Chapter 3

"Get your ass down! Whee-hahaha!"

No sooner had Burgess spoken than he shot toward Chris like an arrow loosed from a bow.

His fist, as big as a sandbag, was already clenched, and his face was wild with excitement.

Chris folded his arms across his chest. He glanced at Burgess, then turned to Doc Q.

"I'm going to show you two a power only the strong possess," he said calmly.

"It's called Haki!"

He had barely finished speaking when Burgess's massive fist came straight at his face.

"Quit lecturing us and hit the ground!"

"You're going to strike from my left," Chris said.

As he spoke, he tilted his head slightly to the right.

"What?!"

Burgess cried out, shock written all over his face.

His punch had missed.

How was that possible?

How had this guy dodged it?

Questions raced through his mind.

He wasn't the only one stunned. Doc Q looked just as shocked.

Doc Q knew exactly how strong Burgess was.

Yet this was the result.

It was unbelievable!

Chris ignored their astonishment and said evenly,

"The power to sense another person's presence more keenly—that's Observation Haki."

Burgess refused to accept it. He roared,

"No way I can't hit you!"

His fists rained down on Chris.

The blows were blindingly fast and ferocious. One hit would surely spell disaster.

"As you improve this power, you can sense the position and number of enemies outside your sight, even what they're about to do next."

Chris kept his arms folded, lowering his head or shifting his body whenever he needed to.

He moved with effortless ease, as though this were child's play.

"As far as I know, some places call it Mantra. Different name, same meaning."

Everyone watching was stunned by the sight.

They stared, dumbfounded.

"What's going on? That's terrifying!"

"Does the captain have a third eye? How else could he do that?"

"What third eye? Didn't you hear Captain Chris? It's called Haki. Uh... what kind of Haki was it?"

"Observation Haki. That's what Boss Chris called it."

"You're incredible, Captain! I'm in awe of you..."

Baccarat stood quietly to one side, her beautiful eyes shining. She had eyes only for that commanding figure.

Her instincts had been right after all.

Chris was the one she had been waiting for.

Doc Q could no longer stay lying down. He sat up, his weathered face full of shock.

"Observation Haki..."

He searched his memory, but he had never heard the term. He had no idea such a power existed.

Then Burgess let out a roar.

"Why is this happening?"

He had stopped attacking.

He couldn't hit the young man in front of him. What was the point of throwing another punch?

He was frustrated.

Furious beyond belief.

He wanted to understand what was going on.

"That was Observation Haki. Now for another kind."

Chris raised his right hand. In an instant, it turned jet-black and gleamed...

"This is Armament Haki."

"It's like wearing invisible armor. It's tough, and ordinary strength can't break through it."

Chris smiled faintly. "Your fists are strong, and you hit hard, but that's only on the surface."

"Enough!"

Burgess threw a furious punch and snarled,

"Try not dodging. I'll beat you to death!"

"As you wish."

Facing Burgess's sandbag-sized fist, Chris simply threw a light punch.

Their fists collided.

Bang!

A scream followed the explosive impact.

"Aaah!"

Burgess was sent flying. He hit the deck and rolled backward.

Silence.

Everything around them fell quiet.

Every pair of eyes fixed on Chris.

Worship. Admiration...

They looked at him like a god.

"Follow me, and one day you'll master this power."

Chris folded his arms across his chest, his expression cool and proud. "Enough talk. If you want to get stronger, come along."

With that, he led Baccarat toward the large ship.

"Whee-hahaha!"

Burgess got to his feet and laughed, ignoring the pain in his hand.

"No way I'm missing out on a power like that."

He glanced at Doc Q and said quickly, "Whether you follow is up to you!"

Without waiting for Doc Q, he hurried after Chris, his face brimming with excitement.

He lived for fighting and admired the strong above all else.

Chris had beaten him. That only made Burgess respect him and willingly follow his lead.

He had no objections.

"Cough, cough... wait for me..."

Doc Q patted Strong. The sickly horse plodded forward, carrying him one heavy step at a time.

Horse and rider alike looked like candles in the wind, ready to go out at any moment.

It was a strange sight!

Before long, everyone was aboard.

"Ship's Rules: The Strong Reign Supreme!"

As soon as Burgess boarded, he spotted the words carved into the mast.

"Captain, what does that rule mean?"

Chris slipped his hands into his pockets. "There's only one rule on this ship."

"Strength decides everything!"

Chris looked at the two of them, his manner casual. "If either of you can beat me, you're the boss of this ship."

"So if you want to be captain, train hard. I'll be waiting for your challenge."

He had thought it all through before setting sail.

That was why he had carved those words into the mast himself yesterday.

They were there to drive everyone aboard forward.

To keep their fighting spirit alive.

The weak were bound to be left behind.

"Captain, now you're speaking my language! Whee-hahaha!"

Burgess was delighted. This was the kind of Pirate Crew he had always wanted.

He was a pirate. If he had to follow a mountain of rules, what was the point?

He might as well go home and farm.

Strength was what mattered.

That was the best rule of all!

"A captain like that... I like him..."

Doc Q smiled, though it looked worse than a grimace.

Chris turned to his crew and bellowed,

"Men, raise the sails! We're off!"

"Yes, Captain Chris!"

As soon as they answered, a pirate flag rose and unfurled.

It bore a white skull over two crossed swords. "Power" was written on the hilt to the left, and "Wealth" on the one to the right.

Chris had designed it himself.

Anyone could see what it meant.

Burgess had no interest in the flag. He looked at Chris and asked with a grin,

"Boss, if there's a Captain Challenge, there's got to be a Division Commander Challenge too, right?"

Chris nodded, his expression unchanged. "Once we have more members, we'll find a place to fight it out and settle the division commander rankings."