A heavy atmosphere filled the throne room within the palace of the Duchy of Dook. Sunlight filtered through stained glass windows, casting dappled patterns on the floor, yet it could not dispel the solemn tension in the hall.
"Your Majesty, urgent military reports from the port: the fleet of the Beasts Pirates is approaching our territorial waters," reported the Kingdom's Military Commander, Godfrey Evans, kneeling, his voice resounding. He wore silver armor, the sword at his waist emitting faint metallic clinks with his movement.
Dook III sat upon his gem-encrusted throne, his fingers tapping rhythmically on the armrest. "They've finally come," he murmured to himself, a sharp glint flashing in his eyes.
The elderly Duke Lake stepped forward, leaning on his cane, his grayish-white beard trembling slightly with his rapid breaths. "Your Majesty, please reconsider! The Beasts Pirates were only establishing an outpost on Kazi Island. They showed no intention of invading our kingdom..."
"Enough!" Dook III slammed his hand on the armrest and stood up abruptly, cutting off Duke Lake. "You've repeated that line too many times, Duke Lake."
Duke Lake remained undeterred, his wrinkled face etched with worry. "Your Majesty, we haven't formally engaged in battle yet. If we take the initiative to show goodwill, offer some treasure..."
"Cowardice!" Godfrey Evans interjected harshly. "It's precisely this weak-kneed thinking of yours that has led us time and again to cede territory and pay reparations, emptying the national treasury and leaving our people starving!"
"General Evans!" Duke Lake retorted heatedly. "You must understand, hunger is painful, yes, but it is still better than death! Kaido of the Beasts was already a brutal pirate with a bounty over a hundred million a decade ago!"
Dook III suddenly erupted into loud laughter, the sound echoing through the throne room. He slowly raised his right hand, a ball of blazing flame igniting in his palm, illuminating his resolute face. "Duke Lake, you are too conservative."
"If the Golden Lion Shiki or Whitebeard Newgate himself were to come, I might still consider a tactical retreat. But a mere pirate with an 850 million Berry bounty..."
He clenched his fist, the flame extinguishing instantly. "Even before I gained my new power, I could easily defeat pirates with bounties of 350 million Berries. And now..." A red light flashed in Dook III's eyes. "...they are nothing to me."
Godfrey Evans immediately concurred. "His Majesty is right! Since your ascension to the throne, our kingdom's military power has advanced by leaps and bounds. The Beasts Pirates occupy a golden land like Wano Country and yet are not satisfied, daring to covet our Duchy of Dook! If we do not meet them with a devastating blow, how will the other nations of the New World view us?"
Duke Lake let out a long sigh, his hunched back appearing even more aged. He knew any further advice would be futile.
"Evans!" Dook III commanded in a loud voice. "Mobilize the entire army immediately to fortify the port! Bring out all our reserve ammunition! This time, I will show the pirates of the New World that the Duchy of Dook is not a lamb to be slaughtered!"
"As you command!" Evans straightened his back. "I have already made the deployments, Your Majesty."
Dook III strode down from his throne, his crimson cape billowing behind him. "Come! Let us go and meet this so-called 'Hundred Beasts'!"
As the King and his General departed, only Duke Lake remained in the throne room. The old man's trembling hand caressed the armrest of the throne, his clouded eyes filled with regret. "Perhaps... supporting the reforms was a mistake from the start..." he muttered to himself, his voice fading into the empty hall.
Outside, war drums had already begun to beat. The rhythmic footsteps of soldiers grew closer. The fate of the Duchy of Dook was about to take a major turn.
The five warships of the Beasts Pirates swiftly approached the port of the Duchy of Dook. On the azure sea, the five massive vessels formed up, the beast-head carvings on their prows gleaming with a cold light under the sun.
"It seems they aren't completely unprepared," Bullet said, standing on the main deck of the flagship, squinting as he observed the soldiers busily setting up defenses at the distant port. Rows of cannons were being pushed into position, soldiers running back and forth carrying ammunition.
"Ihihihihi, a futile effort. Mere cannonballs are nothing but toys to the truly strong," Moria stood to the side, his tall figure casting a large shadow. He idly toyed with a zombie puppet in his hand, a mocking smile on his face.
"...But we aren't the type to just take a beating," Urouge said gravely. "Prepare immediately. Open fire the moment we're in range."
"Yes, sir!" the pirates chorused, swiftly running to their battle stations. Gunners expertly loaded ammunition and adjusted their cannons' angles.
As the fleet drew ever closer, the port soon entered the firing range of the Beasts Pirates.
"Fire!" Bullet gave the order.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
Dozens of heavy cannons on the three main ships fired simultaneously, the deafening roar echoing across the sea. Cannonballs tore through the sky with sharp whistles, flying towards the port.
KABOOM! KABOOM—! KABOOM—!
The port was instantly engulfed in a sea of flames. Wooden defensive works were blasted to splinters, stone fragments and wood chips flying everywhere. Several watchtowers collapsed in the explosions, sending up clouds of dust.
But the Duchy of Dook's retaliation came swiftly. The port's artillery emplacements immediately returned fire, dozens of shells screaming towards the pirate fleet.
WHOOSH! WHOOSH! WHOOSH!
KABOOM—! KABOOM—! KABOOM——!
Most of the shells fell into the sea, throwing up water spouts over ten meters high. A few found their mark on the ship hulls, but only left shallow white scratches on the bodies crafted from Adam Wood.
The Beasts Pirates' fleet continued its steady advance. As one of the most powerful pirate crews in the New World, their equipment was top-tier:
The fleet for an All-Star operating alone consisted of one flagship and four support ships. The flagship was 188 meters long, 58 meters wide, and 38 meters tall; the support ships were 157 meters long, 39 meters wide, and 28 meters tall. All vessels were constructed entirely from the legendary Adam Wood, making them incredibly sturdy.
The fleet for members of The Flying Nine consisted of one flagship and two support ships. The flagship's specifications matched those of an All-Star's support ships. The support ships were 118 meters long, 28 meters wide, and 21 meters tall. The flagship was also made of Adam Wood, while the support ships only used Adam Wood for the keel, with the rest of the hull made from Ironwood cultivated by the Tontatta Tribe.
Officers of the Shinuchi rank could only command a single flagship, with specifications matching those of The Flying Nine's flagship, but only the keel used Adam Wood.
This strict hierarchical system fostered fierce internal competition within the Beasts Pirates. Every ambitious executive yearned to climb the ranks.
At this moment, Bullet and the others were aboard a top-tier warship of the All-Star class. The cannonballs from the Duchy of Dook were utterly incapable of causing it substantial damage. With this absolute advantage in equipment, the Beasts Pirates' fleet continued its relentless approach towards the port.
However, as the distance closed, the intensity of the incoming fire increased. Bullet and the others had to personally intercept the incoming shells.
"Hmph!" Bullet snorted coldly, his fist coated in Busoshoku Haki, lashing out to shatter several incoming shells mid-air.
Moria directed swarms of shadow bats to intercept the flying cannonballs one by one. Urouge swung his massive "pencil" club, easily deflecting the incoming artillery fire.
***
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