A cook, vice-captain of the Rocks Pirates?

Silver's figure slowly emerged from the shadow of the tree trunk. He held a spear, his face expressionless, but his other hand unconsciously covered his ear, clearly also affected by the piercing shriek.

"A mental attack? Troublesome guy."

Silver's eyes were icy. With a flick of his wrist, a layer of dark Armament Haki covered his spear, instantly shattering all the attacking shadow tentacles.

"Your opponent is me."

Just as Silver was locked in combat with the eerie shadow, another figure silently emerged from the shadows behind Renn.

It was a more solid shadow, filled with more resentment and malice. It transformed into a sharp blade and pierced straight into Renn's back!

Make noise in the east and attack in the west.

This thing even knows tactics.

However, it was facing Rennes.

At the very moment the shadowy blade was about to strike him, Renn didn't even turn around.

"Culinary Skills: Flipping the Wok"

He tossed the food box in his hand gently backward and upward at an incredible angle.

boom!

A dull bang.

The shadowy blade, sharp enough to pierce steel, struck the bottom of the food box solidly, yet it seemed as if it had hit a swirling, boundless ball of cotton.

That chilling, soul-corroding power was instantly neutralized and neutralized by that small box in a way that seemed to deflect a thousand pounds with a single effort.

Immediately afterwards, a more concentrated, spiraling force rebounded from the bottom of the box.

"Squeak!"

The shadowy figure that launched the sneak attack let out an even more shrill scream than before, like glass struck by a heavy hammer, instantly cracking and then shattering into countless black specks of light that vanished into nothingness.

"Wha...what?"

The main shadow, which was locked in combat with Silver, suddenly froze, seemingly not expecting its clone to be so easily killed.

In that moment of distraction, Silver seized the opportunity.

"Shadow Thrust - Silent!"

His figure blended into the shadows, and his spear, like a venomous snake emerging from its hole, thrust out from the most tricky and unbelievable angle, with Armament Haki condensed to its extreme at the tip of the spear.

puff!

The spear pierced precisely through the core of that shadow.

This time, the shadow made no sound. It twisted and struggled violently for a few seconds before melting away quickly, like ice and snow exposed to sunlight.

Only a strange fruit, the size of a fist, jet black, and exuding an ominous aura, was left behind.

The battle is over.

The entire process was fluid and graceful, full of violent aesthetics.

Silver sheathed his spear, walked to Renn's side, looked at the fruit on the ground, and then at Renn's still calm face. A rare hint of confusion appeared on his usually icy expression.

"You... you noticed me a long time ago?"

"Ah."

Raine calmly replied, "Your breathing is different from that of other creatures on this island."

Silver: "..."

He felt that his stealth skills, which he was so proud of, were a joke in front of this man.

"What is this thing?"

Silver pointed to the fruit on the ground.

"Soul-Devouring Fruit, a rare ingredient."

Raine picked up the fruit and put it into a specially made lead box.

"It tastes terrible, but it can be used to make a special seasoning that can amplify the emotional energy contained in the dish."

Ryan paused, then added, "Simply put, it can make happy people happier, and sad people... sadder."

Just as the two were about to leave, a series of earth-shaking footsteps came from outside the canyon.

"Head Chef! Silver! You're here!"

It was Gatz, who came running over excitedly, carrying a giant rhinoceros that had been knocked unconscious, followed by Newgate and Oden.

When they saw the scene of devastation in the canyon, they were all stunned.

"Huh? What just happened here? You guys were fighting? Why didn't you call me!"

Gatz's face was filled with regret for missing out on a good show.

Raine didn't explain, but just glanced at the rhinoceros on Gatz's shoulder that was still drooling, and said calmly, "Perfect timing, we have the main course for today's lunch. I'm going to use the tenderloin of this jungle armored rhinoceros, along with the Soul-Eating Fruit sauce I just got, to make a bittersweet sizzling rhinoceros steak for everyone."

Gatz: "???"

He always felt that the name of this dish sounded strange.

Chapter 154 Gatz's New Practice

Lunch was once again held on the beach.

When Ryan served the grilled rhinoceros steak, a dish of bittersweet flavors, everyone's attention was drawn to it.

The rhinoceros steak was pan-fried to perfection, with an enticing golden-brown surface and a tender pink interior.

The most peculiar thing is the layer of jet-black sauce drizzled on top. It doesn't emit any fragrance; instead, it carries a faint, almost imperceptible scent of sadness, creating an extremely eerie contrast with the overpowering aroma of the meat.

In the end, Newgate was the first to pick up a knife and fork.

"Gurgling sounds, I'll see what kind of food makes me cry."

He cut off a piece of meat and put it in his mouth.

The chewing motion stopped abruptly, and Newgate's usually dignified face became incredibly complicated.

He seemed to see his own turbulent childhood, his boundless longing for his family, the arrogant face of Rocks, and... the vast, boundless sea that would belong to him in the future.

A tear, a mixture of pride, regret, and anticipation, silently slid down his hawk-like eyes.

"Good...good food!"

Newgate's voice was slightly hoarse, yet full of power.

