Creed had extracted plenty of abilities. Excluding the SSSS-class ones, there were still over a dozen left:
SSS+ Conqueror's Haki, SSS kicking arts, SSS+ Kuroya no Ken (Night Sword Intent), SSS+ taijutsu, SSS+ kenpo, SSS+ Rokushiki, SSS+ Giant's Strength, S+ Super Regeneration, S+ Super Vitality…
He crossed out Rokushiki, kenpo, kicking arts, marksmanship, and taijutsu first. Not worth spending an SSSS-class Upgrade Card on those.
After a while, he narrowed it to:
Conqueror's Haki, Kuroya no Ken (Night Sword Intent), Giant's Strength, Super Regeneration, Super Vitality.
His first instinct was to push Haoshoku Haki to SSSS. A stronger Conqueror's would feed back into his spirit stat, lifting it to SSSS as well—two birds with one stone.
But boosting Night Sword Intent or Giant's Strength was tempting too.
If Night Sword Intent reached SSSS, as a supreme-grade sword intent it would sit above his Hyō no Ken (Ice Sword Intent) and stand shoulder to shoulder with his Rinne no Kendō (Samsara Sword). With two supreme intents, the title of world's top swordsman would be locked—unshakable.
If he put it into Giant's Strength instead, his raw power would jump again—enough that a human frame could contend with Kaido's divine dragon might.
"Shame there's only one SSSS-class Upgrade Card."
He hesitated, eyes drifting to Super Regeneration and Super Vitality.
Those two water-bear—no, tardigrade-derived traits couldn't be dismissed.
The surge he'd just felt in recovery speed had shown him how terrifying Super Regeneration could be.
As for Super Vitality, by the name alone it paralleled Kaido's undying dragon resilience—different paths, similar destination.
He almost spent the card there on the spot… but then he remembered the scare just now: after exhausting himself against Big Mom, he'd nearly failed to "catch" Fish-Man Island at all.
If he faced equal-level enemies in numbers, taking turns in a war of attrition, he might end up the same—drained dry. Endurance was a real problem.
He knew only the tip of the World Government's iceberg.
Forget the Tenryuubito's hidden monsters; even the Gorosei—wasn't each one a Four Emperor–class existence…
The thought put a chill in him.
Ants kill elephants—wolves even more so.
And if the World Government really wanted bodies who'd die for the cause, all it took was a global draft to pull in Admiral-tier powerhouses with ease.
Decision made, Creed didn't hesitate: he slotted the Upgrade Card into Super Regeneration.
To endure—that's what matters most to a man.
Ding. Applying SSSS-class Upgrade Card to S+ Super Regeneration… Complete. Super Regeneration advanced to SSSS-!
Warmth flooded him, like soaking in a hot spring. His senses sharpened; he could feel it—countless cells rejoicing, strengthening, changing…
His body was undergoing a qualitative shift.
From S+ to SSSS- took nearly three hours.
When it ended, he looked like he'd been hauled out of a bath—damp head to toe, flakes of expelled impurities clinging to his skin.
But his spirit was crisp and clear, stamina brimming—back to prime.
The SSSS- recovery was already at work.
Before washing up, he checked his current stats:
[Attributes]: Strength SSSS-, Agility SSSS-, Endurance/Defense SSS+, Spirit (with Haoshoku boost) SSS+
[Abilities]: SSSS- Observation Haki, SSSS- Tekkō Hifu (Steel Skin), SSSS- Hyō no Ken (Ice Sword Intent), SSSS- Armament Haki, SSSS- Swordsmanship, SSSS- Super Regeneration, SSS+ Conqueror's Haki, …
[Innate]: Ryūjin Mode (Dragon God Mode) (extracting; 15% progress; ETA six months)
[Devil Fruits / Special]: Ope Ope no Mi (Op-Op Fruit), Lightning Control, Pika Pika no Mi (Glint-Glint Fruit) (initial awakening)
[Rinnegan]: Tsukuyomi, Amaterasu, Susanoo (Third Form), Yasaka no Magatama, Chibaku Tensei (Planetary Devastation), Shinra Tensei (Almighty Push)…
[Rinne no Kendō (Samsara Sword Dao)]: Rokudō (Six Paths), Jigoku Ichino Tachi (Extremely Evil Slash) 96%, Zensei Ichino Tachi (Extremely Good Slash) 97%, Musō Rinne (Supreme Samsara) 15%
[Composite Power]: SSSS
He blinked.
Counting it up—he now had six SSSS- abilities.
Which of the Emperors could still claim a steady edge over him?
He still didn't know what SSSS+ looked like—whether it stood a whole tier above SSSS. So he wouldn't claim a guaranteed victory over Kaido with his SSSS+ Ryū no Chikara (Dragon Power).
But against Kaido, Creed was certain: he'd hold the advantage now—no more getting smothered like before.
"As for the so-called strongest man in the world—Whitebeard… I wonder how high that summit really is. In any case, our meeting isn't far off."
Murmuring, he stepped into the bath.
By the time he'd scrubbed clean, an attendant from Neptune had arrived: the royal banquet was prepared and awaited Lord Creed.
Since he'd become Fish-Man Island's great hero, Neptune would have thrown three feasts a day if he could—lavishing Creed's group with every courtesy, not daring the slightest slight.
"Good. I need to discuss Shirahoshi as well."
Creed headed for the banquet.
Shirahoshi—Poseidon—appears once every eight centuries and can command those colossal Sea Kings of the abyss, a force that could destroy the world.
Now that CP0 and Shiki knew her identity, the World Government and pirates alike would surely come for her.
On this, Creed had to speak plainly with Neptune, and work out countermeasures—disaster prevention.
Hiding Shirahoshi away like an ostrich with its head in the sand had worked until now. But with her secret out, that was no longer an option.
(End of Chapter)
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