Chapter 165

Vertruce, Gramanton, and seven other corrupt kingdoms in the New World. They were the islands which the Revolutionary Army were operating upon.

After Doflamingo's defeat, Kaidou's arms weren't able to make it to the hands of those kingdoms, and hence, the Revolutionary Army managed to change the tide of the war… only for a short moment.

The World Government has begun to move.

Not only did they lose control over Dressrosa, Prodence, and few other kingdoms due to Rowan, but according to the intel from CP0, the Grimheart pirates began to gather up a huge number of soldiers on the Runelight island.

Losing their foundation within the New World and the trust of the other kingdoms under the membership were the last things that they wanted; they immediately sent out a huge army throughout the whole New World and supported the corrupt kingdoms against the Revolutionary Army.

___________

[Mariejois, Pangaea Castle; December 15th, 1522]

"The time has come."

Within the dim light, a tall individual with dull red-coloured eyes and a long golden crown on his head, spoke in a soft voice. Just by a glance alone, one wouldn't be able to tell if this individual was a man or a woman.

He went by many names. The Immortal. The king of the world. The god of the sea.

He was the destroyer who pulverized everything in his path. In order to place the whole world under his absolute control, he exterminated all the threats, starting from the kingdom of Yggdrasil all the way to Joy Boy and the great Ancient Kingdom.

He was iron-blooded. He did not yield at any sight. A ruthless god who didn't allow a single mistake from those under his rule—that's who he was.

Such a mighty being that he was. If his existence were to be exposed to the world, it was hard to imagine just how much shock it will bring upon the world.

This man was none other than Imu; the greatest threat to Rowan.

"Joyboy… oh, how much have I been seeking to find you."

Lifting up his slender arm, Imu gently caressed the cheek of an unconscious man in the front: Luffy.

"For hundreds of years, you have run away from my grasp over and over. I am certain that if I end your life here and now, you will begin to run away once again, seeking another time to enact your will."

Then, in the dark, Imu's eyes morphed into a creepy eye-smile.

"Therefore, watch. Watch as your world crumble down one by one. Watch as the final flame collapse down under the depth. Struggle as much as you won't but nothing shall be changed. Soon enough… everything shall be resolved."

With the Joy Boy from the prophecy having been caught, and with the ferocious family of Vasilia having been vanquished ages ago, who will be able to stop him?

…Or so Imu thought.

___________

[Runelight; December 15th, 1522]

"...Dragon, the situation isn't good!!"

Within the broad daylight, surrounded by Rowan and his allies, Dragon gazed into his Den Den Mushi with a troubled expression.

"Ivankov. Now isn't the right time to speak—"

"We sighted the Cipher Pols among the enemies!!!"

Dragon froze in disbelief.

"All the islands are being attacked by the World Government simultaneously! Dragon, we need you here immediately!!"

'No, how can this be? The World Government... they are leaving Blackbeard free? When the entire South Blue suffered at his hand?'

The World Government's involvement at this time wasn't something that the Revolutionary Army has been expecting.

"And that isn't it, Dragon! Germa 66 involved themselves in the war! The World Government—"

With Doflamingo having been caught and Kaidou no longer having any influence over those kingdoms, the primary source of concern for the Revolutionary Army has returned back to the World Government.

"Speak no more, Ivankov! We're out in the open right now!"

After shouting into the dial with an urgent tone, Dragon immediately ended the call.

"D-Dragon-san! This..." Sabo, who stood behind Dragon, said with a worry in his tone, "how can this be? I thought we will have enough time until Blackbeard has finally been taken care of!"

Rowan, meanwhile, continued to watch the happening in front of him.

"The World Government entered the New World, captain." Dan whispered into Rowan's ear from the left, "It may be because of your name value."

"Most probably."

However, the Revolutionary Army didn't need to know that.

Carina whispered from Rowan's right, "Kaidou and Big Mom noticed our reappearance, and began to mobilize their troops as well."

Rowan nodded slightly, with his eyes still fixated in the front, "We will definitely be clashing against them within a month at max. If Revolutionary Army isn't able to join the force... we will have to go ourselves."

Dragon, who was unable to conceal his distress, sighed.

"I sincerely apologize... for your inconveniences. We initially invited you here to discuss the matter regarding two Emperors, however... it seems that we seem to be too occupied to provide you a support."

There was no way that such development was a coincidence; it seemed to Rowan that the World Government somehow noticed the potential alliance between the Grimheart pirates and Revolutionary Army.

'Which means... the World Government is betting that I will fall at the hands of Kaidou and Big Mom.'

Rowan couldn't help but feel irritated—though he quickly suppressed it.

'You fools of the World Government... do you really think that everything is under your control? To the brain-dead fossils like you?'

If so, he will show them. Kaidou and Big Mom, who currently are dominating the whole New World with Shanks's absence and Whitebeard's fall... Rowan will slay them in one go.

Therefore,

"Support? We have more than enough already."

Rowan, with a mischievous gleam in his eyes, replied to Dragon,

"I thought you called us for a cup of coffee."

"Pff—!" From the back, Nojiko held back her laugh.

Koala seemed dumbfounded by Rowan's words.

