Eighteen Is the Age to Strive!

"Lipri, you're really coming aboard my ship?"

"Of course, how many times have you asked me that already? It was decided long ago anyway. If worst comes to worst, I'll just leave you and run back to Elbaf."

Lipri chuckled, "We're going to steal a branch from the Adam Tree now, right? I know where it is, I'll lead the way."

"Who said we're stealing? It's a fair trade!"

Mongge, sitting on Lipri's shoulder, jumped up and smacked her head hard.

"Ow!"

Lipri said with a displeased look, "You old geezer, don't hit me on the head like that. I'm not a child anymore."

"Haha, sorry, sorry."

Mongge stood up on Lipri's shoulder.

"We're almost there, just wait a moment."

"This much isn't enough?"

"It can't be helped. Rocks' foundation is too weak. Even with talent, he needs to put in more effort to catch up to others."

This was why few pirates made a name for themselves at a young age, unless they were exceptionally gifted. Talent alone couldn't directly translate into strength.

Lipri turned her head to look. A disheveled figure was trailing far behind them.

Keep in mind, Lipri was a twenty-meter-tall giantess. Her legs alone were over ten meters long. With a single stride, an ordinary person would have to run several steps to keep up.

Since Lipri informed him that the rainbow to Elbaf wouldn't be set up for at least another week, Mongge abandoned the idea of reaching the giant village directly via the rainbow bridge.

He planned to go around from the lowest level of Elbaf to the middle level.

The method, naturally, was on foot.

The mountains and hills that giants could easily traverse required considerable effort from Rocks. It was fine for short periods, but over time, even after over a month of training under Mongge, Rocks was starting to struggle.

Having risen from humble beginnings himself, Mongge understood the principle of "too much of a good thing." Excessive training wasn't training anymore; it was life-threatening.

However, thinking back to his previous conversation with Lipri, Mongge had a new idea.

Pressure alone wasn't enough.

He needed to provide some motivation.

What they called "a carrot after a stick."

"Here!"

Seeing Rocks gasping for air after stopping, Mongge tossed him a water bottle and smiled, "Kid, you must be cursing me in your heart right now, thinking that once you grow stronger, you'll get back at me."

Hearing Mongge's words, Rocks' heart skipped a beat. He thought to himself, How is this old man's reaction so sharp? He figured it out.

Seeing Rocks' expression, Mongge knew he had guessed correctly and couldn't help but burst into laughter. "Pfft hahaha, I knew you were vengeful, kid. You're still holding a grudge because I forced you to join us."

As the future Overlord of the Sea, Rocks would never be content to be subordinate to anyone. Therefore, Mongge never expected to easily subdue Rocks, even the young Rocks.

"Alright, I'll give you an opportunity."

Mongge grinned, a mischievous smile on his face. "This sea ultimately runs on strength. Do you think your current strength can defeat Lipri and me?"

Rocks froze. He thought of Mongge's sword skill that split the sea in half, and the strength and speed Lipri displayed when attacking Mongge earlier. He gritted his teeth.

Although he was unwilling, he truly couldn't defeat either Mongge or Lipri in his current state.

"Don't look at the White Wolf Pirates having only the three of us right now. As long as I'm here, no one will dare to underestimate the White Wolf Pirates."

"On this sea, without strength, you'll be bullied. Without strength, you'll be plundered. Without strength, you can't even protect yourself."

"Strength is wealth!"

"Strength is dignity!"

"Strength is everything!"

Mongge's voice resounded like thunder, causing Rocks to clench his fists.

"Therefore, I'm giving you an opportunity!"

"With your current strength, you can only be an intern in our White Wolf Pirates. But an intern's status isn't set in stone."

Ever since he gained the potential for Conqueror's Haki, Mongge had shaken off his past decline and was returning to the state he was in when he first arrived in this world.

It was one thing to not have a system or the potential for Conqueror's Haki in the past. Potential determined the ceiling, and even with all his effort, Mongge couldn't change it.

