Far from God Valley, a ship flying the flag of the Rocks Pirates lay quietly on the surface of the sea.
Dylan stood at the bow, gazing at the distant island through a telescope.
Through the telescope, he could clearly see the entire island of God Valley shaking. The mountain at the center of the island had already collapsed, and thick dust shrouded the entire country.
"What exactly is happening up there?"
Dylan considered himself someone who had weathered many storms, but even so, his heart still trembled with fear.
Lord Roa's actions were undoubtedly meant to leave the Rocks Pirates.
But why?
Why would he do that?
Lord Roa's position in the Rocks Pirates was beyond question.
Most of the officers cared for him deeply. Even the captain was no exception.
Everyone was saying that Lord Roa was the successor Captain Rocks had chosen. What reason could he possibly have to leave the Rocks Pirates?
Dylan could think of only one possibility—the least likely possibility of all.
Lord Roa, what exactly did you foresee?
Splash!
Water suddenly sprayed up in front of him.
Dylan's pupils shrank sharply. He instinctively retreated, his right hand transforming into a blade, the portion above his wrist already pitch-black.
Bloody Hand Dylan was famous for his mastery of Swordless Style. He loved using his hand blades to pierce through his enemies' bodies, staining both hands red with blood. He was thirty-five years old, with a bounty of 360 million Berries.
But Dylan's vigilance ceased the very next moment.
"Yo! Dylan! Sorry for the wait!"
A lively, adorable boy nimbly landed on the ship's railing. He shook the water off his body like a large dog and spoke with a grin.
"Welcome back, Lord Roa!"
Dylan respectfully bowed slightly.
"Phew—ha-ha, I almost didn't make it back."
Roa let out a long breath.
"It was that dangerous?"
Even Dylan's usually impassive face could not help showing astonishment.
The Rocks Pirates had practically gone all out this time. Every officer had landed on God Valley.
And yet, with such a lineup, Lord Roa had said he had almost not made it back?
"Of course. The enemies were even more terrifying."
Roa spoke casually.
The Roger Pirates, Iron Fist Garp, the Knights of God, and the Five Elders.
Even an all-star lineup like the Rocks Pirates would never have been their match, not to mention that the crew's main specialty was internal disunity.
Roa gazed at God Valley, where explosions continued to rumble. This island's story was coming to an end.
"Dylan."
Roa laughed. "Lower the flag. From today onward, the Rocks Pirates no longer exist."
So what we're witnessing now is the end of an era?
Though deeply shaken, Dylan remained composed. "Understood. Then, Lord Roa, are we heading to that country next?"
"Yes. We won't be returning to Beehive Island."
Roa said, "That country will make a perfect base."
"Then I'll immediately prepare to return."
Dylan hurried off to call the sailors and prepare the ship to set sail.
Roa was left alone, quietly gazing at God Valley.
He suddenly smiled. "Farewell, Captain. Farewell, my pirate years."
God Valley.
The great battle at the center of the island was gradually drawing to a close.
Rocks was breathing heavily, not even having the time to wipe away the blood running down his forehead.
"Face reality, Rocks! You've already lost!"
Iron Fist Garp was similarly covered in blood. He roared as he swung his fist, black lightning covering it.
"Wahahaha! Rocks, this is the end!"
Roger's horned hat had long since flown off somewhere, but his blade remained devastatingly powerful.
"I never imagined that you two bastards would actually join forces!"
Rocks could now only struggle to defend against their attacks.
As the great battle developed, it ultimately turned into a series of smaller one-on-one battlefields.
He had ended up facing Garp and Roger.
The facts proved that no matter how powerful he was, he could not defeat the two of them working together.
He had lost.
This time, he had suffered a complete and utter defeat.
That brat Roa had fled first.
Then came Linlin and Ochoku.
There was no longer any chance of victory.
"Roger! Do you think you'll get off lightly after taking me down?"
Rocks roared. "The Five Elders are here! They're watching us tear each other apart!"
"Who cares about that?"
Roger laughed without the slightest concern. "I'm only here for revenge!"
Rocks froze.
Then—
"Ha-ha-ha-ha! You bastard! So I was the fool all along!"
Rocks threw his head back and laughed. "This won't end like this! Roger! The brat who inherited my will is still alive! One day, he'll completely overturn this world!"
"I already told you, I'm only here for revenge! I don't care about anything else!"
Somewhere in the waters of the West Blue, not long afterward.
