One Piece:Becoming the King of the World from the Rocks Era

"You're right, Li Yuan shares a common enemy with us. He won't attack us over the Roger Pirates. The other pirate crews in the New World are too weak to threaten the Flying Pirates!" Shiki, the Golden Lion, laughed confidently.

"We'll strike the Roger Pirates when they leave the Infinite Pirates' territory, specifically in the Ed War Sea. Naval battles are our specialty," Shiki declared.

With Shiki's call, most of the pirates in the Flying Sea gathered. The Flying Pirates now numbered nearly 300,000, though most were fodder. Shiki didn't plan to bring these weaklings into battle, knowing the Roger Pirates were few in number and not wanting to tarnish his reputation with unworthy combatants.

Pirates aboard various ships eagerly watched Shiki flying overhead. The recent battle between the Infinite Pirates and the Navy had drawn attention, and now it was the Flying Pirates' turn to shine.

"Shahaha! This will be the greatest battle in pirate history, a victory destined for the Flying Pirates!" Shiki proclaimed, basking in the adoration of his crew and relishing his control over the fleet.

He selected over a thousand elite pirates and led ten pirate ships and an island away from the Flying Sea.

News of the Flying Pirates' mobilization quickly spread, drawing the eyes of many who knew a clash between two of the New World's strongest pirate crews was imminent.

Yet, other pirate crews merely observed, having no intention of intervening, much like during the Infinite Pirates' battle with the Navy. Without at least three crews banding together, they couldn't threaten the Flying Pirates. And any alliance would be fragile, easily shattered, leaving them vulnerable to Shiki's forces.

Ed War Sea:

Roger sat at the ship's bow, using his Voice of All Things to sense the elements of wind, rain, and clouds. He knew the Flying Pirates would come and intended to prepare for Shiki's arrival.

In the past, Roger hadn't fully developed this unique Haki, but after the swordsmanship tournament, he consciously honed it, inspired by Li Yuan and Redfield's powerful Haki in battle. Though his strength was at its peak, his unique Haki had room for growth.

"Hey, Rayleigh, what's Captain Roger doing? Can he really handle the Flying Pirates like this?" Buggy asked anxiously.

Their adversaries were the Flying Pirates, one of the New World's strongest crews, comparable to the Infinite Pirates. Buggy was understandably nervous.

"Don't worry, Buggy. If Captain Roger says we can beat the Flying Pirates, we will," Shanks reassured, patting Buggy's shoulder.

"Captain Roger couldn't even beat Li Yuan, and Golden Lion is as famous as Li Yuan. So how can I not worry?" Buggy thought, exasperated but silent.

"You two, get below deck. When we fight the Flying Pirates, stay out of sight," Rayleigh ordered, eyes on the distant sky.

"The Flying Pirates are here!" Buggy followed Rayleigh's gaze, spotting ten ships and an island approaching, unmistakably the work of Shiki.

"Captain, the air currents ahead are unusual. A storm is coming!" Reinhardt warned Shiki as they spotted Roger's crew.

"A storm? Could it be Roger's special Haki? Let's wait and see," Shiki decided, recalling Roger's ability to manipulate the elements with his Haki during the swordsmanship tournament. This unique skill had left a deep impression on him.

With Reinhardt's warning, Shiki halted in mid-air, curious to see if Roger could truly summon a storm as predicted.

"Why is the Flying Pirates stopping? Aren't they approaching the Roger Pirates?" Spies from various factions watched through telescopes, eager for firsthand information.

Minutes passed, and the clear sky darkened with rolling purple-black clouds and lightning. A fierce storm descended, with torrential rain and howling winds turning the sea into a chaotic maelstrom.

Amid the tempest, massive waves surged, yet the Oro Jackson sailed steadily, seemingly immune to the chaos. If it crossed the storm and the Flying Pirates were left behind, the Roger Pirates would escape their pursuit.

"Retreat! Don't get close!" Other spies fled as the storm spawned several massive sea tornadoes, threatening to destroy any ship that ventured too close.

"Shahaha! Listen up, Flying Pirates! All captains, officers, and anyone confident in their strength, follow me to defeat the Roger Pirates!" Shiki commanded, selecting only his strongest crew for the storm.

In such conditions, weaker pirates would be swept away, making them liabilities. Only the elite would join the battle.

"Captain, we'll follow you to victory!" Over three hundred of Shiki's elite rallied, ready to charge into the storm.

"Shahaha! Today, the Flying Pirates will defeat the Roger Pirates!" Shiki left five ships behind, taking an island and five ships into the storm.

The island shielded the ships from much of the storm, while Reinhardt used air barriers to protect them from the remaining fury. What was disastrous for others was merely an obstacle for the Flying Pirates.

"Hahaha, Shiki, you've come!" Roger greeted the well-prepared Flying Pirates, a bit disappointed. He had hoped to destroy most of their forces with the storm, but Shiki was wiser now.

"Shahaha, Roger, join me! Together, we can get Li Yuan to join us, and the three of us can overthrow the World Government and rule the world!" Shiki offered, extending a sincere invitation to Roger.

If he, Roger, and Li Yuan united, they could dominate all pirates and, with ancient weapons, potentially topple the World Government after 800 years of rule.

Previously, the combined forces of the New World's pirates had nearly defeated the Navy and the World Government's top fighters. If not for the unknown strength of the World Government, they might have succeeded. 

Now, with pirates stronger and the World Government weaker, a united front could indeed succeed.

"Hahaha, Shiki, my answer is the same as before: I refuse!" Roger declined without hesitation. "I'm not interested in ruling the world. I became a pirate to adventure with my crew."

"If being a pirate means I can't do what I love, what's the point?" Roger's dream was to freely explore the seas and find the legendary final island, completing a journey no one had before.

Thus, the Oro Jackson was not equipped with an automatic drive, relying on its sails to remind Roger of his quest to reach the final island through his own efforts and adventures, not merely by technological means.

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