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Rayleigh's words made Rowen smile.
Just as expected, Rayleigh chose to join this war.
Rowen was never surprised by Rayleigh's decision.
Roger's bloodline, Ace, and Roger's spiritual successor, Luffy, were both participating in this war. Even Red-Haired Shanks would rush to their aid.
As long as he could reach the battlefield, Rayleigh would certainly not stand idly by.
Though Rayleigh had aged, his stamina much lower than in his prime, his Haki remained at its peak; he was still one of the absolute top-tier combatants on these seas.
In the original story, the Whitebeard Pirates' confrontation with Marine HQ was a losing battle from the start.
Marine HQ alone possessed five or more Admiral-level combatants.
The Whitebeard Pirates side?? Only Whitebeard himself.
The original Summit War's progression also reflected this—Aokiji and Kizaru, were practically just going through the motions.
Sengoku and Garp barely even fought.
Akainu alone, putting in maximum effort, combined with Marine HQ's forces, was enough to crush the Whitebeard Pirates.
Though Whitebeard was tricked by Sengoku's scheme and severely injured by his own 'son', Squard, even if he hadn't been injured, the aging Whitebeard could not have won that war.
Even Whitebeard in his prime couldn't have defeated Sengoku and Garp working together.
From the very beginning, Whitebeard knew he was going to his death; he intended to use his own life to bring a fitting end to a remnant of the old era.
But with Rowen himself joining the fray, he certainly wouldn't swallow such a simple defeat.
However, even with just Rowen and Whitebeard, they still wouldn't be a match for Marine HQ.
Five Admiral-level fighters were simply too much.
It was no exaggeration to say that if Marine HQ concentrated all its forces, even two complete Emperor crews would almost certainly be defeated.
But that was if the Warlords cooperated fully—and expecting someone like Mihawk to go all out was impossible.
Still, Marine HQ was undoubtedly the strongest single force on these seas. If only Rowen, as a single peak combatant, joined, the outcome of the war wouldn't be much different from the original story.
Though Sengoku, as commander-in-chief, needed to preside over the public execution and wouldn't easily join the battle, and Garp, emotionally distraught over Ace's execution, couldn't fight at full strength—if Aokiji and Kizaru didn't just go through the motions, Rowen and Whitebeard against three Admirals would still have a very low chance of winning.
And Sengoku wouldn't just stay on the sidelines; the moment he saw the tide turning in the Navy's favor, that 'Strategist' would show no mercy.
Facing four Admiral-level fighters—Rowen and Whitebeard would surely be defeated!
Rowen was here to get stronger through the Summit War, not to die.
But adding Rayleigh—a top-tier combatant—to the mix completely changed the situation.
With Garp emotionally compromised, it was questionable how much of his Haki he could even wield effectively.
Even if Sengoku joined the battle—Rowen, Whitebeard, and Rayleigh could absolutely fight on equal terms against Sengoku, Aokiji, Akainu, and Kizaru!
And don't forget, the Red Hair Pirates were also on their way to support!
In the original story, Kaido's interference caused Shanks to arrive late, after Whitebeard and Ace were already dead. But with Rowen and Rayleigh's involvement, Shanks reaching the battlefield in time would be no problem!
With their side added—it would be three Emperor-level pirate crews, plus the legendary Rayleigh, confronting Marine HQ!
If it came down to a true, all-out battle—the victor would be far from certain!
Of course, judging by Shanks's actions in the original Summit War, his goal was to stop the war, not join it. But before that happened, Rowen would have already obtained what he wanted...
Whitebeard's 'Fortune'.
Rowen's eyes glinted with wisdom, his Human-Human Fruit's enhanced intellect running through countless battle simulations for the upcoming Summit War.
Whitebeard was coming with the intention to die. He had no plans of returning alive.
For a man like Whitebeard, dying of old age or sickness, a decrepit remnant of a bygone era, was an unacceptable end. This war was the graveyard Whitebeard had chosen for himself.
Even his final shout to the world—THE ONE PIECE—IS REAL!!!—was almost certainly part of his plan.
The New World no longer had a ship that could carry a remnant of the old era like Whitebeard. Ending his story at the Summit War was the best possible conclusion for him.
And after that—would come a new era!
The era of the Sky Sovereign!
