Fueled by the spread of explosive news, it took less than a month for an uncountable number of people to flock to Little Garden.
Among them, the majority headed straight for Dorry and Brogy upon setting foot on the island.
Their fate, however, was almost always the same—slain by the two giant warriors, only to end up as a feast for the island's beasts.
Others, after witnessing the risks firsthand, quickly reconsidered their ambitions and sought to leave.
However—
Each time someone attempted to set sail from Little Garden, a massive giant goldfish would emerge from the sea, swallowing every ship that had yet to escape the coastal waters.
The first people to witness this scene were utterly petrified.
When they had arrived at Little Garden, they hadn't even glimpsed the shadow of this monstrous goldfish.
Yet, the moment they tried to leave, it appeared without fail, as if savoring an afternoon snack, eagerly devouring every departing vessel.
By now, the number of ships swallowed by the creature had reached at least twenty, if not thirty.
Although one or two vessels had miraculously escaped its gaping maw, the odds of survival were so slim that no one dared to take the gamble.
It was only at this point that the eager newcomers finally realized that Little Garden was nothing more than a one-way trap—once in, there was no way out.
Even if they managed to claim the heads of Dorry and Brogy, or were lucky enough to stumble upon an Ancient Zoan Dragon-Dragon Fruit, or even unearthed untold treasures…
None of it would matter if they couldn't leave the island.
Trapped with no way to escape, the survivors had no choice but to linger along the coastline, where the dangers were relatively lower.
As time passed, the lush trees near the shore were gradually chopped down, transformed into makeshift encampments.
At this moment, the sound of cannon fire rang out.
The group huddled near the coastline immediately turned their attention to the two pirate ships approaching Little Garden's waters.
From their perspective, these two ships were just more unfortunate souls doomed to share their fate.
"The ship that fired… looks like it belongs to the Hummingbird Pirates. And the other one… huh? Isn't that the flag of the Beautiful Pirates?"
"The Beautiful Pirates? That can't be right."
"See for yourself."
"Huh? It really is… but wasn't the Beautiful Pirates already defeated by Warlord Maude…?"
"Must be impostors. Otherwise, even if you gave the Hummingbird Pirates a hundred times their courage, they wouldn't dare open fire on the real Beautiful Pirates."
"Good point."
The people on the eastern coastline turned their gazes toward the two pirate ships, which had instantly engaged in battle.
The captain of the Hummingbird Pirates, Biss, had a bounty of only 60 million berries, while the captain of the Beautiful Pirates, Cavendish, had a bounty of 380 million.
The disparity between them was beyond obvious.
If this Beautiful Pirates was the real deal, the Hummingbird Pirates would have to be downright suicidal to fire first.
—
Out at sea.
Cannonballs whistled through the air, though their aim was slightly off, landing in the waters around the Sleeping Forest White Steed, sending towering sprays of seawater into the air.
Though the first volley didn't directly damage the ship, the shockwaves from the explosions caused the Sleeping Forest White Steed to rock violently amid the turbulent waves.
"Insolence!"
Caught off guard by the attack, Cavendish flew into a rage.
Never in his wildest dreams did he expect anyone to dare attack them—let alone mistake them for impostors.
The crew of the Beautiful Pirates were equally infuriated.
If being attacked by a Marine warship was considered normal at sea, then being fired upon by another pirate crew without any prior conflict was one of the most hated experiences among pirates.
"Prepare the cannons! Sink those fools into the depths!"
Cavendish unsheathed his famed sword, his golden eyes flashing with icy killing intent.
"Yes, Captain!"
The Beautiful Pirates responded with enthusiasm.
They had long been accustomed to the sudden onset of battle at sea.
Quickly, the crew sprang into action. By the time the helmsman adjusted their course, the cannons were already locked and loaded.
Just then, they noticed Maude stepping onto the ship's prow.
"Hey, that's my spot!"
Watching Maude take his position at the bow, Cavendish felt a pang of frustration.
The next moment, under everyone's watchful eyes, Maude drew his blade, Shusui.
—
Whistling through the air, the second wave of cannonfire from the Hummingbird Pirates arrived right on schedule.
Twelve pitch-black cannonballs soared toward the Sleeping Forest White Steed in perfect formation, like migrating geese in flight.
"Shing—!"
Maude swung his sword.
A massive slash, imbued with a deep black and crimson hue, roared forth, cutting effortlessly through the incoming barrage.
—BOOM!—
The cannonballs were sliced apart in midair, exploding before they could reach their target.
Yet, the massive slash did not stop. In the blink of an eye, it reached the Hummingbird Pirates' ship.
Blinding light flashed in the eyes of the enemy crew.
Time seemed to freeze.
Horrified expressions filled the faces of the Hummingbird Pirates.
Then—
The slash passed in an instant, followed by the crisp, metallic hum of steel.
By the time the sound faded, the ship had already split in two, tilting toward the sea on both sides.
"The ship… it's been cut in half…"
"This… this has to be a dream, right!?"
The Hummingbird Pirates' crew could hardly believe their eyes.
As their ship split apart, countless supplies tumbled from the hull into the sea, creating a chaotic splash.
With no footing left, the pirates, screaming, plunged into the water like falling dumplings.
—BOOM!—
A few seconds later, the two halves of the ship crashed into the sea, sending massive waves surging outward.
No one was spared. Every last member of the Hummingbird Pirates fell into the water.
"That man!!!"
Captain Biss, as he plunged into the sea, caught a clear glimpse of the figure standing on the prow of the Sleeping Forest White Steed, blade in hand.
"Why… why is it him!?"
He let out a wretched cry before vanishing beneath the waves.
—
On the shoreline, everyone was left utterly dumbfounded, staring in shock at the scene before them.
With a single strike—
An entire pirate crew, one of considerable strength, had been utterly annihilated.
"I-It's Warlord Maude!"
Having finally recognized him, they were filled with disbelief and overwhelming fear.
They had assumed the Beautiful Pirates were impostors, never expecting that not only were they genuine, but they had also brought along an absolute monster.
Suddenly—
Gunfire erupted from the sea.
Looking toward the source, they saw the floating remnants of the Hummingbird Pirates being picked off one by one by a hail of bullets.
The shooter—was none other than Maude.
"Ruthless…"
Watching him mercilessly finish off the survivors, those onshore trembled, their fear of Maude skyrocketing to an unprecedented level.
—
Aboard the Sleeping Forest White Steed.
Holding his twin pistols, transformed from Bailey, Maude precisely executed each of the stranded pirates with the aid of Observation Haki.
Neither Cavendish nor the Beautiful Pirates' crew had even gotten the chance to join the fight.
They could only stare at Maude's back, eyes filled with awe, as if gazing at a monster.
The gunfire lasted for five seconds.
Under Maude's perfect accuracy, no one from the Hummingbird Pirates survived.
"Head into the river."
With the obstacles removed, Maude holstered his guns.
"Y-Yes, sir!"
Navigator Nokk and the helmsman stammered in response.
The Sleeping Forest White Steed sailed past the wreckage and headed straight for the river's entrance.
Silence fell over the coastline as they watched the ship approach.
No one cared about the Beautiful Pirates anymore.
Every gaze, without exception, was locked onto the overwhelming figure of Maude.
His commanding presence shook them to their very core.
—
Deep in Little Garden.
Dorry and Brogy, mid-drink and mid-meal, suddenly felt a shift in the air.
From different locations, the two giants simultaneously turned eastward.
"A fearsome one has arrived."
Their expressions turned solemn.
Even without seeing, they could sense an undeniable force.
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