Dorum leaned over to look at the chart, his face turning slightly pale.
“Captain…
even the World Government only marks this place as a forbidden zone.
They say any ship that sails too close simply disappears.
Not even a single plank is ever found.” “WAHAHAHA!
Disappears?
Then that just means there’s something valuable hidden inside!” Gatz’s thinking was as straightforward as ever.
He slapped the table excitedly, making the golden goblets bounce.
“You think there’s some legendary treasure hidden there?” “Treasure?” Rocks let out a dismissive chuckle, his eyes gleaming with near-fanatical excitement.
“There are far more interesting things than treasure.” “I picked up a few interesting rumors from those two Cipher Pol agents.” “Apparently…” “At the very heart of the Land Where Gods Slumber…” “…a certain king lies asleep.” He never said what kind of king.
Yet the naked ambition in his voice made everyone aboard instinctively shiver.
To seek out a sleeping king…
And either replace him…
Or make him submit…
The very idea was even crazier than provoking a Celestial Dragon.
“Our reputation still isn’t loud enough.” “The Marines and those World Government lapdogs probably think we only pick on easy targets.” A cruel smile curved across Rocks’ face.
“So let’s dig up something from that Land Where Gods Slumber…” “…something that’ll shake the entire world.” “That’ll be the true opening act of the Rocks Pirates.” His words instantly ignited the adventuring spirit buried deep within every crew member.
“OOOH!” “Let’s beat up this so-called king!” Gatz thrust his fist into the air, already imagining himself flattening a crowned monarch with his gigantic anchor.
Silver remained silent.
He simply continued polishing his spear, its gleaming tip sharper than ever.
Although Dorum still worried about the ship’s safety, even he was swept up in the excitement.
He quietly began calculating how to reinforce the vessel enough to survive a voyage into the legendary forbidden sea.
“Head Chef.” Rocks turned toward the silent Ryne.
“Interested in slaying dragons…
or even gods?” Ryne was carefully polishing his kitchen knife with a silk cloth.
Hearing the question, he looked up.
For the first time, a trace of anticipation appeared on his usually calm face.
“I’m only interested in unknown ingredients.” “If that king is edible…” “And tastes good…” “I wouldn’t mind designing an appropriate menu.” “Hahahaha!” “As expected of my Head Chef!” Rocks laughed heartily before waving his arm.
“Crew!” “Raise the sails!” “Set course!” “Our next destination…” “The Land Where Gods Slumber!” Thus, while the Marines and intelligence agencies across the world searched frantically for their whereabouts…
The Rocks Pirates turned their bow toward a stretch of sea that even the World Government hesitated to enter.
Life at sea was monotonous.
Especially upon the unpredictable waters of the Grand Line.
Yet for the Rocks Pirates…
The next ten days became a training regimen that was both painful and exhilarating.
Empowered by premium ingredients, the effects of Ryne’s Way of Food continued transforming everyone’s bodies at an astonishing pace.
For every meal, Ryne carefully prepared dishes packed with immense energy using the rare ingredients looted from the Island of Splendor.
His Cooking Points and experience steadily increased.
It wouldn’t be long before his culinary skill advanced to the next tier.
Master Rank.
It was a level Ryne had eagerly anticipated for a long time.
Meanwhile, Gatz woke up each morning feeling noticeably stronger.
He could now swing his gigantic anchor with a single hand as if it weighed nothing.
Occasionally, he even left shallow footprints in the deck.
Whenever he had free time, his favorite pastime was challenging Dorum to arm wrestling.
The result?
Tables and chairs had to be replaced again and again.
Dorum’s repair tools were practically worn smooth.
Silver’s changes were more subtle.
His senses had become extraordinarily sharp.
Sometimes, if a Flying Fish leaped from the sea, he could predict exactly where it would land nearly half a second before it splashed back into the water.
His spearsmanship also continued to evolve.
He no longer relied on fixed techniques.
Instead, he pursued complete unity between himself and his spear.
At times, merely standing still made him resemble a peerless weapon waiting to be unsheathed.
Dorum’s body grew increasingly durable as well.
One day he accidentally fell several meters while securing the rigging.
The impact left a crater in the deck.
He simply stood back up, dusted himself off…
Without even scraping his skin.
It made him even prouder of his title as the ship’s “Iron Wall.” At the same time, he became increasingly worried about the ship’s structural integrity.
Ryne remained both observer and conductor.
He calmly monitored everyone’s physical changes, adjusting the daily menu according to each person’s condition.
On the tenth day…
The weather was calm.
The sea was perfectly still.
As Gatz lay sunbathing on deck while daydreaming about the next meal…
Silver suddenly called out from the crow’s nest.
“Someone ahead.” “Someone?” Gatz sprang upright and grabbed a telescope.
“Who’d be out here?
Survivors from a merchant ship?” Everyone gathered at the bow and looked toward the horizon.
Far away…
A tiny black dot slowly drifted closer.
It wasn’t a ship.
It was a raft.
A lone man stood atop it, calmly floating with the waves.
As the distance closed…
They finally saw him clearly.
