Chapter 164: The Revolutionary Army Appears! Are They Here to Steal the Kill Too?

Marine Headquarters, Marineford.

Sengoku stared at the resurrected Buggy, his face gloomy as he said: "That bastard Smoker, did he even listen to my orders at all? To think he actually let Buggy Saint die in battle!"

"Inside the game merchant's Strange Trial Tower, one can resurrect even after death, it doesn't matter."

Aokiji had long since removed his eye mask, his eyes scanning the Image Den Den Mushi incessantly.

Those pirates frantically fighting over treasure, those Haijunzhibu gathering together to resist the pirates, those civilians who were clearly the weakest yet still struggling desperately.

Every scene was reflected in his eyes behind his lenses.

"Is it about whether he can resurrect? It's about dignity, it's about honor, it's about the face of the World Nobles!"

Sengoku slammed the table in a rage, smashing the corner of it to pieces.

Soon, some Navy soldiers walked in carrying a new conference table to replace the one that had been damaged—he didn't even know which one it was anymore.

Aokiji's gaze was listless as he nodded and said: "Is that so?"

To the side, Kizaru pursed his lips and said in a strange tone: "Still so lazy. As a Marine Admiral, shouldn't you be thinking more about capturing pirates?"

Aokiji looked speechless and said: "Don't trouble yourself with my concerns; you are the last person I want to be questioned by regarding my work attitude."

"Issue my order: strip Smoker of his Colonel rank and demote him to a regular Navy soldier."

"And that pirate wearing a straw hat, daring to strike a Celestial Dragon—a bounty of fifty million."

"Especially that orange-haired woman at the end, a bounty of eighty million Beli, the Orange Devil!"

Sengoku frowned, announcing the handling of Smoker and the Straw Hat Pirates.

This should be enough to satisfy the Five Elders.

Aokiji changed his posture, leaning back in his seat.

Is this the justice of the Five Elders?

Without any investigation, without knowing the extent of the Straw Hat Pirates' threat to civilians, just because they struck a Celestial Dragon, they are given a bounty of over a hundred million.

This reminded him of the Ohara incident he had participated in.

A group of scholars who violated the laws of the World Government were wiped out by a Buster Call, and the Demon Child was only let go because his good friend Jaguar D. Saul had blocked him at the cost of his life.

Is that also justice?

Aokiji felt very lost.

Despite his seemingly lazy appearance, his eyes were fixed firmly on the scenes playing across the countless Image Den Den Mushi.

He had a strange feeling in his heart that his own lost sense of justice might find an answer among these gathered pirates, Navy, and civilians, and even the game merchant who was stirring up the winds.

"Hehehehe... is this the place?"

Doflamingo hung in mid-air by a single thread, carefully examining the pitch-black giant tower.

Does one's fruit ability disappear once they step within a certain range of the giant tower?

Bang.

A white thread shot out.

It pierced a pirate ship with precision, dragging his entire body over.

His pointed shoes landed with a crisp sound.

"This ship is now requisitioned by me."

"Bastard..."

Pfft, pfft, pfft.

High-speed bullet threads, like gunfire, punched straight through the pirates' bones, their momentum carrying them rolling into the sea.

Before this, Doflamingo had already killed a pirate and snatched the Contract Fruit from his hand, gaining the qualification to enter the Trial Tower.

He was going to personally verify the truth of the 【Celestial Dragon Bloodline】 inside the Trial Tower!

Even though he was clearly aware that countless eyes from the Image Den Den Mushi were watching every move within the Trial Tower area, he remained this unscrupulous.

The pirate ship pushed aside the waves and landed on the edge of Death Island.

A squad of pirates suddenly rushed out.

"Another big fish on the hook."

"Since you've been targeted by our Thieves Group, consider yourself unlucky. Hurry up and trade your valuables to me, otherwise, we'll kill you until you don't even have the qualification to resurrect."

The leader of the thieves sneered repeatedly.

They were a group of thieves from the Goa Kingdom. After landing on Death Island, they found they couldn't snatch any Pollution Monsters from the fierce pirates and the numerous Navy, so they had a sudden idea: block the edge of Death Island and hunt these new players arriving on the island.

Most of these players were novices who hadn't even finished their Contract Tasks, possessing only one piece of beginner equipment or skill, making them very easy to deal with.

