Ku! Cha! Sh-sh-sh!
More than ten years had passed.
Those years slipped by in a relentless game of cat and mouse with Monkey D. Garp.
During that time, Reith grew from a boy into a striking young man, his presence now impossible to ignore.
If one were to update the bounties of the Roger Pirates at this point:
Gol D. Roger — 1.5 billion Berries
Silvers Rayleigh — 1.2 billion Berries
Scopper Gaban — 1.1 billion Berries
Reith — 900 million Berries
This was under the assumption that Roger's crew had yet to accomplish anything truly epoch-defining. In this era, such figures were already considered monstrous bounties simply did not inflate the way they would in later years.
Roger and Rayleigh undoubtedly possessed strength on par with Marine Admirals.
Rayleigh himself firmly believed that Roger stood above them, as his captain could clash with Garp on completely equal footing.
As their power grew, so too did the scale of their battles—entire seas trembling from their encounters.
Reith had also reached terrifying heights.
He had fully mastered the three forms of Haki Armament, Observation, and Conqueror's Haki and could even coat his attacks with Haoshoku. His understanding of Ryūō, the advanced form of Armament Haki originating from Wano, was flawless.
By all accounts, Reith had stepped into the realm of Admiral-class combatants.
And yet, he felt almost embarrassed.
Had it been anyone else, the story would have ended long ago. But Reith had not been blessed by any so-called "God," nor granted absurd enlightenment at a single glance. Everything he possessed had been carved out through relentless combat.
Still there was no denying reality.
The current Reith could exhaust and grind down any Admiral in a prolonged one-on-one fight purely through his monstrous stamina. It was a blatant loophole in the rules of the world a cheat hidden in plain sight.
As his body matured, fatigue became something distant. Injuries that once required caution now barely registered. The fear of damaging his future growth had vanished completely.
And yet…
The most ridiculous part of all?
His Devil Fruit still hadn't awakened.
Reith rolled the mist between his fingers. Though it could take any hue, he favored crimson it simply looked better. Beyond corrosion, refraction, and defensive reinforcement, he had developed countless techniques by combining his powers with Black Tide, his great blade.
He chuckled softly.
"I suppose I'm still looking forward to what comes next."
His appearance had settled into something distinctive. Long, straight black hair flowed down his back. A calm, jade-like smile was almost always present. Behind him loomed Black Tide, while faint bloody mist curled lazily around his form.
A perfect contradiction.
During these years, many new members had joined the Roger Pirates—some faces later recorded in history. Reith especially remembered one man named Eliot: a white top hat, a garish floral shirt dyed pink and green, and striking blue hair.
Strangely enough, the more time passed, the more Reith resembled the old village chief from Foosha Village. The resemblance only deepened with age.
Sunbell the Fish-Man. Bullmarine. And many others.
None could be compared to Roger, Rayleigh, Gaban or Reith but among ordinary pirates, they were monsters in their own right.
That day, after finishing his training, Reith lay sprawled across the deck of the Oro Jackson when a News Coo descended, scattering bounty posters.
One of them caught his eye.
"Rocks D. Xebec" — 5.35 billion Berries — Dead or Alive
Reith's drowsiness vanished instantly.
Rocks D. Xebec.
The man unofficially hailed as the pirate hegemon of the era.
Reith knew this well Rocks had barely stepped onto the stage, yet he already stood at the peak. The battle that would later be known as God Valley was approaching.
Reith couldn't help but sigh inwardly.
This guy… he's the real protagonist.
After all these years of struggle, Reith had only just reached Admiral-level strength—yet Rocks appeared fully formed, already capable of shaking the world.
"This is the one who should've been a transmigrator," Reith muttered bitterly.
Still basking in the sunlight, Black Tide resting beside him, Reith suddenly raised an eyebrow.
A powerful presence was approaching.
"Hm?"
Boom!
A massive figure landed heavily on the deck, causing the Oro Jackson to shudder.
Golden moustache gleaming, Edward Newgate stood tall, Murakumogiri resting casually on his shoulder. His gaze swept across the deck before locking onto Roger.
"Are you Gol D. Roger?"
Roger grinned beneath his straw hat.
"Ku-ha-ha-ha! That's me! And you are?"
"Edward Newgate," he replied calmly. "I've heard rumors. I came to see for myself."
Reith clicked his tongue internally.
I expected Rocks… not him.
Before Roger could speak, Black Tide slammed into the deck with a metallic clang. Bloody mist rose as Reith stepped forward.
"Oi, Newgate," Reith said with a grin. "If you want our captain—go through me first."
Newgate glanced at him, amused.
"Kid… are you serious?"
"We'll find out," Reith replied lightly. "And you don't look much older than me."
Newgate laughed.
Then
Reith vanished.
Crimson fog exploded outward, obscuring vision. Black Tide descended from the side with a sharp whistle.
Clang!
Murakumogiri blocked the strike effortlessly. The collision unleashed a shockwave that shattered planks.
Newgate's eyes flickered.
"Not bad."
Reith grinned.
"That's not all."
Mist God Style: Blood Tide!
The fog condensed into countless razor-thin blades, surging like a crimson storm.
Newgate snorted. Murakumogiri trembled—
Gura Gura no Mi.
Crack!
Space fractured like glass. The mist was obliterated as a devastating shockwave crashed into Reith.
Reith braced, Armament flaring.
Boom!
He skidded back several steps, deck splintering beneath him—yet his smile only widened.
"More!"
They clashed again and again, thunder roaring across the sea.
After more than ten minutes—
Newgate tensed.
"Gura Gura: Void Quake."
BOOM!
Reith was blasted back, flipping before landing cleanly. He shook his numb hand and laughed.
"Alright. I lost."
Newgate rested Murakumogiri on his shoulder.
"You're impressive, 'Fog Ghost' Reith. But why didn't you fight fully inside the mist?"
Reith shrugged. "No need."
Roger burst into laughter.
"Ku-ha-ha-ha! Newgate! Join my crew!"
Newgate shook his head.
"I have my own dream."
"A dream?" Roger raised an eyebrow.
"A family. A place to belong."
Roger paused—then laughed again.
"Then next time, we'll be enemies!"
Newgate smirked.
"Don't lose too badly."
With that, he departed.
Gaban exhaled slowly.
"That man… will become a monster."
Roger clapped his shoulder.
"That's what makes it fun!"
Reith gazed at the horizon.
"Rocks… Newgate…"
His blood stirred.
"This era… is only just beginning."