Chapter 7: The Tide of the Era

Ten days had passed since the Rocks Pirates set sail from Hachinosu, the infamous Pirate Island.

Captain Rocks had finally chosen his next target—an island that housed both a Marine base and a World Government-affiliated nation.

At his command, the crew sprang into action, their blood boiling with anticipation.

And me? The lowly apprentice of the Rocks Pirates?

Well…

"Gehahahaha…! Heard somethin’ interestin’… You got a real funny ability, don’tcha…?"

"Y-Yes, Captain…!"

For some reason, I had been summoned to the captain’s quarters—alone.

Facing the infamous "Demon of the Sea," Edward Newgate, was nothing short of terrifying. What did he want from me?

Apparently, he was curious about my ability… but why? I stood at attention, trying not to crumble under his presence.

"Gehaha! Quit shakin’ like a leaf. I ain’t gonna bite—not my own crew, at least. ‘Prentice or not, you and Kaido are both my men."

"…Y-Yes, sorry…"

His words were meant to be reassuring, but the unspoken message was clear—if I weren’t crew, I wouldn’t be standing here at all.

…No, surely not.

…Probably.

Still, the fact that he even knew the names of apprentices like me and Kaido meant something. He saw us as subordinates—maybe even useful ones.

Better than nothing, I supposed.

"Ain’t nothin’ complicated. Got a little favor to ask ya… Somethin’ only you can do."

"…Only me…?"

I repeated his words as he leaned down, his eyes locking onto mine.

Did that mean…?

"Gehahahaha! Sharp kid, ain’tcha? I like that in a man!"

…Huh? I didn’t even say anything yet—

Wait.

No way—!

"…‘Observation Haki?’ Heh. Damn right. But how’d you know? Ain’t common knowledge that if ya master it, ya can see a bit into the future…"

"Ah—! N-No, I just—!"

"Gehahaha! Relax, kid. Don’t care where ya heard it. Ain’t my business. But… yeah. Think I’ll use ya after all."

Phew… That was close. I almost slipped up.

Of course, Captain Rocks had mastered Observation Haki. Seeing glimpses of the future was just a high-level application. It would’ve been weird if he couldn’t do it.

He seemed amused, though. That was good. But…

"Use me?"

That… didn’t sound good.

"The job’s simple. Safer than bein’ on this ship, even. With that face o’ yours and the ability ya showed last time, it’ll go smooth…! Gehaha! Do it right, and I’ll toss ya a little bonus. So whaddya say? Wanna do me a favor…?"

His grin widened.

"You’re gonna say… ‘U-Understood…’"

"U-Understood…"

I had no choice.

Not like I could’ve refused—not with him staring me down like that.

Resigned, I listened as Captain Rocks burned the details of my "errand" into my mind…

---

The Grand Line’s Wealthy Island

This prosperous island was one of the World Government’s top contributors of Celestial Tribute—the mandatory tax paid to the Celestial Dragons.

In essence, it was protection money.

The nobles claimed it was for maintaining order, but the burden fell squarely on the citizens. Failure to pay meant losing World Government affiliation, leaving a nation vulnerable to pirates and slavers.

Some nations had collapsed under the weight of the tribute. But for most, paying—even if ruinous—was better than the alternative.

Only under the World Government’s rule could they enjoy the "protection" of the Marines.

And so, this island—overflowing with wealth—boasted a massive Marine base, ensuring it remained untouched by pirate raids.

A peaceful place.

Pirates rarely even docked here.

"…Um, excuse me?"

"Hm? What is it, little lady?"

At the entrance of the Marine base, a small girl approached the guards.

Clutching a wrapped bundle behind her back, she held it out, hesitant but determined.

"This… is for my dad! His lunch!"

"—…! Ah, you’re here to deliver his meal? Good girl. Do you know his name and rank?"

"Umm… Eddie. His rank is… I-I’m sorry, I don’t know…"

"! I see… Don’t worry. We’ll find him. Mind if I take it for you?"

"! —Okay! Thank you, mister!"

Relieved, the girl flashed a bright, innocent smile before turning and skipping away.

The guard watched her go, his heart warm. This—this was why he served. To protect smiles like hers.

As he savored the moment, his fellow guard walked up.

"Got a delivery, huh?"

