Chapter 3: Rocks

Somewhere in the Grand Line, deep in its lawless second half, there existed an island of pirates.

This was no nation under the World Government’s banner—no, it was a haven for the worst of the worst, where strength dictated survival.

Yet, even in chaos, there was order. Generations of pirates had ruled this island, each more ruthless than the last.

At its heart stood a massive, hollowed-out skull-shaped rock—part tavern, part trading hall, and, for some reason, part execution ground.

This was Pirate Island, Hachinosu.

"HAHAHAHAHAHA!! ZEUS! PROMETHEUS!"

"Tch… Damn nuisance of a woman!"

At the entrance of the island’s most infamous tavern—where even seasoned criminals hesitated to tread—two figures clashed.

One, a towering man with a white mustache, wielding a naginata that split the air itself.

The other, a voluptuous woman brandishing a saber, commanding thunderclouds and fire itself.

To any pirate who called Hachinosu home, it was obvious—both were Devil Fruit users.

But who had the upper hand?

To the untrained eye, it looked evenly matched—but slowly, steadily, the massive man was pushing forward.

"Whoa—?! Another quake?!"

"The hell’s with that woman?! She’s got weird-ass pets?!"

The ground trembled, the tavern shook, and pirates scrambled for cover, daring only to watch from a distance.

——Except for a select few.

"——JIHHAHAHAHA! Let me in on this!"

"…!?"

"Hah?!"

A dark shadow loomed overhead.

Both combatants glanced up—then leaped back as—

"GYAAAAAAAAAAAH?!"

"W-What the—?!"

"Captain! A building just fell out of the sky!!"

"The hell?! Who’s screwin’ around?!"

An entire building—ripped straight from its foundations—crashed between them.

Pirates spun in search of the culprit—only to find him hovering in the air.

"You—! Shiki! The hell’s your problem?!"

"Hah?! And who the hell are you?!"

The floating man—long golden hair flaring, two swords at his waist—grinned down at them, brows twitching in amusement.

"Yo, Newgate! And the lady—saw your bounty poster… Linlin, was it? First time meetin’ ya! JIHAHAHAHA! If it’s a fight, count me in!!"

"…HA~HAHAHAHAHA!! Bold of you to butt into my fight!! I like that! I’ll kill you too!!"

"Goddammit… Every damn time I run into you bastards, you pick a fight…! Especially you, Shiki!! I’m sinkin’ you for good this time!!"

Shiki hovered above them, grinning down at Newgate and Linlin—the latter cackling with enough malice to make men tremble, while Newgate openly scowled, his voice booming.

The sheer aura radiating from them forced even the toughest pirates to take a step back.

——Because these were no ordinary outlaws.

"Shit… That’s Whitebeard…!"

"And that’s Charlotte Linlin!!"

"And that bastard’s Golden Lion Shiki!!"

The names alone sent chills down their spines.

Among the crowd, a bounty hunter licked his lips, eyes gleaming.

"Hehehe… This is insane… A damn bounty hunter’s wet dream…!"

The posters in his hands—issued by the World Government—bore the words DEAD or ALIVE, alongside their bounties:

["Whitebeard" Edward Newgate — 846,000,000 Berries]["Charlotte Linlin" — 988,000,000 Berries]["Golden Lion" Shiki — 666,000,000 Berries]

Bounties weren’t a perfect measure of strength—but they were a measure of how much the World Government feared you.

And in this sea of infamous pirates, these three stood above the rest.

"Ahahaha! So lively, startin’ fights right off the bat!"

"That’s Whitebeard… Not bad-lookin’, huh?"

"Kuhahaha…! When she said she’d pick a fight with Rocks, I nearly shit myself… But against them? Go for it, Linlin!!"

Even among hardened pirates, none dared interfere.

——Except for two.

A giant boy and a girl who looked her age, hidden in the crowd.

"WORORORORO!! What a fight…! This is awesome!! Hey, Nue! Let’s jump in!!"

"—Are you suicidal?! Absolutely not! Just watching is fun enough!!"

"You… Weren’t you sayin’ you wanted to die not too long ago?"

Don’t bring that up now! Nue mentally screamed.

Sure, she had said that—but this wasn’t the way! One look at these monsters and anyone with half a brain would know—intervening meant death.

…Well, Kaido might survive. He was built different. But her? She’d be paste.

She was tougher than the average kid, sure—but not "shake-the-sky" tough.

