Kaido, the 19-year-old prodigy and top apprentice of the Rocks Pirates. Though he hadn't yet consumed the Fish-Fish Fruit, Mythical Model: Azure Dragon, his raw power already placed him above many veteran crew members. His reputation was such that he could have been promoted to full-fledged status long ago, if not for his obsession with earning a commander's spot.
Now, his piercing gaze locked onto Bob, the unassuming newcomer who had somehow become the center of a storm between two legends. Kaido's brow furrowed as he muttered under his breath:
"Strong talent?"
"Isn't this guy supposed to be a clown in the rumors?"
The whispers among the crew had painted Bob as a joke—a man obsessed with trivial daily exercises, far removed from the brutal, battle-hardened ethos of the Rocks Pirates. Yet here he stood, with Whitebeard and Shiki ready to tear the island apart for the right to claim him.
"How strong can he be with just low-intensity daily training?" Kaido's grip tightened around his kanabo, the weapon's weight a familiar comfort. "He actually managed to earn the favor of Commander Edward... To the point where two commanders fought over him."
A slow, intrigued grin spread across Kaido's face. "Is he some kind of hidden monster?"
The thought ignited something primal in him—a hunger to test Bob himself. If this so-called "genius" was truly worth the hype, then Kaido wanted to crush him under his club. And if not... well, exposing a fraud would only solidify his own standing.
He'd seen Bob before, of course. On an island like Hachinosu, everyone noticed the odd ones—the ones who trained like civilians instead of pirates. Bob had been a punchline during drinking sessions, a joke among the crew.
And now Edward's calling him a genius?
The contradiction burned in Kaido's chest. If Bob was truly strong, he wanted to crush him. If he was weak, even better—exposing a fraud in front of the entire crew would be fun.
But Bob remained oblivious to Kaido's scrutiny. His focus was on Whitebeard, on surviving the viper's nest he'd just been thrust into. Even with Edward's protection, he knew the rules of the Rocks Pirates:
Trust no one. Strength is the only law.
He'd seen allies turn on each other for a sliver of power. Heard the stories of "accidents" that befell promising recruits. This wasn't a crew—it was a den of wolves, and he was the fresh meat they all wanted to taste.
...
"Hey! Kid."
As Bob made his way toward the group of newcomers, a pack of sneering pirates swaggered into his path, their knives glinting as they twirled the blades with practiced ease. Their grins were sharp, their eyes gleaming with malice—this was their turf, and they meant to put the upstart in his place.
"What makes our commander care so much about a runt like you?" one pirate sneered, stepping closer until his breath—reeking of cheap rum—washed over Bob.
Another tapped his knife against Bob chest. "Trying to suck up to Whitebeard won't save you. Here, strength is the only thing that matters."
A third leaned in, voice dripping with mock pity. "This ain't a nursery. Scram before you get hurt."
The threat hung thick in the air. The surrounding pirates watched eagerly, hungry for bloodshed. Even some of the commanders glanced over, curious to see how this would play out.
Bob didn't flinch. He didn't even blink.
His expression remained as calm as still water as he studied them—not with fear, but with the detached focus of a man assessing insects.
Then—
In a flash.
The air itself seemed to fracture.
One moment, the lead bully was leering. The next, his face met the ground with a CRACK, his nose flattened, his body limp before he even realized he'd been hit. The other two barely had time to widen their eyes before—
THUD. THUD.
Two more bodies hit the dirt, unconscious.
No drawn-out fight. No grand technique. Just three strikes, faster than thought.
Bob didn't even break stride as he stepped over their crumpled forms, his hands already slipping back into his pockets. The entire clearing fell deathly silent.
Somewhere in the crowd, Kaido's grin widened.
Now things were getting interesting.
"The rookie selection event begins now!"
Rocks' voice thundered across the island, cutting through the tension like a blade. The pirate Captain stood tall, flanked by his commanders, as the crowd below erupted into a frenzy of cheers and war cries. The very air seemed to vibrate with bloodlust.
His gaze swept over the assembled pirates—veterans and newcomers alike—before he continued, his words dripping with ruthless promise:
"I believe everyone standing here shares a common goal!"
"To become an official member of my Rocks Pirates!"
The declaration sent a ripple through the crowd. Rocks didn't care about origins, allegiances, or past sins. Here, only one thing mattered:
"Strength is everything!"
Then came the test.
"In the next hour, you'll be divided into groups of 30!" Rocks grinned, teeth gleaming like a shark's. "Each group will face one of our regular crew members. No rules, no restrictions—use any method you can think of. If you're still standing when time runs out, you pass."
A beat of silence.
"Fail... or try to run..." His voice dropped to a lethal whisper. "And you die on the spot."
The threat hung in the air, heavier than the island's perpetual mist. Around Bob, recruits paled, their bravado crumbling. But he remained still, eyes locked ahead—already calculating, ready for anything.
Somewhere in the crowd, Kaido licked his lips. Whitebeard and Shiki exchanged glances. The stage was set.
The hunt had begun.
Just as the test about to begin, A deep resonant voice rang out from the crowd.
"wait"
Bob followed the voice and immediately recognize him.
it was one of the future four emperor of the sea, Kaido of the beast.