Chapter 7 – The Cadre's Glare
The plaza had not yet recovered from Rocks' booming laughter when silence once again rolled across Hachinosu. His words echoed in every ear:
"From today forward… you're MY apprentice!"
The declaration carried weight heavier than cannon fire. Pirates who had spent their lives clawing for scraps of Rocks' attention stared with a mixture of envy, disbelief, and outright hatred. Some spat curses, others laughed bitterly, but none dared speak against him—not openly.
Ren stood still, blade lowered but not sheathed. His chest rose and fell steadily, though his limbs ached from Rocks' blows. Every fiber of his body screamed to collapse, yet his face remained composed.
It's not enough to survive his test, Ren thought, eyes cold as he observed the sea of hostile stares. Now comes the harder part—surviving the monsters around him.
Behind the crowd, Shakuyaku's lips curved into the faintest smirk. She didn't cheer, didn't scoff—she simply exhaled a thin trail of smoke and muttered to herself.
"…Interesting."
Rocks turned his back with a booming laugh. "Kuhahahaha! You worms, stop gaping like fish! You heard me. This brat belongs to me now. Any problem with that?"
The silence that followed wasn't agreement—it was fear.
But among the gathered monsters, several pairs of eyes burned hotter than the rest. They stood apart from the mob, their presences as heavy as anchors dragging the atmosphere down.
A towering young man with rippling muscles, a jagged scar already etched across his chest, his face fierce and wild. Kaido, not yet a legend, but already exuding the raw power of a beast.
A massive figure with a broad chest and long golden hair, crossing his arms, eyes sharp yet oddly calm. Edward Newgate—Whitebeard.
A woman whose girth was matched only by her sharp, mocking smile. Her laugh rumbled deep in her throat. Charlotte Linlin—Big Mom.
Others lingered too: Wang Zhi with his long mustache, Silver Axe leaning lazily against a wall, Captain John drinking from a bottle with a wicked grin.
These were the cadres of the Rocks Pirates. The monsters beneath the monster.
And now, all their glares converged on one boy.
Ren felt the weight pressing down. His system chimed in his mind, its cold text appearing before his eyes:
> [System Quest Triggered]
Quest: Survive among the Rocks Pirates for 7 days.
Objective: Avoid death at the hands of cadres or challengers.
Reward: Martial Arts (Lv.1), Observation Haki (Lv.2).
Penalty: Death.
Ren's jaw tightened. So the system won't let me rest either. Seven days in a den of predators who'd rather eat me alive than share a drink. Fitting.
Rocks turned back briefly, his grin sharp. "Oi, brat. You'll walk with me. The rest of you—clear out!"
The plaza broke into scattered noise as pirates dispersed. Some shoved past each other, muttering about Rocks' insanity. Others eyed Ren like a piece of meat they'd taste later.
Ren followed Rocks, his steps even and measured despite the storm of gazes boring into his back. He could feel them—Kaido's hungry curiosity, Linlin's mocking interest, Whitebeard's silent observation. Each glance was a blade at his throat.
Inside the great hall of Hachinosu, the air grew heavier still. The cadres had followed. They stood like mountains around the central table, waiting for Rocks to speak.
The captain dropped into his massive chair, laughter still bubbling from his chest. "Kuhahahaha! Now then… let's see how long this brat lasts."
Ren bowed his head slightly—not out of fear, but as acknowledgement. Then, slowly, he raised his eyes and met the stares of the monsters one by one. Calm. Cold. Calculating.
Kaido. Young, reckless, bloodthirsty. He respects strength above all.
Whitebeard. Observant. He won't move without reason. Best not to provoke him.
Big Mom. Dangerous in every sense. Mockery hides cruelty. Stay wary.
The others… unpredictable. Each one waiting for me to trip.
He exhaled slowly, steadying his breath. The system wants me to survive seven days. That means I will. Piece by piece, move by move. Calculation over chaos.
Whitebeard's deep voice broke the silence first. "Rocks. You're serious about this?"
"Kuhahahaha! Dead serious," Rocks barked. "The brat's got guts. More than most of you when I first dragged you in!"
Linlin chuckled darkly, her eyes sliding over Ren like a blade. "Mama mama… guts are tasty, but guts alone don't keep you alive. Tell me, little boy… how long before you're crushed underfoot?"
Ren's lips curved faintly. "That depends. How long before someone wastes their energy trying to crush me and fails?"
The hall grew still.
Kaido threw his head back and barked a laugh. "Hah! Not bad, brat. Not bad at all!"
But Silver Axe sneered, stepping forward. "Bold words. Let's see if you can back them up."
Rocks waved a hand lazily, grin sharp. "Go on then. Entertain me."
Ren's hand slid to his blade once more, his eyes narrowing.
Another test. So soon. Then let's make it count.
The hall's tension thickened as Silver Axe's voice echoed, his lips curling in disdain.
"Rocks, this is a waste of time. A brat like him has no place here. He'll be dead before the week is done. Let me prove it."
Rocks leaned back in his massive chair, eyes glinting with mischief. "Kuhahahaha… very well. But don't kill him outright. I want to see if the brat bites back."
A ripple of amusement swept through the hall. Kaido grinned wolfishly, Linlin giggled with cruel delight, and Whitebeard's brows furrowed just slightly.
Silver Axe clicked his tongue. "Oi, Taro! Get in here!"
