The New Rocks Pirates!

Across from him, Moria was in the same state, his stomach rumbling.

"Bang!"

Moria slammed his fist on the table and roared at Sengoku, "You bastards, you poisoned the food!?"

"Poison?"

Sengoku paused, noticing that Moria's reaction didn't seem fake.

Could it be that the World Government's purpose in summoning the Shichibukai this time is not for the World Military Draft assessment, but rather to wipe them all out?

Nobody notified him?

He just stepped down Fleet Admiral, and he's already lost the right to know important intelligence?

Doflamingo hadn't eaten anything and showed no physical reaction. He watched with an expression of amusement, saying:

"Fufu... aren't you going to explain? Sengoku."

"Idiot, even if you wanted to poison someone, you wouldn't do it at a time like this." Crocodile puffed on his cigar, a look of disdain on his face. "Besides Moria and Jinbe, the three of us here haven't eaten anything."

Hawk-Eye crossed his arms, showing no interest in the farce. Rather than wasting time with this group, he'd much rather find a quiet place to practice his Sword Meditation.

Just then, a navy officer rushed into the banquet hall in a panic.

"Fleet Admiral Sengoku!"

"I'm no longer the Fleet Admiral, so what's the matter that's causing such a panic?" Sengoku shook his head.

The marine saluted hastily, then quickly said:

"Someone has destroyed the guards of the Tower of Justice, escaped from the underground cold storage, and has now entered the training grounds where the Selectors are located, where a fierce conflict has broken out with them!"

"What did you say?" Sengoku asked in astonishment. "Who is it?"

"Chief Zephyr sent me to inform you that you must immediately lead the Shichibukai to stop them!"

The marine took a deep breath. "He said the man's name was... Rocks D. Xebec!"

The moment the name was uttered, Sengoku's pupils contracted sharply, and his face went blank.

As a former Fleet Admiral, the fact that Rocks' body was kept in an underground cold storage was naturally not kept from him.

Only.

That's just a dead person!

Who is Rocks?

Jinbe, the Knight of the Sea, frowned. He seemed to vaguely recognize the name, but couldn't quite place it.

Hawk-Eye seemed detached from the situation, simply sitting with his eyes closed.

Crocodile took a puff of his cigar. "There was once a very vicious pirate named Rocks, I think it was several decades ago."

Moria's face was filled with fear, and he remained silent.

Doflamingo's smile vanished, and a look of shock appeared in his eyes behind his sunglasses.

"Rocks D. Xebec, the captain of the Rocks Pirates... that guy died a long time ago, didn't he? He died 34 years ago!"

As a former Celestial Dragons, he had heard other Celestial Dragons mention this name when he was a child.

A dead person, yet reappears?

Boom!

Suddenly, a huge explosion came from afar, and everyone in the banquet hall was stunned.

Several Observation Haki probed into the distance and immediately sensed a tremendous "sound" coming from the direction of the training ground.

Sengoku suddenly stood up and walked towards the door with a solemn expression.

"You all come with me immediately to engage the enemy. Stop that man at all costs!"

"That person... will destroy this world!!"

Chapter 202 The New Rocks Pirates!

Martial arts training ground.

Rocks grabbed a chosen one's head with his large hand and slammed him to the ground.

"Too weak, far too weak!"

"Weaklings like you won't get anywhere in the Navy, you might as well follow me!"

"Hahaha..."

Reborn, Rocks was overjoyed, and he learned about the current year from the chosen ones.

The year is 1536 in the Sea Circle Calendar, 33 years after the God Valley Incident.

The once-powerful Rocks Pirates have long since vanished, and he must quickly establish a new force.

Let's call them the New Rocks Pirates!

He didn't mind snatching these people from the Navy. Although these selectors seemed to be of average strength, he was all alone now and needed subordinates, so he wasn't too picky.

Who are you?

From the crowd of onlookers, a man in a tuxedo stepped out, his number tag reading [44].

Many people recognized him.

"It's 'Red Tailcoat' Evan Isaac, a top assassin in the underworld. Rumor has it that a little over a month ago, this guy attempted to assassinate the Soul Reaper, one of the Six Emperors of the Underworld..."

"An assassin kills the boss of an assassin organization? Is it because he's owed wages?"

"Why can an assassin participate in the World Military Draft...!?"

Rocks sized up the man in the tuxedo; according to his Observation Haki, the man's voice was much stronger than the others.

"You don't seem so useless. I'll give you a chance to join my pirate crew."

"Sorry, I'm just tired of the endless assassination work, which is why I'm thinking of changing careers. I have even less interest in being a pirate."

As if by magic, Evan Isaac conjured a dagger in his hand with a flick of his wrist. He narrowed his eyes slightly, moved subtly, and vanished from the spot.

Someone exclaimed:

"It's the Silent Step! A very advanced assassination technique!"

"Isn't this just the 'Shave' move from the Six Powers?"

"They're different. Although both are high-speed movement techniques, the Silent Step doesn't make any sound."

Rocks grinned, his Observation Haki locking firmly onto the man in the tuxedo.