So watching from the sidelines was the smart move.

——Or so she thought, until she suddenly left the ground.

"——Tch!! Screw waitin’!! Let’s go, Nue!!"

"Huh?!"

Before she knew it, Kaido had grabbed the back of her shirt, lifting her like a stray cat as he charged forward.

"Wait!! At least leave me behi—"

"Alright!! I’ll take the two guys!! Nue!! You handle the woman!!"

"Handle her my ass!! You think I can?!"

I’ll die in one hit! Do you even know how terrifying that woman is?! she screamed internally.

And honestly, the fact that Kaido was even considering taking on two of them at once proved he was insane.

"Ooooh…!! HERE WE GO!!"

"LISTEN TO ME!!"

Bursting through the crowd, Kaido charged straight at the three with Nue in tow.

…Is he still drunk or something?!

But there was no time to think.

The moment they stepped into the fray, all three turned.

"Hm? The hell’re those brats…?"

"Oi oi, kids—wait, one of ‘em’s huge…"

"Hah?! Who the hell are these runts?"

——Oh. They noticed.

Welp. I’m dead.

Her only hope was Kaido—but even he wasn’t strong enough to take on these monsters.

Do your best, Kaido… Not that it’ll save me! (Last words.)

Accepting her fate, Nue’s eyes rolled back as the three titans loomed closer.

——But then—

"GYAHAHAHAHA!! You lot sure are a rowdy bunch...!! Ain't that right?"

The laughter cut through the chaos like a blade.

In an instant, everything stopped.

Not just the onlookers—not just the three brawlers. Even Kaido, as if the alcohol had suddenly burned away, froze mid-charge. His gaze snapped toward the source of that voice.

And I felt it too.

From the depths of the tavern, a shadow stepped forward.

"Rock..."

"It's him..."

"Captain Rock...!"

The name echoed through Hachinosu like a storm.

Some had only heard the rumors, expecting a monstrous figure. And for a moment, they were surprised.

Rock wasn’t as massive as they thought.

Still towering over two meters, but compared to Whitebeard and Linlin—both nearing four meters—he seemed small. Even Kaido, still young, was almost his height.

But none of that mattered.

Because the weight of his presence crushed everything else.

"C-Captain Rock!! These guys started a fight right at the entrance—!"

A lackey—desperate to earn favor—tried to tattle.

Rock barely glanced at him. Instead, he ran a hand through his wild mane of hair, grinning as he strode forward. His eyes, sharp as a beast’s, swept over the scene.

"GYAHA... I can see that... And I don’t give a damn."

He scoffed and raised a hand, his voice carrying unnaturally far.

"This is a pirate island! If there ain't a fight, something's wrong! Ain't that right?!"

The tavern trembled with his laughter.

Rock D. Xebec—the ruler of Hachinosu. The man the World Government called "the worst." A bounty past a billion.

"Besides, fights ain’t a bad thing… They decide who's strong, who's right. Ain't that so, Newgate?"

Whitebeard scoffed. "...Can't say I hate 'em."

Rocks grinned wider. "GYAHAHA!! That’s what I like to hear! A pirate who can’t throw hands ain't a pirate at all!"

He threw his arms wide, daring someone to argue. No one did.

There was something magnetic about him. Even the most hardened outlaws felt it.

Then, his grin sharpened as he turned to the crowd.

"—But strength alone ain’t enough. A pirate needs a nose for treasure… and the brains to outsmart the rest. That’s why you’re all here today, ain’t it?"

A few pirates stiffened.

They had come for Rocks’ so-called "money-making scheme." But not all planned to follow him. Some wanted to take it for themselves.

And yet… no one spoke.

Because they all felt it—something bottomless in Rocks. A force they couldn’t define.

"...Don’t matter what you're schemin’… For now, let’s talk inside. You’re all dyin’ to hear it, right? The big score... GYAHA, I’m dyin’ to tell ya...!"

Without another word, Rocks turned and walked back into the tavern.

No one moved.

His back was exposed. The perfect moment for a cheap shot.

But no one dared.

They knew better.

Among the pirates filing inside, two followed who weren’t even pirates yet.

(...Rock is... terrifying. What the hell is he?)

Nue walked beside Kaido in silence, thoughts racing.

It wasn’t just strength.

There was something about him—something that pulled people in.

Not just the aura of a king.

The presence of a conqueror.

