Chapter 1002: Dying in Battle Here is Better Than Perishing in Despair on the Grand Line
Chapter 1002: Dying in Battle Here is Better Than Perishing in Despair on the Grand Line
Xipilian Kingdom was a frontline kingdom in the New World, clearly demarcated from major powers like Dressrosa. If one categorized territories by those under the World Government’s influence versus those outside it, Xipilian stood as a front-line kingdom.
Unlike Kolf’s tiny nation, Xipilian was no small state. It proudly flew no pirate flag, but under Dressrosa’s assault, it had nearly surrendered. Why "nearly"? Because its capital still held.
Protected by Xipilian’s towering, thick walls, defenders temporarily resisted Dressrosa’s advances. However, Dressrosa’s forces hadn’t lingered—they saw only one unconquered city. After subjugating surrounding areas, they’d return to wear down the capital at their leisure.
For Xipilian, though, this was already despair. Their elite troops had been routed on the battlefield, either surrendering or annihilated. Even their commanders felt baffled—why had their elite capitulated?
But this wasn’t the time to dwell on that. The Unicorn Pirate Group had launched a full-scale invasion, with their captain, "Unicorn" Ophi, entering Xipilian Kingdom and reaching its capital, Xipilian.
“What magnificent walls!”
Outside the capital’s walls, a pirate force approached. Among them stood a pirate with a unicorn horn atop his helmet, gazing at the over twenty-meter-high fortifications. “They’re incredibly sturdy too. Cannons alone won’t breach these—they’ve got artillery positioned all along the battlements!”
“So what? We’ve got the captain!” Another pirate scoffed. “Have you forgotten his nickname?”
“Haha, the fortress destruction specialist! Right… Just wait until we break through these walls and start looting! This time, I’m taking everything I can carry!” The pirate grinned, eyes gleaming with anticipation.
“The captain’s here!”
At a pirate’s shout, the crowd parted into two rows. A ten-meter-tall giant strode forward, each step sending shockwaves through the ground. Clad in simple animal-hide garments, he carried a massive chalice brimming with drink, his horned head glinting under the sunlight.
On the city walls, soldiers crouched, trembling as they stared at the horned colossus nearly half their wall’s height.
“T-this is Xipilian territory… w-what do you pirates want?!” One soldier stammered.
Burp “These damn walls… so annoying!”
Ophi downed his chalice in one gulp, then casually flung it backward. It smashed into a nearby pirate’s head, flattening him into the ground.
“The Old Man wants to conquer this place and raise our flag here!” Ophi swayed drunkenly, his massive frame crouching low. “Walls like this… they’re an eyesore!”
Boom!!
As he spoke, he launched forward like a cannonball. His unicorn horn slammed into the thick stone wall. With a thunderous roar, the impact shattered the wall, sending rubble flying as a gaping breach yawned open.
“The wall! The wall’s destroyed! Flee!!”
The defending soldiers screamed, scattering in panic.
“Charge!!”
The pirates roared, weapons raised, rushing the breach.
“MY Style—”
Suddenly, a thunderous shout echoed from behind them.
Some pirates turned, spotting a figure kicking up a trail of dust as it sped toward them.
“Sea Current Burial!!”
Boom!!
With a single punch, the figure unleashed a tornado-like vortex of air, carving a vacuum through the pirate ranks.
The commotion made Ophi stop mid-wobble. Before him stood a man with long, whiskered cheeks—Joe Rudolph.
“Joe Rudolph?”
Ophi’s face twisted into a malevolent grin. “What’s this land rat doing here? Did your master send you to eliminate me?”
As two infamous New World figures, Ophi recognized Joe Rudolph. He’d even once extended an invitation to join his crew. He knew Joe, leader of the Half-Fishman Group, now a Seven Warlords of the Sea.
Joe Rudolph offered a gentleman’s smile. “Still can’t fix that rotten mouth of yours, can you? Always drunk. Maybe try soaking your head in seawater—drown yourself completely to sober up.”
“Hahaha! From a mouse to a lapdog—your aura’s grown!” Ophi roared. “You wouldn’t dare talk to me like that before!”
Joe cracked his knuckles. “Past is past. You were once Elbaf’s guardian—now you’re a pirate. A freakish one at that.”
Giant pirates typically traveled in packs. As dominant rulers of the Grand Line, they were fiercely loyal to their kin. Any giant pirate captain commanded fellow giants aboard his ship.
But Ophi scorned his own kin, forming his own crew alone.
Ophi’s expression darkened. “Getting cocky, huh, you whiskered pest? You don’t think a few friends will finish me off?”
As he spoke, three figures arrived behind Joe Rudolph—Dagon, Bessemer, and Taylor.
Ophi recognized them too—the famed Land Rat Group.
“Just me is enough to kill you. But the Golden Lion Vice Admiral’s orders were to assist the Navy in eliminating you.” Joe Rudolph’s tone chilled. “Sorry, Ophi. You die here today.”
“You?!” Ophi cracked his neck. “The Old Man’s wanted to kill you for ages! You had the nerve to reject my old invitation!”
“That won’t happen.”
A voice rang out from the side.
A navy-uniformed man in a hooded cloak, glasses glinting, approached with a naval squadron.
“Regardless of whether you can do it or not, if you kill him, Kuro Mr. will be furious. Losing a Seven Warlords of the Sea we painstakingly recruited would damage Kuro Mr.’s reputation.”
He adjusted his glasses, locking eyes on the unicorn-horned giant. “Better yet—you die here, we complete our mission, and Kuro Mr. stays happy. Believe me, you don’t want to see Kuro Mr. angry. Dying in battle here is better than perishing in despair on the Grand Line.”
The newcomer was Klah, arriving just in time after days of travel to Xipilian.
“Golden Lion?” Ophi glared at Klah. “The one who supposedly defeated Blackbeard? You think the Old Man fears him? After I kill you, I’ll go find Golden Lion himself and rip his head off!”
Klah bared his teeth, transforming into a bestial werewolf. “Survive first, pirate!”
(End of Chapter)
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