The Roger Pirates remained on Skypiea for a full week, and Bege certainly didn't let that time go to waste. He practically lived aboard their ship, shamelessly sticking to Roger and the others, pestering them for any insights they'd offer on training the three types of Haki.
Roger reiterated that Conqueror's Haki couldn't truly be trained; its strength was intrinsically linked to one's spirit and willpower. As Bege grew stronger and his will more resolute, his Conqueror's Haki would naturally intensify.
Rayleigh, however, did offer valuable guidance on cultivating Armament and Observation Haki, leading to significant gains for Bege.
Beyond his own training, Bege encouraged his core crew members to spar with the Roger Pirates – individuals like Shanks, Duke Inuarashi, and Master Nekomamushi. Both sides saw the value in testing their members, leading to daily sparring sessions. While Modi, Moria, and Riki managed to secure a few victories, the rest of Bege's officers consistently found themselves outmatched.
This was undoubtedly another blow to their pride, but true to form, they turned shame into motivation. Once the Roger Pirates departed, Bege's crew threw themselves into their training with renewed, almost frantic, intensity.
During that week, Bege also crossed swords with Shanks several times. He came out ahead more often than not, and the satisfaction of getting the better of a future Emperor was undeniable.
Several more months slipped by under the rigors of heavy training before troubling news reached Bege.
A problem had surfaced in the West Blue.
Three pirate crews, having been driven back from the New World, had returned to their home sea. They'd banded together, carving out territory, seizing islands, and consolidating power by absorbing smaller crews.
This burgeoning alliance had managed to connect with the Shipping King, Umit, using his vast network to muscle their way into the underworld trade. Their influence was growing rapidly, and their business dealings with Umit expanded proportionally. As Umit allocated more resources and influence to them, Bege's own share inevitably dwindled. Wright relayed intelligence suggesting this new alliance aimed to swallow Bege's portion entirely.
Having been absent from the Grand Line stage for two years, Bege's perceived value in Umit's eyes had plummeted. The Shipping King now clearly favored the new alliance and seemed inclined to transfer Bege's remaining influence over to them.
Umit's network was the primary source of Bege's resources. Losing that connection would severely stifle his growth and ambitions.
This was not a situation Bege intended to tolerate.
"On these seas, strength still reigns supreme," Bege murmured, a cold smile touching his lips. "If you think they are the better bet, then I'll simply have to crush them completely."
He decided to make a trip to the West Blue personally and eliminate the upstart pirate alliance.
When Moria and the others learned Bege planned to go to war in the West Blue, they were ecstatic, responding with eager enthusiasm. After two years cooped up on Skypiea, anyone would grow restless. They'd been itching for a chance to descend from the sky islands for ages.
At the Skypiea port, a colossal pirate ship rested at the docks.
Gazing upon it, Bege felt a surge of pride and excitement.
This vessel was a super-warship, the culmination of two years of meticulous design and construction. Its hull was fashioned from the incredibly durable Adam Wood. Deep within its bowels lay a revolutionary propulsion system comprised of over ten thousand Wind and Jet Dials, supplemented by hundreds of giant Wind and Jet Dials.
Once activated, this system could propel the ship across the sea at staggering speeds – and even enable it to fly.
As the vessel of Skypiea's 'God,' it had been christened the Sky God.
For this expedition, Bege selected a contingent of his elite followers, deciding to leave Modi behind to garrison Skypiea. The sky island was far too crucial to leave undefended, demanding a top-tier fighter remain. Modi, his most trusted subordinate, was the only choice.
Two Super Express Shrimp towed the massive Sky God, swiftly pulling it from the White-White Sea down to the White Sea, three thousand meters below.
"Break through the clouds! Prepare for descent!" the ship's navigator yelled. Instantly, powerful gusts erupted from the ship, tearing an opening through the sea of clouds below. The Sky God began its plunge.
As they descended further, the cloud sea thinned. Soon, the supporting winds were no longer needed, and the Sky God entered a controlled freefall. After only a few seconds of rapid descent, powerful cyclones blasted from the ship's underside, arresting its fall and allowing the massive vessel to hover effortlessly in the blue sky below.
"Deploy wings!" With mechanical precision, sections of the deck on either side of the ship slid open, revealing enormous, retractable wings designed to aid stability and maneuverability during aerial flight.
"Confirming coordinates! Destination: Little Garden Island. Set sail!" Navigator Kuse issued the command. Hatches at the stern of the Sky God opened, and over a dozen giant Jet Dials roared to life, unleashing hurricane-force winds that propelled the flying fortress forward through the sky.
Bege wasn't heading directly to the West Blue. His first stop was Little Garden.
He held a strong interest in the two giants residing there. The idea of recruiting them had been simmering for a long time, but the opportunity hadn't arisen until now. He was determined to make an attempt to bring them into his fold.
The Sky God soared through the heavens for three or four days before reaching the airspace above Little Garden. It descended near the island, landing gently on the surrounding sea.
As the Sky God approached the shore, Bege disembarked with a dozen of his men, heading into the primeval forest.
Deep within the jungle, Bege's keen Observation Haki picked up the distinct, earth-shaking tremors emanating from the island's center. Just as he suspected – it had to be the giants, Dorry and Brogy, engaged in their eternal duel.
He quickened his pace, arriving swiftly at the island's central clearing. Sure enough, in the vast open space, two colossal figures were locked in fierce combat.
Their duel was utterly without mercy, each blow aimed at a vital point, seeking a swift, lethal end. Their fighting style was raw and brutal; the clash of giant sword against giant axe generated shockwaves like violent gales with every impact – a terrifying spectacle.
Watching the giants battle, Bege's expression lit up with undisguised pleasure.
"Impressive. Just as expected from the two captains of the Giant Warrior Pirates, whose individual bounties exceeded 100 million over eighty years ago. If they returned to the seas now, their bounties would easily reach two or three hundred million, at least."
"They're certainly strong," Moria chimed in, his characteristic eerie grin seeming wider than usual. "If they joined us, they'd be a considerable asset."
Bege chuckled softly. While the combat prowess of 'Blue Ogre' Dorry and 'Red Ogre' Brogy was undeniable, Bege valued their status as former captains of the Giant Warrior Pirates even more.
If he could bring them under his banner, it would inevitably attract other giants to his cause in the future. That was the outcome Bege truly desired.
Giants possessed physical capabilities far exceeding other races. With proper, systematic training, their sheer strength could elevate them to the level of at least a Marine Vice Admiral.
He recalled how Big Mom, one of the Four Emperors, had famously lamented that if she'd secured the allegiance of the Giant Tribe, she could have long since taken down "Red-Haired" Shanks, "Beasts" Kaido, or even "Whitebeard" himself.
"Wait here. I'm going to go have a round with them," Bege stated, then vanished with a flicker of Soru. A few swift leaps using Geppo carried him instantly into the heart of the giants' battlefield.
Dorry and Brogy swung their weapons again – the massive sword and axe carving brutal arcs through the air. Bege appeared precisely between the descending trajectories.
Coating both hands in hardened Armament Haki, Bege moved with breathtaking speed, catching both colossal weapons mid-swing.
The giants' eyes, each as large as a man's fist, widened in simultaneous shock and curiosity as they stared down at the comparatively minuscule figure effortlessly halting their attack. Bege then released his grip, letting himself drop lightly to the ground below.
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