The Black Pearl's cabin was not large, so once he made his move, he would quickly be exposed.
"Forget the treasure, kill those two brats first!"
Red Heart Pirates captain Bennett shouted.
But the Red Heart Pirates' crew members were all captivated by the treasure before them. Even after hearing their captain's orders, they were reluctant to let go of the treasure in their hands.
"Newgate, block the path above!"
"Got it!"
The Black Pearl's cabin passage could allow two people of normal build to pass through, but when fourteen-year-old Newgate stood there, he completely blocked the entire path.
"When the old man comes back, I am definitely going to get beaten."
Seeing Newgate lift Silas's bed to block the cabin passage, Rocks grimaced but did not blame him.
Without using the cabin's terrain to their advantage, the two of them defeating an entire pirate crew would be impossible. But now, with Newgate blocking the path, the entire Red Heart Pirates crew was split in two.
The strongest member, Bennett, was blocked outside.
Inside were only a few Red Heart Pirates lackeys, hardly worth fearing.
"Damn brat, seeking death!"
Seeing Rocks ambush and kill a Red Heart Pirates crew member, the two nearest pirates flew into a rage. While stuffing jewels into their pockets, they charged at Rocks.
At the same time, after realizing something was wrong, the Red Heart Pirates crew members outside also began ramming the blocked cabin passage.
"Must finish this quickly!"
Using Shave from the Six Powers, Rocks moved through the cabin like lightning. The Red Heart Pirates crew trapped in the cabin only saw a black shadow constantly flickering before them.
One pirate was sent flying before he could react.
"Brat, do not underestimate me!"
One of the three strongest members besides the Red Heart Pirates captain, a fat man nearly three meters tall, roared and charged at Rocks like a human cannonball.
In the cramped cabin, Rocks had nowhere to dodge.
"Iron Body!"
With a dull impact sound, the fat pirate collided heavily with Rocks. But after using Iron Body, Rocks made the fat pirate feel like he had hit an iron wall.
Rocks was only knocked back two or three meters, leaving two long grooves in the shattered floor with his feet, but the fat pirate's obese body was almost deformed.
"Iron Body Impact!"
Sensing the moment when the fat pirate's strength was exhausted, Rocks switched from defense to offense. His muscular arm gleamed with a metallic luster.
Bang!
With one punch, the fat pirate collapsed to the side like a deflated balloon.
Vaguely, Rocks seemed to grasp something important.
"Just a little more."
No time to think further, because Newgate could no longer hold his position.
"Retreat!"
After hearing Rocks's words, following their original plan, Newgate fell back while Rocks moved forward, helping the larger fighter retreat first.
But what neither expected was thick smoke suddenly pouring in through the cabin's ventilation opening, eventually taking human form.
"You two brats, did you really think you could beat me?"
Red Heart Pirates captain Bennett cursed furiously.
His 30 million Belly bounty was naturally due to his sufficient strength.
"I am a smoke man who ate the Smoke-Smoke Fruit, the strongest Logia type among Devil Fruits! Combined with my specially made gun, even great pirates might not be my match!"
As he spoke, Bennett pointed his gun at Newgate, who was right in front of him.
Bang!
The gunshot rang out. Unable to dodge, Newgate could only raise his arm to block.
But the expected pain did not come.
"Smoke man? Just a petty thief who steals when others are not around!"
Even using Iron Body could not block Bennett's bullet. Though his arm was bloody and mangled, Rocks showed no fear on his face.
"A piece of trash like you does not compare to a single hair of those great pirates!"
"Damn brat!"
Hearing Rocks's words, Bennett flew into a rage and pointed his gun at Rocks again.
"At this close distance, you think I will let you fire?"
Rocks kicked Bennett's hand, sending his gun flying. But just as he tried to continue his attack, he kicked through empty air.
"Haha, brat! I am a Logia fruit user. All physical attacks are useless against me!"
Rocks's kick had passed right through Bennett's body, but Bennett suffered no damage. Instead, he extended his hand, turning his arm into thick smoke to retrieve the fallen gun.
"Die!"
At the moment when Rocks's old strength was exhausted and new strength had not yet emerged, after discovering his attacks were ineffective, Bennett's body passed directly through Rocks, pinning him firmly to the ground.
Just as Bennett was about to fire...
"Ahhhhhhh!"
Newgate's roar came from beside Rocks and Bennett. Silas's bed was lifted directly by Newgate and swung like a weapon toward Bennett.
"It is useless, I am a..."
Bennett had wanted to say he was a Logia fruit user, but what shook him was not the bed frame. It was the gust of wind Newgate created while swinging the bed.
Bennett was blown away directly by this wind!
"Hah... hah..."
Having suddenly burst out with strength far beyond his normal state, Newgate sat down heavily and looked at Rocks.
"Now I do not owe you anything!"
"Tsk."
Hearing Newgate's words, Rocks showed an annoyed expression but had to admit that without Newgate just now, if Bennett's bullet had hit his head, he would have been severely injured if not killed.
"What should we do now?"
Newgate asked worriedly. He knew about Logia Devil Fruits. They were not powers ordinary people like them could handle.
"You block the other pirates. I will deal with that smoke bastard!"
"You have a way to deal with ability users?"
"Yes!"
Rocks nodded firmly.
Silas had once said that no matter what strange abilities existed in this world, as long as they came from Devil Fruits, they could be countered by Haki.
He had boasted to Silas before that he could master Haki in two months at most, but now it had been nearly three months.
"Haki can only be mastered in battle!"
Remembering Silas's words, Rocks no longer felt any fear.
At the harbor, Silas and Ripley stood on high ground watching the battle between Rocks and Bennett.
Although Bennett was a Logia fruit user, the Smoke-Smoke Fruit, which could only show off in the first half of the Grand Line, was not worth Silas's attention.
What he cared about was the figure behind Rocks, helping him block the other pirates.
System text appeared after a long absence.
Sea Calendar 1481, February. You have encountered the future Sea Emperor, Whitebeard Edward Newgate. He greatly admires your crew member Rocks and solemnly extends an invitation to you.
"Become my son!"
Accept/Decline?
[Chapter Complete]
***
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