Chapter 182

A catastrophe. Some among the Revolutionary Army thought.

Upon them, the huge cluster of magma was falling toward them with high precision. On their sides, the marine soldiers had their respective weapons out, ready to shoot.

"...Dragon." From Dragon's side, Garp said grimly, to which Dragon responded by nodding.

"I know, father." Dragon replied with a nod, "You are unable to harm the Marine. Leave them to us."

Subsequently, Dragon raised his hand up to the descending magma ball, before a miniature storm that swirled into existence. With ferocity, it spun above his palm, threatening to grind through whatever lied in the front.

"The Storm Storm fruit," Sakazuki growled in realization, "Logia-type."

"...Watch out. He may have awakened it." Tensei said with a serious tone.

Then, just as the marine soldiers were forced to retract their weapons and shield their bodies from the intense gust of wind, Dragon's storm shot out toward Sakazuki's magma.

*BOOOOOOM*

Upon the collision, the magma has broken down into several pieces, which began to fall upon the stationary marine soldiers, which Sakazuki immediately retracted before they ended up harming his side.

In contrast, Dragon's blast of storm continued to soar like a dragon, before colliding with the thick layer of cloud above.

*Puff*

With the puff, the storm has disappeared from the eyes of everyone. Then, all of a sudden, a heavy rainfall began, soaking the entirety of Mariejois.

"Water..." Sakazuki glared at Dragon, "You...!"

Dragon, without any words, grinned as the storm around his whole body began to pick up.

*CLANG*

On the other hand, Garp, with his teeth gritted, met Mihawk's sword with his fist.

"Get out of my way, Dracule Mihawk!!!" Garp snarled.

"Can't do." Mihawk replied stoically, "You will have to entertain me for some time."

*CLANG*

Mihawk twisted his sword out of Garp's punch and slashed vertically in a smooth fashion, to which Garp quickly responded by punching with his other fist.

*PAZZZZ*

Then, from Mihawk's black sword, Yoru, the Conqueror's Haki: Infusion has burst into existence.

"Try to withstand me, Marine Hero...!"

*BOOOOOOM*

Garp, who had a bad premonition regarding Mihawk's following attack, quickly ducked. What followed was a frightening blast of Haki that caused the members of the Revolutionary Army in the trajectory path to be blown away without any resistance.

"I got you!" Watching as many casualties arose from Mihawk's single attack, Marco cried as his sprouted huge flame wings out of his arms, before spinning around rapidly.

The wisps of flame shot out to the injured members of the Revolutionary Army, and set them on fire. Strangely, instead of burning them,

"Ugh... thanks! I'm feeling better now!"

"Hurry, we have to help others!"

the flame has healed them.

From Marco's back,

"I can't wait, damn it! Just where is Luffy?!"

Ace propelled himself forward impatiently, to the Pangaea Castle that lied beyond the enemies.

"Tch... I will start with that one—"

"As if I will let you do so."

At the next moment, Ace found a shadow looming over him. It was Tensei, whose arm was enveloped within a dark wisp.

"Dark Dark fruit?!!" Ace cried out of exasperation as he ducked, dodging Tensei's arm just in time, "I'm so f****** done with the fruit!! Why is it keep reappearing in my life?!!"

"The ability to nullify the fruit ability of yours... is the most efficient way to overcome your defence." Then, Tensei appeared behind Ace through the use of Soru,

"Dark Ball."

Having expected that Ace will react by kicking backward, Tensei shifted his weight sideways while generating a dense ball of darkness, which emanated a high degree of gravity.

Ace found his foot stuck to the dark ball due to that fact.

"Harden!" However, as long as Tensei didn't touch him with his own hands, Ace knew that his fruit ability was still valid to use—he was very experienced with the Dark Dark fruit by now.

With his fists turned into metallic grey, Ace slammed the ground with his fist to create a crack, which caused Tensei, whose hand was about to reach Ace, to lose his balance.

"Full Metal," With his foot still stuck on the dark ball, Ace used it as the point to revolve around and gain momentum. Now, his fist, imbued in not only by his fruit ability and the Armament Haki, but,

*PAZZZZZ*

also the Conqueror's Haki: Infusion, was about to slam into Tensei's exposed face.

"Mass Impact!!!"

"Kami-E."

*BOOOOM*

Yet, it failed to reach the enemy. With the combination of Observation Haki: Future Sight, along with Kami-E, one of the Rokushikis, Tensei shrewdly evaded Ace's fist and released the dark ball, causing Ace to flop down to the ground.

