Return! Prelude to God Valley

It could be said it was quite coincidental. As Loki was carrying Roa back to the castle, Rocks happened to be walking out with Whitebeard.

"Let's go, kid."

The captain's voice was as cold as ever.

"Huh? So soon, Captain?"

Roa asked in surprise, "It took over a week to get here!"

They were only staying for two hours before leaving?

They hadn't even had a sip of water.

"The deal is done. I don't have time to waste here,"

Rocks said coldly, "Do you think I'm idle?"

Indeed, having to retrieve stolen treasures while also preparing for the ultimate battle against the World Government, the captain was quite busy.

"I see. That's a shame,"

Roa jumped down from Loki's shoulder, then turned back and looked up at the big guy regretfully. "Looks like I have to say goodbye early. Don't forget about me! If I ask for your help in the future, you absolutely cannot refuse!"

"Huh?"

Loki was a bit dazed and subconsciously nodded. "Oh..."

"That's good. Goodbye, friend."

Roa nodded with satisfaction.

The friendship between men was just that simple.

"Let's go, Captain."

After saying his goodbyes, Roa calmly walked towards the captain.

The three headed straight for the pirate ship not far away.

Watching their retreating backs, Loki felt something was wrong.

"Wait!"

Loki exclaimed, I haven't even joined the Rocks Pirates yet! Take me with you, you bastard!

"Oh? What's wrong? My friend,"

Roa turned back in surprise. "Do you want a warm hug? You little glutton. Fine, I'll indulge you."

He opened his arms enthusiastically. "Come here!"

"What are you talking about!"

Loki was furious. "Didn't you say you'd tell me the secret to joining the Rocks Pirates?"

"Oh! That's right!"

Roa suddenly realized. "Hahaha, I almost forgot!"

Rocks stopped and looked back at the back of Roa's head with interest.

This kid...

"It's very simple, my friend,"

Roa's small face was full of seriousness. "You just need to do one thing."

"What thing?"

Loki asked expectantly.

"Wait! You just need to wait!"

Roa said. "When I become the captain of the Rocks Pirates, I'll recruit you first!"

"Huh?"

Loki froze for a moment, then instantly exploded in rage. "You bastard, are you playing me?"

Without any hesitation, the giant iron bar swung down mercilessly towards Roa.

"This is all you can do, right? After all,"

Black wings instantly bloomed behind Roa, and the horn patterns on his head spread. "You're too weak right now."

Whoosh!

A gust of wind erupted!

Howling hurricanes condensed into wind blades, which instantly slashed repeatedly at Loki, who couldn't dodge.

Ching!

Blood splattered in an instant.

"Aah!"

Screaming, Loki bled all over, collapsing to the ground.

Without Armament Haki, even the formidable body of an Ancient Giant Tribe bloodline isn't truly resilient. Whitebeard's body couldn't even withstand a musket.

"Anyway, see you later, Loki."

Roa smiled and deactivated his ability. "Get stronger by the next time we meet, or I won't let you on my ship."

"You... bastard..."

Loki truly had no strength left to get up this time. He could only lift his head with difficulty, struggling to watch Roa's retreating back.

Didn't he say he wouldn't bully the injured?

Just you wait! Bastard, the next time we meet, I'll kill you!!

"Take care of yourself, Gana."

The pirate ship sailed back onto the Bifrost, and the Rocks Pirates began their journey home.

It wasn't until they landed on the Blue Sea again that Roa snapped back to reality. "Shoot! I forgot to tell Loki my name! What if he mistakes me for someone else next time?"

Don't novels always have those plots?

A bunch of melodramatic stories caused by mistaking your savior.

Whitebeard sneered. "You're probably worrying for nothing, kid. That brat hates you so much he's grinding his teeth; he won't forget you even if you turn to ash."

"Huh? Are you mistaken, Uncle Newgate?"

Roa asked in surprise. "Loki and I are friends! Isn't it normal for friends to bicker a little?"

Whitebeard continued to sneer.

"That brat does have some talent, but he was born too late,"

Captain Rocks commented sharply. "This world no longer has a stage for him to display his valor."

Is that what Captain thinks?

Because he feels like he's about to end everything, about to seize the world from the Celestial Dragons, someone like Loki, a rising star, is completely unnecessary.

After all, the final battle the Captain envisioned is just around the corner.

So arrogant, Captain.

Celebrating halfway through never ends well.

That's why uncovering the truth of the Void Century is so important, at least to understand what cards the World Government actually holds.

But the Captain could never have imagined that the sudden battle at God Valley would be the end of his ambition.

The time it took to return was the same as the time it took to get there.

A little over a week later, the pirate ship finally docked at the port of Beehive Island again.

Roa eagerly disembarked. After eating ordinary food for over a week, he couldn't wait to enjoy a grand feast.

But.

Gloriosa was waiting for them at the port. The beautiful woman said, "Captain! You're back just in time! We suddenly received a strange audio transmission from a Den Den Mushi today!"

"Audio?"

Rocks raised an eyebrow.

"Yes, it said that the Celestial Dragons will be holding a hunting event on an island in the West Blue called God Valley!"

Roa's pupils contracted.

It's here?

Later, in the conference room of the Skull Building.

All the cadres of the Rocks Pirates gathered there.

"My treasure was indeed stolen by those bastards from the World Government!"

Rocks roared in anger. "Damn scum! How dare they! How dare they snatch food from a tiger's mouth!"

"But Captain, you found the Mythical Zoan Azure Dragon Fruit without telling us. Were you planning to keep it all for yourself?" Wang Zhi, wearing a hat, asked with great interest.

"After we snatch it back, give that fruit to me, Rocks!"

Kaido said excitedly. "Ughaha! That fruit suits me best!"

"That's my stuff!"

Rocks glared at them fiercely.

It was one of the strongest Devil Fruits, a most precious treasure even for Rocks.

"Not just the Azure Dragon Fruit; in two weeks, there will be more treasures at God Valley, like the Paramecia Paw-Paw Fruit,"

Charlotte Linlin's eyes were filled with greed. "That's also a Devil Fruit that can be called all-around!"

"And a huge amount of treasure that even the Celestial Dragons will be moved by!"

Captain John, not even drinking his wine, also looked eager. "Hey, Rocks, are we going to miss this grand event?"

"But how much credibility can a single audio clip have?"

Gloriosa said, "We don't even know who spread this audio."

It was Ginny.

Though young, she was a tragic girl exceptionally skilled in intelligence and communication.

Who could have imagined?

The root of everything was a few insignificant slaves no one had ever paid attention to.

Roa thought quietly.

The God Valley battle was truly about to begin.

If he remembered correctly, Ginny had leaked the news two weeks before the hunt began.

"Investigate!"

Rocks' voice was sharp. "A large number of Celestial Dragons are traveling, the Marines will definitely dispatch a massive fleet for escort. As soon as we detect the Marines gathering forces towards the West Blue, we depart immediately!"

"Kekekekeke! A bunch of Celestial Dragons? Even if there's no treasure, this trip is absolutely worth it! Let's cause some chaos!"

"Kukukukuku! Human hunting, indeed that's something those scums would do. This time, let's teach them a lesson!"

"Mama mama mama!"

"Ugh-gh-gh-gh!"

Here they come again.

Or else.

"Jie jie jie jie jie!"