Flames lit up the sky, thick black smoke rolled across the air, and waves of heat surged from above.
Under the shock of the explosions, the Oro Jackson rocked violently, as if it might capsize at any moment.
"Damn it! Their firepower is insane!"
Gaban, ignoring the rain splashing across his face, swung both of his silver axes in unison, cleaving several cannonballs heading for the mast into shrapnel.
The rest of the Roger Pirates unleashed their own techniques, intercepting every shell that posed a threat to the ship.
Boom—boom—boom...
Cannonballs exploded all around the Oro Jackson, sending towering plumes of water into the air and making the ship groan and creak under the strain.
"We're finished… This kind of bombardment...!"
Buggy screamed, shaking like a leaf with snot flying from his nose.
But for all his shouting, his hands didn't slow in the slightest.
No one knew where he'd pulled them from, but throwing knives flew from both hands like a windmill—accurately hitting and detonating multiple shells mid-air.
"Buggy, quit screaming! You're too damn loud!"
Shanks, his face pale, panted heavily for breath.
A sharp buzzing approached from behind. In a flash, he drew a half-meter-long pocket blade and swung it back with force!
Shhk!
The black cannonball split in two, whistling past either side of his body before plunging into the sea.
Boom!
A blast of flame shot up behind him. Shanks gasped, but his eyes remained steady, his grip on the sword firm.
If Daren had been there, he would've noticed at a glance—
Both Buggy and Shanks had grown significantly since the first time he saw them.
Especially Shanks, with that straw hat—just from that one slash, he had clearly reached the level of steel-slicing!
And he was only twelve.
Twelve years old and already on the verge of entering the realm of a true swordsman... That kind of talent was one-of-a-kind in the world.
Rayleigh glanced at the noisy Buggy and the calm, composed Shanks, a flicker of satisfaction in his eyes.
They'd grown up.
And that was good.
At the very least, once this final voyage came to an end, those two brats would be ready to set sail on their own.
As the thought crossed his mind, Rayleigh struck again.
A hurricane of sword energy spiraled into the sky, sweeping up the cannonballs falling from above and detonating them mid-air—birthing a roaring firestorm.
"This just won't end…"
Crocus gripped a harpoon, his expression grim. Rain had drenched and disheveled his signature floral crown, leaving him looking soaked and worn.
"That damn Shiki—he's not even fighting us directly!"
Everyone's hearts sank at his words.
Looking around at the storm-lashed sea and sky—
Dozens of pirate ships flying the skull flag of the Flying Pirates had them completely surrounded.
But none of them were rushing in recklessly. Instead, they leveraged their superior firepower, pinning the Roger Pirates down through sheer pressure.
That constant barrage drained their stamina bit by bit, leaving them scrambling just to stay afloat.
Under the unrelenting bombardment, even the legendary Oro Jackson now looked like a fragile dinghy caught in a tempest—one big hit away from going under.
"We can't hold out like this."
Rayleigh glanced toward the sky where Roger and Shiki clashed in a flurry of red and gold, then made his decision in an instant.
Wiping the rain from his face, he gritted his teeth.
"We're charging through!"
As soon as the words left his mouth, the helmsman sprang into action.
The sails unfurled, and despite the downpour, the Oro Jackson suddenly accelerated!
Straight ahead—through the curtain of rain and fire—was the dense blockade of Shiki's pirate fleet.
And they rammed toward it without hesitation!
"I'll clear the way!"
Rayleigh appeared at the bow in a flash. With eyes locked forward, he unleashed a powerful slash!
Shhh!
Sword energy burst forth like a silver crescent, cutting through the storm with a deafening howl.
The sea ahead split open with a massive rift stretching hundreds of meters.
A ten-meter-high pirate ship jolted—then split clean down the middle, erupting in a fiery explosion before vanishing beneath the waves!
Cries of pain echoed across the battlefield as Flying Pirates leapt from their burning vessel, splashing into the ocean like falling dumplings.
Seizing the chaos, the Oro Jackson surged forward like an icebreaker, crashing directly into the heart of Shiki's blockade!
"Kill!!"
A thunderous war cry exploded across the sea.
Countless ropes were flung down from the air, landing on the deck of the Oro Jackson. Members of the Flying Pirates climbed up with savage grins, shouting as they scrambled aboard.
"They're coming!!"