"Yeah. Though this’ll be a pain. ‘Eddie’ isn’t much to go on… You know anyone by that name?"

"Nah. Guess we’ll have to ask around."

"Ugh… Shouldn’t have volunteered so quick…"

"Can’t blame ya. With a cute little blonde girl like that beggin’ ya, I’d have done the same."

The first guard froze.

"…Huh? Blonde?"

"Yeah? The one just now—blonde twin tails, looked about eight?"

The first guard’s face paled.

"No, no, NO! She had brown hair! Short cut! And she was older than that! Were you even looking?!"

"The hell YOU talkin’ about?! She was blonde! You losin’ it?!"

"YOU’RE the one hallucinating!"

As they argued, a third guard rushed over.

"Hey, hey! Knock it off! What’s with the yelling?!"

"This idiot’s saying the girl was blonde—!"

"No, YOU listen! He’s the one acting crazy! She was brown-haired—!"

The third guard blinked.

"…Huh? You mean the black-haired girl with the ponytail? The older one?"

"…What?"

"…Come again?"

Silence.

The two arguing guards stared at him, bewildered.

"I mean, sure, she was cute, but fightin’ over it’s unprofessional—Wait, huh? What’s in that box? Supplies?"

"…N-No, it’s… the girl’s lunch for her dad…"

"…Lunch? That don’t look like no—"

"Eh—?"

And then—

BOOM!!!

The Marine base’s entrance erupted in a massive explosion.

“Wh—What was that!?”

“Major!! The entrance—! Cough, cough...! It’s been blown—!!”

“Tch…!! Artillery fire!?”

“No… we didn’t hear any cannons!!”

“Damn it! Assess the damage and tighten security—”

The explosion’s shockwave had drawn nearby officers, their faces tense as they barked orders. But in that instant, from somewhere unseen, a voice—too faint to register—whispered:

“…Dark Cloud.”

“!? Black mist!?”

“Major!! We can’t see a thing!!”

“I know!! Fall back for now—”

Then, cutting through the confusion, a new sound erupted—this time unmistakable.

BOOM!

“WAAAAAAAHH—!!!”

“Tch…!? Was that—cannon fire!?”

A dreadful chill ran down the spines of the marines. The base was under attack.

“P-Pirates!? Pirates are attacking—!!”

“No way… They’re raiding a Marine base!?”

The chaos escalated. Cannon fire and explosions roared across the fortress. Marines shouted over one another, scrambling for a counterattack.

“The pirate ship—it’s heading straight for—! No, wait!! They’re turning toward the town!!”

“Assemble a squad imme—Guhk!?”

“They’ve already boarded us—!!?”

“Another explosion—!!”

“!! That flag—it’s not in the records!! But that pirate—GYAAAAAHHH!!”

Then—one scream, louder than the rest. A death cry.

An instant later, a thunderous impact shattered the walls. The explosion ripped deep into the fortress, sending marines flying. In response, high-ranking officers—led by the base’s Vice Admiral—rushed in.

And what they saw was—

Emerging from the smoke, dark silhouettes.

Towering figures, some wielding massive weapons, others not even human in shape. Among them, one comparatively smaller figure stepped forward. His voice cut through the madness.

“—The hell’s with all the screamin’? I’ll introduce us myself, so relax…!!”

Gihahahaha…!

“Well, scream all ya want later—you’ll be doin’ plenty of it anyway…!!”

“Y-You… No way…!!”

The smoke cleared. The crew stood in full view.

Every single one—infamous outlaws the Marines knew all too well.

And at their forefront stood their captain—a man whose mere presence dwarfed even the most notorious among them.

“—GIHAHAHAHA!! Listen up and report this to your dumbass superiors!!!”

“We are—the Rocks Pirates!!!”

“And our goal is—destruction.”

“!!!”

“Rocks!?”

“The Rocks… Pirates!?”

Even battle-hardened officers paled.

Rocks—The Devil of the Sea. Holder of the highest bounty the World Government had ever issued.

The terror in their hearts was real.

“Wh-What kind of lineup is this…!?”

“‘Whitebeard’… ‘Charlotte Linlin’…!! Even ‘Golden Lion’ is here!!”

“A-And more!! Multiple high-bounty targets confirmed!! Nearly every pirate in sight has a bounty!!”

