Pirates: I Maxed Out Conqueror's Haki First Because I Can't Die

Meanwhile, under Zephyr's guidance, his Basic Physical Techniques improved, and a new line appeared on his panel.

"Basic Physical Techniques LV1."

By the seventh day, he could hold his own against Kuzan. He no longer got beaten one-sidedly.

That gave Xia Le plenty of confidence.

If I used Conqueror's Haki...

Forget it. That would be unfair.

Still, growing stronger so quickly, feeling himself improve every day, was deeply satisfying. He couldn't get enough of it.

Especially when all his classmates were monsters.

Each day, Zephyr gathered the future Three Admirals and a handful of other promising young Marines for training.

Since he got along with Kuzan, Xia Le often sought him out for a spar. Borsalino wasn't spared these casual bouts either.

They really are monsters!

Compared to Kuzan, Borsalino looks harmless, but he enlisted earlier and is even more absurdly strong!

Xia Le had come to a clear conclusion.

Of all the trainees, those two were the strongest, the most monstrous. Their strength, speed, and reflexes were in a league of their own. Everyone else still fell within normal limits.

Without Conqueror's Haki, I don't stand a chance.

His gaze shifted to Sakazuki, standing not far away.

Sakazuki had woken after three days unconscious, but he hadn't tried to provoke Xia Le or cause trouble again.

Xia Le had been looking forward to stunning him with Conqueror's Haki again, but everything had remained quiet.

An extraordinary will and a powerful physique. He really is a monster.

Xia Le felt no pride as he reflected on it.

On the morning of his tenth day at G-5 Fortress, an urgent assembly whistle sounded throughout the base. Xia Le quickly put on his Marine uniform and draped his white Justice Cloak over his shoulders.

"Quick, Xia Le! Emergency assembly!"

"Looks like we're heading out!"

Kuzan leaped down from the upper bunk, already dressed and visibly excited.

"Right!"

Xia Le nodded.

The dorm room housed four people. Their other two roommates were field-grade officers, both in their thirties.

"Hope we end up on the same warship," one of them, a bearded man, said with a smile.

Kuzan waved and hurried out. Xia Le didn't answer.

The base had grown crowded after the sudden influx of troops, so room assignments were temporary. The chances of being assigned to the same ship for the coming operation were slim.

There were plenty of officers at G-5 Fortress now.

When Xia Le hurried into the square, he found it packed with Marines. Every face was stern, every Justice Cloak billowed in the wind. The atmosphere was grave and imposing.

"We'll probably be with Vice Admiral Garp," Kuzan said quietly.

Xia Le nodded. He thought so too, though he couldn't be sure. He hadn't seen Garp in ten days.

The assembly went quickly. Every officer was an elite, and within moments several formations filled the square.

"You're all elite personnel summoned from headquarters. You know why we've gathered here."

"So I won't waste words!"

Sengoku's voice rang out from the platform.

"Next, your assignments."

"You will proceed to the waters of Edd War and closely monitor the movements of Golden Lion Shiki and the Flying Pirates."

"But remember: avoid combat wherever possible."

"Yes, sir!" the assembled Marines shouted.

Names were called one after another. Those summoned stepped out, received their warship assignments, and ran off.

"Kuzan!" Sengoku called.

"Port Six, warship B3."

Kuzan acknowledged the order at once, then turned and left.

Xia Le waited quietly. Only after a while was his name called.

"You're going to Port Eight, warship A5!" Sengoku said.

"Yes, sir!"

Xia Le turned and hurried away.

The warship was easy to find, its number painted prominently on the hull. Once aboard, he saw officers of roughly his own rank.

There was also an exceptionally large man wearing a guileless smile.

"Xia Le! I didn't expect us to be on the same ship."

Xia Le was surprised. "Saron?"

"You remember me."

Saron laughed, clearly delighted.

Xia Le smiled too. He looked around, but barely knew anyone else. A heavy silence hung over the ship.

With the mission about to begin, no one felt like talking.

A little later, a tall figure boarded. He looked tired and wore a sword at his waist.

"Rear Admiral Jerry!"

Everyone aboard saluted him.

Rear Admiral Jerry waved them off and lit a cigar.

"At ease."

"Let's get moving. Our assignment is to monitor the Flying Pirates in the northwestern waters of Edd War."

His voice was so weak that Xia Le wondered if the man's kidneys had been drained dry.

Jerry was pale, tall, and thin enough to be blown over by a stiff breeze. He looked like he didn't have long to live.

Area A

Area A13

Area A13

The warships left port in batches, one after another, each bound for a different destination.

Fifteen minutes later, Xia Le's warship set off for the waters of Edd War.

"I asked around. The northwest is pretty empty, so we're one of the safer groups," Saron said eagerly.

"Safer?"

Xia Le paused.

"Yes. Our job is just to locate Golden Lion's crew and watch their movements from a distance. Normally, we won't have to fight."

Saron sounded pleased.

For Marines, especially those called up for operations in the New World, the risk of death was high. Many of Saron's fellow recruits had already lost their lives.

"Is that so?" Xia Le murmured.

He didn't fear death. In fact, repeatedly passing between life and death could help him grow stronger faster.

But this assignment was nothing like what he'd expected.

He had assumed he'd be alongside Kuzan and Garp. Clearly, that wasn't how things had turned out.

Life aboard wasn't particularly strict. Apart from those taking turns on watch, the officers had plenty of freedom. Rear Admiral Jerry was an easygoing superior who rarely interfered.

Most of the time, the tall, gaunt rear admiral sat alone smoking cigars and sighing, as though something weighed heavily on his mind.

Xia Le, meanwhile, got along well with Saron.

The young giant was enormous and looked nothing like a human, but he was kind, warmhearted, and, above all, earnest.

Kuzan had introduced them a few days earlier.

"I saw Kuzan and Sakazuki board Vice Admiral Garp's ship. They must have a special assignment."

"Borsalino seems to have stayed behind at the base."

Saron's news surprised Xia Le.

"An assignment? What kind?"

"I don't know. It's bound to be dangerous, though, unlike our easy job," Saron said with a smile.

Xia Le nodded and gave it no more thought. He returned to his training.

With a superhuman physique, hard work, and a little talent, the Six Powers were fairly quick to learn.

On the third day of the voyage to Edd War, he mastered Finger Pistol.

On the fifth day, the warship reached its assigned position and began patrolling. Rear Admiral Jerry reported in and received orders to hold position.

That afternoon, another line appeared on Xia Le's panel.

"Geppo LV1+."

That meant he had mastered all six of the Six Powers except Kami-e and could use them. But developing real proficiency would take considerable time and effort.

As far as he knew, the Six Powers were easy to pick up, but mastering them and creating techniques of one's own was much harder.

Even those three monsters hadn't managed it.

The sea remained calm. Rear Admiral Jerry occasionally raised his binoculars to scan the horizon, but saw nothing.

They couldn't spot so much as a trace of the Flying Pirates. The crew was disappointed, but also relieved.

"Looks like this will be an easy job," Jerry remarked.

Xia Le kept training in silence. Exercise equipment was standard aboard ship, and he followed Bogard's and Zephyr's instructions as he swung a dumbbell, stirring up gust after gust of wind.

"Monsters are rare enough!"

"A monster who works this hard is even rarer. You have to admire him."

"Haha, Simboo, you're a middle-aged man of forty. You've hit your limit, so of course you don't need to work that hard. Xia Le's still young."

"He might even become an Admiral someday!"