the bow and shot up like a projectile. In the sky, he transformed into a giant golden Buddha, his arm outstretched toward the falling shell.

"Big Buddha Shock!" he bellowed.

Boom! A massive golden shockwave collided with the shell. After a moment of silence, an explosive fireball with a diameter of over 100 meters erupted skyward, sending numerous shell fragments falling like fiery rain. Midair, Sengoku reverted to human form and called out, "Borsolino!"

"Got it..."

A lazy voice responded through the downpour, followed by a streak of golden light. 

Light bullets rained down, clearing the falling debris and lighting up the night sky.

After the smoke cleared, Sengoku landed firmly. The wind dispersed the smoke, revealing determination in his eyes as he fixed his gaze on the pirate ship fleeing into the distance. Just as he was about to order a pursuit, a hoarse voice came from behind.

"Stop chasing; something's wrong."

Sengoku's brow furrowed. A CP0 member wearing a masked with a strange pattern emerged quickly from the cabin. The mission to capture Byrnndi Waldo was a joint effort between the CP department and the Marines, with intelligence primarily provided by CP0.

"Retreat? With the infamous North Blue seas ahead and current weather conditions, Byrnndi Waldo won't escape!" Sengoku argued, only to be met with a headshake from CP0.

"Byrnndi Waldo isn't our concern anymore."

He presented a military phone bug to Sengoku, and a somber voice came through:

"Sengoku, retreat now."

Baffled, Sengoku protested, "Master Five Elders, we're close to victory. Byrnndi Waldo is in our ambush..."

The voice from the bug cut him off, "Retreat immediately!"

Sengoku, flustered and annoyed, queried, "My lord, why? Both the government and the Marines have invested heavily in this..."

"Shields Saint died in North Blue," replied the voice, shocking Sengoku. A Celestial Dragon, dead?

"Sengoku, as the only Marine Admiral, investigate Shields Saint's death thoroughly," the Five Elder instructed. Nothing else mattered now.

Accepting the cold truth, Sengoku exhaled deeply. CP0 returned the phone bug to its place and walked away.

Borsolino, a Rear Admiral of immense strength, reformed from a gathering of photons. He stood tall in a yellow and white striped suit, sporting oversized toad sunglasses and a beard.

"Shall I continue the chase, Sengoku?" Borsolino inquired, noticing Sengoku's grimace.

Sengoku, glancing at the disappearing Ward Pirates, punched the railing and shattered it.

"No, we return," he said tersely, his face contorted with anger.

Although Borsolino was powerful, he was not on par with Byrnndi Waldo, a peer of Whitebeard and Roger. Sengoku couldn't risk losing such a promising future Admiral.

Despite the resources and effort expended, the mission had neared success only to seemingly end in failure, leaving Sengoku dissatisfied. Yet, he knew he must obey the World Government's command. The death of a Celestial Dragon demanded his attention.

"Who in North Blue would dare strike a Celestial Dragon?" pondered Sengoku amidst the harsh rain, his expression clouded with thought.