Chapter 14: The Era of Rocks

The Red Line—The Great Barrier Dividing the World

A towering continent of red earth, stretching endlessly across the seas. At its heart lies the center of the world—a land where gods dwell.

The descendants of the twenty kings who, over 760 years ago, formed the massive force known as the World Government. They call themselves the "Celestial Dragons"—hailed as the "Creators of the World."

Nineteen of those royal families reside here. Only one chose exile.

And the name of this land?

The Holy Land—Mary Geoise.

A symbol of the World Government’s absolute rule, this fortress-like city is home to the Celestial Dragons, their guards, high-ranking Marines, and government officials. No one enters or passes through without permission—neither those seeking passage from the first half of the Grand Line to the New World nor the other way around.

This land is quiet. Isolated. Untouched by the chaos of the world below.

But once every four years, something stirs it from its slumber.

Fifty kings, representing over 170 nations, gather for seven days to discuss the future of the world. A grand assembly where laws are made, disputes are settled, and alliances are forged or broken.

The Reverie.

What are we supposed to do?!"

The voices of kings, filled with urgency, echo through the chamber.

The Reverie has always been a place of heated debate, but this year… this year is different.

A crisis looms. A threat none of them can ignore.

"We should increase military spending—bolster our forces!"

"Every nation is already doing that! What we need is stronger Marine deployment—"

"Foolishness! These are enemies who can even defeat Marine Admirals! How can we possibly win?!"

"What about Cipher Pol?! They’ve accomplished nothing!"

"Do the Elders intend to ignore this problem indefinitely?!"

"Do you have any idea how much Celestial Tribute my kingdom pays?! And for what?! My wife and daughter are dead because of those useless Marines! They must take responsibility!"

"Order! Order!! You must raise your hand before speaking—!!"

The meeting spirals into chaos.

Most nations have already suffered losses. The kings, desperate to protect their people, let their fear drive them into arguments that threaten to ignite new wars. Yet none can remain silent.

Because what they all share… is dread.

A growing distrust toward the World Government. And the Marines, the supposed protectors of peace.

But the ones who feel that fear most?

Sit in the "Chamber of Authority," deep inside Pangea Castle.

"—CP0 has failed their mission…!"

Inside the dimly lit room, five men sit in silence, their expressions grim.

"Our options dwindle by the minute. The nations’ distrust is spreading… We must act swiftly, and yet—"

"In just three years since their formation… Even if we mobilize all our forces to stop their expansion, it may already be too late."

"And they are not the only threat. Roger has reached that island as well."

The room grows heavier.

The worst part?

"Both of them carry the initial ‘D’…"

A name whispered in fear throughout history. A name that should have been erased from the world.

One of the Elders, his face lined with deep wrinkles, clenches his jaw. His eyes fall to the bounty poster lying on the table.

The name of the man tormenting the world.

The one who commands the most fearsome pirate crew in history.

"Rocks… We must deal with him now…!"

The others say nothing, but they know the truth.

The world stands on the brink.

---

The New World

Near a quiet island, a massive ship drifts on calm waters.

On its deck, the crew stands in formation, their gazes locked on a man writhing in chains. Blood drips onto the wood beneath him.

Just yesterday, he was one of them.

But he was never truly their comrade.

A spy. A traitor.

This… is a public execution.

"Gyahahahaha!! Pathetic, ain’tcha?! Well?! How does it feel, huh?! Spendin’ a whole year grovelin’ before me?!"

A cruel laugh rings out.

Seated on a grand throne at the center of the deck, Rocks D. Xebec leans forward, watching the scene unfold with amusement.

Before him, the broken man remains silent, clenching his teeth in defiance.

"Tch…"

It was never a fight. The moment he was exposed, his fate was sealed.

Surrounding the throne, the most infamous pirates in the world stand in the shadows—Whitebeard, Charlotte Linlin, Golden Lion, and others, each with their own expression. Some smirk. Some look indifferent. Others simply watch.

