The Rocks Pirates who witnessed the scene wore expressions of pure horror.
Someone opened their mouth wide, but no sound came out. Time seemed to stretch endlessly, and everyone could almost see the tragic image of Stussy being torn apart by the cold light in an instant.
Just as the sword aura was about to split Stussy in two—
A massive figure appeared before her, as if teleporting.
It was Edward Newgate!
His gigantic body surged forward without hesitation. His enormous fist, wrapped in a swirling white cyclone and filled with crushing will, barreled toward the extremely fast sword aura.
"Crack!!!"
The sound wasn't metal breaking—it was as if space itself had fractured.
The air before Newgate's fist splintered like fragile glass, webbed with countless white cracks. At the center of the fracture was the unstoppable cold light of Tanma's sword.
There was no explosion. The slash, swift as lightning and sharp as a blade, struck the cracked space and stopped—as if hitting an invisible wall.
Tanma's sword energy, capable of cutting through anything, was forcibly nullified, dissipating before the shattered air.
Newgate's massive fist froze less than an inch from Stussy, the wind alone tossing her golden hair into disarray.
The cold light vanished, and Calamity reappeared in Tanma's hands. He held his stance, eyes wide with shock.
As expected… every member of the Rocks Pirates was a monster.
Stussy's body trembled, as if she had just escaped drowning. Her pupils dilated, and her expression still showed the terror of surviving a near-death experience.
"Haah…"
Her long golden hair swirled in the gust. She blinked, then a cunning smile curved her lips.
"Ah…"
With a soft exclamation, she leapt up, wrapping her legs around Newgate's broad shoulders. Her delicate fingers traced his chest as she whispered, "Newgate… you're so eager to protect me. Do I really have a place in your heart?"
Newgate's bronze skin flushed red, his iconic crescent mustache standing on end."D-don't talk nonsense!" he stammered, trying to pry her off, but careful not to hurt her—like a polar bear tangled in vines.
"Hey, be careful in broad daylight!" Shiki the Golden Lion laughed, nearly choking on his cigar as his sunglasses slid down his nose. "Should I make a room for you two?"
"Shut up, Shiki!" Newgate growled.
A vein bulged on Rocks D. Xebec's forehead. He slammed his sword, Disaster, into the ground. "If you two want to flirt, get out of here!"
Silence fell.
Rocks's gaze cut across Tanma like a blade. The young swordsman still held Calamity, its last trace of cold light fading.
"Kid," Rocks said, grinning, teeth sharp as shark fins, "that move just now… was interesting."
He tossed a bronze plate engraved with a skull emblem at Tanma's feet."From today onward, you are an apprentice of the Rocks Pirates."
Shiki scratched his ear exaggeratedly. "Hey, that's way too casual…"
"Shut up, Shiki!" everyone yelled.
Tanma stood in the square before the castle, Calamity lowered at his side. His gaze swept over the assembled pirates—monsters who could shake the World Government itself.
Ochoku, the "Founder of Pirates," once rumored to be a traitor to an ancient faith, now one of the most feared plunderers at sea.
John, the "West Sea Mafia King," dressed in a sharp suit, cigar burning, calm smile hiding ruthless reach through the underworld—enough to make even the Navy hesitate.
Silver Axe, always smiling, several flintlocks hanging at his waist. Harmless in appearance, yet the most dangerous smuggler in the New World—daring to steal from even the Celestial Dragons.
And of course, Newgate, Shiki, Stussy, and Rocks himself at the top.
This was the world Tanma had entered.
Shiki floated on levitating rock, looking down at Tanma through his sunglasses. His voice was cold.
"Don't get it twisted, kid. We're not Rocks' men."
He raised a finger, and every stone around them floated, sharp edges aimed directly at Tanma.
"We're just… temporary allies."
He smirked. "If you think joining us makes you our equal…"His grin vanished. "…then I'll show you what it means to overestimate yourself."
Tanma's eyes didn't waver. His grip on Calamity tightened, the blade catching the light.
"You can try."
The air froze.
Shiki's playful smile became feral. "Court death!"
Instantly, the floating stones rained down like a storm.
Tanma's blade cut through the air.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
Sparks flew, debris shattered. His form weaved flawlessly between rocks, slicing each boulder precisely.
"Oh?" Shiki raised an eyebrow. "Interesting."
Just as the clash threatened to erupt further—
"That's enough."
Rocks's voice rolled like distant thunder. His dark cloak fluttered in the wind as his eyes swept the two combatants.
"Now is not the time for fighting."
Shiki clicked his tongue, retracting his ability.
Tanma sheathed Calamity, though his eyes remained razor-sharp.
Rocks smiled dangerously.
"Welcome aboard… Number Seven."
"Whether you live long enough to earn that title depends entirely on you."
Tanma understood perfectly—survival itself would be the first test aboard this ship.
Every pirate here was a predator. One day, any of them could be his killer.
And yet, that was exactly why he came.
He had chosen the Rocks Pirates—the most wicked crew on the seas—because in this crucible of monsters, he would temper himself into the world's greatest swordsman.
Just like Ryuma, the Sword God of Wano, his homeland.