Rocks cast Ochoku a sidelong glance and said, "Ochoku, you think too much, which leaves you lacking a bit of courage and fighting spirit. Otherwise, you could have become a top-tier powerhouse like Shiki and Whitebeard."
Ochoku had already been a senior officer of the Rocks Pirates for several years, and Rocks had witnessed all of his growth.
With Ochoku's talent, he could actually have become even stronger. However, his personality kept him from fighting fearlessly like Whitebeard, Golden Lion, and Linlin...
Fearless in battle!
He thought things through carefully, but lacked a measure of ferocity. Compared with the people mentioned earlier, he was far behind in terms of battle-hardened bloodlust and tempering.
That was why the gap between his strength and that of Golden Lion, Whitebeard, Linlin, and the others had gradually widened. He was only a little stronger than that lecherous Silver Axe.
But...
Everyone had a different personality and made different choices. Even the pirate with the greatest fame and strongest power on these seas could not force Ochoku to bend to his will.
Ochoku did not mind. After all, this was not the first time he had heard Rocks say something like this. He gave an awkward laugh and said, "With Shiki, Newgate, and Linlin leading the charge, that's enough."
"We need to keep a closer eye on the other pirates aboard the ship and supervise those guys more closely."
Newgate reached out and patted Ochoku on the shoulder, laughing heartily. "Kurara... You just don't like competing, do you? But that's fine too."
"Leave all the powerful opponents to us!"
The three of them watched Ares's training together. His clash with Shiki the Golden Lion had also given them a rough idea of Ares's current strength.
Ares was now even closer to the level of an elite vice admiral from Marine Headquarters.
At his rate of growth, he might reach—or even surpass—that level in less than half a year!
And Ares was not even fifteen years old!
That alone showed how terrifying and abnormal this guy's talent was.
In the arena.
The longer Shiki the Golden Lion fought, the more alarmed he became. Ares's strength remained at its peak even after nearly half an hour of battle.
There was not the slightest decrease in Ares's physical power. He showed no sign of fatigue whatsoever!
His stamina was astonishingly long-lasting.
Every punch and kick, even every slash he sent flying, remained just as powerful.
Moreover...
Through the battle, the keenly perceptive Golden Lion noticed that Ares was constantly perfecting his combat skills. If his earlier slashes had been nothing more than simple techniques,
his current slashes were rapidly adapting to Ares's own physical condition and being applied in battle.
He was becoming more and more proficient!
"Leg Blade—Double Slash!!!"
Ares lifted his leg and kicked out a slash that shone with brilliant blue light. His body instantly completed a 360-degree rotation, and he followed up with another fierce slash.
Slash!
Slash!!
Two blue slashes several meters in size shot through the air, letting out sharp, shrieking sounds as they tore through the sky.
"You've improved!" the Golden Lion praised. He then used the blades in his hands to knock the two slashes away. They landed to his left and right, carving two deep trenches behind him.
His black-and-white eyes reflected Ares's enormous figure as it closed in. He grinned.
He held his sword horizontally before him and blocked Ares's strange arm!
Clang!
The fierce, explosive force forced the Golden Lion to once again increase both the quality and quantity of the Armament Haki he was channeling!
That reduced the impact brought by Ares's terrifying strength.
"What strange Armament Haki... I wonder how Ares came up with this kind of Haki." The Golden Lion's eyes narrowed, and he became more serious.
The increase in strength and toughness brought by this strange, unique Armament Haki belonging solely to Ares surpassed that of ordinary Armament Haki.
He had tried learning this type of Haki before, but his body simply couldn't withstand it!
Perhaps it was because their bodies were different. Trying to use Ares's Armament Haki increased the burden on his body, and his blood flow was simply insufficient to circulate that strange Armament Haki.
Shiki the Golden Lion had no choice but to give up.
Rocks and the others watching the battle were also extremely interested in Ares's state.
Rocks tilted his head slightly toward Whitebeard and asked, "Newgate, do you know what's going on with Ares's arm?"
He knew that this was why the Marines had given Ares the title "Blood Hand," and this state had actually allowed him to contend with Shiki's Armament Haki for so long.
It was indeed extraordinary and unique.
It had also sparked intense interest in him. He wanted to see whether this unique method could raise his own combat power to another level.
"I tried it. No one else can do it. His body has been tempered and pounded day after day for years, and it's long since become different from that of an ordinary person," Whitebeard replied.
His expression grew solemn and grave as he continued, "I don't know how Ares managed to persist with this kind of training for so many years. For an ordinary person, forget persisting—after just a few days, they'd probably be covered in injuries and illness."
"All I can say is that there are always a tiny number of people on these seas who possess talents and potential beyond the reach of ordinary people. The rest of us can't envy them."
The secrets of these seas were countless, and there were innumerable strange races and mutated humans.
There were always a few lucky ones who gained the favor of the gods, such as Charlotte Linlin, whose naturally iron-like skin was an exceptionally powerful innate talent. Whitebeard suspected that Ares might possess a similar talent.
But Ares's talent was also different from Linlin's.
Rocks nodded in deep agreement. His sharp, imposing eyes turned toward Ares in the arena, and the corner of his mouth lifted in a sinister smile. "Regardless, Ares is a member of the Rocks Pirates."
"His powerful talent and potential are also a good thing for the Rocks Pirates."
"Let's witness this little guy's growth!"
His heart stirred faintly. He looked forward to Ares growing up quickly and becoming another powerhouse capable of standing on his own within the Rocks Pirates.
That would make the Rocks Pirates even stronger, and it also gave Rocks a little more confidence in his ambition to become the ruler of the world.
Rocks looked at Ochoku and said, "Ochoku, Ares has some mental issues, and he's still young. So you'll need to teach this kid a few things."
"Captain, don't worry. This guy will definitely become an outstanding pirate—I guarantee it!" Ochoku replied to Rocks with a solemn expression and absolute conviction.
At an age of just over ten, he was in the most rebellious period of his life—his "adolescence." On top of that, Ares himself seemed to have something wrong with his brain, so Rocks specifically reminded Ochoku about it.
He wanted Ochoku to put his heart into properly guiding Ares.
Whitebeard Newgate's eyes glittered brightly as he stared excitedly at the two people fighting in the arena. His heart and blood had also begun to race.
In the end, he could not hold back. He simply planted Cloud Piercer into the ground and charged forward with powerful strides, grinning. "Shiki, move aside!!"
"Let me spar with Ares!!"
·······
Ares's Little Theater:
Ares rubbed his smooth, bald head and looked at the dear readers in front of their phones. "Have you powered me with your love today?"
"Let the intense electric current stimulate my body, and then—fence!"
"Dear readers, please show me more support. My thanks!"
Before you continue