Pirates: Vengeance for Extermination-Kill All the Celestial Dragons!

It could be said that Rono's current strength was absolutely no weaker than that of Silver Axe, Ochoku, John, or Charlotte Linlin—the Division Commanders. In fact, he should even be a cut above them!

Even when compared with Golden Lion's aura, he was not inferior in the slightest.

Of course, it would probably take a fight to know for sure who was stronger between him and Golden Lion.

Moreover, Rono was still so young. His potential was absolutely several times greater than that of Golden Lion, Silver Axe, Ochoku, and the others!

His potential was even greater than Whitebeard's. A genius like this had to be vigorously nurtured.

What Rocks admired most was the blood feud Rono bore against the Celestial Dragons!

Rocks believed that the next time they encountered the Celestial Dragons, Rono would definitely be the most eager person on the ship besides himself. It would be a waste to have someone like that merely serve as a crew member.

Even if Whitebeard did not bring it up, Rocks would find an opportunity to propose it himself.

"What do you all think?" Rocks then asked the other officers for their opinions.

This was the Rocks Pirates, but Rocks did not rule through one-man decisions.

When he had recruited these powerful individuals, he had attracted them with the ironclad principle that strength reigned supreme!

On Rocks's ship, everything was decided by strength!

Want to become an official crew member? Pass the official crew member's assessment first!

Want to become an officer? You had to pass the officer's assessment as well!

Want to become a Division Commander? Then you had to possess the strength to become one!

Even if you wanted to become captain, challenging Rocks was no problem!

As long as you possessed that kind of strength and defeated Rocks, he would gladly give up his position!

However, no one had dared to challenge Rocks so far.

After all, no one had ever seen what this captain looked like when he truly went all out.

The assessment standard was also very simple. You merely had to make most of the people on the ship believe that you already possessed the strength to become a Division Commander.

"The opportunity has come!"

Hearing this, Golden Lion, Silver Axe, and the others realized that the opportunity they had been waiting for so long had finally arrived!

"Rono has a bounty of 1.5 billion, and he even defeated [Iron Fist] Garp."

"I personally have no objection to him becoming a Division Commander."

"But since we've boarded Rocks's ship, the Rocks Pirates have our own rules."

"On the Rocks Pirates, strength reigns supreme!"

"As long as you have enough ability to pass the assessment, becoming a Division Commander definitely won't be a problem!"

At that moment, Golden Lion stood up and spoke flawlessly.

Seeing this, Whitebeard also came to Rono's side and explained the rules of the Rocks Pirates to him.

Upon hearing this, Rono nodded. He understood, and he did not resist it.

"No problem. Since I've boarded the ship, I naturally have to follow its rules."

"As for the assessment, any method is fine."

Rono spoke confidently. His Conqueror's Haki and Armament Haki had already reached the highest level!

In terms of destructive power and attack power alone, he was already a genuine Emperor-Admiral Level powerhouse!

Rono believed that becoming a Division Commander would be as easy as child's play for him.

"Good. Brother Rono is indeed a straightforward man." Seeing this, Golden Lion nodded, knowing that his opportunity had arrived.

"I discussed it with Silver Axe, Ochoku, and the others. I heard that Brother Rono possesses an extremely terrifying talent!"

"That is, no matter what technique it is, as long as you demonstrate it once, he can learn it!"

"This assessment is also very simple. As long as you demonstrate this talent, all of us will agree to let you become a Division Commander."

Golden Lion spoke each word clearly.

Hearing this, everyone present froze again!

He could learn any technique after seeing it once?

That was impossible, wasn't it?

How could anyone possess such monstrous talent?

"Interesting..." Seeing this, Rocks became interested as well.

This was also the first time he had heard that Rono possessed such a talent.

If he really had such terrifying talent, then Rocks might have to revise his evaluation of Rono once again!

"Of course, I'm not deliberately trying to make things difficult for Brother Rono. If you think this is too difficult, we can also change the assessment method."

Golden Lion continued speaking while observing Rono's reaction.

"No problem... I can demonstrate it." Rono agreed without the slightest hesitation.

He had originally thought he would have to fight someone at the Division Commander level, but it seemed this would be even easier.

Seeing how confident Rono looked, Golden Lion, Silver Axe, Ochoku, and the others were shocked as well.

Judging from his tone, this seemed extremely easy for Rono. Could the rumors actually be true?!

It was not only these officers. The other officers were also dumbfounded.

What was going on? Rono had actually accepted such an assessment?

Could he really learn any technique after seeing it once?

Could anyone actually pass such an assessment?

Chapter 33: Learning Cleaving Wave in One Second! Golden Lion Begins to Question His Life

Could anyone really pass such an assessment?

The officers present shook their heads one after another, expressing their disbelief.

After all, such a talent was far too outrageous. Learning someone else's technique after seeing it once was simply absurd.

It was impossible for a human to possess such talent.

But then they recalled Rono's reaction.

