Rocks: Bring It On

Golden Lion thought it over carefully and began to feel a twinge of panic.

He muttered inwardly: "No good!"

"If Ares joins the Rocks Pirates, I have to tell him—under no circumstances should he get tangled up with that reckless woman Big Mom."

"Linlin is nothing short of a beast!"

He had seen plenty of men who got involved with Linlin, and none of them ended well.

After all, Linlin only saw those men as "breeding tools."

Ares didn't even glance at Kaido, who lay sprawled on the ground. Instead, he fixed his burning gaze on Rocks.

His expression was no longer as calm as before; beneath his composed, handsome face lurked a thick excitement.

His voice hoarse, he said: "Now..."

"Can I fight you?!"

He craved battle with Rocks, because from Kaido's punch—

he had indeed learned quite a few useful things, discovering how to unleash more of the power within his body.

Ares longed to meet an even stronger opponent, his heart brimming with anticipation: "Fighting truly can hone me!"

"He was right—combat can forge a person into an indestructible Famous Sword!"

He felt a long-lost surge of hot blood racing through his veins. He craved—battle!

He craved fighting someone even stronger!!

Seeing Ares so ablaze with fighting spirit, Ochoku couldn't help but remark in amazement: "What a spirited, gutsy brat. Still wants to challenge the captain!"

"Just because he beat Kaido, does he think he can challenge Captain Rocks, who's famous across the seas?"

He hadn't expected that after defeating Kaido, Ares wouldn't swagger in triumph—

but instead chose to keep challenging Captain Rocks.

It drew the attention of many.

Silver Axe chuckled: "A brat who hasn't seen how vast the sea is—isn't that more interesting?"

"If he knew how strong Captain Rocks really is, would this kid still have the guts to challenge him?"

As if waiting for a show, he chose not to interfere.

A spectacle like this...

wasn't common.

The surrounding pirates also began to hoot and stir up trouble.

"Captain Rocks, show this brat your true power!!"

"Yeah, yeah!! Let this clueless kid understand that you, Captain Rocks, aren't someone just anyone can challenge!"

"Hahaha... Captain Rocks, let him know what real power is!!!"

"..."

The area erupted in lively noise. For them, moments like this were far more entertaining than staying aboard the ship.

Plundering and returning to Hachinosu Island to cut loose were their happiest times.

Amid the clamor all around, Ares showed no reaction or fluctuation. His eyes never once strayed from Rocks from start to finish.

He could sense that the man before him carried a presence more dangerous than any beast he had ever encountered.

His powerful heart pounded rapidly with surging battle intent—

sounding like war drums.

"He must be incredibly strong!"

"Fighting him, I'm sure to gain even greater combat techniques, allowing me to harden my body further."

"I will forge my body into a blade that surpasses the twelve Supreme Great Swords!"

Ares unconsciously exuded a fierce, savage aura—

the accumulated momentum from countless battles with wild beasts.

Looking at Ares, who stood about half a meter taller than himself, Rocks also felt that brutal, violent aura emanating from him.

But under the perception of Observation Haki, Ares's strength was still far from enough to warrant the attention of Rocks, who stood at the pinnacle of these seas.

A flicker of interest in his eyes, he smiled faintly: "If you want me to fight you, fine..."

"But you have to agree to one condition. If you lose, you join the Rocks Pirates!"

At this moment, though Ares radiated an utterly terrifying presence, it posed no danger to him.

Still...

Rocks also valued Ares's potential. A kid of fourteen or fifteen had not only taken Kaido's punch without a scratch—

but had also defeated Kaido with effortless ease.

Such potential made Rocks' heart stir—a rough, unpolished brat.

He was keen to watch this brat grow step by step aboard his ship, becoming a Great Pirate renowned across the world!

"Fine!!"

Ares agreed at once, speaking with impatient urgency: "Can you fight me now?!"

He couldn't help cracking his knuckles, his bones letting out crisp snaps.

It seemed even his earlier battle with Kaido hadn't been enough to loosen him up.

At this.

The surrounding pirates all fixed their full attention on Ares and Rocks in the center.

Every one of them couldn't help widening their eyes, afraid to miss a single detail.

Many pirates even instinctively held their breath.

The scene fell silent in an instant.

So quiet you could hear a pin drop!

Silence!

Only the faint rustle of the wind and the surging, pounding beat of Ares' heart within his body.

Rocks' unruly, defiant face bore a wild grin as he bared his teeth: "Brat..."

"Come at me!!"

The words fell.

Ares exploded into motion, the hard ground beneath him bursting with a bang as two round craters formed under his feet.

His body shot forward like a crossbow bolt.

Streaking toward Rocks at breakneck speed, his five fingers clenched into a fist!

The fierce, rapid punch sent ripples rippling through the air.

This fist.

Had once crushed a giant ape over ten meters tall with a single blow!

It had also killed a thick-skinned, massive black bear in one punch!

Watching Ares' fist, a flicker of surprise passed through Rocks' eyes, followed by a satisfied laugh: "Kid!!!"

"You're not there yet—I'll wait for the day you can truly challenge me!!"

He raised his hand and threw a punch.

The air let out a sudden explosive roar.

Boom!

Rocks' fist landed squarely on Ares' fist.

Ares instantly felt a terrifying force, like a mountain hurtling at high speed, slam violently into him, sending his body flying backward at meteor-like speed!

His form was completely out of control.

Blasting hundreds of meters away in an instant!

The might of a single punch!

It stunned every pirate present—the little monster Ares, who had easily defeated Kaido, was sent flying by Rocks with one casual blow.

A thunderous crash rang out.

Rocks withdrew his fist and said to Captain John beside him: "Take this kid back to the ship. From now on, he's a member of our Rocks Pirates."

His sharp, domineering gaze swept over all the surrounding pirates as he bared his teeth in a fierce, ruthless grin: "And I declare..."

"He's not joining the Rocks Pirates as a rookie—he's joining as..."

"A full crew member!!"

On those last words, Rocks stressed his tone, announcing it to every pirate with weight and finality!