Rowen's eyes flashed with an astonishing crimson-black light.
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"The Dark King is joining the battle too? This is getting exciting," Sanji and Zoro, looking at the legendary figure, also grinned with powerful intent.
"Uncle, thank you," Luffy said to Rayleigh with profound sincerity.
"Hahahaha! For an old remnant of a bygone era like me to still be able to contribute to the new age—is the greatest fortune," Rayleigh laughed heartily. The Haki that had lain dormant for years began to bubble and boil within him.
"I will take command of the war," Rowen stated.
Everyone nodded as if it were a matter of course.
Even Luffy, though burning with impatience to save Ace, forced himself to calm down and nodded firmly. With Rowen around, Luffy was significantly more mature than his original story counterpart.
Luffy understood that mere impatience wouldn't save Ace; it might even be counterproductive. He took a deep breath, regulating his state, his Haki gradually calming, a fierce crimson-black light simmering in his eyes.
"Hahaha! I also want to see the showdown between the Ultimate Human and Sengoku the Buddha," Rayleigh laughed heartily, his eyes filled with anticipation.
The title 'Ultimate Human' had spread across the seas after the Enies Lobby incident.
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"Come in," Rowen called out towards the door.
Clank! Clank!
The six Supernovas were escorted in by their own subordinates.
"I'll give you a chance. Those who survive the battlefield can enter the New World," Rowen stated with a calm smile.
These guys' powers were useless to him; better to throw them into the battlefield to tie up Marine HQ's forces.
In a massive war like this, using Conqueror's Haki for wide-area sweeps was extremely inefficient.
In a peak-level showdown, even Rowen had to be cautious, conserving all his stamina and Haki for unexpected situations. He had no spare Haki for clearing fodder.
The more usable forces, the better!
At the very least, these Supernovas could handle some Marine HQ Rear Admirals. Several of them working together might even be able to contend with a Vice Admiral.
Though they didn't know Haki, their powerful Devil Fruit abilities could still clash with Haki.
"Wh-What battlefield?" Law asked, cold sweat beading on his forehead.
The other Supernovas were also sweating nervously. They hadn't overheard the entire conversation outside. But a war involving Sky Sovereign Rowen and the Dark King Rayleigh—one could imagine how terrifying it would be.
Rowen's words—'those who survive can enter the New World'—revealed the brutality of this war.
"Me, the Dark King Rayleigh, and the Whitebeard Pirates'—against Marine Headquarters and the Seven Warlords of the Sea," Rowen stated calmly, glancing at them.
"!!!" Cold sweat instantly drenched the Supernovas' entire bodies, their eyes filled with horror.
If before they were somewhat arrogant, thinking conquering the first half of the Grand Line qualified them to face an Emperor—after their brutal beating by Rowen, they now fully understood how vast this sea truly was.
Forget Sky Sovereign Rowen—they couldn't even handle Pirate Hunter, Black Leg, or the Desert Princess!
And now, they had to face the entirety of Marine HQ and the Seven Warlords??
The pirate side's combatants were Sky Sovereign Rowen and the entire Straw Hat crew, the legendary great pirate Silvers Rayleigh, and the Emperor Whitebeard, hailed as the World's Strongest Man, and his Whitebeard Pirates!
GOOD HEAVENS! THIS WAS AN EPIC WAR!
Could they really survive participating in it??
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"We are the main force. Whether you live or die depends on your own abilities," Rowen commented, looking at them with a smile.
He wasn't worried about them turning traitor; they had no room to.
Once thrown onto the battlefield, these pirates with bounties over 100 million would naturally attract the attention of numerous Marine soldiers. And since the news of their capture had already spread, Marine HQ would assume they had submitted to Rowen.
"Let's see how many of you survive. Don't disappoint me, Supernovas," Rowen smiled.
Law and the others grit their teeth but could only accept this arrangement. They had no other choice.
Defying an Emperor had consequences; the fate of the Kid Pirates was still fresh in their minds...
Being given a chance to survive was already a mercy.
"Go outside and wait to be deployed to the battlefield. In the meantime, recover your stamina," Rowen dismissed them.
"Jewelry Bonney, stay behind," Rowen added as the Supernovas were being led away by their subordinates.
