Onepiece:Ares

Ares walked between Whitebeard and Golden Lion Shiki, the three of them resembling old friends sharing a laugh. They strode side by side, heading back toward Skull Castle.

Meanwhile, in the town below, the pirates who had witnessed the chaos looked at one another in disbelief.

As the trio disappeared into the distance, the murmurs and exclamations began.

"Who is that guy? How does he look so close to Whitebeard and Golden Lion?!"

"Did you see that? Whitebeard's punch only sobered him up! How is that possible?!"

"Not many people can take a punch from Whitebeard and remain standing, let alone act like nothing happened!"

"That's Ares! The newcomer who just joined the Rocks Pirates! And he's already an official crew member, handpicked by Captain Rocks himself!"

"A newcomer? Are you serious? How can a rookie be this strong?!"

The envy in their voices was palpable. Every pirate knew the privileges and respect granted to official crew members of the Rocks Pirates. But to see Ares not only as an official member but also highly regarded by Whitebeard and Golden Lion left them stunned.

From a distance, Charlotte Linlin watched with predatory eyes, her mind fixated on Ares.

"I don't care what it takes. That boy will be mine," she muttered, her voice filled with determination.

Turning to her ever-loyal companion, Baobao, she licked her lips excitedly and asked, "Baobao, is there a way to get Ares to join my squad?"

Her desire for Ares burned brighter than anything she had ever wanted.

Baobao, sweating nervously, stammered, "Linlin, that guy is something else. Even Whitebeard's punch didn't knock him out—it only woke him up! His strength is growing so fast, it's terrifying."

After a pause, he added, "But if you want him to join your squad, you'll need to appeal to his dream. The villagers said he's obsessed with turning himself into a 'famous sword.' Maybe we can use that to our advantage."

Linlin's eyes gleamed with excitement. "Good idea. That's the angle we'll take."

She turned her piercing gaze back to Baobao, the intensity of her stare causing him to tremble.

"Think of a way to make Ares mine," she commanded.

Her voice was dangerously low, and the aura she exuded was terrifying. Baobao felt a chill run down his spine, as though Linlin's gaze could strip him of his very soul.

Not far away, Kaido watched the scene with a storm of emotions brewing inside him.

"How is Ares this strong already?" he muttered bitterly. "Whitebeard's punch only sobered him up. Is his talent as monstrous as Linlin's?"

Kaido clenched his fists tightly. The gap between him and Ares had grown too large to ignore.

"If I don't train harder, I'll never catch up to him," he resolved. But even as his determination burned, a shadow of doubt loomed in his mind.

Just then, Linlin appeared before him, her towering figure blocking his path.

"Kaido," she purred, her eyes gleaming with mischief. "If you want to get stronger, I can help. But you'll need to satisfy me first."

Kaido froze. He knew exactly what Linlin meant. Her reputation was infamous—she was relentless, terrifying, and utterly shameless when it came to her desires.

His face darkened as he considered her offer. To accept meant sacrificing his pride, but rejecting her could lead to far worse consequences.

Meanwhile, Whitebeard and Golden Lion were back to their usual bickering.

Ares, walking between them, couldn't help but wonder how these two managed to stay on the same ship without tearing each other apart.

Deciding to shift the conversation, he turned to Shiki and asked, "Shiki, you promised to tell me about Armament Haki. Can you explain it now?"

The question immediately silenced the quarreling duo. Both turned to Ares with interest.

Shiki, still nursing his bruised ego, lit a fresh cigar and began. "Armament Haki is a technique that uses your physical energy to create an armor-like defense. It's far superior to any actual armor."

He exhaled a cloud of smoke and continued, "It can also be used offensively. With Armament Haki, you can hit even Logia Devil Fruit users. It's like a hidden energy within your body, but you need proper training to use it."

"The most common applications," he added, "are hardening and external release. And don't forget—I mentioned before that it can turn a sword into a Black Blade."

Ares' eyes lit up with curiosity. "A Black Blade? I've only heard of Supreme Grade Swords, Great Grade Swords, and Fine Grade Swords. What's a Black Blade?"

Shiki smirked. "A Black Blade is the ultimate evolution of a sword, tempered through the mastery of Haki. It's rarer than even Supreme Grade Swords."

As Shiki spoke, Ares' mind raced with possibilities.

"If I can learn to use Haki, I'll be one step closer to forging myself into the strongest, hardest sword in the world," he thought, his determination reigniting.

And as they continued their journey back to Skull Castle, Ares couldn't shake the feeling that his path was just beginning.

End of the Chapter.