Leaving Sika Town

Half a year was neither short nor long, but Nangong Yan had changed considerably compared to six months ago.

His black hair had grown much longer, casually tied with a purple vine. His fair face had darkened somewhat, and he had grown to 1.65 meters tall. His body had become much more robust, his chest and back covered in solid muscle, displaying the remarkable strength within the youth.

Over the past half year, Nangong Yan's strength had increased greatly. He had become more familiar with the Golden Crow Fruit and developed several techniques. He had also grown much more adept with the Mangekyo Sharingan. In terms of overall strength, he was already no weaker than a Marine Headquarters major, perhaps even considerably stronger.

A Marine Headquarters major was roughly equivalent to a brigadier general in the Four Seas branches. For a more obvious comparison, Nangong Yan could now defeat Marine branch Colonel Axe-Hand Morgan with relative ease.

The Marines at Headquarters were all super elites. A Headquarters rank was roughly three grades higher when placed in a Four Seas branch. However, in Marine bases on the Grand Line or in the New World, the ranks were genuine. (This was researched from materials and interviews with Eiichiro Oda.)

Devil Fruits were terrifyingly effective at increasing a person's strength in the early stages. When Nangong Yan had first arrived in this world, his actual combat power among the Marines had only been that of a second-class private, not much stronger than a third-class private, or rookie.

In just half a year, Nangong Yan's strength had risen to the level of a Marine Headquarters major. It was truly frightening. Of course, this was inseparable from Nangong Yan's hard work and the help of the Mangekyo Sharingan.

He put on a black shirt and black trousers. Having grown considerably over the past six months, the clothes now looked somewhat short on him.

Nangong Yan stood at the highest point of the island. His black hair, bound by a purple vine, fluttered in the sea breeze. After taking one final deep look at the island, he stepped forward and shot into the air.

In midair, Nangong Yan transformed into a Golden Crow bathed in pale golden flames. It had three legs and twelve talons beneath its abdomen, crimson-flame golden feathers, an imperial feathered crown on its forehead, phoenix plumes, dragon scales covering its neck, and a golden Great Sun Sacred Wheel shining behind its back.

The surrounding temperature surged, and the air twisted. Flapping its crimson-flame golden wings, Nangong Yan became a beam of alternating crimson and gold light and vanished into the horizon at astonishing speed.

Nangong Yan only had a general understanding of this world's map and knew nothing of his precise location. He could only rely on Blair's memories from before his death and fly in the general direction where there might be land or islands.

At an altitude of a thousand meters, a noble, mysterious, and majestic Golden Crow bathed in pale golden flames flew onward. Its pair of golden eyes scanned the boundless dark-blue sea like an eagle's, searching for ships, islands, and land.

After flying for roughly half an hour, Nangong Yan had expended half his stamina, yet still had not encountered any land or ships. This made him somewhat anxious.

On this endless sea, there was not even a place to set foot. If he fell in, he would sink to the bottom like a weight, without even the chance to struggle.

Just as Nangong Yan anxiously wondered whether he would become the most miserable transmigrator ever, dying before accomplishing anything, a ship dozens of meters long appeared in his vision.

Nangong Yan changed direction and flew toward the ship, studying it at the same time. When he caught sight of the pirate flag atop the mast, his pupils shrank slightly. Perhaps I'll have to fight before I get the chance to board.

Not all pirates were as hospitable as Luffy and his crew. Most pirates treated uninvited guests with the mentality of killing rather than letting anyone go.

Although he sensed that a fight might be unavoidable, Nangong Yan did not shrink back in the slightest. Not only did he have no other choice, he also wanted to test his own strength.

Flying above the pirate ship, Nangong Yan reverted to a beam of alternating crimson and gold light and descended almost vertically onto the ship's mast to avoid being spotted.

There were few people on the pirate ship's deck. Only four pirates armed with sabers and flintlocks stood around the vessel, yawning as they surveyed the endless sea.

Although Nangong Yan had already released his Golden Crow form as he neared the ship, the astonishing heat still caught the attention of the four pirates.

The four looked up and happened to see Nangong Yan return to human form, his feet landing atop the mast.

"Hey, brat, who are you? You dare stand on the mast of our Locke Pirates? Get the hell down here!" shouted a bald pirate at the bow, gripping a large cleaver.

Nangong Yan frowned slightly at his words, but he still jumped down from the mast as told.

Thud, thud, thud... Footsteps rang out as two pirates ran over from elsewhere on the ship, while another disappeared. Nangong Yan guessed that one had gone to notify the captain.