Ivan Isaac appeared behind him, a sharp dagger already aimed at his neck.

This attack was launched from a blind spot, making it difficult for ordinary people to detect.

Rocks raised his arm and thrust his elbow sharply backward.

Isaac was sent flying by an elbow strike, rolling dozens of meters away.

He nimbly steadied himself, covered his nose, and a large amount of blood oozed from between his fingers.

"I see you all have number tags on you. Does that mean the smaller the number tag, the stronger you are?"

Rocks turned around and looked at the other person from a distance. "You're number 44. Are there 43 people stronger than you?"

"... The number plate only represents your participation number in the selection process. If you can grab a number below 100, you'll have a chance to win a mystery grand prize, although I'm not really interested."

Isaac slowly rose, staring intently at Rocks. "But I'm very interested in your head. You're not a Selector, you're an intruder, and a pirate at that. If I capture you, my evaluation will improve, right? Maybe I can even be awarded the rank of admiral."

Rocks scoffed. What's so great about being a Marine? You're nothing but the Celestial Dragons' dogs.

"Don't worry, I'll just beat you half to death, and then you'll obediently become my lackey, hahaha."

As soon as he finished speaking, Rocks moved with almost instantaneous speed, leaving only a fleeting afterimage in front of those present.

By the time everyone realized it was just an afterimage, it was all over.

Rocks appeared in front of Isaac, grabbed him by the neck, and lifted him into the air.

"In the past, someone with your level of strength wouldn't have been qualified to join my ranks, but things are different now. I'm giving you one last chance. Choose."

Isaac was shocked. His Observation Haki hadn't even registered the speed this person had suddenly unleashed, which was faster than his Observation Haki could perceive.

With his neck gripped by the other man, he didn't utter a word, but immediately stabbed at Rocks's arm with his dagger.

His dagger was coated with poison, a potent poison that could kill hundreds with just a single drop.

However, the dagger he had placed so much hope in felt like it had struck steel when it pierced Rocks's rough skin, unable to penetrate his defenses at all.

What kind of monster is your body!?

Isaac blurted out that even without Haki protective auras, the sheer strength of his physical body was enough to withstand the dagger's piercing.

"Looks like they've refused?" Rocks smiled cruelly. "What a pity."

Having said that, he tightened his grip with his five fingers, about to snap the man's neck.

Just then, a clump of ground suddenly rose up, and then a tree root as thick as a child's arm emerged from the ground, its tip like an arrow, piercing towards Rocks's Adam's apple from beneath his feet.

"Hmm? A sneak attack is a bit impolite!"

Rocks raised an eyebrow, immediately flung Isaac away, and then grabbed the incoming tree root.

"An ability user? Get your ass out here."

He pulled hard, and the long tree root was pulled out of the ground, the other end of which was connected to a man in the distance.

Aramaki was stunned for a moment. His left arm looked like it was entangled with tree roots. With a sudden tug from Rocks, he lost his balance and flew towards his opponent.

"Future Sight?!"

He felt a chill run down his spine, certain that his attack was well-concealed, and that unless he had foreseen it beforehand, the scene before him should not have unfolded as it did.

Without time to think, Aramaki flicked his arm, releasing countless tiny vines from his palm.

"Vine Snake!"

The vines, like venomous snakes, blanketed and enveloped Rocks.

"This ability... Logia - Woods-Woods Fruit!"

Rocks' eyes lit up. He had seen the Devil Fruit Encyclopedia and recognized the fruit that Aramaki had eaten almost instantly.

Despite being tightly bound by countless vines, Rocks looked up.

"Flower Storm!"

A giant petal grew from Aramaki's back, spinning rapidly and using air buoyancy to lift him into the sky.

"Haha, you seem pretty strong. Was that advanced Observation Haki - Future Sight? I've heard that when Observation Haki is mastered to a high level, one can even see the future several seconds in advance."

"No, dealing with you doesn't require Future Sight. It's just a difference in combat experience, kid."

Rocks strained his arms, snapping the vines binding him, and reached out to the Aramaki in mid-air, laughing loudly:

"You're quite capable, kid. My New Rocks Pirates needs someone like you! Join my crew, brat!"

"Hmph, mere pirates..."

Aramaki scoffed. He was a man destined to become Admiral; who would want to become a pirate with someone of unknown origin?

Rocks laughed, saying with a touch of nostalgia, "It reminds me of when I invited Golden Lion. That guy could fly too, and he thought he was invincible because of his ability to fly."

"Golden Lion Shiki?"

Aramaki curled his lip, assuming the guy was just bragging.

Golden Lion was a legendary pirate who has been missing for almost 20 years.

Whether others believed it or not, Rocks didn't care at all. His gaze sharpened, and crimson Inazuma flashed from the corner of his eye.

"Get down here, you brat!"

Boom! Boom! Boom!

The Conqueror's Haki swept towards the sky like a crimson ribbon, and the crimson lightning, like a long whip, lashed fiercely at Aramaki's body.

"What kind of move is that!?"