But now he had a system, and he also had the potential for Conqueror's Haki.

So what if he was the chosen one?

So what if he was the protagonist?

Under the same conditions, when had Mongge ever been weaker than others in his life?

"Rocks, Lipri!"

Mongge looked at Rocks and Lipri and said loudly, "From now on, our White Wolf Pirates have a new rule!"

"No matter who it is--"

"As long as you can defeat me head-on, you have the qualifications to become captain!"

"Rocks, you are currently just an intern in our pirate crew, but if you can defeat Lipri one day, I will make you a formal crew member. If you can defeat me, what's to stop me from letting you be the captain?"

"Lipri, it's the same for you. Don't think too highly of yourself just because you have the Giant Tribe's talent and dismiss Rocks. If you lose one day, don't come crying to me!"

If this was a few years ago, and Mongge had set this rule, let alone others, even he himself would have thought he was looking for an heir.

But things were different now.

He had gathered a group of crew members with unparalleled talent, making them chase and spur him on, ensuring he could never slack off.

What could be more exciting than being the captain of the future Overlord of the Sea, the future Four Emperors?

Let alone the Four Emperors.

What about the future Pirate King?

This era belonged to him, to him, Mongge!

At this moment, Mongge was full of spirit, and even the Haki within his body surged fiercely, like a giant dragon that had been dormant for a long time.

Finally about to break out of the abyss.

Rocks' mood also became excited.

He originally thought Mongge would always suppress him, and even if he taught him things, he would hold back and not give him a chance to challenge him.

But now, Mongge's words completely overturned his guess.

Mongge wasn't afraid of his challenge at all!

Since that was the case, what was there for him to hesitate about?

Rocks clenched his fist, looked at Mongge, and shouted with high spirits, "Old man, you said it yourself, don't go back on your word if you lose!"

"Hahahaha, if you can beat me, why would you be afraid of me going back on my word?"

Rocks thought about it and realized it was true.

"Old man, continue, I think I can still run!"

Rocks didn't feel tired at all now. As long as he could defeat Mongge, he could replace Mongge and become the captain of the White Wolf Pirates.

Since that was the case, the faster he got stronger, the better!

"Stop calling me 'old man' all the time!"

A finger descended from the sky, almost crushing Rocks.

"Is 'old man' something you can call anyone? You should call me Captain Mongge! Besides, you're just an intern now. You have to defeat me first before you have the right to challenge the captain. Don't forget, I'm much stronger than you now. Maybe I'll defeat the captain before you even get a chance to challenge him."

"Old man, don't you agree?"

Seeing Lipri's grinning expression, Mongge immediately gave her a flick on the forehead.

"Whether it's you or Rocks, show some respect. What's wrong with being seventy years old? For a Giant Tribe member, that's an age to be striving!"

Mongge grumbled.

"Since you want to challenge me, then all of you run! Lipri, go carry the Black Pearl over here, run with it as a weight!"

Originally, Mongge planned to dock the ship on the coast of Elbaf and have Mado look after it, but now that Rocks and Lipri were motivated, he might as well have them carry it back to the giant village.

No need to trouble Mado.

"Yes, Captain!"

Lipri saluted Mongge, then put on a grinning expression again.

"Captain, we're both training hard, what about you?"

Lipri looked at Mongge on her shoulder and said teasingly, "As the captain, you should set an example, right?"

"Cough cough~"

Hearing Lipri's words, Mongge couldn't help but cough. He was already so old, how could he still exercise like a young person?

Mongge was about to refuse.

But his system didn't give him a chance to refuse.

[A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step!]

[Success is one percent talent plus ninety-nine percent sweat. At eighteen, how can you sleep without striving?]

[Daily Mission: Training.]

[Mission Requirements: 1000 weighted push-ups, 1000 weighted sit-ups, 1000 weighted squats, 100km weighted run.]

[Reward: Stamina recovery, slight increase in cell activity!]

Mongge: "..."

Is this a joke?