"Found the bastard at last!!!"
"Fang Huo! Get the ship airborne!"
"After him!!"
Rocks itched to fly over and beat "Gangster" Shiki into a pulp; the punk had cost him months.
"Anti-Gravity – Weightless!"
"Lateral Gravity!"
Without hesitation, Fang Huo used his Gravity ability on the Saber of Xebec: first he levitated it, then hurled it sideways, rocketing toward the distant sky-battleship.
On the deck of the flying ship.
Shiki, who had just shaken off Kyo on some island, was in a decent mood.
With the Float-Float Fruit, that bastard Kyo could chase him forever and never catch him.
Once he got stronger, he'd pay him back in full.
"You dare hunt me this long; I'll gut you sooner or later!"
Shiki glared at the two notched swords, irritation flickering in his eyes.
He had to admit: Kyo's axe work and raw power were monstrous.
Right now, he was no match.
Experts with axes were brutes whose strength defied belief.
"Looks like I need a pair of famous blades."
A dual-blade specialist, Shiki had yet to obtain the twin famed swords, Oto and Kogarashi.
"Boss! A... a flying ship's coming!!"
A gang lookout screamed at Shiki, eyes bulging like bronze bells.
He'd never imagined anyone besides his boss could make a ship fly.
At this point, Shiki was only a gang leader; the Flying Pirates didn't exist yet.
So his hoodlums called him "Boss," not "Captain."
"A flying ship?"
Shiki sprinted to the stern, his golden mane streaming like a lion king's.
"Is there another power like my Float-Float Fruit?!"
Alarmed, he activated Observation Haki to sense who—if anyone—strong was aboard.
The next instant, his face drained of color, cold sweat bursting from his brow.
He felt a prehistoric beast looking down on him.
That murderous aura dwarfed "Gangster Killer" Kyo by a thousandfold.
"Monster—run for it!!"
Without another word, Shiki roared.
His men yanked the sky-oars for speed.
Even buoyed by the Float-Float Fruit, the vessel still relied on wind, much like a normal ship.
Thus, Shiki dreaded violent storms in the air.
"Still trying to run!!"
"Hold still, damn you!!"
Rocks drew his blade and slashed skyward.
A cannon-like shockwave, more terrifying than Elbaf's combined technique "Hakoku Sovereignty," tore the heavens.
The 5,000-meter shock-slash shredded Shiki's battleship into drifting splinters.
"Jeez, Rocks, why so savage? Are you trying to kill Shiki?"
Fang Huo gaped at the explosive cut.
Newgate's eyes blazed; one day he'd reach that level.
"Captain's incredible!"
Stars filled Sunbell's eyes; if Fang Huo was wisdom, Rocks was sheer might—both were his idols.
"Totally insane!"
Babel stared, aghast; his strongest Fish-Man Karate reached only a few hundred meters.
Rocks out-powered him tenfold.
"Worororo! If the punk can't take one swing, let him die!"
"Might even do you a favor—hand you the Float-Float Fruit!"
Rocks laughed, months of rage blazing in that stroke.
The gangster dared to run; fury was overdue.
Above the drifting debris.
"Gangster" Shiki, pale as paper, watched the scraps rain into the sea—ship and crew gone.
Even dodging frantically, he'd been clipped by the shock; internal injuries throbbed.
What kind of monstrous strength was this?
Could a human possess it?
"Gulp—" Shiki swallowed.
What devil had he crossed?
"Worororo! Still alive? Guess you're worthy to board my ship!"
The Saber of Xebec closed in; Rocks's voice rang savage and proud.
Instinct urged Shiki to flee, but Gravity suddenly clamped him, countering his Float-Float power.
He nearly plummeted before catching himself.
"Run again and I'll carve you into red mist!"
Rocks's Conqueror's Haki erupted, slamming the reeling Shiki.
Shiki's face whitened further.
"Stop—stop! I give up!"
Hands high, he abandoned fight and flight.
These monsters were too strong; escape or victory was impossible.
"Down here, now!"
Rocks barked at the still-airborne Shiki.
"Right away!"
Shiki landed meekly on the Saber of Xebec, sweeping his gaze over the monsters.
Recognition struck like lightning: this was the infamous man who'd slain an Admiral—Rocks, the world's worst pirate.
When had he ever provoked such a titan?
"Gangster Shiki, two choices: one, join the Rocks Pirates or die.
Two, play a Davy Back Fight with me—win and walk free, lose and join or die."
Rocks flashed two fingers, eyes murderous.
If Shiki picked the game, he'd beat him within an inch of his life.
"I'll join!!"
Meeting that glare, Shiki blurted the answer.
He'd already forgotten his dead crew and ruined ship; the furious Rocks terrified him more.
"Worororo! Then welcome aboard the Rocks Pirates!"
Rocks's grin returned, most of his rage spent.
Had Shiki refused, he'd have shown no mercy—Fang Huo could always inherit the Float-Float Fruit.
"Aye, Captain Rocks!"
Shiki forced a laugh, inwardly scheming.
Maybe he'd find a chance to leave the Rocks Pirates later.
For now, staying kept him safe from Kyo and let him learn from such overwhelming strength.
"No fancy rules on my boat—only one: the strong command, power is supreme!"
Rocks declared, disliking to leash subordinates—especially gifted kings-to-be.
He let them awaken Conqueror's Haki and surge unchecked; only the mighty could stand with him against Imu.
"The strong lead, power is supreme?"
Shiki's eyes lit; the law suited him perfectly—he bowed to no one.