Shouts of killing, the roar of explosions, and the clashing of blades still rang deafeningly through the center and southwest of God Valley.
The life-and-death struggle between Marines and pirates had turned that area into a meat grinder.
However, in the northeast of the island, the sounds of battle were sparse and scattered, finally fading into a stillness.
Several figures were moving quickly through the forest.
Rocks shouldered his heavy saber, leading the way.
Alice followed closely at his side, looking slightly fatigued yet maintaining a firm stride.
They had successfully broken away from the most chaotic central combat zone and entered a relatively secluded tract of woodland.
"Lin Nuo."
Rocks suddenly slowed his pace and spoke without looking back.
"Why did you save Teach and Alice?"
"Uh, I..." Lin Nuo was momentarily at a loss, not expecting Rocks to question him so abruptly at this moment.
Seeing this, Alice asked in confusion, "Rocks, didn't Lin Nuo already explain? He saved us on the way..."
"Hahaha!"
Rocks let out a loud laugh, cutting Alice off.
He stopped, turned around, and fixed his sharp gaze on Lin Nuo. "On the way? On the way to this isolated island?"
"On the way to find the deeply hidden settlement of my Davy Family?"
"And just so happened to appear when you and the child were in mortal danger?"
He hefted the blood-stained curved blade in his hand, a playful tone in his voice.
"Even this sword of mine, which has followed me in cutting down countless powerful enemies, isn't as 'convenient' as you, Lin Nuo."
He put away his smile, his expression turning serious and direct.
"If you have an objective, just spell it out. I, Rocks, don't like beating around the bush."
Hearing this, Alice looked at Lin Nuo with a mix of apology and inquiry.
She was grateful to Lin Nuo for saving her life, but Rocks's question had also stirred up her own doubts.
Looking into the earnest and candid eyes of the couple before him, Lin Nuo knew he could no longer gloss over it.
He took a deep breath and said slowly, "Originally, I didn't plan on keeping it a secret; I just intended to discuss the details with you after leaving the island safely."
Since he had asked.
Then he would lay his cards on the table, no more pretending.
"Actually, I wanted to follow Im..."
"Actually, you want to join my pirate crew, right, Lin Nuo!"
Rocks suddenly slapped his thigh, speaking up ahead of time with absolute confidence and a smile that said he saw right through everything.
"I can tell! You possess rare strength and potential, but you haven't been truly tempered by the sea yet; you're not fully formed!"
"That's why you chose to find an opportunity to make me owe you a favor, and then smoothly bring up the request to join the crew! Am I wrong?"
"..."
Lin Nuo opened his mouth, momentarily speechless.
He looked at Rocks's "I get you" expression, feeling entirely at a loss for words inside.
In the end, he could only go along with it and respond vaguely.
"Um... If you put it that way, I suppose so."
"Hmph!" Rocks grunted with satisfaction and gave a grand wave of his hand.
"Then it's settled! I permit you to join my fleet! However,"
His tone shifted, carrying a sense of authority.
"You have to start as an intern crewmate and undergo a period of testing."
"Even if you saved my family, you can't be an exception! On my ship, we still respect strength and merit!"
On the surface, Lin Nuo immediately put on an expression of "joy" and "reverence," nodding repeatedly.
Fine... Though the process went off course, fortunately the result was roughly the same, and he had initially gained Rocks's trust and a "position."
He originally wanted to pull him in as an ally or partner, but never expected to be recruited as a promising newcomer instead...
Truly deserving of being the overlord of the old era, this train of thought and confidence...
"How is your recovery coming along?" Rocks asked.
"Almost done."
"Good!" Hearing this, Rocks directly set Lin Nuo down from his shoulder.
"Now, I'm giving you your first test mission—"
His gaze swept over his wife and child, finally settling on Lin Nuo, his tone decisive.
"Get Alice and Teach safely back to my ship!"
Before Lin Nuo could ask about the ship's location and route, Rocks whipped around toward the silent surrounding forest and roared.
"You've watched long enough, time to come out! Cowering, tail-hiding trash!"
In an instant, a drastic change occurred.
Dense rows of weapons emerged from the tree trunks and bushes within the previously quiet surrounding woods!
Following that came pairs of hollow, pale demons with black horns sprouting from their foreheads, instantly surrounding the group in a tight circle.
Several members of the God's Knights wearing ornate armor pushed past the demons and walked slowly to the very front.
