[146] Cradle of the Gods (III)

[3615 words]

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"What is all that noise!"

"Cipher Pol, go take care of the mess outside!"

"Damn ants! You can't even keep the peace for such a fateful day!"

The Celestial Dragons were furious at the constant disruptions. 

"Please remain seated. Everything is under control," an agent tried to calm them down. 

"Your mother is under control! Go and bring me all the intruders; I'll make them all into my slaves!"

Boom!

A resounding explosion went off, and the glass ceiling and windows shattered simultaneously, allowing a burst of wind to creep in.

"Ahhh!" Dozens of World Nobles clamoured about, some even thrown off their seats. 

"B-Blood… it's my blood!" a female Noble cried, her hand twitching at the sight of a few scratches from falling glass. 

 "Mother! M-My ears are ringing!"

"Auuugh, I-I stubbed my toe!"

Tens of painful wails went off following the explosions, mainly because the Celestial Dragons were within the scope of the broken shards of glass. Some fell to the ground, their gold-plated knees unconsciously prostrating to the world.

An older Noble clenched his fist, punching the priceless throne that bore his name: "What the hell is the Navy doing? How could they let this happen!?" 

"They better be ready to get their budget cut!"

A Dragon with a whale-shaped hairstyle couldn't help but curse the situation: "Once-in-century event ruined by scum… I'll have them cut to pieces and fed to my dogs!"

"We couldn't even get to the triennial Native Hunting Competition! I was waiting to hunt down those useless rabbits!"

.

Meanwhile, a horde of Cipher Pol Agents and Holy Guards stood in defense at the main entrance through the golden halls. 

They each had bated breathing, desperately moving oxygen to their brains as their fight-or-flight mechanic was going overdrive. 

*Hiss* A cold, bone-chilling breeze leaked from the tiny gaps around the hinges of the gate. 

*Thump* *Thump* *Thump* A confident stride growing closer.

The duty of these guards was to die for the World Nobles; that's what they were raised and trained for, yet their human instincts told them to retreat. 

*Krrrrrr*

It sounded like someone grinding their nails at a chalkboard, though the golden doors stood nearly 50 feet tall here. 

Black marks resembling rotten wood appeared through the gates, dripping with black miasma. The stench of death accompanied them.

*Crack* Web-like patterns followed the scratch marks, spanning all over the doors instantly.

The world suddenly felt dull; even the magnificent lighting couldn't shed hope on their grave situation. 

Boom!

The soldiers couldn't even factor in the pain before they were wiped out, the door entirely disappearing alongside them; looking at the opened halls, there was nothing but darkness. 

Even the rowdy Nobles froze at the ominous scene, chills going up their priceless spines. 

"Xahahahaha!"

The laugh forced everyone to gulp a breath of air. Their bodies wished to retreat, but they couldn't move a muscle!

*Thump* *Thump* A dark figure stepped in, gracing the sacred room with his infernal presence.

A monstrous creature born from hatred and suffering. His face was scarred and weathered, his blood-soaked clothes and wild hair were only overshadowed by his savage grin—a being born to bring disaster to the seas!

"You insects dare steal from me?"

*Shing!* Mokushiroku, the Molten Blade, was unsheathed, sizzling in impatience. The divine children could only watch as their legs failed to respond.

.

"Touch of Death!"

.

The evil pirate slashed his blade, unleashing a thick black slash that was filled with his dreadful ability.

The golden floors began to rot away and rust into nothingness while the slash reached its targets. No matter if it was an agent, marine or even a Celestial Dragon, they were all cut into halves!

*Splatter*

Bodies fell with loud thuds, dyeing the magnificent hall with a fresh coat of blood. It was the blood of gods!

"W-Why can we be killed? F-Father, help me!"

"T-This can't be!"

"How dare you!"

Nineteen Nobles were sliced apart, one from each family. They cried out in fear, their arrogance falling apart as the evil pirate took a few slow steps ahead. 

"Xahahaha! I knew you Nobles would make some good music with your miserable wails." 

Rocks broke out with a broken laugh, holding up his famed blade once more. This time, his target was everyone.

