Kuja Pirates

Titan's training was simple. Aside from the same weighted exercises, he just ate, drawing on the Gluttonous Beast Fruit's power of devouring.

As long as Titan kept eating, his physique would keep improving.

His powerful Gluttonous Talent worked much like the Munch-Munch Fruit. Even steel was easily digested once Titan swallowed it.

As time passed, Titan would only grow more formidable. His body was already far tougher than Hades's.

The boost from the Gluttonous Beast Fruit was only part of it.

Titan had devoured vast quantities of precious metals in Kronos Kingdom. His body had long since become impervious to blades and guns, with muscles and bones like steel. Even bullets could not pierce his skin; at most, they left a faint mark.

The downside was that his weight had multiplied, but it hardly affected him.

In terms of strength, Hades was no match for Titan yet.

The boost from a Mythical Zoan was terrifying, and the Gluttonous Beast Fruit let Titan rapidly grow stronger in a short time, ignoring the limits of his body.

Titan had eaten the Gluttonous Beast Fruit nearly ten years ago and had already developed its powers to an advanced level.

Hades, who had only just eaten a Devil Fruit, could not compare.

Then there was the age difference.

Hades was twelve. He would probably enter his rapid growth phase at fifteen or sixteen.

When that time came, it would be as though his body had broken free of its shackles. Every aspect of him would grow explosively.

Titan had chosen to follow Hades because of the potential Hades had shown through his innate gifts and Devil Fruit. Together, they gave him the potential to become one of the world's strongest and Titan's most steadfast ally.

After all, the New World was full of people born with monstrous strength and powerful physiques.

Plenty had subdued tigers as children, just as Garp had.

Hades's Observation Haki also helped him keep ill-intentioned people from getting close.

That was why Hades trusted Titan so deeply.

Daylight on Night Island was dim, reaching it only after reflecting off the sea beyond the surrounding waters, where the special magnetic field held no sway.

At night, everything went pitch-black. There was no moon at all.

That was why the island's lights were never turned off.

Hades and the others had not gone ashore. They stayed in their rooms aboard the ship, while Night Island had been seething with hidden activity ever since Nyx, the Night Lady, arrived.

Many had tried to gather information. Without exception, Nyx discovered them and ended their lives.

It made no difference what power stood behind them.

Hades's Observation Haki covered more than half the island, and he found a few who had slipped through the net. He paid them no mind.

He knew he could never kill them all. Slaughter one group, and another would appear. He might as well leave them alone.

Besides, he would not be staying on Night Island much longer.

Night Island did not matter to his mother, Nyx, either. It was just a place to stay, one she could replace at any time.

She did not even care about the Black Night Pirates and could abandon them whenever she wished.

The strange environment made the sea outside Night Island exceptionally dark, though it would brighten once they left those waters.

His mother arrived, and a curtain of night enveloped them.

Following her, they boarded a small boat and slowly sailed out of the port.

His mother had already made a point of clearing out the people watching the port.

Shrouded in darkness, their boat left without anyone noticing.

Nor did anyone know that Nyx, the Night Lady, had departed.

Hades knew his mother had abandoned the Black Night Pirates.

She had even brought a great deal of treasure with her, which made it clear she had no intention of returning.

After she left, whatever happened on the island—whether it descended into infighting or other pirates set their sights on it—would have nothing to do with her.

Those burdens had outlived their usefulness.

Wasn't that obvious?

His mother was taking them somewhere secret to train. Why would she bring those ordinary pirates along?

Still, Hades wondered where they were going.

The boat sailed in one direction. In his mother's hand was a Vivre Card, creeping across her palm as though drawn toward something.

At last, a pirate ship appeared ahead. Hades peered at it and found it strangely familiar.

Its pirate flag resembled a sun, with nine snakes encircling a skull.

Two giant sea snakes swam ahead of the ship, pulling it forward.

The ship itself looked quite different, but so many years had passed that it might well have been refurbished or even rebuilt.

Besides, each captain of the crew would have had a different style and different tastes.

"Is that the Kuja Pirates?" Hades asked.

"That's right. We're going to the Calm Belt. The Marines and the World Government won't be able to bother us there, much less find us."

"And the environment there will give you plenty of challenges."

Nyx stroked Hades's head as she spoke.

"Mother, do you know the captain of the Kuja Pirates?"

"Yes. The Kuja Pirates are an Affiliated Pirate Crew of the Rocks Pirates. They joined less than two years ago. Their captain is also the ruler of Amazon Kingdom. She's only nineteen, but her strength is not to be underestimated."

At that, Nyx glanced at Hades with a smile and leaned close to whisper in his ear.

"She's a good friend of Mama's, you know, and an incredible beauty! If you take a fancy to her, sweetheart, I can introduce you."

"She's quite the little monster. If the two of you got together, your children would surely have exceptional bloodlines."

Hades had not expected his mother to say something so outrageous, especially right in front of Ananke. She had spoken softly, but everyone aboard could hear her.

And she meant every word.

Ananke pouted unhappily and wrapped both arms around Hades. She knew she would not be the only woman in his future, but she was determined to be the first.

"Mom, what's the rush? It's far too early."

Hades was exasperated. He was only twelve. What was the hurry?

Granted, by the standards of his previous life, his body was developing absurdly fast.

At a meter ninety, he was already about as tall as his mother.

Still, Hades did not turn down the idea. When it came to such things, his rule was neither to resist nor refuse.

In his previous life, he had been with countless women. They had competed to throw themselves into his arms, and he had tried all types. Whether any of them got pregnant was left to chance. He had been famous in those circles, even earning the nickname "Magic City War Wolf."

But now he had gone twelve years without tasting that kind of pleasure.

His body had everything it needed, but Hades still felt it was too early. He would have to wait a few more years.

Just then, the Kuja Pirates seemed to spot them. The two sea snakes pulled the pirate ship toward their boat.