Infighting is common among them.

But today?

No one dares to interrupt.

This is Rocks’ show.

Anyone who disrupts it will join the spectacle.

And so, only he speaks.

Raising a glass of rum, his grin widens as he announces the traitor’s crime to the crew.

He exposes the man for what he truly is.

A government dog.

A Cipher Pol agent who thought he could deceive him.

Tonight, his suffering will serve as both punishment and entertainment.

And when it’s over—

His corpse will serve as a message to the world.

"Even the world's greatest spy is nothing but a joke once he's caught!!" Rocks’ laughter thundered over the deck. "What’s gonna happen to the Celestial Dragons’ security now, huh?! Or their black-market deals?! Every one of you dogs that dies means one less card in their hand—and that shit’s got me laughing my ass off!!!"

The man in chains lifted his head, blood dripping from his mouth.

"……How… did you know?"

"Hah?"

Amidst Rocks’ mocking laughter, the CP0 agent spoke quietly, asking the inevitable question.

How was I exposed?

"I made no mistakes… Was it your monstrous instincts? Your intelligence network? How… how did you see through me?!"

"…Ohhh, I get it." Rocks’ grin widened. "You’re sayin’ you didn’t screw up. That I’m just that damn good, huh?"

That wasn’t the point—but the agent still needed to know.

Where did I slip?

One moment, he had been just another crewmate. The next, Rocks had called him out. He’d tried to run, but there was no escape—not from Rocks, not from the monsters that followed him.

And now, here he was.

But Rocks, surprisingly, nodded. Almost like he was impressed.

"Gyahahaha! I’ll admit it—you were good. No obvious slip-ups. If I’d let you keep hidin’, you might’ve led the Marines right to us, huh? Not that a few fleets could sink us, but still—you might’ve left a scratch or two."

Yet that never happened.

And the World Government would never know why.

Rocks D. Xebec was feared as a ruthless, bloodthirsty pirate—one who didn’t hesitate to let his own men die.

But that didn’t mean he didn’t know them.

With a smirk, he leaned forward.

"…Every person’s got their own kinda air about ‘em."

The spy frowned. "…Air?"

"Yeah. Some stink like trash, others reek of holiness. Me? I just… know. Call it a gift."

His grin sharpened.

"I remember my crew—their names, their faces, their air. So the second some government mutt slithered in? Gyahahaha!! You stuck out like a sore fuckin’ thumb—reekin’ of that dogshit loyalty from day one!!"

The agent stiffened.

"Tch…!! That’s your reason…?!"

"Don’t like it? Too bad!" Rocks cackled. "——Hell, the why don’t matter now. All that matters is you’re about to die. So scream nice and loud for me, yeah? Gonna chop you up, pack you in a box, and send your howlin’ back to the Gov’ment!!"

From his coat, he pulled out a small device—a Den Den Mushi with a spiral shell.

A Tone Dial.

A device that records sound.

The spy’s blood ran cold.

He’s going to record my screams.

"Let’s get this show on the road—KAIDO!! NUE!! Get started!!"

"—Yeah."

"—Aye-aye!"

Two figures stepped forward.

He knew them.

The apprentices of the Rocks Pirates.

Normally, rookies wouldn’t be worth remembering.

But these two were different.

Their bounties alone proved that.

"WORORORO!! This bastard’s tough!! Feels good hittin’ him!!"

"Guh…!"

The first was a monstrous teenager—built like a veteran brawler, swinging a massive kanabo club. Every strike crushed the spy’s body, sending shockwaves through his skull.

"Tsk tsk, Kaido~! If you just keep hitting his head, he’ll die too fast!" The second, a small girl with a deceptively cheerful voice, twirled a trident between her fingers. "Gotta work the limbs if you want screams! C’mon, lemme show you—stab!"

"!! ~~~!! Hah… Hah…!"

A sharp pain shot through his ribs.

She knew where to stab.

A natural at torture.

They were no ordinary rookies.

