"How... How is this possible?! Three captains joined forces to attack him, and they were... they were killed instantly?!"
"His ability is too abnormal! Once you're controlled by that bizarre power, you're practically as good as dead!"
"It seems... only the cadres can take down this monster!"
The pirates broke into heated discussion.
The other captains, who had been eager to test themselves, instinctively took two steps back. Not one of them dared step forward to challenge him.
No captain could be confident of taking on three opponents of the same level at once, let alone killing them so effortlessly!
Who would step forward knowing it meant certain death?
Such a young powerhouse had never been heard of anywhere on these seas.
Were young people really this terrifying nowadays?
Rocks's lips curled into a slight smile. Rather than growing angry over the loss of four captains, a note of admiration flashed in his eyes.
In the Rocks Pirates, only the truly strong could control their own fates and earn the right to follow him in realizing his ambitions.
To him, the dead captains were nothing but expendable pawns and cannon fodder, easily replaced.
Only core fighters of the calibre of Silver Axe, Ochoku, John, Newgate, Shiki, and Charlotte Linlin were essential to his ambition of overthrowing the World Government.
At such a young age, Luo Tian already possessed astonishing strength. Given time and a little more honing,
he would surely become a key force in Rocks's plan to overthrow the World Government.
"Kid, what's your name?" Rocks asked.
"Luo Tian." Luo Tian answered calmly, meeting Rocks's gaze without a trace of unease.
"Good! Luo Tian... Hahaha! You're strong, and you don't hesitate to kill. I like you! I'll allow you to join the Rocks Pirates!"
Rocks swept his gaze across the crowd. Seeing that no one else dared challenge Luo Tian, he announced the result himself.
The pirates fell silent, accepting the decision.
Strength was the best passport.
"But..." Luo Tian stared at Rocks, his tone even. "What if I want to become a cadre right away?"
"Hahaha... Interesting!" Rocks laughed instead of getting angry.
"Your strength is already close to the threshold for a cadre.
"With your talent and potential, reaching that level is only a matter of time.
"But to become a cadre of the Rocks Pirates, you need more than the strength to qualify. You also need to earn enough merit to convince everyone."
Rocks rarely took the time to explain himself.
If someone wasn't strong enough, he wouldn't even spare them a glance.
But Luo Tian was different—young, exceptionally gifted, powerful, and, most importantly, openly ambitious.
Rocks believed that within a few years, the pirates would have another core cadre.
That was the privilege of the strong!
"For now, you'll serve as a captain. You can go to the outer waters and choose your crew and territory," Rocks finally decided.
"Kid, come aboard my ship!" Cadre Ochoku eagerly called out, trying to recruit him.
"The treasures those four captains accumulated, the territory they occupied, and the subordinates they left behind can all be yours!"
He had five captains under his command, but Luo Tian had killed four of them in succession. He was almost left with no one, and his strength and influence were bound to take a serious hit.
So he urgently needed to recruit this powerful newcomer and bolster his top-tier fighting strength.
The last newcomer, Kaido, had slipped through his fingers and been snatched up by Charlotte Linlin.
But this time, no matter what, he would get his hands on this newcomer named Luo Tian.
"No need." Luo Tian gave Ochoku a scornful glance. "I have no intention of joining anyone's crew for now."
He had no need to live under someone else's thumb.
With his current strength, he was already a match for a cadre. All he lacked was the time and achievements to build his standing.
How could he willingly serve beneath someone else—especially someone like Ochoku, who clearly wanted to use him as a weapon?
"Kid, you dare refuse me?!" Ochoku hadn't expected Luo Tian to reject him so bluntly. His tone immediately turned hostile.
"Don't forget, you killed four of my captains! We haven't settled that score yet! You'd better watch yourself!"
"Oh?" Luo Tian raised an eyebrow and shot back without fear.
"So those four useless weaklings were yours? With subordinates that pathetic, how could a boss like you possibly be worthy of having me join you?"
He paused, and his voice suddenly turned cold. "I killed four of your captains, so now you want me to work for you and make up for your losses?
"If I kill you today, does that mean I should take your cadre position too?"
"You arrogant, ignorant brat!" Ochoku flew into a rage, murderous intent surging in his eyes.
"Looks like you need a lesson you'll never forget, or you'll never learn your place!
"Today, I'll show you that you're nothing in front of me!"
Humiliated and talked back to by a newcomer in front of Captain Rocks, all the cadres, and the crew, Ochoku was truly enraged. He swore he would crush Luo Tian and regain his standing.
"Get on your knees!"
When Ochoku suddenly made his move, neither Rocks nor the other cadres tried to stop him.
They wanted to see just how far this powerful newcomer with his bizarre ability, Luo Tian, could go!
Could he still work a miracle against a true veteran cadre?
Ochoku roared and shot forward!
Wielding a greatsword wrapped in Armament Haki, he brought it crashing down toward Luo Tian's head!
Clang—
A clear sword note rang out, like a dragon's cry!
Luo Tian drew the Supreme Grade Blade at his waist—Black Dragon!
"Tch, those markings and that pattern on the blade... That feeling..." Shiki's pupils shrank. As a master swordsman, his senses were especially sharp.
"It feels even more powerful than the auras of my Oto and Kogarashi!
"Could the blade in that kid's hand be a Supreme Grade Blade?"
"Gurararara... It really is a fine blade! Its edge is restrained, its ferocity concealed. It's no less impressive than my Murakumogiri!" Whitebeard praised, nodding.
Facing Ochoku's terrifying, rage-fuelled strike, Luo Tian applied shockwave force and Repulsion to his blade and met the attack head-on!
Clang—!!!!
The greatsword and long blade crashed together with a deafening roar!
A blinding burst of sparks erupted at the point of impact, black-and-red arcs of lightning shooting in every direction!
It was Armament Haki clashing fiercely with a slash imbued with spatial power!
The stalemate lasted only an instant. The muscles in Luo Tian's sword arm tensed slightly, and his blade shuddered. A shockwave that could shatter space burst from the edge of Black Dragon!
Crack!
A sharp snapping sound rang out!
To everyone's disbelief, a clear crack had appeared across the blade of the greatsword in Ochoku's hand!
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