Night had fully fallen over the Valley of the Gods. The sky was cloaked in darkness, and all the Celestial Dragons had returned to their palaces to rest. Hunting slaves now would be considered a violation of the rules—they wouldn't earn any more of their so-called "points."
After days of relentless slaughter, the original 100,000 slaves brought into the valley had been reduced to a mere fraction. Most were dead—sacrificed to fuel the Celestial Dragons' sadistic game.
Riven and Kuma lay on the cold ground, their heads nearly touching as they stared up at the moon hanging in the star-streaked sky. In the stillness of the night, Riven thought to himself:
If I hadn't met Kuma and the others, I'd probably be dead already—just another toy for those monsters.
Though his clothes lacked the slave's signature target emblem for reasons still unclear, Riven wasn't naïve. He knew better than to believe that would save him. The Celestial Dragons wouldn't hesitate to shoot him just for fun—even if they didn't earn a single point from it. For them, the thrill of the hunt was reward enough.
During this rare moment of peace, Ivankov, Ginny, and Kuma were chatting quietly nearby. Ginny turned toward Kuma and asked:
"Hey, Kuma… if we managed to escape this place, what would you do?"
Kuma didn't even pause. "Easy. I'd live happily together with everyone!"
Ginny laughed softly. "Of course! But that's not what I meant. I mean... what's your dream?"
"Dream?" Kuma blinked, then his eyes lit up. "I want to be like Nika! To bring freedom to everyone!"
The name Nika seemed to ignite something in him. His eyes shimmered with a gentle fire, his face filled with longing.
Ivankov jumped to his feet and gave him a dramatic thumbs-up. "What a beautiful dream! Kuma, I believe you'll make it come true!"
Kuma scratched the back of his head, looking a little embarrassed. His eyes shifted toward Riven, who had remained quiet throughout the exchange.
Though Kuma often acted goofy, he was perceptive—more so than people gave him credit for. He could sense that Riven was different. Even though the four of them had endured unimaginable hardship together, Riven always carried himself like someone much older.
And that was true. Unlike the others, Riven had lived over two decades as an orphan back on Blue Star, enduring the harshest realities of life. Maturity hadn't been a choice—it was survival. He had clawed his way into university through sheer willpower and a bit of luck, aided only by a few kind souls and a determined orphanage director. No one but him knew how hard that journey had really been.
That hard-won maturity made Riven stand out, and Kuma had long since regarded him as the quiet backbone of their group.
That's why, when talk turned to dreams, what Kuma really wanted… was Riven's approval.
Sensing Kuma's gaze, Riven smiled softly and gave him a nod. "You've got what it takes, Kuma. I believe in you. You'll do better than Nika ever did. You're already better."
Kuma's eyes widened. He hadn't expected that kind of praise. For a moment, he didn't know where to look or what to say.
Ginny and Ivankov were equally stunned. They stared at Riven, wide-eyed. Then Ivankov broke the silence:
"And what about you, Riven? Don't tell me you don't have a dream."
Riven turned his back to them, his voice calm and steady. "I don't have anything like that. If I had to say… I just want to become stronger. In this world, strength is everything."
Ivankov frowned. "Okay, sure. But why do you want power?"
"There are a lot of things I want to do. I want to help Kuma achieve his dream. And yours. And Ginny's too," Riven said. "But if your dream is to turn the entire world into a circus of cross-dressing weirdos, count me out."
"Whaaat?! Riven-chan, that's so cruel! You've wounded my delicate heart!"
Even as he pouted, Ivankov was clearly touched. Kuma and Ginny had tears in their eyes. Moved by Riven's sincerity, they spoke in unison:
"Brother Riven!"
Riven smiled quietly to himself. He hadn't said it for praise—he meant every word. As someone who had lived most of his life alone, these three had become important to him. He would protect them with everything he had.
That night, the four of them huddled together for warmth. Riven, Ivankov, and Ginny all rested their heads against Kuma's soft belly, trying to find some comfort in the darkness.
Just before sleep took them, Riven murmured:
"Remember—if anyone finds a Devil Fruit, don't hesitate. Take a bite. Even a small one is enough. Got it?"
Kuma nodded seriously. "Got it, Brother Riven!"
"Good. Get some rest. We're not out of this nightmare yet."
"Okay!"
Meanwhile, far across the waves near the Valley of the Gods, several enormous ships approached like thunderclouds on the horizon.
Each vessel flew the same flag: black, with a skull insignia. A single glance was enough to recognize them—they belonged to one of the most feared pirate crews in the world.
The Rocks Pirates had arrived.
In the cabin of the largest ship, the core members of the crew had gathered. Among them stood three future Emperors of the Sea: Whitebeard, Big Mom, and the up-and-coming Kaido of the Beasts.
At this point in time, Kaido lacked the rank of Whitebeard or Big Mom, but his raw talent was undeniable. Combined with his strange connection to Big Mom, his presence among the elites was already secured.
Any one of these pirates could dominate an entire region on their own. But none of them were the center of attention.
The true focus of the room was the man seated on the throne.
He was tall and broad-shouldered, with a wild mane of black hair falling down his back. His face was rugged, and a long, black cloak draped from his shoulders. Just sitting there, he exuded a pressure so intense it made the air vibrate.
He was the captain of them all. The man called Rocks D. Xebec.
Rocks raised a barrel of wine in one massive hand and drank it dry in one gulp. Then he slammed the barrel down with a crash.
"Damn that World Government!" he growled. "This time, I'm settling all the old and new scores!"
Boom!
A tidal wave of Conqueror's Haki erupted from Rocks, splitting the air in the cabin. Purple-black lightning snaked through the room, crackling with violent energy.
Recently, a spy from the World Government had infiltrated their base on Beehive Island and stolen a precious treasure while most of the crew were away. The Government had even turned it into a prize for their sick little slave-hunting game.
When Rocks heard the news, he was beyond furious.
Now, the Rocks Pirates were headed to the Valley of the Gods—and the world was about to tremble.