CHAPTER 18

Silver Axe's legs skidded across the ground for dozens of meters before he finally managed to stabilize himself, barely preventing a complete collapse.

How is this possible?

How can he be this strong?

Why is his strength so much greater than before?

Silver Axe stared at Rocks in disbelief, his mind clouded with confusion. He had always known that Rocks was an unparalleled force, a being who had conquered countless enemies with ease. But he had believed—however foolishly—that his own strength had grown enough to at least earn recognition.

But this? This was something else entirely.

Rocks' power was overwhelming. It wasn't just superior—it was monstrous, something that made him feel like a mere insect before an oncoming storm.

Over the years, through endless battles as a member of the Rocks Pirates, Silver Axe had honed his skills and sharpened his abilities. He had climbed from being an ordinary fighter to a fearsome presence among the crew.

But he had overlooked a crucial fact: while he had been improving…

Rocks had been improving even faster!

And unlike him, Rocks' growth wasn't bound by limits.

If I don't push beyond my limits right now, I won't even stand a chance!

"I… I can't give up!" Silver Axe clenched his fists, his resolve hardening.

He would not back down. He would not kneel. He would force Rocks to recognize him—no matter the cost.

From the crowd, Ayr watched, clicking his tongue. "Tch. That was practically an instant kill. Is this the difference between the future rulers of the New World and the current overlord of the seas?"

Though Silver Axe would later become infamous across the world, his name only slightly beneath legends like Whitebeard, Charlotte Linlin, and Golden Lion, in front of Rocks, he was utterly insignificant.

The battle had barely begun, and yet, Rocks had already shown his overwhelming superiority. The truth was clear—Rocks could have crushed him the moment he caught his axe.

But he didn't.

Instead, he had given Silver Axe another chance to attack, as if mocking his efforts.

Silver Axe's fists trembled. No! I won't let it end like this!

"Damn it!" He gritted his teeth, his arms bulging as veins pulsed with exertion. His Armament Haki thickened, coating his axe in an even deeper shade of black.

This time, he wouldn't hold anything back.

"Come again!!!" He roared, surging forward once more.

His speed was faster, his aura wilder, his killing intent sharper.

"Thunder Axe!!!"

In a flash, he was upon Rocks. His axe came down with devastating force, so fast that the air itself seemed to split apart. Around the blade, a crackling mirage of lightning flickered—not an actual Devil Fruit ability, but the sheer visual manifestation of raw power tearing through the atmosphere.

This was Silver Axe's strongest attack.

A move powerful enough to slice through mountains, to rip apart entire islands.

The deck trembled beneath him as his strike descended like the executioner's blade.

"SHHH!!!"

The axe cut down…

…but met only empty space.

"Too slow." Rocks' voice was like a whisper in his ear.

And in the next instant—he was gone.

"Bang!!!"

The axe struck the deck, but its intended target had already moved, leaving behind only a blurred afterimage.

The force of the impact was terrifying. Even the legendary Treasure Tree Adam, the strongest wood in the world, could not withstand it. The planks shattered into splinters, cracks spreading like a spiderweb.

"Kakakaka!!!"

The entire ship groaned under the force, the ocean reacting violently. Waves surged dozens of meters into the air, crashing against the hull. The sheer power of the strike even created a whirlpool in the sea, swirling with enough force to threaten smaller ships.

Had this ship been anything less than a monstrous vessel, it would have already been swallowed by the ocean.

But despite all of that destruction—

It didn't matter.

Because Rocks wasn't even scratched.

"SNAP!!!"

Before Silver Axe could react, Rocks appeared behind him—grabbing him by the throat.

Effortlessly.

No struggle.

No resistance.

Just pure, unshakable dominance.

Silver Axe's eyes widened in horror. His breath caught in his throat, his face turning red as his air supply was cut off. Even though Rocks wasn't even squeezing, his grip alone was suffocating.

With a flick of his wrist, Rocks hurled him away.

"BANG!!!"

Silver Axe's body crashed against the ship's railing, shattering it upon impact. His vision blurred as pain exploded through his body, blood dripping from the corners of his mouth.

Rocks approached him, hands behind his back, his expression unreadable.

"Do you want to continue, Silver Axe?" His voice was calm, but his presence was suffocating. "Right now… you're just embarrassing yourself."

Silver Axe coughed violently, clutching his ribs.

His pride screamed at him to keep fighting.

But his survival instincts screamed louder.

"I… I admit defeat!" He gasped, barely able to get the words out. Blood dripped from his lips as he struggled to even stand.

He was a fool.

This wasn't a fight.

It was a massacre.

Challenging Rocks had been nothing more than an act of suicide.

From the sidelines, the watching crew erupted into cheers.

"Captain Rocks is a monster!!!"

"Silver Axe barely survived two moves! That's our Captain!!!"

"With a leader like this, we'll rule the world!!!"

"ROCKS!!! ROCKS!!! ROCKS!!!"

The deafening chants of his name echoed across the ship.

Meanwhile, among the other commanders, reactions varied.

Charlotte Linlin scoffed, a mocking grin stretching across her face. "Pathetic. You just embarrassed yourself, Silver Axe."

Ochoku sneered. "Fool. You should've known better than to challenge Captain Rocks."

John chuckled darkly. "If you weren't a crew member, you'd already be dead."

Golden Lion leaned against the railing, smirking. "Silver Axe, even that brat Ayr might be stronger than you at this rate."

Hearing that, Silver Axe turned to glare at Ayr, his expression filled with irritation.

Ayr, who had simply been minding his own business, let out a long sigh.

"Why am I getting dragged into this?" He muttered, exasperated.

"I was just watching. How does this involve me?"

"Seriously… I was just here for the entertainment!"

Meanwhile, Rocks shifted his gaze toward the other main cadres. His sharp, piercing stare lingered on them—wordlessly reminding them of their place.

For a moment, none of them spoke.

Because they understood exactly what Rocks was telling them.

He was the captain. The ruler. The true king of this ship.

And if any of them dared to forget that—

They would end up just like Silver Axe.

---

Aftermath

Following the fight, Rocks ordered the crew to set sail toward a nearby ship repair dock.

The ship had suffered severe damage—not just from today's fight, but from Ayr's earlier encounter with Golden Lion.

The cannons hadn't been maintained in months.

Supplies were running low.

Repairs and restocking were now a necessity.

---

The Next Day

By nightfall, they had arrived at one of the largest ship-repairing nations in the New World.

Interns were sent to handle supply gathering, while the senior crew members went to enjoy themselves on the island.

As for Ayr?

After a night of brutal training with Rocks, he was still asleep in his cabin—completely exhausted.

And so, as the crew reveled in the city…

Ayr remained blissfully unaware of what was to come next.

—