One Piece: Transmigrated as Crocodile

Chapter 357 CHAPTER 357 - Bloodstained Sabaody

"Celestial Dragon Charloss's sister, Saint Shalria, is dead? The enemy can still strike us precisely? Admiral Aokiji can't continue the pursuit? Who was it, just who did this? A bunch of useless trash, garbage, scum!" Saint Roswald was practically going insane. Who were they? The world's noblest race, descendants of the creators.

But in just these past few days, first his eldest son, was brutally beaten by pirates together with the Revolutionary Army's second-in-command, Sabo. Then, Charloss suffered a gunshot wound.

That was already an unprecedented disgrace. But now they were telling him that, under the heavy protection of the Marines, Saint Shalria was struck dead by lightning.

How could Saint Roswald possibly maintain his composure? How could he not rage? He had even just gunned down an entire squad of Marines who brought him the news, turning them into sieves.

"Tell the Marines, if they don't catch the murderer today, they'll pay!" Saint Roswald roared furiously. Vice Admiral Momonga remained silent, not uttering a single word in reply.

Even if the Celestial Dragons didn't bring this up, once the Celestial Dragons were secured, this matter absolutely would not be let go.

"Aokiji, what exactly happened? With you there, how could things turn out like this? Have you forgotten the primary mission of this trip?" Sengoku also called via Den Den Mushi to reprimand Aokiji.

"It was my mistake. Have all the Celestial Dragons been secured?" Aokiji's expression was placid. This was expected. In fact, if it were just a verbal warning from Fleet Admiral Sengoku, it would still be manageable.

But he knew this might only be the beginning, unless he could capture Crocodile and the culprit who summoned the lightning.

"Combatants from the Five Elders' side have already been sent to find you. I hope the two of you can join forces to apprehend Crocodile and the Straw Hat Pirates. Otherwise, the consequences will be severe. Be prepared." Fleet Admiral Sengoku said gravely.

"Understood."

Aokiji silently hung up the Den Den Mushi. The situation he least wanted to see had still occurred, and he actually had to cooperate with that beast. Troublesome.

"Dammit, what a madman." Kid and the others were holed up in a hidden tavern. Even if they wanted to leave immediately now, it would be very difficult.

More and more Marines were pouring into the Sabaody Archipelago, and powerful figures from Headquarters were appearing on the streets one after another. Kid was covered in blood. He had encountered Vice Admiral Onigumo on the way, fought briefly, fell into a disadvantage, and escaped, but was seriously injured.

On Sabaody Island, columns of Marines were searching house to house. Panic was spreading. Pirate crews were being arrested one after another. On the streets, captured pirates being escorted could be seen everywhere.

Even if just for a limited period, the number of pirates gathered on Sabaody Island was terrifyingly large.

"Damn that Crocodile! It's all his fault! Before I've even entered the New World, I'm about to be sent to prison. Damn it! If I ever get out, I'll definitely kill that lunatic!" A pirate captain, slashed over a dozen times but still bouncing around energetically, cursed. His bounty was nearly 90 million Berries.

On the island, as long as you didn't act too recklessly, living freely wasn't a problem. But who knew, damn it, he would run into Vice Admiral Momonga. If he had surrendered even a moment later, his head would probably have been lopped off.

And all of this was because the Dawn Pirates killed a Celestial Dragon, triggering this insane uproar.

"Truly not to be trifled with. Let's lay low for now. How are the preparations for setting sail?" Hawkins walked along the coast with his subordinates, silently performing a divination. An ominous sign.

"Everything is ready. We can depart immediately."

"Then let's set off."

"Which pirate crew do you belong to?" But just as Hawkins and his crew were about to leave, Ramirez, dragging a long blood-stained blade, approached from not far away.

"Who are you?" Hawkins' expression was extremely grave. This man was not only absurdly tall and powerfully built, but from head to toe, he radiated an intensely dangerous aura.

"Answer my question. I haven't read the news in a long time, but you look like pirates. So, are you the Straw Hat Pirates or the Dawn Pirates?"

"Neither."

"Is that so? Never mind. I'll just kill you all anyway."

"Hmph, a lunatic from who-knows-where. Knowing we are pirates, yet you still dare to talk big?" one of Hawkins' officers immediately said darkly.

Ramirez wasn't wearing any uniform and probably wasn't a Marine; otherwise, he couldn't not know about them, especially at a time like this. So, for such an unknown character, they naturally wouldn't show any pleasant expression.

"Hmm, good. I'll save you for last." Ramirez raised his blood-stained blade. In an instant, wind and clouds churned, and the entire sky darkened.

"Get out of here, fast!" Hawkins' face changed in alarm. What was this? A Devil Fruit user? Or was it simply raw power disturbing the local weather? Whichever it was, an aura of death instantly surged forth.

Then, successive screams rose and fell. Later statistics showed the Hawkins Pirates were completely wiped out. Hawkins, the newly risen pirate captain, was slashed thirty-eight times. When the Marines finally arrested and found him, he was barely breathing, but he ultimately survived and was sent to Impel Down...

Blood dyed this area red. It was an extreme, cruel slaughter. With each rise and fall of the blade, severed limbs and body parts were everywhere, a mountain of corpses and a sea of blood. In the end, even the civilians of the nearby town were caught up, becoming souls under the blade.

"What on earth happened here? Is this hell?" When a Marine squad arrived at this battlefield after the fierce battle, they saw mutilated corpses strewn everywhere. Apart from the barely alive Hawkins, among the over five hundred other bodies, not a single one was intact.

With most of Marine Headquarters adhering to the principle of capturing alive, such brutal killing rarely occurred anymore. This made some of the Marines who came to collect the corpses unable to bear it, vomiting continuously.

"What happened on the island?" Ain could see Marine squads hurrying about. She then stopped one, identified herself, and inquired with a Major.

"Rear Admiral! The captain of the Dawn Pirates, Crocodile, ordered the killing of Celestial Dragon Saint Shalria! The entire Marine force and intelligence agency personnel are currently conducting a search." The Major saluted and laid out the entire matter.

He himself found it strange; the other party was clearly a Marine Rear Admiral, hadn't she received the message released by Headquarters?

He didn't know that Ain was essentially operating independently and wasn't a Rear Admiral dispatched from Marine Headquarters.

"What?!" Ain was completely stunned. No wonder the entire island was thrown into chaos. The Dawn Pirates had actually committed such a monstrous crime. What should be done now?

Originally, she had been thinking that, if possible, she would see her father. Although her memories weren't very deep anymore, since he came looking for her, she should at least meet him. Though she certainly wouldn't go back with him or anything like that.

However, their positions were different. Even if they met, it would be in private. But now they had become the target of all, making contact probably quite difficult.

And then Ain received orders from Marine Headquarters, commanding all Marines on the island to launch search and arrest operations, even those on leave.

Every Marine on the island was now unconditionally to obey orders.

(End of Chapter)