One Piece: Reborn in God's Valley

Nightfall. At the southern entrance of Dressrosa, three allied forces stood guard.

Surrounded on all sides by towering rocky cliffs, Dressrosa could only be accessed in large numbers through specific entry points.

Technically, there were three main routes in. The one everyone was currently guarding was the southern entrance. 

This path connected directly to the port and the small town of Sebio, making it the largest and most accessible route into Dressrosa.

Another entrance was at the northwest corner, near the Grand Bridge. 

That area was elevated and teeming with Fighting Fish, making it unfit for docking. At present, only the Tontatta tribe from Green Bit was stationed there.

The final path was through the underground trading port, which led to the subterranean factory. 

But it had long since been sealed off, and even most Dressrosa natives knew nothing of it. No guard was necessary there.

That made the southern route the top priority. Everyone had concentrated their forces here, it was the most practical option.

Beneath a massive boulder, more than a dozen tents emitted scattered pinpricks of light. 

Riku's army, members of the Underworld, and ten crew members of the Helgrave Pirates were resting inside.

In the center of the encampment stood a larger tent, glowing with bright lamplight. Inside, four people were deep in strategy.

"If we can just hold out tonight and through tomorrow morning, the rest will fall into place," said Jean, a trusted man of Feld. 

He had arrived that evening, bringing with him dozens of fighters and ample arms and ammunition.

"Exactly. If the captain makes it in time, they'll be here by midday tomorrow. So tonight, everyone needs to stay sharp," said Salles, wariness written across his face despite the uneventful afternoon.

"Don't worry. Abbas is patrolling from above. With his vision, nothing will get past him," Parnell added as he sipped his coffee, trying to lighten the mood.

"Let's hope so. I'll head out and reorganize the perimeter," Riku said, rising from his seat and stepping out into the night.

…

Two hours passed. Midnight arrived, and thick clouds smothered the moonlight. Dressrosa lay in dark silence.

Out at sea, two pirate ships floated near each other, just ten meters apart. With all lights extinguished, only vague outlines were visible.

Aboard both ships, pirates had finished loading their weapons and polishing their blades. They were waiting for something.

"Hahaha…. Begrin, never thought someone as proud as you would stoop to cooperation. The World Government's bounty finally got to you?" 

A massive figure sat perched on the gunwale, staring across at a silhouette on the opposite ship, his gravelly voice more beast than man.

"Hmph. Only a fool like you would believe the Government's lies." Begrin snorted. 

"As for cooperation, if it weren't for Komilin's unique ability, I'd never have agreed to this. Uges."

Uges wasn't offended. He simply picked up a Den Den Mushi and made a call.

"Puru..Puru..."

A few seconds later, the call connected.

"Yo! Komilin, we're all set. Just waiting on your end."

Uges spoke impatiently, like he'd done this with the guy a hundred times before.

"What's the rush? I'm already here. After so many joint ops, you still don't trust me?"

Komilin's tone was smug, his chewing audible over the line.

"Fine. You better come through. We move in half an hour. Coordinated attack."

"No problem."

…

Inside the command tent, with no disturbances yet, everyone remained silent, simply waiting for dawn.

Suddenly, the sharp crack of gunfire rang out. Though not loud, it jolted everyone to alertness.

"Trouble. It's coming from Central Street."

Riku burst from the tent and looked toward the heart of Dressrosa. Flames were already licking at the sky, clearly, the enemy had infiltrated.

Splash!

Abbas dropped from the air and landed beside them. "Two pirate ships are heading this way fast. They'll be here any moment."

Boom!

A cannonball exploded nearby, confirming Abbas's report.

"Everyone, this is bad. Tank and the others can't hold that line alone, I have to get back." Riku gave Salles and the others a regretful look.

"Go! We've got this front."

Salles understood there was no choice. They'd have to defend both fronts now, or risk losing Dressrosa entirely.

Boom! Boom!

As they spoke, two more cannonballs screamed toward them. Parnell quickly activated his ability, raising a wall of hardened asphalt to block the blasts. 

Riku took the opportunity to lead hundreds of soldiers toward the central district.

The two pirate ships continued to close in. Parnell's asphalt walls began to crumble under relentless shelling.

"I'll handle them."

Abbas knew a passive defense wouldn't last. He morphed into his Sea Eagle form and shot toward one of the ships.

Rankyaku!

Twin blades of pale blue air surged from his talons, slicing through the air in an X-pattern toward the enemy vessel.

"Good! Come on!"

A massive figure leapt up from the deck to meet the attack.

Clang! Clang!

To Abbas's shock, the man blocked the blades with his bare body, only shallow white lines appearing on his skin.

"What? That attack could cleave rock… and he blocked it without even using Armament Haki?"

As Abbas focused, he saw more clearly. The man hadn't used any Haki at all.

"That's him. That's Uges."

Jean's expression grew grim.

"Uges?" Salles echoed, confused.

"No mistake. That towering build and that spiked war club, it's him. Uges, captain of the Giant Turtle Pirates. Bounty: 350 million Berry. Zoan-type Turtle Turtle Fruit: Alligator Snapping Turtle form."

They all turned to stare at the eight-meter-tall titan locked in fierce battle with Abbas.

"Get ready, Salles. This fight won't be easy."

…

Elsewhere, in the heart of Central Street.

Flames engulfed the area. Buildings burned in the chaos. Civilians fled in panic; others, unwilling to abandon their homes, stayed to fight the fire.

"Who the hell are you? How did you sneak in without making a sound?"

Tank, commander of the royal guard, had three gashes across his chest, but he didn't care. 

Fury burned in his eyes as he faced the strange intruder. The man had already killed over ten soldiers.

The enemy was a man in his forties, bald except for a strip of hair down the center. 

His mouth was full of densely packed teeth, and a long tongue flicked in and out as he chewed on something unknown.

"You sick freak. Say something." Tank roared, both revolted and enraged.

"Heh… heh…. Losing your cool already?"

The voice echoed, but the man vanished in a blink.

Shwick!

"Captain, ."

A soldier crumpled to the ground, clutching his chest. As another rushed to help, they recoiled in horror.

His heart had been ripped out.