Dragon Essence and Phoenix Blood, Four Years!

On an uninhabited island in the Grand Line, near the Calm Belt.

Rayleigh planned to build another wooden house here and stay for a while.

Taking advantage of his free time, Mislanda went to a secluded place.

"System, where's my reward? Hurry up and give it to me!"

Mislanda hurriedly spoke.

This mission had been so difficult and dangerous that the reward definitely wouldn't be bad.

The last reward had been the Dark-Dark Fruit. This time, it wouldn't be any worse than the Dark-Dark Fruit at the very least, right?

[Ding, reward being sent!]

[Congratulations, Host has obtained... Dragon Essence and Phoenix Blood!]

Then, something resembling a pill appeared in Mislanda's hand. A dragon-shaped mark was engraved on it.

"Dragon Essence and Phoenix Blood? What are these things, System? Give me an explanation!"

Mislanda looked at the object in his hand in confusion, completely unable to understand it.

The names sounded somewhat familiar, but he just couldn't remember where he had heard them.

[Ding, Dragon Essence and Phoenix Blood!]

[Dragon Essence: the vital essence of the Divine Dragon. It grants immortality and indestructibility, greatly enhances one's strength, and can even allow Dragon Transformation!]

[Phoenix Blood: the vital essence of the Phoenix. It grants immortality and indestructibility!]

Immortal, undying, and indestructible?!

Holy crap, holy crap, holy crap!

Looking at the System's explanation, Mislanda nearly lost his balance, and his eyes almost popped out of his head.

Was it really that powerful?

Immortal, undying, and indestructible? Was it joking?

"So that's why it sounded so familiar. It turns out to be such an incredible treasure!"

Without exaggeration, the thing in Mislanda's hand really could make someone immortal, undying, and indestructible—at least for a thousand years or so!

With that thought, Mislanda didn't hesitate. He directly swallowed the Dragon Essence in his hand.

Immediately afterward, Mislanda felt the effects of the Dragon Essence.

His body felt warm, and a vast energy circulated within him. Mislanda experienced unprecedented comfort!

Crack-crack-crack!

Mislanda stretched his body. Then, tremendous energy surged through him, and his body grew somewhat taller.

Mislanda had originally been ten years old and around 1.5 meters tall, which was already quite tall. But now, he was at least 1.6 meters tall!

He also felt that his body had become much stronger, increasing by roughly five times!

Mislanda was still just a child. At this moment, the Dragon Essence's greatest effect was to lay an incredibly perfect foundation for him. In the future, Mislanda could become even stronger!

"Immortal, undying, and indestructible. The power of the Dragon Essence is truly terrifying!"

"Ha!"

Mislanda shouted, and an invisible aura immediately burst forth, sweeping across the entire uninhabited island.

In the distance, Rayleigh, who had been building the wooden house, suddenly stopped.

"This is Conqueror's Haki? Mislanda?!"

At that thought, Rayleigh hurriedly ran toward the direction from which the Haki had been released.

When he arrived, he was completely stunned.

Mislanda was looking at him with a beaming smile.

But that wasn't the important part. The important part was, how had Mislanda grown so much taller in just a few minutes?!

He quickly grabbed Mislanda by the shoulders and carefully examined him, finally discovering that there was nothing wrong.

"What exactly happened? How did you...?"

Rayleigh was shocked to discover that Mislanda's body had become more solid.

"I don't know. Maybe my Haki awakened, and I developed a little faster!"

"Enough talk. Let's go back and build the house, or tonight we'll be using the sky as our blanket and the ground as our bed!"

After saying that, he pulled the stunned Rayleigh back.

A week later, Mislanda had completely adapted to the changes in his body.

The Dragon Essence truly deserved to be called a supreme treasure. Not only had it instantly increased Mislanda's strength, but it also constantly nourished his body, allowing him to grow stronger without end.

[Name: Silvers Mislanda

Age: Ten

Abilities: Dark-Dark Fruit, Conqueror's Haki, Dragon Essence

Strength Level: Platinum (on the verge of breaking through)

Strongest Points: 100]

When he had first awakened Conqueror's Haki, Mislanda had broken through to Platinum. Now, he was about to enter the Diamond level, and all of this was due to the effects of the Dragon Essence.

"Wait, what about the Phoenix Blood?"

Mislanda suddenly thought of something and immediately asked the System.

Hadn't it said that the reward was Dragon Essence and Phoenix Blood? Why was there only Dragon Essence now?

Where was the Phoenix Blood?

[Ding, Dragon Essence and Phoenix Blood cannot coexist within the same body, so it was not immediately given to the Host.]

In Fengyun, Di Shitian had consumed the Phoenix Blood a thousand years ago, so when he later tried to swallow the Dragon Essence, he couldn't. Mislanda was the same.

Having the Dragon Essence meant he couldn't consume the Phoenix Blood. That was the rule.

"Hey, even if I can't consume it, you should at least give it to me!"

What did that mean? He wouldn't give it to him just because it was useless to him? What a joke. He refused to accept that!

[Host, don't be anxious. Listen to me first!]

[Since ancient times, dragons and phoenixes have represented married couples. Therefore, this System has decided that every time the Host obtains a woman in the future, he will receive one portion of Phoenix Blood, up to a maximum of five portions!]

[Ding, friendly reminder: she must have intercourse with the Host to count as his woman!]

Mislanda: ...

"Damn it, what is this supposed to be?!"

[If the Host is dissatisfied, he can file a complaint. Of course, if someone else is dissatisfied too, I won't immediately give the Host the Phoenix Blood either!]

That evening, Rayleigh and Mislanda sat beside the campfire.

"Mislanda, I've decided. Tomorrow, I'll teach you how to use Haki, and I'll arrange training for you as well!"

"Really? That's great! I've been waiting for this!"

Last time, Rayleigh had only taught him briefly, and that had been the only lesson.

Now, he was finally going to learn Haki again!

Seeing Mislanda's enthusiasm, Rayleigh couldn't help smiling.

Youth was wonderful!

However, Rayleigh's next words made Mislanda's happiness disappear.

"Four years. I'll only teach you for four years. During those four years, I'll teach you everything I can. After that, I'll leave this uninhabited island, and you can go wherever you want!"

Hearing this, Mislanda looked at Rayleigh strangely.

What did that mean? Was he abandoning him?

"Sigh, Mislanda, I'm your adoptive father. I've taken care of you for ten years!"

"But everyone has to become independent eventually. I can't stay by your side forever. If you want to become a true powerhouse, you must learn to walk forward on your own!"

Rayleigh spoke earnestly.

He wanted to protect Mislanda forever, but Mislanda was determined to become the strongest person in the world. Rayleigh had to steel his heart!

Rayleigh was only telling him today to give him some advance warning.

Just as Rayleigh had expected, after hearing this, Mislanda nodded solemnly.

"No problem. Four years will be enough!"

Mislanda was confident. In four years, he could learn all of Rayleigh's abilities, and then begin his own journey!

The Grand Line—one day, he would conquer it!