The alleyway was deathly silent.
Ren stood amidst the three corpses, panting heavily, his chest heaving like a worn-out bellows.
The adrenaline was rapidly fading, replaced by throbbing pain from the bone-deep wound on his arm and the utter exhaustion of surviving a near-death experience.
However, before he could even catch his breath, a sudden mutation occurred!
The power that had just surged into his body seemed to find a vent, abruptly turning violent!
"Arghhh—!"
Ren let out a suppressed howl of pain, his knees buckling as he collapsed heavily to the ground.
His head felt like it was going to burst open. Countless fragmented images and information that didn't belong to him hit his consciousness like a mental tsunami.
A fat pirate, in a sweltering cabin, lifting heavy cannonballs over his head, thick veins bulging on his neck and arms, every movement accompanied by the groaning of bones...
A tall, thin silhouette under the moonlight, hacking at a wooden stake over and over with clumsy swordplay, drenched in sweat...
The perspective of a brute, having three ribs kicked in by a stronger pirate during a brawl, the sheer agony and terror...
Muscles built from years of training, crude blade techniques, street-fighting experience... The lifelong "wealth" of these three pirates was now being forcibly branded into his body and soul in the most barbaric way possible.
Ren curled up in agony, clutching his head so tightly his nails nearly dug into his scalp.
This was a plunder, and it was a fusion.
He felt as if he were being torn to shreds by this chaotic information, lost in the residual memories of others.
It was impossible to tell how much time had passed before the storm slowly subsided.
Ren slumped on the cold, blood-stained ground, drenched in sweat as if he had just been fished out of the ocean.
He slowly propped himself up, feeling... different.
His limbs, previously weak from intense exertion and blood loss, were now brimming with strength. The hideous wound on his arm, while still painful, felt as though it would heal in just a day or two.
Ren stood up unsteadily, his gaze falling on the short knife belonging to the thin pirate.
He bent down and picked it up.
The moment his fingers gripped the hilt, a strange sense of familiarity welled up. This was no longer a cold murder weapon, but felt like an extension of his own arm. Instinctively, he flicked his wrist and casually swung it forward.
Whoosh—!
The blade cut through the air, bringing with it a sharp whistling sound.
It was a simple yet incredibly practical hacking motion, carrying the characteristic ruthlessness and agility of pirates. This technique was absolutely not something a modern man—who rarely visited the gym and spent his years typing on a keyboard in an office building—could master.
Ren looked down at his blood-stained hands, then at the three corpses on the ground. A flash of realization crossed his eyes.
When the fruit entered his stomach, the information branded into his soul like instinct resurfaced:
Paramecia Type: Assimilation Fruit.
The ability allowed the host to passively and slowly assimilate the physical attributes, combat techniques, and other qualities of living beings within a certain range.
Ren's mind raced, rapidly rewinding and deconstructing the life-or-death battle he just experienced.
At the beginning, when the fat pirate approached, that spark of strength that appeared out of nowhere had allowed him to pull off a limit-dodge. That was a weak "assimilation." The passive assimilation range of the fruit's power was likely within one meter!
Then, when he recklessly lunged into the thin pirate's chest, the physical contact caused the influx of power to become like a clear, steady stream. His grip strength surged instantly, allowing him to deliver the crucial counter-kill.
This meant that direct physical contact significantly increased assimilation efficiency!
Finally, when the thin pirate and the other two died completely, that power turned into a bursting flood. He had made everything they were his own!
Ren's breathing grew rapid as an uncontrollable ecstasy erupted from the depths of his soul!
The power of his fruit was a growth law more exaggerated than any system! It didn't need missions, it didn't need points, it only needed... to be near the strong!
He didn't even need their permission. As long as he stayed by a powerhouse's side, he could subtly assimilate their strength like a sponge absorbing water.
And if he could completely defeat the opponent... it would be a gluttonous feast! He could directly take everything they had for himself!
This was a fruit born for combat and slaughter, more exaggerated than any known fruit from the manga in his previous life!
"That was quite the performance."
A voice carrying immense pressure drifted from the alley entrance, interrupting Ren's thoughts.
Ren froze all over and snapped his head up.
An exceptionally tall man stood in the shadows of the alleyway. It was impossible to tell how long he had been watching.
His hands were tucked in his pockets. Even though he was just standing casually, that overbearing aura that looked down on everything almost made the air solidify.
As the man stepped out of the shadows, Ren's pupils shrank to pinpoints.
Wild, unruly black hair exploded like a lion's mane, tied back by a simple headband. He stood at least three meters tall, his massive frame radiating explosive power.
