Ch. 161This Child Was Someone He Knew

Vic and Rebecca cleaned up a rescued girl, and Vic recognized her as Ain, a future disciple of Teacher Zephyr. After learning Ain had eaten a Devil Fruit, Vic began testing her newly awakened power.

  • Vic discovered the child was a girl, exchanged the clothes he had bought, and Rebecca bathed her at a women's bathhouse.
  • The girl asked Vic to carry her, revealed she could speak, and gave her name as Ain.
  • Vic recognized Ain from his memories and asked about the strange fruit she had eaten.
  • Ain described eating a foul-tasting fruit and sensing a new power, so Vic warned her that she could no longer play in the sea.
  • Vic cut a branch from a thick tree and asked Ain to use her power on it so he could see what her Devil Fruit ability was.

Ch. 162Ain's Fruit Ability

Vic helped Ain awaken her Devil Fruit ability and identified it as the Return-Return Fruit, which could turn things back in time. After Ain revealed she was afraid to sleep alone, Vic took her to his room, where Barnett was waiting.

  • Vic asked Ain to use her new power on a tree, and she reverted it by one year.
  • Vic explained the tree’s growth rings to Rebecca and guessed that Ain’s fruit was the Return-Return Fruit.
  • Vic and Rebecca returned to the inn after Bastille had taken the trafficking victims away for investigation.
  • Ain clung to Vic and cried that she was scared and wanted to sleep with him, so Vic agreed to let her stay in his room for now.
  • Vic carried Ain to his room, where Barnett asked what he had been doing and noticed the child he brought back.

Ch. 163The Light of Dawn

Vic brought Ain to the trainees’ quarters and asked Barnett to use his Replenish-Replenish Fruit to heal her leg wounds. Ain, still frightened and traumatized, insisted Vic sleep beside her, and the chapter ended at daybreak as Vic prepared to leave with her wrapped in a blanket.

  • Vic told Barnett that Ain had eaten the Return-Return Fruit and asked him to heal the scar on her leg.
  • Vic encouraged Ain to ask Barnett for help, and Barnett used his power to reduce her wounds and ease her pain.
  • Ain asked Vic to sleep beside her because she was scared, so Vic lay down with her until she fell asleep.
  • At daybreak, Barnett, Rebecca, and Wendy watched Vic and Ain sleeping together, and Vic eventually opened his eyes.
  • Vic picked Ain up, wrapped her in a blanket, and got dressed to leave with the trainees.

Ch. 164There's a mole

Vic and the Elite Camp returned to their warship after Vic warned Bastille that a mole had been helping human traffickers operate for years. The ship set sail, and Vic settled in with Ain as the group prepared to eat breakfast.

  • Vic carried Ain from the inn while Rebecca gathered the child's clothes, and Zephyr led the Elite Camp toward the coast.
  • Bastille apologized to Zephyr for failing to keep order, and Zephyr told him to report the matter to headquarters.
  • Vic privately warned Bastille that a mole at his base had been tipping off human traffickers for over a decade, prompting Bastille to plan a secret investigation.
  • Zephyr ordered the warship to depart, and Vic boarded last with Ain before taking her to the dining hall.
  • Vic asked Rebecca to fetch breakfast, then woke Ain when she and Wendy returned with the food.

Ch. 165Standing on the Shoulders of Giants

Vic took Ain under his protection and planned to educate and train her so she could grow up able to defend herself. After Ain woke from a nap, she watched the Elite Camp trainees practice and was amazed by Rebecca’s ability to move through the air.

  • Vic coaxed Ain into agreeing to wash up before meals and asked Rebecca to look after her.
  • Vic told Zephyr he would keep Ain aboard the warship, send her to school, and train her when she was older; Zephyr agreed she could later join the Elite Camp.
  • Vic and Zephyr discussed the value of guidance and the Marine officers Zephyr had trained.
  • Zephyr began the day’s lessons while Vic trained in his own corner of the ship.
  • Ain woke three hours later and watched the trainees practice, marveling when Rebecca stepped through the air.

Ch. 166Orens Ain

Vic guided Ain in developing her Return-Return Fruit while Rebecca grew jealous of their closeness. At lunch, Ain declared herself Orens Ain and looked to Vic for approval as his daughter.

