Chapter 99: Roger vs. BIG MOM
"Run! Faster, faster!"
In a certain sea of the New World, Gol D. Roger leaped from the water onto his pirate ship, shouting with both excitement and urgency.
Roger and a small group had infiltrated BIG MOM's territory, leaving their warship behind. After days of effort, they had finally successfully copied the Road Poneglyph from Charlotte Linlin's collection.
Now, with the mission complete, Roger and his crew rushed back to the ship, preparing to flee—
With BIG MOM herself leading a fierce pursuit right behind them.
As soon as Roger set foot on the deck, he shouted, "Hurry up and set sail! That old hag can fly—she'll catch up any second now!"
The crew didn't need his orders—they had already begun sailing at full speed, their ship accelerating rapidly.
"Captain, did you succeed?"
The Roger Pirates gathered on the deck, looking at Roger, who was still catching his breath.
Roger suddenly burst into booming laughter, "Wahaha! Come on, now! When have I ever failed? The job's done!"
He patted the cylindrical container strapped to his back. Despite his confident grin, there was still a hint of lingering nervousness in his expression.
Only he truly understood how risky the mission had been—
If not for his Voice of All Things, his advanced Observation Haki, and Rayleigh and the others distracting Big Mom's forces, he never would have succeeded.
A loud cheer erupted from the crew. They were all Roger's loyal followers, and his success meant everything to them.
Jon, among them, watched Roger with undisguised admiration.
He had to admit—this man was truly remarkable.
Compared to the future Straw Hat Pirates, Roger's crew was on a completely different level.
Luffy had only succeeded in his journey because of luck, timing, and the right allies.
Roger, on the other hand, had forced his own path through sheer power and skill.
He had just stolen one of Big Mom's most prized treasures—and was getting away with it.
"Roger didn't become the Pirate King just because of luck."
Jon couldn't help but marvel.
Even knowing the future, he couldn't imagine himself successfully stealing a Road Poneglyph rubbing from Big Mom's lair.
That was something only Roger could do.
"Captain! BIG MOM is catching up! Should we fight or run?"
The navigator, keeping a watchful eye on their pursuer, called out as he spotted Charlotte Linlin soaring toward them atop Zeus, her thundercloud.
"Fight?! Hell no!" Roger scoffed. "That old hag can fly, and she can hurl fire and lightning—fighting her on the sea is just plain stupid! Full speed ahead!"
Even the strongest warriors had their limitations at sea.
A flying enemy like Big Mom was a nightmare to deal with on open waters.
Besides, Roger's goal was the Poneglyph—not a death match.
Jon, standing aboard the Oro Jackson, remained outwardly calm, but internally, he was already calculating his escape strategy.
Roger's ship was fast, but Big Mom could fly. She would catch up eventually.
And when she did, a battle was inevitable.
She wouldn't be able to crush the Roger Pirates outright—Jon was sure of that.
But her sheer destructive power would undoubtedly cause chaos.
If he played his cards right, he could slip away in the confusion.
Sure enough, Big Mom soon closed the distance, riding Zeus through the stormy skies.
The moment she got in range, she swung her massive sword, sending a devastating slash toward the Oro Jackson.
But unlike Jon's previous encounters with Big Mom, this time was different—
The Roger Pirates were filled with monsters.
Before Roger even needed to react, a crew member stepped in and blocked the attack effortlessly—
Their ship remained untouched.
"Rayleigh! Knock that hag out of the sky!"
Roger was not the type to sit back and take hits.
After enduring a few of Big Mom's attacks, he barked a command at Silvers Rayleigh.
Rayleigh drew his blade and unleashed a powerful slash toward Big Mom.
As one of the greatest swordsmen of the era, his attack was at least as strong as hers—if not stronger.
But Big Mom was no ordinary opponent.
Each time she blocked Rayleigh's strikes, she retaliated with fire from Prometheus and lightning from Zeus.
Her relentless assault began slowing down the Oro Jackson.
"Captain! We're surrounded—there are Big Mom Pirates' ships all around us!"
Scanning the waters, the crew realized they had been lured into a trap—
Big Mom's fleet was closing in from all directions.
Unlike Roger, who commanded a single legendary ship, Big Mom had an entire armada.
Her organization functioned like Shiki's fleet, focusing on strength in numbers.
This entire stretch of ocean was her territory, and the commotion had drawn out all her forces.
"Captain, you've really done it this time. We're in deep trouble."
Roger simply laughed.
"Wahaha! Is that all? We're breaking through!"
Even with an entire fleet surrounding him, Roger showed no fear—
Only excitement.
His crew, despite their complaints, were just as fearless.
This was not the first time they had been in a situation like this.
Compared to fights against Whitebeard and Shiki, this was nothing.
And compared to their battle with the Rocks Pirates—
This was child's play.
With Roger's signature wild laughter, the Oro Jackson surged forward.
Despite the artillery fire and Big Mom's continued assaults, the ship somehow evaded every deadly blow.
Jon watched in awe.
The maneuvering of the Oro Jackson was on another level.
Whoever was piloting this ship was an absolute master.
He had never seen a pirate ship handled so flawlessly.
It made him realize just how incredible Roger's crew really was.
Aside from Shanks and Buggy, who were still apprentices—
Everyone on board was a true elite, playing their role perfectly.
Just look at their Haki users—
Roger, Rayleigh, Barrett, and even Shanks in the future—
That was four Conqueror's Haki users on one ship.
Only the Rocks Pirates had ever matched that.
Big Mom's fleet was tightening its formation.
Even though Roger's crew was pushing hard to break through, their escape routes were shrinking.
"Captain! It's now or never! If we don't act, we're in real trouble!"
Roger grinned.
"Alright then. Time to clear a path. Sink every ship in our way."
Jon soon witnessed the true firepower of the Oro Jackson.
Dozens of cannons roared, while the strongest warriors on board unleashed devastating attacks.
One by one, the ships blocking their way were blown apart—
Until nothing could stand between Roger's Pirates and their escape.
----------
Powerstones?
10+ Advance Chapters: patreon.com/milezen
Make Sure to give a Review!
Collections please!