"Hm?" Bonney's forehead beaded with cold sweat. Why was he keeping her behind?
Click!
Seeing the door close, Bonney's back was soaked with cold sweat.
"I really wish I could divine my fate," Hawkins muttered weakly outside the door.
With Seastone cuffs on, his Straw-Straw Fruit ability was useless; he couldn't perform divination.
"Hmph! Do you really think a Devil Fruit ability could predict whether you'll survive this insane battle?" Capone Bege snorted, though he too was terrified.
"Jewelry Bonney... Unlucky girl," Urouge commented with a hint of schadenfreude. When you couldn't control your own fate, seeing someone else in a worse predicament could alleviate some of the pressure of the impending war.
"Captain," Bepo looked worriedly at Law.
"Phew! Just focus on recovering your stamina. We have to survive this war. At least the main force is Sky Sovereign Rowen and the Straw Hats; we don't have to face the Admirals directly," Law took a deep breath.
"And..." Law's eyes flashed with hatred.
The Seven Warlords were also participating in this war!
That meant that bastard Doflamingo would be there too!
In this chaotic war, even Doflamingo couldn't guarantee his own safety; he could easily be killed by accident!
If he got the chance, he would definitely kill that bastard!
Hearing Law's words, the other Supernovas said no more, even starting to eat.
Maintaining stamina was key to maximizing their chances of survival in this epic war.
In this moment, these pirates who had sailed smoothly through the first half of the Grand Line relying on their Devil Fruit abilities, truly felt the cruelty of the sea.
The weak couldn't even control their own fate—reduced to mere pawns in the hands of truly great figures like Sky Sovereign Rowen.
And they were just insignificant pawns at that!
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"Jewelry Bonney... You don't really think your Devil Fruit ability could deceive me, do you?" Rowen asked, looking at Bonney with a smile.
"Before the World's Strongest Devil Fruit User... Devil Fruit ability disguises are useless, aren't they?" Bonney sighed bitterly, deactivating her Age-Age Fruit ability.
Bonney was the only Supernova not shackled with Seastone, but with ordinary handcuffs placed on her by Nami.
Bonney had been puzzled by this earlier, but now she understood—all her disguises had been seen through by this man.
VMM!
Bonney's body rapidly shrank, quickly reverting to her original form—a nine-year-old girl.
"The Age-Age Fruit's ability... You really are Kuma's daughter," Perona commented with a smile, floating over to Bonney.
The others also looked at Bonney with kind smiles.
Kuma and Bonney's story had deeply moved them as well.
"Eh?? Y-You know about me?" Bonney's voice trembled.
"Explaining is too troublesome," Rowen stated, first removing Bonney's handcuffs, then with a calm smile, he gently patted her.
POP!
A memory orb was expelled from Rowen.
"Th-The Paw-Paw Fruit??" Bonney's pupils constricted sharply.
She was intimately familiar with this ability—it was her father, Kuma's, Paw-Paw Fruit power!
Why... was it in Sky Sovereign Rowen's hands??
"Oh? Kuma's Paw-Paw Fruit ability?" Rayleigh looked on with nostalgia.
The Paw-Paw Fruit, along with Kaido's Fish-Fish Fruit, Model: Azure Dragon, were prizes in the Celestial Dragons' hunting tournament during the God Valley Incident.
Seeing the Paw-Paw Fruit brought back memories of what happened at God Valley for Rayleigh.
"Watch this," Rowen stated, pushing the memory orb towards Bonney.
Bonney closed her eyes.
Soon, everything that happened on Thriller Bark was read by Bonney through the memory orb.
"F-Father!" The nine-year-old Bonney covered her mouth, tears streaming uncontrollably, sobbing like a heartbroken child.
Regarding Kuma's past and choices, including what he did while she was being cured—Bonney knew none of it.
In this moment, she deeply felt her father Kuma's pure, selfless love for her.
At this moment, even Bonney's very soul trembled.
"Is... my father dead?" Bonney asked, trembling, looking at Rowen.
But Bonney wasn't completely afraid now; because in these memories, she had seen this man use the Revive-Revive Fruit to summon Moria's soul.
Her father chose to be modified, to have his consciousness erased, for her sake... but even if he died... this man could bring his soul back from the underworld, right??
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