One Piece: Conquering Wanokuni at Start

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The island itself seemed to disintegrate into countless fragments, with gravel erupting like an explosion. The pirates, ensnared by irresistible charm, fell helplessly into the sea, only to become instant prey for the Sea Kings.

Below, the frenzied feeding of the Sea Kings turned the once-azure waters into a horrifying deep red, the stench of blood thick and oppressive as it lingered along the coast.

From her vantage point high above, Hancock surveyed the scene with sharp eyes. She had a clear understanding of the Sea Kings' power.

Individually, a giant Sea King could grow to over a kilometer, sometimes even tens of thousands of meters in length. Yet, to the true powerhouses of the New World, they were not entirely insurmountable foes.

But Shirahoshi was not commanding just a single Sea King—or even a group of them. She had summoned all the Sea Kings in the surrounding ocean.

Hancock, who had mastered controlling Homies imbued with her soul, understood the situation even better. In this world, where warships were the primary means of transportation, the presence of such Sea Kings was a force that could overturn the balance of power.

And the more powerful the Sea Kings, the higher their intelligence.

As this realization struck her, Hancock's gaze shifted to Shirahoshi. This was a power capable of toppling empires.

Meanwhile, Shirahoshi, watching the once-solid fortress crumble into a blood-soaked sea, felt a pang of guilt and unease.

It was the first time her abilities had resulted in such devastation. Even though it wasn't by her own hand, the knowledge that her power had caused so many deaths weighed heavily on her kind heart.

This was one of the key trials that Alex had prepared for her as part of her journey.

"It's all right, Shirahoshi," one of the Kuja Warriors said softly, stepping forward. Despite her youthful appearance and timid personality, they could sense her inner turmoil and sought to comfort her.

Shirahoshi took a deep breath, as if trying to expel the discomfort from her chest. She shook her head, forcing a brave expression. "I'm fine. Thank you for worrying about me," she replied firmly.

Hancock, who had intended to speak, instead turned her gaze back to the shattered island below.

The island's destruction had left the Sea Kings' territory unimpeded, transforming it into a battlefield where the immense creatures could exert their full dominance.

The resulting tsunamis and mountain-like impacts devastated the forces opposing them. Even the most seasoned captains were overwhelmed, many being thrown into the sea. Without solid footing, their strength was severely diminished. In the Sea Kings' domain, the battle quickly tilted toward a grim conclusion—the near-total annihilation of the enemy forces.

"Damn it!"

Jozu, encased in his shimmering diamond armor, fought back ferociously. His powerful Haki sent wave after wave of Sea Kings flying as he delivered devastating punches.

But in the next moment, a frog-like Sea King, massive and swift, lunged at him. Its enormous tongue whipped out with terrifying force, creating waves tens of meters high as it surged toward Jozu's position.

With a thunderous crash, the ground beneath him shattered.

As gravel scattered into the air, the frog-shaped Sea King lashed out with its tongue once more, sending debris flying in all directions. The powerful blow left Jozu with no foothold, forcing him to fall freely into the open sea.

Realizing the effectiveness of the Sea King's assault, Jozu's face turned grim. Panic surged within him. Without the ability to fly, and as a Devil Fruit user, falling into the sea spelled certain doom—he would be nothing more than prey for the Sea Kings.

"Jozu!"

Marco, who had just finished rescuing other members of their crew using his phoenix form, suddenly heard Jozu's shout of terror. His face tightened with urgency as he spun around and rushed in Jozu's direction, wings ablaze with blue flames.

But before Marco could reach him, a snake-shaped Sea King that had been lying in wait struck first.

Boom!

A massive tail erupted from the water beneath Jozu, creating a towering wave. The impact slammed toward Jozu, who was still helplessly plummeting. He had no means of dodging, and even worse, the spray of seawater splashed over him, rendering him completely powerless.

As he fell into the water, his body was immobilized. The Sea King wasted no time. Its massive jaws snapped shut, swallowing Jozu whole in an instant.

"!!!"

Marco let out a panicked cry, but as his gaze fell upon the swarming Sea Kings below, his instincts held him back. Charging in recklessly would mean certain death.

Nearby, Teach watched the scene unfold, his expression dark and contemplative as he observed the churning, bloodied sea.

The remaining Blackbeard Pirates gathered tightly together, still holding their ground amidst the chaos. Thanks to Edward Weevil's immense power and his devastating strikes, they had narrowly evaded the relentless assaults of the Sea Kings.

Even so, the situation was far worse than Teach had anticipated.

Teach had assumed that the Bird-Bird Fruit, Model: Phoenix, the Twinkle-Twinkle Fruit, and even his two fruits would be key to plundering the battlefield. But the kingdom in the skies—the Sky Kingdom—had proved far more terrifying than expected. Their tactic of unleashing the Sea Kings and shattering the island into fragments made it clear: they didn't fear losing powerful Devil Fruits or their users.

Fortunately for Teach, the piece of land his crew occupied was still large enough to support them, even amidst the surging currents. If it had been swept away, there would have been no chance to execute their plan.

"Van! Is it ready?" Teach shouted toward Van Augur, his tone sharp with urgency.

"Ready!" Van Augur replied, steadying himself as he prepared to act.

Seizing the moment, Teach grabbed Weevil by the arm and barked, "Teleport us—now!"

At his command, Van Augur's eyes locked onto the snake-shaped Sea King looming nearby. Using his Warp-Warp Fruit ability, he activated the teleportation.

In a flash, Teach, Weevil, and the Blackbeard Pirates appeared atop the head of the enormous snake-shaped Sea King.

Standing firmly on the creature's massive head—large enough to span several kilometers—Teach felt an unexpected sense of relief. The seawater no longer threatened them, and as he'd predicted, the presence of Poseidon ensured that no other Sea Kings would dare to attack this particular one.

The Sea King they stood on remained motionless, not daring to act against Poseidon's will.

Now, Teach thought, their only obstacle was the woman standing before them.

A grin spread across Teach's face as he steadied himself. This was the reason he had been so eager to claim the Ancient Weapon. Even against overwhelming odds, this was a power worth seizing.

Fully aware of Hancock's strength—and wary of her Soul-Soul Fruit—Teach remained cautious. He knew better than to underestimate her. Still, confident in his forces, he transformed into his pig-man form, his muscles surging with power.

With a bellowing shout, Teach led Weevil and the rest of his crew in a full-force charge toward Hancock.

But before they could close the distance, the ground beneath them shifted abruptly.

A sinking sensation swept over them, and Teach's triumphant expression froze.

The snake-shaped Sea King they stood upon had begun to submerge, dragging its massive body—and the Blackbeard Pirates—rapidly toward the depths of the ocean.