Chapter 18: Two D's

That single sheet of paper, known as a "Vivre Card," also goes by another name—"The Paper of Life."

It is one of the most famous technologies—or rather, items—in the New World. By giving a fragment of one's fingernail to a specialized craftsman, it can be transformed into a sheet of paper that acts as a guide, pointing to that person's location.

Most people tear it into smaller pieces and give them to loved ones or important individuals. Then, no matter how far apart they are, if the paper is placed on a flat surface, it will slowly move in the direction of its owner, allowing anyone to know where they are, no matter where in the world they may be.

Even in the Grand Line, where magnetic disturbances make navigation utterly chaotic, this paper will always lead straight to its owner, ensuring that one can reach them without fail.

The reason it’s called the "Paper of Life" is that it also reflects its owner’s vitality. If the person is near death, the paper shrinks; if they die, it vanishes entirely. Conversely, if they recover, the paper returns to normal—making it a means to confirm someone’s well-being.

---

"—So, that island, huh?"

"Looks like it!"

—And now, at last… I had successfully guided the Roger Pirates by following Captain Rocks’ Vivre Card, completing my role as their navigator.

The island lay in the New World, the very place the Vivre Card pointed to—where Captain Rocks was waiting… and likely, the rest of the Rocks Pirates as well. Thinking of them, I let out a deep sigh before forcing a brighter tone.

"Haaah~~~ Finally, we’re back! Wonder if everyone’s doing okay~?"

"So we’re finally meeting the infamous Rocks Pirates, huh? Every last one of ’em’s probably brimming with energy, I bet."

"The ones still alive, anyway. Since they kill each other all the time… I’m sure a few are gone by now. Not that I care."

"O-oh… Damn, that’s a hard one to respond to!!"

Despite Gabban’s deadpan reaction, we gradually drew closer to the island. …This’ll be the last time for this ship, huh? You’d think I’d feel sentimental about it—but nah. Though maybe I should’ve enjoyed it a little more? That thought did cross my mind. Not that it mattered, but when I glanced at Roger and Rayleigh, I saw—

"…You feel that, Roger?"

"—Yeah, I do, partner… There’s one hell of a presence coming from the center of the island. Either they’re broadcasting it on purpose… Wahaha, I’m getting chills…!!"

"Right. Better stay sharp."

…And just like that, the two of them exchanged grins—one fearless, the other deadly serious—as they acknowledged the overwhelming Haki radiating from the island’s heart. But honestly… of course I could sense it too. The Captain’s aura was just too damn strong. It was on a whole other level compared to anyone else’s. Even my underdeveloped Observation Haki could pick it up.

"…Alright. Let’s head to the Captain, then."

"Yeah!! Thanks for getting us this far, Nue!! You sure you won’t join my crew!?"

"Not a chance. Sigh, after all the trouble you put me through… I’ll pay you back someday. In two different ways."

"Wahaha! No dice, huh? Well, I’ll be waiting then!! For the day we meet as proper pirates!!"

"…Damn right! I’m gonna be one of the strongest pirates out there! So instead of worrying about me, you’d better worry about yourselves! Captain Rocks and us, the Rocks Pirates—we don’t go easy. Don’t think you can just smile your way through a bloodbath!"

"Wahaha… Yeah, I know. When it comes to Rocks… I doubt I’ll be laughing either…!!"

As Roger answered, beads of sweat—rare for him—trickled down his forehead, and indeed… his usual grin had vanished.

Seeing that, even I felt my heart pound uncharacteristically. …Roger and Captain Rocks. How would their meeting begin? And how would it end?

Guiding the Roger Pirates toward the island’s center, following the Vivre Card… I couldn’t help but feel a thrill, my lips curling into a grin all on their own.

Step by step. Little by little. As we advanced through the lush greenery of what seemed to be an uninhabited island, I sensed presences along the way. Men emerged from between the trees—faces I recognized. Pirates. The crew of the Rocks Pirates.

"—Nue. That you?"

