"Worororo, if he's earned your stamp of approval, the guy must be headed for a pretty big reputation."
Hearing Fang Huo say the man was worth a look—without ever calling Bolo Gram an Executive of the Rocks Pirates—
Rocks knew the fellow must already be someone of note, someone who showed up in the future Fang Huo had foreseen.
"That guy and Newgate will share a bit of history down the line."
Fang Huo shrugged; Bolo Gram had been one of the Great Pirates at the Battle of God Valley.
He'd even clashed with "Silver Axe" and Ganzi over treasure and Devil Fruits.
Chances were, the Mythical Zoan-type Phoenix Fruit that Marco ended up with had been part of his haul.
Marco had already been seven when the God Valley Incident broke out.
Bolo Gram called himself Whitebeard's fan and actually tried to recruit "Whitebeard" Newgate.
No one knew exactly when Bolo Gram died, only that he left his son, Marco, in Whitebeard Newgate's care.
In the pirate world, entrusting your children to friends is hardly unusual.
In the original timeline, Warlord of the Sea Hanafuda did the same, entrusting Ulti and Page One to "Kaido of the Beasts."
Even Pirate King Roger left his child with his rival and friend, "Iron Fist" Garp.
"So he'll be my friend in the future?"
Newgate grinned, lifted Bolo Gram's wanted poster, and burned the pineapple-headed face into his memory.
"Hey, hey, Rocks, you're the Captain—since when do you swallow everything Fang Huo says?"
"Silver Axe" Fierce bristled at seeing Fang Huo become the de facto center of the crew.
Rocks's overwhelming strength commanded his respect, no questions asked.
But he wasn't convinced by the smooth-talking Fang Huo—
at least not until Fang Huo beat that respect into him.
He had no desire for a First Mate lording over him, second only to Rocks.
"Shishishi, then test the Chief Advisor, Fang Huo."
"Golden Lion" Shiki instantly fanned the flames; he, too, wanted to see Fang Huo's real power.
He already knew Fang Huo wielded the Gravity ability.
But not long ago, he'd watched Fang Huo summon Blood Shadow Bats that drained pirates dry.
That moment told him this mild-seeming Chief Strategist was far from simple.
"Worororo, I'm with you—beat Fang Huo to a pulp."
Rocks set down the poster and joined the instigation.
He'd never pushed Fang Huo to his absolute limit; a newcomer might finally force the strategist's hand.
Rocks refused to believe Fang Huo had no hidden cards.
The cunning runt had to be hoarding plenty of strength.
"I'm challenging you, Fang Huo!"
"If I win, you'll ban everyone from calling you First Mate!"
Prodded by Rocks and Shiki, Fierce issued the duel outright.
On the Rocks Pirates' ship, might made right.
Therefore, as Rocks said, there should be no Vice Captain beneath him.
Every Executive would speak with their fists.
"Tch, I must look weaker than Sunbell if you rookies think I'm just a smooth-talking Prophet."
Fang Huo saw that Rocks, Shiki, and even Newgate and Babel had never truly witnessed his power—
and they were itching to gauge his combat strength.
"First Mate, you'll always be my First Mate!"
The honest Sunbell declared his unwavering stance at once.
Babel's face twitched; he cursed himself for letting Sunbell steal the declaration.
"Fang Huo, you know I consider you my First Mate too."
Babel quickly followed suit; less arrogant than Newgate or Shiki, he knew whose thigh to hug.
Besides the invincible Rocks, the wise Fang Huo was the ship's absolute pillar.
"Hmph!"
"Silver Axe" Fierce sneered; these Fish-Men were spineless—no wonder Fish-Man Island got trampled by pirates and slavers.
He dared not voice that thought, though, fearing Sunbell and Babel would fight him to the death.
"They may accept you as First Mate, but I don't."
"I bet Newgate and Shiki don't either!"
Fierce rejected Fang Huo but refused to make a mortal enemy, so he dragged the two spectators into the fray.
If they stayed silent, they proved his point.
Hearing the shameless provocation, Shiki's face darkened and Newgate's eyes chilled; both resented Fierce for meddling in their bond with Fang Huo.
His friendship with Fang Huo needed no commentary from Fierce.
"Haha, I'm no golden Berry—I don't need universal love or approval."
"Still, your stirring the pot is starting to irritate me."
"Let's see how tough this 'Gangster Killer' really is."
The smile faded from Fang Huo's face as he regarded the young Fierce.
These hotheads weren't even at their peaks, yet they acted so arrogant.
Sometimes the only language these brutes understood was a beating.
Fang Huo slowly drew the Seven Star Demon Sword; a vicious, tyrannical aura surged out.
"It's here—Advisor Fang Huo's Seven Star Demon Sword!"
"Get back! Don't look at the blade!"
Rookies and deckhands scrambled for cover, terrified of falling under the Cursed Sword's spell again.
The Seven Star Demon Sword was the evil blade Captain Rocks and Chief Advisor Fang Huo had discovered before any other officers joined.
"Shishishishi! What a wicked sword!"
"Golden Lion" Shiki flared his Haki, focused his mind, and stared straight at the eerie, green-glowing blade.
"Are you sure that thing isn't one of the Supreme Grade blades? Every time it leaves the sheath, it reeks of evil!"
Newgate turned serious too; the first time he'd met the sword, he'd nearly been tainted by its malevolent power.
"Bahahaha, Fierce, you've really riled the Advisor—he usually sticks to Gravity!"
Babel burst out laughing, his face full of relish at the coming show.
"The Advisor's incredible!"
Stars sparkled in Sunbell's eyes; their strategist was brilliant and monstrously strong.
"Watch closely, everyone!"
"This sword stroke is going to look awesome!"
Demon bat wings sprouted from Fang Huo's back, and the crescent sigil on his forehead glowed an eerie blue.
"Seven-Star Gravity Slash: Moon Fang Heaven-Piercer!"
Fang Huo's eyes sharpened; a four-colored blade of violet, crimson, green, and blue shot toward "Silver Axe" Fierce in an instant.
"Impossible!"
Behind his shades, Fierce's pupils shrank to pinpricks at the sight of the terrifying slash.
Cold sweat poured down his forehead as crushing pressure pinned him in place.
At the last second, he hurled himself aside, too terrified to take the blow head-on!
BOOM!!!
A titanic sword-beam fired from the island's central town, carving straight through the island and ripping a thousand-meter furrow across the sea.
A ten-meter-deep gouge ran all the way to the shore, pulverizing buildings and earth on either side and pressing them meters downward under gravity and blade pressure.
"Gulp..."
Fierce stared at the absurd scar in the land, beads of sweat rolling down his temples.
Such power erupting from Fang Huo's slender frame was unthinkable!
A moment later, crushing gravity still bore down on him while a sinister force invaded his mind...