SIX PATH SAGE OF THE ROCKS PIRATES

The silence on the deck was broken as the pirates began to speak, emboldened by the words of Golden Lion Shiki, Charlotte Linlin, and Ochoku.

"The captains are right. If we want massive rewards, we must be ready to risk our lives!"

"We're part of the Rocks Pirates—if we were afraid of death, we wouldn't be here!"

"I support attacking the allied countries!"

"Me too!"

As the murmurs of agreement spread, Rocks D. Xebec stepped forward, his commanding voice cutting through the noise.

"You all joined this crew for one reason: to claim the world's riches and power!" he declared. "I promise you, we'll seize untold treasures, and our name will shake the world to its core. The World Government, the Marines—they mean nothing to me!"

The crew erupted into cheers, chanting Rocks' name in unison.

"Rocks!"

"Rocks!"

"Rocks!"

Leaning against the ship's railing, Kaito watched the fervor with a calm expression. However, inside, his thoughts churned.

"Attacking an allied country, huh?" he muttered to himself. "The wealth in these nations is incredible. Even as a regular crew member, my share will be substantial."

But it wasn't just gold that interested him. Kaito's mind wandered to other possibilities: "If I can find a Devil Fruit or something that accelerates my power… maybe I can unlock more of Kurama's tails and grow even stronger."

Without wasting time, Rocks ordered the crew to set sail. Their destination was a famous allied country in the New World: Torres, a land known for its vast wealth and prosperity.

After days at sea, the Rocks Pirates' ship reached the shores of Torres. Rocks issued a simple command, and the crew stormed toward the royal city with the intent to plunder.

However, as they neared the city, they were greeted by an unexpected sight.

The royal city of Torres was already in ruins. Smoke billowed into the sky, casting a dark shadow over the land. The once-grand streets were littered with rubble, and blood stained the earth. Corpses of soldiers and civilians alike were strewn across the ground, their lifeless eyes staring into the void.

Buildings that had once symbolized wealth and power lay in ruins, reduced to mere rubble.

The Rocks crew stopped in their tracks, stunned by the carnage.

"What the hell happened here?"

"Did this country go to war?"

"Impossible. Torres is a member of the World Government. They're under Marine protection. Who would dare attack them?"

One pirate speculated, "Maybe they couldn't pay the Heavenly Tribute?"

Another scoffed, "That's ridiculous. Torres is one of the wealthiest allied nations. They could pay the tribute ten times over."

Golden Lion Shiki, puffing on his cigar, broke the silence. "Whatever happened, we'll find out inside the royal city. Let's go."

He manipulated a secondary ship, using his Fuwa Fuwa no Mi powers to lift the crew over the massive city walls and into the heart of the royal city.

As the Rocks Pirates' ship landed, they were met with a shocking sight.

A group of savage pirates was already in the city, burning, killing, and looting with reckless abandon.

"Help!"

"Please spare us!"

"Burn it all!"

The air was filled with the sounds of chaos: screams of terror, desperate pleas for mercy, and the cruel laughter of marauders reveling in their destruction.

"This country is loaded!" one of the raiders yelled, his arms laden with treasures. "We'll live like kings after this!"

"Hahaha! These fools didn't stand a chance. Their wealth is ours now!" another shouted, his grin feral.

The Rocks Pirates watched the scene with mixed reactions. Their mission to plunder had already been preempted by another group of pirates.

One of the raiders noticed the arrival of the Rocks crew and froze. His laughter faded as he pointed toward them.

"Wait… another group of pirates?"

The Rocks crew bristled at the interruption.

"These scum got here before us?" Ochoku growled, his hand tightening around his weapon.

"Looks like we're not the only ones interested in Torres' riches," Linlin said, her voice laced with irritation.

Golden Lion smirked, tossing his cigar aside. "Well, this just got interesting. Let's see if they have the guts to challenge us."

The sight of another pirate crew inside the royal city stunned both the Rocks Pirates and the raiders already plundering the kingdom.

This was a World Government member country—attacking it was an act few would dare to commit. The Rocks Pirates had the strength, reputation, and sheer audacity to launch such an operation. But another crew? It was unthinkable.

