Beneath the vast night sky of the West Blue.
The sound of the ocean waves was drowned out by the roar of battle.
The air was thick with the acrid smell of gunpowder, and the sky was obscured by the pervasive smoke.
Bandy Waltz stood at the bow of his ship, gazing at the faintly visible enemy ships in the distance, a ferocious smile playing on his lips.
Behind him, some of his crew members were covered in wounds, many wrapped in bandages, barely maintaining their fighting stance.
"Captain, there are too many enemies, we've lost many brothers."
A pirate with a thick bandage wrapped around his head staggered to Bandy Waltz's side, his voice filled with suppressed anxiety and fear.
Bandy Waltz didn't answer immediately, he slowly raised his massive fist, the symbol of the "Destroyer", his fingertips gently tapping the wooden railing of the ship.
His eyes gleamed with the madness and unyielding spirit of battle, the unchanging conviction of his life—only through fighting, only through constant destruction and conquest, could he prove his existence.
"They think we're a threat, that's why they're swarming us like this."
Bandy Waltz suddenly swung his fist, as if shattering the darkness and fear before him, his voice filled with unwavering conviction.
His loud laughter echoed across the deck, shaking the hearts of every pirate.
"But this is exactly what we want! As long as we withstand this wave of attack, their so-called alliance will collapse like a sandcastle on the beach with the tide! Let them come! Let them see what a real Destroyer is!"
His voice was like a sharp blade, piercing the silence of the night, and at the same time inspiring the hearts of every pirate in the crew.
They may have wavered, they may have been afraid.
But at this moment, Bandy Waltz's unrestrained and indomitable fighting spirit ignited the fire in their hearts.
These pirates had never felt so clearly that they were following a true madman, a crazy person who would not retreat even when facing several times their number in enemies.
Their fear was gradually buried, replaced by a fearless determination.
"Let them get out of our West Blue!" Bandy Waltz roared again, his voice like thunder, "Or let them die here! No matter the outcome, they will remember this day, they once fought against 'World Destroyer' Bandy Waltz!"
As he spoke, he used the power of the Moa Moa Fruit to launch a cannonball.
The cannonball grew larger and larger in the air, and its speed also increased exponentially.
Soon, a bomb many times larger than a warship appeared above the heads of the West Blue pirates.
"Boom!!!"
The huge explosion shook the entire sea, as if the whole world trembled at this moment.
The West Blue pirates' roaring voices stopped abruptly, and everyone looked up at the sky, the huge cannonball almost covering their vision.
Then, a blaze of scorching light engulfed their figures.
The center of the island, where many forces of the West Blue had gathered, was instantly torn into countless pieces, the shockwave of the explosion pushed the waves far away, and the huge air currents rushed towards the surroundings like wild beasts.
Old Cai stood at the very front, his eyes wide with anger, the ferocity in his eyes swallowed by the fire at that moment.
His Haki, which he was once so proud of, seemed so insignificant in the face of this irresistible force.
His body was thrown into the sky by the force of the explosion, and then fell heavily, splashing a wave of blood.
"Ah—"
His screams echoed in the air, but were quickly drowned out by the roar of the explosion.
None of the surrounding pirates were spared, their faces, once full of anger and fighting spirit, were now terrified, and they fled in all directions, but were instantly swallowed by the huge impact.
When the aftermath of the explosion gradually dissipated, the land in the center of the island no longer existed, replaced by a huge pit, with the surrounding wreckage still smoldering.
Broken planks and charred corpses floated on the sea, and the air was filled with the strong smell of gunpowder and blood.
At this time, Bandy Waltz, standing on the sea in the distance, slowly lowered his hand, a sneer on his face, his eyes revealing extreme contempt.
"Weaklings," he said softly, his voice low and cold, "You don't even have the right to resist."
His gaze swept across the destroyed sea, as if looking down on a group of insignificant ants.
Then, he turned and left, without looking at the pirates who had been blown beyond recognition.
For him, this massacre was just a warning, a silent declaration to all challengers—he, Bandy Waltz, would be the true master of this sea.
At least for the time being...
"..."
When Qingjiao saw the tragic destruction of his grandson and fleet, his anger erupted like a volcano.
His eyes were bloodshot with anger, his muscles tensed, and his clenched fists cracked.
That was the pride of his life, the future heir of his family, but now they had been almost completely wiped out in this meaningless slaughter.
In his eyes, the other party should have obediently rolled out of the West Blue after seeing them arrive.
He didn't expect that he would pay such an unimaginable price at this time.
"Bandy Waltz!"
Qingjiao roared this name almost from the depths of his throat, his voice filled with endless hatred and killing intent, as if it could tear the air.
He could no longer suppress the anger in his heart, as if he had lost his mind, and slammed his fist into the ground, instantly cracking huge fissures in the ground, sending dust flying.
He pushed away his subordinates who were trying to dissuade him, his eyes only filled with the red light of hatred.
"Get out of my way!"
Qingjiao roared, stomped his feet, and his whole body shot towards Bandy Waltz's location like a cannonball.
He had only one thought in his mind, to tear this bastard who had ruined his family's future to pieces with his own hands!
His breathing was heavy, his heart was pounding, as if there was an angry beast roaring in his body, urging him to approach the enemy as quickly as possible.
As he sped forward, Qingjiao's anger and killing intent almost turned into a tangible aura, pressing down on the surrounding air and causing it to vibrate.
His fists were wrapped in a strong Busoshoku Haki, shining with black light, like two burning stars in the night, vowing to crush everything in front of him.
"Bandy Waltz! Prepare to die!"
Qingjiao's roar resounded through the heavens and the earth, his figure turned into a blurry black shadow, rushing straight at the powerful enemy standing in the distance.
"Oh?"
Looking at Qingjiao approaching him quickly, Bandy Waltz sneered.
"What makes you think you can defeat me?"
Although the other party's bounty was a little higher than his.
But the bounty doesn't represent strength.
He was actually very happy that the other party took the initiative to come to his door.
...
