Xiano couldn't help but burst into laughter upon hearing this, his mocking and disdainful voice echoing across the sea.
"Become a Celestial Dragon?"
He spread his hands wide, "I thought you'd offer something impressive, but this is it? Turning into one of those bubble-helmeted pigs? Why would you think something like this could tempt me?"
Saint Shamrock's brows furrowed slightly, displeasure evident on his face.
The two black-robed figures behind him visibly stiffened, clearly not expecting Xiano to refuse so bluntly—even to the point of outright insult.
Such audacity!
"Mortal, do you realize what you're saying?"
Gunko stepped forward, her voice icy as she slightly raised a hand beneath her robes, "Daring to reject an invitation from the God Knights is tantamount to challenging divine authority!"
Hum!
Several arrow-like bandages coiled around her arm, merging within a second into a massive arrow that shot straight toward Xiano's chest.
Hmm?
Xiano keenly sensed something unusual about this arrow.
It seemed to contain some kind of Rule Power—a bizarre and tyrannical Devil Fruit Ability.
Unavoidable!
But...
He never intended to dodge in the first place!
A crimson glint flashed in Xiano's eyes as overwhelming black-red Haki erupted from his body. Thick bolts of lightning tore through the night sky like frenzied dragons, colliding violently with the arrow.
Crack!
The arrow was instantly swallowed by the torrent of Conqueror's Haki, shattering into pieces. The remaining lightning surged along the arrow's path toward its source—Gunko's arm...
Swish!
Saint Shamrock drew his sword with a low shout, intercepting the attack.
Yet the impact numbed his palm slightly, sending a ripple of surprise through him.
"You're too reckless, Gunko."
Saint Shamrock said sternly, "Someone who can fight evenly with Admiral Sakazuki isn't an opponent you can handle yet."
Gunko pouted, clearly unconvinced.
Ignoring her, Saint Shamrock turned his gaze back to Xiano and spoke calmly:
"Remarkably powerful Conqueror's Haki—almost comparable to that of... Never mind. In any case, a warrior of your potential has the qualifications to become the sharpest blade under my command. It would be a waste for you to remain adrift at sea. I'll ask once more: are you truly unwilling to join the God Knights?"
"No interest! Fight if you want, spare me the talk!"
Xiano clenched his right fist, Conqueror's Haki Infusion swirling around it as he bared his teeth in a fierce grin, "Let me see for myself how much these so-called 'gods' are really worth!"
Saint Shamrock fell silent for a moment before suddenly chuckling.
"Fair enough."
He mused, "You mortals who wield extraordinary strength always delude yourselves into thinking you can stand above the gods. You're neither the first nor the last..."
"Clearly, you won't submit willingly unless beaten into submission. In that case—hmm?"
Just as Saint Shamrock tightened his grip on his sword, his expression shifted abruptly. He turned sharply to gaze into the distance.
Noticing this, Xiano followed his line of sight toward the horizon.
Before their eyes loomed an extraordinarily massive pirate ship.
The Sunset could already be considered a medium-to-large vessel, but compared to this ship, it looked like nothing more than a tiny dinghy.
Vibrant pink sails, an extravagant cake-like design, a Jolly Roger with lipstick, and a figurehead that giggled and hummed songs at the bow...
"The Queen Mama Chanter."
Gunko clicked her tongue. "BIGMOM's flagship. What a pain."
Xiano naturally recognized this infamous pirate ship and couldn't help but grin wryly.
First, Akainu ambushed them, then the God Knights descended, and now one of the Four Emperors had come barging in...
Well, things were certainly lively!
But upon reflection, it made sense.
Among the four Sea Emperors, BIGMOM's territory was the closest to the entrance of the New World.
Moreover, the Charlotte family was vast, well-organized, and deeply connected to the underworld, giving them excellent intelligence-gathering capabilities.
Given that he and Akainu had been fighting here for nearly a full day, causing such a commotion, it would've been stranger if BIGMOM hadn't noticed.
"Let's go for now."
Rayleigh said calmly, "I have no interest in dealing with a Sea Emperor under these circumstances." He then glanced at Xiano.
"Joining the God Knights has no downsides—only benefits. Think it over. We'll meet again. Hopefully, your perspective will have shifted by then."
Xiano raised an eyebrow but didn't get a chance to respond.