But as he slashed the Molten Blade, he was met with a brick wall.

*Clang!* 

The Supreme Blade ran with a dull tremor, echoing through its cracked body and transferring into its user.

Xebec frowned from the slight ache in his arm. He sneered at the man responsible: "Garp, you really want to protect these wastes of human flesh?"

The dishevelled marine was left with nothing more than a simple sailor shirt and blue trousers, but the aura of hero was ever-brilliant.

"Damn you, Rocks! You actually made me save them!"

Garp's face stretched with irritation. He glanced at the Gods, breathing a sigh of relief, which annoyed him even more.

The Vice Admiral uttered a growl, wrapping his left arm with dense Haki.

While holding Xebec down, he unleashed another titanic punch.

.

"Fist of Pain!"

.

The bone-rattling punch rippled across the scarred Xebec's face, echoing deep into his head and shaking up his very brain. 

The crazed captain was shot back, digging deep into the golden walls and leaving behind a shredded path.

"Tch!" Garp was livid.

First from being rag-dolled by Shiki's Awakening and then Rocks from the Titanic, and then he had to do something he hated the most: save the Celestial Dragons.

He surveyed the surroundings, stretching his senses.

He heard the miserable cries of the Nobles, smelled the rotting gold, and tasted the sulphur in the air.

Dozens of Cipher Pol Agents and Holy Guards had appeared, rushing to escort the Celestial Dragons to safety.

"What a mess… Hmm!?" Garp's eyes shot open, feeling the eyes of an apex predator lock onto him.

All he could do was cross his arm over his chest, coating them with dense Haki.

.

"Touch of Death!"

.

Rocks' attack rammed hard against the Vice Admiral, digging and drilling into his skin.

Garp groaned as the withering attack persisted, shredding into his arms and drumming his entire body with the dense Haki.

Sparks flew from the collision, aided by black lightning arcing all over. Next were droplets of blood before the Vice Admiral was sent soaring across the spanning chamber.

*Boom!* Garp gnashed his teeth as his back slammed onto the wall built to withstand natural disasters! 

The attack from before was still strong, slowly tearing its victim through the walls.

He shook his head from the throbbing pain while also hearing a hoarse voice: "It was wise of Kong to send a master of Haki to take me on…but you alone aren't enough to hold me off!"

Rocks laughed as the glorious walls shattered like glass, taking Garp with it.

*Vvoooo!* The wind shrieked as the Vice Admiral was sent to the distance, ripping a man-shaped hole through the forest and even through one of the twin peaks of God Valley.

Meanwhile, the torrents released from Xebec's slash had reached the Nobles nearby.

"Auug–" They couldn't even finish their cries of pain before they were turned into minced meat, and their remains rotting away into black powder.

…

"I never thought I'd be thankful to a pirate," a giant slave uttered, freeing himself from his chains.

He, alongside a few hundred others, also liberated themselves. For the safety of the Nobles, they were held behind Seastone glass. Although that, too, shattered, it protected the slaves enough.

"Celestial Dragons… I've always dreamed of killing them with my own hands!"

"I want to dine on their livers!"

"How dare they label us as rabbits!? Let's see how they like being hunted down!"

"Kill them all!"

The shipped slaves were premium and of the highest quality, making a decent few of them quite strong. 

The four giants roared, running wild as they kicked and smashed the room apart.

A few minks exploded with electricity, zapping at the Nobles.

Fishmen utilized their Fishman Karate, using the blood and wine nearby to unleash hell.

The slaves ripped them to shreds; men, women and children of Mariejois were swarmed by a horde of prisoners. Some even imposed torture worse than death onto the Nobles, while others grabbed the women and girls.

Blood, painful wails and begging cries were all that remained.

…

Meanwhile, another group of slaves were talking amongst themselves.

"Kuma, ve're free!" a large-head boy exclaimed, talking to an even larger and bulkier young fellow.

"The tournament they wanted to hold after the auction has prizes that are the key to our escape!" a young pink-haired girl recounted, balling her fists.

"The Sun-guy Sol robbed the main prize, so they replaced it with another mythical one," she announced, holding up a transponder snail. "The Paw-Paw fruit is still there; we can use it to blast ourselves to distant islands!"