Two years ago, they had been captured by the Marines—only to break free by slaughtering a Vice Admiral and tearing apart their chains.

Their names and bounties:

"The Beast" Kaido — 111,100,000 Berries"The Enigma" Nue — 74,000,000 Berries

An insane sum for mere apprentices.

Reports claimed Kaido possessed:

• Conqueror’s Haki

• A Mythical Zoan: Dragon fruit

• Armament Haki mastery

Meanwhile, Nue’s abilities were unknown—only speculated to be another Mythical Zoan. She wielded Observation Haki, and despite her innocent appearance, her wanted poster lacked even a photo—only sketches from witness accounts.

And these two were just the apprentices.

The thought alone was enough to break a government agent’s spirit.

Because the real monsters… were the ones standing behind them.

"Ehh~? He’s still not screaming… Just shaking and panting…" Nue pouted.

"You ain’t doin’ shit either!"

"Shut up! At least I’m not smashing his skull in like somebody! You beat him so hard he can’t even scream anymore!"

"WORORORO!! Weak-ass bastard!!"

"Ugh… Shoulda tried more stuff earlier… Hey, Captain? What now?"

"—GYAHAHAHA!! Just chop him up and box him! We’ll mail him to the Gov’ment—nice and neat!"

"Oh, okay~! —C’mon, Kaido, let’s go."

"Ain’t got the patience for fine cuts."

"I know. Just help me pack. I’ll do the slicing."

"WORORORO…! You got a sick hobby."

"Takes one to know one—well, actually, this was the Captain’s idea, so really, he’s the sick one!"

As darkness swallowed the spy’s vision, their voices faded.

A crew of devils.

A ship of monsters.

And at its helm—the most vicious beast of all.

---

The public execution was over, and as the requested "work" came to an end, the atmosphere on the ship returned to normal. My hands were a little dirty with splattered blood, so I quickly washed them off. Gross.

"Hey, Kaido. I brought water—wash your hands."

"Tch. Don’t need to. Too much trouble."

"Trouble? ...Eh, whatever. Then I’ll just dump it on you, okay?"

"Just hurry up."

So, with Kaido’s permission, I splashed seawater from the bucket onto his hands—twice—washing off the grime. Sure, it made a mess on the deck, but we’d have to clean it later anyway.

"Alright, that’s done… Next up—oh."

"? What’s up, Nue?"

As we walked across the deck, freshly washed hands and all, I felt a crewmate’s gaze lock onto us. And not the friendly kind. More like… hostile.

"…Well, well, if it ain’t Nue and Kaido! Little rookies actin’ all high and mighty now that they got bounties, huh?! Hahaha! What’s the deal, huh?!"

"The hell you say, bastard?!"

"Ugh… Again?"

Here we go. Ever since we got our bounties, more and more of these idiots have been picking fights with us. Sure, infighting’s normal on this ship—but now even apprentices like us are targets. Time flies, huh? Back when we first joined, I’d just sweet-talk my way out of trouble.

But now?

Now, we end it.

Not that I want to, but Kaido sure as hell does. And once he starts, there’s no stopping him. Especially when the other guy keeps running his mouth.

"Hahaha! I kill every cocky brat who thinks they’re hot shit! So shut up and die!!"

"WORORORO…!! You kill us?! Funny. Try it!! C’mon, Nue—let’s go!! RAAAAAGH!!"

"Ugh… Can we even win? Well, guess we gotta try or we’re dead… Here goes!"

And just like that, another death match broke out on deck.

Even a random, pointless brawl like this was life-or-death for us. Honestly? Fighting our own crew is harder than taking on Marines or other pirates.

The only advantage we have is that it’s two against one. Some guys we’d never beat solo? Together, we stand a chance. Plus, my abilities are still a mystery to most—so I’ve got tricks they don’t expect.

And if it drags on? Even better. Kaido and I are both Zoan users. Stamina? We’ve got plenty. Strength aside, fighting for a whole day? Easy.

