Onepiece:Ares

"It's Miss Buckingham Stussy!"

"She's here to confess to Whitebeard again!"

"No matter how many times she's been rejected, Miss Stussy never gives up. Her persistence is sure to move Newgate one day!"

"I envy that guy Whitebeard. Winning the heart of Miss Stussy is no small feat!"

The deck of the Rocks Pirates' ship buzzed with chatter as crew members gossiped about Stussy's arrival.

Every pervert on the ship had their eyes glued to her devilish, curvaceous figure.

Silver Ax, leaning against the railing, couldn't help himself and whistled toward Stussy, who stood at the port. "Miss Stussy! If that guy Whitebeard doesn't want you, why not consider me, Silver Ax?!"

His remark drew bursts of laughter from the crew, who eagerly watched the drama unfold.

"Get lost! Or I'll kill you!" Stussy snapped back without hesitation, her face full of hostility.

Her outburst silenced the entire port.

She adjusted her sunglasses, revealing her striking eyes, and scanned the massive ship, clearly searching for Whitebeard.

At that moment, Whitebeard stood awkwardly behind the mast, muttering under his breath, "Why is she here again? Didn't I tell everyone to stop her from confessing in public?"

He looked distressed, unsure of how to handle the situation. All he wanted was the freedom of a pirate's life, without the burden of protecting someone else. After all, death could come for him at any time.

Golden Lion Shiki, smoking a cigar, chuckled at the sight. "Whitebeard, I think you should just accept Miss Stussy. Plenty of people would kill to be in your shoes."

His teasing tone only made Whitebeard angrier.

"Shut up, Shiki!" Whitebeard bellowed, his voice booming across the ship.

Golden Lion laughed even harder, floating off toward the port to escape Whitebeard's wrath.

Meanwhile, a loud splash erupted from the water as Ares leaped from the sea onto the harbor like a dolphin.

Water poured from his body, forming puddles on the ground as he looked around the bustling port.

"So, this is the headquarters of the Rocks Pirates," Ares muttered, shaking his massive frame. Water sprayed in all directions like rain.

Ochoku approached him, shaking his head in amusement. "Come on, let's get you changed. There's a banquet later. It's tradition for the Rocks Pirates to celebrate after every successful mission."

Ares nodded and followed Ochoku toward the imposing Skeleton Castle at the island's center. His towering height of four meters drew curious stares from passersby.

People whispered among themselves, wondering who the newcomer walking beside Ochoku was. On Beehive Island, nearly everyone was either a pirate or part of some underground dark force. Even the civilians were hardened by the island's cutthroat environment, where only the strong survived.

Ochoku eventually led Ares to a room and gestured inside. "This is yours now," he said with a grin. "It's one of the perks of being a full-fledged member of the Rocks Pirates."

He leaned casually against the doorframe and continued, "It's a lot safer than sleeping outside the Skeleton Castle. Out there, you'd have to worry about someone sneaking in to steal your treasures—or worse, your organs."

Ares nodded, taking in the stark reality of the pirate world. On Beehive Island, everything was for sale: weapons, contraband, and even stolen body parts on the black market.

But Ares had only one question: "Is there a place to train here?"

Ochoku laughed, a glint of admiration in his eyes. "You never stop, do you? Becoming an indestructible sword isn't easy, kid. But yeah, there's a training area in the castle. I'll take you there once you've changed."

Ares wasted no time, quickly swapping his wet clothes for dry ones. Afterward, Ochoku led him to the training room, where Ares immediately began familiarizing himself with the equipment.

The next morning, long before dawn, Ares' eyes snapped open. His movements were fluid and precise as he got out of bed, washed up, and headed straight for the training room.

Beehive Island still glimmered with lights, and the streets buzzed with activity, despite the early hour.

As Ares walked, a drunken voice rang out nearby. "Even if you're a Rocks Pirate cadre, you can't leave here without holding onto the wall!"

Ares turned and saw Silver Ax stumbling along, using a wall for support.

When Silver Ax noticed Ares' towering figure, he froze, his face turning pale. "He won't recognize me, right?" he mumbled nervously before quickly scurrying away, embarrassed.

Ares paid him no mind, his focus solely on reaching the training room.

Inside the training room, Ares found a massive iron bar. Without hesitation, he began slamming it against his body, over and over.

Bang!

Bang!

Bang!

The sound of steel meeting flesh echoed through the room. For most, the sensation of metal hitting muscle would be unbearable, but for Ares, it was a source of strength.

"Only through countless hammerings can a peerless sword be forged," he thought.

This grueling routine had become second nature to him. The pain, once a challenge, now brought him a strange sense of satisfaction—almost a kind of addiction.

Without his daily training, Ares felt restless, as though something was missing.

He continued until his muscles burned and his body screamed for rest, fully immersed in his relentless pursuit of strength.

End of the Chapter.