"Long time no see. Brought the Roger Pirates, just like the Captain ordered."

"…Yeah, we heard. Captain’s up ahead."

A brief exchange. I was just an apprentice, not particularly close to these guys. Normally, we’d be at each other’s throats in an instant—but not today. Absolutely not.

Because right now, the Captain’s orders took precedence. My mission was to bring the Roger Pirates here. These guys were probably on lookout duty.

So both sides had to prioritize the command. Disobeying orders—defying the Captain’s will—was the one unforgivable sin on our ship. There was no time for infighting. Couldn’t be. Anyone who tried would face a fate worse than death.

So we exchanged nods and left it at that. …And as we moved past the sentries, more figures came into view.

Without exception—members of the Rocks Pirates. Familiar faces, every one. They lined the path on both sides as my group and the Roger Pirates marched forward.

And soon—we reached the clearing.

By now, no guide was even needed. In fact, Roger was already striding ahead without hesitation.

So I moved slightly ahead, ready to report the completion of my mission to the man I hadn’t seen in months.

There he was—our Captain, with his wild, spiked hair, seated atop a conveniently protruding rock, his top officers standing around him like a royal guard. Behind him stood my partner… and that cube-shaped stone tablet I’d heard about in the reports. I was curious about that, but—

For now, I knelt respectfully on one knee and—

“I brought them, Captain Rocks!!”

“—Ah, I see. Confirmed… Gihaha…! Just as I’d expect from Nue—you’ve done your job perfectly.”

“! Yes, sir! …Though, I’m sorry it took so long—”

“—No need to worry about that. Wasn’t exactly an easy mission, was it…? Gihaha, I’d praise you more if I could, but I’ve gotta hold off for now. I’ve got a guest to entertain…!!”

“…Understood…!”

Receiving both a brief word of recognition and a pat on the back from the captain, I moved to stand at the edge of the group of executive officers—right next to my partner.

“—I’m back, Kaido!!”

“Nuee…!! You’ve been gone so long I’m all pent up over here…!!”

…Huh? Wait, what’s that supposed to mean?

I greeted Kaido cheerfully—it had been months since we’d seen each other—but for some reason, he looked ticked off. Pent up? Oh… right. Makes sense.

I thought about it for a moment and quickly understood. It’s Kaido, after all. Of course he’d be feeling that way. I gave a knowing nod, half-exasperated, half-smiling.

“…Yeah, I figured. But not now, okay?”

“Yeah…!! I know…!! But later, you better let me go wild…!! With you—”

That’s right—what Kaido meant, while gripping that huge, brutal-looking club of his, was that thing we do. Our routine. Our daily ritual. And honestly, I’ve been wanting to do it again too—it’s been too long.

“—Ni-hi-hi… Then let’s make sure we do it properly later—A good ol’ KILLING MATCH!!”

“Damn right!! Without our training fights, I lose my edge!! Wahahahaha!!”

With a solid clap, Kaido threw his arm around my shoulder, and I did the same—raising our outer hands in the air as we promised each other a later rendezvous for our friendly killing match. Yeah—"killing match" is what we call our one-on-one training sessions. The name’s a bit intense, but it’s meant to reflect how seriously we go at it—no half-measures. No one actually dies, of course. No hostility, no hatred. Just full-force mock combat until one of us is knocked out or satisfied.

It’s our way of sharpening each other’s skills.

Honestly, Kaido wins most of the time. But lately, I’ve been able to hold out until time’s up and call it a draw more often. He always says, “I’m gonna be captain—I can’t afford to lose.” I give it my all, but in the end, it’s always that damn stamina difference. The guy’s a walking tank. Even if I dodge more and land more clean hits, I still lose sometimes. Sure, I’m faster, I’ve got better evasion, and my own strength and durability have improved—but there’s no beating Kaido in raw endurance.

Still, this time… I’m gonna win. That journey with the Roger Pirates may have been useless for the mission, but it wasn’t useless for growth. My abilities evolved. My Haki's stronger, too. I bet Kaido's been busy fighting other crew members while I was gone, getting stronger himself, but I'm not backing down.

