Astonishing Gains

When Roger's bold declaration rang out through the Visual Transponder Snails to every corner of the world, Loguetown's entire plaza fell into an eerie dead silence.

"Bastard!"

Below the execution platform, Sengoku's Buddha-like, imposing face instantly turned livid! He had never imagined that a lowly executioner's momentary hesitation would give the world's most evil criminal an opportunity to overturn the world!

Bang—!

The gunshot finally rang out.

The bullet hit true.

An era came to an end.

And after that gunshot, another era—more chaotic, more frenzied—officially began.

Rayne no longer cared about any of it.

The instant he pulled the trigger, the only thing left in his mind was the system notification, sweet as heavenly music!

[Prisoner: "One Piece" Gol D. Roger]

[Overall Level: LR3]

[Status: Executed]

[Crime Index: 457,990]

[Execution Participation: 100%]

[Selectable Rewards]: (16 options available)

[Last Wish List]: (Can be activated)

The next second, a golden list so long its end was nearly invisible burst open in Rayne's mind!

Rayne's consciousness was nearly swallowed by that dazzling sea of golden light.

[Selectable Rewards]:

[Body Inheritance (Minor)]

Description: Inherit One Piece Roger's "peak" physique.

[Skill Inheritance · Roger-style Swordsmanship]

Description: Inherit the essence of One Piece's Swordsmanship, capable of contending with the world's strongest swordsmen. Reached "peak" mastery.

[Skill Inheritance · Ancient Text Interpretation]

Description: Inherit Roger's ability to interpret Poneglyphs. Reached "top-tier" mastery.

[Special Skill Inheritance · Kamusari]

Description: Inherit Roger's ultimate sword strike, unleashed by coating his blade in Conqueror's Coating.

[Skill Inheritance · Navigation]

Description: Inherit Roger's top-tier navigational experience, enough to conquer the entire Grand Line. Reached "peak" mastery.

[Haki Inheritance · Observation Haki]

Description: Inherit One Piece Roger's unparalleled Observation Haki, capable of hearing the Voice of All Things. Reached "peak" mastery.

[Haki Inheritance · Armament Haki (Minor)]

Description: Inherit One Piece Roger's unparalleled Armament Haki, capable of effortlessly using Ryuo. Reached "peak" mastery.

[Haki Inheritance · Conqueror's Haki (Minor)]

Description: Inherit One Piece Roger's unparalleled Conqueror's Haki, capable of intimidating hundreds of thousands. Reached "peak" mastery.

[Memory Fragment · Laugh Tale (???)]

Description: Inherit all of Gol D. Roger's memories regarding "Final Island · Laugh Tale," including its exact location, the truth of ONE PIECE, and the history of the Void Century...

[Warning: This inheritance contains an immense amount of information capable of overturning the world.]

"I've struck it rich... I've really struck it rich this time..."

Just as Rayne was marveling at the list, which could only be called a "divine treasury," a system notification like a death warrant exploded in his mind!

[Due to the excessive number of selectable rewards, please make your selection within 30 seconds. Otherwise, one item will be randomly selected!]

[30... 29... 28...]

"Damn it! Is this supposed to help?!" Rayne roared inwardly. How am I supposed to make a choice like this in thirty seconds?!

He forced himself into an extreme state of calm. His gaze swept down from the top of the list at inhuman speed, like a precision scanner.

His mind raced faster than it ever had before.

"Physique, minor... Armament Haki, minor... Conqueror's Haki, minor..."

"That's it! Roger was terminally ill and had already been at the end of his rope long before his capture. His body, his Armament Haki, and his Conqueror's Haki—abilities that needed energy and spirit to sustain—were no longer at their peak! Whatever I can inherit now is just scraps! Choosing them would be a massive loss!"

His eyes continued downward, passing over [Roger-style Swordsmanship], [Kamusari], [Navigation]... They were undoubtedly powerful, but most were not things he urgently needed right now.

As for [Memory Fragment · Laugh Tale], coupled with that glaring red [Warning], he could not even be bothered to give it another look.

"What a joke. Once I'm strong enough, I can find out whenever I want. This isn't something I need to consider right now."

At last, his eyes locked firmly onto the sole perfect option in the middle of the list, one without any negative qualifier!

[Haki Inheritance · Observation Haki]

Description: Inherit One Piece Roger's unparalleled Observation Haki, capable of hearing the Voice of All Things. Reached "peak" mastery.

"That's right! This is it!" Rayne's heart pounded wildly. "Observation Haki—especially a soul-based talent like hearing the Voice of All Things—is unaffected by the body or mental state! This is Roger's only flawless inheritance!"

[...3...2...]

The countdown was about to hit zero.

"System!" Rayne unleashed his final roar in his mind with every ounce of his will.

[Haki Inheritance · Observation Haki]!

The next second.

The world "exploded" within Rayne's perception.

A torrent of information beyond description detonated directly inside his mind!

The previous ocean-like uproar was instantly broken down into countless separate, meaningless fragments!

Then his "hearing" became like a beast breaking free of its chains, expanding madly outward from him and enveloping all of Loguetown!

He heard the wooden boards beneath his feet on the execution platform groaning!

He heard the thunderous heartbeats of tens of thousands of people in the plaza!

He heard the faint crying of a baby several hundred meters away after being awakened by the noise!

He heard the sound of a seagull flapping its wings several thousand meters away!

He heard the sea breathing, the wind whispering, and blades and guns yearning for blood!

Countless sounds, countless images, countless emotions, countless wills... In that brief instant, all of them flooded into his mind indiscriminately and savagely!

The whole world became a hell made up of endless noise!

"Urgh..."

Rayne could not resist at all. His mind instantly crashed beneath the onslaught of information. His vision went black, and he fell straight backward, completely unconscious.

On the execution platform.

Sengoku looked at the crowd below, which had already descended into fanaticism and chaos. He trembled with rage, slammed a fist against the railing before him, and roared, "It's all that execution brat's fault! His hesitation let Roger say those words! Everything has been ruined!"

"No."

Sengoku turned toward the voice and saw Tsuru staring intently at the boy on the execution platform, whose swaying body was slowly falling backward.

"Look at him."

Sengoku followed her gaze and saw that Rayne's face was deathly pale, with blood seeping from all seven of his orifices.

"Roger's final Conqueror's Haki was aimed at the executioner closest to him."

Vice Admiral Tsuru's voice was calm and clear. "This child... Not only did he raise the gun, but to carry out his orders, he even used his will to directly confront One Piece's Haki."

She slowly said, "Feel it. The flame of his life is now so faint it is like a candle guttering in the wind. He did not faint from fear. He used sheer willpower to withstand Conqueror's Haki, and his mental strength has been completely drained. He is on the verge of death!"

Sengoku was stunned. He immediately released his Observation Haki. Sure enough, Rayne's condition was exactly as Tsuru had said.

A complicated mixture of guilt, regret, and admiration rose in Sengoku's heart.

The fury in his eyes gradually faded.

This young man, who had used the body of an ordinary Marine to withstand One Piece's final Haki, and had even burned away his own life to complete the mission...

He was a good prospect!

"Quick!" Sengoku made his decision at once and ordered the medical unit behind him, "Save him!"