Chapter 241: Respective Growth

Several days later.

The North Sea.

Above the floating island.

Shiki stood before a mirror, slowly removing the bandages from his head.

"Finally, finally—!"

"That damn ship's wheel is finally gone!"

"Hahahaha~"

His arrogant laughter, accompanied by a domineering Conqueror's Haki, swept through the entire palace in an instant, and with unrelenting force dispersed the floating clouds around it.

The animals on the floating island, which should have been frenzied and aggressive due to the IQ plants, instantly froze, their gazes involuntarily turning toward the distant castle.

Their bodies began to tremble instinctively; within just a few breaths, they scattered into the surrounding dense forest.

The world fell silent for a moment.

Shiki examined himself closely in the mirror.

On the four wounds on his head where the ship's wheel had been attached, some scabs remained.

Due to long-term compression, the hair follicles in the wounds had died; even after healing, no new hair could grow.

But no matter what, it looked far better than the original rooster-comb appearance.

"My power has all returned!"

"Roger is dead, and that guy Newgate has no heart for hegemony; who in this world can stop me!?"

Crack!

Shiki raised his hand and clenched his fist, producing a sonic boom; the surging Haki within his body gave him a sense of having returned from another lifetime.

"Hiss—!"

He took a deep breath, and the cigar in his mouth burned down to the butt almost instantly.

"Hoo—!"

He exhaled a mouthful of turbid air.

Shiki regained his usual calm expression; only his subtly trembling hands revealed the turmoil within his heart at that moment.

He turned his head, his gaze falling on Law beside him, and couldn't help but utter a sigh of admiration:

"Law, you are even more outstanding than I imagined."

"I will keep my promise and help you kill that brat named Doflamingo!"

"Ah."

Law nodded expressionlessly.

He had only reached a deal with Shiki because he was threatened; between them, it was more of a relationship of mutual use.

Moreover, he had no intention of assisting someone else in becoming a king.

One Piece is only meaningful if one seizes it personally!

Acting on a doctor's instinct, Law spoke up to remind him:

"I have already removed that half of the ship's wheel for you. The wound seems healed, but it will still take some time for the internal bones to grow back."

"No!"

A confident smile curled Shiki's lips:

"At this level, as long as it doesn't affect my power, it is enough."

Seeing this, Law had no desire to persuade him further, but couldn't help reminding him:

"Before our deal is fulfilled, I do not wish for you to die."

Having said that,

Law turned directly and left Shiki's palace, walking toward the distant floating island.

The awakened Bepo, along with Shachi and Penguin who had followed Law, were all there; they had built a temporary dwelling.

They stood out as completely incongruous with the members of the Flying Pirates.

Watching this scene, the smile in Shiki's eyes gradually faded.

"This fellow's talent is unquestionable, and the ability of the Ope Ope no Mi is extremely flexible in combat as well."

Spandam slowly walked forward, looking at the departing Law, a hint of coldness appearing in his eyes:

"Captain, this fellow does not seem to have sincerely submitted."

Now that he had staked everything on the Flying Pirates, Shiki was the only existence he could rely on.

Having spent so many years in the World Government, he naturally knew what a qualified subordinate should do.

Shiki said calmly:

"I held your companion by the throat and forced you to bow to me; would you sincerely submit?"

"Don't be ridiculous!"

Watching Law disappear into the dense forest in the distance, only an indescribable confidence remained in Shiki's eyes:

"However."

"Do you know?"

"When a person loses everything they can lose, they will also more crazily grab onto everything around them they can grab!"

"At that time, he will realize that I am the only thing he can rely on!"

Spandam's breath hitched slightly.

He suddenly understood what Shiki intended to do.

And at that moment, he thought of himself.

The Jin Shizi could strike at his companions to completely subdue Law.

For oneself, who has lost all utility, are the promises made earlier still valid?

Thinking of this.

Spandam's heart felt a trace of regret for the first time at this moment.

Regretting why he was stirred by Crocodile's few words back then, fantasizing about such nonsense as controlling one's own destiny...

Being a dog is being a dog; being the World Government's dog, being a Celestial Dragon's dog is far better than being a pirate's dog!

Freedom?

Power?

Authority?

Compared to life, these have no meaning whatsoever!

"By the way, there is another matter."

While pondering.

The Jin Shizi's voice, carrying a hint of mockery, fell into Spandam's ears, making the latter's scalp go numb.

Spandam lifted his head with a face full of horror, seeing only a wild and ferocious countenance.

"The people we left below yesterday reported back; the fact that the Blueprints for Pluton exist in Water 7 has already spread throughout the Grand Line and even the Four Seas."

