Ambush, the Trial of an Apprentice Crewman

From the center of God Valley to the southwest, the shouts of battle, explosions, and clashing weapons were still deafening.

The life-and-death struggle between the Marines and pirates had turned that region into a grinding mill of flesh and blood.

Yet in the northeast of the island, the sounds of battle were sparse and scattered, eventually fading into silence.

Several figures raced through the forest.

Rocks carried a great saber over his shoulder as he led the way.

Alice followed close beside him. Though she looked somewhat exhausted, her steps remained resolute.

They had successfully escaped the most chaotic central battlefield and entered a relatively remote woodland.

"Lin Nuo."

Rocks suddenly slowed down and spoke without turning his head.

"Why did you save Teach and Alice?"

"Uh, I..." Lin Nuo was momentarily at a loss for words. He had not expected Rocks to ask so suddenly at this moment.

Seeing this, Alice said in confusion, "Rocks, didn't Lin Nuo already say it? He just happened to save us..."

"Ha ha ha!"

Rocks burst into laughter, cutting Alice off.

He stopped and turned around, his sharp eyes fixed directly on Lin Nuo. "Just happened to? You just happened to come to this isolated island?"

"You just happened to find the deeply hidden settlement of my Davy Tribe?"

"And you just happened to show up at the exact right moment when my wife and child were in mortal danger?"

He weighed the curved blade stained with countless enemies' blood in his hand, his tone teasing.

"Even this blade of mine, which has cut down countless powerful foes at my side, isn't as good at 'just happening to' as you are, Lin Nuo."

His smile vanished, and his expression became serious and straightforward.

"If you have some objective, say it plainly. I, Rocks, don't like beating around the bush."

Upon hearing this, Alice looked at Lin Nuo with a trace of apology and curiosity in her eyes.

She was grateful to Lin Nuo for saving her life, but Rocks's questions had also stirred her doubts.

Looking at the earnest and candid gazes of the couple before him, Lin Nuo knew he could no longer evade the issue.

He took a deep breath and said slowly, "I never intended to hide it. I merely wanted to discuss it with you in detail after we safely left the island."

Since he had already asked.

Then it was time to come clean. No more pretending.

"Actually, I want to join Im—"

"Actually, you want to join my pirate crew, don't you, Lin Nuo!"

Rocks suddenly slapped his thigh and spoke first with utter confidence, a smile of having seen through everything appearing on his face.

"I can tell! You possess rare strength and potential, but you haven't yet been tempered by the true seas. You're still unpolished!"

"That's why you chose to find a chance to make me owe you a favor, then use the opportunity to request joining my crew! Am I wrong?"

"..."

Lin Nuo opened his mouth, momentarily speechless.

Looking at Rocks's expression that said, I understand you, Lin Nuo was utterly speechless inside.

In the end, he could only go along with it and answer vaguely.

"Well... if you put it that way, I suppose so."

"Hmph!" Rocks snorted in satisfaction and waved a large hand.

"Then it's approved! You're permitted to join my fleet! However—"

His tone shifted, carrying authority.

"You'll have to start as an apprentice crewman and undergo a period of evaluation."

"Even if you saved my family, you can't be an exception! On my ship, strength and merit still matter!"

Lin Nuo immediately put on an expression of "delight" and humble acceptance, nodding repeatedly.

Fine... although the process had gone a little off course, the result was close enough. He had initially gained Rocks's trust and a place in the crew.

He had originally wanted to recruit Rocks or form an alliance with him, only to be recruited by him instead as some promising newcomer...

He truly was the overlord of the old era. What a thought process—and what confidence...

"How's your recovery?" Rocks asked.

"More or less complete."

"Good!" Upon hearing that, Rocks directly lowered Lin Nuo from his shoulder.

"Now, I'll give you your first assessment mission—"

His gaze swept over his wife and child before finally settling on Lin Nuo. His tone was decisive.

"Get Alice and Teach safely back to my ship!"

Before Lin Nuo could ask about the ship's location or the route, Rocks abruptly turned toward the silent forest around them and roared.

"After watching for so long, it's about time you came out! You trash hiding in the shadows!"

In an instant, a sudden change occurred.

Weapons emerged densely from behind tree trunks and bushes throughout the once-quiet forest!

Then came demons with hollow, pale eyes and black horns growing from their foreheads, instantly surrounding them from all sides!

