Rocks and Edward Newgate

Chapter 41: Rocks and Edward Newgate

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

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

Bennet, the captain of the Heart Pirates, shouted.

However, the pirates of the Heart Pirates were all captivated by the treasure before them. Even upon hearing their captain's orders, they were reluctant to put down the treasure in their hands.

"Newgate, block the path above!"

"Got it!"

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

"When the old man gets back, I'm definitely going to get beaten."

Seeing Newgate lift Magnus's bed and use it 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 blocked outside.

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

"Brat, you're asking for death!"

Seeing Rocks sneak-attack and kill a Heart Pirates crew member, two pirates who were closest to him flew into a rage. While stuffing jewelry into their pockets, they charged towards Rocks.

At the same time.

After realizing something was wrong, the Heart Pirates crew members outside began to ram the blocked cabin passage.

"We need to finish this quickly!"

The Six Powers technique, Soru, made Rocks' movements inside the cabin as fast as lightning. The Heart Pirates crew members trapped inside only saw a dark silhouette flashing before their eyes.

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

"Brat, don't underestimate me!"

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

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

"Iron Body!"

With a dull thud, the fat pirate collided fiercely with Rocks. However, Rocks, having used Iron Body, felt like he had hit an iron wall.

Rocks was only thrown back a couple of meters, leaving two long grooves on the shattered floor. But the fat pirate's bulky body was almost deformed.

"Iron Body Impact!"

The moment he felt the fatty pirate's strength waning, Rocks switched from defense to offense. His muscular arms began to glow with a metallic sheen.

Bang!

With one punch, the fat pirate collapsed to the side like a deflated balloon.

Faintly, Rocks felt like he had grasped something.

"Just a little more."

He didn't have time to think further, as Newgate was already struggling to hold on.

"Retreat!"

Upon hearing Rocks' words, and as they had planned beforehand, Newgate retreated while Rocks pushed forward, first helping the larger figure to withdraw.

But what neither of them expected was a burst of thick smoke suddenly pouring in from the cabin's ventilation shaft, eventually forming a human shape.

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

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

He was worth a bounty of thirty million Belly not just because of his strength.

"I'm a Smoke-Smoke Fruit user, the strongest Logia type among Devil Fruits. Combined with my custom gun, even a Great Pirate might not be my opponent!"

As he spoke, Bennet pointed the gun in his hand at the very close Newgate.

Bang!

The gunshot rang out. Newgate, with no way to dodge, could only block with his arm.

However, the expected pain did not come.

"Smoke-Smoke Fruit user? You're just a thief who sneaks in to steal when others are away!"

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

"Trash 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. Just as he was about to attack again, he kicked nothing but air.

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

Rocks' kick had passed straight through Bennet's body, but Bennet wasn't harmed at all. Instead, he reached out, his arm turning into thick smoke as he retrieved the fallen gun.

"Die!"

Caught between his last move and his next, and realizing Rocks' attack was ineffective, Bennet passed straight through Rocks, pinning him firmly to the ground.

Just as Bennet was about to fire.

"Ahhhhhhh——————"

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

"It's useless, I'm a—"

Bennet was about to say he was a Logia-type Devil Fruit user, but it wasn't the bed itself that shook him, but the strong wind generated by Newgate swinging it.

Bennet was blown away by the gust!

"Hah~ Hah~"

Newgate, having unleashed strength far beyond his usual, sat on the ground, looking at Rocks.

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

"Tch."

Hearing Newgate's words, Rocks scowled, but he had to admit that if it weren't for Newgate just now, he would have been shot in the head by Bennet's bullet, at best severely injured, at worst dead.

"What do we do now?"

Newgate asked worriedly. He knew that Logia-type Devil Fruits were powers that ordinary people like them couldn't handle.

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

"Do you have a way to deal with Devil Fruit users?"

"Yes!"

Rocks nodded heavily.

Magnus had once said that no matter how strange or peculiar abilities existed in this world, as long as they came from a Devil Fruit, they could be suppressed by Haki.

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

"Haki can only be mastered in battle!"

Remembering Magnus's words, Rocks no longer had any fear.

The port.

Magnus and Ripley stood on high ground, watching the battle between Rocks and Bennet.

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

What he cared about was the figure behind Rocks, who was blocking other pirates for him.

The system's font appeared after a long absence.

[Marineford Calendar Year 1481, February. You encountered the future Pirate Emperor, Whitebeard Edward Newgate. He greatly admired your crewmate Rocks#=&…… and solemnly extended an invitation to you.]

["Become my son!"]

[Accept/Reject?]