Chapter 6 – The Monster's Apprentice
The roar of the crowd had only just faded when silence fell upon the plaza. Ren's chest still rose and fell with steady breaths, the lingering adrenaline from his fight simmering beneath his calm exterior. He did not raise his blade again—he simply stood, watching the figures around him as though he already knew what would happen next.
And then came the footsteps.
Clack. Clack. Clack.
The sound carved its way through the silence, each step heavier than the last, until the air itself felt like it was pressing down on Ren's shoulders. Pirates who moments before had been howling insults now fell back, whispering and muttering in hushed tones.
"Rocks…" someone breathed.
Rocks D. Xebec emerged from the shadows of the towering stone archway, his sheer presence dwarfing everything else. His long, untamed hair whipped in the sea breeze, and his broad chest heaved with laughter before his grin stretched into something feral.
"Kuhahaha…!" His voice rolled like thunder, shaking even the most hardened men. "This kid—this brat—just now made me laugh more than any of you lot in the last month!"
Ren met Rocks' gaze without flinching. His fingers tightened slightly on the hilt of his blade, but his face remained calm, composed, unreadable. So this is him… Rocks D. Xebec. The man who once aimed for the throne of the world. If I falter even slightly here… I'm dead.
Shakuyaku, watching from the corner, folded her arms beneath her chest. Though her expression was cool as ever, her eyes betrayed the faintest flicker of curiosity. He doesn't bow. Doesn't tremble. Interesting…
Rocks' grin sharpened. He leaned forward, towering over Ren like a predator sizing up its prey.
"Tell me, brat. What drives you? Glory? Power? Treasure? Or do you just like killing?"
The crowd hushed.
Ren's voice was calm, firm, and steady as he answered.
"…None of those. I fight because I must. Because strength is the only thing this sea respects."
The silence stretched. And then—
"Kuhahahaha!" Rocks' booming laughter erupted, shaking the plaza. "Good! GOOD! You speak like a man who knows the truth of the world! None of these worms get it!"
He turned, glaring at the pirates around them. Many of them flinched away. Then, with a motion faster than expected, he swung his massive arm at Ren.
BOOM!
The ground cracked as Rocks' fist came crashing down like a cannonball. Ren's eyes widened slightly—but his body was already moving.
Think! His mind sharpened, calculating. That arm… too big to block head-on. Step right, angle in—!
He slipped just past the fist, sand and stone exploding into the air where he had stood. Without hesitation, he brought his blade up, slashing at Rocks' arm.
Clang!
The strike landed, sparks flying—yet barely left a scratch. Rocks' grin only widened.
"Good reflexes. But that won't save you if you don't learn to KILL with them!"
Another blow came—this time even faster. Ren ducked, rolled, and sliced upward, but again his blade only grazed the surface of Rocks' monstrous frame.
He's toying with me… no, testing me. He wants to see not just if I fight—but how I think.
Ren's thoughts raced. I can't overpower him. But… I can show him I'm not afraid. That I'll fight until I can't anymore.
With a sharp exhale, Ren darted in again, his movements sharper, calmer, each step guided by precise calculation rather than blind desperation. His Observation Haki flickered, just faintly, warning him of the next strike—and he used it, shifting just enough to avoid the crushing blow.
Rocks barked a laugh. "You've got the eyes already…!"
The clash continued for several minutes, dust and debris clouding the air. When Rocks finally stepped back, his grin was wide enough to split his face.
"Kuhahahaha! You'll do, brat. From today forward… you'll be an apprentice on my ship!"
The plaza erupted in uproar. Some cheered, some cursed, some gnashed their teeth with envy. But none dared to oppose Rocks' declaration.
Ren straightened, blade lowered, chest heaving with quiet breaths. He did not smile, did not gloat. He only met Rocks' gaze with calm acceptance.
"…Then I'll grow strong enough not to disappoint you."
Shakuyaku's lips curled into the faintest, rarest smile. So… he passed even Rocks' test. Just what kind of man are you, Ren?
And in that moment, Ren's path truly changed. No longer just a boy with a system—he was now bound to one of history's greatest monsters.
But whether that path led to ruin… or to legend… remained to be seen.