At the port of Beehive Island, a large ship set sail.
Roya stood at the stern, waving to the people on the dock.
"Dylan! I'm counting on you to watch the house! Don't forget what I told you!"
On the dock, Dylan bowed slightly in acknowledgment.
"What are you planning this time?"
Behind him, Rocks, who was slouched in a large chair at the center of the deck, spoke without turning his head.
"Boy, you'd better behave. I don't want to see a repeat of last year's fiasco!"
"Captain, don't underestimate me,"
Roya turned around and protested. "I'm not a six-year-old anymore! I'd never do something so childish again!"
...Though to be honest, it wasn't childish at all.
Or maybe it was because he was too bored, that last year, Roya had organized a rather unique event: a battle royale on Beehive Island.
Four pirate crews were selected as prey, and then every pirate on the island was mobilized to hunt them down. It could be considered an unforgettable contribution to world peace.
Of course, Peace Envoy Roya also got a great feast and had a blast.
Unfortunately, the pirates got too excited and caused massive damage to Beehive Island. Rocks ended up beating Roya half to death afterward.
"It better stay that way,"
Rocks snorted.
Also snorting nearby was Whitebeard, silently drinking on the side of the boat.
Everyone knew Roya too well.
That kid was a natural-born menace. Not many people could treat others' suffering like it was entertainment—without a shred of malice.
Whitebeard despised this about him.
Rocks, on the other hand, loved it.
"Who doesn't know that I, Roya, am the most well-behaved seven-year-old in the Rocks Pirates?"
Roya grinned brightly.
"You little brat!"
Rocks couldn't help but laugh.
The Rocks Pirates only had one child, and he was this kind of child.
"Be prepared. Once the war starts, there's no escaping it," said the world's most dangerous man.
"Eh? But I'm just a kid."
Roya complained, "I'll definitely get killed right away."
Sorry, Captain. I told Dylan to prepare… but it was for the day the Rocks Pirates fall apart.
You probably can't topple the World Government. You're not going to become King of the World.
"Quit whining. You're a cadre under my command!"
Rocks snorted again. "If you don't want to die, then get stronger!"
"Oh!"
Roya's eyes lit up. "Captain, can I host a few more events on Beehive Island?"
"Do you have a death wish?"
Rocks stood up and looked back at Roya irritably. "Instead of spouting nonsense, show me how much stronger you've gotten!"
"Oh! Captain, are you going to train me again?"
Roya's eyes sparkled. "You care so much about me! Do you want me to inherit the Rocks Pirates?"
Whitebeard twitched. What kind of crap was this kid spewing now?
Even an idiot knew the Rocks Pirates only existed because of Rocks.
"Inherit?"
Rocks sneered, his hand gripping the hilt of the sword at his waist.
"I don't need a successor! When I die, the whole damn world can drown for all I care!"
"Is that so?"
Roya looked disappointed. "If I can't inherit the Rocks Pirates, it'll be hard to fulfill my dream…"
"Your dream?"
Rocks raised a brow. "What kind of dream could you possibly have?"
"Well…"
Roya scratched the back of his head awkwardly. "It's kinda embarrassing, but I want to become a gourmet and try all the delicacies of the world."
Rocks was stunned.
Then—
"Hahahahahahahaha!"
The man who ruled the New World laughed so hard he nearly fell over.
"You little bastard… you really are something!"
Whitebeard pursed his lips, glaring at Roya with more disgust than ever.
This kid was beyond redemption—a true menace to the world.
"After I take over the world, I'll grant your wish!"
Rocks said boldly, "But only if you don't let me down!"
"Captain, you're too generous!"
Roya beamed. "Then just watch me perform!"
Dark black hair surged out from his body, and in the next instant, Roya lunged toward Rocks.
Strictly speaking, Rocks was not a good teacher.
In fact, most wild-born pirates weren't. Even Rayleigh only taught Luffy the basics of Haki.
The infamous "teacher" Kaido used a giant iron club and expected his students to just figure it out.
Likewise, Rocks trained Roya the same way Shiki did—through combat.
