[118] The Setting Sun

[2860 words]

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[The Remains of Glint Island]

*Gurrug* *Gulp* *Burp!* Two men sat face to face on a broken part of the island that slowly drifted about.

"Oye, Newgate, this stuff isn't bad!" Roger declared as he drank from a large saké cup.

Whitebeard, too, was gulping down liters of saké like it was oxygen. "Damien has a saké-fruit user in his division; I almost tried to steal him myself, Gurarara!" the giant man laughed.

The duo were busy sipping Voyd Nomu's personal craft: The Devil's Juice.

*Rumble!*

Their drinking content was put on hold as they looked to the far horizon and saw the giant fireball light up the seas, followed by an earsplitting shockwave.

Whitebeard, a man of vibration, naturally felt the quivering tectonics plates, fully showcasing the hell being wrought.

Roger's jaw dropped while his eyes shone red. "That Damien guy truly is the Marines' nightmare. Wahahaha!"

"Gurarara!"

"Wahahaha!"

"Gurarara!"

…

[Nearby]

*Rumble!*

The same rumbling travelled to this part of the sea as well. 

"It seems the Navy has been hit hard once more by that young man," an aloof voice broke out.

"Redfield, how dare you look away amid our fight!" Shiki roared and slashed down a golden arc of endless energy.

The man in question countered it with an equally powerful attack from his umbrella.

"Pahaha! That aside, it's best I head back now. I had a delightful time in our little contest, Shiki," Redfield said and prepared to leave.

The Golden Lion growled in rage as he felt he was being treated like a toy. "You damn red bastard!"

The Red Count smilingly brought out a pen and a few leaves from his pocket that seemed to give a faint warmth. "Do busy yourself with this parting gift."

*Poof*

The five leaves exploded into a cloud of smoke as a few shadows stepped out.

"Under the flag of justice, we will take you down!"

"Shiki? Take my fist on that golden head of yours!"

"Pirate scum, surrender!"

"Golden Lion Shiki, it's time to take you down a peg."

"I haven't left my office in a while, I hope my fists haven't gotten rusty."

Five clones created by Red's pen, the Mythical Zoan Fruit—Bake-danuki! The Three Admirals and Garp were brought out alongside even Fleet Admiral Kong!

Redfield then opened his umbrella and floated away with a mysterious smile as he gazed at the explosion nearby.

"You asshole!" Shiki growled in annoyance as his prey escaped, leaving him with a few false enemies.

…

[Above Glint Island]

Nearly 8,000 meters in the sky was another fight, touching the skies. A man one may confuse as the Sun God was taking on an unholy pirate.

Sol, who had already spent over 15 hours at the Core of his powers, felt his end approaching, much to Xebec's irritation.

The crazy pirate's open palm suddenly exploded with withering-black swirls of energy that stormed into a black mass of endless despair.

The torrents of death felt like wind… however, the wind wasn't actually there as it had all but withered away. Instead, the torrents were literal streams of death energy that slashed and whirled around the disaster that Xebec brought.

.

"Death Storm!"

.

Sol felt his divine fire slowly wither away, replaced by gray ones. He gave out a loud growl mixed with pain and rage, gathered his energy and condensed it to his very core.

.

"Heliacal Supernova!"

.

Like an exploding star, the body released incredible amounts of nuclear flames, which countered the swirls of death.

Though Rocks, who had seen the ever-decreasing strength of his adversary, was losing interest.

The evil pirate controlled his endless supply of death energy as it rippled into being, whirling and crying out impatiently, greedy to pull others to its deathly embrace.

The deathly energy formed a colossal and nightmarish beast formed of death energy, standing at a towering 40 meters (131 ft). 

It has a grotesque, twisted body with three giant animal skulls, each glowing with an ominous light in its eye sockets. Sharp horns and jagged spikes protrude from its back, and random body parts and skeletons are embedded throughout its form. Additional limbs emerge from its sides and underbelly. 