At the lead was Figarland Garling himself, a wicked smile of total control on his face.
"Garling..."
Lin Nuo's pupils constricted, his heart sinking.
He hadn't sensed any ambush of this scale nearby just moments ago!
"Remnants of the Lunarians."
Garling's gaze swept past Rocks, landing directly on Lin Nuo with a disdainful tone.
"I didn't come looking for you, yet you delivered yourself right to my doorstep."
"Just in time. Eradicating you and Xebec together—this merit will be enough to make Lord Imu happy!"
The atmosphere was tense.
The low growls of the demons and the murderous intent of the God's Knights wove into a net that continuously tightened.
Rocks showed no trace of fear; he merely stood with his back to Lin Nuo and repeated himself.
"Hey, intern crewmate, you heard what I said?"
"Take Alice and Teach, and go!"
Lin Nuo did not hesitate any longer, hoisting Alice with one arm and scooping up little Teach with the other, his wings snapping open behind him.
But just as he was about to move, a thought flashed through his mind—
No, our departure time and speed should have been earlier and faster than the original plot.
How could these Celestial Dragons block our path so precisely?!
The intelligence had changed!
"Rocks!" Lin Nuo shouted urgently, "Listen to me! Imu's true body might descend at any moment!"
"Her only target is you! Even if you fight, you must promise me to prioritize dodging and stalling!"
"Even if her avatar sustains heavy damage, absolutely do not think about finishing her off!"
"She can afford countless mistakes, but you—if you get hit just once, you're completely done for! Understand?!"
"Imu..."
Upon hearing that name, Rocks's gaze turned exceptionally grave.
Though he did not know why Lin Nuo was so certain, the urgency and warning in that tone did not seem fake.
He did not look back, merely responding in a deep voice.
"Got it, I promise you, go!"
Receiving the promise, Lin Nuo wasted no words. The flames on his back died down as his speed skyrocketed, shooting straight into the sky carrying Alice and Teach.
"I won't let you run this time!"
Garling shouted sternly, striking out simultaneously with several nearby members of the God's Knights!
Lasers, sword slashes, and the lunges of countless demons swept toward Lin Nuo in midair!
"Cheekbone Impact!"
At that moment, Rocks—who had kept his back to the battlefield—suddenly spun around, grinning to reveal a wild and untamed smile.
Dense Conqueror's Haki mixed with his own terrifying aura, erupting explosively with him at the center.
Black-and-red lightning cracked wildly.
All the attacks sweeping toward Lin Nuo, along with the demons lunging close, were instantly shattered and blown away before this shockwave.
"Your opponent—"
Rocks twisted his neck, his bones cracking loudly.
"Is me!"
He looked at the demons surrounding him bearing the faces of the Davy Tribe, his voice ice-cold.
"Daring to use my people..."
"Today, this old man is going on a bloody massacre!!"
"Rocks..."
In midair, Alice—carried by Lin Nuo at high speed—looked down at the battlefield below, which was filled with black-and-red lightning and roars, her face written all over with worry.
Lin Nuo's heart was similarly heavy, devoid of any confidence or joy.
Though these God's Knights and demons were troublesome, they were not insurmountable.
The thing he truly feared was the entity seated upon the Void Throne—Imu.
For the God's Knights to intercept them here meant they must have received her decree.
This meant that perhaps in the very next second, her will would truly descend upon God Valley by using the body of some contractor.
When that time came, it would be a true peak-level duel that he currently had no way of intervening in.
"Damn it, I need to go even faster!"
Lin Nuo clenched his teeth, disregarding his stamina consumption and pushing his speed to another level.
"Lin Nuo, look down there!" Alice in his arms suddenly spoke up, pointing toward a patch of forest clearing below.
"What is it?" Hearing this, Lin Nuo subconsciously slowed his pace and looked in the direction she was pointing.
He saw a large group of ragged slaves gathered in the clearing.
They formed a circle, bowing and expressing their gratitude toward the center. Shortly after, their bodies turned into streams of light one by one, disappearing into the horizon.
In the center of that circle, a somewhat plump boy raised his palms, which featured pink paw-paw pads, and batted slaves away into the distance one after another.
It was Kuma! He hadn't left yet!
"Paw-Paw Fruit..." Surprise light burst within Lin Nuo's eyes!
Upon seeing Kuma and his ability to repel anything—
A brand-new, daring plan suddenly became clear in his mind!
Before you continue