The aura emanating from Brian deeply unsettled Roger. It carried a strangely familiar scent of blood, reminiscent of the Rocks Pirates, yet it was even more frenzied, infused with the savagery of the Beasts.
If it felt unfamiliar, it was because this was truly his first time meeting Brian in person. All his previous impressions of Brian had come from news reports.
But regardless, the relationship between Brian and his Roger Pirates was already one of sworn enmity, unchangeable—and Roger had no desire to change it.
"A subordinate of that damned Rocks? This time, I'll make that bastard Rocks experience the pain of losing a capable right-hand man," Roger's voice was low and suppressed, brimming with intimidation.
Rayleigh finally drew his sword, "Yami," its tip pointed directly at Brian, his tone laced with bone-deep hatred. "Scum of Rocks! Running into us here is your misfortune. I will avenge the brothers who died by your hands before!"
"That's right! Kill them! Avenge our brothers!" Gaban slammed his chest and roared, snapping the surrounding crew members back to their senses. Their faces were instantly contorted with rage.
"Kill them! Wipe out the Rocks Pirates!"
"Slaughter them!"
The air instantly solidified. The clouds of Sky Island seemed frozen by the tension.
The faces of every member of the Roger Pirates were etched with fury. Their grudge against the Rocks Pirates was already deeply ingrained in their bones.
Rocks' brutality, his crew's acts of annihilation against their brothers, and their wanton rampages across the Grand Line had earned the Roger Pirates' utter loathing.
Especially those crew members whose families and home islands had been destroyed—they were nearly grinding their teeth to dust, wishing they could devour Brian's flesh and blood.
From behind Roger, a giant crew member let out a furious roar. His massive iron club smashed into the ground, shattering the cloud surface. His muscles bulged with anger. "You lackeys of devils! Why have you appeared on this peaceful Sky Island? And how dare you come here to provoke us? Does your Rocks Pirates intend to completely destroy this place?!"
Brian was not surprised in the least. A cold, contemptuous smile played on his lips.
"The Roger Pirates? Nothing but stray dogs driven out of the New World, yet you dare act so arrogantly?!"
Brian took a step forward. The oppressive aura, heavy with the wild instinct of the Beasts, became almost tangible, clashing head-on with the Haki emanating from Roger and Rayleigh across the space.
Seeing this, Berlos, Agni, and Leona behind him also stepped forward simultaneously, releasing their own formidable auras, engaging in a silent standoff with the crew of the Roger Pirates.
Behind the three of them, the six Ancient Species Beast Girls followed in sync. Though they didn't rush to release their auras, they were already prepared for battle.
"As for why we are here—" Brian's gaze swept over each member of the Roger Pirates like a cold blade, "Naturally, it's to clean up some disobedient rats."
"Arrogant!" Rayleigh was furious. He took a step forward, his sword aura instantly surging, stirring the air around the entire ruins into a howling tempest with his overwhelming presence.
"Who do you think you are? A newly recruited lackey of the Rocks Pirates, daring to spout such nonsense in front of us?!"
"Do you really think that just because you've caused significant losses to the Navy, you can act so arrogantly before us, the Roger Pirates?"
The ship's doctor, Crocus, adjusted his glasses, his eyes shadowed with gloom as he spoke in a low voice.
"We've only just found a crucial clue, and these guys show up at our doorstep. Did Rocks send you to track down the Poneglyphs? Is he truly intent on destroying this immense treasure that could unravel the world's secrets?"
"Destroy? What a dull assumption."
Brian shrugged, his tone even more disdainful. "That bastard Rocks isn't interested in the Poneglyphs at all—he only cares about the power over the world itself! Your speculation is meaningless."
Brian's gaze locked onto Roger, his voice carrying an undeniable command: "Roger, Rocks forbids you from setting foot in the New World. Sneaking here like this has disrupted the balance."
"I've come only to send you back to where you belong. The first half of the Grand Line is the place for strays like you. There's no room left in the New World for your Roger Pirates."
Roger finally spoke, his voice calm yet carrying an indescribable pressure: "Are you threatening me, young man? Do you think that with you and the few lovely ladies behind you, you can stop Gol D. Roger's voyage?"
"Threatening?" Brian laughed, a bone-chilling coldness in his smile.
"No, this is a notice. Captain Rocks has given the order: the Roger Pirates are to be completely banned from the New World. The New World is no longer a place for you to survive."
"I'll give you two choices: either take your ship and crawl back to Paradise right now, leaving everything in the island's ruins behind; or die here and become the whetstone for my army!"
Roger threw his head back and laughed, his laughter filled with unrestrained wildness: "Hahahaha! Die? Since I set sail as a pirate, no one has ever forced me to change course!"
"Besides, for a few greenhorns like you to think you can make Roger die on this island—that's nothing but wishful thinking."
He turned to Rayleigh and the crew, his eyes blazing with fighting spirit: "Brothers, although we don't want to waste time here, since Rocks' dogs have come knocking on our door, we can't let them off easy!"
"Kill them! Make the Rocks Pirates pay in blood, and avenge our fallen comrades!"
"The Captain's right! Sink them!" roared the giant crew member.
"It's been a while since we've faced opponents this strong. Perfect for stretching our muscles!" Rayleigh tightened his grip on his sword hilt, Armament Haki fully enveloping the blade, its glow as cold and clear as moonlight.
"Hmph, let's go then. It's just one senior officer of the Rocks Pirates, not the entire crew. Let's take them down and avenge our brothers."
Gaban pulled a pair of gauntlets from behind him and slipped them onto his hands, his fighting spirit sharp and tinged with unmistakable ruthlessness.
The other members of the Roger Pirates also drew their guns or swords, Armament Haki surging, ready to launch an attack at any moment.
In Brian's eyes, his battle intent instantly peaked.
Continuing a war of words with the Roger Pirates was completely pointless—no amount of talking would change anything now.
In the New World, everything ultimately had to be settled with fists, especially for sworn enemies like them.