When the battle ended, Zephyr and Gion quickly arrived at the scene.
Even though Zephyr had rushed with all his strength, he still ultimately did not make it in time for this battlefield.
But when he arrived at the battlefield, he witnessed a scene that shocked him.
The setting sun dyed the sand and gravel a bronze-red color, and the last trace of golden-red struggled at the edge of the sky dome.
The battlefield, within a radius of a thousand meters, looked like it had been repeatedly ravaged by a divine millstone thrown down by the gods. The undulating dunes had all been leveled, replaced by countless deep pits exceeding forty meters in diameter.
Still-cooling dark red lava gurgled through the rifts, intertwined with crystallized, glass-like sword marks forming a spiderweb, the air thick with the sweet stench of iron rust and scorched flesh.
At the center of this brutal battlefield, three figures stood tall.
Sakazuki's dark red suit had long turned into ragged strips. Fresh blood flowed down like snakes along the ravines of his abs, and at this moment, he was kneeling on one knee before Rosse, as if swearing something.
Zephyr knew Sakazuki well, so he clearly understood what this meant.
'Saint Rosse... actually made Sakazuki make a choice?', Zephyr's complicated gaze shifted and landed on the Red Count's corpse.
This proud legend had maintained a battle stance even in death. His cane-sword was deeply embedded in the ground, his hollow chest cavity barely supporting his upright posture, and his blood-stained face was frozen in an arrogant sneer that looked down on all beings.
The Red Count was DEAD.
One of the most brilliant powerhouses of his era, had now died at the hands of two young men working together.
From the start of the battle to the Red Count's death, only two hours had passed.
Such speed exceeded Zephyr's imagination.
Top-tier powerhouses' battles usually lasted for days.
Even if it were two versus one, the Red Count should have been able to hold out for a while, not fall this quickly.
Zephyr's gaze moved to Rosse, with a hint of respect in his eyes.
He somewhat understood now, why Sakazuki would make a choice.
There were no wounds on Rosse's body, but his clothes were full of slashes, and the suit on his left arm was completely severed at the root.
Familiar with Rosse's combat style, he understood clearly that Rosse had used a tactic of trading injury for injury in this fight.
All three in the battle had chosen a reckless, life-risking style. This was the real reason the Red Count had died so quickly.
The Red Count was a pirate, Sakazuki always went mad when fighting.
What surprised Zephyr most was still Rosse.
A noble Celestial Dragon, yet he had been willing to fight in such a brutal way.
Clearly he could've just waited for Zephyr to arrive, and the Red Count would have had no resistance left. But Rosse still chose to trade his arm for victory.
Zephyr hadn't seen the battle itself, but with his rich experience, he could deduce the situation with a glance.
At the final moment, the Red Count had completely given up on retreat, trading his life to sever Rosse's arm.
And as the price, his own arm had been cut off by Rosse, and his heart pierced by Sakazuki.
As a result, the Red Count died, Rosse's left arm was also severed by him, and Sakazuki was seriously injured.
If Rosse didn't have regeneration, this would have been a tragic victory.
Under the watch of Zephyr and Gion, Rosse helped Sakazuki up, gave him a hug, and both of their faces showed smiles, as if they had reached some kind of understanding.
Both of them understood.
After this battle, Sakazuki would completely side with Rosse's camp.
Compared to that lofty throne, Rosse was clearly more worthy of the Marine's respect.
At the very least, Rosse was willing to fight side by side with Marine Admirals against top pirates.
Just this alone, was enough.
"Teacher Zephyr, will I one day be able to fight alongside them?", Looking at the brutal battlefield, supporting Sakazuki's Rosse, the Red Count's body standing in the ground, a flicker of emotion passed through Gion's eyes.
Zephyr glanced at Gion, grinned, "The future belongs to you young people. Back when I was in the Marine, you were the one most favored by Saint Rosse. If you can't do it, then who can?"
His eyes carried encouragement for Gion.
The success of Rosse and Sakazuki, and the fall of the Red Count, made him feel a bit old.
But more than that, he was happy to see the young surpass him.
Whether it was Rosse, Sakazuki, or Gion, they were the future of this world, a future he had personally watched grow.
If he could personally protect these young people as they matured, then the future of the world wouldn't be too bad.
"Did he really think that highly of me?", Gion silently looked at Rosse, a trace of yearning in her eyes.
In the future, she hoped she could stand beside Rosse, not like today, just a bystander or someone who cleaned up the aftermath.
———
After the battle ended, Rosse did not choose to pay respects to the Red Count's corpse.
Rather than burying him underground, the Red Count should continue to shine in other ways.
With the power of the Utility Fruit wrapping the Red Count's corpse, Rosse and the others returned to the capital, Alubarna.
At the same time, the broken corpse of Cobra was also transported back to the capital.
The news of Cobra's death spread very quickly, and even before Rosse and the others returned to the capital, it had already spread throughout all of Arabasta.
Many other allied nations even learned of the news via Den Den Mushi, and began to pressure the World Government.
A king of an allied nation was killed on the spot, and with a Celestial Dragon present, they would not allow such a thing to happen a second time.
If it happened again, maybe it would be their turn.
So as for the culprit, they unanimously demanded severe punishment, regardless of how powerful the killer was.
Rosse and the others, together with the team transporting Cobra's body, arrived in Alubarna the next morning.
"KING!!"
"COBRA!!!"
"AVENGE HIM!!!"
"KILL THOSE PIRATES!"
"..."
The citizens, who had long known the news, poured into the streets with sorrow on their faces, angrily cursing the evil deeds of the pirates.
Cobra had been a benevolent ruler, treating Arabasta's civilians very well.
The king died at the hands of pirates, making all of Arabasta feel grief and anger.
Rosse and Sakazuki walked at the front of the procession, able to feel the sorrow of the watching crowd.
Sakazuki's face was expressionless, his whole body wrapped in bandages, clearly showing severe injuries.
In comparison, Rosse was much more normal, still appearing the same as usual, as if he hadn't been through a battle at all.
"Why!"
Suddenly, a young man in Arabasta's traditional clothing rushed to the front of the procession and angrily pointed at Rosse, shouting, "Why did King Cobra die, yet nothing happened to you!?"
As soon as the youth spoke, some around him showed shared hatred, while others looked terrified.
Many of them had similar thoughts as the youth, but Rosse was a Celestial Dragon, they simply didn't dare to confront him.
Yeah.
Why indeed?
Why did King Cobra die, yet Rosse, who was with him, came out unscathed?
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