"Fear will only make you lose faster!"
A sickly green longsword pulsing with evil power appeared before "Silver Axe" Fierce, its sword-qi flickering like a razor-sharp saw.
"Damn it!"
Influenced by the Seven Star Demon Sword, Fierce lost some of his reason and erupted in rage.
He swung his huge axe wildly, trying to blast Fang Huo away.
"Gravity Sword: Raging Tiger!"
A violet tiger-shaped sword-qi slammed Fierce—man and axe together—into a crater dozens of meters deep.
"Ugh—haa..."
"Silver Axe" Fierce coughed up a mouthful of blood; the Gravity blade felt like facing Rocks's cannon-hammer sword, leaving him utterly helpless.
"Youngsters and their vigor—spitting blood like it's a hobby!"
Fang Huo's face was cold as he released a swarm of Blood Shadow Bats that drowned "Silver Axe" Fierce.
A powerhouse's blood mustn't go to waste!
"Hey, hey, Fang Huo, that's enough!"
"You're even more ruthless than me!"
Sensing Fierce's aura fading fast, Rocks quickly spoke up.
He didn't want the Executive he'd just recruited killed by his own crewmate.
"A challenge demands a price."
Fang Huo intensified the Gravity crush and the bats' drain; the Seven Star Demon Sword nearly devoured Fierce's will entirely.
Only when the man lay completely helpless did Fang Huo disperse every ability, drifting back to his seat to sip red wine in leisure.
That casual victory was the very picture of elegance.
"Shiki, drag that guy back."
Rocks ordered Shiki, then rejoined the banquet himself.
Shiki's gaze toward Fang Huo had changed; this Chief Strategist was far stronger than he'd imagined.
Right now, he definitely couldn't beat this Prophet!
"Not bad, Fang Huo—developing such powerful moves."
Rocks gave Fang Huo an approving smile; the once-weak "No. 001 Executive" finally had the strength to protect himself.
"But if I wielded the Seven Star Demon Sword and three Devil Fruit powers, my slashes would be dozens of times stronger than yours."
"So your physique still has huge room to grow!"
Rocks couldn't resist warning the cunning little seer lest his tail shoot sky-high.
Still, at Fang Huo's growth rate, he truly qualified to be First Mate.
Even Rocks dared not imagine how terrifying Fang Huo would become once he possessed nine Devil Fruit abilities.
"I know—it's far from enough to face those old monsters."
Fang Huo wasn't arrogant; he hadn't even awakened the Three Types of Haki, and his body hadn't fully transformed yet.
He still needed to work harder in the future!
"You're this strong and still claim you're weak, helpless, and pitiful?"
Newgate stared at the island-splitting slash mark Fang Huo had carved, shock written across his face.
"Am I not weak? Every arm-wrestle I lose to you—nearly snapped my wrist!"
Fang Huo answered righteously; his strength and physique were far inferior to Rocks and Newgate.
"Damn it—Rocks was right, you Prophets are the craftiest!"
Newgate was speechless at Fang Huo's sophistry.
"First Mate, I knew your wisdom and strength go hand in hand!"
Babel now firmly hugged the ship's two biggest thighs; when Rocks was absent, he'd follow Fang Huo without hesitation.
"The First Mate is amazing!"
Sunbell admired the good-hearted First Mate even more; from now on, he'd obey Fang Huo's every order.
Soon Shiki carried the pale-faced Fierce back.
The man was covered in bat bites, looking drained dry.
What hurt him most was that he hadn't even touched Fang Huo's clothes before a seamless combo left him powerless.
Those terrifying slashes, Gravity suppression, blood-sucking bats, and sinister spiritual erosion—each one hard enough to handle alone.
That combination was a hundred times nastier than Shiki's Float-Float Fruit.
"Tsk, what a wreck, Fierce!"
"First beaten up by Rocks, then tortured by Fang Huo..."
Shiki gloated; luckily he hadn't challenged Fang Huo himself, or he'd be the miserable one now.
He'd been smart, needling Fierce into stepping forward and making a fool of himself.
"This time I was caught off guard—next time I'll defeat you for sure!"
Fierce was still unconvinced; how could a new recruit know this monster had so many powers plus an evil demon sword?
Once he figured Fang Huo out, he'd challenge him again!
"You're welcome—my bats need feeding anyway."
Feeling the lifespan and strength the Vampire Ability fed back, Fang Huo couldn't stop smiling.
In the God Valley Incident, besides "Captain John" and Ganzi, "Silver Axe" Fierce and "Golden Lion" Shiki had been the first to break ranks.
Fang Huo didn't mind teaching and disciplining them a bit.
They were young, and so was he.
Fang Huo believed his growth would never lag behind these Executives.
By the time "Silver Axe" and "Golden Lion" reached their peaks, Fang Huo would be even stronger!
"Bastard!!"
Battered all over, "Silver Axe" ground his teeth and swallowed his defiance under Fang Huo's might.
"Wahahaha! After today your bounties will be updated!"
"Newgate, Sunbell, if you don't show off, your bounties will lag way behind."
Rocks surveyed the ruined pirate isle and the countless fallen pirates, grinning in satisfaction.
This was the destructive power the Rocks Pirates should have!
"Captain, I'll give it my all!"
Sunbell answered at once; from now on, he'd charge first whenever they met another pirate crew at sea.
"Who cares about those numbers!"
Newgate couldn't care less; if he didn't have to send money back to Sphinx Island, he wouldn't even bother looting with these guys.
"Hope you'll still say that when Sunbell's bounty overtakes yours!"
"Alright, boys! Move out!"
"We're off to win Newgate a Supreme Grade blade!"
Rocks laughed heartily, hoisting a huge sack of gold treasure himself as he headed back to the Saber of Xebec.
"Golden Lion" Shiki also slung two bags of loot and floated into the air.
He loved the feeling of carrying treasure on his back.
Newgate, Babel, and Sunbell cheerfully hoisted their own shares, all in high spirits.
Only Fang Huo flicked a finger, levitating the remaining loot and supplies—and even the injured "Silver Axe"—along with him.
"Silver Axe" accepted Fang Huo's power with a stony face.
His defiance waned a notch.
Once the Rocks Pirates' flying warship departed, the pirate-island mooks crept out in terror.
They stared at the two horrific sword scars left by Rocks and Fang Huo, trembling with dread.
Fang Huo's slash had literally cut half the island apart.
How could an 80 million Berry rookie be that strong?
Even the notorious 300-million-Berry "Gangster Killer" Kyo had been crushed by Fang Huo!
Had another monster like Charlotte Linlin been born?
They felt the whole Rocks Pirates were monsters—several of them no weaker than Charlotte Linlin!
Bounties would probably soar to around 500 million Berries!