2 chapters will be uploaded on daily basis i.e. 14 Chapters will be uploaded every week apart from the bonus chapters.
1 Bonus Chapter will be uploaded for every 50 Power Stones or 1000 Collections.
All interested readers can read advanced chapters on:
[email protected]/Heroicverse
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Auguro had a good impression of the brave young woman before him. In the original story, despite her limited strength, she never backed down, whether facing Luffy's crew or the great pirates of the New World.
In his past life, Auguro had always felt that this character was created to make up for the regrets left by the character Kuina.
The only pity was that, as a swordswoman, she had been stuck under a Devil Fruit user like Smoker and never received the best possible training.
"Tashigi, is it?" Auguro smiled.
"It won't do for a swordsman like you to follow a Devil Fruit user! Why don't you join my crew? I guarantee you'll become a Great Swordsman one day!"
When it came to swordsmanship, many members of the Gotei 13 were already Swordsmen or even Great Swordsmen, so training Tashigi would be more than manageable.
"The Marines will never surrender to a pirate!" Tashigi roared, her eyes wide with fury.
"I'm not a pirate!" Auguro chuckled. He hadn't been dead-set on recruiting her; a rejection was fine.
He gave a look of instruction to Matsumoto Rangiku. Rangiku understood immediately, using Shunpo to appear behind Tashigi and lightly tapping her on the back of the neck with the hilt of her sword.
Tashigi's eyes rolled back, and she collapsed, instantly knocked unconscious.
Before completely losing consciousness, she heard Auguro speak with genuine sincerity:
"Bravery without the strength to back it up is often just foolishness! Not every enemy will be as lenient as we are. Don't throw your life away for nothing."
The group quickly retreated through the opening created by Matsumoto Rangiku. With their Shunpo speed, the nearby Marines couldn't possibly stop them.
Seeing that Auguro's group had successfully broken the encirclement, Smoker had no choice but to focus his attention back on Kuchiki Rukia.
He fixed his gaze on her, stating fiercely, "At the very least, I'll take one of you down!"
Hearing this, a look of dismissive coldness appeared on Rukia's beautiful face. Her lips parted slightly, and she slowly replied, "What gave you the false impression that you could stop me?"
The instant the last word left her mouth, Smoker felt a momentary daze. Kuchiki Rukia's figure had vanished!
The next moment, a sharp whistling sound—the sound of a blade in motion—came from directly behind him.
Smoker spun around abruptly, only to see the pristine Sode no Shirayuki flash with cold light, slashing down viciously over his shoulder!
Swoosh!
The blade of Sode no Shirayuki passed straight through Smoker's body. The Element Transformation of a Logia-type Devil Fruit user made him immune to ordinary physical attacks.
Smoker was just about to breathe a sigh of relief when he heard a crunch. Along the trajectory where Sode no Shirayuki had passed, crystalline ice suddenly erupted, rapidly growing and spreading, quickly covering Smoker's chest!
Smoker felt as though his very soul had been frozen. He could no longer control his body, which became stiff and rigid, causing him to plummet from the air.
Kuchiki Rukia calmly glanced at the immobilized Smoker before turning and flying toward the docks.
Only then did Smoker realize: She can fly, too!
A sword that can manipulate ice and smoke, and a user who can fly. Just who are these people?!
Though he desperately wanted to chase after them to find out, the spreading coldness in his body prevented him from even standing up. Even transforming into smoke was useless. Ultimately, he could only watch helplessly as Auguro's ship sailed out of the harbor.
It took several hours for the ice on Smoker's body to finally dissipate on its own.
"Tashigi!"
As soon as he recovered, Smoker immediately gave the order: "Report everything that happened here to Headquarters as quickly as possible. The strength of those individuals is dangerous; they must be dealt with immediately!"
Twenty minutes later, Marine Headquarters in Marineford.
In the Fleet Admiral's office, Sengoku, with his seagull cap, was enjoying a rare moment of relaxation, munching on rice crackers.
"That damn Garp! Always trying to steal my limited edition crackers! Luckily, I was prepared and hid the limited and regular editions separately!"
Knock! Knock! Knock!
The office door was suddenly struck.
"Fleet Admiral, reporting! Urgent intelligence!"
Sengoku reluctantly set down his beloved crackers and adopted a serious expression. "Enter!"
A Marine soldier walked in and respectfully handed over a report.
Sengoku read through it carefully, his expression growing more solemn with every sentence.
"A Devil Fruit ability granted to a sword... strength comparable to a Headquarters Admiral! And even the ability to fly! What kind of monsters are popping up now?!"
Sengoku's mood was grim. Since the start of the Great Pirate Era, an endless stream of "Monster Rookies" had emerged, even being dubbed "Supernovas" by some busybodies. In contrast, the Marines hadn't seen many outstanding newcomers, putting increasing pressure on Sengoku.
"They defeated Smoker and are also suspected of murdering a Branch Base Commander. Such people absolutely cannot be allowed to run wild!"
Having made his decision, Sengoku issued a strict order.
"Issue a command! Release a bounty poster!"
East Blue. Auguro and his group were sailing towards Reverse Mountain. Fortunately, they had stocked up on supplies before attempting to buy the Log Pose, or they would be in serious trouble now!
"Lord Auguro, without a Log Pose, what do we do when we reach the Grand Line?" Nami asked, worried.
Auguro smiled.
"Don't worry! I know a place where we can get a Log Pose. We won't get lost in the Grand Line!"
Nami's face immediately brightened with admiration as she looked at Auguro.
"Hehe! Just as expected of Lord Auguro! You truly are thorough in your planning!"
Kuchiki Rukia and Matsumoto Rangiku frowned upon seeing this exchange. Ever since their Soul King had carried Nami onto the ship during their retreat, Nami seemed to have become somewhat attached to him.
Nami, however, didn't care what the two of them thought. All she could remember was the overwhelming sense of security she felt when Auguro held her during the escape. For that feeling, she was willing to do anything!
However, Nami's behavior also caused the other two women to reach a certain unspoken resolution.
To prevent Smoker from catching up, Auguro ordered the ship to sail at full speed. Though Smoker's fighting ability was average, his stubbornness was extraordinary. The man chased Luffy all the way from the East Blue to the New World. If they delayed even slightly, he would definitely catch up!
Two days later, Auguro and his crew finally reached Reverse Mountain.
Just as Nami prepared to steer the ship into the canal, Auguro called her to a stop.
"Is something wrong, Lord Auguro?" Nami asked, confused.
Auguro didn't speak; he just waited quietly. Sure enough, a massive creature soon emerged from the ocean.
Its gigantic figure, resembling a moving mountain peak, left Nami and the others completely stunned.
"That is a Laboon (Island Whale). It is a large-sized Sea King, and supposedly, this isn't even the largest kind," Auguro introduced, timely.
"I never expected to find someone in the East Blue who knows Laboon. That's quite rare!"
At that moment, an aged voice came from the lighthouse next to the waterway. The group turned their heads to see an old man with a hairstyle like a flowering sea plant standing atop the lighthouse.
Though advanced in age, his sturdy body still concealed immense strength. He wore a pink shirt with yellow and green floral patterns, giving him a stylish and unrestrained appearance.
The others didn't recognize him, but Auguro knew immediately: this was Crocus, the doctor of the Pirate King Gol D. Roger!