Chapter 19 - 20
Note: The second-in-command is Carlo. He was already introduced at the end of chapter 6, its just he didn't have a name at the time. I've changed that part.
*
North Blue.
A marine warship sailed steadily toward the next island for resupply.
Two years ago, the legendary pirate Rocks had fallen in the God Valley, throwing the New World into chaos.
Pirates, driven mad with bloodlust, fought over the territories and power Rocks left behind. His former crew members—Golden Lion, Whitebeard, Big Mom—each gathered their own forces, expanding their influence.
As the Marines struggled to maintain control, they withdrew their forces to the first half of the Grand Line, focusing on crushing piracy there. In a way, this indirectly weakened the strength of the pirates ruling the New World.
But not everyone managed to seize power. Some, having lost their battles in the New World, fled back home. There, they recruited en masse, hoping to rise again.
Sakazuki had personally applied for this Four Blues patrol mission. His main targets were these very pirates—those who had failed in the New World and returned to their homelands.
These pirates took away large numbers of young men, never to return. The consequences of this were devastating.
Islands with already limited populations saw their able-bodied men vanish, leading to aging demographics, declining birth rates, and reduced productivity. Yet, taxes remained unchanged.
As livelihoods crumbled, the burden on common people increased, creating a vicious cycle.
On top of that, to train their men, these pirates often raided villages and towns they had past conflicts with, slaughtering entire communities.
And this was only the beginning—these were just the pirates who had failed and returned to rebuild. Sakazuki's pursuit significantly curbed the problem, but later, when Roger ignited the Great Pirate Era, the chaos truly began.
The rise of the Revolutionary Army was directly linked to this as well.
Countless young men rushed toward the New World without looking back. With more elderly, fewer newborns, and declining productivity, taxes increased. Survival for ordinary people became impossible.
Meanwhile, these young men, after a few battles and killings, amassed wealth and gradually lost their humanity.
Most islands were left with only the elderly, the weak, and the sick. With no one to resist them, pirates became increasingly ruthless.
Pillaging, murder, and arson became the norm. Massacres of entire villages and towns were commonplace, leaving countless dead.
The argument that there are "good pirates" is nonesense. There are many ways to set sail.
No one said you had to raise a pirate flag to go to sea. You could sail freely, and no one would stop you. Yet, you chose to fly the pirate flag.
A pirate is a pirate. There is no distinction between good and bad pirates.
Saving a few people or a town doesn't make someone a good pirate. The consequences they bring are immeasurable. How many of those who idolized these pirates and set sail could truly say they had a clear conscience?
In the anime, people admired the so-called "good pirate" Luffy. But why was Bartolomeo, who followed in his footsteps, called the "Cannibal"?
Why did his short list of accomplishments include bombarding innocent civilians in a city and uploading videos of pirates being brutally impaled and burned for entertainment?
Even the influence of "good pirates" was something ordinary people could not bear.
……
Gol D. Roger's Great Pirate Era claimed countless lives.
Then, Monkey D. Dragon formed the Revolutionary Army, leading those who could no longer survive because of Roger's actions to rebel against their own countries and the World Government.
The will of D, passed down for 800 years, has never ceased to stir the world.
And behind this "stirring"—
It was Joy Boy's so-called dream of freedom, a legacy built upon the deaths of countless people.
It was Roger's single declaration that turned the world upside down, unleashing the Great Pirate Era, where hundreds of thousands die at the hands of pirates every year.
It was Dragon's vision of liberation, sparking a revolution that shook the world.
This is why the World Government and the people hate and fear the D clan. They act on their own whims, never considering the consequences.
Some blind followers will live and die, never seeing hope. As children, they lost their families to pirates. As young adults, they joined the Revolutionary Army out of desperation. By middle age, they died fighting against the government.
Many of them may not even know what they're truly fighting for—just struggling to survive.
The people who see the truth fear the D clan.
