The fierce battle between Charlotte Linlin and Wang Zhi far exceeded everyone's expectations.
Even Shiki was startled by the girl's ferocity.
It was a terrifying, island-destroying-level fight.
The two of them had completely demolished the Wang Zhi Pirates' headquarters.
Wang Zhi was utterly frustrated. He had already mentally prepared himself to join the Rocks Pirates.
'Why did it have to come to this?'
'Was this a fight to the death?'
'Didn't Rocks want to recruit me?'
The longer the fight went on, the more flustered Wang Zhi became. He considered voluntarily conceding and taking the opportunity to join the Rocks Pirates.
He no longer wanted to fight Rocks directly to raise his status.
"If I defeat you, Ignis will become my good friend!"
Charlotte Linlin seemed to have made defeating Wang Zhi a prerequisite for getting information about Mother Carmel.
"Damn it! You fatso! Get lost!!"
Wang Zhi's Armament Haki fist collided with Charlotte's fist, but his own fist contorted in pain.
"So hard!"
Wang Zhi didn't expect Charlotte Linlin's skin to be tougher than his own Armament Haki.
'What kind of monster was she?'
'How did Rocks manage to recruit so many monstrous prodigies?'
"Don't call me fat!"
Charlotte Linlin was angry. She was already unhappy that Ignis said she needed to lose weight.
She actually wanted to change her figure now, so she was sensitive to words like 'fat'.
Boom!! Boom!!
Charlotte Linlin's every punch carried terrifying brute force, blasting giant craters into the ground and sending cracks spreading across the land.
The lightning and firepower from her Homies made Wang Zhi dodge in embarrassment.
No one expected that the 'Iron Balloon' Charlotte Linlin, with a bounty of 500 million Berries, could make the 'Pirate Guru' Wang Zhi, with a bounty of 757 million Berries, look so pathetic.
Although Wang Zhi had already fought consecutive battles against Sunbell the 'Tidal Demon', Barbel the 'Depth Juggernaut', and Kyo 'Silver Axe', he shouldn't be getting beaten this badly.
Especially since Charlotte Linlin was only a 13-year-old female pirate.
"Incredible!! If the 'Iron Balloon' is this strong..."
"Then how strong are Golden Lion, Whitebeard, and the Great Demon Lord?"
"I've already fallen in love with the Rocks Pirates' great executives!"
"Lord Ignis looks so cool flying on his sword!"
"Lord Shiki's Float-Float Fruit ability and his golden hair are also so domineering!"
...
As Wang Zhi's 'Pirate Guru' facade was shattered, the pirates, who worshipped strength, gradually became fans of the Rocks Pirates' strong members.
Kuroki was also shocked by the overall strength of the Rocks Pirates.
He had originally thought that with Wang Zhi's strength, after joining the Rocks Pirates, he would surely secure the second-in-command position.
With Wang Zhi as the second-in-command and internal mole, plus himself as a high-level executive, they could wipe out the Rocks Pirates in one fell swoop when the opportunity arose.
But now, he realized a more thorough plan was needed!
"Linlin, my turn!!"
Shiki was eager to take over the fight. He also wanted to step on the 'Pirate Guru's' reputation to rise.
If Charlotte Linlin defeated Wang Zhi, he wouldn't even get a chance to fight.
"Ignis said I have to beat him!"
Charlotte Linlin completely ignored Shiki. She didn't even want to listen to Rocks's orders, so why would she listen to Shiki?
"Ignis!!"
"Aren't you going to do something??"
Shiki looked at Ignis in exasperation. Now, if Ignis wasn't the Vice Captain, no one would believe it.
"Linlin, that's enough. Your strength is very impressive."
Seeing the resentful look in Shiki's eyes, Ignis spread his hands but still called off Charlotte Linlin.
After all, he also wanted to make use of Wang Zhi, to squeeze every last drop out of his 'Pirate Guru' reputation.
"Then are we good friends now?"
Charlotte Linlin happily rushed towards Ignis, like a little girl asking for candy.
Without the guidance of the treacherous Streusen, Charlotte Linlin was still a relatively naive child.
The increasingly cruel and evil Charlotte Linlin of later days was not only due to Streusen's influence, but perhaps also related to the original owner of the Soul-Soul Fruit, Mother Carmel.
Ignis would change this girl's future.
"We're already good friends."
Ignis smiled faintly, flew over, patted her head, and a large cake floated over as a reward.
"Thank you!"
Charlotte Linlin happily took the cake and ate it, her eyes turning into crescents, her face full of contentment, like an easily pleased little girl.
Shiki immediately took over the fight, charging at Wang Zhi with long swords in both hands.
"Rocks!! I give up! I'm willing to join the Rocks Pirates!"
Seeing another guy attacking, Wang Zhi's fighting spirit was utterly broken.
"Shut up!!"
"Fight me first!"
Shiki had no intention of missing this chance to make a name for himself.
This 'Pirate Guru' was the stepping stone that Ignis, the prophet, had specifically chosen for them!
If they didn't milk this reputation for all it was worth, they would be wasting Ignis's prophetic ability.
"Damn it!!"
Wang Zhi was mentally breaking down. He finally understood the Rocks Pirates' goal, they were using him as a stepping stone.
Boom, boom, boom!
Shiki's golden slashes rained down on Wang Zhi.
"Another bastard with flying abilities!"
Wang Zhi cursed loudly. Although Shiki's power was less than Charlotte Linlin's, this flying lion's swordsmanship was strong, and his agility far surpassed Linlin's.
Another chaotic battle erupted.
'Kyo and Shiki weren't this strong before. Did they really grow that fast just by joining the Rocks Pirates?'
'Does Rocks also have powerful teaching abilities?'
Kuroki watched as Shiki fought Wang Zhi to a standstill. His growth rate was unbelievable.
And that Newgate, before on the White Whale Pirates, was just an ordinary combatant.
And this Ignis, previously a slave on the verge of being experimented on, of average strength.
'How had their strength skyrocketed so quickly after meeting Rocks?'
'Did Rocks have some special method for unlocking potential?'
'Rocks's threat level needed to be reassessed.'
The fight between Shiki and Wang Zhi wasn't as violent or destructive as the one with Charlotte Linlin.
But it was very elegant and spectacular, a performance of speed and swordsmanship.
Plus, Shiki could even manipulate the earth in battle, far exceeding people's expectations of the Float-Float Fruit's abilities.
Shiki seemed to have a remarkable talent for developing his fruit.
In truth, besides being pushed to the limit by Rocks, Shiki's rapid growth also came from Ignis's guidance, saving him at least ten years of detours.
The more Wang Zhi fought, the angrier he became. Knowing that Whitebeard and the Great Demon Lord were still waiting, his heart filled with hatred for Rocks.
He swore that if he ever got the chance, he would absolutely ruin the Rocks Pirates!