The creature exuded an unholy aura, surrounded by dark, swirling mists and eerie lights.

.

"Damsel of Death."

.

The incarnation of pure death seemed to express its anger in a loud cry. The growl alone would cause most to shudder in fear, and their primal instincts overflowed.

[Attack Image (in Discord)]

Sol's eyes brimmed with dread as if staring death itself in the face. A sight that dragged him back to a haunting memory.

…

[Seventy-Seven Years Ago]

"That's it, brat, burn the useless ones!" The command came from a grizzled man, his face a map of burn scars, as he slapped the back of a young boy.

The two stood in front of a lever connected to some intricate wires.

The boy, no more than five years old, stood frozen, his hand trembling as it gripped the lever. Meanwhile, a few moans and grunts echoed from the mouths of nearly a dozen people.

Men, women, and children lay sprawled on the ground beneath a makeshift cannon, their bodies weakened by a damning sickness.

"Hehe, that's it, just pull it and put them out of their misery!"

The words echoed in the white-haired boy's mind as his face quivered in fear, his hair slick with sweat.

After what felt like an eternity, he pulled the lever.

At his command, fiery hell erupted over the defenseless folk, engulfing them in an inferno.

Wailing cries pierced the air as the boy watched, his ears ringing with their screams and his nose filled with the stench of burning flesh.

"..."

"You did well; maybe I'll bring you under my flag in a few years!" the older man praised, grinning at the brutal display.

…

As the years dragged on, the young boy continued to purge the sickly slaves from a string of islands.

The pirates reaped the spoils of the enslaved villagers, burning the sick and useless, a grim signature of the Purge Pirates and their leader, Pyre the Purifier.

…

On a dark, moonless night, nearly five years after the enslavement of Moraino Island, something inside the boy changed.

The boy, now older, gathered the sick and purged them as ordered. His white hair, dulled from years of abuse, contrasted sharply with his oddly clear eyes.

He stood before a tiny cell housing two people.

A ray of light bathed the area; human filth lay in the corner of the cage, next to some spoiled fruits—dinner for the imprisoned.

"Don't worry, Mom, Dad," the boy whispered to the collapsed duo. "I've heard that Nika will come and liberate us from our suffering."

The child beamed a healthy smile, showcasing the joy of what's to come. "Hmm, though it's been five years now, and I haven't seen him yet," he mused, cupping his chin.

He shook his head in stubborn refusal and echoed a spirited reply, "Hehe, you know what? I found this really cool fruit the other day!"

The words brimmed with excitement, much like a child seeking appreciation from his guardians.

The boy sheepishly smiled and raised his hand. With a spark, it burst into flames!

"Look! Isn't it pretty!?" The ten-year-old was enraptured by the crackling flame, a fire that also reflected his burning passion.

"Don't worry, I cleansed all those bad people with this fire before coming to you. Uhhh, I was a little late because I burned my clothes by accident, hehe~" The boy laughed to himself, a blend of joy and embarrassment.

He then peered past the flame at his parents, unconscious on the floor, dying in their own filth.

"Don't worry. I will liberate you both from your suffering, and you will never have to feel pain again!"

…

The memory cleared like clouds parting to reveal dawn. Life returned to Overlord Sol's eyes as he faced the coming of death.

"Sohohoho!" he burst into laughter, shaking his head. "Rocks, I was reborn in death and fire… if this is my end, I shall embrace it gloriously!"

The Sun of Pride's body turned intangible, fully consumed with white fire. 

.

"Helios Eclipse!"

.

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[Back to the Scorched Sea]

The battle of dark and light continued to torch the skies while the seas far below had been scorched.

Thousands of cannonballs were launched as countless bullets were fired across the broken lands. They skimmed over the rocky platform and rained down upon the marines.

7,000.

6,700.

6,300.

5,900.

5,600.