The Jin Shizi's gaze fell upon Spandam; invisible pressure permeated the surroundings, and faint lightning flickered in the void all around.

Spandam's face turned pale; he could not help but speak:

"It wasn't me!"

The Jin Shizi shook his head, his tone indifferent:

"I naturally know it wasn't you, but we have already lost the initiative."

"It is foreseeable that those aiming to dominate the world or seek the One Piece—Kaido, Big Mom, Wang Zhi—will all be unable to sit still."

"It is also the perfect opportunity to announce my return to this boring world!"

The Grand Line.

Upon the vast sea.

Waves churned, the scorching sun hung overhead.

On the deck of the Raven, a group of shirtless crew members were training like madmen.

"That guy Luqi is thinking of shouldering everything alone; compared to him, what does our level amount to?!"

"That's right; it's just twenty hours of training a day, just spitting blood, just risking life itself!"

Pfft!

This pirate, halfway through speaking, suddenly opened his mouth and spat out two taels of blood, then collapsed, his body going limp.

Yet even with his consciousness blurred, he instinctively kept muttering in his mouth about the need to become stronger, about risking life itself to save the instructor, and such words.

Chopper hurriedly stepped forward; after a check, he confirmed this crew member was in no danger of death, merely suffering a stress reaction because his body could not withstand this level of training.

But driven by a doctor's professional instinct, Chopper still instinctively spoke:

"Your body can no longer withstand this level of training; you must stop!"

"Marten, what kind of joke is this? The instructor is risking his life!"

As he spoke, this crew member grabbed Chopper's collar, only then discovering that beneath the latter's bulging coat were densely packed weight plates.

He was slightly stunned, pulled hard on Chopper's clothes... but they wouldn't budge.

"Aren't you grinding it out yourself?!"

"That's different!"

Chopper shook his head:

"I am a doctor; I must eliminate all opponents before my companions are injured."

Having said that.

Chopper raised his hand and knocked this pirate unconscious directly, then ordered two lieutenants to return him to the ward to recuperate, while he himself, face full of excitement, picked up the barbell nearby and resumed training.

For a moment.

Everyone on the deck returned to the frenzied state of before, feeling no fear whatsoever due to the fallen comrade who could not endure it.

It was simply because they all held a pent-up breath in their hearts, determined to bring Luqi back whole.

Gao Wen stood in the captain's cabin, looking at the crowd outside the window, then glanced at Xiang Keluo, who was floating alone high in the sky, skillfully using the Scythe Weasel's ability to control air currents; he nodded silently.

Over these few days, he had gradually gained a clear understanding of everyone's strength.

After consuming the Scythe Weasel Fruit, Xiang Keluo's own combat power had already touched the threshold of the Golden tier.

Now, having familiarized himself with the ability and further refined his fighting style, Xiang Keluo had undoubtedly reached the Golden tier, symbolizing the Warlord of the Sea status of a General Star.

Although he was likely not yet a match for top-tier Golds like Scorch Disaster Akainu or Charlotte Katakuri, handling ordinary General Star Warlords of the Sea would not be a major problem.

In a sense, Xiang Keluo, having consumed the Scythe Weasel Fruit, had taken on the template of Kizaru.

His physique and Haki were average, but his speed was high and his attacks strong; relying on the technique of instant movement, he could truly conquer the world with a single move.

By comparison, Jin was more inclined toward all-around development; his Haki, physique, and speed were all quite good, and his development of the fruit ability was extremely outstanding.

Whether it was the Dual Bone Form or the White Bone Cannon and other techniques, all exceeded basic ability application, proving to a certain extent that the strength of a Paramecia type depends on the user's imagination.

Although Jin had not yet reached the General Star level, he was far stronger than during the Drum Island period; if he faced Foxy again, Jin alone would be able to handle it.

Zoro and Sanji's strengths were close, and their growth speed was even faster; the gap between them and Jin had now begun to narrow.

Van Augur also awakened Observation Haki recently; combined with the named gun Lulu and Sea-Prism Stone bullets, his long-range destructive power hasn't increased much, but his accuracy has improved by more than a level.

Chopper, Miss Kalifa, and others have not yet broken through their current levels, but their combat power has clearly increased.

Previously, the Rokushiki game "Te-awase" used by Spandam to test Soru has, along with Gao Wen's rising skill level in the Six Powers, been gradually mastered by him.

And according to Gao Wen's calculations, Chopper's Soru now exceeds fifteen hundred, while Miss Kalifa has already reached eight hundred.

In short.

After consecutive battles, judging solely by top-tier combat power, Gao Wen's crew's current configuration has reached the standard of one Emperor, one Admiral, and four commanders.

