Kurozumi Makuchan, the strategist of the Rocks Pirates, stared at El and said solemnly,
"If I remember correctly, this guy is a pirate who only set sail last year. His name's El, and his bounty is 100 million Berries."
"What? He's been at sea for almost a year, and his bounty is only 100 million?"
"How's that possible? How could a pirate worth just a hundred million wipe out a crew led by a captain with a bounty of 300 million?"
"And look at him—he doesn't have a single scratch… not even a drop of blood!"
"So you're saying he crushed them completely?"
"This guy is something else!"
The Rocks Pirates' crew whispered among themselves as they stared at El's calm figure. Many of them began to take an interest in this mysterious newcomer. After all, anyone who could annihilate a pirate crew led by a 300-million-Berry captain without suffering a single injury was far from ordinary. Even among the Rocks Pirates, that level of strength was noteworthy.
"Rocks…" El murmured, raising an eyebrow as he looked toward the man standing proudly at the bow of the massive ship.
As expected of the future ruler of the seas—though Rocks hadn't shown any hostility, the sheer pressure of his presence alone was enough to make El's chest tighten. It was hard to believe that someone like this would one day fall in the Valley of the Gods.
Just as El had guessed from the manga he'd read, internal strife was inevitable among the Rocks Pirates. Otherwise, with Rocks himself, Whitebeard, Shiki, Charlotte Linlin, Silver Axe, Captain John, Ochoku, Kaido, and so many other monsters gathered together, they could have easily ruled the world.
"Interested in joining my crew, kid?" Rocks asked, a confident grin spreading across his face as he extended his hand. "The Rocks Pirates are the best place to show your worth."
Rocks' ambition was clear—world domination. To achieve that, he constantly sought to expand his ranks, recruiting any powerful figure that appeared on the seas. If a formidable pirate or crew emerged, Rocks would always send someone to recruit them.
Although he didn't consider El a true powerhouse yet, Rocks could see the potential burning in his eyes. El was still young, and his future possibilities were endless.
If he could mold this youth within the Rocks Pirates… he might just become one of their greatest weapons.
"Of course!" El answered without hesitation.
He had already been considering joining a pirate crew, and now, fate had presented him with the Rocks Pirates themselves.
The Rocks Pirates were filled with monsters—legendary figures who constantly clashed with the Navy's top forces. To El, this was the perfect environment to grow stronger and accelerate his mastery of the Immortal Body.
Moreover, the Rocks Pirates were notorious for their audacity. They frequently attacked World Government member nations—targets rich in both treasure and Devil Fruits.
By joining them, El could strengthen himself faster and increase his chances of finding a suitable Devil Fruit. With so many advantages, there was no reason to refuse.
"It's too hasty to recruit him like this, Captain Rocks," Kurozumi Makuchan cautioned. "We still don't know his true strength."
"That's true, Captain," said Shiki with a grin. "How about we test him first?"
"Oh?" Rocks asked, raising an eyebrow. "And what are you suggesting, Shiki?"
"Let me fight him," Shiki replied, his sharp teeth glinting as he smiled. "That'll show us exactly what this kid can do."
"Hm… not a bad idea," Rocks said, amused.
El had indeed wiped out a pirate crew worth 300 million Berries—but no one had actually seen him fight. Now that Shiki had offered, Rocks was curious to witness it for himself.
"Captain Shiki himself?" a crewmate whispered, startled. "Isn't that overkill?"
"Yeah, this kid's strong, but with Captain Shiki taking the field, it's going to be a one-sided massacre."
"You do know Captain Shiki's bounty is over a billion, right? There's no way that kid can stand a chance."
"I bet even if Captain Shiki goes easy on him, he'll finish it in ten moves."
"Ten moves? Don't make me laugh. Five moves at most!"
Upon hearing that Shiki was going to personally confront El to test his strength, the crew immediately erupted into lively discussion.
It wasn't that they looked down on El's power—far from it.
Rather, the Golden Lion's fighting prowess was truly terrifying.
After all, to be a key member of the Rocks Pirates—a crew overflowing with monsters—meant being second only to Rocks himself.
How could someone like that possibly be weak?
"Hey, Shiki, if you're going to do it yourself, isn't that a bit too much of a bully?" Whitebeard said, lifting his sake gourd and taking a deep swig before glancing sideways at him.
The Golden Lion was one of the strongest members of the Rocks Pirates.
Even Whitebeard couldn't say with absolute certainty that he could defeat him in battle.
To see someone of Shiki's level personally take action against a pirate whose bounty was only 100 million Berries made Whitebeard frown.
"Heh heh heh… Still the same old Edward—always so righteous," Shiki chuckled, baring his teeth in a grin. "Relax. Since this guy was invited aboard by Captain Rocks himself, I won't go too far."
In truth, Shiki's challenge wasn't just to test El's strength.
He had his own ulterior motives.
Though the Rocks Pirates currently reigned as one of the most powerful crews in the New World, internal discord had long since begun to fester.
The Golden Lion had already started recruiting in secret, building connections and courting other strong individuals.
If El's power proved worthy of his attention, Shiki intended to bring him into his fold.
But if El's strength failed to impress, then Shiki had no reason to bother remembering his name.
"Come aboard, kid," Rocks said, glancing down at El from the deck.
"Fight Shiki?" El's lips curled into a faint smile. "That suits me perfectly."
It was worth noting that his Celestial Body had already reached a progress level of 970.
Only 30 more points stood between him and the mid-stage Immortal Body.
Once achieved, both his physical power and special abilities would rise to an entirely new level.
But those last thirty points… would not be easy to obtain.
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