Bonus chapter unlocked by your Power Stones!
...
Cinnamon: "The number 3? That's Tier Harribel's number as the Tres Espada!"
Smoothie: "So Arton gave Tashigi this number, meaning he really plans to give her the Harribel template?!"
Gion: "Is Tashigi about to gain power?"
Stussy: "If Arton truly bestows power on Tashigi, it shows that female Marines can also become Arton's crewmates… but likely only if he acknowledges them."
Kalifa: "If I ever leave the World Government, could I receive power from Arton as well?"
Ain: "So female Marines can gain power? That's… rather tempting."
Whitey Bay: "Is Tashigi really that lucky? Arton did say Harribel's abilities would suit me, too…"
Everyone watching the video feed, seeing the "3" emblazoned near Tashigi's chest, wore expressions varying from seriousness and longing to nervousness. Although Tashigi now bore the same number as Arrancar Tier Harribel, no one had actually seen her gain Harribel's template yet, so there was still a sense of suspense.
"R-Arton… what does this 3 mean?"
Tashigi bit her lip and asked in a low voice. She knew about Tier Harribel but couldn't speak about that knowledge to Arton, so all she could do was beat around the bush, hoping he might explain his intention. Deep inside, she couldn't help yearning for the water-based powers of Tier Harribel.
Arton set down the tattoo pen and handed Tashigi the white outfit Kaya had brought over.
"Put this on. Let me see how it looks on you."
Tashigi stared blankly at the clothes in her hands. She recognized this outfit; it was practically identical to Tier Harribel's sealed form attire. The only difference was that this set had been tailored to fit Tashigi's body. Also, for Arton's personal preference, Tashigi's pants had been altered into tight-fitting white trousers similar to the denim she often wore.
"Mm, not bad," Arton said, stroking his chin approvingly once Tashigi finished changing. "It matches pretty well with how I recall her look."
Standing there, Tashigi was visibly nervous. She realized this next moment would decide whether or not she actually gained Harribel's powers. Likewise, Whitey Bay, Smoothie, and the others who coveted Tier's powers all felt tense.
"These past few days, you've done fairly well, Tashigi," Arton said. "Nami, Carina, Uta, Kaya, and Nojiko all speak well of you. So I can officially announce you as a member of my Flameblade Pirates—and I can pass on my special power to you."
Arton chuckled softly, resting one hand on Tashigi's shoulder.
[Ding! Tashigi has been detected as suitable for "Tier Harribel Template (Basic)." Would you like to bestow "Tier Harribel Template (Basic Form)" on Tashigi? Confirm / Deny!]
"Confirm!"
[Acknowledged. Beginning transfer of "Tier Harribel Template (Basic Form)" to Tashigi…]
As Arton spoke with the system in his mind, Tashigi felt a powerful, water-like energy surging from Arton's hand on her shoulder straight into her own body. For a moment, she felt like a piece of drifting seaweed afloat in the ocean.
I-It really is Tier Harribel's power! Arton… he's actually giving it to me?!
Slowly, Tashigi sensed the stored memory fragments etched into Harribel's template. She froze, unable to move until Arton lightly patted her cheek, bringing her back to the moment.
"A-Arton, this power…" Tashigi's eyes reddened. She removed her glasses and stared at him.
"It's my special power. It's not a Devil Fruit, so don't overthink it," Arton said. "Just make good use of it. It'll boost your talent—especially in sword techniques related to water flow. I'm convinced that, if you train hard, beating a Marine Admiral or two one day won't be an issue."
Arton folded his arms, beaming. He was confident about the templates he provided; everyone who had received one so far—Carina, Nami, Kaya, Uta, Nojiko—had grown strong quickly. He simply assumed Tashigi would follow that same trajectory now that she had Tier Harribel's formidable template.
He remained unaware that the main reason his companions gained power so rapidly was the diary itself, which provided them with all those points. Arton was simply happy that someone could finally use Tier's template.
He also noticed that upon receiving the template, Tashigi's body underwent a second growth spurt, much like when Kaya gained Tsunade's template. Right now, Tashigi had effectively jumped straight to the figure she would've had two years later in the canonical timeline. For Arton, this was the first time Tashigi's build truly resembled Tier's. Of course, the difference was still obvious—Tashigi's skin remained pale, rather than Harribel's tan complexion.
Arton brushed a fingertip over the "3" tattoo on Tashigi's skin, smiling more broadly.
Smoothie: "Damn it, that woman snatched the template most suited for me! I'll never forgive Tashigi!"
Ain: "I guess it's nice—she's got an ability that can counter Devil Fruit users. But oh well, Tashigi herself isn't a Fruit user. She's a better fit than me. Maybe Arton has another template that'll suit me once I find him."
Whitey Bay: "So I'm too late? That power would've been so effective against the three Marine Admirals…"
Koala: "Is Tashigi really going to stay loyal to Arton? She won't betray him halfway through?"
Belo Betty: "Arton must have considered that. If she does turn traitor, he'll definitely have a fallback plan."
"A-Arton!" Tashigi's face was bright red, her voice hardly above a whisper. Though his fingers were pressing into her, she forced herself not to pull away—for Hina's sake, she had to endure.
"Don't worry; you feel perfectly normal," Arton said with a laugh, withdrawing his hand. "Stop fretting over whether you're carrying extra fat, Tashigi."
Tashigi: "…"
I'm not worried about my body—this is just too embarrassing! she thought, fighting back the urge to snap at him.
Right then, Arton's expression turned serious.
"Tashigi, the whole World Noble affair opened your eyes to the World Government, and you ended up here with me—I'm glad about that. But as your captain, there's something I need to point out: I'm a pirate, and you're now a pirate too. I'll honor your request and let Hina leave my Flameblade Pirates unharmed, but keep in mind that sooner or later, I'm bound to clash with the Navy. When that day comes, I expect you to be able to draw the sword at your hip."
Tashigi's face clouded. After a moment, she nodded.
"Y-Yes. I… I'll do my part, Arton."
Arton gave her shoulder a pat and headed for the infirmary's open door. Carina, Nami, and a few others had been standing there for a while, watching.
"Carina, we've reached Loguetown, right?" Arton asked, looking over at her.
Carina, eyeing the still-running Tattooing Tashigi video feed, nodded with a smile. "That's right. We've arrived at our destination."
Hibari: "Loguetown?! So Arton's gone to Loguetown?"
Doll: "We guessed right! He really was headed there."
Kujaku: "But even if we know, do we have time to reach Arton?"
Ain: "And if we catch up, is there anything they can do about him?"
Gion: "This is a disaster! Did I choose the wrong path? Can Vice Admiral Garp handle Arton on his own? Can he even make it to Loguetown in time?"
None of the female Marines knew Arton's exact destination, so they had to organize wide-ranging searches. In the end, Garp and Gion had split up, searching different areas where Arton might appear. Gion had headed in a direction opposite from Loguetown, whereas Garp was currently sailing toward Loguetown—but he had left late, and Gion suspected that by the time Garp got there, Arton's crew might already have left.
Sighing at the thought of such a scenario, Gion felt a heavy knot of worry in her chest.
Meanwhile, Stussy watched the Diary Copy feed, recalling Morgans' earlier call.
"Morgans' intel was right—Arton did indeed go to Loguetown. That means that man has probably sent reporters from the World Economic Journal to Loguetown as well. Another major scoop is on the horizon fufu~."
...
For every 5 five-star reviews → +1 extra chapter
For every 200 Power Stones → +1 extra chapter.
Read 50+ chapters ahead on Patreon! [patreon.com/METARLN]
Use code FREE2ALL for 30% OFF!