Black Maria: "Arton is about to do another draw? With over a thousand points, that means a high‑level draw's possible, right?"
Ulti: "Could Arton be about to grow even more powerful with this draw?"
Kozuki Hiyori: "Last time he used the high‑level draw, he got the Shirou Emiya challenge scroll that gave him the power to defeat Shiki. This time… maybe it'll be another template from a mighty character?"
Gion: "What a lunatic. If he keeps powering up, how can we hope to handle him?"
Doll: "That photo – Loguetown. So Arton and his people have arrived. I doubt Vice Admiral Garp can make it in time. Are we all on our own?"
Kujaku: "That place… doesn't have enough Marines to stop him."
Ain: "Smoker‑senpai's stationed there. Hopefully he doesn't clash with Arton."
Smoothie: "He's probably going to draw a template, right? Let it be a template only I can use…"
All the Diary Copy holders, seeing that Arton was about to do another draw—this time a high‑tier one—focused their attention. In particular, Smoothie, who had missed both the Raiden Shogun and Harribel templates, longed for a result that suited only her. Unfortunately for her, Arton couldn't control what the lottery produced, let alone cater to her wishes.
"System, I want a high‑tier draw!"
A chime rang.
[Ding! As you wish, Host. 1,000 points have been deducted. You now have 12 points remaining.]
[Starting the high‑tier draw…]
Eyes wide, Arton stared fervently at the spinning rewards. He was hoping to get something to upgrade his Shirou Emiya template to the next level. If so, never mind an admiral—he might even square off against Marine Hero Garp.
[Ding! The draw is complete! Congratulations—you have received "Advanced Conqueror's Haki Awakening."]
[Upon use, your Conqueror's Haki will evolve to a level able to affect solid matter.]
"Advanced Conqueror's Haki?!" Arton was stunned. He'd imagined advanced Armament or advanced Observation, but never expected advanced Conqueror's Haki—completely out of left field.
[Advanced Conqueror's…? I can't believe I drew that.]
[Come on, I haven't even awakened Observation or Armament yet—how'd Conqueror's jump to advanced?]
[In terms of Conqueror's, I only lack the coating aspect. If I can't apply Conqueror's coating, jumping from mid‑level to high doesn't help that much… it just means I can crack a hull or two, I guess.]
Doll: "He actually drew advanced Conqueror's Haki?!"
Yamato: "Advanced Conqueror's Haki… so that's stronger than mine, right?"
Boa Hancock: "As expected of Arton—he's obtained the rarest Haki at a high level, even before Armament or Observation."
Ulti: "The nerve of him to complain about such a powerful reward!"
Black Maria: "Ordinarily Conqueror's Haki is the mark of a king, but with Arton's templates, I can see how he'd find it lacking."
Whitey Bay: "Still… this is no normal Conqueror's Haki if it can crack entire ships. Not even Pops had that ability. Only Pirate King Roger and Red‑Haired Shanks, right?"
Gion: "Advanced Conqueror's Haki is dangerous, but him drawing only that might be good for us—at least it's not an upgrade to the Shirou Emiya template…"
Monet: "High‑level Conqueror's Haki… a power even the Young Master doesn't have. If it can shake solid matter, what is it really capable of…?"
As if sensing Monet's doubts, Arton used the reward on the spot and began testing his new power. Soon, a new skill demo video appeared on each Diary Copy.
[Video: First Use of Advanced Conqueror's!]
Monet, Baccarat, and the others brightened. Gion, Doll, and Monet all tensed and clicked to watch. The screen showed Arton's body sparkling with black‑red lightning. Tashigi, Nami, and the rest involuntarily retreated a few steps. Suddenly, Arton's eyes shot open, and the crackling lightning around him burst outward, surging across the ocean in every direction.
In an instant, what had been calm water looked as if a colossal hand had smacked it violently, roiling it for over a thousand meters around. Viewed top‑down, Gion, Doll, Monet, and the others saw numerous fish literally explode in the water.
Baccarat: "So… so strong. This is Conqueror's Haki that can damage actual objects? Monet, you see this, right? Still think defying your Master's orders was a mistake?"
Monet: "The sea's boiling… fish are exploding… That's no mild 'it doesn't affect matter' kind of Haki. Can the Young Master even handle this?"
Boa Hancock: "This Conqueror's Haki… it's far beyond me."
Yamato: "No way, even that old man might not reach this level, right?"
Kujaku: "It's terrifying. Could I remain calm against that?"
Gion: "If Arton learns to imbue attacks with this Haki, how dangerous would he be?"
[Looks like I was way off… At this level, even without coating, I can use Conqueror's Haki in combat.]
[In canon, Shanks' burst of Conqueror's Haki forced Vice Admiral Momonga to collapse from sheer exhaustion.]
[That guy's an elite in the Marine HQ, right? Meaning so long as I have enough stamina, I can disregard vice‑admiral‑level opponents?]
[Haha, guess my Conqueror's Haki really can screen out all low‑tier combatants now.]
Ulti: "He's kidding. Exploding fish was insane enough, but paralyzing a Vice Admiral?"
Vinsmoke Reiju: "Would it work on Germa 66's soldiers? Could it frighten my emotionless brothers?"
Doll: "If it can immobilize someone like Momonga, I couldn't move under it either. Damn it, even if I do find Arton, what can I do…?"
In that moment, Doll felt her psyche start to crack. Part of her almost wished she didn't have a Diary Copy—then she wouldn't have to endure such despair.
Nami: "Awesome—our Captain Arton is the best!"
Nojiko: "Yeah, congrats, Arton—one step stronger."
Uta: "Heehee, I bet even Shanks would be amazed by that kind of Haki."
Aboard the Sylvan, Nami, Nojiko, and the rest all clustered around Arton, congratulating him once he retracted his Conqueror's aura. Arton acknowledged them with a bright smile.
"Alright, everyone," he announced, "time to go ashore and put our plan in motion. After this, we'll be heading for the Grand Line."
He waved a hand toward Loguetown. Nami, Karina, and the others nodded in agreement.
…
Meanwhile…
Loguetown Marine Base.
"Colonel Smoker, s‑sir! Something's wrong—cough cough!" A Marine officer rushed into Smoker's office, but started hacking from the heavy cloud of smoke. Smoker opened a window to let the thick smoke flow out.
"What happened?" he asked.
"J‑just now—cough—near the Loguetown harbor, a bunch of people suddenly collapsed for no apparent reason. We investigated and found they just fainted—no injuries. We thought it was weird, so we came to you. You said anything unusual had to be reported right away."
Snapping off a salute, the officer waited. Smoker frowned.
"Collapsed without warning? How many? All at once?" he pressed.
"Y‑yes, sir!"
"I see. You're dismissed." Smoker waved the officer out, face grave. Then he turned to the Den Den Mushi on his desk, still connected.
"You heard that, Vice Admiral Garp," he said quietly. "Knocking out so many people in an instant… it must be Conqueror's Haki."
Garp's weighty voice replied. "In these East Blue waters, the only one who can do that is Arton, right?"
...
For every 3 five-star reviews → +1 extra chapter
For every 100 Power Stones → +1 extra chapter.
Read 50+ chapters ahead on Patreon! [patreon.com/METARLN]
Use code FREE2ALL for 30% OFF!