Three pirates surrounded Nangong Yan and sized him up. Soon, a burly, bare-chested pirate in his thirties walked onto the deck. He had two flintlocks at his waist and wore a one-foot-long clawed gauntlet, with roughly thirty slovenly dressed pirates following behind him.

"Brat, who are you? Why are you on my pirate ship? Talk honestly, or I'll put a bullet through you," the captain of the Locke Pirates demanded, drawing one of the flintlocks at his waist and aiming it at Nangong Yan's chest.

"I swam here. My ship was destroyed, and I would like to borrow your ship for passage to the next island," Nangong Yan replied politely.

In truth, Nangong Yan had yet to adapt to this world's way of survival, so he had not adjusted his mindset in time. If he had, he would have taken this ship by force without another word.

"Do you think we're all three-year-olds? The sea is so vast, and you expect us to believe you swam here? My men didn't see you either. I'll give you one more chance. Tell me honestly how you got aboard and what your purpose is!" Captain Locke's face filled with anger as his finger moved onto the trigger.

"Fine. To tell the truth, I flew here. As for my purpose, I already told you," Nangong Yan said honestly, spreading his hands.

"Bastard! You still won't tell the truth? Die! How can a human possibly fly?" Captain Locke immediately flew into a rage and pulled the trigger. A flash of fire appeared, followed by a bang as a lead bullet shot toward Nangong Yan's heart.

Nangong Yan had long been on guard. The moment Captain Locke pulled the trigger, he flashed to the side, and the bullet flew harmlessly through empty air.

Since the other side had attacked first, Nangong Yan would not be polite anymore.

Pale golden flames gathered around his ten fingers. With a flick of his arms, ten pale golden fire bullets condensed from True Sun Fire shot forth.

Ten-Finger Flame Bullets!

The pale golden fire bullets tore through the air and struck several pirates. Since Nangong Yan had deliberately avoided vital areas, they did not die, only lost their ability to fight.

Nangong Yan's counterattack was like igniting a powder keg. Nearly thirty pirates drew their weapons and charged at him, those with blades wielding blades and those with guns firing guns.

Pale golden flames enveloped Nangong Yan from head to toe. He stamped his feet and dodged the bullets. Half a year of training had greatly increased his speed, and these ordinary pirates could not hit him at all.

As for close combat, ordinary pirates could not even approach Nangong Yan. Within a range of three feet, the temperature soared to nearly three hundred degrees, and even the wooden deck had begun to burn.

"An ability user? Everyone, stop! We're no match for an ability user like this!" Captain Locke, who had been so vicious moments ago, immediately changed expression and hurriedly called for his men to stop.

He was merely a pirate who had only recently gone to sea, with a bounty of no more than ten million. He was the typical sort who bullied the weak and feared the strong. Remembering the rumors about ability users, he hastily gave up any thought of fighting.

Hearing their captain's order, all the pirates quickly stopped fighting.

This left Nangong Yan slightly stunned. He had thought there would be a major battle, but it ended so anticlimactically.

Nangong Yan was somewhat unhappy because he had not yet had his fill. He had not even managed to test his own strength properly. However, since the other side had already admitted defeat, it would not be appropriate to keep attacking. He withdrew the surging pale golden flames, leaving several large holes in the deck and wisps of smoke drifting upward.

"May I ask your honorable name, sir? What are your orders?" Captain Locke put away his pistol and asked respectfully.

Nangong Yan felt some disdain for Captain Locke, because someone like him was destined to achieve little on the path of piracy. However, it could not be denied that, unless he encountered someone with an extreme lust for killing, this sort of personality made survival quite easy.

Nangong Yan decided to use his name from his previous life. The name in this world... Blair. It simply did not feel as imposing or meaningful as his own name.

"My name is Nangong Yan. Take me to the nearest town, prepare some food, and give me some Beli while you're at it," Nangong Yan said calmly.

"No problem, Lord Nangong. Please come inside with me. The wind is strong and the sun is harsh out here."

Nangong Yan nodded. Confident in his own strength, he was not afraid that Captain Locke would try anything. He took the lead and walked into the cabin.

Fruit, meat, and liquor were placed on the table. Nangong Yan was treated as an honored guest, with the higher-ups of the Locke Pirates accompanying him as they drank and ate meat.

Nangong Yan did not stand on ceremony. He happened to need to replenish his stamina, so he began to eat heartily.

A day later, escorted by the entire Locke Pirates, Nangong Yan took one hundred thousand Beli, left the sea, and set foot in a town called Sika Town.