Ochoku: Grow Up Faster, Monster

"Follow me?!"

Hearing Captain Rocks' arrangement, Ochoku's expression was clearly stunned, and he said in disbelief, "You want this brat to follow me?!"

After a slight moment of surprise, he understood the captain's intent.

Obviously, he didn't want the crews of Whitebeard, Golden Lion, and Linlin on the ship to grow any stronger. To balance the power aboard, he was tossing this kid Ares to him.

But Ochoku also knew he couldn't refuse, so he continued, "Then I'll take charge of this brat!"

With that, he waved at Ares. "Brat, come here. From now on, you're with me. I'll teach you the rules of the Rocks Pirates!"

Ares shrugged his shoulders, breaking free from Whitebeard's massive hand, and walked toward Ochoku.

"This kid..." Whitebeard's face showed a hint of disappointment. He had high hopes for Ares' future.

If Ares had joined his division and they'd built a bond, he would have become a capable ally and partner.

He sighed inwardly with regret.

The captain's decision was not something he could argue against.

Golden Lion's mood also sank, feeling the loss of such a promising talent like Ares.

The most displeased, of course, was Charlotte Linlin. Her eyes locked onto Ares, and then she licked her lips. "I'm not giving up!"

"Only a physique as strong as Ares' can satisfy me, and produce even stronger offspring."

Her blatant words sent a chill down the spines of Whitebeard and Golden Lion.

Both quickly distanced themselves.

This woman was practically a "pervert"!

Her mind was filled with nothing but lewd and violent thoughts.

Rocks turned to Ochoku and said, "Ochoku, take Ares back to the ship first, and tell him the rules aboard."

Under Rocks' orders, Ochoku led Ares straight toward the pirate ship anchored at the coast.

Meanwhile, Rocks walked directly to the group of villagers huddled together, trembling in fear, and focused on the old man who had earlier begged Ares for help.

He crouched down and asked with interest, "Tell me about Ares."

He wanted to know what Ares' life had been like before.

The old man, sitting on the ground, instinctively shuffled backward, his voice quivering with terror. "Don't... don't kill me."

"Take... take whatever you want."

He lowered his head deeply, lacking the courage to meet Rocks' gaze.

Seeing the old man fail to answer Rocks' question, Captain John grew impatient and barked, "Hey, old man, the captain's asking you a question. If you don't want to die, answer quickly!"

The old man shuddered violently, his body trembling even more.

Then, as if grasping at a lifeline, he calmed down and blurted out everything about Ares. "Ares... his father was a very famous swordsmith."

"That year, his father forged a Famous Sword, but it was... taken by... by pirates."

"His father died too, leaving him all alone."

"At first, things were fine, but for some reason, three years ago, he suddenly went mad!"

"..."

As he spoke, the old man couldn't help recalling the day it happened—Ares had suddenly run out of his house.

He'd asked everyone he met how he could forge himself into a sword surpassing even a Supreme Great Sword!

It had scared many people at the time.

Ares had originally followed his father in blacksmithing and forging, and at just over ten years old, he was already as strong as a young bull.

Many couldn't stop him.

Back then, Ares seemed trapped in some kind of obsession.

In the end, a villager answered Ares' question, telling him that through training, he could forge himself into a hard blade.

From that day on, aside from eating and resting, Ares did nothing but train.

As time passed, his training methods grew increasingly terrifying and shocking!

Starting with normal push-ups and lifting heavy objects, then ramming his body into trees, and finally, horrifyingly, smashing his body against mountains.

After hearing the old man's story, Rocks stood up, turned toward the sea, and muttered to himself, "So it's a mental issue, huh?"

"Still, a guy like this has extraordinary potential. Just through his own training and fighting beasts, he's managed to grow this far..."

"This kid's potential is truly monstrous!"

He understood that Ares not only had immense potential but also feared no hardship in training, showing relentless determination.

Far better than that woman Linlin.

That wanton woman was practically wasting her terrifying talent.

Ares was completely different—not only did he possess inhuman talent and potential, but he also constantly strengthened himself through various training methods.

Compared to Linlin, Rocks naturally favored Ares more.

He walked slowly toward the shore and shouted to the other pirates, "Lads, set sail!!"

Captain John took a light sip of strong liquor and said excitedly, "Once this kid grows up, he'll be no less than Whitebeard and Golden Lion."

He leisurely followed behind Captain Rocks.

Kaido, having heard the old man's story, couldn't help but tremble in his eyes and said in shock, "That bastard Ares is actually training like that."

A sharp glint flashed through his massive eyes as he gritted his teeth and said, "I, Kaido, won't lose to him!!!"

"I'll use hellish training too, to temper my body!!"

"Next time... the winner will be me!"

Staring at Ares's back, Kaido's heart burned with fierce fighting spirit.

He also followed the main group toward the pirate ship on the shore.

At the shore.

Ares was seeing such a massive pirate ship for the first time—it was like a moving war fortress.

Standing four meters tall, he still looked tiny in front of this vessel.

Ochoku said smugly, "How about it? This ship's huge, right?!"

"Our Rocks Pirates are the strongest pirate crew on this sea. Countless pirates, just hearing the name of our Rocks Pirates..."

"They piss themselves in fear!!"

"Hahaha..."

He couldn't help but laugh heartily, as if such things had really happened before.

Ares beside him, however, remained calm, as if he had no interest in anything except forging himself into a Famous Sword.

Ochoku patted Ares on the shoulder and said, "From now on, you're a full member of the Rocks Pirates."

"There'll be countless battles waiting for you!!"

"Hurry up and grow—I'm really looking forward to a monster like you maturing!"