He was an extraordinarily tall young man.
His massive physique resembled a mountain.
Bronze skin.
Countless battle scars crisscrossing his body.
Each scar told the story of a brutal fight.
He wore only a pair of simple trousers, exposing muscles packed with explosive strength.
Most striking of all…
Were the two crescent-shaped white mustaches curving upward from his face.
Despite his youthful appearance, they looked neither ridiculous nor out of place.
Instead…
They lent him an indescribable aura of majesty.
He carried no weapon.
He merely stood there quietly.
Yet it felt as though the sea itself revolved around him.
Rocks’ pupils contracted.
He slowly set down his wine glass.
The smile vanished from his face, replaced by excitement reserved only for a worthy rival.
He could sense it.
The aura radiating from the man was as vast as the ocean.
Wild.
Restrained.
Not inferior to his own.
“Hey.” “The ship over there.” The man’s deep voice carried across the sea like crashing waves.
“You look strong.” “Who’s your captain?” “Come out.” “Fight me.” Simple.
Direct.
Overflowing with absolute confidence.
The Rocks Pirates were stunned.
Never before had they met someone who introduced himself by demanding a duel with their captain.
“WAHAHAHA!” “Who the hell are you?!” “You’ve got a pretty big mouth!” Gatz hoisted his anchor, ready to step forward.
“Stand down, Gatz.” Rocks walked slowly to the bow.
The two men faced one another across the sea.
Their overwhelming wills collided silently.
The air distorted.
The calm ocean suddenly churned without a single gust of wind.
Rocks grinned.
“So you want a fight?” “Fine.” “I’m Rocks D.
Xebec.” “And you?” The man smiled just as broadly.
His grin was filled with boundless confidence.
“Edward Newgate.” The man who would one day be known as the World’s Strongest Man had met the Rocks Pirates in the simplest way imaginable.
No pointless conversation.
No probing.
No hesitation.
The instant Edward Newgate spoke his name…
Rocks disappeared.
The deck beneath his feet exploded apart.
His body shot forward like a black cannonball, tearing through the air and crossing hundreds of meters of sea.
His fist drove straight toward Newgate’s chest.
The pressure of that punch alone carved a deep trench across the ocean’s surface.
Facing the earth-shattering attack…
Newgate didn’t dodge.
He stepped forward.
The sea beneath his feet felt as solid as dry land.
Instead of retreating, his mountain-like body advanced.
His own fist met Rocks’ head-on.
“GURARARARA!” “Now that’s what I’m talking about!” BOOM!!
Their fists collided.
For one breathtaking instant…
The world fell silent.
Then…
A massive white shockwave erupted from the point of impact, expanding outward in every direction.
The sea beneath them collapsed into a crater more than one hundred meters across.
Towering walls of water rose around them before exploding outward as colossal tidal waves.
The Rocks Pirates’ ship shook violently.
It resembled nothing more than a leaf caught inside a hurricane.
Dorum clung desperately to the helm, his face drained of color.
“It’s over!” “The ship’s gonna fall apart!” “My beautiful ship!” Gatz and Silver gripped the railing tightly.
Their faces were filled with astonishment.
For the first time…
They truly understood just how terrifying their captain’s casual punches really were.
Yet that man called Newgate…
Had matched it head-on.
Without yielding an inch.
After the exchange…
Both men stepped back.
Rocks landed lightly upon the sea itself, standing atop the water through sheer force of will.
His expression was filled with exhilaration.
Newgate remained exactly where he stood.
He casually shook out his slightly numb fist.
The fighting spirit burning in his eyes only intensified.
“You’re strong.” Newgate praised him sincerely.
“So are you.” Rocks’ grin grew even wilder.
“But…” “The warm-up’s over.” Before his words had fully fallen…
Both men blurred into indistinct afterimages.
The vast ocean became their battlefield.
Punches.
Kicks.
Every collision tore at the air and made the sea roar.
No elaborate techniques.
No tricks.
Only overwhelming physical strength…
And Haki.
Strands of immature black-and-red lightning burst continuously between them.
Conqueror’s Haki clashed.
Clouds split apart overhead.
The sea itself boiled beneath their feet.
The first day was a contest of nothing but raw physical strength and Haki.
They fought from sunrise until sunset.
Then through the night.
Then into dawn once more.
The entire sea became their battlefield.
Schools of fish had long since died from the shockwaves.
Even the Sea Kings kept their distance from this ocean of death.
The Rocks Pirates went from astonishment…
To numb disbelief…
To nothing but profound reverence.
They watched from afar.
None of them dared approach.
The aftershocks alone could tear them apart.
Only Ryne remained different.
Standing beside the galley window, he calmly observed the battle.
His Observation Haki had been active the entire time.
Yet he wasn’t watching to determine the winner.
Instead…
He observed the rate of their energy consumption.
The fatigue accumulating in their muscles.
The rhythm of every breath.
“Such intense energy output…” “They’re losing water and electrolytes at an incredible rate.” “Their muscle fibers are constantly tearing apart…” “…and rebuilding themselves.”
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