One Piece: The user of the Nen-Nen Fruit, who overturned the sea.

Mona shook her head at his eager expression, but her smile deepened.

Cooler, nicknamed "Madman" among rookie pirates.

Since he set sail, this guy has always chosen to fight opponents stronger than himself.

Fight if you can win, run if you can't, and fight to the death if you can't run.

With his steel-like defense and reckless fighting style, he managed to make a name for himself in the first half of the Grand Line.

But this time, the target he chose was a bit too high.

"Gula,"

Mona's voice was languid.

I advise you to calm down.

Those two guys aren't the riffraff you've run into before.

"I know."

Gula didn't turn his head; instead, the fighting spirit in his eyes intensified.

"It's precisely because I know this that I'm even more eager to try."

His hands were clenched into fists, and a gray metallic sheen spread from his fingertips to his wrists and then to his entire forearm.

That's the power of the Steel Fruit, which allows you to transform any part of your body into a special metal that's even harder than steel.

On the other side, "Blood Axe" Barrett had already taken the giant axe off his back.

The axe was taller than him, the blade was as wide as a small shield, and the handle was as thick as an adult's arm.

He gripped the axe handle with one hand as easily as if it were a straw, but the bulging muscles and bulging veins showed that he had already stored up his strength to the limit.

"Let me go!"

Blood Axe flung the first mate's hand away and stared intently at the black-haired man in mid-air.

"Captain!!!" The first mate was almost in tears.

"Shut up!" Barrett gritted his teeth.

"I set sail just to fight a strongman like him!"

"It's better to die at his hands than at the hands of those nameless nobody!"

His legs were slightly bent, and a piece of tile beneath his feet shattered with a crackling sound.

But just as he was about to rush out—

A hand was placed on his shoulder.

"Calm down, Blood Axe."

It's Mona.

Before anyone knew it, she had floated over from the opposite rooftop and placed a hand on Barrett's shoulder.

Take a closer look.

She tilted her chin slightly upwards.

Blood Axe followed her gaze.

Roy remained suspended in mid-air, arms crossed, his expression calm.

Behind him were Tesoro, Yamato, Enel, Savi, Kazami...

A group of cadres stood in a row, each exuding an aura no less powerful than any of the wanted criminals present.

Roy himself didn't even look at them.

His gaze passed over the burning ruins, over the chaotic streets, and landed on the powerful aura rapidly approaching in the distance.

One. Two. Three. Four.

The four auras were all so powerful that they were suffocating.

Blood Axe's pupils suddenly contracted.

He sensed it.

The oppressive feeling came from afar, overwhelming like four moving mountains.

"That is..."

For the first time, a hint of seriousness appeared in Mona's voice.

"Four admirals."

Her snake-like eyes narrowed slightly as she looked at Roy.

"He's waiting for them."

Gula stopped in his tracks.

He looked up at the black-haired man in mid-air, and for the first time, the fighting spirit in his eyes was replaced by another emotion.

That was reverence.

Facing four admirals, the man still crossed his arms, his expression as calm as if he were waiting for some old friends.

This is the Heavenly Emperor.

This is the magnanimity of a Four Emperors.

"See that?"

Mona released her grip on 'Blood Axe' Barrett. "That level of combat is not something we can get involved in."

Blood Axe Barrett gritted his teeth, the veins on his axe-wielding hand bulging, but he didn't move again.

He is not a fool.

He's just belligerent, not looking for death.

Four admirals—what does that even mean?

Any one of them could crush him into dust.

If all four of them attacked together, he wouldn't even qualify to be cannon fodder.

Gula also stopped taking a step.

He lowered his head, looked at his hands covered in gray metal, remained silent for a few seconds, and then smiled.

"Hehehe... Looks like I'm still a long way off."

His voice no longer held the excitement it had before; instead, it carried an indescribable emotion.

It wasn't frustration, it wasn't fear.

It is the clarity that comes from recognizing the gap.

"Let's retreat." Mona turned around. "We're in danger even if we just watch this level of battle."

Gula nodded and followed behind her.

Barrett took one last look at the black-haired man in mid-air, gritted his teeth, and slung the giant axe back over his shoulder.

"Walk."

The three men, each with their own men, quickly disappeared into the intricate streets and alleys of Chambord.

In the direction they left, the four powerful auras were getting closer and closer.

Roy looked away.

He sensed the subtle movements of those three rookie pirates with bounties exceeding 100 million from beginning to end.

But as they themselves realized—this level of existence was not worth Roy's attention at all.

His Observation Haki remained locked on the four rapidly approaching auras.

Garp. Zephyr. Akainu. Aokiji.

Four admirals-level combatants were deployed simultaneously.

This is an even bigger event than it was back in the G-5 branch.

Roy smiled faintly.

"Jinpei."

Jinbe, holding Lily, turned around.

"Take Granny New and the slaves away first. Go to Shaki's bar."

Jinbe was stunned.

He opened his mouth, as if to say something—of course he wanted to stay, to fight alongside Roy.

Captain Roy got into this big trouble while trying to save the residents of Fishman Island. If Jinbe just leaves like this, what kind of number one warrior of Fishman Island would he be?

But Roy didn't give him a chance to speak.

"You are now a Shichibukai."

Roy's voice wasn't loud, but it was clear.

"If the Seven Warlords of the Sea clash head-on with the Navy, Fishman Island will be in trouble."

Do you want Fish-Man Island to be targeted by the World Government because of this?

Jinbe's words stuck in his throat.

He lowered his head and looked at Lily in his arms—

The mermaid girl who was captured and almost became a slave because she floated to the surface of the sea while playing.

Her fishtail glowed faintly in the afterglow of the setting sun, and fear still lingered in her blue eyes.

And behind them were the slaves of the fur tribe, the long-armed tribe, and the dwarves.

Their eyes held both the joy of being saved and the fear of what would happen next.

Jinbe took a deep breath.

"Captain Roy..."

His voice was a little hoarse, as if something was stuck in his throat.

"We cannot express our gratitude enough. Fishman Island will remember this kindness."

He held Shirley in his arms and bowed deeply to Roy.

Grandma New also came forward, leaning on her snake cane, and looked at Roy.

The former empress of Amazon Lily, an old woman who had lived for over a hundred years, had a complex look in her eyes at this moment.

She's seen far too many pirates.

There are strong and weak, good and evil.

But she had never met anyone like Roy before.

It wasn't because of his ability, but because of his attitude.

They attacked the Celestial Dragons, showed no concern for the arrival of the Marine Admirals, and treated "rescuing people" as a matter of course—as if this kind of order was simply how things should be on this sea.

"Captain Roy."

Grandma Niu's voice was hoarse but solemn.

"Nine Snake Island owes you a favor."

"If there is any need in the future, Amazon Lily will never refuse."

Roy nodded without saying anything more.

His gaze passed over Granny New and landed on Hancock.

The twelve-year-old girl was looking up at him.

The afterglow of the setting sun reflected in her eyes, turning them amber.

There was admiration, excitement, determination, and a resolve that transcended age.

"Lord Roy."

Hancock's voice was soft, but steady.

"I will become stronger. I will definitely become stronger, strong enough to stand by your side."

Roy looked at her and smiled.

"I'll be waiting."

Jinbe, with his slaves, and Granny, with her Amazon Lily warriors, quickly disappeared into the intricate streets and alleys of Sabaody.

Their target was Area Thirteen, Shakky's Bamboo Bar.

With Rayleigh in charge, it's currently the safest place on the entire island.

Roy watched them leave, then looked away.

According to his Observation Haki, the four auras were already very close.

"They're here."