The numbers dropped as the minutes passed. Meanwhile, arcs of light continued to shine through the cracks of the mountain shield erected around the fireball.

4,900.

Alas, it finally stopped.

*Thud* Zephyr fell to a single knee as he felt his stamina bottomed from the constant Emission Haki used to control the explosion—it took nearly ten minutes!

Sengoku transformed into his human form as he exhaled a heavy breath.

"What a ridiculous turn of events," Garp sighed as he felt the need to inhale a few tons of rice crackers.

Basara's mountains fell apart as the rocks rained onto nearby devastated seas.

"I doubt even I could survive this, but with his power…" the mountainous Admiral murmured.

A Vice Admiral under the Black Eagle's division rushed ahead, reaching what was once the center of the Ox Lloyd's Warship.

"..."

What awaited the decorated marine was harrowing.

His eyes were left wide open from the assault of his senses. The smell of molten skin, the taste of rotten flesh, the sound of broken wails, the humidity in the air and the unholy remnant of the dazzling Admiral.

But even under the deathly hallows was a faint heartbeat. "Masao-san still lives, but…" he exclaimed.

"But what!?"

"H-He looks like he shouldn't be alive!"

Kurowashi's face was left scarred and unrecognizable. The messy yet dazzling Admiral was left with a hideous appearance.

Faint groans escaped the fallen Masao's mouth; he was conscious but in intolerable pain. After all, being bathed in the heat from the bomb while having your innards shaken would leave anyone broken.

.

Basara gnashed his teeth in fury, "The Ox Lloyd's Warship is all but ruined, and its commander is also left in such a condition… DAMN PIRATES!"

And it was true.

The Ox Lloyd's Warship, which sailed the great seas and induced endless courage in the Marines and fear in the pirates, was destroyed. If not for Basara, the little portion of wood they stood on would have long since vanished.

"We were able to save the Ox Bell. As long as it remains, the warship can be rebuilt," Zephyr said as he regained his bearings.

Sengoku then saw the carnage of the remaining marines.

He saw hundreds of his men die at the passing second. He saw the sea below, having changed from an azure blue to a dull red, bathed in his men's blood. He also saw the proud marine warships in ruins, as only a few remained.

On top of that, he saw a pillar of the Navy, an Admiral, left in a condition some would consider worse than death!

'Masao must have siphoned the high morale of our troops to keep himself alive through this… but it's left our men completely defeated,' Sengoku surmised.

The afroed man shook his head and shut his eyes. A snail was brought out from his pocket as he sent out an array of orders.

"...Basara-san, create mountains parallel to our formation, protect us from all fire. Zephyr, Garp. You both clear any large debris in the way of our movements."

"All available Vice and Rear Admirals are to take over the recollection of the wounded and the bodies!"

Sengoku took a deep and helpless breath before his voice echoed through the formation: "ALL TROOPS! MAKE A FULL-SCALE RETREAT POSTHASTE!"

The heavy words laced with anger resounded even through the mayhem and carnage and brought much-needed relief.

"Tend to the wounded, carry the dead if possible. We will shield you," Basara's hoarse voice arrived. "We may have lost the battle, but we will win the war!"

The Admirals' words echoed everywhere as they somewhat brought back the broken spirits; most could only utter a single thought: 'Loss is temporary; Justice is forever!'

*Rumble* The ground suddenly shook as 300-meter-tall mountains extended out from the sides of the formation, parallel to their retreat. They extended tens of kilometers, making for a landmark of their own.

Garp, Zephyr and the other Vice Admirals worked together to smash apart any broken ships in the way.

.

Meanwhile, Sengoku glared at the pirates' side, specifically at the man at the helm.

"Your goal was never to hold us off till Rocks was finished, but rather take down Kurowashi and the Ox Lloyds Warship in a single go and destroy our entire formation in one move!"

The Sin Incarnate stood at the front of the Suicidal Rambo and matched the Admiral's gaze.

