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The following week was considerably duller, and Shanks' left hand, which he had lost, was now healed. Jason found himself lamenting yet again about how tenacious people in the pirate world could be.
"If you underwent this injury on land, it would stretch your muscles and bones for a hundred days, and you wouldn't be able to be active for less than three months," he mused.
The time had finally come for Shanks to set sail!
"Shanks, are you leaving?" Jason asked, his eyes expressing a mix of sadness and excitement.
"Of course, we've been here for quite some time. Eventually, we must leave! Just think about it—you'll be lonely from now on!" Shanks responded, his tone lighthearted yet earnest.
"Hehe, while it will be boring, I won't let you take me with you anymore! Because I want to be a pirate myself!" shouted Luffy, determination shining in his eyes.
"Lulu, I won't take you with me! A little brat like you thinks you can become a pirate?" Shanks teased, sticking his tongue out at Luffy, who glared back in defiance.
"Of course I can! I'm going to find a crew that's better than you! Then I'll search for the world's greatest secret treasure! I will absolutely become the King of the Pirates! Right, Jason?" Luffy declared, gritting his teeth and roaring with confidence.
"Huh? Ah, yes! Absolutely yes!" Jason replied, surprised but quickly catching on, affirming Luffy's spirited dream.
Seeing this exchange, Shanks chuckled broadly. He had expected to ridicule Luffy once more, but instead, he was met with Luffy's fierce aspiration.
"Is that so? Do you really want to surpass us?" Shanks asked, a playful glint in his eye.
Taking off his iconic straw hat, Shanks placed it gently onto Luffy's head. "In that case, I'll leave this hat to you for safekeeping! Return it to me when you become an outstanding pirate in the future! This is a manly agreement between us!"
"Crack!" Jason lifted his camera to capture this historic moment. Robin, observing from a distance, looked puzzled. She couldn't understand why Jason was so eager to take a picture. Wasn't this just a way to pamper a child?
Regardless of her doubts about the old man's camera, Jason thought this moment should be commemorated. He decided to name this photo "The Inheritance of the King."
Luffy held Shanks' hat, tears and snot trailing down his face, as Shanks' ship slowly sailed away, and everyone waved their goodbyes.
After witnessing the start of his own dream, Jason put his camera away, satisfied. He had absorbed so much excitement over the past few days! Just then, the system that had been dormant for months made its reappearance.
"Ding~ Host, have you missed me? System is here!"
Jason blinked, slightly annoyed. "Why did you show up all of a sudden? You didn't respond when I called you. If I hadn't still been able to see the panel, I would have thought you were dead!"
System retorted, "This system is wise and powerful! Of course, that's impossible!"
"Oh, really? Hot chicken system! Tell me, what were you doing?"
System fell silent for a moment. "Ahem, this system was not suitable for your current situation! So I went to fight for the upgrade rights! Get ready for a wave of upgrades! Once the system is upgraded, it will definitely surprise you, Host!"
"Oh? An upgrade? This will surprise me? You mean the hot chicken system is becoming a big hot chicken system?"
"Of course not! You'll find out after the upgrade! It may take some time, so I'm letting you know in advance so you don't forget!"
"Alright, I got it! Go ahead!" Jason replied, adopting a stern tone in his mind, though the system expressed its hurt feelings.
"Ahem, despite your ruthlessness, the system still needs to mention that in line with the principle of due diligence, all functions will be normal during the upgrade, except for the inability to release tasks and communicate!"
"So aside from those two functions, all I can see is one panel? And you call that not being a terrible system?"
"Ahem! Host, don't focus on the details! System has a challenge mission for you before the upgrade! This is what I have achieved after facing numerous dangers and operating in secret!"
"Oh?! What mission?" Jason's curiosity was piqued about this supposedly perilous task.
"Ding! Challenge mission triggered! Host must challenge Shanks and do your best to fight with him once.
Mission reward: The most powerful sword—Famous Sword, Taming Soul!"
