Chapter 41: Burgeoning Experience Points

Gao Wen blinked in surprise.

The numbers for swordsmanship and physique were still normal.

After all, Keluo and Ajin were both severely injured and unable to move normally; the only sources of experience now were the pirates in the crew whose potential had not yet reached its limit.

They yielded at most a dozen points a day, sometimes just a few—barely better than nothing, and overall the amount was even declining.

But this was within Gao Wen’s expectations; what truly startled him was Observation Haki.

“There are only two people in the crew who’ve awakened Observation Haki—Ajin’s injury is worse, so it must be Keluo, who’s recovered better.”

“But.”

“Can Keluo really provide 33 points of Observation Haki experience per day?”

“And this is even while he’s still injured and physically limited—once he fully recovers, his contribution will only increase.”

Saying this, Gao Wen opened his system panel:

【Host—Gao Wen】

【Age—24】

【Title—Captain of the Gao Wen Pirates】

【Skills:

Swordsmanship—LV-5: 1171/1600 (Blazing Speed)

Physique—LV-5: 381/1600 (Balanced)

Navigation—LV-1: 13/100

Stick Death—LV-1: 3/200

Observation Haki—LV-0: 33/500

】

【Badges:

Captain’s Fury—Subordinates’ physical recovery speed +20%

Rising Fame—View potential abilities

】

【Rating—Bronze: Across the Four Seas and even Paradise, you’re a notable figure, but in the New World, keep your head down.】

During this time, those who returned to Parra Island had clearly not abandoned their training; collectively, swordsmanship and physique each gained over a hundred experience points.

This was within Gao Wen’s expectations; what truly surprised him was Observation Haki.

“The experience needed to reach Level 1 exceeds that required to reach Level 4 in Physique?”

“So even among abilities, there are tiers of superiority?”

Gao Wen furrowed his brow slightly; though still puzzled, this was the only reasonable explanation he could conceive.

After all, Haki only becomes widespread after reaching the New World, where the strong gather.

In the Four Seas and the first half of the Grand Line—Paradise—many train swordsmanship, body arts, or develop Devil Fruits, but those who truly master Haki are few and far between.

“If so, the experience needed for Armament Haki and even Conqueror’s Haki will be even greater.”

“But.”

“Even at Keluo’s current rate, I’ll reach Level 1 in less than half a month—then I can truly apply it in combat.”

“Once both of them recover, Physique and Stick Death will begin rising again.”

“And I must also train Armament Haki—otherwise, facing Logia users, I’ll be hopelessly passive.”

Recalling his battle with Smoker, Gao Wen felt a deep sense of frustration.

In raw power, he was unquestionably superior to Smoker—but Smoker’s Logia ability to phase through attacks nullified every strike.

He could only suppress him by repeatedly stabbing at blinding speed, shattering Smoker’s body over and over.

If next time he faced a Mera Mera no Mi or Magma Mera no Mi user—with direct lethal power—he’d have only one option: run.

“Haki is the manifestation of the heart; everyone possesses Haki, but not everyone can awaken it.”

“Observation Haki is already active—can Armament Haki be unlocked by analogy?”

With this thought in mind,

the next day,

Gao Wen entrusted crew affairs to Zan Gao, and had the Cat Brothers lead a group of recovered crew members to hunt pirates near Crow Harbor as promised, securing the shipping lanes,

then began attempting to awaken his own Armament Haki.

But saying it was one thing; doing it was another.

Days passed, and Gao Wen gained nothing—not even a clue.

Blind luck like that only happens once.

Without guidance, Gao Wen’s understanding of Haki was limited to a few forum posts he’d read in his past life.

Those weren’t wrong, but they were just wild speculations—correct in theory, useless in practice, offering him no real help.

Still,

while Haki remained a mystery, Ajin and Keluo were gradually starting to show results.

…

With the boost from Gao Wen’s badge ability, Ajin’s recovery far outpaced expectations.

In just seven days, he removed his bandages; though many wounds still bore scabs, he could move normally again.

Under the influence of Gao Wen and Keluo, Ajin gradually began training himself.

At this moment,

at the harbor, the sun sank overhead, baking the earth into searing heat—the air above the ground visibly warped, and the cicadas’ drone stirred the mind to restlessness.

All the pirates had retreated to the shade, but Ajin kept punching a derelict pirate ship.

Thud!

Thud!

Thud!

…

His bloody, mangled fists left dents one after another on the hull.

Under the agony, Ajin’s mind grew unusually clear.

During this time,

as Ajin came to understand the Gao Wen Pirates more deeply, he increasingly felt the weight of Gao Wen’s past.

“The once kindest, most caring captain of a pirate crew—betrayed by his own men in crisis, forced to draw his sword against them, and forever changed?”

“No wonder Gao Wen could still set aside his prejudice and save me, even though I was his enemy.”

“Only those who’ve shared similar experiences can truly understand each other.”

…

Time passed slowly, he didn’t know how long.

Thud!

With his final punch, Ajin noticed the sun had already swallowed its last glow.

The pain in his fists made him acutely aware his body had reached its limit.

Pushing further would only cause more hidden injuries—not worth it.

“Phew~!”

Ajin exhaled and turned to leave.

Thinking of Gao Wen’s fried rice, his heart filled with something he’d never felt before.

…

Night fell.

Gao Wen, frustrated after failing to awaken his Haki, returned to his room—when suddenly, the familiar system chime echoed in his mind:

“Physique experience +127!”

“Swordsmanship experience +8!”

“Stick Death experience +22!”

“Observation Haki experience +44!”

Gao Wen froze, then his eyes widened:

“Physique experience increased by 127?!”

“At the current rate, the rest of the crew combined barely contribute a fraction of that.”

“So Ajin and Keluo together provided roughly 120 points of Physique experience?!”

“Not to mention Stick Death and Observation Haki!”

“Just these two alone match the output of a large pirate crew of hundreds—and they sustain it longer!”

“At this rate, my Physique could leap two levels in under a month, reaching LV-7—perhaps even reach LV-10 in half a year, unlocking a second descriptor.”

“Indeed, a crewmate with great potential can outpace hundreds—or even thousands—of ordinary pirates in experience.”

“The gap in innate talent between individuals in this world is utterly unreasonable.”

(End of Chapter)