One Piece: New Order

A sharp crack echoed.

Knox couldn't hold back vomiting blood.

"Ugh..."

The pitch-black magma pinned him down and dragged him toward a small desolate island below.

The pirate forced himself to stay calm as the ground rushed closer. He knew if he hit it directly, he'd be dead for sure. Ignoring the magma chains wrapped around his limbs, infused with Armament Haki, he took a deep breath.

"Pressure Kill: Steam Burst!"

He'd rather lose a limb than his life.

His body rapidly turned red and swelled slightly. Just then, Sakazuki's cold voice came from within the black molten rock.

"Magma Burst."

The dark magma turned red.

A hundred meters above the island, both of them exploded at the same time. Steam and magma expanded in an instant, engulfing the land below.

As white steam and red lava mixed violently, in just a few seconds, the former collapsed.

Massive waves of lava surged forward, shattering the steam. The sky, once painted half white and half red, was now completely drenched in red. Molten rock poured down like rain, and the entire island became a hell of lava.

Knox crashed into the ground and rolled over numerous times, before he finally crawled back up.

"Cough... cough..."

Blood poured from his mouth as he coughed.

He lazily formed a cloud of steam and slumped down on it, gasping for breath.

"Huff... huff..."

He looked up at Sakazuki, who was walking toward him. There was no more fear in his eyes. Instead, he wore a faint smile.

The vice admiral stopped in front of him and looked down. "Oh? Not afraid of death now?"

Knox grinned. "Heh, I should've died the moment I hit the ground. But I didn't. That means I still have value. Just not sure what I'll need to pay for it."

Sakazuki let out a soft chuckle. "You're sharp. According to the latest intel, Shiki died in the Edd War Sea. In a few days, the whole world will know. His territory is now unclaimed."

Knox instantly recalled the photos from before. He believed most of it but kept his face neutral.

"That's quite the headline. But so what? You want me to take over his turf? Since when do the Marines hand out favors?"

Sakazuki didn't mind the sarcasm. "You don't need to think about Shiki's territory. Headquarters already sent a fleet to take it. What you're going to do is attack Big Mom's domain. That's your only reason to stay alive."

The pirate understood the game now. "Tch, you want me to go to war with Big Mom. While you all use the chaos to sneak back into the New World. Doesn't seem like I'm gaining anything here."

Sakazuki's tone remained indifferent. "At the very least, you're still breathing."

Knox went quiet for a few seconds, then suddenly laughed. "Haha. Fine. You've convinced me."

As he spoke, he raised a hand and shot a burst of steam into the sky.

Boom!

White steam exploded high above and formed the skull symbol of the Steam Pirates.

It was their signal for assembly.

* * *

On board the Steam Pirates' ship.

Under the captain's orders, every crew member had moved below deck. No one was allowed topside.

On the huge ship, only Sakazuki, Knox, and his two trusted aides remained above.

After ending the call with the Den Den Mushi, a battered Knox turned to the vice admiral.

"Alright. The orders have been given. The agents hidden across the islands have already begun the assault."

He pressed his temples, clearly in pain.

'Big Mom, huh…'

The fastest way to launch a strike was through the agents. Otherwise, the journey alone would take days.

There was no way they'd wait for him. And as for claiming there were no agents? Who would believe that...

Sakazuki nodded. "Good. Let's go."

Knox took a deep breath. "Let's go."

He handed the snail to one of his men, then soared into the sky alongside Sakazuki.

Their destination: Big Mom's territory.

Only after the two disappeared from sight did the two subordinates finally exhale in relief.

One of them turned over the Den Den Mushi and checked its underside.

At some point, a line of red text had been etched onto its belly:

"Golden Lion is dead. Seize his territory immediately."

That very day, every inch of Shiki's domain came under siege. Countless ships set sail from the Steam Pirates' waters, heading straight for the great pirate's sphere of influence...

* * *

New World, Unknown Sea Region.

Shiki's fleet, along with a few floating islands, drifted steadily through the skies.

Two days ago, a colossal tidal wave had interrupted his battle with Roger. But thanks to the joint attack unleashed by both men, they had torn through wave after wave and barely escaped the ocean's wrath.

Though the fleet suffered some losses, none were critical.

"Roger..." Shiki muttered, standing on the main ship's bow, gazing at the horizon.

Suddenly, a clamor broke out behind him.

"Captain Shiki!"

The pirate turned his head. "Hm? What is it?"

One of his men came running, panic in his eyes and a Den Den Mushi in hand.

"Captain! Our entire territory is under attack!"

Shiki's brow furrowed. "What kind of joke is this? Who'd dare pull something like that?"

The crew member's voice trembled. "They... They said..."

Shiki snapped. "Said what?!"

The man swallowed hard. "They said... you died in the battle at Edd War. So they—"

The pirate instantly understood. Rage distorted his face. "Damn it! Who spread that crap?!"

Wiping sweat from his forehead, the man replied, "It... It's the Steam Pirates."

A vicious glint flashed in Shiki's eyes. "Dead men walking."

The speed of his floating fleet and islands abruptly increased severalfold. It would cost a tremendous amount of stamina, but he had no choice. He had to show himself immediately to quash the rumor.

A wave of murderous intent surged, his Conqueror's Haki erupting like a storm.

"Knox..."

* * *

Midnight, Big Mom Pirates' Ship.

Purururu... purururu...

Big Mom's face twisted with fury. 'Damn it. Another one?'

This was the seventh island attacked.

She snatched up the Den Den Mushi and forced down her rage. "Speak!"

A terrified voice came through the other end.

"Mama, Kinzoku Island has been hit too. But this time, we found out who it was—"

Big Mom's eyes flashed with killing intent. "Who?!"

The caller gulped, voice trembling. "It was... Steam Pirates. They... they're likely headed for Tako Island next."

A cruel smile tugged at Big Mom's lips. "Perfect."

She hung up, summoned Zeus, and leapt onto the thundercloud.

Then she flew toward Tako Island.

"Knox!!!"

* * *

New World, Kinzoku Island.

Knox took a long breath. He was completely numb now, there was no turning back with Big Mom anymore.

Not after this.

Nearby, the pirate who had just hung up the Den Den Mushi looked at the two towering figures before him, shivering in fear.

"I-it's over, right? I did everything as you told... C-can I go now?"

Sakazuki cast him a flat glance and nodded slightly. The pirate scrambled to his feet and began running frantically away.

Without a word, the vice admiral looked to Knox and gave a silent signal, who raised his hand and fired a small jet of steam.

BOOM!

The escaping pirate exploded into a cloud of blood and mist.

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