“This has to be a bad dream… Right…!? Tell me it is!!!”

Some marines collapsed in despair.

But mercy was not in the pirates’ nature.

“HA~HAHAHAHAHAHA…!! If it’s a bad dream, we’ll make sure ya never wake up!!”

“Gihahahaha… Tough luck, bastards…! Shouldn’t have caught the captain’s eye…!!”

“…………”

“WORORORO!! Come on, Marines!! Let’s enjoy this war!!”

“Haa… My heart’s pounding…”

“!! A… girl…?”

Among the monstrous crew, a lone girl hovered, her strange wings keeping her afloat. A marine noticed—but there was no time to question her.

Because at that moment, Rocks spoke again.

“GIHAHAHAHA!! Nice work, Nue!! Not bad for a rookie…!!”

The girl—Nue—landed near a dragon-headed giant, nodding slightly.

Then, Rocks’ grin twisted into something far more sinister.

“Alright then… Let’s get started, Marines.”

“Oh, right… My boys are hittin’ the town too… Gihaha… Might wanna send reinforcements… if ya can.”

“Not that it matters.”

“Wherever you go—you’re dead either way.”

“The only choice you got left—”

“Is who gets to kill you.”

“Tch…!! D-Damn you…!! ROCKS!!!”

“GIHAHAHAHA!! Try stoppin’ us with that ‘Justice’ of yours…!!”

“If ya even can!!!”

“Men!! Time to fight!!!”

“OOOH!!”

The Vice Admiral gritted his teeth, snarling Rocks’ name with pure hatred.

The pirate captain’s grin only widened.

He drew his cutlass. Raised his pistol.

And with a pull of the trigger—

The battle began.

"Let the Marines—no, the whole damn world—learn our name!!! Move out!!!"

"OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!"

That battle… it was the first time the world would come to know the most feared and vicious crew of that era—The Rocks Pirates.

"GIHAHAHAHAHAHA!!! The ones who’ll rule this world ain’t you bastards—IT’S ME!!!"

It was the moment the World Government realized—the nightmare they had long feared had finally arrived.

"C’mon, TRY AND STOP ME!!! From here on out—THIS IS MY ERA!!! You think you can stand against the tide I create!?"

A battle that would come to define the very age itself.

"WORORORORORO!! Hic! WORORO…!! This is the BEST…!!"

And yet… this was only the beginning. Just the smallest spark before the inferno.

"GYAAHH!? Wh… what…? Stabbed…?"

"…………Hehe."

A fleeting moment—when that girl first tasted the same thrill of piracy as the men around her.

---

Aftermath

The Rocks Pirates’ first full-scale assault on the Marines ended in total domination.

And this time… I actually played a part. A small one, sure, but still.

Following Captain Rocks’ orders, I snuck onto the island disguised, planted explosives where no one would suspect, and later, when the battle started, I shrouded the base in darkness, creating the opening our crew needed.

Not that Rocks needed the help. He could’ve torn them apart head-on. But keeping our side’s casualties low was probably his goal.

With the Marines caught off guard, we spread chaos through the town, too. The base fell, leaving only a handful of survivors—on purpose. Rocks wanted witnesses. He wanted the world to know.

The town suffered more looting than bloodshed. Once the battle was over, we took our spoils and set sail.

Now, with stolen booze in hand and the night settling in…

"BOOOOHOOOOO—!!!"

"……So… why have you been crying this whole time?"

Slouched in the ship’s hold—our makeshift home these past ten days—I side-eyed Kaido, who had been bawling the second he got drunk.

He took another swig, wiped his face (unsuccessfully), and whimpered:

"’Cause, Nue…!! It was s’posed to be a war… but I barely got to fight…!!"

"……That’s it?"

"And you did more than me!! Sure, it’s ’cause I’m weak right now, but… it’s humiliating…!!"

"Ohhh… I mean, I just planted bombs and blinded a few guys. Only stabbed three people myself—hic—"

"THAT’S ENOUGH, DAMMIT!! I didn’t even count how many I killed!!"

"Isn’t that… a good thing? Hic."

"WAAAHHHH!! WHAT AM I SUPPOSED TO DOOO!?"

…Yep. A lost cause. He won’t stop until he sobers up or gets distracted by some other drunken mood swing.