But those who don't... continue to follow, hoping that D will lead them to some utopia free from the government's rule.
They fixate on the government's oppression—yet they fail to realize that D is also one of the sources of their suffering…
……
Aboard the warship.
"Report! Pirates spotted on the supply island!"
Gazing at the island already engulfed in flames, thick smoke billowing into the sky, Sakazuki's deep voice rang out.
"Increase speed."
Following the order, the warship surged forward at full speed toward the island ahead.
As the distance shortened, four pirate ships came into view, anchored around the island, all flying the same pirate flag. Each ship was of a different make and condition, clearly stolen from various places.
"Marines! The marines are here!"
"Wake up! Stop sleeping, the marines are coming!"
"Enemy attack! Enemy attack!"
"Go! Tell the captain!"
The pirates standing watch spotted the approaching warship and shouted frantically, alerting their crewmates.
Amid the chaos, their captain arrived, leading a group of armed men. His sword, still stained with fresh blood, glinted under the sun.
"What's all the panic for? Load the cannons and wait until they get closer!"
His intimidating presence quickly steadied the panicked crew. At his order, the pirates scrambled to load their cannons, preparing for battle.
Meanwhile, aboard the warship, an officer in-charge of the ship's artillery stepped forward.
"Rear Admiral Sakazuki, the pirate ships are within firing range. Shall we open fire?"
Sakazuki's gaze remained fixed on the enemy vessels. His response came swift and cold.
"Fire. Sink their ships."
Boom! Boom! Boom!
A relentless barrage of cannon fire thundered across the sea.
The Marines struck first. Their warships were custom-built, and Sakazuki's vessel was specially designed for patrolling the Four Blues. Equipped with thirty-two cannons, it boasted overwhelming firepower and an exceptionally fast firing rate.
Several rounds of cannonballs rained down like a storm, tearing through the pirate ships. Explosions ripped through the wooden hulls.
Nearly half the shots hit their mark, obliterating the ships and cutting off any chance of escape.
Watching their ships break apart, the pirates panicked.
The pirate captain, eyes burning with rage, bellowed, "Bastards! Fire the damn cannons! Blow those marine scum to pieces!"
Under his command, the panicked pirates forced themselves to steady their hands and retaliate. But their ships were nothing more than patched-up loot stolen from others. The cannons had been added later, and their range was nowhere near that of the Marines' latest warship artillery.
Boom! Boom!
Cannonballs fired from the four pirate ships sailed through the air—only to splash harmlessly into the waves, never reaching their target.
"Damn it! Grab all my treasure!! Abandon the ship!!!" the captain roared, seeing their attacks fail.
At the same time, the surrounding ships were taking on water, slowly sinking into the sea. With no other choice, the pirate captain ordered his crew to retreat back to shore.
"The town isn't completely wiped out yet, right?"
Coming to the shore, he scanned the panicked pirates before pointing at four of the fastest runners. "You, you, you, and you—go grab a few kids from that town for me."
"Move!!!"
As the chosen pirates dashed toward the burning town, the captain clenched his fists.
"Those damn marines! I haven't even made a name for myself as a great pirate yet, no way am I dying here!"
The man growled under his breath, trying to steel himself. Then, out of the corner of his eye, he noticed a figure slowly backing away.
The captain's gaze darkened.
"Hmm?" He tilted his head, voice eerily calm as he called out. "You trying to run?"
The retreating pirate flinched. "N-No… Captain, I—"
"Then why are you shaking?" The captain interrupted as his lips curled into something that wasn't quite a smile. "Come here."
The young pirate swallowed hard. His feet refused to move.
"Now!"
"Y-Yes!" He stumbled forward, breath quickening.
As he approached, the captain's face twisted into something unrecognizable—wild, deranged.
Snap!
Thud...
A single, clean strike.
The pirate's head tumbled to the ground, rolling a few times before stopping in a pool of crimson. Blood sprayed onto the captain's face, the warmth of it sending a thrill through his nerves.