When Golden Lion had proposed this assessment, Rono's answer had been casual, calm, and firm, as though it were nothing more than a trivial matter to him!

Could it be that he really possessed such terrifying talent?

The pirates and officers present—even Rocks himself—were filled with anticipation, hoping to begin the assessment as soon as possible.

"This guy looks very relaxed." Golden Lion, Ochoku, Silver Axe, and the others were also sweating nervously.

Could the rumors actually be true?

But the bet had already begun, and the wagers had already been placed. They had no choice but to bite the bullet and proceed.

"Captain Golden Lion—or Captains Ochoku and Silver Axe—you can use any technique you want to assess me."

Rono then spoke to the three of them, meaning that they could attack however they pleased.

Soon, Golden Lion noticed a sword hanging at Rono's waist.

Golden Lion immediately recognized it. The sword Rono carried was Famous Sword Kotetsu, one of the Great Grade Swords among the Twenty-One Great Grade Swords.

Seeing this, Golden Lion's eyes lit up. Since Rono was a swordsman, he had a way to deal with this!

"Looks like Brother Rono is also a swordsman." Golden Lion immediately spoke, then deliberately changed his tone:

"As it happens, I'm a swordsman too. I'm a Two-Sword Style swordsman, so I'll set the question for Brother Rono."

With that, Golden Lion drew the two Famous Swords from his waist: Oto and Kogarashi!

These two swords appeared to belong to the category of the Twenty-One Great Grade Swords as well, and they were not inferior to Supreme Grade Swords.

Of course, this was only Rono's guess. After all, Golden Lion did not look like someone capable of wielding two Supreme Grade Swords.

"Watch closely, Brother Rono. This technique of mine is called Cleaving Wave. I cultivated it for ten years before finally refining it!"

"Even after I demonstrate every detail, even a talented person would need at least four or five years to learn it."

"This technique can split the sea!"

A smile appeared at the corner of Golden Lion's mouth.

He was a Two-Sword Style swordsman, while Rono was a One Sword Style swordsman.

Two-Sword Style seemed to involve only one extra sword compared to One Sword Style, but in reality, the difficulty increased several times over!

Even if Rono truly possessed talent as terrifying as the rumors claimed, using One Sword Style to demonstrate a Two-Sword Style technique would still require tremendous effort!

Learn it in six or seven years? Dream on!

After speaking, Golden Lion gripped Oto and Kogarashi in both hands and swung them forward with force.

Whoosh! Whoosh!

Two sword auras rose from the ground and tore straight across the earth!

"Lion's Cleave Wave!"

In the next moment, the two sword auras carved two deep cracks into the ground!

That was not all. The cracks continued spreading, extending straight beyond Hachinosu Island!

With a roar, before the sword auras had even dissipated, they instantly split a section of the sea in two!

A full half-minute passed before the sea finally flowed back together and became one again.

Two deep cracks were also left in the ground!

"Whew!" Everyone present drew in a sharp breath!

As expected of Captain Golden Lion! A casual swing of his sword aura possessed such terrifying power!

Within the Rocks Pirates, Golden Lion's reputation was second only to Rocks himself, and he was only slightly weaker than Whitebeard. He could be considered the third-in-command!

Moreover, Golden Lion and Whitebeard's strength was extremely close, roughly comparable to the gap between Aokiji and Akainu.

If they truly fought, it would probably take ten days and ten nights to determine the victor.

"How was it, Rono? Can you do this technique?"

Golden Lion was also extremely satisfied with his demonstration. His condition was exceptionally good today; he normally could not reach this level.

"I can. Let me give it a try." Hearing this, Rono suddenly became excited.

Just now, the system's notification had appeared in his mind.

[ Ding~ Congratulations, Host, you picked up Great Swordmaster-level sword aura. Current Swordsmanship level: Advanced; Progress: 69%! ]

[ Ding~ Congratulations, Host, you successfully picked up the Swordsmanship technique: Lion's Cleave Wave! ]

He had successfully picked it up. Immediately afterward, a flood of swordsmanship techniques and knowledge poured into Rono's mind.

Even the muscle memory was deeply engraved into Rono's arms.

The techniques picked up through the Pickup System had no levels. Once picked up, the technique was complete and exactly the same as the original user's!

As for the power unleashed by the technique, that depended on Rono's own strength.

Rono then drew Kotetsu from his waist and gripped it in his hand.

Quite a few sword-wielding pirates in the crowd immediately recognized it as Famous Sword Kotetsu, one of the Twenty-One Great Grade Swords.

"Captain Shiki uses Two-Sword Style, while I use One Sword Style, so there may be some differences. Please forgive me."

Rono quickly recalled the muscle memory and swung Kotetsu like Golden Lion had.

Whoosh! Whoosh!

Rono instantly swung twice, and two sword auras rose from the ground!

Crash! Crash!

They were exactly the same as Golden Lion's Cleaving Wave. The two sword auras first left cracks in the ground, then traveled beyond Hachinosu Island and split a section of the sea in two!