They had been camping nearby for four days.

They had made a small fortune.

"Valuables?"

Doflamingo looked at the players of the Thieves Group, the corners of his mouth curling up as he burst into laughter.

Ever since becoming the Emperor of Dressrosa, being recruited by the Navy as one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea, and partnering with Kaido to become the black Emperor of the Underground World, how long had it been since anyone dared to say such stupid things in front of him?

There had long been news that the pirates with slightly stronger combat power in the East Blue had all been captured by the Marine Hero Garp, and even news regarding the Grand Line had been blocked.

It really was laughable.

"If you're talking about the most valuable thing, it should be my head, right?"

"What stupid talk, kill him twice and he'll be obedient!"

The thief leader struck first, actually slashing out a sword aura that only a Sword Master could produce.

This was a Contract Skill he had obtained, and its power was immense.

"So this is a skill; truly a terrifying method. It's one thing that the String-String Fruit can't be used, but even my Haki is..."

"Hehehehe, I'm looking forward to the Celestial Dragon Bloodline reward more and more."

Doflamingo tilted his body slightly, dodging the sword Qi, and suddenly swung his right fist forward.

The next second,

A sophisticated mechanical arm guard suddenly emerged on his right arm, and scorching, high-temperature flames erupted, turning the position where the Thieves stood in front into a sea of fire.

This was the skill 【Fire Cloud Arm】 he was rewarded with after completing the task for the Contract Fruit.

It came from a Puppeteer who was proficient in puppetry in a world of ghosts and monsters; they could craft all sorts of bizarre puppets and even merge with them to unleash superhuman power.

"It's only at Lv. 5, yet its power is already approaching my Five-Colored Strings that I have practiced for many years; the power is truly astonishing."

Doflamingo retracted his arm, watching the Fire Cloud Arm guard gradually disappear, feeling very interested.

This new ability called puppetry seemed to fit his String-String Fruit very well.

"So I can only continue to grow stronger by raising my game level; this is truly interesting."

Doflamingo lifted his pointed shoes and walked toward the depths of Death Island.

On the other side,

At the landing point guarded by the Navy, several pirates from pirate ships had already been captured, bound with chains, and taken onto the warships docked at the shore.

These pirates and civilians who arrived later, just as the Thieves Group said, only mastered one skill or possessed one piece of starter equipment; they were simply no match for these Navy soldiers.

"Very good, keep it up like this, and don't let any more new players land on the island."

They were the Navy 8th Branch.

Having received a direct order from Fleet Admiral Sengoku of the Marine Headquarters, they were to ensure the number of new players landing on Death Island was reduced.

The obese Nelson Roy gently rubbed a thin, long mustache between his fingers.

His small eyes darted around, and in places where the Den Den Mushi inside the warship could not see, he looted all the valuable items from the detained pirates and civilians and sold them to the Samsara Game.

Dozens of pieces of starter equipment and the Beli they could control were sold for hundreds of Reward Points.

Although he didn't earn much, it was all his own personal loot, and he used it all to upgrade his skills.

"Once I save up enough Reward Points and sell everything in one go, that will be tens of millions of Beli, enough to pay off those Vampires at Marine Headquarters to buy a better position."

Although Roy was a Rear Admiral of a branch, he dreamed of returning to the Grand Line.

The East Blue was poor and weak, with no opportunity to get rich at all.

"Report to the Rear Admiral, a ship has been spotted approaching!"

"Stop them for me!"

Roy also saw the approaching merchant ship, and his eyes immediately lit up.

Pirates were all poor wretches, but these merchant ships were filled with Nobles and merchants; at the very least, he could squeeze millions of Beli in profit out of them.

At the top of the Qiqiang Jita, Fang Yi, who had already returned to the game room, suddenly cast his gaze toward the edge of Death Island.

"I didn't expect that someone who has always been cautious in their development, avoiding the attention of the Navy, would actually take the initiative to show themselves."

Within Fang Yi's line of sight, a man wearing a dark green coat, with a stern expression and a red square tattoo on his left cheek, stood on the deck of the merchant ship, about to dock.

A Fu asked in confusion: "Who is he?"

"The Leader of the Revolutionary Army, a man who attempts to shake the World Government and the Navy by relying on his own strength."

"Impossible."