The boisterous and big-headed boy grinned in agreement. "If any of us eats that, ve can escape this hell and the Navy's siege!"

However, a broken-hearted slave by the side couldn't help but shake his head, "But it's impossible. The prizes are kept at the very center of the island!"

Yet his pessimistic attitude was quickly questioned by the young girl named Ginny.

"I'm a pro thief and wiretapper! Two weeks back, I leaked all this info to the outside world! I'm sure my message got someone's attention!" She beamed a toothy smile, "A plan like this needs plenty of decoys running around, after all!"

Now, all that remained was a heavy and insurmountable task. Though the giant young slave was quick to offer himself: "I can help with that!"

"Kuma?" the big-headed one muttered.

"My size and bulkiness will help me survive longer than most!"

Ginny blinked, "I'd hate to see anyone here die when we attempt this."

Yet the words of Kuma had lit a fire in the leading slave's heart.

"Hee-Haw! Vell said, Kuma! I vill not allow any of you to be killed! Ve're escaping God Valley together!"

[Young Slaves Image (in Discord)]

…

The other slaves scrambled around. The angered ones took their rage onto the Nobles, while some were fearful at heart. 

However, one bellowing laughter overshadowed them all.

"Xahahaha!"

Rocks breathed in the tumultuous air, loving the blasphemous acts of the slaves. He lived off the anarchy, spreading his arms to welcome it.

His feral appearance was amplified by the blood of the Gods, echoing through the broken halls of God Valley. It spread across the castle and even beyond, resounding through the cracked skies above.

He could hear the unnaturally lively God Valley screaming at him; the world was screaming at him!

Xebec was the personification of all things evil, an infernal being born from the hellacious New World. The Screams of All Things had been present since his birth, leaving him to become a vessel of hatred.

[Rocks D. Xebec Image (in Discord)]

…

Boom! *Crash*

A man-shaped hole opened up from where Garp had crashed. It was a good 2500 meters from the castle. A ravaged trail of earth connected the two locations, even ripping a hole through entire mountains.

Giant blocks of earth and debris soon rose alongside a cloud of dust as the Vice Admiral clawed his way out.

*Drip* *Drop* Blood dribbled from his mouth and the diagonal cut across his forearms. Garp coughed, clearing his lungs of blood while stabilizing his breathing.

"Huh?" he muttered, feeling darkness fall around him.

The marine turned to the side and noticed he was at the edge of the island. Something was there, casting a broad shadow—a ship with red sails!

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[Battle at the Coast]

*Zzip*

Shing!

BAM!

Dozens of white-clothed agents soared through the battlefield, utilizing the Six Powers. They cut apart hundreds of pirates with little difficulty.

Naturally, all of this was under Xerxes' command.

"You plan on standing around?" the lead agent questioned.

His words were intended for the pirate before him.

"Rahahaha! I'd rather you slaughter them all."

Xerxes snorted at the comment as he simply stood across the Sin Incarnate, his arms crossed and his face as wild as a lion.

"Phantom, do it!"

The Mythical Zoan nodded under his mysterious cloak, the darkness swelling around him.

Under Damien and Indra's curious eyes, the agent waved a shrouded arm and released a stream of dark energy. 

It swallowed battalions of people, not pirates, but rather marines! Yet the Vice Admirals nearby didn't comment on it whatsoever.

*Fuuuu* Phantom's energy once more appeared, though this time from his other hand. He directed it to the opposite side of the battlefield, behind the pirate army.

.

"Gate of Babylon!"

.

The energy turned into a giant door spanning over a hundred meters, a portal!

"Very nice," Damien applauded. Phantom had transported a vast number of soldiers to flank the enemy.

A bellowing war cry went off as the teleported marines, all 15,000 of them, ran forward, attacking the horde of pirates from the rear. Within moments, tens of thousands of pirates were attacked from both the front and the back! 

Nearly 31,000 Navy officers were cutting apart the pirates. Within minutes, the total pirate count dropped to 14,000 and falling continuously!

…

Xerxes hummed in satisfaction, though it fell apart as he heard his sole opponent's words.

