For the next two days, Creed didn't go out. He stayed in his room, fully mastering his new ability.
His status list had undergone a massive change.
[Abilities]: S-rank swordsmanship, cheetah's explosive speed, gorilla's strength, entry-level marksmanship…
[Standby Abilities]: crocodile skin, frog mucus…
[Currently Extracting]: None
[Overall Strength]: B-rank
…
Having S-rank swordsmanship was a massive leap in power. His overall strength had jumped from "too weak to be ranked" straight to B-rank.
Creed wasn't too surprised at only being B-rank overall.
After all, among his abilities, only S-rank swordsmanship was truly worth mentioning. The rest were fairly underwhelming.
It made sense—someone's overall power couldn't be judged by one skill alone.
For example, the world's greatest swordsman, Mihawk—while unmatched in swordsmanship and undoubtedly stronger than Shanks in that area, his overall capabilities still couldn't match Shanks's.
…
"C-Creed, something's happened! Luffy's been taken!"
Makino's panicked voice came from outside the door.
"What happened, Makino-neesan?" Creed opened the door.
"L-Luffy's been kidnapped by mountain bandits."
Creed froze. Wasn't Sig already dead? How could Luffy still get taken?
"I'll go check!"
He headed toward the town. Along the way, he saw several mountain bandits lying on the ground groaning in pain.
Finally reaching the shore, Creed stopped. It was just like in the original story—Shanks had lost his arm.
Out at sea, Shanks was holding Luffy. Nearby floated the Sea King, while Shanks's left arm was gone, blood dripping into the waves.
Back on shore…
"It's fine now."
Luffy bit his lip, tears streaming down. "But… but Shanks, your arm…"
Shanks ruffled his hair. "It's just an arm. No big deal."
"Makino, take Luffy to change his clothes."
Makino led Luffy away while the crew's doctor treated Shanks's wound.
Splash—
At that moment, the Sea King, knocked out earlier by Shanks's Haoshoku Haki (Conqueror's Haki), woke up. With a terrified look, it dove into the sea and vanished.
Creed's eyes narrowed. Maybe it was just his imagination, but he could've sworn he saw a purple treasure chest floating above the Sea King's head.
Watching the spot where it vanished, he grew thoughtful.
Pulling his gaze back, he walked over. "Shanks, thank you."
"Hahaha, don't mention it. We should be the ones thanking you—Luffy got hurt because of us," Shanks grinned.
Creed soon learned that these mountain bandits weren't connected to Sig. On the way, they'd insulted pirates as useless, Luffy had argued back, and things escalated into what happened today.
Before long, Shanks's treatment was done, and Luffy returned in fresh clothes.
"Luffy, we've finished resupplying. We're heading out," Shanks said with a smile.
Luffy looked at Shanks's empty left sleeve, holding back tears.
"Come on, men don't cry."
"I… I'm still too weak. Shanks, when I grow up, I'll find crewmates who are just as great as yours, then I'll find the One Piece and become Pirate King!!" Luffy clenched his small fists, shouting with all his strength.
"Oh? You want to surpass us?" Shanks looked at him. "Then go for it!!"
He placed his straw hat on Luffy's head. "This is my most precious treasure. Take good care of it. When the day comes that you stand before me as a man, return it to me."
Creed stood by, watching this classic moment. So this was what they called "passing the torch."
"Little Creed, we're leaving," Shanks said, giving him a brief hug.
"Alright, old Shanks, safe travels," Creed replied. "I'll be looking forward to the day we meet again on the seas."
Shanks paused, then gave him a long look. "I'll be looking forward to it too."
With that, the crew boarded their ship. The vessel slowly sailed away until it vanished from sight.
"Creed, I will… I will become Pirate King!" Luffy's face was hidden under the brim of the straw hat, but tears streamed down his cheeks.
They were tears of farewell, of hope for the future—
And above all… a promise.
…
(End of Chapter)
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