Perhaps because only the two of them were present, Fang Huo dropped all pretenses—no clever chief strategist, no flamboyant Supreme Great Succubus, no ambition for the first mate's seat… that's all others see in Fang Huo.
"worororo, honestly, being my first mate does slightly insult your talent."
"I don't know what your star‑sea is."
"But you still haven't awakened Conqueror's Haki, and you want to be first mate?"
"You want Newgate to stay like Whale Pirates, caring about that Captain's face, while suppressing your own talent…"
"If you haven't awakened Conqueror's Haki and your strength is insufficient, I will never allow you to become first mate!"
"Otherwise Newgate and Linlin's talents might be affected by you, a weak‑willed first mate!"
"If you truly want to be a hobby‑driven first mate, you must awaken Three Types of Haki and surpass Newgate's strength!"
Rocks stepped toward Fang Huo, his Conqueror's Haki becoming ever more terrifying, nearly crushing Fang Huo into unconsciousness.
Rocks had long wanted to fully exploit Fang Huo's potential, but couldn't find the right moment.
Today, taking advantage of Shiki, Linlin, and Newgate's 'rebellion', he would let Fang Huo truly feel death.
"Fang Huo, today I'll tell you: if strength can't keep up with ambition, you will truly die!"
Rocks' terrifying Conqueror's Haki was laced with icy murderous intent; he seemed genuinely intent on killing Fang Huo.
"Ants still dream of immortality? Kozuki Fang Huo! You're too arrogant!"
Rocks swung a blade at the steadfast Fang Huo, his eyes void of any emotion, only endless coldness and brutality.
Fang Huo, possessing a slight foresight ability, thought he controlled everything, yet he still hadn't witnessed the sea's cruelty.
Fang Huo didn't expect Rocks to truly develop murderous intent toward him!
"Damned!"
"I'll really die!"
Under Rocks' icy murderous intent, Fang Huo's pupils shrank to a pinpoint of black light, his whole body stiffened, his eyes filled with resentment.
How could this happen!
"I can't die!"
The sudden death crisis left Fang Huo no time to think; he instinctively fought back desperately.
He struggled wildly, trying to break through Rocks' crushing Conqueror's Haki.
When Rocks' gibecks sword swung before Fang Huo's eyes, the ultimate death sensation triggered a ferocious surge, and he tore away from the Conqueror's Haki, tilting his head aside.
Even if a shoulder were sliced off, he could not die!
The lightning‑fast swing of the gibecks sword, imbued with savage power, struck Fang Huo's shoulder, spraying blood instantly.
Yet, amidst Rocks' reckless laughter, the blade barely missed his bone.
"worororo! See, it's awakened!"
"You cunning, over‑thinking scoundrel, you can't squeeze out potential without dying at least once!"
Rocks sheathed the gibecks sword, and his ferocious Conqueror's Haki and murderous intent dissipated quickly.
Fang Huo thinks too much; his overactive mind makes awakening Conqueror's Haki even harder than for Newgate and Shiki.
To let Fang Huo taste death, Rocks truly showed no mercy earlier; if Fang Huo hadn't awakened Conqueror's Haki, Rocks would have at least left him gravely wounded.
"Ho~ Ho~"
Fang Huo gasped heavily, collapsing on the ground, his contracted pupils still trembling, as if he hadn't yet recovered from the death crisis.
"Rocks, you bastard!!"
Fang Huo lay on the ground cursing loudly; the sudden assault had made him break out in cold sweat.
"Don't take cheap tricks and act cute!"
"If I hadn't thought on my feet, you scheming conspirator who toys with other Executives would never have known how long it would take to awaken Conqueror's Haki."
Rocks laughed heartily, sitting beside Fang Huo, watching the disheveled youngster.
Now that Fang Huo has awakened Conqueror's Haki, making him first mate is not impossible.
Of course, the prerequisite remains Fang Huo's strength—he must completely surpass Newgate, Shiki, and Linlin.
Only if Fang Huo is stronger than the three will Rocks consider appointing him first mate.
Otherwise Fang Huo's power would affect Newgate.
Newgate is still too sentimental.
"You almost sliced me to death just now!"
Fang Huo cursed, feeling a hundred times more desperate than when CP Agent hauled him onto Mary Geoise.
He had thought Rocks, suddenly gone mad, would finish him off.
"Anyway, thanks..."
Fang Huo sensed his newly acquired power; his grudge against Rocks began to fade.
He had originally planned to spend years awakening Three Types of Haki.
But under Rocks' sudden assault, that goal was achieved ahead of schedule.
The process was a bit life‑costing, though.
"worororo, sometimes getting stronger is that simple and direct!"
Rocks flashed his immaculate white teeth; now Fang Huo has awakened Conqueror's Haki.
That means he now commands four Conqueror's Haki wielders!
A genius who awakens Conqueror's Haki will grow far faster than other Executives.
"Then bring Fierce and Ganzi over."
Fang Huo couldn't help but complain; he truly thought he was about to die.
"They're different; their qualifications, ambition, and spirit haven't reached the awakening threshold."
"You and Shiki have already hit the critical line, so I could act against you."
Rocks replied calmly; talent is innate, but ambition and spirit depend on personal growth and experience.
He knew Fang Huo's ambition was huge, even greater than his goal of overthrowing the world's king, Imu.
Thus Fang Huo's will and belief far surpass Shiki and Newgate.
Even if Fang Huo's constitution is slightly weaker, he can still awaken Conqueror's Haki.
"Stop the nonsense, bring those guys back quickly, or everyone will think we're having an internal feud and disbanding!"
After a brief pause, Fang Huo immediately commanded Rocks; even if he isn't first mate, the Captain must obey his chief strategist and Prophet.
"worororo, give them a harsh lesson this time so they'll keep striving to get stronger!"
Rocks chuckled wickedly; even if those guys awaken Conqueror's Haki, they're still many ranks below his level.
Rocks could cut down each youngster with a single swing, effortlessly.
At this moment, on a ruin of Paradise Island...
Pineapple Head Bolo Gram rescued the gravely wounded Whitebeard Newgate.
"Tsk tsk, another Conqueror's Haki. How many of your Rocks Pirates have Executives with king's qualification?"
"Truly the world's number one pirate crew!"
Bolo Gram glanced at the Skull Castle riddled with massive cracks; this was the fifth Conqueror's Haki on the skull's eye.
"Who awakened it? Was it Fang Huo?"
Newgate's eyes also lit up; besides Fang Huo, he couldn't imagine anyone else—certainly not Fierce, Babel, or Ganzi.
"Fang Huo? Your first mate? The 4 billion‑strong Supreme Great Succubus, Great Demon Venerable Kozuki Fang Huo?"
Bolo Gram was a bit surprised; the Rocks Pirates' first mate only just awakened Conqueror's Haki?
He still remembered Fang Huo's god‑like demeanor from earlier, truly awe‑inspiring.
Really both strong, handsome, and magnificent...---