The other pirates stood frozen, their breath caught in their throats. On the captain's bloodstained face, an unsettling grin spread.
Savage. Unhinged.
A madness that crushed any lingering thoughts of escape.
...
On the marine warship, Carlo observed as the pirates scrambled toward the shore, their retreat a chaotic mess. He turned to Sakazuki, his eyes carrying an unspoken question.
At Sakazuki's slight nod, he raised his hand and issued the command.
"All hands, cease fire, prepare for close combat!"
"Yes!" the marines responded.
This was the norm aboard Sakazuki's ship—once the pirates' escape route was cut off, every battle was settled in close combat. It wasn't just about eliminating the enemy; it was training. Soldiers raised in comfort would never survive the brutal reality of war.
"Get ready and wait for my—"
Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!
Hiding behind a massive boulder, the pirate captain gripped his sword in his right hand and raised his left, preparing to give the order to fire. But before he could act, the approaching marines anticipated his move.
A line of riflemen appeared along the railing of the warship. Their muzzles flashed. Bullets rained down, cutting off the pirates before they could react. Gunfire echoed across the shore, pinning them behind cover.
"Damn it! Grab your weapons and wait for them to land, then kill them all!"
Frustrated by the marines countering his every move, the pirate captain shouted furiously.
Moments later, as the warship reached the shore, the gunfire ceased. One by one, marine soldiers leaped from the deck, blades drawn, charging straight for the pirates.
The pirate captain peeked out from behind the boulder, his expression darkening.
"They're coming! Get them!" Roaring, he hefted a massive blade—nearly half his size—and led the charge.
His crew followed, shouting as they surged forward.
"Kill the marine dogs!"
"Follow the captain!"
"Yeahhh!"
Unlike the frenzied pirates, the marines moved in perfect coordination; their faces were cold and grips steady. They met the charge head-on, steel clashing against steel.
Blood sprayed as blades pierced flesh, and the sounds of war filled the battlefield. Within moments, nearly half the pirates had fallen.
Clang!
A massive blade slammed into a marine's sword, forcing him back. The pirate captain's face twisted with rage as he surveyed his dwindling crew, bodies piling up around him.
"Useless trash! Fight like your lives depend on it! These marines aren't going to spare us anyway! Kill them all!!!"
His desperate roar reignited some of the pirates' morale. Eyes burning with madness, they screamed in response.
"Yeah, they won't let us live anyway!"
"Kill!"
"Charge!"
Watching the pirates descend into a frenzy, a marine officer calmly cut down an oncoming enemy. Raising his blade, he commanded.
"Speed it up. End this battle now."
Without hesitation, the marines shouted in unison. "Yes, sir!"
Their voices carried an unshakable resolve. Under the marines' overwhelming momentum, pirates fell one after another—some slain outright, others losing limbs before being left to writhe in the sand.
The cries of battle gradually faded, replaced by pitiful wails.
"Help! I don't want to die!"
"I was wrong!"
"Please, spare me, sir!"
"Sob... My child is still so young! Let me go, please!"
"I swear I'll never do this again!"
Desperate pleas filled the blood-soaked shore.
"Damn it! I haven't even become a great pirate yet! I refuse to die here! Get out of my way!"
As he watched his crew fall, their screams ringing in his ears, fear began to consume the pirate captain. Gritting his teeth, he roared to steel himself and swung his sword again, forcing back another marine.
Then, suddenly, his eyes locked onto something. Hope flashed across his face. Without delay, he turned and ran toward the side of the beach.
"Quick, hurry! Bring them to me now!" his voice trembled with excitement as he sprinted toward a group of pirates holding four young children.
Thud!
He viciously kicked aside one of his subordinates, who had frozen in terror at the carnage around them.
"Out of my way!"
Snatching one of the children, he hoisted him up. With a crazed grin, he pressed his massive blade against the child's shoulder.
