Rocks Pirates

Behind the scenes, they also had the support of forces opposed to the World Government, including the Superpower known as the Kronos Kingdom.

So the Rocks Pirates represented far more than a mere pirate crew.

Calling them an unprecedented Evil Legion was no exaggeration.

The Rocks Pirates had become the undisputed Overlord of the Sea through sheer strength.

They also controlled territory to match that strength.

More than half of the New World had submitted to the Rocks Pirates. Only a small portion remained an active area for the Marines.

Clashes were frequent along the border.

Over the years, however, the Marines' presence in the New World had steadily shrunk.

As time passed, more and more factions climbed aboard the juggernaut that was Rocks's fleet.

Nyx only needed some Cannon Fodder. They made certain things easier to handle.

Beyond the Rocks Pirates themselves, there were also vast numbers of Affiliated Pirate Crews.

The Black Night Pirates were just one of them.

That was what the Rocks Pirates were: a vast alliance of pirate forces led by Rocks.

The uncrowned King of this era.

The Black Night Pirates left the Kronos Kingdom.

Nyx made no great effort to hide her movements. A ship sailing the seas had to stop at islands for supplies sooner or later.

After her pirate ship left the waters of the Kronos Kingdom, interested parties took note of Night Lady Nyx's movements.

Among them were the Rocks Pirates, the Marines, the World Government, and other factions keeping watch.

Ever since the Death-Death Fruit had fallen into the Kronos Kingdom's hands, many had been watching the kingdom and Night Lady Nyx.

How could they possibly leave without anyone noticing?

It was only a Devil Fruit, after all. On its own, it proved nothing.

The threat had always been the person, not the Devil Fruit.

Though they had no proof yet, they had each concluded that Jaeger's Son had gained the powers of the Death-Death Fruit.

Their reactions varied. Who could guarantee that Hades would not become the next Jaeger?

Then again, the seas had no shortage of mighty fathers with disappointing sons.

Hades did not know he was already under their scrutiny. But so what? He had long been prepared for it.

He would have to face them sooner or later.

Let them come!

Hachinosu.

"Is that so? Jaeger's Son!"

"This is getting interesting."

"When he gets here, I'll give him a proper lesson myself."

"He must be in his teens by now, right?"

News reached the Rocks Pirates, and within that complicated crew, reactions differed widely.

Some remembered Jaeger fondly. Others were excited. Still others had once been taught a lesson by him and wanted to take revenge on his child.

There were pirates who had served under Jaeger and admired him, people who resented Hades for his identity, and later recruits to the Rocks Pirates who simply wanted to watch the show.

Jaeger had been dead for eight years. Time could wear away many things, especially among pirates who spent their lives sailing and indulging themselves.

Broadly speaking, they fell into three camps: hostile, neutral, and friendly.

The hostile camp was tiny. Given Jaeger's strength and reputation, few pirates who had crossed him had lived to tell the tale.

Most simply disliked Hades and felt that Jaeger was already dead.

And since he was dead, there was no point discussing him. It meant nothing.

So what if Hades was Jaeger's Son? He was not Jaeger. Why pay him any attention?

Some of the crueler pirates even wanted to torment Hades and teach him a lesson.

The long-dead Jaeger no longer frightened them. If anything, tormenting his son promised an even greater thrill.

Jaeger's name might get Hades through the door, but it would not earn their respect.

Pirates were criminals at heart, and more than a few of them were twisted.

The Rocks Pirates had existed for only a few years when Jaeger died, yet he had left a deep mark on the crew.

Ultimately, Hades was too young. To them, he was just a child, hardly worth taking seriously. Most looked down on him.

In the world of pirates, strength was the only thing one could truly rely on. Bonds came second, and some pirates had no principles at all.

They would do anything to reach their goals.

The prospect of Hades's arrival stirring things up left many of them eager to see what would happen.

He was the child of Jaeger the Grim Reaper, after all.

Was he a dragon or a worm? One test would tell. The Rocks Pirates were a gathering place for monsters.

Still, a formidable group within the Rocks Pirates remained: the pirates who had once served under Jaeger.

In that battle, Jaeger and the candidate for Hell Commander-in-Chief had drawn most of the World Government's and the Marines' fire. Despite heavy losses, more than half the pirates had survived.

One of the Devil Fruit Users in CP0 possessed the Barrier-Barrier Fruit. The moment Jaeger and the others entered the barrier's range, he used his power.

A powerful barrier, like a wall of space, enclosed Jaeger and a third of the pirates, leaving the rest shut outside.

The barrier's defense was absolute. No one could break through, and those outside could only watch the battle begin.

Jaeger's forces had been split. At the time, he commanded the strongest force within the Rocks Pirates and had many trusted subordinates.

Rocks stood alone. The other Overlords of the Sea who had submitted to him each led their own faction, formed from the forces they had brought with them.

After Jaeger died, his pirates scattered. Now, news of Hades sent a ripple through their ranks.

Even after all these years, Jaeger still held enormous sway over them.

But acknowledging Jaeger did not mean they would acknowledge Hades, even if Hades proved more exceptional.

Many pirates owed Jaeger a debt. They remained a valuable legacy he had left Hades.

With them around, Hades could avoid a great deal of trouble in the future.

Hachinosu was the Rocks Pirates' Headquarters and a gathering place for pirates across the New World. Once the news spread there, it did not take long for the whole world to hear.