Kuja Pirates

On the deck of the Perfume Yuda.

A faint crackle of electricity sounded. Rock slowly descended from the sky, and the instant his feet touched the planks, the lightning around his ankles quietly dispersed like birds returning to their nest, docile and restrained.

Yet the air around him seemed to bear an enormous invisible pressure, so taut it was hard to breathe.

Swish, swish, swish—!

The Kuja Pirates' female warriors immediately drew their bows to full draw. Their arrowheads buzzed as they all aimed at Rock's throat, heart, and forehead.

The air was thick with killing intent.

But Rock acted as if he had not seen it and flashed Shakuyaku and Toritoma an easy smile.

"Hi."

Shakuyaku's eyelashes twitched slightly, while Toritoma's entire body was as taut as a drawn bow.

For powerful fighters like them, who had long relied on their instincts to battle across the seas, their sense of danger never lied.

And at this moment, the aura around this man—

Was as cold as the deep sea.

As oppressive as thunderclouds.

As violent as an ancient beast.

Their Observation Haki had been screaming warnings ever since he appeared.

But what shocked the two female pirates most was not merely his danger or strength. It was the way this man looked at them.

There was no amazement.

No desire.

Not even the instinctive reaction a man would have upon seeing peerless beauties.

For the first time, an emotion beyond danger surfaced in Shakuyaku's heart—confusion.

"He actually... has no reaction at all to our beauty???"

Toritoma looked ashen. "Could he... be the type who... likes men?"

The Kuja warriors behind them murmured quietly. "Why isn't he reacting at all..."

"Even Captain Shakuyaku's charm has no effect?"

"Could he really be... one of those people?"

"What a shame. He's such a handsome guy..."

The atmosphere abruptly became strange and dangerous.

Sensing what they were thinking, several black lines instantly appeared across Rock's forehead, leaving him speechless.

In Shakuyaku's heart had always lived that future bespectacled old rogue—Dark King Rayleigh.

He had no interest in meddling in someone else's love story that was destined to be written into history.

As for other women?

I'm the king of a Sky Island. What beauty haven't I seen?

If he had not insisted that he was still young and needed to go out and train, Kai and Gan Fall would have long since stuffed every girl on Sky Island into his arms and built him a Thunder God harem of three thousand beauties.

Noticing the Kuja Pirates' tension, Rock lightly waved a hand. "Don't be so nervous. I have no intention of attacking you."

He smiled gently. "I really just... happened to be passing by and wanted to hitch a ride."

He sounded utterly sincere.

But to the Kuja crew, it sounded like—

A provocation.

Shakuyaku slowly raised her eyes and exhaled a puff of purple smoke, her voice icy. "Kid, you're very confident. Do you know... whose ship you're standing on?"

Rock smiled at that, his expression more relaxed than the sea breeze, without the slightest hint of tension. "The Kuja Pirates? I've heard a little about you~"

The moment those words left his mouth, the deck exploded.

"You're far too insolent!!!"

"How dare you speak to our Captain Shakuyaku in that tone!!!"

"Die!!!"

Before the words had even faded.

A Kuja warrior roared and released her bowstring.

Whoosh—!!!

The arrow tore through the air like lightning, shooting straight for Rock's brow!

Shakuyaku's pupils suddenly contracted. "Stop—!!"

But it was already too late.

—Bang.

The arrow struck true.

But in the next instant.

The entire arrow passed straight through Rock's head, trailing arcs of electricity as it flew out in front of him!

Just before impact, Rock's head had completely transformed into a whirlpool of azure lightning, like smoke scattered by the wind, before slowly condensing back into human form.

Shakuyaku and Toritoma cried out together, "A Logia?!!"

The deck fell silent.

The Kuja warriors stood dumbfounded, their hands gripping their bows trembling nonstop.

—A Logia.

In this chaotic old era, it represented the ranks of emperors upon the sea.

No weakling could possess such power.

Rock slowly turned around and glanced at the arrow that had already flown into the sea, sounding somewhat displeased. "Sigh... I already told you..."

"I really just came to hitch a ride..."

Every member of the Kuja Pirates felt their hearts jolt.

Shakuyaku took a deep drag of smoke, struggling to steady the heart that felt ready to explode from pounding too hard.

For the first time, she spoke in a truly serious, lowered tone. "Kid... who exactly are you?"

Rock smiled softly, lightning flickering in his eyes.

"Me—"

He raised his head and looked toward the boundless sea and sky.

"I'm merely... a traveler who came down from the heavens."

The scene shifted—

The Perfume Yuda continued cutting through the waves, spray exploding at its bow and scattering white mist through the air.

Rock was sprawled casually atop the head of one of the giant sea serpents.

That ferocious Sea King was now as docile as if its spine had been broken. Its body was rigid, its tail pressed close to the surface, and even its breathing was cautious.

It was terrified of receiving another dose of that horrifying "lightning education."

Facing the sea wind, Rock's clothes and black hair fluttered wildly.

He looked as comfortable as some rich young master taking a spin on his private yacht.

He patted the sea serpent's head and said casually, "Good boy. A little faster."

The sea serpent shuddered all over—

"Hiss... hiss..."

(Translation: I'm really trying my best! Please don't shock me again!!)

—The scene moved to the deck.

Shakuyaku stood by the railing with her arms crossed, Toritoma beside her. Both stared fixedly at the sea serpent being ridden by that man.

That sight was simply too humiliating to the Kuja Pirates' dignity!!!

They were a people famous for taming snakes!!!

And yet now... their own snake had become "a man's mount"?!!

Toritoma asked pitifully in a low voice, "Captain Shakuyaku... are we really taking him to Hachinosu?"

Shakuyaku froze at the question, her expression complicated.

The first thing that surfaced in her mind was the miserable and humiliating scene from earlier.

—Moments ago, the entire Kuja Pirates crew had shouted confidently, "What's so great about a Logia!"

"This is the New World! Everyone, use Armament Haki!!!"

The next second, more than a hundred warriors aboard the ship had all received a group lightning lesson, instantly shocked into a "charcoal map spread."

Even the two giant serpents had been shocked until their eyes rolled back and foam bubbled from their mouths, turning from Sea Kings into "soft domesticated pets."

Shakuyaku's mouth twitched fiercely.

She glanced at the female warriors at the stern who were still sizzling with smoke, then at the two giant serpents at the bow, which had been so thoroughly tamed they were suffering "mental exhaustion."

"...What else can we do?" She rubbed her forehead helplessly.

"Do we... have any room to choose?"

Toritoma choked up slightly. "Right... even if we don't take him there... he can just blast apart our ship and fly there himself..."

As her words fell, Shakuyaku fell silent for three seconds.

"Stop talking. My head hurts even more now."

The wind swept across the horizon.

Rock let his legs dangle casually as he looked toward the endlessly stretching sea. Deep in his gaze was a name.

Hachinosu.

Lightning danced over his fingertips.

It was restlessness.

Fighting spirit.

And a yearning for those standing at the pinnacle of the era.

"Hachinosu..."

"The nest of the Rocks Pirates..."

"The most insane stage of the old era..."

The sea wind swept up his black hair, sunlight tracing sharp golden lines along his profile as the corner of his lips slowly lifted.

"Rocks..."

"I'm really looking forward to it."