FormI've gotta master that move! Rocks growled, focused on his training.
He didn't notice a wet hand gripping the sailboat's railing.Black Pearl, you're mine. No one's taking you, Cassius, the young pirate, muttered as he hauled himself onto the deck.
Even if I'm not gifted, I'll become a great pirate like the captain—or surpass him!He spotted the only person aboard: a young man his age, the "helmsman" the captain had hired after they parted ways. Hey, kid, hand over this ship! Cassius demanded, drawing his cutlass.What'd you say?
Rocks snapped, finally noticing Cassius. He scratched his ear, smirking with disdain. That old geezer told me to guard this ship. Want it? Come take it.Cassius felt a chill at Rocks' D-shaped grin, but brushed it off. Just a helmsman, he thought. I'm with the White Wolf Pirates!
Meanwhile, waves crashed against the shore. Unlike Rocks' thrill, Monger stayed sharp after unleashing his attack.
A pirate with a 170-million-berry bounty like Blood Skeleton Farrell wouldn't go down easily from a long-range strike, not with hundreds of meters between them.Sure enough, as debris from the pirate ship scattered across the sea, Farrell's furious roar echoed. White!
Wolf!
Monger!
Farrell couldn't fly, but a few hundred meters was no barrier.
He'd dodged Monger's Conqueror's Haki-infused attack, but his ship wasn't so lucky. His heart sank. That was a new ship, 50 million berries! If he weren't strapped for cash, he'd never have risked targeting a legend like Monger. Now, his treasure was untouched, but his ship was gone.
Half his crew surviving would be a miracle. His plan to overwhelm Monger with numbers had collapsed.Blood Skeleton Farrell, we've got no bad blood, Monger said, gripping his sword and steadying his breath after his ultimate move.Shut up! Farrell snarled, eyes burning with resentment.
Maybe not before, but we do now. Hand over your treasure, and I'll make your death quick!Treasure? Monger blinked, then burst out laughing. Hahaha! What treasure? Didn't you hear Cassius? When I disbanded my crew, I gave them everything.Monger had wondered who'd betrayed him, but seeing Cassius with the Blood Skeleton Pirates cleared it up.
Five years ago, they'd rescued Cassius from a village razed by pirates. At sixty-five, Monger's strength was waning, and he'd planned to retire.
He'd taken Cassius in to train him, hoping he'd find his own path. But Cassius had no knack for fighting—his talent lay in shipbuilding. He loved the Black Pearl deeply, even begging Monger to let him take it to carry on the White Wolf Pirates' legacy.Monger refused. Cassius was too weak to protect such a ship in the New World. He never imagined Cassius would turn traitor.Farrell didn't care about Monger's thoughts. A pirate like Monger giving away his wealth?
Laughable. If you won't talk— Farrell drew two short knives— I'll beat it out of you!He lunged, red coat flapping in the sea breeze. The ground cratered under his step, and his blades flashed toward Monger with raw speed. No tricks, just power.
Despicable as he was, Farrell's 170-million-berry bounty wasn't for show.But his opponent wasn't some small-time crook.
White Wolf Monger was a fifty-year sea legend, wielder of the Dog-Dog Fruit·Mythical Zoan·White Wolf Form—or, as some called it, the Big Mouth True God Form, like the fruit eaten by Kaido and his daughter Yamato.Forty years ago, Monger, a decade into his pirate life,
hit his limit. His talent was decent but not enough to reach the top. Facing even a standard Navy vice admiral took everything he had. When he seized a Devil Fruit in a raid, he ate it without knowing its power. In a world where strength ruled, Monger knew effort set a person's floor, but talent set their ceiling. Only a Devil Fruit could shatter that ceiling. The inability to swim? A small price for power.
Luck was on his side. He didn't get some useless ability but a Mythical Zoan, the rarest of Animal-type fruits, boosting his physical prowess to new heights.No reaction? Farrell grinned as his knives neared Monger's face. Old man, you're past your prime!His daggers stabbed toward Monger's eyes, but an odd sensation made Farrell frown.
Really?
Monger's voice rumbled from the side. As the blades struck, Monger's
"body"
paled, fading like a mirage. Ice spread along Farrell's daggers, chilling his hands.Brat! Monger roared, his sword wreathed in frost as he appeared beside Farrell. The nearly three-meter-tall humanoid white wolf swung his blade down. If you want to use me as a stepping stone,
be ready to die!
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end of this chapter...