Chapter 18

Chapter 18: The Storm Arrives

The dock workers didn't hesitate. Every one of them had lived on Kamei Island long enough to know that when Charlotte gave a warning, you listened. No questions asked. They dropped their tools, abandoned their crates, and sprinted uphill toward safety.

But not everyone was so quick to believe.

The remaining merchants, newcomers mostly, scoffed at the idea. What kind of pirate would just show up with no warning? The sea was calm, the skies clear—nothing on the horizon but sun and surf.

Charlotte didn't bother explaining. He had already warned them. If they wanted to ignore him, that was on them.

He stood still, his eyes fixed on the sea. The wind rustled his coat as his grip tightened on the hilt of his blade. The air around him was tense—electric. He could feel it. A pressure in his chest. Something immense was coming.

And then, like a shadow on the edge of reality, it appeared.

First, just a dot on the water. Then another. Then more. In the blink of an eye, ten massive ships cut across the ocean like wolves bearing down on prey.

The skull-and-crossbones flag was unmistakable.

The merchants' faces turned pale. The sneers vanished. Some dropped their luggage. Others froze in place.

"Th–That flag… that's…!"

"Pirates!"

"No—those aren't just any pirates! That's the Rocks Pirates!"

Panic spread like wildfire, but it was too late to run now. The fleet was closing in fast.

High atop one of the lead ships stood a massive, blond-haired man, biting down on a cigar. His cape whipped in the wind as he laughed, eyes locked on the figure standing alone at the port.

"Jihahaha! So that's the swordsman they've been talking about?" Golden Lion Shiki grinned. "Let's see what he's made of."

Without hesitation, Shiki raised his sword and swung.

A massive wave of golden sword aura—over 50 meters long—exploded across the sea, slicing forward like a razor storm, bearing down on Charlotte from hundreds of meters away.

Charlotte didn't flinch. His eyes narrowed. His muscles tensed.

He raised his blade and answered with his own slash.

Boom!

The two attacks collided above the surf, sending an explosive shockwave in every direction. Water erupted into the air, spraying down across the harbor. The sea churned violently beneath them.

Then, silence.

The sword auras canceled each other out.

People gasped. Even the veteran pirates aboard the Rocks fleet looked stunned.

"No way… someone actually stopped Boss Shiki's slash?"

"Who the hell is this guy?"

Edward Newgate—Whitebeard, not yet fully matured but still an undeniable giant—grinned from the deck.

"Gurahaha… Looks like we found a wild one."

Shiki scowled, his pride bruised. "Tch. Not bad, brat. Let's see how you handle this!"

With a roar, he unleashed another slash—twice the size of the last one, tearing through the sea like a scythe of divine retribution.

Charlotte's pupils contracted. This wasn't just a test anymore.

If he let that hit the island, the damage would be catastrophic.

He clenched his jaw, surged forward, and met the incoming slash with a flurry of strikes. His blade flashed dozens of times in rapid succession, his arms a blur.

Clang! Slash! Boom!

Each of Charlotte's attacks shaved away at the incoming wave of sword energy, breaking it down piece by piece. The impact zone trembled, and water exploded around him in violent bursts—but in the end, he succeeded.

The colossal slash dissipated before it could reach land.

Even Whitebeard raised an eyebrow now.

"Hah… this kid's got some grit."

Shiki sheathed his sword. "Fine. I'll give you that one."

As the ships docked, Charlotte's eyes swept across the pirates approaching. His breath caught in his throat.

He recognized them instantly.

Whitebeard. Golden Lion. Big Mom. Kaido.

And at the center of it all… a red-haired man with an overwhelming presence—Rocks D. Xebec himself.

Charlotte's expression hardened.

"You… you're the Rocks Pirates."

Shiki grinned. "Jihahaha! Took you long enough to figure it out."

"Who the hell are you, kid?" he added, stepping forward and releasing a wave of Conqueror's Haki that crashed toward Charlotte like a tsunami.

Charlotte didn't back down. Instead, he released his own Haki in response—his aura surged outward, dark lightning crackling through the air.

"My name is Rockefeller Charlotte," he said firmly. "This is my island."

The moment their Haki collided, the sky seemed to tremble.

Even Big Mom and Kaido were taken aback. The kid didn't just have strength—he had presence.

"Another brat with Conqueror's Haki?" Big Mom muttered, intrigued.

Kaido narrowed his eyes but said nothing.

Rocks, watching from his ship, gave a small smile.

"Charlotte, huh… interesting."

Shiki, undeterred, chuckled. "Not bad, not bad at all. A man like you should join my crew. I'll make you a top officer."

Charlotte's brow furrowed. "No thanks. I don't take orders from anyone. I'll build my own crew. I'll sail under my own flag."

The offer had been refused before the words even left his lips.

The temperature dropped several degrees as Shiki's aura surged again.

"What did you just say?"

Charlotte's Haki surged in response.

"I said I'll be my own captain."

Crack!

The air between them split under the pressure. The sky groaned. The dock splintered. People collapsed unconscious on the ships, and waves erupted from the sea as their Haki battled for dominance.

Whitebeard's grin widened. "Gurahaha! Kid's got guts!"

He stepped forward and added his own Conqueror's Haki to the mix.

Kaido and Big Mom followed suit.

Within seconds, five terrifying auras clashed in the skies over Kamei Island. The heavens darkened. Glass shattered. Wooden beams splintered. The sea boiled.

It was a storm of willpower, and only monsters remained standing.

Then came the voice that shattered it all.

"Enough."

A wave of crimson Haki erupted from the deck of the lead ship—crackling with thunder, infused with pure force of will.

Rocks D. Xebec stepped forward, his eyes gleaming with dangerous amusement.

His Haki overwhelmed the others in an instant, slamming down like an iron hand and suppressing all five of the other conquerors.

Even Shiki and Whitebeard staggered.

Charlotte clenched his fists. His knees buckled for just a second—but he stayed standing.

That caught Rocks' attention.

"Hmph," Rocks said, staring Charlotte down. "You've got two choices, boy."

His voice was cold. Absolute.

"One—join the Rocks Pirates. Two—die."

The entire fleet fell silent.

Charlotte stood motionless. His breath was heavy. His Haki was drained. But his spirit remained unbroken.

After a long pause, he slowly lowered his blade.

"…Fine. I'll join."

He didn't smile. Didn't kneel. Didn't thank them.

He just spoke the words with quiet determination.

Because he knew—this was just the beginning.

*********

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