One-Punch Man in the One Piece World

Chapter 121 War Clouds Pressing Down on the City

The bad news arrived at dusk.

The sun was sinking below the horizon, burning the entire sky to an ominous, molten iron-red hue. That red was so intense, so heavy, that it weighed heavily on everyone's hearts, like some kind of premonition.

Ding ding dang—

The alarm bells on the watchtower shattered the evening tranquility of Nestad, spreading in all directions on the sea breeze.

The first to react were the pirates near the port.

They looked up at the distant horizon—where countless black dots were emerging.

One ship... three ships... ten ships... twenty ships... more and more.

The black dots were arranged in neat rows, like an approaching line of death, completely occupying half of the horizon.

"Warships—" someone murmured, their voice trembling, "They're all warships—"

"How could there be so many—"

"Countless — countless roots."

Panic spread like a plague through the port.

At the dock, the workers who were loading and unloading goods dropped the boxes they were holding and ran away.

The pirates who were chatting by the pier were so weak in the knees that they had to hold onto the pillars to avoid falling.

In the distance, on the street, a woman screamed, a child started crying, and an old man knelt on the ground, muttering something that no one could understand.

More alarm bells rang from several watchtowers in the city, their tolls rising and falling in unison, like the mournful cry of despair.

People on the streets began to run into the city.

The cart overturned, spilling its goods all over the ground, where they were trampled on. Some people were knocked down, and before they could even get up, they were trampled over by the surging crowd behind them.

Screams, cries, and curses mingled together, and the entire city was in complete chaos, like a pot of boiling water.

But those who had truly weathered the storms were now standing on high ground, watching the approaching fleet, their faces growing increasingly solemn.

The officials had all gathered on the roof of the council hall.

Kro held up the binoculars, his eyes slightly narrowed behind the lenses. His fingers moved rapidly on the counter, his lips moving silently as he counted, over and over again.

"Ninety-five ships!" He lowered his binoculars, his voice so low it was almost inaudible. "And there are more behind them!"

Steel Hand stood beside him, unusually refraining from drinking. She stared at the fleet, her brows furrowed tightly, her lips pressed into a thin line, and her usual languid expression vanished completely.

"Aokiji, Akainu," she said slowly, her tone carrying an barely suppressed gravity, "those two boys are here."

Jinbe's pupils contracted slightly.

As a former Shichibukai, he knew all too well what those two names meant.

The Navy Headquarters' top combat force, a Logia-type Ice-Ice Fruit user and a Logia-type Magma-Magma Fruit user.

Any one of them, if taken out, would be a monster capable of destroying an island.

And those lieutenant generals—

Oni Spider, Doberman, Storoberry, and Fire Mountain are all veterans who have fought in the New World for many years.

With a fleet ten times the size of the Buster Call, the World Government is determined to completely wipe out the Kingdom of Norton.

Moria stood in the shadows, his pale face bearing his signature smile, but the smile looked somewhat forced at that moment.

He recalled many years ago, the battle with Kaido, his comrades who were torn apart, and the image of himself kneeling in the ruins.

Doflamingo leaned against the railing at the edge of the roof, his pink feather coat fluttering in the sea breeze. His face, which always wore an arrogant smile, was expressionless at this moment.

Vergo stood behind him, silent as a stone.

Enel floated in mid-air, golden arcs of electricity crackling around him. His eyes were narrowed, and it was unclear what he was thinking.

Faced with a fleet of this size, even a Logia-type Devil Fruit user would not be able to escape unscathed.

Zoro's hand rested on the hilt of his sword, but a smile that was almost excited appeared on his lips.

Akin stood beside him, eager to try out his new abilities.

Chopper hid behind Frynn and Nami, his two front hooves gripping their clothes tightly, his blue nose trembling slightly.

"Those...so many ships...can we defeat them?"

When Norton walked out of the council chamber, all eyes were on him.

He stood at the highest point of the rooftop, glanced at the fleet, and then turned to look at Crowe.