The only difference was that Shiki used dual swords, while Rocks wielded just one.
But to Roya, it didn't matter. One sword, two swords—as long as it could kill, he could handle it.
Beehive Island wasn't far from Elbaf.
After about a week at sea, their ship reached the waters near the Giant Kingdom.
But just then—an unexpected encounter.
"Oh?"
Roya stood atop the sail boom, peering through a telescope at a distant ship.
"It's a warship!"
The blue hull and the large Justice insignia on the sail made it obvious—it was a Navy vessel.
"They've got some nerve, Captain!"
Roya shouted, "Daring to enter our territory! Don't they know the New World belongs to the Rocks Pirates?!"
"That's right,"
Rocks took a swig of wine. "Boy, go deal with them."
"Huh?"
Roya pointed to himself. "Me?"
He waved his hands frantically. "I can't! If they're this deep in the New World, Sengoku or Garp might be aboard!"
"Relax,"
Rocks said casually. "It's just a surveillance ship. Nobodies."
Oh?
So he already scanned them with Observation Haki?
In this world, strong fighters couldn't suppress their presence like the Z-Fighters in Dragon Ball. Skilled users of Observation Haki could sense someone's strength at a glance.
In that case… it's feeding time!
A moment later, a black tiger with wings soared from the deck into the sky.
On the distant warship, chaos erupted.
"It's the Rocks Pirates! That's their main ship!!"
"Damn it! Of all the ships we could've run into, it had to be theirs!"
"Rocks might be onboard! We're done for!"
The supposedly elite marines were panicking.
"Quiet!!"
A stern voice roared. A man with the rank of Vice Admiral stepped forward.
"Panic will only make it worse!"
Damn it, he thought. We're supposed to be far from Beehive Island! Why now?!
"Hard turn! Full speed ahead!"
"We copy, Vice Admiral Johnson!"
The panicking sailors regained their senses and rushed to turn the ship and flee.
But then—
"Excuse me, everyone."
A young voice echoed from above. "The captain asked me to deal with you."
"Who?!"
Vice Admiral Johnson looked up.
A black-winged tiger hovered in the sky, calmly staring down at them.
"You're…!"
Johnson's pupils shrank. "Black Tiger Roya!!"
In the sky, Roya frowned.
"Could someone PLEASE call Marine HQ and change that nickname? Do you know how much trauma an ugly nickname like that causes a seven-year-old?"
Vice Admiral?
Don't recognize him in this life or the last. Guess he's just another nobody.
No problem.
As everyone knew, most Marine vice admirals were glorified cannon fodder. Your average HQ vice admiral was just a stepping stone—destined to be kicked around and humiliated.
Still, Johnson didn't let his guard down.
Black Tiger Roya.
The youngest member of the Rocks Pirates.
A trainee on par with Kaido, with a bounty already at 300 million Berries at only seven years old.
Even Charlotte Linlin hadn't been that terrifying at his age.
"Prepare for battle!"
The order roared out, and the marines raised their weapons at Roya in the sky.
"No need to act tough,"
Roya's eyes turned black and white.
"I can see your fear."
Suddenly, a shadow of darkness spread through the pupils of the marines.
Then—
"Waaaaaaaah!"
An overwhelming wave of fear crashed down on them.
Marines screamed. Many collapsed in tears, some even soiling themselves. None dared look up.
"What the hell…?!"
Johnson's face twisted in horror.
This is Black Tiger Roya's ability?!
"Hm? Still standing?"
Roya observed the marines who hadn't passed out.
"Not bad. You regulars are better trained than pirates."
"Then allow me to give you a special treat."
Bronze lines glowed along the large horns atop his head.
"Navy… have you ever seen an attack from the heavens?"
Johnson heard the whisper.
He looked up.
And his pupils shrank to pinpoints.
Above—
A massive fireball streaked down from the sky.
No—not a fireball.
A meteorite. A real, burning meteor with a blazing tail of flames.
Roya had summoned a meteor.
(Make sure to give Powerstones if cool)