Roa placed a silver fruit on the table with some disappointment. "Dylan, you don't recognize this fruit either?"
"I'm sorry, Lord Roa."
Dylan shook his head. "I've never seen the Devil Fruit encyclopedia either."
"Forget it. We'll know what it does once we find someone suitable to eat it."
It was probably a very high-quality Devil Fruit. Otherwise, it would not have been presented alongside the Azure Dragon Fruit and the Paw-Paw Fruit.
Speaking of which, Roa himself could eat another Devil Fruit, but he had no interest in doing so.
His abilities were already comprehensive enough. There was no need to add another weakness.
Dylan remained calm. He showed no desire for the Devil Fruit whatsoever.
Roa drew the second spoils of war from his waist.
It was a long sword with a black scabbard and a purple-wrapped hilt.
It was approximately 1.2 meters long. The curve of its blade was much shallower than that of an ordinary katana, making it appear relatively straight.
Roa tightened his grip around the hilt and slowly drew the sword.
A thick scent of blood immediately spread through the air.
"Oh!"
Roa studied the sword before him in surprise.
The dark-red blade slowly emerged from its scabbard, its dark color gradually turning bright red.
"Hm?"
Roa looked at his right hand in surprise.
His palm had suddenly begun bleeding, but the blood was almost instantly absorbed into the hilt.
"Oh my, how interesting!"
He said in amazement, "This thing seems to be drinking my blood!"
Usually, I'm the one drinking Uncle and Auntie's blood!
"Lord Roa! Be careful!"
Dylan immediately cried out. "If I'm not mistaken, this sword should be one of the twelve Supreme Grade Swords—the Blade of Asura, the Demonic Blade Blood Sea!"
"Supreme Grade Sword? Blade of Asura? Blood Sea?"
Roa raised an eyebrow. "It sounds pretty interesting."
"It's said that this sword absorbs blood to evolve!"
Dylan looked seriously at Roa's right hand, which was still gripping the demonic blade. "If it fails to acknowledge you, then even its master will gradually be drained dry! It's a genuine demonic blade!"
"And once it acknowledges you, that's when things become even more terrifying! It grows stronger by absorbing blood, but regresses if it goes too long without blood. So, for the sake of power, its master can only slaughter on a massive scale, ultimately falling completely into the path of the Asura!"
"That sounds like a perfect fit for me!"
Roa snapped his fingers. "Blood? That's easy."
The cabin door swung open, and one black-eyed figure after another emerged stiffly from inside like zombies.
"Come on, little darling. Let's see your power. Let's see whether you're qualified to be my carving knife."
Roa walked up to one of the wraiths and casually stabbed the blade into its chest.
So sharp!
There was no resistance whatsoever. It felt as though he had stabbed into the air.
That was Roa's first impression.
Only afterward did he notice the wraith's face rapidly turning pale, its body quickly withering away little by little.
"Oh! I like a child with a healthy appetite. Then let's continue."
Roa switched to another wraith. Otherwise, the first one would be drained to death. Gathering wraiths was not easy, and without the help of the Rocks Pirates in the future, collecting high-quality wraiths would become even more difficult.
A while later.
"Is that all you can eat?"
Roa raised the demonic blade in his hand. The blade had already turned so red that it looked as if blood might drip from it, and it even emitted a faint red glow beneath the sunlight.
It had become very docile and no longer drank Roa's blood.
"Your appetite is far too small. That needs improvement. As a gourmet's partner, you absolutely can't have a small appetite! You must eat more next time."
Dylan glanced at the withered wraiths behind Roa. And this is considered small?
Still, as expected of Lord Roa, he had naturally become the demonic blade's master.
Roa was very satisfied with the sword.
It had probably regressed after going a long time without absorbing blood, but even so, it was already extremely powerful.
First was the blade's extraordinary sharpness. Roa had tested it. Even the tough hide he possessed after transforming into Qiongqi could barely withstand it. His current defense might not compare with Aunt Linlin's, but it was far harder than steel.
Second was its ability to absorb blood. After absorbing the blood of many wraiths, it had become much faster at draining blood. A few casual slashes from this blade were enough to drain all the blood from someone's body.
Roa was looking forward to seeing what it could achieve after evolving continuously.
"But the name Blood Sea sounds terrible."
Roa thought for a moment. "Since you're my carving knife, from now on, you'll be called—"
"Tiger Soul!"
Before you continue