"H-How is this possible?! Three captains joined forces to attack him, and they were just... instantly defeated?!"
"His ability is too overpowered. Once you're caught by that bizarre power, it's practically a death sentence!"
"It seems... only the cadres can truly subdue this monster now!"
The pirates murmured among themselves.
The other captains who had been eager to challenge him earlier unconsciously took two steps back, no longer daring to step forward.
No captain was confident enough to take on three opponents of equal strength simultaneously, let alone defeat them so effortlessly!
Who would step forward knowing it meant certain death?
Such a young powerhouse, yet no one had ever heard of his name on these seas.
Are young people these days really this terrifying?
Rocks curled his lips into a slight smile. Instead of being angered by the loss of four captains, a glint of appreciation flashed in his eyes.
In the Rocks Pirates, only true powerhouses could control their own destiny and were worthy of following him to fulfill his ambitions.
These dead captains were nothing more than expendable pawns in his eyes, easily replaceable at any time.
Only core cadres like Silver Axe, Wang Zhi, John, and even Newgate, Shiki, and Charlotte Linlin were the key forces that would help him realize his ambition of overthrowing the World Government.
Raiver Sky was so young yet possessed such astonishing strength. With a little more training and experience...
He would undoubtedly become a crucial asset in his plan to overthrow the World Government.
Rocks: "Kid, what's your name?"
"Raiver Sky." Raiver responded calmly, his gaze meeting Rocks' steadily.
"Good! Raiver Sky... Hahaha! Impressive strength, decisive in killing - I like that! I grant you permission to join the Rocks Pirates!"
Rocks scanned the crowd and, seeing that no one else dared to challenge him, announced the result himself.
The pirates remained silent, tacitly accepting the decision.
Strength was the best passkey.
"What if..." Raiver stared at Rocks, his tone even, "I want to become a cadre directly?"
"Hahaha... Interesting!" Rocks laughed instead of getting angry upon hearing this:
"Your current strength is indeed approaching the threshold of cadre level.
With your talent and potential, reaching cadre level is only a matter of time.
But to become a cadre of the Rocks Pirates, you not only need sufficient strength, but also need to make enough contributions to the pirate crew that convince everyone."
Rocks unusually took the time to explain.
If someone didn't have enough strength, he wouldn't even bother looking at them.
But Raiver was different - young, exceptionally talented, powerful, and most importantly, he had ambition that he didn't bother to conceal.
Rocks believed that within a few years, the pirate crew would definitely gain another core cadre.
This was the treatment afforded to the strong!
"For now, you'll serve as a captain. You can go to the outer regions to select your crew and territory." Rocks finally made the arrangement.
"Kid, come join my ship!" Cadre Wang Zhi couldn't wait to recruit him:
"The treasures accumulated by those four captains you killed, the territories they occupied, and the subordinates they left behind - you can have them all!"
He had a total of five captains under his command, but Raiver Sky had successively killed four of them, leaving him almost a commander without an army. His strength and authority were inevitably greatly diminished.
Thus, he urgently needed to recruit this powerful newcomer to replenish his high-end combat force.
Last time, he failed to win over that newcomer Kaido, who was snatched away by Charlotte Linlin.
But this time, no matter what, he had to get his hands on this newcomer named Raiver Sky.
"No need." Raiver Sky cast a disdainful glance at Wang Zhi. "I have no intention of joining any crew for now."
He had no need to live under someone else's roof.
With his current strength, he was already comparable to a cadre. All he lacked was the accumulation of achievements and time.
How could he be willing to submit to others, especially someone like Wang Zhi, who clearly intended to use him as a pawn.
"Brat, you dare refuse me?!" Wang Zhi hadn't expected Raiver Sky to be so decisive and disrespectful. His tone immediately turned hostile:
"Don't forget, you killed four of my captains! That debt hasn't been settled! I advise you to know your place!"
"Oh?" Raiver Sky raised an eyebrow, retorting fearlessly:
"So those four worthless weaklings were your men? With such trash underlings, how are you, as their leader, worthy of having me join?"
He paused, his voice suddenly turning cold. "I killed four of your captains, and you want me to work for you to make up for your losses?
Then if I kill you today, shouldn't your cadre position be mine to take?"
"Arrogant and ignorant brat!!" Wang Zhi flew into a rage, his eyes blazing with killing intent.
"It seems you don't know your place without a harsh lesson!
Today, I'll make you understand that you are nothing before me!"
Being openly defied and humiliated by a newcomer in front of Captain Rocks and all the cadres and crew members.
Wang Zhi was genuinely enraged, determined to completely suppress Raiver Sky and restore his dignity.
"Kneel before me!"
Facing Wang Zhi's sudden aggression, Rocks and the other cadres did not intervene.
They also wanted to know the limits of this powerful and mysteriously skilled newcomer, Raiver Sky!
Facing a true veteran cadre, could he still create a miracle?
Wang Zhi roared, his figure shooting forward explosively!
Gripping his greatsword, he coated it with Armament Haki and swung it down toward Raiver Sky's head!
Clang—!
A clear, dragon-like hum resonated from a blade!
Raiver Sky drew the Supreme Grade Sharp Blade—Black Dragon—from his waist!
"Hiss, those patterns and markings on the blade... this feeling..." Shiki's pupils contracted. As a master swordsman, his perception was the sharpest:
"It feels even stronger than the aura emitted by my 'Cherry Ten' and 'Withered Tree'!
Could that brat be holding a Supreme Grade Sharp Blade?"
"Gurarara... Indeed, a fine blade! Its edge is restrained, its ferocity hidden, no less than my 'Cloud Cutter'!" Whitebeard also nodded in admiration.
Facing Wang Zhi's furious and terrifying slash, Raiver Sky applied impact and repulsive forces to his blade and met the attack head-on!
Clang—!!!!!
The greatsword and long blade collided violently, producing a deafening roar!
The point of impact erupted with blinding sparks and scattered black-red electric arcs!
That was Armament Haki and a slash imbued with spatial power fiercely clashing!
The stalemate lasted only a moment. The muscles in Raiver Sky's sword-wielding arm slightly bulged as the blade trembled, releasing a shockwave capable of shattering space that erupted from the Black Dragon's edge!
Crack!
A shattering sound rang out!
Under the incredulous gazes of everyone present, a clear fissure abruptly appeared on the blade of the greatsword held by Wang Zhi.