Far surpassing ordinary Warlords of the Sea, yet still a considerable gap remains compared to a proper Emperor's crew.

But with the growth of Zoro, Sanji, and Jinbe, and the perfection of the Martial Arts Tournament system, all of this will be leveled.

Thinking of this.

Gao Wen withdrew his gaze and summoned the system panel:

【Host - Gao Wen】

【Age - 25】

【Identity - Captain of the Gao Wen Pirates】

【Skills:

Swordsmanship - LV-14: 26031/75000 (Divine Speed, Ultimate Weapon)

Physique - LV-15: 47015/120000 (Balance, Harmony, Heavenly Human) (Demon Form: LV-17 / Human-Beast Form: LV-17 / Beast Form: LV-18)

Shigan - LV-8: 7031/12000 (Soru)

Red Dragon Fruit - LV-5: 16342/25000 (Battle Armor)

Rokushiki (All) - LV-6: 42312/70000 (Life Return)

Observation Haki - LV-6: 16713/18000 (Precognition)

Armament Haki - LV-5: 61/15000 (Adamantine)

Conqueror's Haki - LV-4: 7581/25000

Navigation - LV-5: MAX

Sniping - LV-5: MAX (Precision)

】

【Badges:

Captain's Wrath - Subordinates' stamina recovery speed +20%

Rising Fame - View latent potential

Bounty Over 100 Million - Grace of the Great Sea (Used)

Warlord of the Sea - Experience Storage Tank (Allocated: Navigation, Sniping, Paramecia-type Devil Fruit)

】

【Rating - Legendary:

Emperor of the Sea, Admiral of the Army!

】

After scanning the list.

Gao Wen's gaze finally settled on Swordsmanship and Conqueror's Haki.

"Swordsmanship reached LV-14 before entering Alabasta; advancing further will awaken a new attribute."

"If my original guess is correct, the awakened branch abilities of Swordsmanship should follow the paths of Divine Speed and Ultimate Weapon."

"Combining speed and defense-breaking?"

"However."

"Awakening Swordsmanship currently relies solely on Zoro, one leek, and still requires several months."

"As for Conqueror's Haki..."

Looking at Conqueror's Haki which has already reached LV-4, Gao Wen fell into deep thought.

The three battles against Jin Shizi, Kizaru, and Zephyr have proven that to rapidly improve Conqueror's Haki, clashing with strong opponents is the only shortcut.

And conveniently, such a shortcut now lies before him: Water 7.

The news that the plans for Pluton exist in Water 7 have long spread.

After Gao Wen left Alabasta, the large and small pirate crews he saw rushing toward Water 7 along the way numbered no fewer than ten.

And there will be even more pirates from the Four Seas, or even the New World!

"It is foreseeable that in the coming period, Water 7 will inevitably become the eye of the world's storm, gathering countless strong ones, and even potentially appearing figures as ruthless as a New World Emperor."

"Strong ones will not be lacking; clashing with them won't make it hard for my Conqueror's Haki to advance another step, but intervening in the Water 7 battle will inevitably draw the attention of the World Government and the Marines."

"Once exposed, this Warlord skin will definitely not be kept."

Gao Wen's brows gradually furrowed.

Now that the Martial Arts Tournament has just connected with Cobra and taken the first step toward expanding into the Grand Line, it has not yet reached the point where it can survive relying on its own background as Gao Wen envisioned.

The stability achieved now is largely due to Gao Wen's Warlord title.

Interfering in Water 7 matters at this time, if it arouses the World Government's suspicion, this Warlord skin will definitely not be kept.

"You have indeed given me a difficult problem."

"The Warlord identity cannot be abandoned for now, and Roubo Luqi is even less likely to give up on it."

"Currently, only two choices remain for me."

"First is to chase him down before Roubo Luqi enters Water 7, but we have no idea of Roubo Luqi's route, and since he left ahead of us, he is impossible to find in the vast sea."

"Then we can only choose the second option."

Gao Wen looked at the Raven beneath his feet, and the corners of his mouth gradually curled up.

Early the next morning.

At Gao Wen's command, the crew lowered the pirate flag, and even replaced the pirate emblem on the sails with the Navy's insignia.

Immediately, the Raven transformed, becoming a warship with a unique design and a strong personal style.

Such warships were not rare within the Navy; most of the high-ranking officers' exclusive warships were like this, serving in a way as proof of status.

"This... can it work?!"

The pirates exchanged glances, unable to figure out what trick Gao Wen was up to.

Only Xiang Keluo's mouth began to twitch; he suddenly recalled some not-so-pleasant memories.

"This time, the excuse can't possibly be that a branch of the Navy failed to subdue me and came nearby to ask for reinforcements, can it?!"

(End of this chapter)