“So that’s Nue’s sibling, huh…? What a little beast…”

As Kaido and I stood shoulder-to-shoulder, planning our next deathmatch, the Roger Pirates stepped into the plaza. One of them—Scopper Gaban—muttered with a slightly amused tone. Yeah… I agree. Kaido is a beast. Though… so am I. Guess I just hide it better. Must be the charm.

But then—Kaido and I dropped our shoulders and let our grins fade. Our expressions turned serious.

Because—

Captain Rocks had risen to his feet.

“!”

Just that movement—Rocks standing—was enough to send a tense silence across the plaza. Things hadn’t exactly been lively before, but now? Not even idle chatter remained.

Because now—Rocks was standing tall, staring directly at him.

Gol D. Roger.

Captain of the Roger Pirates.

On their side, too, the mood shifted. No jokes. No laughter. Roger’s men stood frozen, and Roger himself wore an expression like thunder, eyes locked on Rocks. His gaze was fierce—unflinching. A face like a demon.

Yet in response, Rocks smiled wider—his twisted grin deepening, his presence growing darker. The aura he exuded didn’t shrink before his enemy—if anything, it flared. A presence like a devil.

The Roger Pirates stopped walking, their leader stepping forward alone. Slowly. Steadily. Toward Rocks.

And as Roger closed the distance—just one meter now—the crew around him began murmuring their thoughts.

“So that’s Roger, huh… Ji-hahahaha…!! Doesn’t look like a man who’d ever follow anyone.”—Golden Lion Shiki, the flying pirate.

“Haaaahahahama-ma-ma-ma…!! I can’t believe someone’s dumb enough to walk into the lion’s den like this!!”—Charlotte Linlin, known as Big Mom, a monstrous woman who fights on the frontlines even while constantly pregnant.

Despite their mocking words, even they gave Roger credit for his Haki and guts. Still, they sneered, confident in how this would end.

Edward Newgate—Whitebeard—who was second only to Rocks in strength, didn’t mock Roger aloud. But his silence spoke volumes. In his eyes, coming here was a fatal mistake.

“Foolish bastard… he’s a dead man… Worororo…”—Kaido

“…Well, I mean, I was the one who brought him, but yeah. Normally? No way he’s surviving this~…”—Me

Kaido and I, too, admitted it openly. Coming here, facing Rocks head-on—if it were me, I’d have run. Killed the messenger, or refused the invitation outright.

Even among the pirates of the New World, there are many who go out of their way to avoid the Rocks Pirates. Red the Lone Wolf. The World Pirates. Others still. Even those who reject Rocks' invitations choose to relocate to the first half of the Grand Line, or vanish altogether—just to avoid a confrontation. Pirates who’ve made it this far, with willpower and power to match, still fear the name of Rocks.

So yes—Roger was a fool. Another dead man walking, about to follow the path of every other idiot who dared to challenge Rocks.

Everyone knew it.

Everyone watched.

Roger and Rocks, standing barely a meter apart. Similar in height. Similar in the pressure they gave off.

And finally—at last—They spoke.

"—So, you’re Rocks?"

"—Gihaha… Yeah. And you’re Roger… Huh. Just like your poster."

Roger hadn’t even known Rocks’ face. He demanded the name, glaring at the man.Rocks, meanwhile, stared back—laughing. He scrutinized Roger like a predator sizing up prey… then delivered his verdict.

"—Alright, Roger. I’m making you my right hand. Get on my ship."

"!!?"

The reaction didn’t come from Roger—but from the Rocks Pirates surrounding them. A collective gasp. Wide-eyed shock. Proof of how unprecedented Rocks’ offer was.

Rocks only absorbed pirates into his fold under two conditions: either as subordinates beneath his banner… or, rarely, as crewmates if he deemed them worthy.

But never—not once—had he offered someone the position of right hand on sight.