"...Where's Luffy?" Ace, without any damage to him, stood back up with evident anger, "I don't have time to waste here!!"

"And do you expect me to tell you?" Tensei said impassively, before using Soru to dodge an incoming attack from the back.

"Dragon's Claw!!!"

The attack was made by Sabo, whose hand was outstretched to where Tensei previously was standing onto.

*BOOOOM*

His attack clashed with the ground, causing the cracks created by Ace to enlarge.

"Sabo!" Ace, whose expression lit up, exclaimed.

"Sorry about not coming for you during the Marineford, Ace." Sabo said with a slight smile as he landed next to Ace, "I only managed to get my memories back recently."

"Memory?" Ace initially questioned, but grinned nonetheless, "Heh, don't sweat about it!"

Tensei, who had one hand on his holster, used his other hand to adjust his sunglasses.

"Two against one... no matter." Tensei then took out a pistol, ready to shoot any time, "I won't let any of you pass."

"Is it?" Sabo said confidently, "If that's the case,"

""you will have to go down!!""

*BOOOOOM*

Dragon, through the use of the intense burst of storm, blasted away the fist of magma, which came from Sakazuki. Though the rainfall weakened the latter's attacks, it was only by a mild degree.

*TSSSSSS*

Additionally, the high amount of steam was generated due to the collaboration of Sakazuki's magma and the rain; Dragon had to blow them away consistently to prevent them from losing their sight.

'...Not good.' Though confident on the outside, Dragon knew that they weren't in a good position, 'The ancient weapons haven't been activated yet. Imu didn't even bother to make his appearance, and we have no idea as to where Luffy is. Number-wise, we already are at a disadvantage. Unless the others make up here fast, the chance of our victory is slim.'

"Hound Blaze!!!"

Then, Sakazuki's attack, the fanged head of a hound made by magma, collided against the storm that morphed into a shape of a dragon's claw,

"Ryusoken: Dragon's Roar!"

*BOOOOOOOOOM*

____________

[Wano, Hakumai]

"Copy of third, captain." Robin handed the sheet of paper to Rowan, "It was down below just as you said—and indeed, it was quite strange."

Carina nodded with a huff, "There lied many old-styled buildings and structures immersed in the water. It seems like Wano used to be much larger, but they were forced to evacuate here due to the water."

"And... a huge hole even below." Robin carried on, "A hole which, based on my speculation, seems to have held a... ship."

Robin's expression darkened, "It corresponds with the Poneglyph we came across in the Alabasta. It stated that the Pluton was located in here, Wano."

Rowan remarked, "So it was stolen, huh."

But he seemed unbothered. He simply shrugged it off,

"Doesn't really matter though." Rowan turned to Prominence with a grin, "She's stronger, I guarantee you."

<You bet, muahaha!!!>

Now, Rowan, Carina, and Robin, along with Prominence, stood at Hakumai port. By travelling across the water, they will be able to reach Onigashima, where, according to the intel from Orochi, the final copy of the Road Poneglyph should lie.

As for the others... they were busy exploring the Wano Country in a crazed manner.

"Alright, let's go." Rowan tapped his hand on the rail of Prominence.

*SWOOSH*

Then, they shot to the distant Onigashima, and within seconds, Prominence was floating above the Onigashima domineeringly.

<Ha! Aren't I fast?! Praise me, Rowan!>

"Yeah, yeah, you are the best ship in the world."

Rowan answered Prominence half-heartedly, before observing the Onigashima below.

"...Huh."

From what he could sense, one person was somehow going toe to toe against Cavendish.

"An intruder? Nah, more like a prisoner."

That person seemed to have a cuff on his or her hands.

"What's going on?" Carina asked with a tilt of her head.

"Cavendish is having fun." Rowan replied before jumping down from the Prominence.

*BOOM*

Rowan broke through the ceiling of the Onigashima with a belly flop posture, engraving his figure on the ceiling.

"...Was that necessary?" Carina, who remained on top of Prominence with Robin, muttered with a sweatdrop.

"Ufufu, I wonder if captain crashed into anyone. If he did so," Robin commented darkly, "that person would've met a horrifying death not only due to the impact, but also due to the shock. His or her dying expression will be interesting to look at."

"Uh... what?" Carina turned her head to Robin questioningly.

On the inside, Cavendish was seen flashing left and right, and the whole area was continuously being brightened by the blinding light.

"I said waitt!!!! You came here to wipe out the Beast pirates, right?! Then we are on the same side!!! The woman was seen shouting as she swung her club over and over to block Cavendish's non-stop sword strikes, "I'm Kozuki Oden!!"

