Onepiece:Ares

"Follow me?!"

Ochoku's face visibly stiffened upon hearing Rocks' arrangement. He exclaimed in disbelief, "You want this kid to follow me?!"

After his initial surprise, Ochoku quickly grasped the captain's intent. It was clear that Rocks wanted to balance the power dynamics on the ship. By assigning Ares to Ochoku, Rocks ensured that Whitebeard, Golden Lion, and Linlin wouldn't gain additional strength for their already powerful teams.

Realizing he couldn't refuse, Ochoku sighed and said, "Fine, I'll take care of this brat!"

He turned to Ares, waving him over. "Kid, come here. From now on, you'll follow me, and I'll teach you the rules of the Rocks Pirates!"

Ares shrugged off Whitebeard's hand from his shoulder and walked toward Ochoku.

"This kid..." Whitebeard muttered, a hint of disappointment flashing across his face. He had high hopes for Ares' future. If Ares had joined his squad and bonded with him, he could have become Whitebeard's right-hand man someday.

Such a missed opportunity, Whitebeard lamented silently. He could do nothing but accept Rocks' decision.

The Golden Lion also looked dejected, feeling the sting of losing such a promising recruit.

The most frustrated person, however, was Charlotte Linlin. Her eyes never left Ares as she licked her lips with an unsettling smile. "I will never give up," she declared confidently.

"With Ares' physical talent, he's the only one who could satisfy me and produce stronger offspring."

Her brazen statement made both Whitebeard and Golden Lion shudder. They instinctively distanced themselves from her.

"This woman is a complete lunatic!"

Her thoughts, filled with violent and lustful ambitions, unsettled even the strongest members of the Rocks crew.

Meanwhile, Rocks addressed Ochoku. "Take Ares back to the ship and explain the rules to him."

Under Rocks' orders, Ochoku led Ares toward the massive pirate ship anchored at the coast. Rocks, however, turned his attention to the trembling villagers nearby. His gaze landed on the old man who had initially begged Ares for help.

Rocks crouched down and asked with a faint smirk, "Tell me about Ares."

The old man recoiled instinctively, trembling as he stammered, "Please… don't kill me!"

He bowed his head low, refusing to meet Rocks' eyes. "Take whatever you want, just spare us!"

Captain John, growing impatient, barked, "Hey, old man! The captain asked you a question! Answer if you don't want to die!"

The old man flinched, trembling even more violently. Then, clinging to a shred of hope for survival, he began to recount everything he knew about Ares.

"Ares… his father was a renowned bladesmith."

"Years ago, his father crafted a famous sword, but it was stolen by pirates. His father was killed, leaving Ares all alone."

He paused, his voice faltering. "Three years ago, something changed. Ares suddenly went mad!"

The old man's voice trembled as he recalled the day it all began. Ares had run out of his house, asking everyone he met how he could turn himself into a blade sharper than any sword. His intense and erratic behavior had terrified the villagers.

"Ares had always helped his father forge weapons. By the age of ten, he was already as strong as a bull. When he started training, no one could stop him."

The old man described how Ares' training methods grew increasingly extreme. What began as simple push-ups and lifting heavy objects escalated into smashing trees with his body. Eventually, he took to slamming his body against mountains in his quest to strengthen himself.

After hearing the story, Rocks stood, gazing thoughtfully at the horizon. "Is this kid insane?" he muttered.

Yet, despite his words, Rocks couldn't hide his admiration. "For someone to reach this level of strength through sheer willpower and training alone… his potential is monstrous."

Rocks understood that Ares wasn't just talented. He possessed a relentless determination and an unparalleled capacity for hard work—qualities that far exceeded those of someone like Linlin, whose natural gifts were squandered.

"Ares is entirely different," Rocks mused. "He's not only a prodigy but also a relentless force of self-discipline."

Turning back to his crew, Rocks called out, "Let's move out, men!"

Captain John took a swig of his drink, grinning as he followed Rocks. "When that kid grows up, he won't lose to Whitebeard or Golden Lion. Mark my words."

Kaido, who had been listening, clenched his fists, his eyes burning with determination. He muttered to himself, "That guy… Ares… trains like a lunatic."

Inspired, Kaido vowed to push himself even harder. "I'll start my own hellish training! Next time, I'll be the one to win!"

At the Coast

For the first time, Ares stood before the Rocks Pirates' massive ship. It was a fortress on the sea, towering so high that even Ares, at four meters tall, seemed small in comparison.

"Impressive, isn't it?" Ochoku said, his voice brimming with pride. "This is the Rocks Pirates' ship—the mightiest vessel on the seas. Just hearing our name makes pirates piss themselves in fear!"

He burst into hearty laughter, relishing the memory of their reputation.

Ares, however, remained calm, uninterested in anything except his singular goal: turning himself into the strongest sword.

Ochoku clapped him on the shoulder, grinning. "You're an official member of the Rocks Pirates now, kid. There'll be plenty of battles ahead!"

His eyes glimmered with excitement as he added, "Grow up quickly, Ares. I'm looking forward to seeing the monster you'll become!"

End of the Chapter.