"Don't you want to chase them and take them all out, Damien-chan?" Shakky's voice reached in his ears.

But the young pirate shook his head. "Forget it; we also have many wounded, and those four still stand. We may have cut their numbers to a small amount, but as the saying goes, 'A cornered dog will bite.'"

His goal was complete, plus killing any further would prove disadvantageous toward his goals for God Valley.

Shakky nodded and then gave an impressed look. "That aside, Damien-chan. It looks like you left quite the mark here."

The male pirate smiled and nodded. It wasn't exactly planned, but it had a nice look.

Even the pirates, annoyed by the order to remain on standby, seemed lost in the sight before them.

It was in the area where the explosion took place. Or at least what was left of it.

The bomb that Damien dropped was special, laced with atomizing energy.

The explosion released, though quelled, had some extra spice in it. In unison with the highly reactive ore, the atomizing energy had caused an exciting occurrence that spread wider and wider in the wake of the Navy's retreat.

It was an enormous crater in the sea!

Giant volumes of seawater seemed to whirl into a vortex generated from the gaping hole yet to no avail. It was a sinkhole a full kilometer wide that led to a crimson glow, endlessly pulling Mother Ocean into its damning embrace.

[Scar Image (in Discord)]

.

"It's most likely here to stay… How poetic," Rayleigh commented as he polished his saber, his hair slicked with sweat from the earlier battle.

He and practically all of the war participants had suffered significant damage.

Damien's arms were left sore and purple after healing from Garp's punches. He was even missing a few teeth, nothing that some milk couldn't fix.

The soreness and leftover damage were attributed to the Grandmastery of Armament, which Garp was kind enough to display. The Haki left a residual effect, temporarily halting Damien's recovery.

Apart from him, Silver Axe had skiffs, while Wang Zhi had cuts all over.

Rayleigh, apart from his new scars from Sol, was also left with some injuries from Sengoku. A few cracked ribs and whatnot.

Linlin was munching on one of her crashed ships, eating the remains. A thundercloud and miniature sun danced around her voluptuous waist.

Kaido sat gloomy, angered by Damien's consistent rise in strength.

"You did well, Indra."

A few seconds passed as the pirate arrived by Damien's side, drenched with water.

The dark-skinned swordsman nodded and said, "He remained on the ship as you expected. Now I wonder if he still draws breath."

The Sin Incarnate grinned with appreciation, "He is indeed alive. That Awakened Pump-Pump Fruit allows him to convert high morale into energy and enviable recovery." A sharp glint passed Damien's eyes, "But this is only the beginning of his misery…"

Indra was unsure of the grievance between his commander and Kurowashi. Still, he felt things would only worsen for the broken Admiral.

…

The pirates were busy either salvaging remains, tending to their injuries, or killing off one another.

Undoubtedly, the war had ended.

*Fwooooo!* Suddenly, a sharp whistle blew, grabbing all eyes.

Damien and the others looked at the sky and saw a white light fall; a blazing flame covered the object as it approached the ground.

"Hmm?" Damien's observation made out a familiar figure. It was Pryde D. Sol.

Black cracks formed across his body while his eyes were whitened out. However, even under such miserable conditions, the mighty pirate was smiling!

BOOM! 

Like a meteor, the body crashed onto the remains of Glint Island, sending ripples of shock out. The infernal remains of the Overlord caved down into the ground as it ran through the broken island.

*Purrup* The sea steamed as the body of the fallen pirate dug into the seafloor and the bedrock below.

With a powerful Overlord having died, the world would undoubtedly recall this day. 

A day that led to the most tumultuous showdown between the Navy and the Pirates in recent history, a day when the sun was plucked from the sky! 

To Be Continued…

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Author's Corner.

This also draws the curtains on the Scorched Sea War and Sol, the scarred son of Moraino Island.

Which Overlord was your favourite?

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