"Aahahahaha! All of you, stop right now! Give me a ship! Hurry! I need a ship! I want a ship!!!" The pirate captain's bloodshot eyes bulged as he shouted incoherently, desperation twisting his voice.
He clung to the child like a drowning man grasping at the last straw, as if this was his only chance to escape certain doom.
But luck was not on his side.
The marines had already finished dealing with the other pirates and now surrounded him in a tight formation, leaving him nowhere to run. They remained unfazed by his demands.
"Don't move! Aren't you marines supposed to be just?! Are you really going to ignore the kid in my hands?! Get me a ship! Now!!!"
He shouted at the surrounding marines, but they only stared back at him like he was already dead. The fear gripping his heart grew stronger, pushing him to the edge of panic.
"You want a ship?"
A deep, commanding voice rang out. A towering figure, nearly three meters tall, stepped forward. The marines silently parted to make way.
"Y-Yes." The pirate captain swallowed hard, barely keeping himself together as he met Sakazuki's gaze.
"Give me a ship!"
Sakazuki slowly raised his arm, extending a single finger. The pirate captain, unaware of what was coming, took this as a sign of negotiation and shouted even louder.
"Hurry up and—!"
Swoosh! Swoosh!
Two sharp sounds cut through the air. In the next instant, both of the pirate captain's arms exploded into a mist of blood.
"Aaahhhhhh!!!!"
His agonized screams pierced the battlefield. But it didn't end there. The moment his arms were blown apart:
Swish! Swish! Swish!
Three marine officers vanished from their positions, using Soru to reappear around him.
One knelt in front of the captain, catching the child securely in his arms. The other two appeared at his sides, each grabbing one of his shoulders.
The next moment, they drove their boots into his knees.
Crack!
Both of the pirate captain's legs snapped at the knees, bending forward at a grotesque ninety-degree angle.
"Aaaaaahhh!!!—Cough... Cough!!!"
The marine who had caught the child picked up a handful of rocks from the ground. As the pirate captain writhed in agony, the soldier shoved the stones straight into his mouth.
"Report! Rear Admiral Sakazuki, all pirates have been eliminated or captured. The battle is over, awaiting your orders!" The marine then turned and saluted.
Sakazuki calmly commanded, "Send a group to inventory the supplies. Once that's done, transport both the pirates and the supplies to town. The rest of you, put out the fires."
"Yes, sir!" The response was crisp, voices echoing through the battlefield.
As his men moved swiftly to carry out his orders, Sakazuki turned his gaze toward the distant town, where thick black smoke billowed into the sky. He took the lead, marching toward the burning settlement with his subordinates to aid the civilians.
……
The town was an inferno.
Flames raged everywhere, consuming what little remained. Crumbling ruins, shattered homes, charred bodies—there was no sign of life.
But as the marines arrived, the fire was swiftly brought under control.
Hidden survivors, watching from their shelters, hesitated. Then, as they saw the flames dying down, one of them finally dared to whisper, "T-The… the Marine…the Marines are here!"
And then—sobs. Wails of relief and despair.
"Finally…!"
More survivors began to emerge, stepping out from their hiding places, their faces streaked with soot and tears. As if they had found something to hold onto at last, they wept openly, letting out all the fear and grief they had held inside.
Sakazuki had seen this scene too many times. He exhaled quietly, though his face remained cold and stern as he issued orders for the rescue operations.
Most of the marines had been through this before. Even so, as they worked, the raw emotion in the air made many of their eyes redden.
Once the civilians had cried themselves dry, Sakazuki ordered the supplies to be distributed among the survivors.
Life had to go on.
As for the captured pirates, they were escorted to a large open area for processing.
*
Thank you for reading! If you'd like access to extra chapters and want to support my work, you can visit my P @ treon:
P @ treon / SilverShark769
Your support means a lot, thank you!