A Fu didn't even think about it and said: "According to my perception, there are at least several combatants within the World Government who have reached Tier 1 Peak, plus the help of those Admirals from the Marine Headquarters; even if the Four Emperors combined, they would barely be on par."

"With the overall strength of the Revolutionary Army, it is simply impossible to shake the World Government."

This was the most rational judgment she had made.

Fang Yi laughed and said: "Some things, some people, are just clearly aware that something cannot be done, yet they insist on doing it anyway."

"These people are often able to unleash a massive power that ordinary people find hard to imagine, and they will infect new people like a spark, igniting new forces."

"I am very much looking forward to seeing what kind of power Monkey D. Dragon, known as the world's most heinous criminal, can obtain from the Samsara Game."

At the edge of Death Island,

The merchant ship had slowly docked.

The Navy Rear Admiral twisted his obese body, glared, and said: "I am the Navy Rear Admiral of the East Blue 8th Branch, ordered to guard this place; no one is allowed to land on the island!"

Countless Flintlocks were raised, their pitch-black muzzles aimed at the merchant ship.

These Flintlocks were the most basic starter firearms; although they were very cheap to redeem and had no special abilities, they still possessed considerable lethality when dozens of bullets were fired at once.

Dragon raised his head, scanned the Navy with an expressionless face, and without the slightest fear in his eyes, said calmly: "I am very sorry, but we have a reason why we must land on the island."

"Fire!"

The Navy Rear Admiral sneered.

If he didn't let these new players suffer a bit and cough up a few million Beli in resurrection fees, they wouldn't take him, this Pirate-hunting Rear Admiral, seriously.

Bang, bang, bang.

Black smoke emerged from the muzzles of the Flintlocks, and countless bullets shot toward the figures on the deck.

Beside him, Ivankov, with purple curly hair, jumped violently into the air, and a huge golden Shield appeared in front of him, blocking all the bullets.

Holy Light Shield.

A Holy Light spell originating from a world of Magic; a Mage who masters Holy Light spells not only possesses the ability to restrain evil spirits but also has very powerful healing and Holy Light amplification.

"How is this possible?"

The Navy Rear Admiral was dumbfounded; how could the skill strength of a new player be so strong?

"I'm sorry, but my Holy Light Shield has an Entry of Defense +13; ordinary Flintlocks can't pierce my Shield."

Ivankov blinked his seductive eyes.

The black, spiky death-style eye makeup combined with a rough voice made people feel a sense of nausea.

"By the way, Dragon, can you buy me an Insight Pill? I want to wash the Entry to full defense."

"Sorry, the Revolutionary Army's funds are insufficient; that little difference in defense can be made up for after the skill is upgraded, right?"

"But I am a perfectionist, I don't want any flaws."

"Then find a way yourself."

Monkey D. Dragon bent his legs slightly and jumped directly into the Navy's encirclement; facing dozens of pitch-black gun barrels, he swung his arms directly.

A layer of fine, emerald-green scales grew out from the skin and flesh of his arms.

In the blink of an eye, his arms had transformed to look like beast claws.

When he swung them, he was actually able to control the airflow, blowing away all the Navy soldiers surrounding him.

"So strong, as expected of Leader!"

Ivankov looked on with a face full of envy.

This was a destiny item Monkey D. Dragon had chosen from the Game House, a Bloodline 【Low-level Wind Dragon Bloodline】 that carried a debt of a six-figure Reward Point.

The Wind Dragon is a terrifying creature from a certain high-level magic world, capable of easily destroying a continent.

The Wind Dragon is a powerful dragon among them that controls the wind element, mastering the most profound Feng Yuansu Moha, with a breath like a storm.

The Revolutionary Army Leader, flowing with Wind Dragon blood, although only possessing a low-level bloodline, already had the ability to transform a part of his own body into a dragon, as well as several powerful Feng Yuansu Moha.

Compared to Ivankov's own Holy Light Magic, it was simply like heaven and earth.

The Navy Rear Admiral's face was gloomy as he asked: "Is this a player who has completed all Contract Tasks and purchased a destiny item?"

This intelligence was shared among the Navy.

Players who complete all contracts can enter the Game House to purchase destiny items; the prices of those destiny items are extremely expensive, with the cheapest starting at ten figures of Beli.

The strength of those who buy destiny items is also overwhelmingly stronger than ordinary players.