Strangely, though… I don’t mind. Actually, it’s kinda funny. Normally, even amusing things feel like a hassle, but… huh. Must be the alcohol.

"…Ahaha! Crybaby~!! Kaido’s a crybaby~!!"

"BWAAAAAHHHH!!! So mean… but you’re right… I’ve gotta get stronger…!!"

"Ahahaha!! You killed way more people, so why you crying!? I’m the one who should be pissed!! I wanted to kill more of those Marine traitors!!"

"Huh… BWAAHHH!! The hell’s that!? First I’m hearin’ of it!!"

"Wanna know!? Then listen!! Those bastards… sold me to the Celestial Dragons when I was just a kid!! Said they were ‘looking for child slaves’!!"

……Wait. What am I saying?

This is bad. Really bad.

But… ugh… the booze tastes too damn good…

Wouldn’t it be great if the Celestial Dragons just dropped dead…?

"I get that they’d kill me if I fought back, but if I stayed quiet, they’d never even notice me!! They chased me down anyway!! Thanks to them, I spent years being tortured!!"

"WOOOOOAHHHH!!! What the hell...?! That's fucked up...!"

"Right?! Absolutely disgusting!!"

"BWAAAAAHHHH!!! Poor lil' Nue...!! But y'know what? Just like me—it’s all 'cause you were weak back then...!!"

"SHUT IT!! I know that!! I was weak! Pathetically weak!!"

"Still ain’t exactly strong now—"

"Hmph! I’ll get stronger, so who cares?!"

Yeah. I was weak. And that weakness damned me.

I hated it—that's why I tried to grow stronger. But back then? I couldn’t.

Those years as a slave were pure hell. I cursed the Celestial Dragons—no, the whole damn world—countless times.

Even now, just thinking about it makes my blood boil. Like my skull’s about to split from the rage.

"GAAAAHHH!!! Just remembering pisses me off!! Why the hell did I have to go through that?!"

"BWAAAAAHHHH!! Damn straight...!! You got every right to be furious...!! Just kill 'em all—every last Celestial Dragon...!!"

"! Yeah!! Let’s murder those Celestial Dragons!! And the Marines too, while we’re at it!!"

"Hell yeah...!! ...Yeah!! Let’s smash every damn thing in our way!!"

"! Exactly!! If it’s fun, wreck it! If it’s annoying, erase it!!"

Kaido suddenly stops crying, his fury flaring up to match mine. Who started it? Doesn’t matter.

"Damn right...!! I wanna be the strongest—fight the greatest battles!! Nothing beats the thrill of dancing with death!! And if I can’t have that? Might as well tear the whole world apart!!"

"I get it!! The stronger you are, the more fun you can have!! Total chaos sounds amazing!!"

"WORORORORO!! Knew you’d understand, Nue!! You’re exactly my kind of crazy!!"

"Ahahahaha!! Look who’s talking, Mr. Contradiction!! But that’s what makes you awesome!!"

My brain’s barely functioning, but I know this is fun. The booze is great, the conversation’s wild. Kaido’s grinning, and my anger’s faded—for now.

"Hey!! You battle junkie!! Death-obsessed lunatic!!"

"WORORORO!! Quit flatterin’ me!! You’re one twisted little monster yourself!!"

"Hmph! Save the compliments! I’m a Great Yokai—of course I am!! But even I can’t top your sheer insanity!! Ahhh~!! Let’s use that insanity to crush the Marines and Celestial Dragons!!"

"WORORORO!! Leave it to me!! But you’re helpin’ too!! As a real pirate—we’ll paint the seas red!!"

"Who do you think you’re talking to?! Obviously, I’m in!! The Great Nue—future Empress of the Seas—demands a front-row seat!!"

We’re howling with laughter, chugging booze—until the room starts spinning.

Then Kaido grabs two cups from the mess, slams them down between us.

"WORORORO!! Then let’s share a toast!! As true pirates—let’s burn this world to the ground!!"

"Gladly!! Cheers to that!!"

We pour, clink, and down the sake in one go.

Locking eyes, we smirk.

"WORORORORO...!! From now on, Nue—you’re my partner, my right hand, my sworn sibling!!!"

"Ahahahaha...!! Sworn siblings it is!! Fine then—when we start our crew, you’re the Captain!! And I’ll be your Vice-Captain!!"

