One Piece: Lone Monster
Chapter 18
On Amazon Lily, Shakky stood quietly while watching Gloriosa pack her belongings. The former empress moved around the room casually, gathering supplies as if she were simply going on a short trip.
Shakky frowned slightly.
"Gloriosa… you're really leaving?"
Gloriosa tied her bag and shrugged.
"I'm not strong enough to remain the Empress of the Kuja anymore."
She turned toward Shakky with a calm smile.
"From now on, you are the new Empress."
Shakky's mouth twitched.
"You just want to go and find Ron, don't you?"
Gloriosa immediately began whistling innocently while looking away.
"Hmmm? What are you talking about?"
"I don't understand anything."
Shakky felt the urge to beat this shameless woman.
Instead, she could only sigh.
Gloriosa suddenly hugged her tightly.
"Don't be sad."
"In a few years, you can leave too."
"Once Tontatta is ready to become Empress."
Shakky pouted while crossing her arms.
"I should have escaped earlier with Ron."
Gloriosa burst out laughing.
"Too late to regret now."
Soon after, Gloriosa left Amazon Lily.
Shakky stood near the shore while watching the ship disappear into the horizon.
"Just a few years… huh?"
She stared at the sea while pouting slightly.
---
A month later.
Ron stood in front of a massive Poneglyph while repeatedly punching it.
The stone shook with each strike.
This particular Poneglyph had been found during one of the Rocks Pirates' raids on a kingdom.
Rocks had taken one glance at it before losing interest.
Whatever was written on it was likely just historical information he already knew.
Ron had immediately claimed it afterward.
He couldn't practice with the Poneglyph that contained information about Poseidon, so this one became his training target.
Rocks had approved of it easily.
Using a Poneglyph as a punching bag was perfectly acceptable to him.
Just then, Shiki suddenly flew down from the sky.
"Hey, kid."
"Recruitment for the Rocks Pirates is starting soon."
"You still not planning to choose anyone?"
Ron was the only cadre without a personal crew.
He usually went on missions with Newgate, Shiki, or Stussy instead.
Ron stopped punching the Poneglyph and stretched his shoulders.
"If someone interesting appears, I'll think about it."
"Let's go."
He spread his black wings and took off into the air.
Shiki flew beside him as they headed toward the recruitment grounds.
---
Thousands of pirates had gathered there.
Every cadre of the Rocks Pirates was present.
Ron waved casually at Newgate before sitting down beside him.
He completely ignored Linlin, who was staring at him with a disturbing smile.
Newgate glanced at him.
"Not planning to recruit again?"
Ron leaned back in his chair and closed his eyes.
"You know how it is."
"I haven't found anyone I'd actually want on my crew."
"Most of them are greedy weaklings."
Several cadres overheard him but didn't react.
For Rocks, Ron was already one of the few people he genuinely trusted.
The kid completed every mission flawlessly.
Whether he had a crew or not didn't really matter.
The other cadres didn't mind either.
Since Ron never competed for subordinates, they had more pirates to recruit themselves.
Finally, Rocks stood up.
"All right, you bastards."
"There are too many of you here."
"Reduce your numbers."
The moment he finished speaking, chaos erupted.
Thousands of pirates began fighting each other in a massive free-for-all battle.
Weapons clashed, screams filled the air, and bodies were sent flying everywhere.
Among the chaos, one fighter stood out.
A woman was dismantling pirates effortlessly with her kicks.
It was Gloriosa.
She might have been weak compared to monsters like Roger and Garp, but these ordinary pirates were nothing to her.
Soon the surrounding pirates began backing away.
Many of them had already recognized her.
"The Kuja Empress…"
"No wonder she's so strong."
Rocks, Shiki, Newgate, and several other cadres noticed her as well.
Their eyes immediately lit up.
"If Gloriosa is here…"
"Does that mean Shakky is here too?"
John leaned forward excitedly.
Shiki's eyes gleamed with hope.
Even Newgate seemed slightly curious.
Meanwhile, Ron had been sleeping in his chair.
But the moment he heard the names Gloriosa and Shakky, his eyes snapped open.
"What?!"
He looked toward the battlefield and immediately spotted Gloriosa.
She was currently kicking pirates away while secretly winking at him.
Ron blinked slowly.
"Did that woman seriously abandon the Empress title and come here?"
Newgate looked at him curiously.
"Gurarara… Ron, you know Gloriosa?"
The surrounding cadres instantly perked up.
They could smell gossip.
Ron casually shrugged.
"Well, I lived in Paradise for most of my life."
"I've met the Kuja more times than I can count."
"Gloriosa and Shakky used to occasionally come eat with me."
He said it as if it were completely normal.
The entire area fell silent.
Then—
"YOU USED TO EAT WITH SHAKKY?!"
"How dare you!"
"That's impossible!"
"Shakky doesn't eat with any men!"
Rocks, Shiki, Newgate, John, Ochoku, Silver Axe, and several other pirates exploded with outrage.
Ron simply enjoyed their frustration.
Then he looked toward Rocks.
"Captain."
"Gloriosa will be joining my team."
Rocks glared at him.
"Fine."
"And fuck you."
He was still furious about the Shakky story.
Many pirates stared at Ron with envy, jealousy, and broken hearts.
Ron laughed loudly.
"Yo, Gloriosa."
"You're on my crew now."
"Any problem?"
Gloriosa used Geppo and landed gracefully on the stage.
"No problem."
Ron grinned and tossed her a Devil Fruit from his inventory.
"The one I told you I saved for you."
Gloriosa caught the fruit and immediately ate it.
She had already reached her natural limit in strength.
Without a Devil Fruit, she would never grow stronger.
After swallowing it, she blinked.
"Press-Press Fruit?"
Shiki suddenly froze.
"WHAT?!"
That fruit was a gravity-based ability, the natural counter to his own floating powers.
Gloriosa smiled mischievously.
She activated her power.
Her body floated gently into the sky.
Then she looked directly at Shiki.
A powerful gravitational pull suddenly slammed him straight into the ground.
"HEY!"
Shiki shouted in shock.
Gloriosa burst out laughing.
Ron stood up and stretched.
"Well, let's go train your new ability."
"I doubt anyone more interesting will show up today."
He spread his wings and flew away toward his training grounds.
Gloriosa floated behind him happily while experimenting with her gravity powers.
Back at the recruitment field, the Rocks Pirates stared at their departing figures in stunned silence.
Shiki slowly climbed out of the ground while brushing dirt off his clothes.
"That damn kid…"
"He gave her that fruit?"
John groaned loudly.
"First he eats with Shakky."
"Now he steals the Kuja Empress too."
Silver Axe shook his head.
"That brat is dangerous."
Even Newgate sighed while rubbing his forehead.
"Gurarara…"
"Women really like that kid."
Rocks crossed his arms while watching Ron disappear into the distance.
"That brat…"
"He's becoming more troublesome every day."