Chapter 319: Clash of Titans Amidst the Waves

“What the…?”

“Where did that attack come from?”

The Happo Navy, charging straight toward the battlefield, suddenly found themselves facing dozens of cannonballs flying right at them.

“Eight Impact Fist!”

Chinjao leaped into the air, swinging his family’s martial arts technique and intercepting every last shell.

These cannonballs were just the few that had strayed off target after striking the Roger Pirates. There weren’t all that many in the end.

Otherwise, even Chinjao wouldn’t have found it so easy to deal with.

“Send those shells back where they came from.”

Spotting the Navy warship in the distance as the source, Chinjao’s anger boiled over.

Since they’d set sail, no matter where they’d gone, no Navy ship ever dared launch the first attack against them.

Now, with this move, the Navy had truly infuriated Chinjao.

He’d only planned to cross paths with the Roger Pirates out of curiosity.

He wanted to see if the Roger Pirates were really as powerful as the rumors said. If they’d shown up in the New World any time in the last five years, he might not have challenged them at all.

Sai quickly began ordering his men to return fire at the Navy warship.

“Yes, Vice Pillar Sai!”

The Happo Navy began hauling out artillery, firing shells toward the rear of the Roger Pirates.

Garp had already thrown every shell from the deck and now stood with his arms folded, watching the Roger Pirates in the distance.

He’d noticed the other pirate crew nearby, but as far as Garp saw it, nothing would distract him from capturing Roger.

At least, that’s what he thought—until hundreds of shells came flying out of the sky toward him.

“Oh? Looks like someone found an ally.”

“Fist Bone—Meteor!”

Launching right into an assault—it looked like this pirate crew and the Roger Pirates knew each other.

If that’s how it was, then he couldn’t let any of them off easy.

Garp’s fists flew in a flawless, airtight flurry, smashing every shell. The whole thing was effortless—his clothes didn’t even have so much as a scratch.

As soon as he landed back on the deck, Bogart’s voice called out from behind.

“Vice Admiral Garp, that’s the Happo Navy. Their leader is a big-time pirate named Chinjao.”

“Bounty: 542 million Berries.”

Bogart slid naturally into his role as aide, producing a Wanted Poster from who-knows-where and handing it over to Garp.

On the poster was Chinjao in his younger years, sporting a giant, pointed head—a rather bizarre sight.

No normal person would have a flattened, half-meter-long spike on their skull like that…

“So it looks like this isn’t Roger’s ally at all.”

“Someone’s just using them as pawns.”

With the Happo Navy drawing closer, Garp could only watch as Roger and his crew slipped away yet again.

If Chinjao was here as Roger’s backup, he would’ve attacked and then left after causing trouble. But this ship was charging straight at Garp’s warship like maniacs.

Clearly, they had nothing to do with Roger—what kind of idiotic pirate would challenge Garp head-on?

After all, Garp’s strength wasn’t just talk. That incident had only recently come to an end; every pirate of his generation knew his name.

Only a rookie would be foolish enough to test their luck against Garp.

“So you’re the one who fired that surprise attack, huh?”

“Looks like you’re ready for this, then.”

Chinjao led the Happo Navy right into Garp’s path.

He’d originally wanted to fight the Roger Pirates, but Garp’s interference had ruined everything.

Now that Roger had slipped away right under his nose, Chinjao’s only outlet for all that rage was to take it out on Garp.

It’s a shame, really—he’d picked the wrong target.

“Eight Impact Fist—Warhead!”

Chinjao leapt high, crashing down like a meteor. He aimed his iron-hard, flat head right at his enemy, hurling his full weight and power into a devastating strike.

“Fist Bone—Meteor!”

Clang!

The moment iron fist met sharpened head, Chinjao felt the force of Garp’s overwhelming power.

But Chinjao wasn’t the type to admit defeat so easily.

He twisted his waist, using his head as the axis to spin at high speed—like a human top whirling through the air.

“Oh—I may have underestimated you.”

That spinning force was strong enough to make Garp feel a slight sting.

Chinjao’s spinning, pointed head was like a drill, trying desperately to bore through Garp’s hands.

But Garp launched a whipping kick, sending Chinjao sailing through the air.

Midair, Chinjao twisted his body and came hurtling back with another head-first attack.

Crunch! Crunch! Crunch!

The Navy raised their muskets, aiming straight at the Happo Navy.

“Hold your fire!”

“If they don’t attack first, we don’t launch the opening shot.”

Bogart immediately stopped the Navy soldiers from pulling their triggers.

The sailors were baffled, but none fired first.

After all, the Happo Navy had government ties—they were pirates in name, but official ones.

No one knew why they’d shown up in the New World, but getting into a conflict could mean orders from Navy Headquarters to withdraw, and those pirates could walk away scot-free. Bogart wasn’t about to get involved in a fight that helped no one.

That, if anything, was proof that the Flower Country’s alliance spot meant more than raw power.

Bogart looked up at Garp. “This is one tricky situation!”

Meanwhile, ten nautical miles away on a tiny deserted island—maybe only two or three square kilometers across—

The World Pirates were resting there.

Crews like theirs had learned to survive by keeping their heads down between the three great overlords.

“Captain Byrnndi World, there are two people fighting out on the sea.”

“One of them looks like the Navy.”

Gairam came running back with the news for the resting Byrnndi World.

With just two ships ten miles out, you might not spot too much, but the dull rumbling overhead gave things away.

After repeated telescopic scrutiny, the lookout quickly realized a stand-off was happening between pirates and the Navy in the sea beyond.

“You’re saying there’s a Navy and pirate fight going on out there on the sea?”

“Are there really still Navy bold enough to venture into the New World?”

Byrnndi World had survived in the margins simply because Karl and the Whitebeard Pirates dominated the seas.

He couldn’t fight for territory and the spare islands had little resources, so they just wandered the New World.

There were still a few empty islands between the three big powers, but so far, no one had dared to seize them.

With things as they were, the Navy had long since abandoned any plans to conquer the New World.

He hadn’t seen a Navy ship out here in years.

“Brother, let’s go take a look. There might be some new twist.”

Binjack was the World Pirates’ first mate, and their brains—more like an elder brother to World than a subordinate.

He handled intelligence through all sorts of Den Den Mushi and, though frail and always perched on World’s shoulder, had pretty much zero fighting skill.

“If Big Brother says so, boys, let’s set sail!”

“Let’s see what this Navy’s made of!”

Out at sea, Chinjao and Garp were locked in heated battle, oblivious to yet another force speeding toward them.

As Bogart squared off with the Happo Navy, he suddenly spotted a massive pirate ship following in their wake.

“On alert!”

The Navy immediately noticed the enormous pirate ship tearing across the waves toward them.