It didn't take long at all.
The entire port of the Kingdom of Ying had already been conquered by the Rocks Pirates; countless desiccated corpses littered the beaches and docks, exuding boundless evil and cruelty.
Sunbell single-handedly defeated the vice-commander of the Kingdom of Ying's army and let out an exhilarated roar to the heavens.
Rocks finally stopped giving the Fish-Man the cold shoulder.
"I'm the 'Tidal Sea Hero' Sunbell of the Rocks Pirates! Remember my name!"
Sunbell shouted at the top of his lungs, afraid no one would know his epithet.
He hoped the next wanted poster would carry his new moniker and bounty.
"Boom!!"
"Boom!!"
Newgate and the Kingdom of Ying's General, Kusanagi Oda, erupted into a fierce battle.
The clash nearly leveled a whole town; in the end, the mighty Newgate battered Kusanagi Oda half to death.
Even the nation's treasured blade was seized by Newgate!
Snatching the Supreme Grade blade Murakumogiri, Newgate gave the long-handled naginata a few swings, a satisfied grin spreading across his face.
The length and weight of the blade suited him perfectly!
"Remember this: I'm Edward Newgate the 'Whitebeard'! Someday my white mustache and Murakumogiri will be the most famous symbols in the world!"
Newgate didn't finish Kusanagi Oda off—his way of returning the "gift" of the blade.
"Bastard! Give back our national treasure..."
Sprawled on the ground, Kusanagi Oda's palm was torn, and his arm crackled with fissures; Newgate's raw strength and shockwaves had shredded his muscles.
"A pirate never returns what he's stolen!"
Ignoring the General's glare, Newgate sauntered toward the shore, leaving a dashing silhouette behind.
At that moment, the capital of the Kingdom of Ying burst into flames, black smoke billowing skyward.
"Hey, hey, hey, Rocks! Why the arson again?"
Hovering in mid-air, Fang Huo cursed Rocks.
"Wahahaha! Just making your title 'Murder and Arson' ring louder!"
Rocks, several bulging sacks slung over his shoulder, grinned without a hint of guilt.
"Damn it, I'm the 'Great Love Immortal Venerable,' not 'Murder and Arson'!"
Fang Huo swore; a vulgar nickname like "Murder and Arson" was unfit for a transmigrator like him.
"Huh? Great Love Immortal Venerable?"
"Look at those mummified corpses you drained—where's the 'great love' in that?"
Rocks burst into raucous laughter; by deeds alone, Fang Huo was the vilest scoundrel aboard.
Between the Vampire Fruit and the Seven Star Demon Sword, Fang Huo had zero connection to "great love."
"You know nothing! From now on, I'm 'Great Love Immortal Venerable'!"
"If you call me 'Murder and Arson,' I'll dub you 'Black-and-White Hedgehog'!"
Fang Huo eyed Rocks's spiky black-and-white hair, bestowing the "World's Worst Pirate" a fresh epithet.
"Black-and-White Hedgehog?"
"Koyuki Fang Huo! I'll pound you to paste!"
Rocks lunged at Fang Huo, who nimbly flew high out of reach.
"Shishishi! 'Great Love Immortal Venerable'! 'Black-and-White Hedgehog'! Too fun!"
"Golden Lion" Shiki gloated nearby; he didn't know what "Immortal Venerable" meant, but the irony of "great love" for a pirate was enough.
"Shiki!!"
Hearing "Black-and-White Hedgehog," Rocks whirled and glared at "Golden Lion" Shiki.
The look shut Shiki up instantly!
The nickname must never be spoken in Rocks's presence—only joked about with Fang Huo and the other officers.
"Hear that, Big Bro Babel? I want to be a hero and 'Sea Paladin,' and our First Mate wants to be some 'Immortal Venerable' filled with great love."
"The First Mate must be a good man overflowing with kindness!"
Sunbell, once again moved by Fang Huo, revered him like the endless waves of the sea.
"Great love? Does the First Mate dream of freeing every slave?"
The unschooled Babel wasn't sure what the new title meant either.
"'Great Love Immortal Venerable'? Disgusting! Hypocritical!"
"We're just pirates!"
"Silver Axe" Fierce sneered, finding the self-proclaimed title almost effeminate.
Was this some attempt at contrast?
Had he seen how terrifying Fang Huo's sword slashes were, how evil those vampire bats could be?
Amid the raucous bickering—
Each member of the Rocks Pirates hoisted bags of plunder back to the ship.
As the Saber of Xebec sailed away, it left the Kingdom of Ying in ruins.
News of the Rocks Pirates toppling the great New World nation of the Kingdom of Ying soon headlined the next day.
Newgate's bounty soared to 346 million Berries for razing the port, defeating General Kusanagi Oda, and seizing a Supreme Grade blade.
In one leap, he surpassed both "Golden Lion" Shiki and "Silver Axe" Fierce.
He was indeed being called "Whitebeard."
Sunbell also saw his bounty rise to 120 million Berries for beating the vice-commander, earning him the epithet "Tidal Sea Hero" as he wished.
The rest of the crew's bounties stayed unchanged.
After all, they had only beaten mere grunts and underlings.
Aboard the Saber of Xebec—
"Damn it! Newgate got a Supreme Grade blade and a bounty higher than ours!"
"Golden Lion" Shiki's voice dripped with resentment; he hated being overshadowed.
He now ranked below Rocks, Fang Huo, Newgate, and Fierce—bottom-tier in his eyes.
The proud Shiki would never accept that!
Rocks was now setting off to recruit Charlotte Linlin, the 500-million-bounty female pirate.
Shiki had to grow stronger fast—at least surpass his old rival Fierce.
Besides, he needed to squeeze information about other famous blades out of Fang Huo.
"Gurarara! Shiki, I've always been stronger than you! Fancy a dip in the sea?"
Newgate twirled Murakumogiri, eyeing the grumbling "Golden Lion"—perfect chance to test his Supreme Grade blade.
If the blade could withstand his Tremor-Tremor Fruit power, he could develop even more techniques.
"Hmph!"
"Golden Lion" Shiki could only grunt, flames blazing in his eyes.
He would surpass these bastards!
He would never resign himself to second place!
Rocks loved watching them compete and grow.
Only that way could they mature quickly and become assets against Imu.
"Tch, after devouring all that blood from Pirate Island and the Kingdom of Ying, my cells finally adapted to this world."
"Soon I'll awaken the Three Types of Haki too!"
Ambition gleamed in Fang Huo's eyes; nine Devil Fruit abilities were his mutant talent, but Haki was something he refused to miss.
He would master Devil Fruits, Haki, and physical prowess—all of them.
No matter how long it took.
He had the lifespan to max every skill and become the strongest being in this world!