Almost all the Crewmates were there, even Rocks himself.
"Silver Axe, do you want to become one of the First-mates?" Rocks asked calmly, staring straight at him. "In that case, pick an opponent Shiki, Edward, or Linlin. If you can fight them evenly, I'll make you a First mate on this ship."
Among the Rocks Pirates, officers were ranked. There were regular crewmates, and above them, the First mates. Silver Axe was strong, not had never been recognized as one of the strongest, a First mate.
Only a select few held that title: Golden Lion, Whitebeard, Charlotte Linlin… and maybe one or two others. Being a First mate meant something. It wasn't just status, it meant double the loot after every raid. That alone was enough to tempt anyone.
Silver Axe had made up his mind. He wanted more. More power, more respect, more rewards. And today, he came to claim it.
Golden Lion chuckled from the railing. "Hey, hey, Silver Axe, just give it a rest. A First mate? You're nowhere near ready."
Charlotte Linlin grinned. "How about challenging me, Silver Axe? I promise i won't kill you during the fight."
Silver Axe ignored the side comments. He locked eyes with Rocks. "I'd rather you test me yourself, Captain."
He wasn't stupid. Picking a fight with Shiki, Edward, or Linlin? If he lost, he might not survive. But Rocks, at least Rocks wouldn't kill him. For now Silver Axe still had some value to him, and Rocks needed them to carry out his dream of conquest.
Rocks grinned. "Oh? You sure, I won't go easy."
"Of course," Silver Axe said without hesitation.
Golden Lion burst out laughing. "You serious, Silver Axe? Challenging Rocks himself?"
Charlotte Linlin shook her head. "You had a shot at one of us… now you're just asking to die."
Ochoku blinked. "You feeling alright, Silver?"
John smirked. "You really want to be a First mate that bad, huh? Hope it's worth dying for."
Only Whitebeard stayed silent, watching Silver Axe with a curious expression.
Silver Axe growled, "Shut up, all of you."
No one replied after that. They just watched.
Rocks spoke again, his tone heavier. "If you impress me, you'll be a First mate. But like I said… I won't hold back. You sure you're ready for this?"
Honestly, Silver Axe didn't have what it took. Not yet. But Rocks accepted anyway. He figured it was time to remind everyone who really ruled this ship, who the true monster was.
"Absolutely," Silver Axe answered.
"Then come," Rocks said, grinning wide.
In the crowd, Ayr couldn't help but smile. "He's actually going through with it… Silver Axe must be out of his mind."
He hadn't expected much, thought maybe there was an emergency on deck. But nope just Silver Axe being crazy.
Still, Ayr was curious. Not about the outcome, he knew who would win, but about what Rocks would show. He wanted to see it for himself. The strength of the man they called the Sea Overlord.
All around the deck, whispers spread.
"It's starting!"
"Silver Axe is really challenging Rocks? This is going to be wild."
"Haven't seen Captain Rocks fight in ages… Wonder if Silver Axe has any chance of getting accepted."
"Get accepted? Come on. He'll be lucky if he survives."
"Maybe if he challenged Edward or Linlin, he'd have a shot. But Rocks? No way."
The crowd gave them space, forming a clear battlefield. Nobody was betting on Silver Axe.
Rocks' legend was carved into their minds. No one dared challenge that.
"Aren't you going to make a move?" Rocks asked, hands behind his back.
Silver Axe said nothing. His eyes sharpened, his grip tightened on the massive axe. Armament Haki coated the weapon in black steel. Then, with a sudden blast of wind, he charged.
For such a large man, he moved like a storm.
In a flash, he was already in front of Rocks.
"Shhkkk!!"
He brought the axe down hard. A deafening roar tore through the air. It felt like the space around them split in half. The force was strong enough to crack mountains, shatter stone, tear the ground apart.
But Rocks didn't flinch. He didn't dodge.
He raised his arm, Haki-clad, and caught the axe bare-handed.
SLAM!
The strike stopped cold.
All that power… blocked like it was nothing.
Silver Axe's eyes widened in disbelief. That was his full strength, everything he had. And it didn't even make Rocks take a step back?
"You've improved since last year," Rocks said flatly. "But if this is your peak… you're not even close."
With a small movement of his arm, he tossed Silver Axe aside like a child's toy.