"Don't... don't kill me..."
An elderly member of the Davy Tribe collapsed to the ground, staring despairingly at the son he had once been so proud of.
However.
His once-filial son now had nothing but emptiness in his eyes, with jet-black horns protruding from his forehead.
The bloodstained blade in his hand came down without the slightest hesitation!
The shrill screams were not isolated incidents.
Throughout this peaceful Davy Family settlement, the same tragedy was unfolding everywhere.
Countless clansmen suddenly rolled their eyes back and transformed into hideous demons, turning their butcher's blades against their former family and friends—especially the helpless elderly and children.
"Wah... Dad, Mom... what happened to you...?"
In the corner beside a low wall, two young Davy Tribe children huddled tightly together, trembling uncontrollably.
They stared in terror at those two faces nearby, once full of love but now turned into ghastly demons.
Their biological parents dragged dripping weapons behind them as they staggered toward the children.
"Stop right there!"
A thunderous roar exploded through the air.
Then, a burly man with blue-and-white hair and a bear-like build charged in like a whirlwind!
Black-red arcs of lightning coiled around the curved blade in his hand as he brought it down in a vertical slash.
Boom!
An incomparably concentrated Conqueror's Haki shockwave, like a tangible blade, swept past the demonized clansmen in an instant.
In the blink of an eye, their bodies were torn apart and shattered beneath the crushing force of Haki.
"Why... why did everyone suddenly turn into monsters like this?!"
Rocks stared at the hellish scene before him, murderous fury blazing in his eyes.
"Wah... I don't know... everyone suddenly... suddenly turned into monsters..." The children who had narrowly escaped death sobbed uncontrollably.
"Damn it!"
Rocks's heart sank, seized by a powerful sense of foreboding.
"Run that way! Find the people who are still alive!"
With no time to say more, he pointed the children toward a relatively safe direction before bursting forward at full speed, sprinting madly toward the home he remembered.
He raced past burning houses and leaped over the corpses of his kin.
When he finally caught sight of that familiar wooden house, his pupils suddenly contracted!
"Ahh—! Was I too late?!"
The home from his memories had now been mostly destroyed, its entire roof torn away.
Grief and rage flooded Rocks's heart, yet he still charged into the ruins.
Just then, fierce fighting and demonic roars rang out ahead!
Bang! Bang!
Two demons engulfed in blue flames were sent flying, smashing heavily into the ground.
A vicious gleam flashed through Rocks's eyes. His curved blade, already wrapped in Conqueror's Haki, swept out horizontally!
The peerlessly sharp black sword energy struck first despite being unleashed later.
Before the two demons even hit the ground, it precisely severed both their legs at the roots.
After landing, the demons could only let out meaningless roars as they futilely crawled forward with their hands.
Rocks stepped over the rubble and rushed into the inner room.
The sight before him stunned him.
A figure wreathed in two-colored flames was being besieged by seven or eight mutated demons at once!
Behind him stood Rocks's wife, Alice, and their young son, Marshall D. Teach.
Abyssal Fang!
Rocks's killing intent and Haki surged to their peak as his curved blade carved through the air.
The demons were instantly torn apart, collapsing into ashes.
The battle came to an abrupt end.
"Ugh... Haki really is more useful..."
With the danger gone, Lin Nuo immediately released his transformation and let out a long breath.
He looked up at Rocks, who had arrived just in time, and forced a weary smile.
"If you'd come any later, I really would've run out of steam, Rocks."
Lin Nuo still felt lingering fear.
These demons controlled by Imu's power were absurdly tough.
His flames could hurt them, but they were tanks too.
After all that back-and-forth, he had dealt less damage than they had recovered.
If it had dragged on, he could have remained completely unharmed with his stats, but it would have consumed far too much stamina.
He still had many things to do in God Valley, so he had to keep something in reserve.
Rocks did not respond right away. Instead, he rushed over and tightly embraced his wife and son.