"Arrange for civilians and merchants to take refuge. The caves to the east, the ones the last exploration team discovered."

"Kro nodded, turned around and quickly walked down from the roof."

"Team One! Team Two! Evacuate to the East City! Team Three! Team Four! Go to the West City! All civilians and merchants, take your valuables and evacuate to the cave in the east! Hurry! Don't dawdle!"

The orders were passed down layer by layer.

The streets that were just moments ago in complete chaos began to regain their order.

Pirates emerged from all corners, forming teams that charged into the still panicked crowd.

Some of them helped up people who had fallen, some picked up children who had run away, and some shouted, "This way!" and "Don't push!"

"Stay close to the group."

Nami stood on the street corner, her voice almost hoarse from shouting.

She held a list in her hand, containing the names and addresses of the businessmen—she had been registering these for the past few days, and now it had come in handy.

"Mr. Robert! Head east! Follow that group ahead!"

"Mrs. Lillian! Don't go back to get your things! Your life is more important!"

A woman carrying a child ran past her, her face streaked with tears.

The child was crying loudly, sobbing uncontrollably. Nami reached out to help her up. The woman turned around and glanced at her, wanting to say thank you, but before she could speak, she was pushed away by the crowd behind her.

Fu Ning stood at a higher vantage point, watching all of this unfold.

Her face was pale, but she didn't move. She just stood there, watching the panicked crowd, the pirates shouting slogans to maintain order, and the civilians being carried, supported, and held as they fled eastward—the civilians, the merchants, the craftsmen, the doctors, and the people who had come to seek refuge in this kingdom.

When they arrived, their eyes were full of hope.

Now, that hope is turning into fear.

"Stop looking." Steel Hand appeared beside her at some point. "That's how war is. There will always be people who are afraid, people who will run away, and people who will die."

"But as they may be afraid and run away, as long as we win this battle, they will come back, and then this kingdom will truly be firmly established."

Fu Ning turned her head and looked at her.

"What if we lose?"

Steel Hand paused for a moment. Then she smiled, a smile tinged with bitterness, helplessness, and something else she couldn't quite put her finger on.

"Then there's no future for us."

As the last group of civilians disappeared down the mountain road to the east, the fleet had already assembled at the port.

More than a hundred ships are now lined up in an arc, blocking the sea in front of Nestad City.

The ships varied in size and age, including old ships that had come all the way from the East China Sea and new ships that had been acquired in the New World.

But at this moment, they all hang the same flag—the silver skull and crossbones flag with scepters and king pieces intertwined.

The flags fluttered in the sea breeze, forming a vast silver ocean.

The bow of the ship was crowded with people. The pirates held weapons, their expressions varied.

Some were excited, some were nervous, some were pale, and some were trembling. But none of them backed down.

Because the admiral is in front!

On the White Pearl, Norton stood at the bow.

Behind them, the cadres stood in a row—

Zoro, Sanosuke, Tsunade, Jinbe, Moria, Enel, Doflamingo, Gin, Kuro, Al, Dalton, Mr. 1, Polnareff, Buggy —

And then there were the petty leaders, and the old subordinates who had followed him all the way.

Everyone was looking at the sea in the distance.

On that sea, a hundred warships had already formed a battle array.

Those warships were much larger and newer than Norton's ships, with jet-black hulls, silver-white masts, and huge sails painted with seagull patterns. The muzzles of cannons protruded from both sides of the ship, densely packed and stretching as far as the eye could see, gleaming with a cold, hard luster in the afterglow of the setting sun.

Two people stood on the huge flagship at the very front.

The man on the left was tall, dressed in a dark red suit and a navy overcoat, his cold, expressionless face. His hands were in his pockets, his gaze sweeping across the sea for miles before settling on the bow of the White Pearl.

Akainu – Sakazuki.

The one on the right is tall and slender, wearing a white shirt and dark blue overalls, with a navy coat draped over his shoulders. His hair is curly and he looks like he hasn't woken up yet. He's leaning against the ship's railing, yawning, his eyes half-open.