  • Vic changed his training routine and let Ain sit with him while he taught her to imagine new uses for her Devil Fruit ability.
  • Rebecca stopped practicing Geppo and called Vic to catch a Sea King for lunch after spotting Ain in his arms.
  • Vic dove into the sea and returned with Sea King meat, which Ain tasted for the first time and loved.
  • Zephyr asked Ain about her family name, and she took Vic’s surname, calling herself Orens Ain and asking him to accept her as his daughter.

Ch. 167Does Vic Have No Conqueror's Haki?

Vic and Ain trained their Devil Fruit abilities while Vic considered how to develop his Haki and combat skills. Over the next three days, the Elite Camp fought pirates, and Ain grew accustomed to the battles while Rebecca proved herself in close combat.

  • Wendy teased Vic about having a daughter, and Vic said he would be Ain’s guardian and big brother rather than her father.
  • Vic and Ain trained their Devil Fruit abilities, while Vic planned to improve his speed, physique, and Haki without restricting Ain’s development.
  • Vic trained his Armament Haki on the deck and considered combining it with Mind Power and swordsmanship.
  • After the warship encountered pirates, Zephyr had the trainees fight them at close quarters, and Vic watched with Ain rather than joining in.
  • Ain overcame her fear of the bloody battles and watched each fight beside Vic, holding his hand.
  • Rebecca led the trainees’ attacks with Geppo and defeated enemy captains, while Zephyr praised the camp’s growing combat readiness.

Ch. 168A New Idea for Applying Observation Haki

After learning that a mole with Observation Haki had overheard his conversation with Bastille, Vic became more cautious about revealing his secrets. He encouraged Ain to judge people for herself and grow stronger, then began exploring new ways to use Observation Haki, including transmitting thoughts and creating illusions.

  • Zephyr told Vic that a mole at the base had escaped after overhearing Vic's whispered instructions to Bastille, and that the mole now had a bounty.
  • Vic reflected on how Observation Haki and lip-reading could expose secrets, and resolved to be more careful as his strength attracted attention.
  • Ain asked Vic why people fought and whether all pirates were bad, and Vic urged her to judge right from wrong instead of blindly accepting others' views.
  • Ain said she wanted to follow Vic and considered using her Fruit ability to grow up early, but Vic warned her not to force her body to develop.
  • Vic considered developing Observation Haki techniques for private thought transmission, long-distance communication, and implanting illusions.

Ch. 169Barnett Encounters a Night Parade of a Hundred Demons

Vic developed a new Observation Haki technique that let him send sounds directly into another person’s mind, and he tested it by tormenting Barnett with ghostly noises all night. After Barnett complained to Wendy, Vic revealed the trick to him and demonstrated the technique to the others.

  • Vic reversed his sound-receiving method to develop a way to transmit sounds through Observation Haki to a chosen person’s mind.
  • Vic sent Barnett a variety of voices and animal cries through the night, leaving him convinced he had encountered ghosts.
  • Wendy found Barnett exhausted in the dining hall, and he clung to her while describing his supposed night parade of demons.
  • Vic told Barnett that ghosts had targeted him because he spent too much time with women, and Barnett believed him and rushed to Vic for help.
  • Vic admitted that he had created the sounds and explained that his new Observation Haki application sent sound into a person’s mind.
  • Vic demonstrated several simulated sounds to Barnett, Wendy, and Rebecca, who were surprised by his achievement.

Ch. 170The Marine Who Caught Bullets Barehanded

Vic practiced transmitting sounds to multiple people while the trainees continued their training, then Zephyr ordered the warship to pursue a pirate ship. As the pirates opened fire, Vic intercepted their cannonballs and caught their bullets barehanded, leaving the pirate captain unconvinced by his nearsighted lookout’s report.

  • Vic explained his sound-reproduction technique to Barnett, Wendy, and Rebecca, then agreed to make them Sea King bone broth as compensation.
  • Vic practiced sending different sounds to several people at once while the trainees trained on deck.
  • A messenger reported a pirate ship nearby, and Zephyr ordered the warship to chase it without firing.
  • The pirate captain ordered his crew to attack, but their cannonballs and bullets missed the warship.
  • A squinting lookout claimed Vic had intercepted every cannonball and caught every bullet, but the pirate captain shoved him aside and refused to believe him.