Rocks leaned back on a massive couch, surrounded by eager ears. His grin never wavered as he leaned forward slightly, voice dropping to a whisper.

"—Now then... Let’s cut to the chase. Wanna hear what the big score is?"

Nue barely had time to process before he spoke the words that would shake the world.

"————You lot… ever wanted a country...? No—how about the whole damn world?"

"!!?"

It wasn’t just a scheme.

It was a dream beyond their wildest greed.

"A c-country...? No, the world...?"

"What the hell does that mean...?"

Rocks' words hung in the air like a storm cloud.

For a moment, no one spoke. No one moved.

Then, slowly, Rocks smirked. Like he’d expected this reaction. Like he was enjoying it.

"GYAHAHA! It’s simple... Y’all got things ya want, don’tcha? Dreams you wanna chase?"

"W-Well, yeah, but..."

"...So what’s your point?"

Of course they did. Every pirate had desires. That was why they were here in the first place.

But what did that have to do with taking the world?

The question came from a raven-haired pirate woman, her voice laced with doubt.

"GYAHAHA... Don’t get it? Figures... Bet ya think I’m full of shit, huh?" Rocks leaned forward, his grin widening. "That maybe ol’ Rocks here is just pullin’ a fast one on ya."

And he wasn’t wrong.

This was too absurd.

They had expected treasure maps, heists, maybe even a war with another crew—something tangible. But this?

For a brief moment, doubt flickered in their eyes.

But it didn’t last.

Because Rocks didn’t look like a liar.

Whether it was part of his game or just the sheer force of his personality, nobody could tell. But one thing was certain—he wasn’t bluffing.

"Too bad for ya, but nah… There’s a path to it. And if ya sail with me, I’ll show ya what it really means for pirates to rule this world."

"For pirates to rule... You mean—"

"That’s right...!! The damn World Government—the Celestial Dragon bastards—we’re gonna drag ‘em down!!"

"......!!?"

"Wha—"

The room exploded.

Eyes widened. Jaws clenched. Some gasped, others cursed under their breath.

Nobody could process what they just heard.

A pirate overthrowing the World Government?

It was impossible.

It had to be impossible.

"You really think... that’s possible?"

Rocks’ grin stretched wider. "GYAHAHA! The groundwork’s already laid… A plan this big needs prep, right, Shiki?!"

"…………"

Shiki, the Golden Lion, didn’t answer. He only narrowed his eyes.

Rocks took that as a yes.

Then, a deep voice rumbled from the back—Whitebeard.

"...And why the hell would you need us for a dream that big?"

Rocks turned to him, eyes gleaming. "GYAHA! Simple. We need time and power… With that, even those Celestial Dragons ain’t shit!!"

He stepped closer, his voice dropping just slightly.

"Newgate… Don’t tell me ya wouldn’t wanna see those arrogant bastards fall? Not just for pirates—for every poor bastard they’ve crushed under their boots."

Whitebeard didn’t respond.

His jaw clenched, his fingers curling into a fist.

But he didn’t say no.

Satisfied, Rocks turned back to the crowd, throwing his arms wide.

"Y’all want treasure, right?! Chests of gold, jewels beyond count?! Take the world, and I’ll give ya islands worth of it!!"

"...!"

Somehow, despite how insane it sounded, the pirates salivated.

Because when Rocks spoke, it didn’t sound impossible.

Maybe it was the sheer conviction in his voice.

They didn’t know the details of his plan.

But they wanted to believe.

"B-But... Even if we get treasure, it’ll take time, right...?"

"GYAHAHA!! Relax!! Sure, the real prize’ll take a while, but along the way? We’ll take whatever the hell we want!! No pirate, bounty hunter, navy, or army can stop us!! Pocket change? We’ll grab it on the way! GYAHAHAHA!!"

"...You serious...?"

Before they even realized it, the pirates were leaning in.

No specifics. No guarantees.

But they were hooked.

Then—Rocks stood up.

"You’re pirates, ain’tcha?! What do ya want?! Mountains of gold?! Fame that shakes the world?! Power nobody can challenge?!"

His voice boomed, filling every corner of the room.

"The thrill of battle?! Peace for the ones ya love?! Revenge?! A woman?! A man?! Kids of your own?! Control?! Freedom?!"

He let that last word hang in the air.

