"Boom! Boom!"

  "Kaboom… Kaboom…"

  "All ships, open fire! Crush these Navy forces!"

  "We ot let them is Isnd!"

  "This is one of the core isnds of the Fallen Angel Pirates! We must defend it at all costs!"

  At that moment, near Nuts Isnd—just a short distance from Komugi Isnd—a fierce battle raged.

  A fleet of over a dozen Navy warships of varying sizes advanced aggressively, g with a formidable fleet of ten massive battleships flying the Fallen Angel Pirates’ fg. Explosions and on fire erupted as both sides engaged in a relentless exge of firepower.

  "g—"

  A massive ssh tore through the air, slig several ining onballs in half.

  The diminutive yet formidable Streusen swung his sword with precision, intercepting the Navy’s bombardment. He g one of their ships trailing smoke from a direct hit and shook his head in frustration.

  The battleships of the Fallen Angel Pirates, funded by the immense wealth of Hell Trading pany, were top-of-the-line vessels—on par with the Navy’s highest-css warships. They were equipped with advanced ons, capable of overwhelming firepower.

  However, the crew, posed of former members of the Dreamnd House and recruits from Hell Trading pany, cked bat experience. While their military training was det, their experience was limited to skirmishes with on pirates. This was their first rge-scale naval e against seasoned Navy forces. The disparity in experience was gring as they struggled to maintain coordination under pressure.

  The Navy, oher hand, was posed of highly disciplined, battle-hardened soldiers aced to fighting pirates in the New World. Their expertise in naval warfare gave them a signifit edge.

  "Admittedly, we do have our own advantages," Streusen mused, defleg another barrage of on fire.

  Before the assault on G-5 Fortress and the i at Sabaody Archipego, Gerd had already prepared an arsenal of Homies artillery shells crafted from collected souls. These shells were designed for situations like this, where precise aiming was a challehe Homies shells could autonomously adjust their trajectories, pensating for the gunners' inexperienbsp;

  "Vice Admiral Chekarl…"

  On a rge Navy battleship several nautical miles away, a subordinate rushed up to report to Chekarl, the anding officer and base ander of G-11 Fortress.

  "Sir, the pirates’ firepower is overwhelming. We've lost one small warship and a rge battleship. Another medium-sized ship has been hit but remains operational."

  "I see."

  Chekarl swung his sword, shattering several ining Homies shells that screamed and jeered as they approached.

  "Autonomous, self-guiding Homies artillery shells... What a nuisance."

  The subordinate tinued:

  "However, we've sunk one of their pirate ships. Two more have been heavily damaged and are retreating—likely no longer bat-capable."

  "Rey orders to the entire fleet: maintain formation, keep up suppressive fire, and eheir total annihition!"

  Chekarl’s expression turned cold.

  "Our objective isn’t just to destroy the Fallen Angel Pirates’ fleet. We must pletely wipe out their trol over these isnds. The Hell Trading pany and the Fallen Angel Pirates must not rise again!"

  "Uood… Hmm?"

  The subordinate froze mid-salute, his eyes widening in disbelief as he poioward the horizon.

  "What is that?"

  Following his subordinate’s gaze, Chekarl’s pupils stricted as he spotted a massive "cloud" drifting ominously toward them in the sky.

  "Damn it… That must be the rumored ‘Isnd Cloud Homies’!"

  He ched his fists and barked orders.

  "That’s where the embers of the Fallen Angel Pirates—El and Charlotte Linlin—are likely hiding! All ships, prepare for a direct assault!"

  Sweat dripped from his forehead as he shouted,

  "Quick, rey the and—full fleet retreat!"

  "Those bastards returo the New World so quickly, and our outposts didn’t detect their movements at all…"

  "As suspected, these strongholds are their oints. Report this to the Wover immediately!"

  "Yes, sir!"

  Shortly after the orders were issued, the entire Navy fleet began its retreat.

  The arrival of the massive Isnd Cloud Homies caused widespread panic among the sailors.

  Before they could act further, their fears escated as swarms of bck-winged "angels" emerged from the enormous isnd cloud.

  The sky soon filled with them, their vast numbers aless advance sending shockwaves through the Navy fleet.

  "What in the world are those things?"

  "Angels? No, they're Homies made with the Soul-Soul Fruit's power!"

  "Damn it, they're too fast! We ’t shake them!"

  "Everyone, prepare for bat!"

  "Open fire!"

  "Shoot them down!"

  The Navy soldiers opened fire desperately as the flying figures approached with incredible speed.

  "Bang… Bang…"

  "g… g…"

  Bullets ricocheted off the angel maes with metalligs, sparking harmlessly. Even the occasional rocket bsts sent some tumbling, but they quickly stabilized mid-air, fpping their bck wings and resuming their advaheir ironcd defenses seemed impervious.

  "What are these monsters?"

  "Bullets don’t pierce them! Even onballs ’t damage them!"

  "Not evehrowers work!"

  "Damn it, these things are practically invincible!"

  Explosioed as some Navy ships attempted heavier terattacks, but it was futile.

  Equipped with Gatling guns, rocket unchers, and melee ons, the angel maes systematically tore apart the fleet, rainiru from above.

  H mid-air, they unleashed a relentless barrage, overwhelming the Navy soldiers. Those with melee ons dove onto the ships, engaging in brutal close bat.

  The shape-memory alloy used to craft the maes made them nearly iructible. Ordinary ons proved iive, and only a few elite officers or Devil Fruit users could inflict even minor damage.

  Apart from a few isoted cases of damage, the battle was one-sided.

  It was a massacre.

  Bleam