"Attack together, kill them!"

The Navy Rear Admiral had a ferocious grin on his face.

Even so, these guys who had just landed on Death Island and hadn't leveled up yet were at a disadvantage in terms of level.

Moreover, the Navy players had a numerical advantage and could pile on to kill them.

Capture these people and make them hand over the destiny items!

The Navy Rear Admiral thought to himself.

"Wind Dragon Claw!"

Monkey D. Dragon didn't want to waste time at all; his pair of emerald-green dragon claws twitched, and a huge, complex Magic Circle appeared in front of him.

Two pairs of dragon claws, condensed entirely from magical gale, smashed fiercely into the ground.

Boom.

Two pits several meters deep appeared, spiderweb-like cracks continuously extended, and dust filled the air.

The Navy soldiers were all defeated in one blow and entered a respawn state.

Even the Navy Rear Admiral didn't have time to release his prized skill before he also turned into a burst of white halo.

"This Trial Tower might be the hope for the Revolutionary Army to turn things around."

Inside the merchant ship, figures with youthful faces kept walking out, landing on Death Island.

They were all newcomers who had just joined the Revolutionary Army, former slaves who had been enslaved by the East Blue Nobles; under the leadership of Monkey D. Dragon, they had overturned the mansions and streets of the Nobles.

Reborn from blood and fire, branded with the mark of the Revolutionary Army, and erasing the marks of their former slavery.

"Monkey D. Dragon, the high-level officials of the Marine Headquarters don't seem to trust the game merchant; are we really going to risk ourselves?"

Ivankov revealed a worried expression.

Although the suddenly appearing game merchant had stirred the attention of all the major forces in the Pirate World, not many were truly willing to get involved.

The Four Emperors of the Pirates had made no move.

The Five Elders did not show themselves either.

The Navy had even fewer people with a rank above Vice Admiral participating.

Everyone was afraid that the game merchant had other motives, fearing that the game merchant was some kind of person with a special fruit ability who could control the players entering the Trial Tower.

Under these circumstances, it was extremely irrational for Monkey D. Dragon, as the Leader of the Revolutionary Army, to get involved personally.

"I mean, you could let me go scout the path first; it wouldn't be too late for you to go up after confirming it's safe."

Ivankov added.

Monkey D. Dragon is the hope and spiritual pillar of the entire Revolutionary Army and must absolutely not be lost.

"If I did that, how would I be any different from the Navy?"

Monkey D. Dragon slowly took a step forward and said expressionlessly: "I am not special; even if I die, a new Revolutionary Army Leader will appear. That guy Sabo is quite good, hahahahaha, I think highly of him."

"What we must do is overthrow the absurd world constructed by the World Government, not become new Celestial Dragons."

Although he was the leader who founded the Revolutionary Army, he did not consider himself special.

The Pirate World never lacks lives that resist; everyone can become a leader of the Revolutionary Army. What he had to do was to create a better environment for the Revolutionary Army as much as possible.

The mysterious game merchant, the magical Trial Tower, and all kinds of dazzling skills.

Must not be missed.

Monkey D. Dragon had a premonition that if he could seize this opportunity, the Revolutionary Army might be able to usher in a world-shaking change.

"It's actually the Revolutionary Army!"

Sengoku's eyes widened, and he hurriedly picked up the Den Den Mushi to issue an order: "The world's most dangerous criminal has appeared, right on Death Island. All Navy soldiers stationed at the edge of the island, gather in the direction of the southwest corner and capture the Revolutionary Army Leader with all your might."

Never expected to have flushed out such a big fish.

Compared to the pirates who were as dense as ants throughout the Si Hai, these inconspicuous Revolutionary Army members were the true heart-trouble of the World Government.

Even Whitebeard only dared to carve out territory in the New World.

As strong as Red-Haired and Dama, they had never dared to anger the World Government and the Celestial Dragons.

But it was precisely these Revolutionary Army members who dared to openly challenge the World Government and intended to overthrow the World Nobles.

The Marine Headquarters can tolerate some Pirates, and even recruit legal Pirates like the Seven Warlords of the Sea when manpower is insufficient, but it is absolutely impossible to tolerate an Organization that wants to overthrow the World Government.

For a long time,

the Revolutionary Army has been elusive, scurrying everywhere across the Si Hai and the Grand Line, inciting slaves and commoners to resist the Nobles and causing chaos.

