Ace had delved deeply into developing his Devil Fruit abilities, but his mastery of Haki left much to be desired. After joining the Whitebeard Pirates, his training had noticeably slackened, and even by the time of the Marineford War, he had not truly reached his peak.
Black, meanwhile, sharpened his swordsmanship with ease and precision. He did not want to become a fighter who only had stats on paper without any real combat experience the previous woman, who had been all hype and no substance, was a lesson in failure.
Even with the obvious gap in raw strength between Ace and Black, their duel lasted half the night. Each clash was an opportunity to refine technique, not merely to assert power.
Back in the vivid blue expanse of his system space, Black held a newly acquired ability card in his hand.
Ability Card: Conqueror's Haki (Young Ace)
"Of course. The son of the Pirate King releases something completely different from the rest," Black murmured with a grin.
This was the first time he had obtained a Conqueror's Haki ability card. It was rare, in part because he had challenged very few individuals with true Conqueror's Haki Charlotte Linlin being the only one, to be exact.
"System, activate the ability card!"
Black crushed the card in his palm. Instantly, an overwhelming surge of Conqueror's Haki filled the system space. Dark red lightning-like energy crackled and pulsed, invisible pressure pressing down upon the ground.
Black nodded in satisfaction.
With Ace's Haki layered onto his own, Black's Conqueror's Haki strength nearly doubled, far beyond its previous state. However, raw power alone was not enough; technique was another matter entirely.
Even though Black considered his Conqueror's Haki to be at least on par with Shamrock's, he had yet to master the advanced techniques: Haki entwining, ranged strikes, or Observation-enhanced lethal attacks.
Black was in no rush. Based on his understanding of Observation Haki, continued use of ability cards would eventually allow him to intuit and master these advanced Conqueror's techniques.
By the time he left the system space, night had deepened. Black glanced around the ship.
Stella was asleep, cradling Perona, while Robin sat by the window, staring at the star-strewn sky with a thoughtful expression. The events of the day had clearly left an impression on her.
Black did not disturb her, instead turning over to rest. Training in the card space could substitute for sleep, but he had no urgent need to push himself.
After all, in his previous life, he had no choice but to strive endlessly. Now, reborn as a Celestial Dragon, why would he need to exhaust himself for nothing? That would defeat the purpose of his privileged position.
The world was vast, yet for those with status, influence, and power, travel was no hardship. Ships in this world, even simple sailboats or island ships, could reach speeds comparable to modern high-speed trains.
Focusing on travel, the Sanctuary made the journey from Ohara to Mary Geoise's Red Port in just over ten days.
Standing on Mary Geoise's unique moving walkways, Perona still under three years old strained her eyes, wide with wonder as she absorbed the sights of the Holy Land. Unlike Stella, who remained unbothered, and Robin, who was cautious, Perona's curiosity was uncontainable.
Black gently held her head still, warning,
"Behave while in the Holy Land, or I'll toss you down to push the walkway."
"No way!"
Perona and Robin stared in disbelief. Even Stella, usually smiling, raised her eyebrows in surprise.
"Someone actually pushes the walkways from underneath?"
Perona stared intently at the moving ground, seemingly trying to peer through it.
Robin, ever the analytical mind, focused on a different angle.
"Given the technology available to the World Government, this seems unnecessary, doesn't it?"
Black shrugged.
"My foolish kind believe this is how they prove their noble status," he said dismissively. "It's just a deep reliance on slavery and a resistance to advanced civilization."
He spoke with the nonchalance of someone whose privilege insulated him from consequences. As a beneficiary of the system, Black had no intention of undermining his own position or dismantling societal structures. Even if he were to become the ruler of the world, he would not expend effort on such matters unless it served his own interests.
Perona let out a small, understanding "oh," then her eyes sparkled with mischief.
"So, once we leave the Holy Land, we can play freely, right?"
She had a knack for hitting the heart of the matter. Black sighed, amused, but did not correct her. He liked her boldness; a little irreverence made life more entertaining.
Returning to the estate, Black immediately removed the hood from his head.
"Finally, I can get rid of this damn fishbowl."
Stella chuckled as she took it.
"Your Excellency, if you dislike it so much, why bring it along?"
"Because I cannot breathe the same air as the commoners below," he said with a faint smirk. "No need to make a show of it beyond that."
Pinching Stella's cheek gently, Black waved his hand in a tired gesture.
"Go on and play. After drifting at sea for so long, I need some proper rest."
Inside the massive fish tank capable of holding thousands of tons of water, a solitary mermaid swam gracefully. The dragon-hoof mark on her left arm revealed her true identity: a mermaid previously purchased from a slave auction by Black.
At his call, Ada swam over, placing her delicate face against Black's hand.
"Are you comfortable here?" he asked.
Her voice was soft and gentle. Ada nodded nervously.
"It's very spacious. The maids talk to me every day. I'm happy here," she admitted. "Though… sometimes they're busy, and it can get a little boring."
Her innocence betrayed her, and she instinctively shared a glimpse of her true feelings.
Realizing her slip, she playfully stuck out her tongue. But without warning, her little tongue licked Black's palm.
Ada blushed furiously and dove underwater, her tail slapping the surface in a flurry of droplets.
Black shook his head, smiling at her antics.
"If you're bored, I'll find a few more companions for you another day," he said, turning back to his quarters.
"Eh? Eh eh?"
Ada poked her head above water in a mix of frustration and curiosity, only to find Black already gone. She splashed the water with her tail, half annoyed, half amused.
"Looks like more of my kind will be caught by him soon," she muttered. "But… he's just keeping me as a fish. That doesn't really count as harming my kind, right?"
After a moment of self-reassurance, Ada's guilt subsided, and she happily swam on.