Pirate: I have a Hollow living inside me!

This "troublemaker" is finally leaving.

Happy!

This small island couldn't withstand Rocks's wrath.

Now this kid plans to go out to sea and wreak havoc on other people.

The villagers were overjoyed...

"Kid, go! The Grand Line and the New World are your stage!"

Old Duke puffed on his pipe.

Their expressions didn't show much reluctance, as if they had known this day would come.

This kid's heart yearns for the sea.

This island can't hold him.

He had known this for a long time.

Besides, fledgling eagles always have to fly into the sky.

A man's ambition lies in all corners of the world. With Rocks' talent and strength, only the Grand Line and the New World are his true stage!

He paused, exhaled a smoke ring, and said, "That sea is dangerous, but I knew you would make it through. You are... Rocks!"

"Oh, by the way, if you run into any trouble in the New World, you can go find that old guy Whitebeard."

As if he had just thought of something, Duke added, "I used to have a pretty good relationship with him. I owe him a life, and he owes me a drink."

"Considering our friendship, he should, probably, possibly... help you, right?"

"???"

Lox looked completely bewildered.

This old man actually knows such an important figure as the white-bearded man?

But that's what I meant...

What does it mean that you owe him a life and he owes you a drink?

The difference is just too big!

You have the nerve to say you had a relationship with Whitebeard?

And is the last sentence a question?

That old man is really unreliable; could it be that he's trying to get him to repay this favor...?

Thinking of this, Lockes asked with a dark expression, "Hey, old man, you don't mean you want me to repay this favor for you, do you?"

Don't overthink it.

Duke shook his head and said shamelessly, "Don't worry about me owing him a life. Just remember that he owes me a drink. That old guy is a true hero and won't care about such things."

Lox was speechless: "..."

Your shamelessness always exceeds my expectations!

"Alright, I'm leaving. Take care of yourself."

Rocks wasn't a sentimental man. He straightened old Duke's collar and said, "Come back when you have time, but by then... I should be a big shot!"

"Go, let the name Rocks..."

"I am leaving."

Rocks, no longer wanting to listen to Old Duke's manipulative tactics, patted Old Duke on the shoulder, turned, and walked away...

"This kid..."

Watching Lockes' resolute departure, old Duke chuckled and cursed.

He took another puff of his pipe and slowly exhaled white smoke.

"Watch out, kid."

Watching the merchant ship sail away, old Duke murmured, "Since you've decided to go to sea, then strive to reach the top. Just don't die..."

He placed high hopes on Rocks not only because of Rocks' monstrous talent, but also because Rocks had long planned to go to sea.

Although he admired the sea tyrant Rocks, he would never actually want his family to venture out to sea.

He knew how terrible and dangerous that sea was.

However, since going to sea was Rocks' own choice, he wouldn't interfere; he would simply choose to trust him!

Chapter 3 Arrival at Frostmoon Village!

Under the scorching sun.

The sea surface shimmered.

A small merchant ship is sailing on the sea.

It was the merchant ship that Rocks was on.

This wasn't Rocks' first time at sea, nor was he a teenager who looked only sixteen or seventeen.

I didn't have much emotional reaction to leaving home.

in the room.

Rocks is testing his abilities.

"Feint!"

With a flick of his finger, a marble-sized emerald green energy ball shot through the air, blasting a shallow crater into the steel plate in front of him with a 'bang'...

"Even a casual flick of the wrist can produce the power of a bullet; if fired at full power, its force should be no weaker than an artillery shell..."

With one hand counting on his fingers, Rocks estimated the power of the phantom bullet.

This is a capability that was only "unlocked" yesterday.

Rocks needs to learn about and familiarize himself with this ability.

A brief test revealed its considerable power.

This gave Lox more means of ranged attack.

"The Mythical Beast Species - Hollow Form - Black Winged Demon did not give me a beast form or a humanoid beast form; it only allowed me to gradually master the abilities of the Hollow."

"It's not an ordinary Zoan-type Devil Fruit; it's more similar to the Nika-no-Fruit. Unless it 'awakens,' its appearance won't change..."

It has been seven years since he ate the Devil Fruit.

Rocks was fully aware of his own "abilities".

Although he is a Zoan type, Rocks' appearance will not change.

However, as they "develop" the fruit, they will gain more illusory power.

Calling it development is not really accurate.

It should be said that the Hollow within Rocks became stronger, which in turn allowed Rocks to wield more power.

There is a certain "balance" between Locus and the virtual.

“As Teacher Kai said, when both mind and body can catch up with ability, the resulting power is awakening.”

Lockes habitually counted on his fingers with one hand, pondering, "For me, it would be the process of 'subduing' the weakness within my body..."

There are cases of Zoan-type Devil Fruit users failing to awaken their powers.

The reason is that they are not strong enough to "subdue" the "demon" inside their bodies.

This is roughly the same situation as that of Lox and the Void!

"Only by completely 'subduing' the void within my body and awakening my abilities can I completely resolve this 'threat,' and to awaken my abilities, I need to be strong enough."

"The most crucial thing is to be strong yourself."

Lox exhaled, his eyes flashing: "Fighting and killing with strong opponents is dangerous, but it is undoubtedly the fastest way to become stronger..."

Every now and then.

The void within Lox would then launch an "attack" against him.

The battlefield between the real person and the virtual one is not in the outside world, but in the world of the mind and consciousness.

Faced with the Void's attack, Locus has two ways to deal with it.

The first method is to eat a lot to replenish the body's energy, allowing the body to absorb as much energy as possible, primarily to "pacify" the body.

The second method is to directly confront the void's attack. As long as the void is driven back, it will cease activity for a period of time.

At first, Rocks was able to suppress Hollows, but now he is starting to feel the pressure.

The speed at which the Void within his body grew stronger exceeded Rocks' expectations.

Now, Rocks is focusing more on "appeasement," and as a result... the Hollows are becoming stronger and stronger, posing an increasing threat to him.

The disadvantages of becoming stronger outweigh the advantages.

There are subtle signs that the balance between the two is being broken.

The sword of Damocles hanging overhead was getting closer and closer.

This was also the fundamental reason why Rocks wanted to go to sea.

He set sail not to become the Pirate King, nor to inherit Rocks' will, but simply to resolve the hidden dangers within his body caused by Hollows...

"Let's go eat first, to store up more energy for when we need it..."

Once Locke had set his sights on a goal, he stopped thinking about it.

He got up and left the room, intending to go eat first.

Although the "attack" of the Void was "pacified" yesterday, it is unknown when the next "attack" of the Void will come.

Lox needs to be prepared first.

Thanks to the power of the Devil Fruit, Hollow Form: Blackwing Daima, Rocks can store the energy he replenishes through eating in his body.