Aokiji - Kuzan.

Behind the two, a lieutenant general of medium build, wearing the epaulets of a general's star on his shoulders, held a megaphone Den Den Mushi (a type of electric scooter). His voice was amplified through the Den Den Mushi, rolling and spreading across the sea.

"Attention, fleet ahead! This is the Marine Headquarters Task Force! Ordered by the World Government, we are here to forcibly eliminate the illegal armed group, the Norton Pirates, and their illegal strongholds!"

"All personnel, lay down your weapons immediately and surrender on the spot! Anyone who disobeys will be killed without exception!"

The sound echoed across the sea, over and over again, cold and harsh, but no one on the White Pearl moved. The pirates looked at each other, and finally all turned their gaze to the silver-haired figure at the bow of the ship.

No one knows what he is thinking at this moment.

Norton remained silent for a few seconds, then a slow smile crept onto his lips.

The curve was very shallow, almost invisible, but the steel hand standing behind him saw it.

In that instant, something that had been weighing on her heart for so long suddenly eased.

"Tell that kid to shut up," Norton said.

Kro nodded, picked up the speakerphone Den Den Mushi, and spoke into the receiver—

"If you're going to fight, then fight! Stop talking nonsense!"

When the voice came through, the vice admiral holding the Den Den Mushi on the flagship paused for a moment.

He turned to look at Akainu.

Akainu didn't look at him. He simply nodded slightly.

The lieutenant general took a deep breath and said his final words into the microphone, "Fire."

boom!!!

In that instant, the world lost its color.

More than a hundred warships opened fire simultaneously! Thousands of cannons roared in unison! Flames exploded from the sea, forming a blinding crimson expanse! Smoke instantly filled the air, blotting out the sun!

Shells rained down on Demon King Island like a storm!

The shells drew countless black arcs in the air, densely packed, completely covering the entire sky.

Howling and screeching, with earth-shattering power, it crashed toward the coastline that stretched for several kilometers!

The cannon fire wasn't a series of isolated bursts, but a continuous, deafening roar, like the collapse of the world.

That scene was like the end of the world.

On the shore, those who hadn't had time to evacuate looked up, their faces flickering in and out of focus from the flashes of gunfire.

Just as the shells were about to hit the crowd, a dark blue-green blade of light shot into the sky!

Zoro leaped from the bow of the White Pearl, drawing all three swords at the same time!

Wado Ichimonji, Sandai Kitetsu, and Yuki drew three intersecting, chilling silver arcs in the air!

"Three-Sword Style: Thousand Eight Hundred Troubles of Wind!"

The blade flashed! A massive, crescent-shaped slashing wave hurtled towards the barrage of bullets! Wherever the slashing wave passed, the air was torn apart, emitting a piercing shriek!

boom!!!

The slicing wave collided with the barrage, and the first few dozen shells exploded simultaneously! Sparks flew, and smoke billowed! The shockwave from the explosion spread in all directions, creating a gust of wind!

But the barrage was too dense and too thick; the slashing wave only tore open a gap, and more shells poured in from both sides of the opening!

Just as the shells were about to cross the gap, a black figure shot into the sky!

Ah Jin!

His body expanded rapidly in mid-air! Black fur surged wildly from under his skin, covering his entire body! His head elongated, his jaw widened, and sharp fangs grew from his mouth! His limbs deformed, and his muscles bulged! On his back, two huge protrusions suddenly exploded with a muffled "bang"!

Those enormous black wings suddenly unfurled! The wingspan exceeded ten meters! Every feather was as black as ink, with an eerie dark red sheen at the edges, fluttering in the sea breeze!

Qiongqi form!

Akin opened his mouth, and a ball of blazing flame surged from deep within his throat! The flame burned brighter and brighter, growing thicker and thicker until it finally transformed into a thick pillar of fire, which spewed towards the barrage of bullets!

boom!!!

