Rocks and Edward Newgate

The Black Pearl's cabin wasn't large; any move would quickly give them away.

"Forget the treasure, take down those two brats first!"

The captain of the Heart Pirates, Bennet, shouted.

However, the Heart Pirates were all captivated by the treasure before them. Even after hearing their captain's orders, they were reluctant to put down the treasure they held.

"Newgate, block the path above!"

"Got it!"

The Black Pearl's cabin passage was wide enough for two people of average build, but with fourteen-year-old Newgate standing there, the entire path was blocked.

I'm definitely going to get beaten when the old man gets back.

Seeing Newgate carrying Mongge's bed to block the cabin passage, Rocks bared his teeth but didn't blame Newgate.

If they hadn't used the cabin's terrain, it would have been impossible for the two of them to defeat an entire pirate crew. But now, with Newgate blocking the path, the entire crew of the Heart Pirates was split in two.

Bennet, the strongest, was trapped outside.

Inside were only a few of the Heart Pirates' thugs, who posed no threat.

"Brat, you're asking for death!"

Seeing Rocks sneak-attack and kill a Heart Pirate crew member, two of the closest pirates flew into a rage and charged at Rocks while stuffing jewels into their pockets.

Meanwhile.

Upon realizing something was wrong, the Heart Pirates outside began ramming the blocked cabin passage.

"We have to finish this quickly!"

The Six Powers' Soru made Rocks' movements inside the cabin as swift as lightning. The Heart Pirates trapped inside could only see a black silhouette flickering constantly before them.

Before one pirate could even react, his body was sent flying.

"Brat, don't underestimate me!"

One of the three strongest individuals Rocks had sensed besides the Heart Pirates' captain, a fatty nearly three meters tall, roared and charged at Rocks like a cannonball.

In the cramped cabin, Rocks had no way to dodge.

"Iron Body!"

With a dull thud, the fatty pirate collided fiercely with Rocks. However, with Iron Body activated, Rocks felt like he was hitting an iron wall.

Rocks was only thrown back two to three meters, leaving two long gouges on the splintered floor. But the fatty pirate's bulky body was almost deformed.

"Iron Body Impact!"

The moment he felt the fatty pirate's strength wane, Rocks switched from defense to offense. His muscular arm shimmered with a metallic sheen.

Bang!

With one punch, the fatty pirate deflated like a balloon and fell heavily to the side.

Faintly, Rocks felt like he had grasped something.

Just a little more.

He didn't have time to ponder further, as Newgate was starting to falter.

"Retreat!"

Hearing Rocks' words, as they had planned, Newgate retreated while Rocks pushed forward, helping the larger of the two to withdraw first.

But what neither of them expected was a thick cloud of smoke suddenly pouring in from the cabin's ventilation shaft, eventually taking on a human form.

"You two brats, did you really think you could beat me?"

Bennet, the captain of the Heart Pirates, cursed loudly.

He was worth 30 million Belly precisely because he possessed sufficient strength.

"I ate the Smoke-Smoke Fruit, the strongest Logia-type Devil Fruit. Combined with my custom-made gun, even a Great Pirate might not be my opponent!"

As he spoke, Bennet aimed his gun at the nearby Newgate.

Bang!

The gunshot echoed. With no way to dodge, Newgate could only block with his arm.

However, the expected pain didn't come.

"Smoke-person? You're just a thief who sneaks in when others are away!"

Even though he had used Iron Body, Rocks couldn't block Bennet's bullet. Despite his arm being bloody and mangled, there was no fear on Rocks' face.

"Someone like you can't even compare to a single hair of those Great Pirates!"

"Brat!"

Hearing Rocks' words, Bennet flew into a rage and raised his gun at Rocks again.

"At this close range, do you think I'll let you fire?"

Rocks kicked Bennet's hand, sending the gun flying. But just as he was about to continue his attack, his kick missed.

"Hahaha, brat, I'm a Logia Devil Fruit user. All physical attacks are useless against me!"

Rocks' kick had just passed straight through Bennet's body, but Bennet hadn't sustained any damage. Instead, he reached out, his arm turning into thick smoke as he retrieved the gun that had fallen to the side.

"Die!"

At the moment between his old strength fading and new strength not yet arising, Bennet, after discovering Rocks' attack was ineffective, passed directly through Rocks and pinned him firmly to the ground.

Just as Bennet was about to fire.

"Aaaaaah------"

Newgate's roar echoed from beside Rocks and Bennet. Mongge's bed was directly lifted by Newgate and smashed towards Bennet like a weapon.

"It's no use, I'm a..."

Bennet had intended to say he was a Logia Devil Fruit user, but what shook him wasn't the bed board, but the fierce wind generated by Newgate swinging it.

Bennet was directly blown away by this gust of wind!

"Hah~ Hah~"

Exerting a burst of strength far beyond his usual state, Newgate sat down on the ground, looking at Rocks.

"Now, I don't owe you anything!"

"Tch."

Hearing Newgate's words, Rocks wore a displeased expression, but he had to admit that if it weren't for Newgate just now, he would have been killed or severely wounded by Bennet's bullet to the head.

"What do we do now?"

Newgate asked worriedly. He knew that Logia Devil Fruits were powers that ordinary people like them couldn't deal with.

"You hold off the other pirates. I'll take care of that smoke bastard!"

"You have a way to deal with Logia users?"

"Yes!"

Rocks nodded heavily.

Mongge had once said that no matter how strange or peculiar the abilities in this world were, as long as they came from a Devil Fruit, they would be restrained by Haki.

He had just boasted to Mongge that he could master Haki in at most two months, but it was already almost three months.

"Haki can only be mastered in battle!"

Recalling Mongge's words, Rocks no longer had any fear.

The port.

Mongge and Lipri stood at a high vantage point, watching the battle between Rocks and Bennet.

Although Bennet was a Logia Devil Fruit user, the Smoke-Smoke Fruit, which could only wreak havoc in the first half of the Grand Line, was not worth Mongge's attention.

What he cared about was the figure behind Rocks, who was helping Rocks fend off the other pirates.

The system's font appeared after a long absence.

[Marine Era 1481, February. You encountered the future Pirate King, Whitebeard Edward Newgate. He greatly admires your crewmate Rocks#=&... and solemnly extends an invitation to you.]

["Become my son!"]

[Accept/Reject?]