The supreme sharp sword! A challenge mission? Why hadn't he discussed this with Rayleigh before? Oh well!
"Humph! You must be shocked! As long as the Host completes the task, you will receive the ultimate sword! The reward will be automatically distributed after completion! Ben Tongzi will take its leave now…"
The system's voice faded, growing quieter until it disappeared entirely.
"You're leaving so soon? You haven't finished speaking yet? System? System?" Jason called out a few times, but received no response. He assumed the upgrade had begun and decided to check his panel.
"Host: Portgas D. Jason"
Age: 20
Swordsmanship: Great Sword Master Level
Dominance: High level of Armament Haki, Intermediate level of Observation Haki, Intermediate level of Conqueror's Haki
Martial Art: Marine Six Forms (Complete)
Training mission: Challenge Shanks and fight with him once!
Mission reward: The most powerful sword—Famous Sword, Taming Soul!
There wasn't much change in Jason's status from three years ago. The only significant difference was that his swordsmanship had now been upgraded to the level of a great swordsman. Since his trip to Fish-Man Island, he had developed a clearer understanding of his own strength.
After confirming that there weren't many people who could threaten him, Jason found his "lazy house" attribute re-emerging. Furthermore, spending his days with Baby Robin made his mind filled with thoughts of how to take advantage of situations, leaving him little intent to practice!
No! The comment is gone! As expected, the commentary had been added by that dog of a system! (▼ヘ▼#)
However, this mission arrived just in time to gauge whether his skills had deteriorated over the past three years!
After spending what felt like ages thinking things over with the system in his mind, only ten seconds had passed before Jason decided that he no longer wanted to wait for Shanks to depart. He had originally planned to leave at the same time, but now he felt compelled to pursue him directly instead of waiting for him to reach the New World before seeking him out!
"Hey! Luffy!" he called.
"Ah?" Little Luffy, who was crying and clutching Shanks' hat while watching him depart, turned to look at Jason, his curiosity piqued.
"We're also preparing to set sail! You better grow up quickly! We'll be waiting for you on the Grand Line!"
"What! Why are you leaving too?" Luffy asked, showing a hint of dissatisfaction at Jason's news. After all the fun they'd been having lately, he wasn't ready for everyone to go their separate ways!
Jason could only explain that they had initially planned to journey to the Grand Line and had come specifically to bid farewell to him. It wouldn't do to admit they had actually come just to indulge in some fun!
Yet Luffy, after a moment of mild complaint, seemed more excited than disheartened, as he always looked forward to setting out to sea!
"I understand! You can't just board someone else's ship, especially Shanks's! I'll definitely meet you on the Grand Line!" Luffy promised, a grin breaking out on his face.
"Great! Let's go! See you on the Grand Line!" Jason declared, taking command as he weighed anchor. Under Robin's steady hands, their ship began to glide away from the shore, chasing after Shanks and his crew, whose ship was already shrinking into a small black dot on the horizon.
Although their vessel was larger and capable of moving faster, Jason needed to crank up their speed to catch up! Of course, this was assuming Shanks and his crew were not accelerating either.
Three hours later, they finally caught sight of Shanks and the Red-Haired Pirates. Technically, it couldn't be said that they caught up; Shanks and his crew had paused on a small island to cook, allowing Jason and his companions to reach them just in time. Otherwise, Shanks' ship would have been nearly invisible against the backdrop of the ocean.
"Shanks!" Jason called out as they approached.
"Oh! Jason? Are you here too? Do you really want to come aboard my ship?" Shanks exclaimed, a surprised grin spreading across his face.
"Of course not! I'm here to challenge you!" Jason responded, striking a defiant pose.
"Huh?" Shanks looked baffled, and his crewmates—Beckman, Lucky Roo, and even Robin—shared his confusion. Robin, however, felt a flicker of enlightenment as she pondered Jason's sudden urgency. She couldn't understand why Jason was so determined to confront Shanks.
