No, You Won't

"Time is running out. Please forgive my rudeness. I'll explain everything to you later."

John lifted Alice in his left hand and grabbed Teach with his right, floating up and flying toward the valley battlefield.

All Alice could do was glare furiously at John, unable to say a word.

A strange current coursed through her entire body, numbing her muscles, bones, and even nerves. She could not move in the slightest.

Poor Teach could not even cry.

John spared a glance at Teach and could not help clicking his tongue.

"Why is this brat so ugly?!"

To be honest, while Rocks was not particularly handsome, he could hardly be called ugly. If anything, he possessed a wild, arrogant air.

Alice, on the other hand, was a striking beauty, with bright eyes and large pupils, carrying the boldness and decisiveness unique to a female pirate.

But why had Teach turned out like this...

Hearing John mock her son, Alice wished she could beat him to death with her eyes a hundred times over.

That damned bastard!

Rumble—

Black lightning swept across the heavens, and a bizarre, ominous aura spread through the air, pressing down on everyone until they felt restless and even breathing became difficult.

It was as if they had fallen into the deep sea.

A bolt of black lightning crashed into the valley. Amid the fallen, defeated members of God's Knights, a terrifying figure suddenly descended.

As the dust it had kicked up dispersed, the terrifying figure revealed its true form.

It was a horrific monster slightly taller than Newgate, with grotesque spider-like limbs and two enormous horns atop its head.

One of the world's highest authorities, one of the Five Elders—Jaygarcia Saturn Saint, in his Ushi-Oni form!

"Saint Saturn? What happened? Why does he look like that?!"

"This has to be a dream, right? How could the World Government's 'justice' become something like this?!"

Garp and the Marine soldiers suffered another devastating blow to their beliefs.

Though it was wrong to judge good and evil by appearance, there was no way they could associate Saint Saturn's current form with "justice."

They did not even know how to lie to themselves for comfort!

"I... really am still ignorant. What a magnificent day for adventure!"

After a brief moment of shock, Roger grinned excitedly.

To him, the more dangerous something was, the more captivating it became.

He could not get enough!

Rocks' gaze passed over Ushi-Oni Saturn and locked onto the crowned shadow behind him, unable to conceal the eager stirrings in his eyes.

"You're all curious about what this is, aren't you? Then let me tell you. This is... the 'world'!"

He had not expected that fellow, who had hidden in Mary Geoise all year round, to leave his layers of protection and appear here.

This might be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity!

One figure after another appeared around Rocks.

"Are you here to help me? I can't offer you anything in return." Rocks shifted his eyes toward the figure standing to his right with a naginata in hand.

"Don't worry about it. I've been mooching your booze all this time, after all."

Newgate planted his naginata into the ground and flashed a broad grin, full of the loyalty of one willing to risk his life for a friend.

The Azure Dragon circled overhead, visible excitement gleaming in his golden vertical pupils. He grinned like a child.

"Hey! You guys! Look! I've got 'powers' too now!"

"Let's try out my strength on that weird bastard!"

"Not bad, Kaido."

Rocks raised a brow and gave him his approval.

"As far as I know, this is the happiest you've ever been in your life, gurararara!"

He himself... was happy too.

He had not expected that, when danger struck, several people in this group brought together by profit would still stand by his side.

His heart felt warm!

"Kaido!!!"

A thunderous roar rolled in as Charlotte Linlin rode over on a cloud.

"I'm going to kill you, you bastard!"

She appeared to have come for revenge over the Devil Fruit being stolen, yet after arriving, she made no further move.

The current Linlin was not yet the future Emperor of the Sea who could openly say, "Even the pirate world has loyalty and righteousness." Right now, she was somewhat immaturely tsundere.

She only dared to come help under the pretext of settling scores with Kaido.

"Oi, you bastards!"

Just then, John arrived carrying Alice and Teach, landing beside the line of people.

"Stop striking cool poses. The objective has been achieved, so let's get out of here."

"John, I didn't expect you to come too."

"You coward who values treasure more than life itself have really made me see you in a new light today."

"Hmm... you're still a man, at least."

They were all extremely surprised by John's appearance. This guy had a terrible reputation and would do anything for treasure.

Yet now, rather than snatching treasure, he had come to help fight. It was as unbelievable as the Red Line collapsing into the deep sea.

Unlike Newgate, Linlin, and Kaido's teasing, Rocks fixed his gaze on the woman and child John was carrying.

"John, what are you doing?!"

"Oh, right!"

John smiled faintly and met Rocks' gaze.

"These are hostages. I want to use them to threaten you. Now, immediately, leave this island with me!"

"And if I refuse?" Rocks narrowed his eyes dangerously.

"If you refuse, then I'll kill them!"

Though John issued the threat, his body had already tensed, ready to dodge Rocks' furious attack at any moment.

"John, what are you doing? Even if you won't help, don't hold us back and switch sides at the last second!"

"I thought you were pretty decent just now. Looks like I was wrong about you!"

"Traitor!"

Newgate, Linlin, and Kaido were shocked, then began condemning him one after another.

However, Rocks instantly dropped that dangerous expression and bared his teeth in a grin.

"No, you won't."

"I will! If you don't listen to me, I'll really kill them!" John said sternly, his expression deadly serious.

Rocks gently shook his head, an indescribable bearing showing through his smile.

"John, I trust you. You won't."

With that, he turned back to face Ushi-Oni Saturn ahead of him, no longer sparing John another glance.

???!

John was stunned.

You're Davy, not Nika! Why are you copying Luffy?!

Damn!

Just as John was weighing whether to slap Teach on the ass to scare Rocks...

"John, Alice and Teach are in your hands."

Leaving those words behind, Rocks gripped his western sword, Eclipse, and strode toward the Ushi-Oni engulfed in monstrous flames.

John froze, then immediately understood.

Before the Observation Haki of the Voice of All Things, his act had already been exposed!

Helpless, he could only switch to earnest persuasion.

"Rocks, forget it. We can't beat him. Let's go back and prepare some more."

"Can't beat him? How would we know without trying?!"

Rocks would not listen to any advice. Violent Haki poured out from him, whipping up sand and stones and making the forest sway.

Judging from how they had defeated those trash members of God's Knights earlier, the weakness of these monsters was Haki!