At the port of the Kingdom of Ying.
The moment the soldiers on shore spotted the pirate ship, the alarm was sounded.
Any nation that can stand firm in the New World is no pushover.
They possess the might to repel most pirate crews!
Take the Prodence Kingdom of the New World: its royal family, the Elizabellos, command the "King Punch," a charge-up martial art
with the power to raze a fortress in a single blow.
That the General of the Kingdom of Ying can wield the Supreme Grade blade Murakumogiri without it being snatched by other Great Pirates proves his formidable strength and deterrent force.
Such sirens are nothing unusual to the Kingdom of Ying's citizens.
After all, every now and then, some greenhorn pirate crew that just entered the New World tries to assault their nation.
But with Great General Kusanagi Oda around, pirate invasions hold no terror.
Yet when the soldiers finally read the name on the pirate ship, fear twisted every face.
On the black sail, bold letters proclaimed: ROCKS D. XEBEC.
It was the vessel of the "World's Worst Pirate"—Rocks himself!
"No good! It's Rocks, the Great Pirate who slew an Admiral!"
"Inform General Kusanagi at once!"
"We're doomed! Why would Rocks come to the Kingdom of Ying?!"
The mere terror of Rocks's name had the soldiers on the verge of collapse.
"Worororo! See that? This is what fame gets you!"
"Crush a few big shots, and you'll spread dread—and raise your bounties to boot!"
Rocks planted a foot on the prow, drinking in the island's chaos as he boasted to his crew.
"That's the infamy of the man who killed an Admiral!"
"Silver Axe"s eyes gleamed behind dark shades; he couldn't beat an Admiral, but a Vice Admiral might do.
Or some other Great Pirate!
According to the first "small target" set by Chief Strategist Fang Huo,
their bounties had to surpass Charlotte Linlin's five-hundred-million bounty fast.
Otherwise, how could they claim to be the world's strongest crew?
How dare they call themselves an all-star lineup of villains?
With the crew growing, Rocks already wanted the deckhands and galley boys tossed overboard.
Though the small fry begged to stay,
they were too weak—Rocks wouldn't have them.
Only because no officer would stoop to chores or cooking, and Sunbell's food tasted awful,
did those deckhands remain aboard.
Once a decent cook shipped out, those grunts would be gone.
Thinking of that, Rocks considered snatching Charlotte Linlin early.
The strongest female pirate traveled with "Gourmet Knight" Streusen.
He could nab two pirates in one swoop!
For this, he'd even sought Fang Huo's opinion.
Fang Huo said: once Newgate claims Murakumogiri, they could go after Charlotte Linlin.
A talent like her might be better molded while still young.
Given that her eldest son, Charlotte Perospero, was born when Linlin was eighteen, the woman had already fallen to the dwarf Streusen at seventeen.
Perospero and Streusen share that long-nosed look.
A schemer like Streusen would surely covet Linlin's mighty bloodline.
Fang Huo wanted to raise her himself, lest the "Iron Balloon" be warped and ruined by Streusen.
While she was still young, they might even curb her dream of birthing a myriad of species.
Aboard the Saber of Xebec.
"Oi, Rocks, this is my battlefield!"
Newgate glared, irked that Rocks was stealing the spotlight.
This time, he was the one raiding the Kingdom of Ying's national treasure, beating its General, and seizing Murakumogiri.
No way would he let Rocks hog the glory!
"Worororo, big name, bigger draw!"
"If you don't like it, raise your bounty and fame to match mine!"
Rocks grinned; the Rocks Pirates' reputation rested on him—Fang Huo and Newgate were still rookies!
"Hmph! It's only a matter of time!" Newgate snorted.
Meanwhile, the island opened fire; countless shells and bullets poured out as if money were no object.
They would sink this dreaded pirate ship before it could land.
"Stand back—all of you! I've got this!"
Newgate leapt onto the rail and punched the incoming barrage.
In an instant, shockwaves shattered and detonated every shell in mid-air.
The terrifying tremor kept tearing toward the port.
A violent quake rocked the island; the entire harbor shook, buildings collapsed, and the earth split.
Smoke and dust billowed sky-high.
"Worororo! No wonder they call it the mightiest Paramecia power!"
Even Rocks was stunned by the Tremor-Tremor Fruit's devastation.
Yet raw destruction wasn't what he needed against Imu.
Thus, the Tremor-Tremor Fruit wasn't a must-have for him.
"Absolutely insane!"
"Golden Lion" Shiki watched Newgate's large-scale ruin for the first time.
It was nothing like their usual spars.
"Hmph! Lucky bastard, landing such a fearsome power!"
"Silver Axe" envied both Newgate's Tremor-Tremor and Shiki's Float-Float abilities.
Above all, he coveted Fang Huo's freakish multi-Devil Fruit gift!
That mutation made even Rocks and Shiki green with envy.
How could anyone possess a talent that dwarfed Charlotte Linlin's "Iron Balloon" by ten- or a hundred-fold?
Now Kyo, too, wanted a mighty Devil Fruit to boost himself!
"Damn pirates!!!"
A furious roar echoed from the island as a colossal flying slash shot straight for the Saber of Xebec.
"Gurarara, that my blade?"
Newgate sprang forth, a mighty shockwave punch slamming into the slash.
"Boom!!"
Blade aura and tremor clashed violently.
Seas pulled back, coastlines buckled, space quaked—Newgate scattered the slash and charged the swordsman on shore.
"Boys, kill!"
"Loot 'em dry!"
Rocks swept out his sword and led the charge into the Kingdom of Ying for plunder.
While Newgate hunted his Supreme Grade blade, the rest would grab whatever treasure they fancied.
Facing the threat of being booted off, Sunbell lunged at the samurai troops, eager to clash with their strongest.
The great battle erupted in a flash.
Calling it a "great" battle flatters it—no one could blunt the Rocks Pirates' edge.
"Feast to your fill!"
Fang Huo loosed a swarm of Blood Shadow Bats to drain the samurai, stockpiling life and power for himself.
If he could add a talent-boosting effect like the "Blood-Head Gu," the skill would be perfect.