Every time the Navy rushes over, the opportunity has already passed.

This time, they were finally caught.

Sengoku said excitedly into the Den Den Mushi: "All Navy forces, mobilize completely! Marines who have not come into contact with the Contract Fruit are to stand by outside the Trial Tower, and all Marines on Death Island are to move out and conduct a roundup!"

"Have these sinful fellows lost their minds?"

Akainu raised his head, looking at the Revolutionary Army troops exposed to the public eye on the screen.

Hot steam erupted from his mouth as he said: "Stirring up war everywhere, slandering the reputation of the World Government, and opposing the Navy—these vermin should be cleaned out completely."

"Prepare a ship for me!"

"Sakazuki?"

"I am going to the East Blue to personally deal with these world vermin."

Akainu rested his hands on the table, slowly stood up, and walked out of the conference room.

Sengoku frowned.

These bastards really do not listen to orders, doing whatever they please.

However, sending a Marine Admiral to capture the Revolutionary Army is only natural; Sakazuki is acting in accordance with his own wishes this time, so there is no need to stop him.

It is just that the better candidate in his mind should have been Borsalino.

His fruit ability can reach the East Blue at a faster speed.

Sengoku turned his head,

and saw Kizaru, who was rubbing his messy stubble, sitting with his legs crossed, staring at the Revolutionary Army's Dragon on the screen with an expression of "how amazing."

Forget it, Sakazuki is more reliable after all.

Deep within Death Island.

Everywhere there are Mass Graves, drifting eerie ghost fires, paper money scattered all over the sky, and dense rows of buildings.

On all four sides, everything is covered by ancient building complexes.

Vermilion gates, grey-blue stone floor tiles, and bright red lanterns hung high; mournful and sorrowful sounds continuously emanated from these high-walled courtyards.

If the outer perimeter was merely gloomy and terrifying in atmosphere,

then the depths of Death Island feel as if one has arrived in an ancient Ghost City.

"Even the dead spirits cannot block my Jiangdian."

Mihawk's gaze was sharp as he lifted his foot and stepped into a courtyard with red candle lanterns lit in front of the door.

Soon, dazzling sword Qi and the wails of red-clothed ghosts burst out from over the high walls.

His current level is 【11】.

The surrounding ghosts are also hovering between levels 【9~13】; this was all deliberately done by the game merchant so that players could continuously level up by venturing deep into the island.

The Sword Seed inside Mihawk's body consumed more than half of the Reward Points he obtained from hunting Pollution Monsters.

Unlike other players who choose several skills to upgrade together, or think about matching various equipment and jewelry.

For Mihawk, a set of decent equipment, one weapon, and a Sword Seed capable of continuously condensing sword Qi are already enough.

His 【Sword Seed】 has already been upgraded to Lv. 10.

It comes with two Entries.

Lv. 5 Entry: Sword Qi +18.

Lv. 10 Entry: Sword Qi +43.

The current Mihawk unleashes terrifying sword Qi with a jade-green glow every time he swings his blade.

Burning with jade-green flames, it not only destroys the physical body but also scorches the soul.

Hum.

The red-clothed ghost split by the sword Qi dissipated, and a burst of purple light erupted.

A drop?

Mihawk walked over skillfully and picked up the purple halo.

The purple light faded, revealing a stone with a pitted surface that was somewhat purplish.

"A whetstone?!"

Even Mihawk, with his powerful mental world, could not help but exclaim.

He had hunted over a dozen red-clothed ghosts and had also had whetstones drop, but most were green or blue.

His Purple Quality Black Blade requires a purple whetstone.

"Kept you waiting."

Mihawk took a deep breath and gently pressed the purple whetstone against the Black Blade.

【Consumption of 【Whetstone (Purple)】 successful, weapon Sharpness +1】

A sharp luster flashed across the edge of the Black Blade, as if it could blind the eyes of anyone who looked directly at it.

"Hahahahahaha"

Mihawk, rarely disregarding etiquette, let out a loud laugh.

Fang Yi, inside the Game House, shook his head repeatedly, thinking to himself: "To be this happy over a single whetstone—once the Pirate World catches up to the progress of the Ninja World and the Reinforcement system is opened, won't Mihawk go crazy?"

(End of this chapter)