Ch. 171Observation Haki That Could See the Future

Vic discovered that a blind man on a pirate ship could see the future with Observation Haki, despite never taking part in piracy or violence. He brought the man back to Zephyr, hoping to save and recruit him.

  • The blind man pulled the pirate captain out of the path of Vic’s throwing knives, and Vic realized he might possess Future Sight Observation Haki.
  • Vic flew Ain to the pirate ship, intimidated the pirates with a sword slash, and asked about the blind man.
  • The captain confirmed that the blind man only did odd jobs and had never joined raids or battles.
  • Vic grabbed the blind man and flew back to the warship, then told Zephyr that the man had Future Sight and no blood on his hands.

Ch. 172An Invitation to Future Sight

Vic brought Frodeku Fuyujo aboard the Marine warship and persuaded him to join the Marines and become his companion. Frodeku agreed to follow Vic, who explained that the blind man had powerful Observation Haki and could glimpse the future.

  • Zephyr agreed to recruit Frodeku and let him join the Elite Camp's special training before graduating with Vic's group.
  • Vic questioned Frodeku and learned that he had been a merchant's errand boy forced to stay with pirates, and wanted to return home to honor his mother.
  • Vic promised to help Frodeku visit home and persuaded him to follow him as a Marine.
  • Vic introduced himself as Orens Vic and had Barnett take Frodeku to wash and change into a Marine recruit's uniform.
  • Vic told Rebecca and Wendy that Frodeku's Observation Haki could see the future, though he struggled to control it.

Ch. 173Practical Application of Secret Sound Transmission

Vic’s group captured a pirate crew, and Frodeku joined the Elite Camp after Vic gave him a new look and a fresh start. Zephyr explained that Frodeku’s visions were an uncontrolled form of Observation Haki, and Frodeku prepared to train and master it.

  • Vic used Observation Haki to send false warnings into the pirates’ minds, throwing them into confusion as the trainees captured the crew.
  • Barnett helped Frodeku shave, cut his hair, and change into a Marine uniform, while Vic welcomed him into a new life.
  • Vic reassured the jealous Ain, then caught a Sea King and introduced Frodeku to Zephyr and the others over dinner.
  • Frodeku told Zephyr he would begin training the next day and work hard to catch up with Vic.
  • Zephyr explained that Frodeku’s visions came from Observation Haki, and Vic offered to help him learn to control it.

Ch. 174Envisioning Future Sight

Vic explained that Frodeku’s future-seeing Observation Haki could not make up for his physical weakness, and arranged for him to train and improve his strength. After considering how to develop Future Sight himself, Vic kept to his usual training routine, while Frodeku began to see how relentlessly his captain trained.

  • Vic told Frodeku to build his physical abilities alongside his future-seeing Observation Haki and advised him to eat more Sea King meat.
  • Zephyr began training Frodeku’s physique and Observation Haki, and Vic arranged for Frodeku to stay in Barnett’s room.
  • Vic considered how Future Sight and other advanced Observation Haki applications might be developed, but concluded that he would need gradual training or a dangerous fight to make a breakthrough.
  • Vic continued training Armament Haki by using it to nurture his two swords.
  • Frodeku rose early the next day and found Vic meditating on deck, impressed by how hard his captain worked.

Ch. 175Akainu Gets Beaten Up

Vic learned that Garp had beaten Sakazuki for injuring him, but he still planned to confront Sakazuki himself once he was strong enough. The warship reached a small island, and the group spotted a pirate ship at its dock as they prepared to go ashore.

  • Frodeku told Vic that he was enjoying life as a Marine, and Vic encouraged him to train hard.
  • Zephyr relayed that Garp had beaten Sakazuki at the G-1 Branch to avenge Vic, while Sengoku urged Vic not to seek further revenge.
  • Vic thanked Garp in his thoughts and decided to help him find a companion someday.
  • As the warship approached an island, Vic warned the others that pirates might be active there and discussed going ashore with them.
  • Wendy spotted a pirate ship moored at the island's dock.

