May 1480th, Lunar Calendar
That day, Rockefeller Charlotte was training by the sea, sword in hand. Suddenly, a strange sense of dread gripped him.
"What's going on? Why do I suddenly feel this ominous chill?" he murmured, halting mid-swing.
His eyes scanned the horizon, fixating on the distant sea. But there was nothing in sight.
Meanwhile, far from the coast...
"Captain Rocks! You're incredible! Another Marine base wiped out!"
Amid the roaring artillery, cries of pain and clashing steel filled the air. A towering man with a mane of red hair stood proudly at the center of the chaos, surrounded by cheering pirates.
"Guhahahaha! With this stronghold gone, the Navy will lose its grip on the central part of the Grand Line," boomed a blond giant wielding a massive blade. It was none other than Edward Newgate.
"He's right! Soon, the second half of the Grand Line will belong to us pirates!" chimed in another swordsman, about two meters tall, puffing on a cigar.
"Yay~! That means more desserts for Lingling!" squealed a tall, voluptuous woman clad in red leather, towering even over Newgate. She was Charlotte Linlin.
If Charlotte had seen them, he would have instantly recognized the infamous pirates: Edward Newgate (Whitebeard), Golden Lion Shiki, and Big Mom Charlotte Linlin.
"Finish it quickly! We don't have time to linger here," the red-haired Rocks ordered.
"Guhahahaha! Captain's orders! Let's move!" roared Newgate, raising his halberd. A white halo formed around the blade as he launched a massive shockwave that consumed the Marine general.
The force split the island in two. Shiki followed suit, slamming his hands into the ground and conjuring three giant clay lion heads that attacked friend and foe alike.
"Boss Shiki, it's us!" "Help! I'm friendly!" "Shiki, noooo!"
"Shiki, you're going to kill all our crew!" growled Newgate.
"Jie hahahaha! Anyone who can't survive a single attack of mine doesn't deserve to be on our crew. The seas are full of disposable pirates," Shiki sneered.
Newgate sighed and fell silent. With that, Shiki's attack wiped out the Marine G-8 branch.
As the ten pirate ships set sail with plundered treasure, Rocks turned to the crew.
"Shaqi! Is there an island nearby where we can restock?"
"Let me check," replied the navigator, Shaqi, spreading out her map.
"Captain, there's a small island nearby with a population of around a thousand. But... there are reports of a formidable figure stationed there. Over the past year, many pirates who approached the island never returned. Their heads were found later, turned in to the Navy for bounty collection."
"Powerful, huh? How powerful?" scoffed Shiki, biting down on his cigar.
"Some reports say he can unleash sword slashes like a master swordsman. Apparently, he's young. And the island is under the influence of Umis, one of the Six Kings of the Underworld."
"Umis? That underworld rat?" Shiki sneered.
Rocks' interest was piqued. "A young swordsman, huh? Let's go see for ourselves."
"Aye, Captain!" Shaqi nodded, steering the fleet toward Kame Island.
"Looks like we might be recruiting a new partner," chuckled Newgate.
"He better be worth it. If he can't take a single hit from me, he doesn't deserve the title," Shiki snapped.
As the fleet turned, Charlotte's unease deepened. He stood alone at the port, unmoving, watching the sea.
People nearby started whispering, confused by his behavior. But Charlotte remained silent.
Then he spoke. "Everyone, get to the mountains. Now! Pirates are coming!"
The townsfolk stopped, stunned. Some glanced toward the calm sea.
"Go! There are too many this time!" Charlotte barked.
Believers in Charlotte didn't hesitate. They dropped everything and sprinted toward the hills.
Others, mostly visiting merchants and outsiders, scoffed. "There's nothing out there! Just a kid spouting nonsense."
But the dock workers—locals who trusted Charlotte—fled instantly.
Charlotte said nothing more. He had given the warning. If they stayed, it was their own risk.
Gradually, the port emptied. And then, it appeared: a black dot on the horizon. It grew larger. Ten massive ships flying skull-and-crossbones flags approached.
Panic spread. Too late.
"Jie hahahaha! So this is the swordsman who can send flying slashes? Let me test him!" Golden Lion Shiki grinned, swinging his sword from afar.
A massive 50-meter sword slash sliced across the sea toward Charlotte.
Charlotte didn't flinch. He countered with a slash of equal size.
BOOM!
The sword energies clashed violently and canceled each other out over the water.
The spectators stared in disbelief.
"Did... did that just happen?" "He blocked Boss Shiki's slash? No way!"
"You idiots," scoffed one pirate. "Shiki barely put effort into that."
"Guhahahaha! Shiki, looks like you're losing your touch!" Newgate teased.
"Tch! Shut up!" Shiki growled, unleashing a full-power slash.
A 100-meter-high sword energy howled toward Charlotte.
Charlotte gritted his teeth. He couldn't dodge—the town was behind him.
He summoned every ounce of his strength and launched dozens of smaller slashes to intercept it.
Each one was weaker than Shiki's attack, but together they wore it down.
With a final flash, the massive sword wave dissipated.
Even Newgate raised an eyebrow. "This brat's got skill."
Shiki nodded silently, acknowledging Charlotte's strength.
As the ships docked, Charlotte looked at the figures aboard.
His heart skipped a beat. "You're... the Rocks Pirates!"
Shiki grinned. "Seems our name still carries weight."
He stepped forward and unleashed a surge of Conqueror's Haki.
"Who are you, brat?!"
Charlotte didn't falter. He released his own Conqueror's Haki in response.
"I'm Rockefeller Charlotte! This is my island!"
The pirates went quiet.
Another Conqueror?
Charlotte Linlin and Kaido, both standing nearby, grew more attentive.
Even Rocks cracked a smile.
"Rockefeller Charlotte," Shiki repeated.
"Join us, kid. I'll make you one of my top officers," Shiki offered.
Charlotte frowned.
"No. I'm not ready to sail yet. And when I do, I'll be captain of my own crew."
The mood shifted. Shiki's Haki surged again, pressing harder.
Charlotte stood firm and pushed back.
The sky above began to crack.
"Guhahahaha! His Conqueror's Haki is fierce!" Newgate chuckled, joining the contest.
Three auras clashed in the sky. Then Linlin and Kaido added theirs.
Five waves of Conqueror's Haki collided.
Weaker pirates collapsed on deck. Some even tumbled into the sea.
Wood splintered. Glass shattered. The sky roared.
Then, from Rocks himself, a crimson Haki laced with lightning exploded.
"Enough!" he bellowed.
The five Haki waves were instantly crushed.
All five pirates recoiled, stunned.
Shaqi, watching from the helm, puffed her cigarette.
"What a pack of monsters..."
Her crewmates nodded solemnly.
Kaido's Haki was the weakest. Linlin and Charlotte were neck-and-neck. Shiki and Newgate followed, but even they couldn't compare to Rocks.
"No wonder he's the First Division Captain," Shaqi murmured.
Rocks stepped forward, expression cold.
"You have two choices, boy. Join the Rocks Pirates... or die."
Charlotte hesitated. He slowly withdrew his Haki.
"Fine. I'll join."
His voice was flat.
But his mind was racing.