This was Rocks’ highest honor. What had he seen in Roger at a glance? Even veterans of the crew couldn’t fathom it. Rocks judged people by a metric beyond normal comprehension.

Yet—even for the Rocks Pirates, this exception sparked dissent. Foolish, but inevitable.

"—W-wait, Captain!! Making Roger a officer outta nowhere?! I ain’t—guh-ACK!?"

"!!?"

A voice of protest rang out from the crew—someone with a grudge against Roger?—only to be silenced by a gunshot.

The Roger Pirates flinched at the violence. The Rocks crew? They barely blinked. Idiot, their faces said. You knew better. The lesson was clear: Never interrupt the king.

"…………The hell… When did I say… you could speak?"

"Ugh… S-sorry…!! I just—I lost my head…!!"

The man writhed on the ground, clutching his bleeding stomach, terrified not of the wound—but of Rocks’ wrath.

"—!! Hey!! What’re you—?!"

Roger stepped forward—only for the Rocks’ top brass to block his path.

"Jihahaha! Stay put, Roger… This is our ship’s business.""Hah-hah-MAMA-MAMA…! God, what a moron…! Defying the Captain? Worst damn move!""…Stand down. Not your concern."

Whitebeard. Big Mom. Golden Lion. The titans of the Rocks Pirates closed ranks. Even Roger couldn’t force his way through. He shouted at Rocks’ back—but the man ignored him, looming over his wounded subordinate.

"—So? You’re on my ship. You get what defyin’ me means, yeah? Don’t care why you hate Roger… But crossin’ me—"

"Gh… I—I screw’d up…!! Just—just let me—!! I’m loyal! I swear—GUH!?"

A second shot. Deliberately non-lethal. Pure agony. The man babbled apologies, desperate to prove his loyalty. He was strong. Brave.

—Yet he quaked before Rocks. Not from the bullets—but from the sin of disobedience.

And Rocks, as always, showed mercy.

"…Normally, I’d execute traitors on sight… But you’ve fought for me. Been loyal." Rocks’ voice was almost gentle. "So I’ll be kind.—Hey."

A signal. Several crewmen—myself included—stepped forward, carrying tools. Instruments. Others flanked us, silent.

Then Rocks tossed his pistol at the man’s feet.

A simple choice.

"—You know the drill. Endure the pain, and you’re forgiven… Or blow your brains out. Pick fast."

"…!!"

"STOP THIS!! He’s your own damn crew!! Are you insane?!"

Roger’s roar went ignored. No one moved.

This was the law of the Rocks Pirates:Defy the Captain, and you choose—Death by your own hand…Or hell enough to make you beg for it.

A cleansing. Die with honor, or suffer to earn redemption. The crew’s torturers would break him—not kill him. Eventually, he’d rejoin the fold.

—This was mercy. The punishment of an absolute king. Not execution.

And the unspoken truth?For Rocks… this was kindness.

"Haa... Haa...!!"

Everyone who sails under the Rocks name knows it.

Nothing is more terrifying than when Rocks himself takes action.

When someone defies him, he leaves not even a speck behind. His standard response is complete annihilation. If the rebel has a family, they’re killed too. Anyone who challenges his rule is condemned to hell.

That’s why no one dares to resist. As long as you don’t defy him—so long as you don’t anger him—Rocks is surprisingly lenient. Under his rule, you’re still allowed to live freely.

And that very balance—his mix of carrot and stick—is one of the few reasons the chaotic crew that is the Rocks Pirates manages to stay just barely under control. No one can defeat Rocks. Which is why resisting him is foolish. If you just go along with it, you're free to do as you please. By offering an impossibly vast cage and a stake of fear to tie them down, Rocks knew how to make even the strongest, wildest men—those who normally bow to no one—fall in line. If there's no benefit to rebellion, and the cost is unbearable, then even the most ambitious or idealistic souls will learn to accept their place.

…But for the others—for most pirates, those who live in fear of Rocks—when it comes to this point…

They choose not to live.