"Two pirate crews attacking the same allied country? At the same time?" one Rocks pirate muttered in disbelief. "If word of this spreads, no one will believe it!"

The devastated royal city, engulfed in black smoke and soaked in blood, seemed to fall into a momentary pause. Even the raiders froze in their tracks as they recognized the notorious flag flying overhead.

The raiders, members of the Gertello Pirates, quickly realized who had arrived. Their faces turned pale as they murmured in terror:

"Damn it! That flag… that's the Rocks Pirates!"

"How is this possible? Our captain, Gertello, finally worked up the courage to attack an allied country, and now Rocks Pirates show up?!"

"This is a nightmare! We're not just dealing with Marines or the World Government… this is Rocks D. Xebec himself!"

Their fear reached a peak when Rocks D. Xebec himself stepped forward, his piercing gaze locking onto their captain.

Gertello, a notorious New World pirate with a bounty of 1.5 billion berries, moved to the front of his crew. Despite his infamy, the sight of Rocks filled him with unease.

"Rocks… what are you doing here?" Gertello stammered, taking a step back. His tone betrayed both fear and disbelief.

Rocks glanced at him with disdain, his voice dripping with contempt. "I could ask you the same thing. But I see now—you're plundering a country that I've already claimed."

Golden Lion Shiki crossed his arms and added mockingly, "This cake belongs to us. Did you really think you could just waltz in and take it?"

Gertello's face darkened as he forced a smile. "We seem to have the same goal. And now you want to negotiate?"

Rocks voice turned cold. "I don't share. The wealth of this kingdom belongs to me, and so does everything on your ship."

Gertello's face twisted in anger. "Rocks, don't go too far!"

Rocks didn't flinch. "Pirates kill and plunder each other. It's the nature of our world. Your luck has simply run out."

Rocks turned to his main cadres, his voice calm but commanding. "Shiki, Linlin, Whitebeard—you take the royal city and finish what they started. I want every piece of gold, every jewel, and every treasure brought aboard."

The cadres nodded in unison. "Understood, Captain."

He then shifted his gaze to Kaito. Despite Kaito being only an official crew member, Rocks had taken a keen interest in him. After a brief pause, Rocks made a decision.

"Kaito, you'll assist Silver Axe in confiscating the wealth from the Gertello Pirates. You two may choose a few treasures for yourselves before turning over the rest."

Kaito's eyes widened slightly, surprised by the privilege. Nevertheless, he nodded. "Understood, Captain."

Silver Axe grinned, clearly enjoying the prospect of plundering another crew's spoils. "Let's get to it."

Rocks turned back to Gertello, his expression dark and resolute. "And you… you won't be leaving here alive."

With a single motion, Rocks signaled the attack. The Rocks Pirates surged forward, splitting into groups to deal with both the royal city and the Gertello Pirates.

Rocks himself stayed behind, confronting Gertello directly.

"Pirates kill each other all the time, Gertello," Rocks said coldly. "You just happened to meet me today."

Gertello gritted his teeth, his crew rallying behind him. "We won't go down without a fight!"

Rocks smirked, raising his hand. "Good. I prefer it that way."

As the battle erupted, Kaito followed Silver Axe into the heart of the Gertello Pirates' ship. Using his Observation Haki, he pinpointed the locations of hidden treasures and ambushes.

Silver Axe glanced at him. "You've got potential, kid. Let's see if you can keep up."

Kaito smirked, gripping the hilt of his sword. "Don't worry about me. Just focus on keeping up yourself."

The two launched into action, cutting through the Gertello Pirates and claiming the wealth they sought.

The royal city fell into complete chaos. The Rocks Pirates overwhelmed the remaining resistance in the city while Rocks himself decimated Gertello's crew.

By the end of the day, the Gertello Pirates were no more, and the Rocks Pirates stood victorious.

Rocks surveyed the destruction, his expression calm. "This is the price of crossing me. Let it be a lesson to anyone who dares challenge the Rocks Pirates."

As the crew gathered their spoils and prepared to leave, Kaito couldn't help but glance at Rocks. In that moment, he understood why the world feared this man—and why he had chosen to follow him.

Visit patreon.com/shirokendama to read up to 25+ chapters