A Pirate Proficient in Rokushiki?

As countless Blood Shadow Bats returned to his body, Houka felt the surge of rich life force.

"The energy of an expert who possesses Conqueror's Haki is truly refined!"

Houka licked his lips in excitement, feeling every cell in his body cheering and rejoicing.

A continuous stream of power welled up, and his body seemed to have broken through its shackles, entering a kind of virtuous cycle.

His current physique seemed capable of driving the Press-Press Fruit and Moon-Moon Fruit abilities without needing the feedback from his Vampire Ability.

This is the unscientific physique of this world!

Houka felt that his body had undergone some sort of metamorphosis.

So, 'eating people' really could make one stronger!

The more powerful and talented the expert, the more useful they were to him!

"The Pirate Patriarch Ochoku is dead!!"

An executive of the Ochoku Pirates, having sensed with Observation Haki that Ochoku's life force had completely vanished, screamed in terror.

As the Blood Shadow Bats on Ochoku's body dissipated entirely, the man's pale, shriveled face remained frozen in a hideous expression of fear.

Houka expressionlessly drew the Seven-Star Sword and kicked Ochoku's mummified corpse aside, looking every bit the cold-blooded demon.

"Wahahahaha! Houka, you've grown stronger again!"

Rocks accurately perceived the earth-shattering changes in Houka's body; this mysterious little fellow was filled with strangeness and the unknown at every turn.

However, Rocks remained confident that he could suppress Houka and make him a major asset in his quest to topple Imu.

"Jiehahahaha! Congratulations, Houka!"

Golden Lion Shiki was the second to offer his congratulations, the desire to possess Houka reaching its peak in his eyes.

"It's all thanks to his Devil Fruit abilities and that cursed sword!!"

Silver Axe Xiong reaffirmed once again just how important a powerful Devil Fruit ability was.

Look at Houka—he didn't even have the three forms of Haki, yet he had managed to kill Ochoku using only his Devil Fruit powers and the Seven-Star Sword.

Although this Pirate Patriarch had already had most of his stamina drained by their tag-team battle, it was undeniable that Houka, a user of three Devil Fruits, possessed formidable combat power.

Xiong glanced at his own famous giant axe, considering whether he should replace it with a more powerful legendary weapon.

The bizarre abilities of that Seven-Star Sword were truly enviable.

Not only did it possess the evil power to manipulate the minds of the weak, but it also enhanced the strength and penetration of sword qi.

Even an ordinary swordsman could unleash terrifying sword qi that spanned half an island with it.

In Xiong's eyes, Houka's Seven-Star Sword was even more powerful than the Supreme Grade Sword Murakumogiri in Newgate's hands or the Xebec's Sword held by Rocks.

At this moment, Xiong suddenly felt that besides a powerful Devil Fruit ability, he also needed a powerful weapon.

If that bastard Shiki was searching for famous swords and blades, then he, too, needed to add replacing his weapon to his list of goals.

"Houka! You're amazing! You truly are my friend!"

Charlotte Linlin danced atop the thundercloud Zeus, shouting in excitement.

"Vice-Captain!! Mighty!!"

Babel and Sambel, the two burly fish-men, cheered.

"Stronger again, huh!"

Newgate sensed Houka's growth. Originally, he had been sixty or seventy percent sure he could defeat Houka, but now it seemed to have returned to a fifty-fifty split.

Defeating this user of three Devil Fruits would be no simple task.

Yet, Newgate's heart was filled with fighting spirit.

Defeating a Houka of this caliber was a true challenge.

Defeating his friend Houka and catching up to Rocks, his nominal captain, were Newgate's next goals.

Among the panicked onlookers, the pirates were in chaos.

Black Flag Black felt his heart racing; Houka had actually killed Ochoku, which completely exceeded their expectations and plans.

Was the Rocks Pirates not in the middle of expanding their influence and recruiting soldiers?

Why would they kill Ochoku instead of recruiting him?

This completely contradicted Rocks' usual style of poaching talent!

And then there were the Blood Shadow Bats that had attacked him earlier...

A bead of cold sweat appeared on Black Flag Black's forehead.

Should he abandon the mission and flee immediately?

Just then.

The executives and pirates of the Ochoku Pirates suddenly began to flee in a frenzy.

They had no intention of avenging Ochoku, nor did they have any desire to beg to join the Rocks Pirates; they simply wanted to escape.

Had the great battle between Ochoku and the Rocks executives not destroyed the Ochoku Pirates' base, they would have certainly looted the treasures and fled to their respective homes.

Now, they could only scramble to seize the Ochoku Pirates' flagship—the Pirate Patriarch's vessel—which still held a significant amount of valuable treasure and supplies.

Amidst the chaos, Black Flag Black hesitated, unsure if Houka had discovered his true identity.

But the thought that this was a deep-cover mission ordered by Saint Saturn steeled his resolve.

Even with an eighty percent chance of death, he had to see it through!

Having made his decision, Black Flag Black suppressed the panic and fear in his heart, fully embodying the persona of the pirate Black.

He was a pirate now!

If he were to be killed by Houka, he would die as an unyielding, rebellious pirate.

Black Flag Black drew his blade and cut down a minor executive of the Ochoku Pirates, slipping into the state of a brutal pirate.

Having previously fought a great battle against the Pirate Patriarch Ochoku, it was perfectly reasonable for him to vent his frustrations by slaughtering the Ochoku Pirates' crew.

"Gahahahaha! It's all mine! No one is allowed to touch it!"

Golden Lion Shiki immediately joined the fray at the harbor to plunder the treasures; every pirate ship was his prey.

Especially Ochoku's legacy—no one was allowed to snatch it away!

Silver Axe Xiong, Babel, Sambel, and Streusen all joined the frenzied battle for loot.

No one was allowed to take advantage of the Rocks Pirates.

"Houka! Is that guy alright? Can we recruit him onto the ship?"

As Houka flew back, Rocks immediately pointed his finger toward Black Flag Black, who was currently on a killing spree.

This great pirate with a bounty of 444 million berries was ruthless and decisive in his strikes, perfectly matching Rocks' tastes.

If there were no issues, he intended to go down and snatch the guy onto his ship.

Newgate also took a few glances at Black Flag Black; his combat style was indeed cleaner and more efficient than any of the current executives.

He was even more like a killer who went for the throat with every strike than the Yakuza Killer, Silver Axe Xiong!

"A guy who has mastered Rokushiki—what do you think?"

"Don't let the fact that he's using a longsword to kill fool you; I bet the calluses on his hands aren't even as thick as mine!"

Houka spoke indifferently, his gaze fixed on Black Flag Black like a predator eyeing its prey.

Having already gained benefits from Ochoku, Houka was like an insatiable demon, unable to wait to devour this guy as well.

"Rokushiki? The Rokushiki of the Navy and CP agents?"

Rocks' eyes narrowed, and the look of admiration in his pupils instantly transformed into intense killing intent.

His Davy Clan had been hunted by the World Government for eight hundred years, reduced to scurrying like rats in the street.

Only by hiding their names and identities had a single lineage survived.

Those CP agents were the most vicious hounds tasked with hunting down the Davy Clan.

His resentment and hatred for the CP agents far exceeded his feelings toward the Navy, which at least maintained a facade of justice on the surface.

"Is that Black Flag Black a CP agent of the World Government?"

Newgate gripped Murakumogiri tightly, his narrowed eyes glancing downward, his killing intent as fierce as if Guan Yunchang himself had possessed him.