After a brief embrace filled with lingering fear, he immediately asked what had happened.
Alice quickly explained the situation.
When the demons broke into their home, this mysterious man had suddenly appeared and blocked the attack.
After hearing that, Rocks took a deep breath and led his wife and child over to Lin Nuo.
The ambitious man who would one day make the world tremble showed no airs at this moment. He bowed deeply to Lin Nuo, who was slumped on the ground.
"Thank you for saving my family." Rocks's voice was grave and deep.
"Thank you... truly, thank you so much!" Alice said sincerely as she held little Teach.
Though young Teach was frightened, he copied his parents and softly said, "Thank you..."
Faced with their heartfelt gratitude, Lin Nuo waved his hand somewhat awkwardly.
"It was nothing, just happened to be there."
"Then let's get out of here quickly." Rocks straightened up.
"Alice, get on my shoulder. I can run faster carrying you."
Alice shook her head, revealing a gentle yet resolute smile.
"No need. I'm fine. I can still run."
She looked at Rocks, her gaze clear and firm. "I can't rely on you even for something like running away."
"Besides, there's someone who needs your help more right now, isn't there?"
Her gaze fell on Lin Nuo, who was sitting on the ground resting.
"Oh, that's true." Rocks suddenly understood. He walked over to Lin Nuo and laughed heartily.
"As repayment, let me carry you out of here!"
Lin Nuo panted and nodded.
"Yeah, I'll leave it to you."
Since he had a chance to rest, he naturally had to make good use of it.
Besides, they were both grown men. There was no need to be so fussy about it.
So Rocks gripped his signature curved blade in one hand and hoisted Lin Nuo directly onto his broad shoulder with the other.
"Alright, let's go!"
Alice clutched little Teach tightly and followed close behind as the group swiftly rushed out of the homeland that had become ruins.
"Hey, Rocks, your shoulder blade is digging into my flesh! It hurts!"
Along the way, Lin Nuo was jostled so badly that he grimaced and could not help complaining.
"What? You don't look injured at all! Besides, if it hurts, just use your ability to heal yourself!" Rocks answered carelessly.
"Alice, listen to that. Is that how you talk to someone who saved your life?" Lin Nuo complained to the woman beside him.
Alice and little Teach were both amused by the exchange.
"Alright, Rocks," Alice reproached him, "he saved our lives. Can't you be a little gentler?"
"Tch, what a hassle."
Rocks muttered, then flexed his arm and actually tossed Lin Nuo into the air, turning him around midair before catching him on his other shoulder.
"Ah! This time you're crushing the flesh on my stomach!"
"Keep whining, and you can get down and run yourself!"
With the relief of having survived the disaster, the group gradually moved away from the shattered ruins.
Several miles away, in a dark forest, the atmosphere was entirely different.
Several members of God's Knights, sharp-eyed and clad in magnificent armor, stood silently.
Around them crowded countless demons with vacant eyes and varied forms.
"Garling, was what Saint Saturn said... true?" one of the knights asked in a low voice.
A greedy smile spread across Garling's face. "Of course."
"We only need to carry out the task he assigned us."
He paused before continuing.
"Although the 'game' was ruined by those trash One Piece pirates, and quite a bit of treasure was stolen..."
"If we can capture 'that one,' Lord Imu will surely be very pleased."
His gaze turned toward a certain direction in the forest, as though it could pierce through every obstacle and see the figures fleeing for their lives.
"Looking at it this way, today... hasn't been too unlucky."
Garling slowly closed his eyes, spreading out his senses.
A moment later, he abruptly opened them, his eyes gleaming sharply.
"It's about time."
"Everyone, prepare yourselves!"
Clang—clang—clang—!
Cold blades were drawn in unison, and killing intent filled the air.
Even the restless demons around them grew a little quieter.
"Come on, I'm waiting for you, Rocks..."
"No, I should call you now—"
"Davy D. Xebec..."
Before you continue