"A cornered dog will bite, especially rabid ones."

The head agent eyed Damien and pondered over his words. He then spanned his Haki across the fourteen thousand pirates and listened.

"..."

Xerxes' eyes shot wide as he felt the 14,000 men laughing to themselves, exploding out their monstrous natures.

"Yee Haw-Haw-Haw! Kill! Kill! Kill!"

"Come on, Navy, feed me more!"

"'Tis me kind o' battle, how lucky I am t' be here!"

Xerxes' breathing hitched, and his brows furrowed: "They're excited!?"

All of a sudden, the near double-sized Navy force lost its momentum and was thrown into a stalemate. They watched in horror as the pirates began to resemble walking corpses more than anything.

'The lack of camaraderie has turned them into nothing more than monsters of chaos,' Damien thought.

Hachinosu had long become an area where all sorts of filth came together, birthing emotions that no mortal soul should have to live through.

Indra was just as unfazed. 'They would make good weapons to wreak havoc. Is this how the Warborns were viewed back then?' he thought to himself.

But then came a flare of his Haki: "!!!"

The swordsman's eyes shot to the side, feeling a powerful presence.

"The Navy is in luck. It looks like they have some…unorthodox support."

Damien smirked at the comment. He, too, naturally felt the fifty or so men arrive from afar. They were led by a familiar swordsman with golden hair.

"Rayleigh," Damien simply greeted.

The man looked in the younger pirate's direction and beamed a smile through his spectacles. "We'll talk over some drinks later."

Rayleigh gestured to his band of pirates as they unfolded onto the Rocks Pirates. It almost seemed that they were helping the Navy in this predicament!

…

"Silvers Rayleigh, what do you want?" 

The sword user flashed his sword, reflecting an ominous gleam off its sharp blade. "Admiral Sengoku, your command is needed elsewhere."

Both Sengoku and his opponent, Shiki, were confused.

"Why are you helping us?"

The Dark King chuckled, using his left hand to pop his glasses back up. "The enemy of my enemy is my friend; we share a common goal."

"What's that?"

"The Death of Rocks."

The bespectacled Buddha narrowed his eyes at Rayleigh, huffing a dull breath.

"..." A golden flash soon went off as the huge mythical creature transformed back into the afroed Admiral.

*Vvoosh* Sengoku resolutely flickered away.

"Jihahahaha! Rayleigh, you actually think Captain Rocks can be taken down that easily?" Shiki cackled.

His words earned a shrug, "That remains to be seen. Though I do know for certain that you aren't getting through here!"

Shiki raised an eyebrow. His mane flew wildly as the pirate floated in the sky.

Thud!

Another pirate arrived, this one with twin axes and sunglasses.

"Hmph, Roger's right and left hands… Come on then, show me what you got!"

The Golden Lion roared a burst of Haki, taking on both the notorious pirates!

…

The carnage in a nearby area was just as chaotic.

Boom!

A confident Whitebeard grinned as he continued his duel with Basara.

A simple punch and the coming mountainous sword was shattered to bits. 

The Admiral gnashed his teeth, exercising his great strength to the fullest.

.

"Dreaded Devastation!"

.

The spiked earth shot forth at the pirate, spanning hundreds of meters and carrying enough power to cut open the island!

Yet a single punch from Whitebeard and all of Basara's effort was for naught.

"Gurararara, using the earth against a man who can create earthquakes!"

Shing!

"!!!" Newgate's eyes shot open while a sharp pain buzzed near his chest.

*Thump* *Thump* The towering Whitebeard took three steps back, grasping his torn chest with his open hand, blood leaking through the gaps.

"Admiral Basara, your abilities are countered by this pirate. Allow me to hold him back."

The voice was foreign to them both.

Basara looked to the side and saw an elegant ally that had come to his side.

"...Saint Garling?"

*Thud!* Dozens of booms then went off as a vast number of soldiers arrived.

Whitebeard hummed past the dull pain. He exhaled a deep breath, cracking his neck and shoulder. The grip over his glaive tightened as he glared at the new enemies.

"God's Knights… I didn't think you people would ever leave that place."