Flames collided with the shell! Another explosion!

The flames illuminated half the sky, and the smoke billowed into a dark cloud! The heat from the explosion hit us, making our cheeks burn!

But the shells kept falling!

A third figure leaped from the bow of the ship!

Enel!

He transformed into a golden bolt of lightning, soaring into the sky! The lightning exploded in the air, splitting into countless tiny arcs of electricity, like countless golden snakes, rushing towards the cannonballs!

The shells struck by the electric arc exploded one after another in the air! The flames from the explosions merged into one, like a grand fireworks display!

But some shells still managed to penetrate the minefield and move!

He leaped into the air, took a deep breath, and his entire chest swelled up! He brought his right fist to his side, and all the power in his body gathered in that fist at that moment!

"Fishman Karate - Six Thousand Tile Straight Fist!"

A punch was thrown!

The air was torn apart, emitting a piercing shriek! The force of the fist propelled forward as if it were a tangible substance, and wherever it passed, the flames of the explosion formed a wall of fire in front of him!

But the barrage of comments wasn't over yet—Moria's shadow surged from the bow of the ship, writhing and swelling like living things.

It split apart, transforming into countless black tentacles that lunged at the stray shells!

The moment the shadows collided with the shells, black mist exploded, enveloping the shells and dragging them into the darkness! The explosions occurred within the mist, muffled thuds one after another, yet not a single spark pierced the air!

Doflamingo raised his hand, and countless transparent threads shot out from his fingertips, precisely piercing the cannonballs and tearing them apart one by one in mid-air!

The cadres used all their skills to intercept the endless barrage of bullet comments!

Blade flashes! Flames! Lightning! Fist strikes! Shadows! Shockwaves! All sorts of forces intertwined, collided, and exploded in the air! Firelight, smoke, and shockwaves mingled together, dyeing half the sky an ominous, mixed color!

But the barrage was too dense, too numerous, and more and more fish slipped through the net—those shells crossed the cadres' defense line and crashed onto the shore!

Just as the shells were about to hit the crowd, a silver figure disappeared from the bow of the White Pearl.

The next instant, Norton appeared in mid-air, blocking the cannonballs and the coastline.

He moved so fast that no one could see how he got up there.

Her silver hair flew wildly in the wind, and her black cashmere coat stretched out in a straight line behind her.

With his back to the terrified crowd on the shore and facing the overwhelming barrage of bullets, Norton raised his right hand, spread his fingers, and gently swiped it across the dense barrage of shells.

That horizontal stroke, seemingly casual, instantly generated a visible, semi-transparent shockwave that spread forward in a fan shape, originating from his palm!

Where the shockwave passed, the air was compressed to its limit with a deafening roar!

boom!!!

The flames from the explosion stretched out in a continuous arc, turning half the sky crimson! Smoke billowed, air currents surged, and shockwaves spread outwards in concentric circles!

The people on the shore covered their ears and crouched down. The shockwave was so great that even the windows of the warships on the sea were shattered!

None of the explosions could overcome the palm that stretched across the sky. Before the shockwave, they were like blooming fireworks, then dissipated into the air.

The live chat stopped.

The sea was deathly silent.

The naval soldiers stared wide-eyed, their minds blank.

On the flagship, Akainu's pupils contracted slightly.

Aokiji leaned against the ship's railing, his half-open eyes completely gone, and his brows furrowed.

The lieutenant generals looked increasingly grim.

"Ooooooooooooo!!!"

A deafening roar of cheers erupted!

"King! King! King!"

"Long live the Admiral!"

"Long live the Kingdom of Norton!"

The pirates' morale soared.

Norton descended from mid-air and stood at the bow of the White Pearl, patting non-existent dust off his hands. As the last rays of the setting sun pierced through the clouds and fell upon him, they cast a cloak-like shadow behind him.

"Let's start the war!" Norton's lips curled into an even wider smile, his grin arrogant.