But the most striking thing was his face—a face written with arrogance and ambition, sporting an unruly smile at the corner of his mouth. And his eyes: one was normal, while the other was wide open and bloodshot, making him look both insane and dangerous.
Mismatched eyes! That iconic feature!
A name thundered in Ren's mind like an explosion.
Rocks D. Xebec!
Ren's heart hammered. A chill a hundred times stronger than when he faced the three pirates shot from his heels straight to his skull.
He forced himself to calm down, tightened his grip on the short knife, and didn't speak rashly. He only watched the man with a wary gaze.
Rocks looked him over with interest, seemingly appreciating his composure. He spoke slowly, his voice deep and domineering: "What is your name?"
"...Ren."
"Ren?" Rocks repeated, then grinned. "Going from a rat that could only scurry around to a madman who bit three wild dogs to death."
His gaze was like a hawk's, as if he could see straight through Ren's soul.
"I appreciate your brain—thinking of a way to counter-kill in that desperate situation—and your ruthlessness to survive by any means necessary. I am going to become the King of this world," Rocks' voice wasn't loud, but it carried unquestionable authority. "On my ship, I don't just need idiots who only know how to swing swords. I need tools. All kinds of tools to help me realize my ambition."
His eyes swept up and down Ren, as if appraising the value of an item.
"Your brain and that ruthlessness... you barely qualify as a decent tool."
Rocks' invitation carried no goodwill; it was a naked transaction and a final ultimatum.
"Become my first crew member and assist me. Otherwise, you stay right here and join these corpses."
These words completely confirmed Ren's suspicions.
The man before him was the one who would in the future gather Whitebeard, Kaido, Big Mom, Golden Lion Shiki, and countless other legends in his bid to rule the world!
Ren's back was instantly soaked in cold sweat.
He used every ounce of his strength to control the twitching of his facial muscles, forcing down the gasp that nearly escaped his lips.
Rocks... is inviting me?
Why?
Ren's brain worked at frantic speed, his adrenaline surging again. Did he see me eat the Devil Fruit? Is he interested in this unknown power?
No... that's not it. Ren forced himself to analyze calmly. Based on Rocks' words, what he appreciated was the process—how a seemingly weak prey used the environment and brutal methods to kill three armed pirates. There was a high probability he didn't see the moment the fruit was swallowed, or even if he did, he didn't care.
What he cared about was the "value" Ren had displayed—the value of a "tool" who could think calmly and do whatever it took to survive in a hopeless situation.
With that realization, Ren's heart steadied slightly, but a much larger question immediately loomed.
Should I... accept?
The moment the thought appeared, Ren ruthlessly crushed it. He gave a bitter, self-deprecating laugh in his mind.
Not accept? Was he joking? Did he even have the right to refuse?
A glance at the three warm corpses on the ground, and a look at the unmasked tyranny and arrogance in the man's eyes... He had said it clearly: "Otherwise, you stay right here and join these corpses."
This wasn't a multiple-choice question. This was an ultimatum. The only options were "Yes" or "Death."
Was it dangerous on Rocks' ship?
The answer was a resounding yes—lethally dangerous! This was Rocks D. Xebec! A true, peerless beast! His ship would eventually become a den of demons where every crew member was a lawless monster. Staying with such a group, one wrong word or one mistake could lead to being crushed to death without even bone dust left behind. It was a path walking on the edge of a blade, where he could be smashed to pieces at any moment.
But...
Once the next thought surfaced, it spread like wildfire through Ren's mind!
Opportunity! This was more than an opportunity; it was a ladder to the heavens!
What was the power of his Assimilation Fruit? To get stronger by being near the strong! To plunder everything by defeating enemies!
Looking at the entire world over the next few decades, where else would more top-tier powerhouses gather than on Rocks' pirate ship?
Whitebeard! Kaido! Big Mom! Golden Lion Shiki!
Those legendary monsters who were like natural disasters would be on the same ship as him!
An ecstasy that made him tremble surged frantically from the depths of Ren's soul! As long as he could stay near those monsters, even if he did nothing, his strength would skyrocket!
This wasn't boarding a pirate ship; this was a highly efficient "training ground" tailor-made for him!
Ren took a deep breath, suppressing the overflowing ecstasy back into his heart.
He put away the knife. Facing the man, he hid his inner excitement, kept his expression composed, and bowed slightly. Using a tone that was neither overly humble nor lacking in respect, he answered:
"Of course. I am willing to join, Captain."
Rocks grinned, showing a mouthful of white teeth, his smile full of arrogance and satisfaction. He didn't give Ren another look, as if he already had him completely figured out.
He turned and walked toward the alley exit.
"Then keep up. First, we eat."