#163 - Chapter 163 The Approaching Pirates
The Grand Line, a complex sea forged by courage and strength.
Pirates vie for every inch of survival on this vast stage.
Through constant battles, they expand their territories like wildfire, continuously recruiting new subordinates.
For on this ruthless sea, numbers often equate to power, the cornerstone of survival.
Weak pirate crews are like mere leaves in the ocean, easily swallowed by stronger ones.
That suffocating sense of crisis often compels them to expand their ranks until they command forces of tens of thousands.
Now, the sea before the G5 branch has become a spectacle.
A dense mass of pirate ships weaves together like a dark cloud, foreshadowing the imminent war.
Each pirate ship carries ambitions yearning to rise, rippling the sea with layers of unease.
For these pirate crews, having grown to a certain extent, their hunger is no longer for power or land, but for something higher—reputation.
Reputation weighs more than gold and silver in the pirate world.
It allows new power to endure and old enemies to fear.
Thus, challenging a Marine base has become the new goal of this pirate crew.
A Marine base is not only a symbol of order but also a touchstone for their foothold in the Grand Line.
Now, before the G5 branch, a stage symbolizing government authority and naval power, the wildness and rebellion in the pirates' souls have been ignited.
They are ready to forge their legend with the roar of cannons and the firelight in the smoke.
After all, this sea fortress is already so dilapidated.
They would be remiss if they didn't seize such a perfect opportunity.
A group of pirates stood on the deck, their eyes fixed on the solitary base.
One of them, his face full of contempt, burst into laughter.
"Hahahaha, Captain, just this broken-down base."
His laughter echoed in the sea breeze.
"Does our pirate crew need to make such a fuss?"
In his eyes, such a seemingly vulnerable target wasn't worth such a grand display of force.
The captain stood at the bow, his figure particularly aloof against the backdrop of the sea and sky.
Hearing his subordinate's mockery, a stern smile tugged at the corner of his lips, a smile hiding unfathomable ambition.
"What I want is absolute victory."
The captain's voice wasn't loud.
He landed heavily on the deck from the high platform, the entire ship trembling because of him.
"Let this sea feel fear!"
"A grand display of force is a necessary choice."
In that instant, the atmosphere of the entire pirate crew also changed.
The original contempt and disdain were replaced by fervor, all eyes focused on the captain.
What they saw was no longer a dilapidated base, but the captain's desire for absolute victory and the ambition to spread fear throughout the sea.
"Charge into the Marine base!"
"Leave no one alive!!!"
The pirates cheered, their voices piercing the clouds and spreading around.
Who wouldn't want fame and fortune? With such a rare opportunity, they would definitely seize it firmly.
......
The Marine base stood silently on the turbulent sea.
Like a solitary peak, silently enduring the erosion of the wind and waves.
Jin An stood on the front gate, observing the situation inside the base.
"Although the people here have a somewhat strange way of doing things, they are all soldiers with spirit."
Enel and the others nodded in agreement.
"These Marines are to my liking."
When the watching Marines, through their telescopes, witnessed the dense pirate fleet rapidly approaching like a black storm.
The base did not fall into any form of chaos or panic.
On the contrary, in this oppressive environment, the Marine officers and soldiers' eyes glowed with a cold red light, their faces revealing an indifferent expression.
For them, life had been given a new meaning upon arriving at this base: to end their lives in battle in the name of honor.
Jin An knew that most of these people were assigned to this G5 base, regarded by the Marine Headquarters as a "land of chaos," for various reasons.
Originally filled with resentment and unwillingness, they were gradually influenced by the "old-timers" who had experienced countless battles, and were infected by a kind of indifference to death and a desire to die on the battlefield.
This special emotion spread among the Marines, forming a unique atmosphere.
Even when facing seemingly invincible enemies, they could remain calm and show no panic.
When they decided to request reinforcements from the Headquarters earlier, their intention was not to escape, but to hope to kill more enemies with updated equipment.
Every request for reinforcements, every battle, was not out of fear, but out of a desire for battle, a desire to prove themselves in intense battles and fulfill their long-cherished wish to return to the battlefield.
Jin An watched all this in silence, a complex emotion welling up in his heart.
He walked to Enel and a few partners, gently patted their shoulders.
"Don't hold back when the time comes."
His gaze was as firm as iron.
"The lives of the Marines are much more precious than these pirates'."
Even in the face of a strong enemy, he would never allow his Marines to sacrifice themselves in vain; their fate should be in their own hands.
Hearing this, Enel smiled confidently, lightning flashing in his eyes.
"I am a Marine now too, of course I won't watch Marines die in vain."
"Although I don't know the strength of those pirates, I will do my best."
Since encountering Jin An on Skypiea, Enel has always associated with the strong in this world, so he naturally expects the opposing pirates to have the same strength.
But even if the opponent's strength is higher than his, he still has ways to limit the actions of those pirates.
Moreover, this kind of contest between the strong makes him feel a strange excitement.
He, Enel, disdains to do things that are not challenging.
Doflamingo stood on top of a towering building, his cold gaze fixed on the dense crowd in the distance through the building.
His fingers tapped lightly, those fingers illuminated by the sun, hiding destructive power.
The power of the String-String Fruit was brought to its extreme at this moment, the invisible threads weaving an inescapable net, silently spreading throughout the entire base.
A cruel smile tugged at the corner of his lips.
As long as those people are slightly careless and unprepared, his controlled threads will move like a startled rabbit, swiftly and suddenly cutting through their bodies, tearing them apart.
In Jin An's opinion, Doflamingo's threads were somewhat obvious.
However, it should be no problem to use them against those hordes of pirates.
...
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