Chapter 24
Despite many of the Rocks Pirates having already fled, only four fierce warriors remained on the battlefield: Whitebeard, Captain John, Silver Axe, and Wang Zhi. Yet even against the numerically superior God's Knights, these four held their ground without faltering, displaying extraordinary strength and perfect coordination.
Meanwhile, Garp fought Rocks alone and still couldn't subdue him.
In desperation, Garp shouted: "Roger! Help me kill Rocks! I'll owe you this favor—and I swear on my honor as half-disciple of Garling Saint, I'll guarantee safe passage for you and your entire crew! My word is absolute!"
Garp hadn't expected that even in Rocks' weakened state, he still couldn't take him down alone. Without outside help, Rocks might really escape.
Roger heard the plea, but his thoughts were different: "If I don't act, Rocks escapes—and then we're the ones who have to stay behind."
He weighed the cost. Then he made his choice.
"Remember your words, Garp! Hahahaha!" Roger's laughter echoed—perhaps mocking himself, for this decision went against everything he believed as a pirate.
As captain, he carried the lives and futures of his crew on his shoulders. He was willing to sacrifice even his own principles to ensure they could sail freely once more.
Roger drew his sword in a flash and charged. "Divine Departure!"
At the same moment, seeing Roger finally move, Garp unleashed his full power. "Galaxy Impact!"
Rocks, utterly exhausted and pinned by Garp, had no strength left to evade. The Dark-Dark Fruit's abilities were useless against such pure, overwhelming physical force. Roger's blade pierced straight through Rocks' heart without resistance. The lingering Armament Haki and sword intent slowly shredded the monster-like heart.
Roger slowly withdrew the sword. Garp ceased his attack. Both stood silently, watching as life drained from Rocks.
Rocks knew his time was up. His heart had nearly stopped. Yet with sheer willpower, he staggered step by step to a nearby cliff wall and leaned against it. Even in death, he would stand.
His life flashed before him like a film reel. Childhood warmth with his parents… the tragedy of pirates… being saved by a benefactor who avenged him… returning home to find his little sister safe… the joy and resolve that moment brought. Later, his vow to become ruler of the world—only to fall here.
Tears slipped from his eyes—childlike regret and grievance. "Mom… Dad… I'm coming to see you. Little sister… big brother broke his promise. I couldn't keep it. Benefactor… I can never repay you in this life. I thought once I ruled the world, I could thank you properly… looks like I can't."
Suddenly, a memory surfaced—ten days ago, that strangely familiar figure. Realization hit. It was him. Ding Li was his benefactor.
His eyes cleared. He frantically searched the battlefield. Soon he saw the figure—Ding Li, held in the air by his hair, bloodied and broken, but still recognizable.
Pain and fury surged through Rocks' dying body. He roared with all his remaining strength: "Ding Li big brother! Benefactor! It's me—Efukid! Do you remember me? I'm Efukid! Damn you all—how dare you treat my benefactor like this…!"
Blood gushed faster from his chest with every word.
Rocks D. Xebec's true name was Efukid—the powerless boy Ding Li had freed on the island years ago. To protect his little sister, he took to the sea and changed his name. No one knew his story. But in just over a decade, he rose to become the most feared man on the seas—proof of the hell he endured.
Whitebeard and Roger stared in confusion. Why was the supreme pirate king calling a broken man "benefactor"?
The remaining four of Rocks' crew saw their captain's state and cried out: "Captain!"
Under the God's Knights' onslaught, they were already at their limit. In that split-second of distraction, Silver Axe's strength failed. A sword pierced straight through his body. John was next—his left leg severed by the vice-leader's heavy blade.
Both knew escape was impossible. They shouted to Whitebeard and Wang Zhi: "Run! We'll hold them! Don't waste time—go!"
They understood—even without distraction, the four of them were doomed. Someone had to stay and buy time with their lives.
Whitebeard and Wang Zhi didn't hesitate. They unleashed their strongest attacks, then turned and fled.
The God's Knights wanted to pursue— But Silver Axe and John threw themselves in the way, sacrificing everything to delay.
Ding Li had long since lost himself the moment Koya sank beneath the waves. The shock left his mind blank. He saw flashes—his parents, Koya, a happy family dinner. Then reality shattered it again and again.
Suddenly, a voice reached him from far away: "Ding Li big brother! Benefactor…!"
It felt familiar yet distant.
Then Koya's gentle voice echoed in his mind: "Husband… live on. Avenge me. This isn't where you belong. Keep going."
Next came his parents: "Son, we're proud of you. This isn't your place. Go. Find your future."
The voices slowly cleared the fog. His eyes regained focus. Pain flooded back. He realized he was dangling in the air by his hair.
He saw the source of the shout—Efukid (Rocks), calling him "benefactor." The powerless boy from years ago… now the tyrant of the seas.
Ding Li's shattered mind forced itself calm. He couldn't die yet. He had to avenge Koya.
Without hesitation, he dumped every collected emotion point into his stats.
A colossal warm current surged through him. His body trembled violently. The Knight holding him thought it was just pain spasms and ignored it. Ding Li desperately masked his aura.
Seventy seconds later—
Status:
One Piece World Rank: Sovereign-level Physique: (massive increase) Vitality: (massive increase) Soul Strength: (massive increase) Total Emotions Collected: (massive increase) / 10,000,000,000,000 Spendable Points: 0 Skills:
Advanced Armament Haki
Advanced Conqueror's Haki
Advanced Observation Haki
His hair had grown to waist-length—snow-white, with a single black strand at the tip exuding demonic allure. Explosive power coursed through him. His eyes turned blood-red, clarity drowned in bottomless hatred. A terrifying Conqueror's Haki erupted, shaking the entire Valley and sea.
The Knight holding him released his grip in terror.
Everyone felt it—this apocalyptic aura. Rocks was dying. Garling was dead. Who was left that could unleash such power?
Whitebeard and Wang Zhi, fleeing toward the coast, sensed it and mistook it for another World Government monster. They fled faster.
All eyes turned to the source.
A figure both strange and familiar stood there—Ding Li.
Rocks stared in shock. His benefactor… had hidden this deep. Though not yet equal to him, Ding Li had clearly stepped into the Sovereign realm.
Roger—among the few who knew Ding Li from years ago—was stunned speechless. That weak kid from over a decade ago… now stood at the pinnacle.
Garp clutched his head in headache.
Ding Li flashed behind the Knight who had held him. A hand pierced straight through the chest. He crushed the still-beating heart, then flung the corpse aside.
Half the God's Knights roared in rage and charged.
They thought it was a bluff.
Ding Li vanished again—flashing between them like a ghost. In moments, only those attacking Silver Axe and Wang Zhi remained.
As the slaughter continued, the blood in Ding Li's eyes slowly faded. Only now did he truly understand Sovereign-level terror. Without equals to restrain him, he was an unstoppable massacre.
Beneath Sovereigns, all are ants.
While Ding Li cleared the attackers, Silver Axe and Wang Zhi fell under the vice-leader's onslaught. In their final moments, they dragged one Knight down with them.
Ding Li looked around. Every fallen God's Knight had one thing in common: A gaping hole where their heart once was.
"Just you few left…" His voice was soft—like a devil's whisper.
Before anyone could react, he flashed among the survivors. Half a minute later, every God's Knight had lost their heart—silently.
In the instant the Knights fell, Rocks D. Xebec's heart finally stopped. The tyrant of the seas was dead.
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