"Whatever the hell it is—if ya want it, get on my ship!! When I’m King of the World, every last one of ya gets a country of your own!! Take what ya want, do what ya want!! The World Government, the Marines—I’ll crush ‘em all myself!!"

"......!"

The energy in the room shifted.

Doubt turned to excitement.

Uncertainty turned to hunger.

Even the ones who thought Rocks was crazy—who had laughed at the idea—felt the pull of his words.

Even they wanted to believe.

"Enough talk." Rocks reached for his saber, raising it high.

"The only bet ya gotta make is your life. Weaklings die. The strong take it all. But even the weak—under me, they win. I’ll force ‘em onto the winning side—"

The sword gleamed under the tavern lights.

"SO?! Who’s in?! Who’s ready to make history with me?!"

"OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH"

"CAPTAIN ROCKS!!"

The roar of voices shook the air.

A moment that would go down in history.

But not one the girl knew—not a tale from her world.

This was the birth of a legend she had never heard of. And yet, she stood witness to it, an indescribable feeling swelling in her chest.

——This… is Rocks. This… is what it means to be a pirate.

Not some half-baked fantasy. Not a story sanitized for the weak-hearted.

This was real.

A voice so thunderous it rattled her eardrums. The feverish passion of men. Ambition. Desire. Hunger.

For the first time... Nue saw true pirates with her own eyes.

Men who would throw away their lives without hesitation for the sake of their dreams.

"OOOOOOOOOOOOOHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!! LET'S DO THIS!!!"

The whole room erupted.

Among the chaos, Kaido’s shout rang just as loud as the rest.

But Nue… didn’t react.

She simply whispered to herself—

"…Interesting."

A faint smile played on her lips as she stood there, unmoving.

And so, the Rocks Pirates were born.

Under Captain Rocks, some of the most notorious outlaws in the world gathered aboard his ship.

Edward Newgate—*"Whitebeard"—*who had agonized over the decision until the last moment.

"Golden Lion" Shiki—who saw opportunity in Rocks’ vision and sought to sharpen his fangs.

Charlotte Linlin—who dreamed of her own utopia, bringing along Streusen and a handful of children.

And others—Wang Zhi, Silver Axe, Captain John—pirates who would one day carve their names into history.

And of course… among them, there were these two—

"—Huh? You're really letting us join?"

"WORORORORO!! NOW I'M A PIRATE TOO!!"

Kaido, grinning like a beast, and Nue, still half-disbelieving, stood before Rocks himself.

The captain glanced up at Nue, who was currently slung over Kaido’s shoulder like a sack of cargo, and smirked.

"GYAHAHAHA… Yeah, don’t care if you’re kids. If ya wanna sail, ya sail."

Though at your age, you’ll just be apprentices for now.

Up close, Nue felt a chill run down her spine.

...This guy’s terrifying.

His grin was wide, his words lighthearted, but there was something unreadable in his eyes. A quiet, unspoken promise—one wrong move, and she knew he’d cut them down without hesitation.

And it wasn’t just Rocks. His crew was just as terrifying.

"—THE HELL YOU SAY?! I'M THE NAVIGATOR, DAMMIT!! YOU CAN GO DIE!!"

"Guh—?!"

"HEY, ASSHOLE!! DON’T JUST KILL PEOPLE OUTTA NOWHERE!! I’LL MURDER YOU TOO!!"

"OH YEAH?! WANNA DIE TOGETHER?!"

"—GYAHAHAHA… Fightin’ over the navigator’s spot, huh? Not bad—but save the killin’ for when we’re at sea. We’ll lose daylight at this rate."

"Y-Yes, sir! Sorry, Captain Rocks!!"

The crew was still loading supplies onto the ship, but they were already trying to murder each other.

And Rocks? He barely reacted.

He wasn’t stopping them—just telling them to kill each other later.

…This is gonna be a mess.

Am I even gonna survive this…?

Well, no point worrying now. She’d just have to get stronger. Or stay low and avoid trouble—

"Hey, Nue!! They’re fightin’ over there! Wanna jump in?!"

"—ABSOLUTELY NOT!!"

"GYAHAHAHA!! ALRIGHT, YOU BASTARDS!! READY TO SET SAIL?!"

"AYE, CAPTAIN!!"

The Crew of Misfits and Monsters

Gathered under Rocks’ "money-making scheme," the Rocks Pirates were a force of unrivaled chaos.

What kind of journey awaited them?

What kind of end would they meet?

No one knew yet.