With the captain taking the lead, the others also mustered up the courage to try it.

For a moment, the beach was filled with the sound of crying.

As Gatz ate, he remembered his anchor that Zefa had bent, and he cried like a 300-pound child.

Oden, thinking of Wano Country and his retainers who were waiting for his return, ate and danced a sorrowful hometown dance.

Even the usually calm Silver, after eating the piece of meat, silently turned away and wiped his eyes from an angle where no one could see.

Only Ryan and Teach remained still.

Ryan said it was because he didn't need it, while Teach said it was because Ryan hadn't given him any.

Teach looked at the group of monsters who were crying their eyes out over a meal, a deep sense of fear and an even more intense greed flashing in his eyes.

This power to directly manipulate emotions and spirit through cooking... is more terrifying than any Devil Fruit!

Hahaha... I absolutely must get my hands on it!

After a lunch filled with tears and laughter, the resupply of the New Moby Dick was completed.

The giant ship set sail again, slowly departing from the nameless island.

The days of sailing returned to their usual monotony.

Perhaps it was the bittersweet rhinoceros steak that had the effect, as the atmosphere on the ship became more cohesive than ever before.

After venting their pent-up emotions, the crew members seemed to have a stronger bond with each other.

Gatz trained even harder. He no longer simply pursued power, but began to learn, under Oden's guidance, how to more effectively attach Haki to the anchor.

Oden also learned something from Gatsu's brutal fighting style. His swordsmanship became more expansive and unrestrained, less like the restraint of Wano Country samurai and more like the domineering nature of a sea hero.

Newgate, on the other hand, spent more time sitting on his throne gazing into the distance...

Sailing days are monotonous.

In the blink of an eye, another six months have passed.

The New Moby Dick, like a white behemoth, cruised leisurely through the ever-changing waters of the New World.

In the past six months, everyone on the ship has grown at an astonishing pace, as if that bittersweet sizzling rhinoceros steak not only vented their emotions but also unlocked their potential for growth.

In the corner of the deck, Gatz was squatting in a perfect horse stance, his mountain-like body as steady as a rock, the huge anchor held above his head with one hand, motionless.

His eyes were tightly closed, sweat poured down his forehead, and his bulging muscles trembled slightly, as if he were under tremendous pressure.

Oden sat cross-legged opposite him, holding an unidentified animal bone he had stolen from the kitchen of Rennes, and occasionally tapped it lightly on Gatz's anchor.

"No, no, Brother Gatz, your domineering aura is still too weak."

Oden shook his head, adopting a wise and condescending tone: "You have to imagine that this anchor isn't a lump of iron, but a part of your body, your angry fist, your hungry stomach! Concentrate all your strength and all your will on one point!"

This is Gatz's new spiritual practice.

After witnessing Newgate and Zephyr's battles where they used Haki to its fullest extent, he finally realized that brute force alone was not enough.

Under the guidance of Oden, one of the top samurai of Wano Country, he began to learn how to more effectively attach Armament Haki to his weapons, pursuing that indestructible destructive power.

"I...I understand!"

Gatz gritted his teeth and squeezed out a few words.

He suddenly opened his eyes and let out a deafening roar.

hum-

A powerful, pitch-black aura, visible to the naked eye, erupted from his body and surged toward the anchor like a tidal wave.

However, this domineering aura was too violent and too scattered. Instead of attaching perfectly, it was like a wild horse that had broken free of its reins, running wildly across the surface of the anchor.

The massive anchor began to vibrate violently at an extremely strange high frequency, emitting a piercing buzz, causing the entire deck of the ship to tremble slightly.

"not good!"

Oden's expression changed, and he turned and ran.

The next second, with a loud clang, the anchor in Gatz's hand slipped out of his grasp due to the overwhelming and domineering force.

Like a boulder launched by a catapult, it soared high into the air, tracing a perfect parabola before finally crashing into the sea with a resounding splash, creating towering waves tens of meters high.

"My anchor!"

Gatz let out a desperate wail and jumped into the sea without thinking.

"My ship!"

Another, even more piercing scream came from the cabin, and Dorum rushed out like a gust of wind.

He stared at the huge new footprint that had appeared on the deck from Gatz's stomp, and at the ship rocking violently in the distance because the anchor had fallen into the water. Then, his eyes rolled back and he promptly passed out.

Silver's figure slowly emerged from the shadow of the mast. He glanced at Gatz, who was struggling in the sea, and Dorum, who was lying on the ground foaming at the mouth. A rare hint of helplessness appeared on his cold face.

He shook his head, his figure flashed, and he disappeared into the shadows once more.

Marco, Joz, and the others exchanged a glance and burst into laughter.

The deck was filled with a cheerful atmosphere once again.

Newgate leaned back on his throne, watching the group of clowns, and let out his signature goo-hoo-hoo-hoo laugh.

In the past six months, he has smiled more than ever before.

That special rhinoceros steak made him realize many things. He no longer deliberately pursued that illusory title of king, but instead focused more on protecting his family.

His domineering aura became more restrained and unfathomable, like a boundless sea that is usually calm but can unleash a raging storm capable of overturning the world once it is enraged.