Strength Levels, Monkey D. Dragon!

"Hmm, is this really a Devil Fruit?"

After taking a bite of the Dark-Dark Fruit, Mislanda wore a surprised expression.

Hadn't they said that all Devil Fruits tasted awful? Buggy, who had previously swallowed the Chop-Chop Fruit, had said that Devil Fruits tasted like moldy bread sprinkled with a huge handful of salt.

But the Dark-Dark Fruit in Mislanda's hand tasted pretty good. It was sweet and sour, and crunchy too!

Crunch, crunch. He immediately finished eating the Dark-Dark Fruit.

After eating the fruit, Mislanda immediately felt a force surge through his body.

Then, Mislanda opened his right hand and carefully urged the power within his body into motion.

A wisp of black energy emerged from his palm, slowly forming a black vortex accompanied by a strange gravitational force.

"Excellent. With this power, I'm strong enough to protect myself for now!"

As a transmigrator who now possessed the Dark-Dark Fruit given to him by the system, Mislanda's goal certainly wasn't to live out a peaceful life.

He wanted to dominate the seas.

But for now, it was better to find a place to train.

Without a powerful physique, no matter how strong his Devil Fruit ability was, he still wouldn't be able to contend with those monsters. So what Mislanda had to do now was train.

As Rayleigh's adopted son, Mislanda already had an excellent teacher!

Thinking of this, he prepared to leave.

What Mislanda didn't know was that Shanks came looking for him not long after he left.

The two thus missed each other, and the next time they met would be many years later!

"Mislanda, you seem to have changed a little!"

On the ship, Rayleigh looked at his adopted son, a strange expression on his face.

They had only been apart for a day and a half, yet Mislanda had somehow gained a sense of depth. His whole person even seemed faintly unsettling!

What exactly had happened?!

Mislanda casually waved his hand. "Nothing much. I just ate a Devil Fruit!"

"What?!"

Rayleigh was shocked by this explanation.

"You ate a Devil Fruit? What kind?"

Devil Fruits were things one could only obtain through luck.

Some people searched their entire lives without finding one, while others could find one in their own backyard.

Clearly, in Rayleigh's eyes, Mislanda was the latter type.

"Look!"

Mislanda extended his right hand and released the dark vortex again!

Looking at the black vortex in his hand, Rayleigh was secretly alarmed.

Although it posed no threat to Rayleigh, he could still sense the terrifying power within it—enough to make anyone uneasy!

This ability was definitely no simple matter!

"All right. If you're an ability user, then you're an ability user. You just can't swim. Be more careful from now on!"

"Yeah, I know!"

Mislanda didn't want to reveal the truth. It wasn't that he intended to hide it; some things were simply difficult to explain.

Just like that, the two of them left Loguetown.

As they were about to leave the East Blue, Rayleigh stopped.

"Mislanda, do you have anything to say about your life from here on out???"

To be honest, Rayleigh didn't know where to go now either.

The Roger Pirates had already disbanded, and Rayleigh didn't want to form another pirate crew.

[ Ding, system mission issued! ]

Just as Mislanda was about to state his thoughts, the system's voice rang out.

What the hell?!

Why now of all times?!

"I'll think about it!"

Mislanda smiled, then walked to the stern and sat down.

The two of them were traveling in a small wooden boat. It was small, but it carried a major figure!

"All right. Let's get farther away first. Garp hasn't left Loguetown yet, and I don't want to run into him!"

"Forget the mission for now. I want to understand your system first!"

After reaching the stern, Mislanda didn't hurry to look at the mission. Instead, he wanted to figure out the system first.

[ Ding, this system's full name is the Strongest System. Its primary function is to help its host become the strongest person in a given world! ]

[ The host can obtain corresponding rewards and Powerhouse Points by completing missions. Powerhouse Points can be used to exchange for items. ]

"Powerhouse Points? Do I have any right now?"

[ Yes. The host currently has 100 Powerhouse Points! ]

[ Apart from completing missions, the host can also obtain Powerhouse Points by defeating others. For example! ]

A light screen visible only to Mislanda appeared before his eyes. Written on it was:

[ Silvers Rayleigh, power level: King. Defeating him will grant 10,000 Strongest Points! ]

[ This system has divided the power levels of the world of pirates into Bronze, Silver, Gold, Platinum, Diamond, Star Glory, King, and Peak King. Peak King: 100,000 points. King: 10,000 points. Star Glory: 2,000 points. Diamond: 1,000 points. Platinum: 500 points. Gold: 100 points. Silver: 5 points. Bronze: 1 point. ]

Looking at these levels, the corner of Mislanda's mouth twitched.

System, do you play some kind of game too?!

[ Ding, the host's current power level is Gold! ]

[ Friendly reminder: When the host defeats an opponent of a lower level, no points will be awarded. Furthermore, the first time an opponent is defeated, the host will receive the most points. The points awarded will gradually decrease after subsequent defeats! ]

"So that means I can only challenge opponents at Gold level or above right now?"

[ Correct! ]

"All right. One last question: Does anyone at the Peak King level exist in this world?"

How strong was Rayleigh?

Even more than twenty years later, hardly anyone dared claim they could defeat the already elderly Rayleigh with certainty, let alone Rayleigh in his prime now.

Rayleigh was currently at the height of his power, yet he still wasn't at the highest level.

[ Yes! As for who it is, the host will have to find out for himself! ]

[ Ding, mission issued: Protect Ohara and repel the Navy's Buster Call! ]

The system immediately displayed the mission details on the light screen.

Ohara? The Buster Call?

Seeing this mission, Mislanda could hardly believe it.

"System, are you kidding me? What am I supposed to use to stop a Buster Call?!"

What was a Buster Call? It possessed the power to destroy an entire country.

A fleet led by five Marine vice admirals launched an attack on a particular location!

And among the five vice admirals in Ohara's Buster Call were the future Marine admirals Akainu and Aokiji!

How was he supposed to deal with that?

[ The host will have to think of a way himself. Friendly reminder: Outside assistance may be requested for this mission—for example, the person currently sailing the ship, as well as the one in the sky! ]

In the sky?

Mislanda's heart jolted. He immediately looked up.

Rayleigh, who was beside him, had already warily turned his gaze skyward.

A person in a gray-green cloak was looking down at the two of them from above.

"System, who is that?"

[ Monkey D. Dragon, power level: King. Current leader of the Freedom Fighters! ]

A King-level powerhouse, just like Rayleigh!

Monkey D. Dragon? The future leader of the Revolutionary Army?

The Revolutionary Army didn't exist yet. It was only after witnessing Ohara's tragic fate that Dragon would establish the Revolutionary Army. For now, there were only the Freedom Fighters!