From the corner of the hall, a hulking pirate stepped forward—one of Silver Axe's most loyal hounds. His frame was bulky, arms thick as barrels, and his teeth were bared in a predator's grin. A scar cut across his cheek, and his eyes burned with eagerness to please his master.
Ren adjusted his stance. The weight of the gazes around him pressed harder than the opponent's presence. Each cadre's eyes judged him—not as an equal, but as prey.
Calm. Don't let them smell fear. I can't overpower him. I need to outthink him.
The system's cold text flashed across his mind.
> [Sub-Quest Triggered]
Defeat Silver Axe's challenger in front of the cadres.
Reward: +1 Swordsmanship Mastery, +50 Stat Points.
Penalty: Severe Injury.
Ren exhaled quietly. Perfect. Another step forward.
Taro cracked his knuckles, grin widening. "I'll crush your bones, brat. Then we'll see if Rocks still laughs at you."
Ren's voice was calm, almost indifferent. "Try it."
The man lunged, his fists swinging like hammers. The floor cracked under his charge, debris scattering.
Fast for his size, Ren noted, body shifting just as the fist slammed down. The impact shook the hall, dust rising in a choking cloud. Ren slipped past, blade flashing. His strike aimed low—not at the chest, but at the leg, where movement mattered.
Clang! The blade bit, but shallow. Taro snarled, turning with surprising speed, elbow driving toward Ren's head.
Observation Haki flickered faintly, a whisper in Ren's mind. Left—! He dropped low, the elbow grazing air, and retaliated with a sharp slash across the arm.
The cadres leaned forward slightly. Kaido grinned wider. Linlin licked her lips. Whitebeard's eyes narrowed in silence.
Rocks chuckled. "Heh. The brat can dance."
Taro roared, blood trickling from his arm, rage overtaking him. "You little—!"
He charged again, fists blurring in a storm of heavy blows. Ren's mind sharpened. Strength is his weapon. But strength without thought is predictable. Watch. Calculate. Counter.
He sidestepped one strike, then another, letting the man's weight overextend him. With a sudden shift, Ren angled his blade and struck—not for flesh this time, but the floor.
CRACK!
Wood splintered under Taro's foot as it landed in the weakened spot. His balance faltered for a split second—enough.
Ren's blade flashed upward, precise and ruthless.
A deep gash opened across Taro's side. The man howled, collapsing to his knees, blood soaking the floor.
Ren straightened, chest rising and falling in calm rhythm. His blade pointed down, its tip dripping scarlet. His gaze was steady as he looked at Silver Axe's man.
"…Predictable."
The hall was silent for a breath.
Then laughter erupted.
"Kuhahahahahaha!" Rocks' booming voice shook the walls. "Did you see that?! The brat broke him down piece by piece!"
Kaido's grin split wider. "He's got teeth after all!"
Linlin tilted her head, mockery softening into faint curiosity. "Mama mama… not bad for a little morsel."
Silver Axe's glare burned hotter, but he said nothing. His man lay broken at Ren's feet, and the hall knew the outcome.
Ren exhaled, sheathing his blade with measured calm. His thoughts raced beneath the surface. One victory doesn't mean safety. I've only painted a target brighter on my back. Now I need to last six more days.
The system chimed in his mind.
> [Quest Completed]
Reward: +1 Swordsmanship Mastery
Reward: +50 Stat Points
Current Stats Updated.
Ren clenched his fist slightly, feeling the subtle shift of power within. Step by step. I'll carve my place here.
Whitebeard finally spoke, voice low and rumbling. "…Not just guts. The brat's got a brain."
Rocks grinned wider, his laughter echoing again. "Exactly! That's why he's mine. He'll grow sharper than any of you realize."
Shakuyaku, watching from the corner, tapped ash from her cigarette. Her expression remained cool, but her eyes lingered on Ren longer than before. So you can survive even here. Interesting… very interesting.
And so, the boy had passed yet another test. But in the den of monsters, tests never ended.
The night deepened aboard the Rocks Pirates' flagship, the deck quiet save for the groan of wood and the whisper of waves. Most of the crew had retired, drunk on liquor and bloodlust, but Ren remained awake.
He stood near the rail, staring at the horizon where the moonlight silvered the sea. His mind replayed Kaido's grin, Whitebeard's approving silence, and Rocks' sharp, calculating eyes. That moment—when he'd acted without hesitation and forced even monsters to acknowledge him—had not been a fleeting spark. It was a flame, demanding to be fed.
Behind him, footsteps approached.
"Still awake?" Shakuyaku's voice broke the silence, smooth yet edged with curiosity.
Ren didn't turn. "Sleep can wait. Opportunities can't."
She leaned on the railing beside him, her eyes reflecting the moonlight. "Careful with that fire, Ren. The crew will notice. Rocks already has. And once he sees value, he doesn't let go… not without taking something in return."
Ren finally glanced at her, his lips curving into the faintest smirk. "Then I'll make sure what he takes is worth more than what he gives. I'm not here to just follow—I'll carve a place even Rocks can't ignore."
For a long moment, Shakuyaku studied him, the sea breeze tugging at her dark hair. Then, quietly, she chuckled. "Ambition suits you. But remember… ambition draws blades."
Her warning lingered, carried away by the wind.
Ren looked back to the endless sea, determination hardening in his gaze. "Then let them draw. I'll cut through every last one."