---

Four hours later…

"Guh…! N-No way…! L-Lost… to a couple of… rookies…?!"

"Hah… Hah…! We… won…! WORORORO…!"

"Ahaha… I’m… half-dead too… Ugh, got all dirty again…"

After four brutal hours, the crewmate finally collapsed—his skull caved in by Kaido’s club. Took dozens of hits, but we did it. Both of us were barely standing, covered in wounds, every inch of us screaming in pain.

But this?

This was normal.

Fighting to the death for half a day? Happens all the time. Pirates duel to survive—but when some random crewmate can push us this far, it’s a harsh reminder:

We’re still weak.

We are getting stronger. Just… not fast enough.

"…Hey, Nue. Your Haki’s sloppy."

"Says you! Your Observation’s still hit-or-miss! You rely too much on your eyes!"

"Shut up. I know."

"Yeah, yeah. …Ugh, I’m exhausted. Let’s just dump the body and get a drink."

"Ohhh…! Now you’re talkin’!! WORORORO…!"

Still bickering, we finished the job—Kaido dragging the corpse while I hitched a ride on his shoulder. (Perks of being tiny next to a giant.)

Speaking of Haki…

We’re still terrible at it.

Two years ago, when we first awakened it, we were so excited. Thought we were hot stuff.

Then reality hit.

Half the time, it just wouldn’t work. Whitebeard later told us that’s normal for beginners—"You just need more training." When Kaido heard that, he charged at Whitebeard in a rage… and got wrecked.

But we have gotten better since then. Fighting every day helps. And Whitebeard’s given me some tips—basic stuff, but useful. No surprise, coming from the crew’s second-strongest.

"…Figured I’d find you brats fighting. Tch. You look like hell."

"Shut up. I’ll kill you."

"Right?! I’m covered in wounds! So annoying!!"

"…You look way too happy for someone who almost died."

Whitebeard sighed as he looked us over. Huh? Do I? Well, we won. And honestly? Life-or-death fights? Once you get used to them, they’re fun. The thrill, pushing past your limits—it’s addicting. A high-stakes game.

Oh, right—I haven’t ambushed Whitebeard today.

Focusing my Observation Haki, I read his movements… waited for an opening…

"—Gotcha!"

"Like hell ya do, dumbass!"

"GYAH?!"

The second his eyes flicked away, I leapt from Kaido’s shoulder—trident in hand—only to get smacked down mid-air. Harsh. (Though, considering my injuries, that chop was merciful for Whitebeard.) Rubbing my head, I glared up at him.

"Muuu… When’re you gonna let me win once…?"

"Try again in a hundred years."

"Go for it, Nue. Kill him."

"I was serious that time… Guess I’m still no match, huh?"

"Two, three years of trainin’ and ya think you’re hot shit? …Though, gotta admit—you are improving."

"He praised us!! Fufufu~! As expected of me!"

I didn’t miss that muttered compliment. Grinning, I puffed up with pride. Kaido, as usual, stayed grumpy. (Not like he’s got anyone else to get along with.) Honestly, no one on this ship’s "friends." More like "people who haven’t killed each other yet."

Me? I’m the weird one. I’ve got people I’m sorta close to—Whitebeard, for one.

"Don’t get cocky, brat. Overestimate yourself, and you’ll regret it."

"I know. —Oh, gimme some booze."

"Covered in blood and still beggin’? Hell no. This is mine. Get your own."

"Meanie~."

I reached for his bottle, but no luck. Not that I needed it—we’ve got our own stash hidden away. Just messing with him.

"Armament Haki… PUNCH! —Oh! It worked!"

"OW! The hell’s wrong with you, dumbass?!"

"Hehe… Figured I’d try while I’m all beat up. My Armament only works, like… 20-30% of the time. Maybe half on a good day."

"Tch… Listen. At your age, half is damn good. So quit pushin’ your luck. Keep this up, and you’ll get yourself killed."