"WORORORO!! Hell yeah!! I’ll be the strongest pirate alive!!"

"Ahahahaha!! Then I’ll back you up!! As the right hand of the future King!!"

"WORORORORORO!!!"

"AHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!"

Those ridiculous laughs, echoing in the belly of the worst ship alive… To others, it might sound like madness.

But to me? It was proof.

Before I knew it—whether from drunkenness, exhaustion, or pure joy—we’d both passed out, sprawled across the floor amidst a sea of empty bottles.

It was the first time in years... I’d genuinely enjoyed myself.

The Next Morning

A pirate apprentice’s dawn comes early.

"...Nn..."

The faint light creeping into the hold tells me it’s morning. I sit up slowly.

"Mmmnnn...! —Haa. Morning already...? Ugh—"

The sight of countless bottles makes me groan. Did we really drink all this? …Yikes.

Kaido’s still snoring like a log. No way he’s waking up soon—guess cleanup’s on me.

Weird though… My body feels lighter than usual.

I should be exhausted after yesterday’s battle, the looting, and a whole night of drinking. But I’m not.

Why?

I tilt my head. Something happened…? Eh, whatever. I’ll ask Kaido later—or remember eventually.

For now, just clean up these—…hm?

As I step over Kaido’s massive frame to grab bottles, a red, floating object drifts past.

I know this thing.

"Oh—Red UFO. Why’s this out? Did I summon it last night...?"

I wave my hand, dismissing the faintly glowing red orb—one of my creations.

Back to work.

…Wait.

"…………Huh?"

I freeze.

…Huh?

Since when could I even make UFOs?

This is… new.

"…Red UFO."

I murmur the ability's name, and with a soft buzz, a small crimson UFO flickers into existence, bobbing lightly in the air.

No doubt about it—this is my power.

"…Since when? How…?"

Damn it. I can’t remember.

Okay, think. I definitely couldn’t do this during yesterday’s battle. So it must’ve happened last night.

I furrow my brow, trying to pull up hazy memories from our drunken rampage. Flashes surface—shouting at Kaido, raging about the past—

"…Was it when I got mad…? Or before…? …Wait—"

Then it hits me.

Something far more important than the UFO.

But the moment I reach for it, the thought slips away, unspoken, lost in the fog of my mind.

Still… maybe that’s why I feel so light.

"…Eh, whatever."

Whatever I said back then… right now, I’m still just weak little Nue—the Sealed Beast.

All I can do is survive, grow stronger, and enjoy myself.

I glance at Kaido, still snoring like a landslide, then at the UFO drifting lazily nearby.

For now, just this once, I let out a wry sigh—pushing aside the old pain and fear.

---

Marine HQ — The Summit of "Justice"

"—All hands, salute!!!"

The pinnacle of the world’s military might.The symbol of Justice itself.

"—Vice Admiral!! Vice Admiral Garp has arrived!!"

"! Good… Send him in immediately."

"Sir!!"

To the pirates who threaten the sea’s order, the Marines are the ultimate force of judgment.Under the banner of Absolute Justice, they wield their overwhelming power without hesitation.

"—You’re late, Garp!! What the hell were you doing!?"

"Bwahahaha! Cool your jets, Sengoku.—Oi, want some rice crackers?"

"Like hell I do!! You—today of all days—"

"Knock it off! You two cannot brawl here!!"

"Tch… My bad."

"Ooooh, Tsuru! Long time no see. Want some crackers?"

"No thanks… More importantly, you’re being summoned."

"Hah? What for?"

"...You really don’t know?"

"Heard what, Tsuru!?"

"...It’s Rocks, Garp."

"…!"

The air grows heavy.

The Marines are gathering their forces—preparing to face a monster reborn.

Garp scratches his head, cracking a grin.

"Bwahahaha… Man, I’m busy chasing down that idiot…!"

This is Marine Headquarters.The fortress of Justice, standing firm on the island of Marineford in the Grand Line.

And among the men who uphold that justice—One Marine grins fearlessly at the name Rocks.

"Heh… Well then… Guess I’d better go hear 'em out…!!"

That man’s name—Monkey D. Garp.

A man who, by sheer coincidence, shares the D. with Rocks himself.

And when this man, Rocks, and one other bearing the D. collide—

The seas will roar with a storm unlike any before.