CRACK!
Another massive black bolt of lightning struck down from the sky, briefly spreading that unsettling, twisted aura before vanishing just as quickly.
The sea returned to calm.
The three black-robed figures had disappeared without a trace.
"Creepy bastards."
Xiano snorted.
He felt no fear toward this God Knight vice-captain who looked identical to Red Hair, nor did he believe the man was stronger than Akainu.
But that eerie ability to teleport in and out at will was undeniably troublesome.
A power granted by Imu?
Xiano narrowed his eyes.
For now, it wasn't a major issue.
With only one ship to his name, he could always detect their approach in advance.
But in the future?
Once he established his own territory, there would inevitably be times when he wasn't present—leaving him vulnerable to infiltration.
Seemed like he'd have to keep an eye out for items in the shop that could counter such abilities.
As for the current situation...
The Marines were no longer a problem. Whether this newly arrived behemoth spelled fresh trouble or something else entirely would only become clear after a face-to-face meeting.
Xiano signaled his crew on the Sunset to stand by for now, then activated Moon Walk, darting alone toward the Queen Mama Chanter.
...
...
Holy Land, Mary Geoise.
The atmosphere in the World Government's top-floor office was somewhat tense.
The Five Elders stood or sat as they exchanged intelligence reports freshly delivered by CP-0, their expressions varying.
"Fought Sakazuki to a standstill for an entire night?"
"Such terrifying growth."
"His threat level requires reassessment."
Saturn, wearing a flat cap, narrowed his eyes and spoke: "Additionally, it seems the son of Figarland from the God Knights has taken an interest in that brat and went out of his way to recruit him."
"Recruit?"
Nasujuro, clad in a kimono, looked slightly surprised. "If we could turn him into a God Knight as well, that would be ideal... What was the result?"
"Not successful for now."
Saturn shook his head. "That brat outright refused. Then Charlotte Linlin's flagship arrived, so Shamrock returned directly to the Holy Land. But from the looks of it, he hasn't given up yet."
"Let him keep trying then. After all, matters concerning the God Knights are beyond our authority to interfere with too much."
Nasujuro adjusted his glasses. "As for this battle... Although Sakazuki didn't lose ground, from the overall situation, the Navy still ended up with a major loss of face."
"Suppress the coverage. Send someone to warn Morgans—make sure he understands. The fact that Xiano fought Akainu can be mentioned, but no details are to be revealed, especially about the God Knights' involvement."
Saint Shepherd Ju Peter spoke calmly. "Also, everyone, regarding Imu-sama... I believe it's time we reported to him."
"Agreed."
"Agreed."
...
Deep within Pangaea Castle.
In a place called the "Room of Flowers."
At the highest point, the majestic Empty Throne towered imposingly.
Yet the tall figure shrouded in shadows was lazily strolling along a flower-lined path, bending down to pluck a blossom and bringing it to their nose for a delicate sniff.
Not far away.
Five elders, who usually stood at the pinnacle of the world's power, were now prostrated on the ground, not daring to make a sound.
"Have you finished?"
Imu tilted their head slightly, their voice neutral and unidentifiable in gender.
"Yes, our lord."
The central Elder dared not raise his head, replying respectfully. "This is everything regarding that Xiano that requires your attention. In just over half a year, he has progressed to such a level that he can now hold his own against a Navy Admiral. It is deeply concerning. If we allow him to continue growing like this, I fear—"
"Is he of the D Clan's bloodline?" Imu interrupted, plucking a photo from the hands of the Elder and examining it leisurely.
"We have thoroughly investigated. There is no connection."
"What of his Devil Fruit ability?"
Imu's rippling eyes glanced at the young man's face in the photo.
"He is not a Devil Fruit Ability User. His strength comes purely from his formidable physique."
"Then why worry? At least, I do not."
Imu let out an enigmatic chuckle. Slowly walking toward the Empty Throne, their robe trailing over scattered petals, their voice flowed like an icy spring:
"An eighteen-year-old capable of rivaling the strongest on the seas is rare, but there have been many such examples in the past. He is not special, is he?"
"As long as that wall, that barrier remains, no matter how fast such individuals grow, there will always be a limit. And that level... changes nothing."
