"He learned it just like that?"
Whitebeard Newgate's eyes nearly popped out of their sockets. His exaggerated expression said it all.
He thought of the two and a half years he had trained Conqueror's infusion without mastering it, and a dull ache pressed at his chest.
"If Ares had taken a few months, I could still understand it.
"But he only listened to Captain Rocks's explanation and watched once, then he learned it...
"That is too much of a blow."
"You cannot compare yourself to Ares. No one can compare to that freak."
Newgate had always known Ares's learning ability was monstrous, but he still had not expected something this outrageous.
Conqueror's infusion was nothing like the Six Powers or the more common Haki applications.
The requirements were too high.
If it were otherwise, more than a handful on the seas would be using it.
What he did not know was this:
Ares had already become adept at controlling Conqueror's Haki.
He began honing that control during his fight with Ledfield, and in the month since returning to Hachinosu, he had kept practicing.
He had already mastered the hardest part.
For someone who could handle Conqueror's so delicately, infusion was simply a method of use.
Once you grasp the key, it is not as impossibly difficult as others imagine.
The Golden Lion grinned. "Jiehahaha... that is why Ares is called a monster among monsters.
"I, the Golden Lion, will always believe
"That Ares will keep creating miracles."
He trusted him that much.
And that trust came from being humbled by Ares time and again, each time revising what he thought "monster talent" meant.
"Today is truly an eye-opener," Rocks said in frank amazement. "Ares's talent for learning and insight is unmatched on these seas. Give him a little more time and even I may be overtaken."
He had not expected Ares to learn infusion in such a short span.
It was absurd.
Even Rocks had needed quite some time to comprehend it.
Now,
He could clearly feel Ares beginning to close the gap.
Give Ares more time and surpassing Rocks would not be impossible.
A faint sense of urgency rose in his heart.
"I must master a second Devil Fruit power, and it has to be a strong one.
"Only then can I keep the rest of the crew under heel."
Among pirates,
Power is the only law.
If he were not significantly stronger than Whitebeard, the Golden Lion, and Linlin,
He would never be able to sit in the captain's seat of the Rocks Pirates.
The officers were all tigers. If a tiger cannot be tamed, it will bite back.
Rocks understood perfectly.
He had to grow stronger than everyone else. Then no one could shake the captain's throne.
Meanwhile,
Ares did not grow arrogant under the praise. "Compared to Captain Rocks's control over infusion, I still have a long way to go," he said modestly.
He could feel the difference.
Rocks's control of Conqueror's had reached a consummate level. That punch had been perfectly measured.
The commotion looked small, but every ounce of force had sunk into the boulder.
Not a shred was wasted.
Ares was different. He still could not control it that cleanly. The spectacle was grand, yet much of that grandeur was waste.
"Ares, you are already incredible. Getting fully comfortable with infusion is only a matter of time," Rocks said, the shock still lingering in his eyes.
Ares's most loyal fan, Kaido, piled on. "Big bro Ares, do not be modest. If there is a technique you can learn in one go, there is no technique on these seas you cannot learn.
"With infusion, big bro Ares is even stronger.
"Next time we run into the Navy, we will give them a real scare."
At the mention of the Navy,
Rocks's face hardened. "Lately the Navy has been plotting something big in secret. It is certainly aimed at our Rocks Pirates.
"In the days ahead there is a high chance we clash with them in a large war.
"All of you, be ready to fight at any time."
He did not know exactly how many elites the Navy had pulled from branches worldwide, but it would not be a small number.
On these seas, the only target worthy of such mobilization was the Rocks Pirates.
There was no one else.
"Jiehahaha..." The Golden Lion laughed wildly. "What is there to fear from the Navy? If they want to wipe us out,
"We want to wipe them out too. Then we will see whose strength is greater."
Whitebeard shot Shiki a glance and said in a low voice, "If the Navy is making such a move, it is under orders from the World Government. Our enemy will not be the Navy alone.
"It will be the World Government as well."
As monsters, none of them feared the Navy.
They had fought the Navy often enough to know them inside and out.
The only concern was the World Government, which had ruled this world for more than eight hundred years.
"The World Government?" Ares's eyes lit up as he suddenly remembered that bald samurai. "I am looking forward to crossing hands with their strongest.
"Last time I only fought CP0's chief, Claude.
"But that bald samurai did not strike. He felt strong to me."
That battle had left a deep impression.
CP0's chief Claude was powerful, developing the Cloud-Cloud Fruit in many directions.
Ares had needed every trick he had and still only won by overwhelming force.
And the bald samurai who never moved had exuded danger even to Ares back then.
As a human-shaped beast,
His sense for danger was keen.
Back to the point,
Rocks nodded, grave again. "The World Government has ruled for over eight centuries because its strength is real.
"And over such a long time, the power they have accumulated cannot be underestimated.
"Of course, I have no intention of watching the Navy make a move against us while we sit idle.
"We need to seize the initiative."
He had planned to wait and watch,
To see the Navy's opening move.
But now,
Rocks had changed his mind. He would strike first,
And test the reactions of the Navy and the World Government.
"Captain Rocks, do you have a plan?" Ares asked, curious.
He had gone more than a month without fighting a true powerhouse. Having just learned infusion, his fists were itching.
He wanted a good, honest battle.
Rocks nodded. "I have the outline. When it is ready, I will inform you.
"Since you have learned infusion, I will head back.
"I will not disturb your training."
After Rocks left,
The Golden Lion puffed on his cigar and chuckled. "Jiehahaha... looks like Captain Rocks is about to make a big move."
Whitebeard's expression remained calm. "From the look of it, the Navy's operation this time is no small matter. I imagine Captain Rocks will have a pointed response."
Ares smiled. "Whatever. Right now I just want a strong opponent to go all out against.
"I want to test the infusion I just learned, and battle will sharpen it faster than any drill."
He yearned for fights with the strong.
Both battle and training were the grindstones on the road to his dream.
Only then could he forge the world's strongest blade.
Whitebeard's tiger eyes lit. He looked at Ares and issued an invitation. "Come spar. It has been a long time since we traded blows. Show me how strong you are now."
He also intended to use the fight to pierce the last thin film between him and mastery of infusion.
The only film of his life.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Oh, you like the story? Wow, who knew. Go ahead, drop a review and throw some power stones maybe I'll be motivated to keep going.
The story's already ahead on Patron. Go there if you want to catch up faster!
[email protected]/_theon
Change @ to "a"