"No, they clearly called you princess Yamato! Guahaha, don't think your lie is capable of tricking me, the great Pirate Prince!"

Cavendish laughed heartily as he launched the flurries of rapid sword slashes to Yamato, who blocked them all with her studded club crackling in the black lightning, the Infusion of the Conqueror's Haki.

"Cool." On the side, Rowan commented lazily, not bothering to stop the fight between Cavendish and Yamato. Instead,

*BOOOOM*

as they continued fighting, Rowan simply began his light-speed treasure hunt in the Onigashima, looking for the copy of the final Road Poneglyph at an unbelievable pace.

"Hey!!" Though Yamato cried at Rowan, her plea was ignored—she then had to swing her studded club again to block Cavendish's attack.

*BOOOM*

Then, Rowan stopped in midst of his track,

"Hold on. Yamato, you said?" Rowan turned around as if having remembered something, "Aren't you the one that Ace talked about?"

"Ace?" Yamato immediately perked up as she skidded back from Cavendish's strike, "He is my friend! Do you know him?"

"Yamato?" Cavendish stopped his sword momentarily, "Since when did that harden-idiot say that?!"

"Well," Rowan, whose eyes were now on the sheet of paper that he found from somewhere, said causally, "He's the type to become talk-active when drunk."

____________

"What?!! Your father is Kaidou?!" Dan's jaw dropped wide.

"Oh s***." Carmen muttered before shifting her eyes to Rowan, who was at some distance away, before answering dully, "Well, your father is dead."

"What?!" Yamato expressed her surprise, before saying boldly, "Good! He deserved it!"

"...Is she really Kaidou's daughter?" Urouge whispered to himself in an intrigue, "What kind of daughter says that?"

"It is true!" Cavendish said to Urouge, "Those Beast pirates called her 'princess Yamato!' But... a daughter of the Emperor, cuffed and imprisoned within the base... it definitely isn't a normal relationship!"

"Neigh~!!"

"Farul says that he thinks she may have been mistreated." A piece of alive pebble said in a monotone.

Away from the group, Rowan was seen to be looking at four sheets of paper along with Carina, Alfred and Robin; the rest were simply not interested in joining the analysis.

"The second one states... when the sun is at the highest point of the sky, when the moon has hidden itself, the road will be unveiled." Robin, whose eyes were locked onto the second sheet of paper, said in a serious tone.

"Time? Highest point, so..." Carina suggested, "A noon?"

"The third one states, follow the eyes of the giant skull within the humble island."

"Hmm..." Alfred hummed in thought, before snapping his finger, "Hachinosu, I'd say."

"Hachinosu?" Rowan raised his eyebrow, "That island famous for being the 'Pirate Paradise?'"

"Yes, indeed. The size was quite small, but there was a huge skull-like structure in the middle; I have visited it once when I was young, and that's where I saw the devil fruit user swimming..." Alfred shook his head, "Kaidou."

"Hold on, that man was Kaidou?" Rowan exclaimed with a surprise, "Why say it now?"

Alfred adjusted his monocle, as if he was about to say something important.

Rowan unconsciously gulped out of anticipation that sprung up abruptly, before Alfred finally opened his mouth,

"I forgot."

Rowan fell backward in a comical manner.

"So, straightforward from Lodestar, and direction pointed by the eyes from Hachinosu." Ignoring the two men, Carina said thoughtfully, "If those two paths converge at one point, and we reach that point at noon... is that it?"

Standing back up, Rowan asked Robin without any trace of goofiness, "What does the final one say?"

Robin held up the final sheet of paper with a slight confusion, "It says... Voice of All Things."

"That's it?" Carina frowned, unable to understand what it meant, "Voice of All Things? What's that supposed to be?"

"Voice..." Weird. Rowan felt as if he heard the word from 'Vasilia Endra's memory.' Though it wasn't vivid, there was one sense of certainty that he had regarding this issue,

"...No need to worry."

Rowan stood up from his spot and stretched, "Call it my hunch, but I believe that we won't face any problem regarding that."

"Aye aye, captain Rowan." Alfred nodded with a smile..

"Lodestar and Hachinosu. We'll have to visit those islands... haa... this is quite exhausting." Rowan slouched with a sigh, but nonetheless, straightened his posture and commanded, "Let's go."

Carina raised up her wrist and viewed the Log Pose, "Which one?"

The one in the middle was notably shaking, indicating that it was much more dangerous than the other two. However, Rowan disregarded such characteristic unlike some thrill-loving pirates, and said adamantly,

"North-East. The farthest one."