"How ruthless!"
Stussy looked at the sword scars covering the ground, cold sweat beading on her forehead.
If she hadn't dodged just now, she really might have died.
Does this man have no ounce of chivalry at all?
"Who is that woman? She actually dodged Vice Captain Fang Huo's attack!"
Some female pirates watched Stussy, this gorgeous woman, with jealousy—she actually warranted a personal test from Fang Huo.
"Show me your full strength and prove you qualify to join the Rocks Pirates."
Fang Huo gazed down at Stussy, his expression calm. Within the vast, bright moon behind him, weapons formed of Moonlight appeared... At this moment he seemed incarnated as the Hero King Gilgamesh, the moon turning into his Gate of Babylon as blades materialized one after another.
Eighteen types of weapons—sabers, spears, swords, halberds—appeared, surprising even Rocks and Shiki.
On these seas where swords dominate, even Rocks hadn't seen some of the weapons Fang Huo conjured.
"The Vice Captain's knowledge is vast—he's seen so many arms."
Sanbel was the first to praise loudly, turning into Fang Huo's devoted fanboy.
"This guy really puts on a good divine act..."
Newgate stared at Fang Huo mid-air; the sight truly gave him a concrete image of what a god should look like.
"Damn it! Fang Huo steals every spotlight—he hogs all the glory."
Shiki burned with envy; Fang Huo's looks and aura were something he could never surpass.
Fang Huo monopolized the right to choose partners, leaving the rest of them barely a mouthful of soup.
"So powerful..."
Charlotte Linlin itched to make Fang Huo her private treasure, to hide him away.
"Is Fang Huo's epithet really Great Demon Venerable? He looks exactly like a genuine deity..."
Ganzi, the rookie, gaped; he'd never seen an ability-user so godlike.
"—Qualify to join?"
Stussy locked her eyes on the Moonlight weapons behind Fang Huo, nerves taut.
Yet she seemed to catch his meaning.
Fang Huo wasn't here to kill her—he was testing her.
As long as she gave everything and earned his approval, she could join the Rocks Pirates.
Gazing at his breathtaking face, she sensed no killing intent.
"Then I ask Lord Fang Huo to show mercy!"
Stussy turned utterly serious, abandoning any thought of shortcuts.
She would earn her place by strength and stand openly beside Fang Huo.
"Moon Treasury!"
Fang Huo gave Stussy an appreciative glance and flicked his finger; Moonlight weapons shot at her in endless streams.
He didn't use his Gravity Ability, Vampire Ability, or even the seven star demon sword.
He was going easy on her—by a lot.
The Moonlight weapons, created only recently, weren't very hard or strong.
Besides, Fang Huo wasn't pushing them to full power.
Stussy dodged nimbly; when she shattered a Moonlight blade with Armament Haki she realized they weren't as formidable as they looked.
Finding them weaker than expected.
In the next instant she seemed transformed into a Valkyrie, smashing countless Moonlight arms with each strike.
Under Fang Huo's leniency her combat prowess dazzled everyone.
Who could have guessed this courtesan-like beauty was so strong?
In truth the weapons aimed at her had been weakened, yet those hitting the ground still devastated it, shredding the earth.
Stussy noticed Fang Huo's leniency and felt smug—she knew these men couldn't resist her charm.
Even a man like Fang Huo.
But seeing the surrounding devastation made her heart tremble; she dared not fantasize and focused on parrying his softened attacks.
After several minutes of bombardment Fang Huo halted.
"Congratulations—you've earned the right to join the Rocks Pirates."
Sensing Stussy nearing her limit and her acting starting to slip, Fang Huo declared the result to avoid suspicion.
Still, the woman had skills; she wasn't just a pretty ornament.
Though her scientific abilities were probably mediocre.
"—She actually passed Lord Fang Huo's test!!"
"Look at those sword scars on the ground—could you have endured it?"
"Never thought this woman was so powerful!"
The pirates on Paradise Island hadn't expected another strong newcomer to join the Rocks Pirates that night.
Which meant the crew had gained three Executives in a single day.
"Thank you for showing mercy, Vice Captain."
Panting, Stussy gave Fang Huo a seductive glance.
A man who had gone easy on her sparked endless speculation.
Perhaps this godlike man had already fallen for her charms.
With only Big Mom as another woman in the Rocks Pirates, the Supreme Great Succubus might be lonely.
If it were Fang Huo, she was more than willing.
"Give me a hand, Vice Captain."
Seeing Fang Huo turn to fly back to Skull Eye without another move, Stussy called out coquettishly.
The man was so clueless about romance, not even helping a wounded beauty like her.
Fang Huo didn't look back, but with a flick of his finger a counter-gravity lifted her into the air.
"Thanks, Fang Huo."
Stussy shamelessly tried to cozy up to the 'cold' Fang Huo.
"Fang Huo, you definitely went easy!"
Shiki yelled; Fang Huo hadn't used Gravity or Vampire abilities.
"When he hacked me it wasn't like that!"
Silver Axe said coldly; back at Black Hand Pirate Island that slash had split half the island.
He'd also been drained of a good chunk of blood by Fang Huo's Vampire Ability—brutal.
"Worororo, since Fang Huo let her pass the test, let her join."
Rocks knew Stussy wasn't truly weak, though perhaps a scientific dud.
He'd treat her as a fighter and give up hope on the scientific bandit's research skills.
He could always find a more professional scientist later.
As Stussy set foot on Skull Eye she immediately stationed herself beside Fang Huo, clinging to the Vice Captain who'd gone easy on her.
Given the choice between Fang Huo and Rocks, she'd pick the handsomer Fang Huo.
Whitebeard, Golden Lion and the other powerful Executives were temporarily ignored—second-tier options.
"Captain Rocks! I passed Vice Captain Fang Huo's test."
Stussy addressed Rocks; though determined to stick with Fang Huo, she still respected the strongest Captain.
"Worororo, welcome aboard. You can join Ganzi and Bastard for the welcome banquet."
"Also, let me tell you—the Rocks Pirates have no Vice Captain."
Rocks didn't care much for this female fighter; her strength paled beside Newgate, Shiki and Linlin.
She didn't even have the makings of a king.
—
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