"Tch—!!"

He grabbed his gun—and shoved the barrel into his mouth.

Rocks smiled.

He’d chosen suicide—death over the terror of facing Rocks’ wrath.

Rocks didn’t lift a finger to stop him. He just watched.

Because to him, this was entertainment. Another rebel, driven mad by fear, about to erase himself.

But that act… that one act…

was enough to enrage a certain man.

"STOP IIIIT!!!!"

"!!?"

"…!!"

In that moment—an invisible force surged out from him.

It knocked the man unconscious. It shook the trees—no, it shook the entire island.

Such was the overwhelming power of Roger’s Haki.

As the silence fell and all were stunned, Rocks slowly turned to face Roger.

"Conqueror’s Haki, huh… So, you’ve got it too, eh…? Gihahahaha…!!"

"ROCKS!! I’m taking you down!!! I ain’t joining your crew!! So quit wasting time—FIGHT ME RIGHT NOW!!!"

"Gihahahaha… Calm down. That was just a bit of discipline. Idiots who won’t listen to their captain need to be taught a lesson… You’re a captain yourself—you get it, don’t you? You gotta show ‘em who’s boss when they can’t respect the chain of command."

"I don’t treat my crew like that!!!"

"Gihahaha!! I figured as much the moment I laid eyes on you…!! You’re strong—crazy strong—but soft.I can feel it pouring off you… that soft-hearted vibe…!!"

Rocks turned and walked back to the stone where he’d been sitting earlier. He left the unconscious crewman lying where he fell. Not that it mattered—everyone knew he'd be dead later anyway. Delaying the inevitable didn’t change the outcome. That’s why Rocks wasn’t even mad Roger interrupted. If anything, he looked like he was having fun.

Roger, on the other hand, looked like he was ready to pounce on him any second. The only things holding him back were the enemy lieutenants surrounding him—and the fact that they were deep in enemy territory, with Roger’s own crew mixed in among them. Ordinarily, Roger was not the kind of man to hesitate, no matter the odds.

And Rocks knew it. Which is why he carried on, calm as ever, brushing off Roger’s killing intent with ease.

"…You want this stone, don’t you? I know you do. Heard you made it to that island, too."

"!! You—how the hell do you know that…!?"

But it wasn’t just Rocks’ words that stunned Roger.

It was what Rocks did next—he pulled away the massive cloth behind him, revealing what lay hidden beneath.

The object that left so many pirates clueless—something Rocks now named aloud.

"A Poneglyph… the Road Poneglyph. Know what that is, Roger?I do. ‘Cause I’ve been there too… to that island… the one that points the way to the truth…!!!"

Rocks laughed in front of the massive stone—a relic the World Government had desperately tried to erase from history.

The “Poneglyph.” The very stone tablet said to contain records of the Void Century—the lost history the World Government had banned all from researching. The forbidden truth of the world.

And Rocks—he owned one.

---

"Tell me, Roger… Do you understand what this stone points to? The great power it leads to…!?"

"Kh…!!"

Most of the Rocks Pirates still didn’t understand what they were witnessing.

But Rocks and Roger kept talking.

Roger said nothing, but the pained, conflicted look on his face made it clear—he understood.

Rocks could read it as plain as day. He ran his fingers along the stone, speaking as if savoring every word.

"That’s right… What’s written here—this is about something big. Something powerful. Gihaha… But neither of us can read it.All we know is—this ancient script holds secrets the World Government wants buried forever…!!"

They couldn’t read it—but they could understand.

Everyone else was left in the dark, blinking, unsure. But even then, the sheer weight of the conversation told them something massive was at play. No one dared interrupt. Only Roger and Rocks understood. Maybe Roger’s crew, barely. And me—only me.

"Gihaha… Ever since I reached that island and started poking into these stones, the Government’s been losing its mind. Jacked up my bounty, tried to warn me off in roundabout ways…Idiots. Don’t they realize that only proves the stone—and the place it points to—is their weak spot? Gihahahahaha…!!"