"Coffee... huh." Dragon placed his hand on his face while chuckling, "Have as much as you want. That shop is now yours."

___________

[One day after; December 16th, 1522]

'The World Government against the Revolutionary Army. Blackbeard against Shanks. And now, I am to face against Kaidou and Big Mom.'

Judging by the incident in the Coconut Seal, Rowan knew that Marco and Ace weren't able to fight Linlin properly.

'When including all the notable members of their crews...'

Rowan knew that there was no other option.

'I may have to face both Kaidou and Big Mom by myself.'

Rowan stood up from his seat and walked outside from his ship, Prominence.

'Grimlock? No. Not only am I immobilized after 12 minutes, but the duration isn't enough to defeat both Kaidou and Big Mom. I need something that can last for the long run—the efficient management of Haki.'

"Hey Rowan, you woke up!" Carina was seen to be greeting Rowan from the deck. She was working on recording the Runelight island into the map that she has been drawing since the very beginning of their journey. By doing so, navigation in the sea has become easier every time they travelled.

"Goooood morning to you as well, ma'am." Rowan replied Carina's greet with his playful statement.

"Did the Phoenix pirates receive the call?"

Carina nodded positively, "Yep! They've been fully healed, ready whenever."

"Are all the capable combatants fully armed, ready to head out?"

"Done as well! Even if the war is to happen right after a second, they will be ready for it!"

"Awesome." Rowan walked toward the front of the ship, where its figurehead lied,

"Call me when needed. I'll be off for a little."

"Roger that."

*BOOM*

By utilizing his fruit ability from the sole of his feet, Rowan propelled himself up in the air at a rapid speed.

'Grimlock's purpose was to give me an incredible boost of combat capability. Now, instead of wrapping my whole body around Conqueror's Haki: Manifestation, it's time to try something more efficient to manage.'

As Rowan clenched his right fist, a potent burst of black lightning arose, indicating the Manifestation of Conqueror's Haki.

However, it didn't spread throughout his whole body. Instead, its potency weakened as if its layer was being thinned out—Rowan was purposely reducing the output in return for longer sustainability.

'And in addition,'

On Rowan's left fist, the enigmatic type of Haki, unique only to himself, came into the existence.

'Haki of Resistance.'

With his abnormally quick reflex and incredible eyesight, Rowan will fight the two Emperors using these two unique uses of Haki.

'Kaidou relies on his natural physical prowess. All his attacks while in a full dragon form tend to be simplistic and large-scaled. All his attacks in either the human or hybrid forms are based on his spiky club.

On the other hand, Big Mom heavily relies on her fruit ability. Any weapon or attack of hers has to do with those weird entities around her.'

Rowan gazed down at the layer of ferocious black lightning on his right hand. Upon his will, the layer began to travel up from his hand to elbow, elbow to shoulder, shoulder to chest, then from chest all the way back to his hand.

'As for me, I will have to rely on my Haki to face those two. The estimated time in which I can maintain this level of Haki… I'd say more than a day.'

*BOOM*

In terms of the fruit ability, Rowan pretty much reached a threshold. It seemed to him as if there lied a wall right in the front.

The awakening of the fruit. Rowan saw Doflamingo turning his environment into the strings. He saw Sakazuki changing the climate into a volcano itself.

Although he was unsure, it was likely that Kaidou and Linlin too awakened their fruits.

'What is it that determines the availability for the awakening? The time spent after eating a devil fruit? One's mastery over it? Perhaps the condition differs for each fruit?'

It was a mysterious, and at the same time, vague concept to Rowan. He couldn't afford to bet on something ambiguous like this right now.

'Haki is my best bet.'

Though Haki doesn't grow as much in a mundane training, Rowan was going to familiarize himself with its efficient management.

___________

[Wano, Onigashima; December 17th, 1522]

"Kaidou, all the preparations are done."

At the entrance into the room, the masked Lunarian, King, was standing with his arms crossed.

"In total, our crew is twenty thousand strong. Among them, half will be left behind, while the other half will head out."

Kaidou gulped down the gourd in his hand as he listened to King's statement. Then, slamming it down onto the floor, Kaidou said with a greedy gleam,

"What about the Road Poneglyph in Yukiryu?"

"I got that covered."

A new individual entered the scene. He was wearing red-coloured attire with a horned hat that covered his eyes and nose. He was Who's Who, the new Lead Performer of the Beast pirates who recently took over the spot that previously belonged to now-dead Queen.

Who's Who breathed out a smoke with a cigarette in his hand, before throwing a piece of paper to Kaidou.

Then, he turned to King with a haughty demeanour,

"Does this prove my worthiness as a Lead Performer, huh, King? When it comes to infiltration, not even you are able to surpass me."

"Watch your place, trash." King growled back with bloodshot eyes.

"Aren't you overestimating yourself?" Who's Who met King face to face with a hostility of his own.

It seemed as if a fight was about to break out, until Kaidou slammed his empty gourd on the floor one more.

"It's not the time to fight right now!! Hmph, King! Get me broadcasted to Runelight! Who's Who! Go get Linlin! That old hag… what's taking her so long?!"

Kaidou, with a deep frown, declared,

"Once and for all, I'm going to end Grimheart's life and take everything that he owns!!!"