Ch. 176The Officers of the Rocks Pirates

Marine Vic confronted Dark Mantis, a former Rocks Pirates member who had lived in seclusion for nineteen years, after Zephyr recognized him on a small island. The chapter ended with Vic challenging Mantis to fight while Mantis’s followers worried about the outcome.

  • Zephyr ordered the warship to prepare for battle after spotting a pirate ship, and the Marines found Dark Mantis holding a dying pirate captain near the pier.
  • Zephyr identified Mantis as a former Rocks Pirates member whose bounty had been seven hundred million and warned Vic that his strength was unknown.
  • Vic sensed no hostility from Mantis but welcomed the chance to test himself against a powerful pirate, and Zephyr told him to be careful.
  • Vic approached Mantis, introduced himself as a Marine, and challenged him, while Mantis’s underlings discussed Vic’s swords and feared their boss might lose.

Ch. 177Nether Mantis

Vic and Mantis moved their fight to a grove, where Mantis revealed his Ancient Zoan Nether Mantis form and its immense blades. Mantis knocked Vic back in their opening clash, but Vic returned unharmed and realized his speed alone would not be enough.

  • Mantis led Vic to a grove in the island's center to keep their battle away from the sea.
  • Vic drew Blood Wither and Allen, while Mantis transformed into a giant Nether Mantis.
  • Zephyr explained Mantis's Ancient Zoan abilities as Rebecca and the others watched anxiously.
  • Vic used Soru to attack, but Mantis tracked him and knocked him more than a hundred meters away with a powerful strike.
  • Vic returned with Geppo, uninjured, and recognized that Mantis could follow his top speed.

Ch. 178Unrivaled in Attack and Defense

Vic fought Mantis, whose armored body resisted even Haki-coated swords, and used their duel to sharpen his swordsmanship. The fight continued in the air as Vic improved, but he had not yet broken through Mantis’s defense.

  • Vic’s Sword Gang slashes failed to mark Mantis, so he switched to close combat with Haki-coated swords.
  • Vic forced Mantis backward while conserving stamina and using him as a whetstone to improve his swordsmanship.
  • Mantis spread his wings and took the fight into the air, where the two clashed at high speed.
  • Vic flipped over Mantis and kicked him into a crater, but Mantis emerged unharmed.
  • Vic’s changing sword strokes began landing more often, and Mantis realized Vic was breaking through during their fight.

Ch. 179The Chill from the Underworld

Vic wounded Mantis by steadily breaking through his armor, prompting Mantis to reveal his Human-Beast Form and attack with a chill that threatened Vic’s soul. Vic remained locked against him as his body began to frost over, leaving his ability to endure the Underworld aura uncertain.

  • Vic’s sword strikes pierced Mantis’s armor and opened several increasingly deep wounds.
  • Mantis knocked Vic back, healed his injuries, and transformed into his Human-Beast Form.
  • Mantis unleashed a powerful blow that Vic blocked, driving his feet into the ground and forming a crater.
  • Mantis’s Underworld chill spread through their crossed blades and began freezing Vic’s soul and slowing his body.
  • Zephyr explained the danger to Rebecca and stood ready to intervene, while Barnett and Ain trusted Vic to endure.
  • Frost formed on Vic’s hair, eyebrows, and eyelashes as he recalled enduring harsh training beneath the sea.

Ch. 180An All-Out Battle Between the Strong

Vic endured Mantis’s Underworld chill and then fought him with Ryuo-coated swords, gradually gaining the upper hand. As Mantis’s crew feared their boss would be captured, Vic continued pressing the attack, leaving Mantis’s defeat only a matter of time.

  • Vic resisted Mantis’s escalating Underworld chill for half an hour, strengthening his willpower before Mantis kicked him away.
  • Vic recovered from the chill, stopped holding back, and covered himself and his swords in Armament Haki and Ryuo.
  • Mantis charged at Vic, and the two fought fiercely as their clashes tore up the surrounding battlefield.
  • Vic learned Mantis’s repeated moves and used his sword combinations and Ryuo to injure him, gaining control of the fight.
  • Mantis’s crew realized their boss was likely to lose and discussed risking their lives to protect him from capture.
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Page 9 of 61