The moment Sharlo devoured the several plates of roasted meat, his stomach expanded but quickly digested the food. Steam rose from his body, making Ivan, who was reporting to him, gape in astonishment and lower his voice instinctively.
Sharlo wasn't listening to Ivan's report. He didn't care about the Wolf Gang, keeping it only for his convenience. After several trips by the maids, Sharlo finally felt full and energized.
He leaped from his chair, soaring ten meters high and swiftly punching a massive tree that required six people to embrace.
Bang!
With one punch, the hundred-meter-tall tree split in half.
"Ah!"
The maids screamed as the falling tree was about to crush them. Sharlo quickly jumped up and kicked the tree aside, sending it flying several meters away.
Bang!
Dust rose from a distance.
Sharlo pondered his strength and explosive power, wondering where he stood in the hierarchy of the pirate world. Although the One Piece series didn't clearly define power levels, online forums from his previous life had attempted to categorize them:
1. Fodder (some strength)
2. Captain (can use some techniques)
3. Commodore (proficient in at least two Rokushiki techniques)
4. Rear Admiral (proficient in at least four Rokushiki techniques and one type of Haki)
5. Vice Admiral (proficient in both types of Haki and can cover their entire body)
6. Vice Admiral = Shichibukai < Emperor's Deputy
7. Admiral
8. Emperor
While this classification was somewhat useful, it had many inconsistencies. For instance, Vice Admiral Garp was a monster, and Shichibukai ranged from weaklings like Moria to powerhouses like Mihawk, who could duel with Emperors.
**So, this ranking is only a guideline.**
Three years passed. Sharlo was no longer in the mountains and had turned seventeen. Having reached his physical limits due to his age, he continued to pursue strength by moving to the coast. After learning to swim, he practiced swordsmanship in the sea daily, inspired by various novels where protagonists trained underwater.
Sharlo didn't know much about swordsmanship but remembered Zoro's training in One Piece. Although Zoro's methods were somewhat mystical, Sharlo focused on the concept of "cutting through anything." He practiced swinging his sword in the sea, repeating the same actions daily to achieve this goal.
"Ha!"
Sharlo climbed ashore, his body aching from the exertion. He found it hard to calm down after training, feeling frustrated. After four years of intense training since his reincarnation, his physique had peaked for his age, and his growth had slowed, much to his dismay.
**Since physical training had slowed, he turned to swordsmanship.**
After a year of training, he estimated his strength to be on par with Zoro's when he first set sail. Yet, he couldn't achieve the "cut through anything" feeling. A slash on a stone only left a shallow mark, failing to produce the unstoppable momentum he sought.
"Boss! Here are your swords!" Ivan called, handing Sharlo a towel and a basket of swords.
Sharlo had Ivan order new swords frequently, as his intense training often broke them. Ivan also reported the town's news and provided newspapers.
"Any news lately?" Sharlo asked casually while glancing at the newspaper.
His eyes widened at the headline: the Rocks Pirates had destroyed a kingdom. Recognizing the names and bounties, Sharlo's pulse quickened:
- Rocks D. Xebec: 1.38 billion berries, captain, extremely dangerous, dead or alive.
- Edward Newgate (Whitebeard), first division captain, Gura Gura no Mi user, 840 million berries, extremely dangerous, dead or alive.
- Shiki the Golden Lion, second division captain, Fuwa Fuwa no Mi user, 790 million berries, extremely dangerous, dead or alive.
- Charlotte Linlin, third division captain, Soru Soru no Mi user, 570 million berries, extremely dangerous, dead or alive.
- John, fourth division captain, 360 million berries, extremely dangerous, dead or alive.
- Wang Zhi, fifth division captain, 350 million berries, extremely dangerous, dead or alive.
- Silver Axe, sixth division captain, 330 million berries, extremely dangerous, dead or alive.
- Kurozumi Higurashi, seventh division captain, Mane Mane no Mi user, 120 million berries, extremely dangerous, dead or alive. Vice captain, Kurozumi Semimaru, Bari Bari no Mi user, 110 million berries, extremely dangerous, dead or alive.
- Trainee Kaido, 30 million berries, only to be captured alive.
These were all familiar names to Sharlo.
"Boss, in recent years, the number of pirates has surged, all because of the Rocks Pirates. They're rampaging through the second half of the Grand Line, attacking World Government member nations and naval bases. Using Hive Island as a base, they raid everywhere. The navy seems powerless against them, and our island might be next," Ivan reported worriedly.
He wasn't wrong; their island was in the middle of the second half of the Grand Line, near the G-8 naval base. But that didn't guarantee safety.
"Don't worry. The nearby naval base will deter any pirates from causing trouble here. You're dismissed," Sharlo waved off Ivan's concerns.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Sudden explosions erupted.
"What's happening?" Sharlo looked towards the source of the noise, seeing smoke rising from the distant port.
**Something's wrong.**
Both men had the same thought.
"Let's go!" Sharlo sprinted towards the port, activating his Haki to scan the area. Instantly, his surroundings formed a three-dimensional image in his mind.
"It's pirates!" Sharlo saw three pirate ships docked at the port.
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(50 Advance chapters)
Check out my Patreon for more advanced chapters at patreon.com/Anime_kingdom
(50 Advance chapters)