Roger's crew locked eyes with the incoming enemy, battle intent blazing in every gaze. They drew their blades with a breath of resolve...
And charged in without hesitation!
This was their final voyage—there was no turning back now.
The boarding battle...
Had begun!
...
"Daren, it's time to act."
On the flagship, Sakazuki suddenly landed with a heavy thud, his cold gaze locked on Daren.
"The boarding battle is underway. If we move in now, maybe not Shiki, but we can definitely corner Roger's crew!"
Even someone as normally composed as Sakazuki was running out of patience.
His tone carried a stern edge of reprimand.
Sengoku, too, looked at Daren with anxious urgency.
With both pirate crews locked in close combat, this was the perfect time to surround them and seize overwhelming results.
"No, not yet."
Daren studied the battlefield, his brow furrowed, fists unconsciously clenched tight.
"Damn it!"
Sengoku cursed inwardly.
But all he could do was wait—Daren was the one in command of this operation.
"Then tell us—what the hell are you waiting for!?"
Black smoke began to rise from Sakazuki's body, his tone dark and menacing.
Daren let out a sigh and turned to him.
"Sakazuki, we worked together in the North Blue for a long time. You should know the kind of person I am."
"I'll just ask you one question."
He stared at Sakazuki.
"Do you trust me?"
Sakazuki went silent.
He clenched his fists again, but the black smoke slowly faded from around him.
"I hope you don't regret this decision, Daren."
Daren smiled faintly.
"Don't worry. Everything is in place."
He turned back to the distant battlefield.
At this moment...
Roger's pirate crew was completely surrounded.
While every one of them was a powerhouse on the sea, their numbers couldn't compare to Shiki's fleet.
Dozens of warships. Tens of thousands of men.
Even if they just relied on brute force, they could grind Roger's crew down by sheer numbers.
Especially in an environment like this—stormy, chaotic—if the Flying Pirates were willing to throw lives away just to overwhelm them, it was only a matter of time before Roger's side fell.
After all, they also had to protect the Oro Jackson.
Most of them weren't Devil Fruit users, but in such waters, losing the ship meant certain death.
"Get ready..."
Sengoku and Sakazuki froze.
Behind them, Borsalino, lying there with his watermelon juice, let out a sly smile, a glint flashing behind his sunglasses.
"What exactly are you preparing for? What are you waiting for?"
Sengoku couldn't help but ask again.
Daren chuckled.
"Waiting for the wind to rise."
The wind...?
Sengoku paused, his brows knotting tightly.
Then suddenly—he understood.
His face changed slightly as a thought too outrageous to be believed surged into his mind.
A commanding voice rang out across the deck, layered with steely determination, slicing through the storm around them.
"I've prepared a special gift for Shiki."
A twisted grin crept across Daren's face.
"A gift he'll never forget."
He paused, grinning even wider.
"Mm."
He spread his arms wide, feeling the currents of wind and rain dancing around him.
"The wind is rising."
Turning back with a playful smile, Daren winked at Sengoku and the others.
"Ready yourselves, everyone."
Sengoku and Sakazuki's pupils shrank to pinpoints. They whipped around in unison, staring into the distance.
As if struck by lightning, their eyes locked onto something—something too impossible to believe.
Far out at sea, a tiny boat had appeared, drifting alone.
Two figures stood silently aboard it.
Each cloaked in dark green robes that obscured their faces and bodies.
Mysterious. Ominous.
Crack!
A pale bolt of lightning ripped from the clouds, tearing open the dark sky.
In that flash of light, one of the figures turned slightly—just enough to reveal a fierce, commanding profile, marked by a strange, blood-red tattoo.
"That's...!"
Sengoku's heart thundered.
Sakazuki's eyes widened.
Borsalino grinned eerily.
On the boat, the taller figure raised both hands slowly.
And then—
A howling gale surged across the sea, whipping up mountainous waves.
A twisted, emerald-green storm rose with a shrieking roar from the pouring rain, utterly unnatural and fearsome in appearance.
It expanded. Twisted. Amplified. Climbed.
Until it became a towering cyclone that bridged sea and sky, ripping through the heavens with unstoppable force.
A storm had come.
At the bow of the warship, Daren lit a cigar, a smile curling at the corners of his lips.
"The real show... begins now."
This was the storm...of destiny.