Then, the pained face warped into a smirk. "Gurararara! Who would've thought that such powerful men amongst the trash at Mariejois."

Garling, who had come with the escort of his God's Knights, scoffed.

"The might of the Celestial Dragons is not simply in our blood. The First Twenty waged endless wars to attain the World Government; our names carry strength and demand fealty!"

A famed blade was raised against the titanic pirate: "You hold the most destructive power here. I simply won't sit back and watch as this Sacred Land is destroyed any further!"

Whitebeard narrowed his eyes, hearing the sharp words and dozens of enemies led by Garling, each one of them at least as strong as a Vice Admiral.

"Then try and protect it!!!"

BOOM!

…

Basara, who was now free, shot toward his other goal. His single eye locked onto the despicable pirate who robbed his other one.

*Vvooo*

The air shrieked as the Admiral raged across entire battle zones and toward the Sin Incarnate. He was all but five hundred meters away before some nuisances arrived.

Boom!

A giant axe planted The Admiral into the floor, but his eyes were unfazed.

"Rocks Pirates' Tragedies!" he grumbled at the sight of Silver Axe and Wang Zhi. He slapped the blades away, standing tall with his cape fluttered in the wind.

"Allow us to entertain you, Admiral Basara," Silver Axe's quaint voice went off.

"Wawawawa!" Wang Zhi wildly laughed. "I haven't fought an Admiral yet!"

…

*Rumble*

The only quiet area of God Valley's coast began to tremble.

Xerxes was deeply worried about the tremors echoing from God Valley, fearing for the Celestial Dragons.

"You don't have time to worry about them."

He turned to the man who spoke, Damien.

The usually bold pirate was rather lax, opting to stay by the sidelines for the first part of the war. Yet suddenly, a few shadows soon fell around the towering pirates, unveiling a few more.

"Majajaja! Leave these Cipher Pol dogs to us!"

"Arai helps Commander."

"Patrón," another voice said. "Hensō, Kaen, and Señor Solomon are taking on Zephyr. We will support you here."

Majin grinned, his bulky body transformed into an ankylosaurus. Arai scratched his rocky head as his body squirmed into the shape of an enormous snake.

The former went for Phantom. 

"Come on, little ghost man! Daddy will put you to rest!" 

The latter went for another top operative, Mimic.

"Arai fight you and show you the great taste of rocks!"

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Pablo smoked on a cigar from the side, unloading a volley of auxiliary bullets at his amigos.

…

"Commander."

Damien turned to Indra with a questioning gaze.

The dark-skinned man stood tall amongst the dust, his hand still resting over the sacred Tenmei.

"The Marines' offense has shifted once more," he informed with his pristine Observation. "They have a proper leader now."

Damien felt the winds change as well. "Hmm, it must be Sengoku. We're down to nine thousand while the Navy is nearly thrice as many…"

He locked onto the untransformed Sengoku in the distance, buzzing out orders to the thousands of soldiers.

"I can't let you guys win too easily, now can I?"

A sound of pixelization went off as the young pirate's body exploded into fine red particles, shooting toward the distant Sengoku.

"I am here as well!" Xerxes bellowed, rushing to stop the pirate.

*Boom!* Yet his body was blasted with a bright flash followed by the roar of thunder. The earth below exploded into a crater while nearby trees were lit ablaze. 

A clear sky a second ago, yet somehow a storm had spawned!

Xerxes growled out from the hole. His dull eyes looked to the skies crackling with blue lightning.

A solemn look flashed by the head agent's face as he fully understood just how grave the situation had become.

He turned to Indra, his body arcing with blue strands of electric charge.

"We figured out that the Hellspawn ate an electricity-type Devil Fruit… But the lost Rumble-Rumble Fruit was beyond my expectations…"

To Be Continued…

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Author's Corner.

Recall that the Azure Dragon Fruit is already with Big Mom, stolen from Pryde D. Sol. However, the World Government has replaced it with another impressive fruit. Meanwhile, a few battles have begun while Damien targets an old enemy...

Images are available on Discord alongside other niche details: https://discord.gg/aJHHHPvb6q