"Tch… So you’re aiming for that place too…!?"

Roger gritted his teeth as he asked—but Rocks, surprisingly, shook his head.

"Naaah. Doesn’t really matter to me either way. I’ll go if I feel like it.I’ve already got one of the red ones pretty much in the bag anyway…!!"

"Wha—you’ve got a red one!?"

To most, the exchange meant nothing.

But to Roger, it meant everything—and Rocks’ grin only deepened.

The implications were clear: those red stones, the Road Poneglyphs, were key. And in this race—

Rocks was ahead.

And I knew it too.

Rocks was further along the path than anyone else.

“Yeah. But if you swear loyalty to me… I’ll hand over the stone. I’ve got no interest in that kind of treasure anyway…!!”

“Treasure…?”

Rocks nodded.

What he said next was something all of us already knew—and something Roger and his crew could never possibly accept.

“I’m going to become… the King of the World!!! The land! The skies! The seas!! I’ll rule over it all, every last thing—and rise above the heavens!!! I’ll drag those pathetic Celestial Dragons down from their thrones, and I will be the new king of this world…!!!”

“The King… of the World!?”

Throwing his arms wide, Rocks bellowed his declaration, as if proclaiming it to the entire world. For him, everything—his pirating, his conquests, his slaughter—had always been in pursuit of that singular ambition.

Killing people, making them suffer, toppling nations, massacring marines, undermining the World Government. Even his obsession with deciphering the Poneglyphs was only a means to that end.

And so, he sought power. Allies. Followers.

And with a grin, he made his pitch.

“Exactly!! That’s why I need an army, see…!! Roger, if you become my right-hand man, I’ll be one step closer to that dream!! As long as you help me bring the world to heel, I don’t care what else you do! If you wanna reach the final island, I’ll take you there on the way—it’s no skin off my back!! Well? Sounds like a fair deal, doesn’t it? Join me, and you’ll be free to—”

“—I refuse!!!”

“……!!”

But Roger didn’t just reject the offer. He rejected everything—the proposal, the words, the very man standing before him.

His eyes, his expression, his presence—everything screamed:I will never accept you.

And to Rocks, it was… slightly unexpected.

From his perspective, this was a generous offer. Rocks had gone out of his way to present terms—generous terms at that. Roger would be granted a rare degree of freedom under his reign. Why say no?

But at the same time, Rocks had also expected this. Deep down, he already knew the answer.

His faint, twitching smile said as much.

“…Gihahahaha… Why refuse? Do you really hate me that much?”

“Damn right I do!! That’s not ‘freedom’—it’s a joke!!! I don’t need your help! I’ll crush you myself!!! I do things my own way—and that’s what it means to be a pirate!!!”

Roger’s roar echoed across the plaza. He stood face to face with Rocks himself, a man with a presence like a living demon, and didn’t flinch. He spat in the face of fear and declared war.

It was one of the most terrifying things a person could do.

Even though none of them had spoken up, the Rocks Pirates collectively swallowed hard. They all thought the same thing:

He’s insane.

Everyone watched in tense silence, awaiting Rocks’ next move.

But surprisingly, Rocks… didn’t get angry.

“…I see… Interesting… You’re a fascinating one, Roger. Still, it’d be a damn shame to kill a man like you right here and now… Gihaha… So, what should I do with you—”

“—Shut up already!! You’ve been running your mouth like some big shot this whole damn time!! Sitting there like a king on his throne!! I know all about you!! You’re better at hiding than you are at fighting!! And I ain’t losing to a coward like that!!!”

“…Gihaha… That mouth of yours is losing points fast, brat. What you call ‘hiding,’ I call strategy. Knowing when to fight and when to retreat is part of the game. A fool who can’t even grasp that has no business surviving in this world—”

“—And I said shut up!!! You think you’ve already climbed higher than me!!? I don’t follow anyone, and I ain’t too scared—or too weak—to throw down with you!!! So—”

“!? W–wait!!”

