Tragedy and the Future Carried by a Hero

"No... don't kill me..."

An elderly member of the Davy Tribe collapsed to the ground, staring in despair at the son he had once been so proud of.

However.

His once-filial son now had nothing but emptiness in his eyes, with a jet-black horn growing from his forehead.

The bloodstained blade in his hand came down without the slightest hesitation!

The piercing screams were not isolated incidents.

Throughout this peaceful settlement of the Davy Tribe, the same tragedy was unfolding everywhere.

Countless tribesmen suddenly rolled their eyes back, transforming into grotesque demons and turning their butcher's blades on their former relatives and friends—especially the helpless elderly and children.

"Mom... Dad... what happened to you..."

In the corner beside a low wall, two young Davy children clung tightly to each other, trembling.

They stared in terror at the two faces not far away, once filled with love and now transformed into evil ghosts.

Their own parents dragged blood-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 white-and-blue hair and a bear-like build charged over like a whirlwind!

Black-red arcs of electricity wrapped around the curved blade in his hand as he brought it down in a vertical slash.

Boom!

An incomparably condensed Conqueror's Haki shockwave swept past the demonized tribesmen like a tangible blade.

In an instant, their bodies were torn apart and shattered beneath the crushing force of the Haki.

"Why... why did everyone suddenly turn into monsters?!"

Rocks stared at the hellish scene before him, murderous fury burning in his tiger-like eyes.

"I... I don't know... everyone suddenly... suddenly became monsters..." The surviving children sobbed uncontrollably.

"Damn it!"

Rocks's heart sank, seized by an intense sense of foreboding.

"Run that way! Go find the others who are still alive!"

He had no time to say more. After pointing the children toward a relatively safe direction, he burst forward at full speed and raced madly toward the home he remembered.

He passed burning houses and leaped over the corpses of his kin.

When he finally saw that familiar wooden house, his pupils abruptly contracted!

"Ah—! Was I too late?!"

The home from his memories had already been mostly destroyed, its roof completely blown away.

Grief and fury surged through Rocks's heart, but he still charged into the ruins.

Just then, the sounds of fierce combat and demonic roars came from ahead!

Bang! Bang!

Two demons engulfed in blue flames flew backward and slammed heavily into the ground.

A vicious gleam flashed in Rocks's eyes as his curved blade, already wrapped in Conqueror's Haki, swept horizontally!

The peerlessly sharp black sword aura struck first.

Before the two demons could 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 crawled futilely with their hands.

Rocks stepped over the rubble and rushed into the inner room.

The sight before him made him freeze.

A figure with dual-colored flames burning across his body was being attacked 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 rose to their peak as his curved blade carved an arc.

The demons were instantly torn apart, disintegrating 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 the Rocks who had arrived in time and forced out a weary smile.

"If you'd come any later, I really would've run out of strength, Rocks."

Lin Nuo still felt lingering fear.

These demons controlled by Imu's power were absurdly powerful.

His flames could deal damage, but the enemy was also ridiculously tough.

After all that back and forth, they recovered more than he damaged them.

If the fight had dragged on, he would have remained unharmed with his stats, but his stamina would have been greatly depleted.

He still had many things to do at God Valley, so he had to hold something back.

Rocks did not respond immediately. 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.

Just as the demons had broken into their home, this mysterious man had suddenly appeared and blocked the attack.

Hearing that, Rocks took a deep breath and led his wife and son over to Lin Nuo.

This future tyrant who would make the world tremble showed no arrogance at all. He deeply bowed to Lin Nuo, who was slumped on the ground.

"Thank you for saving my family." Rocks's voice was solemn and heavy.

"Really... thank you so much!" Alice also held little Teach in her arms and thanked him sincerely.

Though young Teach was frightened, he imitated his parents and softly said, "Thank you..."

Faced with such heartfelt gratitude, Lin Nuo awkwardly waved his hand.

"It was nothing, really."

"Then let's leave this place quickly." Rocks straightened up.

"Alice, get on my shoulders. I can run faster with you."

Alice shook her head, revealing a gentle yet determined smile.

"No need. I'm fine. I can still run."

She looked at Rocks, her gaze clear and resolute. "I can't rely on you even for something as simple as running away."

"Besides, there's someone who needs your help more right now, isn't there?"

Her gaze shifted to Lin Nuo, who was sitting on the ground resting.

"Oh, that's true." Rocks suddenly understood and walked over to Lin Nuo with a hearty laugh.

"As repayment, let me carry you out of here!"

Lin Nuo panted heavily and nodded.

"Yeah, I'll trouble you, then."

Since he had a chance to rest, he naturally had to make good use of it.

Besides, there was no need for two grown men to be so particular.

So Rocks held his signature curved blade in one hand and directly hoisted Lin Nuo onto his broad shoulder with the other.

"Alright, let's go!"

Alice hugged little Teach tightly and followed close behind as the group quickly rushed out of the home that had become ruins.

"Hey, Rocks, your shoulder bone is digging into my flesh! It hurts!"

Along the way, Lin Nuo was jolted around so badly that he grimaced and could not help complaining.

"What? You don't look injured at all! Besides, if it hurts, use your ability to heal yourself!" Rocks answered unconcernedly.

"Alice, listen to that. Is that any way to speak to your benefactor?" Lin Nuo complained to the woman beside him.

Alice and little Teach were both amused by the exchange.

"Alright, Rocks," Alice chided, "he saved our lives. Can't you be a little gentler?"

"Tch, what a hassle."

Rocks muttered, then flexed his arm and directly tossed Lin Nuo from his shoulder into the air. He turned him around midair and caught him over his other shoulder.

"Ow! This time you're pressing on my stomach!"

"Keep talking and you can get down and run yourself!"

With the relief of surviving the disaster, the group gradually moved farther away from the shattered ruins.

Yet in a dark forest several miles away, the atmosphere was entirely different.

Several members of God's Knights, with sharp gazes and luxurious armor, stood silently.

Beside them clustered countless demons with vacant eyes and varied forms.

"Garling, is what Saint Saturn said... really true?" one of the knights asked in a low voice.

Saint Garling wore a greedy smile. "Of course."

"We only need to complete the task he assigned us."

He paused before continuing.

"Although the 'game' was ruined by those trash pirates, and quite a few treasures were taken..."

"If we can capture 'that person,' Lord Imu will surely be very pleased."

His gaze turned toward a certain direction in the forest, as though it could pierce through layer upon layer of obstacles and see the figures fleeing in the distance.

"Looking at it that way, today... hasn't been too unlucky."

Garling slowly closed his eyes as his perception spread outward.

A moment later, he abruptly opened them, his eyes gleaming.

"The time is about right."

"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 somewhat quieter.

"Come on, I'm waiting for you, Rocks..."

"No, I should call you now—"

"Davy D. Xebec..."