Chapter 115: Clash on the Grand Line: The Execution Broadcast

The scene shifts to the battlefield where Rocks, Kong, and Admiral Wenhu are locked in fierce combat.

“Boom! Boom! Boom!”

The sounds of battle roared non-stop, shaking the air. The fight between Rocks, Kong, and Admiral Wenhu had reached a boiling point. Every move was packed with power. Every clash sent chills down the spines of those watching.

“The Navy are just lapdogs for the Celestial Dragons.”

“Yeah, the Navy’s nothing good either.”

“The Celestial Dragons are so rotten, yet the Navy still tries to save them.”

All across the Four Seas, people clenched their jaws in anger, their hatred for the Navy growing by the minute.

Their voices burned with fury and disappointment, as their faith in the Navy’s justice sank to new lows.

“Bluru bluru!”

Just then, the Five Elders’ Transponder Snail started ringing.

“Reporting to the Elders: video snails are showing the scene everywhere in the New World and the Four Seas.”

“What?”

Upon hearing the report, the Five Elders realized the news of Rocks executing a Celestial Dragon was spreading like wildfire across the seas via the Transponder Snails.

The bearded Elder shot up and smashed the table with a furious kick.

“Got it. Understood.”

Hardly had he hung up, when the scar-faced Elder turned to him with an anxious question.

“What’s going on?”

The long-bearded Elder quickly filled them in.

“Bang!”

“If we’d known, we should’ve acted together from the start.”

The bald Elder was the most hot-headed among them, always letting his anger get the better of him.

“Forget it. What do we do now?”

The tall, thin Elder raised a hand to calm him down.

“What choice do we have?”

“Contact Kong and the others and have them cut off the feed immediately.”

The middle-aged Elder thought fast. He quickly suggested a solution.

“It’s our only option now.”

Without delay, the long-bearded Elder dialed up Kong.

On the battlefield, Kong sensed the call from his chest. He shot Wenhu a meaningful look, then stepped out of the fight.

“Hello?”

“This is the Five Elders. The broadcast is going out across the entire sea. Cut the video snail—right now.”

The Elder got straight to the point, relaying the situation to Kong without wasting words.

“Understood, Elder. I’ll take care of it.”

No sooner had Kong hung up than he saw Wenhu faltering, so he rushed over.

“Bang!”

As Kong rejoined battle with Rocks, he swept his gaze around the field. Everyone was busy fighting; there was no one free to shut down the video snail.

Damn it, what a blunder. He hadn’t thought they’d pull a stunt like this.

Grinding his teeth, Kong pushed back hard against Rocks’ attack.

“Hahaha, the two of you just aren’t good enough!”

No sooner did Rocks finish speaking than his aura surged and changed.

In an instant, his Conqueror’s Haki erupted out, knocking out anyone on the battlefield too weak to withstand it.

“Wow, is that really Rocks?”

“Lord Rocks is incredible!”

“That’s Conqueror’s Haki, isn’t it?”

The audience watching the broadcast gasped in awe.

“With Rocks this strong, what are we supposed to do?”

“Yeah—how are we supposed to live with pirates that powerful?”

“I’ve given up on doing business in the New World for now.”

But immediately, worried voices broke out in the crowd.

“Lord Rocks is my new idol.”

“I’m going to sea. I’m going to be a pirate. I’m joining the Rocks Pirates!”

But soon, others countered them, raising their hands and cheering aloud.

“Hey, take a look—do you even see what Lord Rocks is doing?”

Even more people echoed that sentiment, gearing up to leave for the sea and join the Rocks Pirates.

“Next up is what everyone’s been waiting for!”

“The execution of the Celestial Dragon begins now!”

“Roar!!!”

“It’s finally happening!”

“Yeah, we’ve been waiting for this moment forever.”

“Damn those Celestial Dragons.”

Some cheered, others leapt for joy, and some fell to their knees sobbing.

Kong, surveying the scene, spotted the execution platform in the distance—two long spears already aimed at Saint Marlrose.

“Not good. All units, rescue the Celestial Dragon with everything you’ve got!”

Kong’s fierce shout drew every Navy officer’s attention.

Some Navy troops slowed their attacks on purpose; others desperately rushed for the execution platform.

People’s intentions split—some wanted the Celestial Dragon dead, others saw a shot at promotion.

“Hahaha, Kong, do you really think that little of me?”

Seeing Kong had the nerve to command while fighting him, Rocks boiled over with rage.

“Divine Might!”

Rocks raised his pitch-black blade, Black Dragon, sending a deep slash streaking across the sky.

Kong sensed the strike laced with heavy Conqueror’s Haki and dodged out of the way.

“Argh!!!”

Kong heard Wenhu’s agonized scream and whipped his head around.

A shock shot through him—the real target of that slash was Wenhu!

Admiral Wenhu was too slow to dodge. His right hand and lower leg were severed in an instant, and he dropped out of his Devil Fruit beast form.

“Clang!”

Kong lunged to catch the falling Wenhu, but Rocks blocked him with his black blade.

“Thud!”

Kong could only watch as Wenhu crashed to the ground, face twisted in pain.

“Hahaha! Kong, you’re the only one left. Let’s see how you try to stop me now!”

Rocks floated in the air, laughing triumphantly. Another Navy admiral about to die—couldn’t hope for better news.

“Rocks, don’t get cocky. The Five Elders will never let you get away with this.”

“Execute him!”

That calm command echoed across the square. Every eye turned to the execution stage.

The crowd, once noisy, fell dead silent.

“Shk! Shk!”

Both spears drove into the Celestial Dragon’s body, and he woke up in agony.

“Ugh—why didn’t the Navy save me?”

Saint Marlrose, the Celestial Dragon, barely got out a word.

His head slumped, and he was very clearly dead within seconds.

“I’m setting out to sea—nobody stop me!”

“I’m joining the Rocks Pirates!”

“From now on, Lord Rocks is my ultimate idol.”

Only after the Celestial Dragon’s death did the broadcast finally cut off.

But all across the Four Seas and the Grand Line, new would-be pirates swelled in number at once.

The world of pirates was hit with its first real surge—an era of piracy was about to begin.

“Retreat!”

Kong clenched his jaw and gave the order he hated most.

He knew that if he didn’t, Navy casualties would only get worse.

Newgate, Sengoku, Garp, Karl, and the rest halted their battles one by one.

“Let them go.”

Gazing at the distant horizon, Rocks spotted ten hazy figures in the sky. He knew there was no way to keep most of the Navy here today.

The pirates, surprisingly obedient, didn’t chase. They simply watched as Sengoku, Kong, and the others withdrew from battle step by step.