"Wait, really? Oh! My Observation’s at, like, 80%! Kaido’s the opposite! So praise me more~! ♡"

"SHUT UP!! I’M 100%!! I CAN DO BOTH!! I’MMA BE THE STRONGEST AND CRUSH EVERYONE!!"

"…Haaah… All bark, huh? …Just remember—gettin’ a bounty don’t mean squat in the grand scheme. This life ain’t that easy."

"Eh~? Maybe, but… bounties do mean we’re strong, right?—"

I pouted at Whitebeard’s lecture… but then my thoughts drifted back to our bounties.

And I couldn’t help but grin.

Two years ago, after that incident, Kaido got 111,100,000 Berries right out the gate. Over 100 million on his first bounty. Insane. That’s how much of a threat they see him as.

And me? 74,000,000 Berries.

Me. A cute girl. 74 million.

Sure, being on the Rocks Pirates bumps it up, but still—that’s proof. Proof we’ve made a name for ourselves.

For most people, a bounty’s a mark of shame.

For pirates?

It’s a badge of honor.

The higher the number, the more feared you are.

And honestly?

…I can’t stop smiling.

"Ehehe~ Ohhh nooo, I’m a 74-million-Berry criminal~! So scary! ♡ Can’t even go outside without being hunted~! ♡ Ehehehehe! ♡"

"…The hell’s with that creepy grin?"

"Quit laughin’. You’re disgustin’."

"—EXCUSE ME?! How dare you say that to such a beautiful girl, you idiot Kaido?!"

"…Did you just call yourself beautiful?"

Ugh. Rude. These guys have zero manners when it comes to girls. Not that I expected better from Kaido or Whitebeard, but still.

"—Gihaha. Looks like you're having a hell of a time."

"—! Captain…!"

"Boss!"

"Ah, Captain! Hey, listen to this!"

The man who appeared on the aft deck where we stood was none other than Rocks, the captain of this ship. This guy never changes. He says we look like we’re having fun, but to me, he always looks downright menacing. And yet, he’s the one grinning like he's enjoying himself the most.

Honestly, I admire that. As a pirate, I want to be able to smile like that too. Right now, I’m still just an apprentice, and I can't really say I’m fully enjoying the pirate life yet.

Despite how terrifying he can be, I think he's actually pretty kind to his crew in his own way. He doesn’t get angry over just anything. At first, I didn’t know what kind of person he was, so he scared the hell out of me. But now, I find him surprisingly easy to talk to—actually, I kind of like him. Both Kaidou and I are treated pretty well by him!

"Kaidou, Nue. Gihahahaha! You really got roughed up, huh? But looks like you dished it back out just fine!"

"Worororo!! No way in hell I’d lose to a weakling like that!!"

"Hmph, of course not! Kaidou and I are strong! —Wait, no, that’s not what I wanted to talk about! Listen, Captain!"

"Gihaha, I’m always listening to my crew! So? What’s up? Let me guess—Newgate nagging you again?"

"Exactly! And on top of that, both of them called me creepy! Can you believe it?! I’m this adorable!"

"Gihahahahahaha!! That’s cold, damn it!! Hey, Newgate! Kaidou! Listen up! Kaidou's one thing, but this little brat has been surviving—cheerfully, at that—for three whole years on my ship! And you know damn well that most grown men wouldn’t last half a year here—they’d either run or die! At least give the kid some credit! They say praising children makes them grow, after all!"

With that, the captain gave Kaidou a hearty pat on the shoulder and ruffled my hair roughly. As expected of him.

Being treated like a kid is a little annoying, but, well… technically, I am still just barely a kid. And honestly? Getting praised feels pretty good, so I’ll let it slide!

Whitebeard, however, looked at me with a conflicted expression, clearly hesitant about the captain’s words.

"Well… I guess that’s true… but still, Captain. If we praise them too much, they might get cocky and start doing even more reckless crap—"

"Unfounded worries! Kaidou’s the only reckless one anyway!"