In that instant—Roger seized an opening.

He slipped past Whitebeard, who tried to stop him, knocking him away with a Haki-infused blade. And in a blur of motion, Roger closed the distance between himself and Rocks.

His speed was unreal. No one could react in time.

But Rocks was ready. He drew his own blade and caught Roger’s strike with a clash of Haki.

No Conqueror’s burst—he wasn’t taking it seriously yet. And with that ever-present grin, he laughed:

“…Gihaha…!! Come on now, don’t be reckless. I was going to let you walk away. A little thing called a ‘pardon,’ you know? A beast like you, I’m willing to be flexible. You should be grateful I’m not breaking you down right here, right now. Normally, I’d crush you, shatter your will, and make you one of mine—”

“—I told you already—I’m not losing to you, dammit!!!!!!”

“……!!?”

What happened next left everyone stunned.

Roger—abandoning his sword, on purpose—threw Rocks off balance.

And then, in that brief opening, he channeled Haki into his right hand and—

“!!!?”

—Captain Rocks… just got punched.

Roger’s fist crashed into his gut, sending him flying through the trees in an explosion of dust and splintered bark.

Nobody could process what had just happened.

Rocks getting knocked back like that—it was something no one could have imagined. Unthinkable. Impossible.

He clearly hadn’t been fighting seriously. And they all knew he wasn’t finished yet.

But even so—the fact that Roger had landed that blow shook something deep in everyone watching. They sensed it. Something immeasurable lurking inside that man.

And on the other side… in the very same moment… they saw a demonic rage rise like never before.

From him.

“──All right, boys!! We’re pulling out!! Move!!”

“OOOH!!!”

“Tch…!! H–Hey!! Get back here, you bastards!!”

At Roger’s shout, the entire Roger Pirates crew suddenly sprang into motion, like they’d rehearsed it.

The Rocks Pirates, still stunned by what had just happened to their captain, were a beat too slow to react.

“Fall back!! Head for the coast!!”

“Figures it’d end like this!! But we’re screwed if we don’t haul ass—they’ll surround us!!”

Rayleigh, Gaban, the rest of the crew—they were all monsters in their own right. Far beyond what the average Rocks pirate could handle.

Strangely, none of the executive officers on Rocks’ side moved to intercept. That, more than anything, let Roger and his crew break through the perimeter and make a run for the shore.

But then… at that exact moment… the voice of a demon cut through the chaos.

“──None of you… lay a damn finger on Roger…!!”

“!!? C–Captain…!!”

From within the cloud of dust, that voice—low and guttural, heavy with a fury they’d never heard before—delivered the order.

Everyone froze.

The voice of their captain… and not just any voice. One filled with wrath. Heavy as iron. Absolute.

And when the smoke finally cleared, what they saw shook them even more.

Rocks—smiling.

But it wasn’t joy.

It was a twisted grin, veins bulging in his forehead, like a demon ready to kill. A smile that promised death.

“Gihaha… Gihahahahaha…!!! Now this is interesting…!!! You wanna start a war, Roger!? THEN LET’S GO!!!! MARCH, YOU BASTARDS!!! CHASE THEM TO THE ENDS OF THE EARTH AND MAKE THEM REGRET EVER CROSSING ME!!! SLAUGHTER THEM ALL!!!”

“OOOOH!!!”

At his command, the Rocks Pirates surged forward, hell-bent on tearing Roger’s crew apart.

And leading the charge, eyes gleaming like a beast and sword at the ready, was Rocks himself—his gaze locked only on Roger, trailing at the rear of his crew.

And us…

“Let’s move!! Kaido!!”

“Hell yeah!! Let’s hunt ‘em down and gut ‘em!!!”

With Kaido now in his beast form beside me, we took to the skies, diving into the chase.

But truthfully… while the others burned with rage for our captain’s humiliation…

What I felt, watching everything unfold—and knowing what was coming next—wasn’t anger.

It was exhilaration.

This whole damn thing was just too fun to resist.