Several members of God's Knights in ornate armor pushed through the demons and slowly stepped to the front.

At their head stood Figarland Garling, a sinister smile of total control on his face.

"Garling..."

Lin Nuo's pupils contracted, and his heart sank.

He had actually failed to notice an ambush of this scale nearby!

"Remnant of the Lunarians."

Garling's gaze passed over Rocks and fell directly on Lin Nuo, his tone contemptuous.

"I hadn't even gone looking for you, yet you delivered yourself right to my door."

"Perfect. If I eliminate both you and Xebec, this achievement will be enough to please Lord Imu!"

Tension crackled in the air.

The demons' low growls and the killing intent of God's Knights intertwined into a tightening net.

Rocks showed no fear. With his back still facing Lin Nuo, he repeated himself.

"Hey, apprentice crewman. You heard what I said, right?"

"Take Alice and Teach, and go!"

Lin Nuo no longer hesitated. He hoisted Alice over one shoulder, held little Teach in one arm, and prepared to spread the wings on his back.

But just as he was about to move, a thought flashed through his mind—

Something wasn't right. Our departure time and speed should have been earlier and faster than in the original events.

How could these Celestial Dragons have intercepted us so precisely?!

Had the intelligence changed?!

"Rocks!" Lin Nuo hurriedly shouted. "Listen carefully! Imu's true body may descend at any moment!"

"She only has one target—you! Even if you fight, promise me you'll focus on stalling her!"

"Even if her possessed body is severely injured, do not even think about finishing her off!"

"She can make countless mistakes, but if you get hit even once, you're completely finished! Do you understand?!"

"Imu..."

Upon hearing that name, Rocks's eyes became incomparably grave.

Though he did not understand why Lin Nuo was so certain, the urgency and warning in his voice did not seem false.

He did not turn around, merely replying in a deep voice.

"All right, I promise you. Go!"

Having obtained his promise, Lin Nuo said no more. The flames on his back extinguished, his speed surged, and he shot into the sky with Alice and Teach.

"This time, I won't let you escape again!"

Garling shouted sharply, attacking alongside several members of God's Knights!

Lasers, sword energy, and the pounces of countless demons swept toward Lin Nuo in midair!

Cheekbone Impact!

Rocks, who had kept his back to the battlefield all this time, suddenly spun around and bared a wild, unruly grin.

Overwhelming Conqueror's Haki, mixed with his own terrifying aura, erupted from him with a thunderous blast!

Black-red lightning exploded wildly.

Every attack rushing toward Lin Nuo, along with the demons that had lunged close, was instantly scattered and blasted away by the shockwave.

"Your opponent—"

Rocks rolled his neck, his bones cracking loudly.

"Is me!"

He stared coldly at the demons bearing the faces of the Davy Tribe.

"You dare use my people..."

"Today, I'm going to slaughter to my heart's content!!"

"Rocks..."

In midair, Alice, carried at high speed by Lin Nuo, looked down at the battlefield below, now filled with black-red lightning and howls. Her face was full of worry.

Lin Nuo's heart was equally heavy, without the slightest confidence or joy.

Though these God's Knights and demons were troublesome, they were not impossible to deal with.

What he truly feared was the being seated upon the Void Throne—Imu.

God's Knights had intercepted them here, which meant they must have received her orders.

That meant that perhaps in the very next second, her will would use the body of some contractor to truly descend upon God Valley.

When that happened, it would be the true peak battle, one he could not interfere with at all in his current state.

"Damn it, I have to go faster!"

Lin Nuo clenched his teeth and pushed his speed even higher, disregarding the drain on his stamina.

"Lin Nuo, look below!" Alice suddenly spoke from his arms, pointing toward a clearing in the forest below.

"What is it?" Lin Nuo instinctively slowed down and looked in the direction she indicated.

A large group of ragged slaves had gathered in the clearing.

They formed a circle and continually bowed in thanks toward its center. Then, one after another, their bodies turned into streams of light and vanished beyond the horizon.

At the center of the circle, a slightly chubby youth raised his palm, which bore a pink paw pad, and slapped slave after slave into the distance.

It was Kuma! He hadn't left yet!

"The Paw-Paw Fruit..." Delight burst from Lin Nuo's eyes!

After seeing Kuma and his ability to repel anything.

A brand-new, audacious plan suddenly became crystal clear in his mind!