One piece: The Greatest Swordsman of the Rocks Era!

Captain John set down the stethoscope hanging from his neck and placed it on the table.

He walked to the door and opened it.

"How's Ares?!" Whitebeard and Golden Lion asked in unison, their eyes locked anxiously on John.

"Ares's condition…" John shook his head, making both men's hearts leap into their throats, nervous sweat pooling in their palms.

He continued, "It's complicated. There's nothing wrong with his body, but his mind hasn't regained consciousness yet. As for when he'll wake up…"

"Even I don't know."

Whitebeard's expression tensed, his voice growing heavier, "You mean you don't know when Ares will wake up?!"

"That's right," John confirmed. "Maybe today, maybe tomorrow, or maybe in a month… there's no telling."

At this moment, John was powerless.

Whitebeard stepped past him and entered the room, with Golden Lion following closely behind.

The two stood on either side of Ares's hospital bed.

Looking at Ares, who lay there peacefully as if in a deep sleep, Golden Lion gritted his teeth and whispered in prayer, "Ares, you must wake up."

"I haven't finished teaching you swordsmanship yet. I haven't seen you become the greatest swordsman on these seas."

Whitebeard's face was filled with concern, his eyes shimmering as he gently grasped Ares's hand, muttering like a father, "Ares, I know you'll wake up."

"If you don't…"

His voice turned fierce. "I swear I won't let Linlin off for this!"

Then, softening again, he said with deep care, "Ares, wake up soon."

At this moment, Ares was completely cut off from the outside world.

His soul drifted in a pitch-black, chaotic space.

Suddenly, a faint light appeared in this world, and Ares instinctively narrowed his eyes and walked toward it.

The harsh light forced his eyes shut.

A scolding voice rang out, "Hey, what's your problem? Watch where you're going!"

A man riding a small electric scooter cursed and sped off, still shooting Ares a sharp glare as he left.

"This place…"

"This is where those strange memories that keep popping up in my mind exist."

Ares looked up. Towering buildings surrounded him, and fragmented memories began to surface in his mind.

They started to fully merge.

······

Marine Headquarters.

Sengoku the Buddha, now nearing fifty, was still full of vigor, standing at the peak of his life.

Stacks of documents filled his desk.

He meticulously reviewed them, occasionally jotting down notes with his quill.

Brrrr... Brrrr...

Without even looking, Sengoku reached instinctively toward the sound of the Den Den Mushi.

But when he brought it to his ear, his face abruptly changed, pupils shrinking. "Did the Rocks Pirates make another move?!"

He answered immediately, "Moshi Moshi, this is Big Black Ape."

"This is Little Golden Monkey."

Once identities were confirmed, the voice on the other end spoke softly, "Something big happened today on Hachinosu. Ares, a formal crew member of the Rocks Pirates, ate a… Mythical Zoan-type Devil Fruit."

"He can transform into a colossal azure dragon, hundreds of meters long."

"And…"

"He's also awakened Conqueror's Haki."

At this point, the agent briefly paused.

"I estimate only a Marine Admiral would be able to defeat him."

"He went berserk on the island. Even Golden Lion couldn't subdue him. It took Rocks himself to finally put a stop to Ares's rampage."

"Half of Hachinosu was completely destroyed."

Hearing the report, Sengoku's face grew heavier. "Keep a close eye on the Rocks Pirates and their movements. Above all, do not let your identity be exposed."

"Yes!"

Click.

The call was cut immediately no room for error.

Sengoku rubbed his temples. "Bloodhand Ares, the same newcomer who recently fought Garp."

"A Mythical Zoan… An azure dragon… Awakened… Conqueror's Haki…"

"Even Golden Lion couldn't suppress him…"

He buried his face in his hands and groaned, "Another monster has emerged in the Rocks Pirates."

"They're becoming harder and harder to deal with."

The Rocks crew already had Rocks, John, Shiki, Whitebeard, Linlin, Wang Zhi, Silver Axe, Shakky, Streusen… and now Ares had joined their ranks!

Even someone as steady as Sengoku felt the weight of the situation pressing on him.

The righteous fire that usually surged in his chest was doused by this chilling news.

But he gathered his spirit again. "No matter how difficult the path of justice, as long as I, Sengoku, still draw breath, I will never allow the Rocks Pirates to threaten this world."

"If we can't take them down from the outside, then we'll have to ignite their internal conflicts."

"Conqueror's Haki…"

He gazed out at the sun setting beyond the window and whispered to himself, "Bloodhand Ares, what kind of king do you want to become?"

······

"I'm Luffy! I'm going to become the Pirate King!"

A television played an anime called One Piece.

At that time, it was still called One Piece, not Grand Line Adventure.

Ares…

No.

It was Riku Yo, staring intently at the anime on the screen, just a young boy at the time.

He was utterly obsessed with anime.

The passionate battles, the bonds between crewmates, the dreams they each pursued…

The wondrous Devil Fruits, the fantastical races, the mystery of the One Piece treasure…

All of it had captured Riku Yo's heart.

When the protagonists were struck down by villains, his chest tightened.

When the villains were defeated, he felt immense joy and satisfaction.

And Ares's soul now found itself within Riku Yo's body, unable to control it.

He was just a bystander.

But Riku Yo's emotional highs and lows, the physical sensations of his body

Ares could feel them as vividly as if they were his own.

He now fully understood that he was in another world.

But what puzzled him was why this thing called "television" was broadcasting an anime that featured Devil Fruits.

And why did it have Gol D. Roger?

---------------------------------------------------- 

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