"Worororo! That’s right!! The only reckless one here is Nue!!"

"It’s both of you…!! Two damn brats charging into an enemy ship alone—that’s not just reckless, it’s downright idiotic! You kids have no business pulling stunts like that!"

"What kind of idiot pirate doesn’t charge into the enemy?!"

"See? It’s just Kaidou. I only go along with him because he rushes in first. I mean, we do always make it back alive, so what's the problem?"

Yeah, Kaidou’s always the one charging in. I just chase after him.

Sure, fighting alone can be fun, but he really should think about the crew too. He can’t just hog all the loot—everyone deserves a share.

"Gihahahaha… True enough. Back when you two first got captured by the Navy, I figured that was the end of you. But look at you—back in one piece. If that’s not worth a little praise, I don’t know what is."

"See?! Whitebeard, you can praise me! I officially give you permission to do so!"

"Who the hell do you think you are…?"

I pointed straight at Whitebeard with a dramatic flair, and he just let out a long sigh, looking down at me. Geez. He’s so stubborn.

Deep down, I know he actually finds me adorable. But fine, I’ll allow him to act all aloof.

That’s what they call tsundere, right?

As we continued our lighthearted banter, Rocks suddenly deepened his grin.

"—That being said… it’s about time you two start getting serious. The only ones left opposing my rule… are the real monsters."

"…!"

Monsters. He’s saying that the only enemies left are the truly formidable ones.

That overwhelming pressure of his—it hasn’t changed.

And to be fair… he’s not wrong.

Lately, our enemies have been getting stronger.

Just recently, Rocks personally took down a Marine Admiral—one of the Navy’s so-called "greatest military forces." And today, he defeated and executed a CP0 agent, supposedly the world’s strongest intelligence operative.

As for the pirates who refuse to submit, the only ones left now are either freakishly lucky or utterly determined to stay independent. As Rocks put it—"the real ones," the true pirates.

He’s right. Our opponents are strong. We can’t afford to let our guard down.

"There are still Admirals and CP0 agents out there… and pirates, too. Gihaha… Speaking of which, there’s one particularly stubborn fool out there—some bastard who had the nerve to sink three of my allied ships. What was his name again…? Ah, right—Ro—ger. Been trying to recruit him for a while now, but the bastard won’t budge. Maybe it’s about time we get rid of him… Gihahahaha…!!"

"…!"

With that, Rocks turned his back to us and walked away, leaving us standing there, staring after him.

I wasn’t the only one who reacted to the name "Roger"—Whitebeard did too.

Actually… now that I think about it, Whitebeard’s been acting a little off lately.

"…Something wrong?"

"…What do you mean?"

"I dunno… Lately, you’ve been looking kinda down sometimes. You seem troubled… Want me to hear you out? The great Nue-sama will personally listen to your woes!"

"How about I put an end to both my worries and your life?"

"So violent… Geez, not today. We’re about to have a drink, remember?"

I quickly calmed Kaidou down. If I didn’t, he’d actually pick a fight.

And if he passed out before we could drink, that’d be a huge waste.

I had a feeling Whitebeard really was troubled about something, so I was planning to press him on it…

But—

"…It’s nothing. Stop babbling and get going already. You’re still injured, aren’t you?"

"Ah, forgot about that. Haha! See ya later, Whitebeard! Come on, Kaidou!"

"Worororo! I’ll challenge you again once I’m healed…!"

Ahhh, Whitebeard—actually, everyone here—was as bloodthirsty as ever.

Despite just finishing a fight, Kaidou was already planning his next one.

Dragging him along, I sighed.

In the end, I didn’t get Whitebeard to talk.

And Rocks gave us something very interesting to think about.

Roger, huh…?

Hmm…

For the sake of making things more entertaining… maybe I should—

But before I could act on that thought—

"—Nue. You… why don’t you go pay Roger a little visit?"

"…Huh?"

The very next day—

Rocks gave me an order that left me frozen in place, a grin still plastered on my face.