Seemingly bored, Imu waved a hand:
"Enough. Go. Handle such trivial matters yourselves. I have little interest. Though... the balance in the New World has remained stable for quite some time now, hasn't it?"
"Then let the little guy go in and stir things up. If it brings some excitement, that wouldn't be bad..."
...
Over the next two days.
A rather eye-catching piece of news began spreading from the New World to the four seas.
—Xiano, the super rookie who had stirred up storms and drawn countless eyes in the first half of the Grand Line, had officially led his crew into the New World!
Not only that, but he had also fought against Marine Admiral Akainu, battling for over ten hours with no clear victor.
Despite the intrigue surrounding such a clash, the specifics were not disclosed. The report didn't even make the front page, merely appearing as a side note on the third page.
As a result, many pirates who only skimmed the headlines missed the news entirely, significantly slowing the spread of the story.
However, one detail was hard to ignore.
The bounty of Xiano, the "World's Greatest Swordsman," had been updated just ten days after its last revision.
His new bounty was set at 2.13 billion Berries!
While the increase might seem modest, it had crossed the 2-billion threshold—a symbolic leap that spoke volumes.
After all.
Below the Four Emperors, pirates with bounties in the range of over a billion were not uncommon. And if you included the old-timers who had retired, the number grew even larger.
But pirates with bounties exceeding 2 billion? Even counting relics from Roger's era, they were few and far between.
Thus.
The bounty adjustment was undoubtedly a declaration from Marine Headquarters—Xiano's significance had reached an entirely new level!
And so...
Even though the World Government had deliberately suppressed the news, and even though the spread of this story was slower than usual...
With the help of those eager to stir the pot, the name of Xiano, the "World's Greatest Swordsman," gradually echoed across the seas, becoming a hot topic in every street, tavern, and dock!
His momentum was so overwhelming that, for a time, it even rivaled that of the Four Emperors!
...
"Is the tide of a new era finally upon us?"
Someone stood atop a cliff, gazing at the stormy sea, and sighed:
"A rookie who can fight a Marine Admiral to a standstill right after entering the New World? Even looking back through history, that's rare."
"Hey, the last guy with that kind of reputation was Red-Haired Shanks, wasn't it?"
"Now there's Xiano. Does this mean the Four Emperors' stable rule in the New World, unchallenged for years, will soon become a Five Emperors' era?"
Others paid little attention to Xiano's bounty but were deeply bothered by his title.
"What nonsense is this? Another 'World's Greatest Swordsman'? Shouldn't that be Hawkeye Mihawk?"
"Tch, that guy's held the title for half a month now. It's a nickname officially recognized by Marine Headquarters. As for Mihawk... Hah, he's probably seething."
"True. I'd be pissed too. Honestly, when are these two gonna fight? I can't wait..."
Of course.
Some had missed the earlier newspapers and knew almost nothing about Xiano. It was only through the buzz in the streets that they slowly learned of this young powerhouse's past glories.
For instance, the North Blue...
A small island somewhere.
Amidst the swirling snow, a submarine slowly surfaced and docked by the shore.
"Hey, Law! Time to go, what are you still doing there?" A white bear cupped his paws around his mouth and shouted at the figure standing on the shore.
The boy in the spotted fur hat didn't respond, still staring blankly at the sky, lost in thought.
It wasn't until his crewmates approached that he snapped out of it. Rolling up the newspaper and tucking it under his arm, he lifted his head, his face breaking into a bright smile—one they hadn't seen in a long time.
"Hey, Bepo, Shachi, Penguin," Law grinned. "Let's leave the North Blue. Time to officially set sail for the Grand Line. What do you say?"
"Eh? Eh?! What's gotten into you?"
Bepo jumped in surprise. "Just the other day, you said we still needed more training before we could take on that guy. Why the sudden change of heart? And why are you smiling so creepily? Could it be… you've got a fever?"
He stretched out a furry paw and placed it on Law's forehead, then used his other paw to feel his own…
"Your body temperature isn't the same as a human's, you idiot! What's the point of that?!" The others broke into exasperated shouts, veins popping on their foreheads.
"Sorry…" Bepo immediately lowered his head, apologizing pitifully.
"No fever, don't worry."
Law chuckled and patted his shoulder, then looked up at the intensifying snowfall, his gaze softening with a hint of nostalgia. "I just… There's someone I really want to meet, that's all…"
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