What's more, she also wondered about the nature of the challenge, given that Jason and Shanks didn't have the closest of friendships. Why pursue this confrontation?
The other pirates were equally perplexed, the atmosphere thick with an unusual tension.
"Pfft…hahahahaha!" Shanks was the first to burst into laughter, soon joined by Beckman and the others, who were doubled over, tears streaming from their eyes. Jason's face darkened at their amusement.
Robin couldn't help but chuckle too, clearly enjoying the sight of Jason getting teased.
"Jason, you idiot! What nonsense are you talking about? I won't fight you! Hahahaha!" Shanks managed to say between laughs.
"Exactly! There's no reason for us to fight! Hahaha!" Lucky Roux chimed in, cheekily chewing on a piece of meat.
Jason was fully aware that it would be a challenge to engage Shanks in a real fight. After all, he had a notoriously bad temper, and as a friend, he couldn't provoke him too much!
Feeling a little irritated, Jason's mind raced until Robin leaned in. She whispered something in his ear, sparking a glimmer of inspiration in Jason's eyes.
"Now, Shanks, while it's clear you and I aren't going to have a serious fight, I just want to compare our strengths, you know? I want to gauge how strong you've become!" Jason explained.
"Oh, I see," Shanks replied, pretending to consider this for a moment.
"Right!" Jason affirmed eagerly, sensing a way forward.
Suddenly, Shanks made a face and exclaimed, "Stop! Even with your clever wording, I still won't fight you! You idiot! Hahahahaha!"
The laughter erupted again, and Jason couldn't help but feel frustrated at the ridicule. He was determined to prove himself, but the atmosphere only heightened his irritation.
"Get tough! Get tough with your fists! This brat is going to be one of the future Four Emperors? How cheap!"
"As a reward for your efforts, I'll treat you to a batch of the strongest wine in the world!" Robin whispered into Jason's ear, knowing how much the Red-Haired Pirates appreciated a good drink.
It was no secret that aside from the medicinal alcohol used by doctors, most of the beverages in the Pirate World were about 50-degree rum. The beers were infamous for being almost irrelevant.
In his spare time, Jason had built a distillation device out of pure boredom and had crafted dozens of bottles of highly concentrated wine comparable to eaux-de-vie. This time, he had taken everything he could carry, including the prized wine!
When Shanks heard about the strongest wine in the world, his eyes lit up with disbelief. "The strongest wine? How could that be? As one of the Four Emperors, I've consumed all kinds of drinks!"
"Don't believe me? Just wait right here!" Jason declared confidently.
With that, he leaped back to his ship. He began rummaging through the cabinets until he finally found a bottle, returning to the shore and handing it to Shanks.
"This isn't just ordinary rum! What's so special about it?" he questioned skeptically.
"You'll know once you take a sip!" Jason teased.
Shanks still had his doubts, but he opened the bottle with a hint of curiosity. The enticing aroma wafted toward him, and he took a sip. Instantly, his eyes widened in surprise as he downed the entire bottle!
"Jason! How much more of this wine do you have? Give it all to me, and I'll compete with you!" he exclaimed, his excitement palpable.
"There are still dozens of bottles, but I want to finish my share before giving you any!" Jason replied playfully.
"No problem! When do we start? Hurry up, so I can drink more! This wine is incredible!" he urged.
"Hey! Don't rush me just because you want to drink! I'll do my best, but it'll be embarrassing if I lose to you!" Jason challenged.
Upon hearing this, Shanks' demeanor shifted, becoming serious, and the atmosphere grew thick with a heavy sense of dominion.
"Of course, I'll go all out for every battle, even if it's just sparring!" he declared confidently.
"That's what I want to hear! Beckman, please help me protect Robin!" Jason called out, slowly drawing his famous sword Zhenheng. He then began to channel his Conqueror's Haki, which resonated throughout the area.
The crew of the Red-Haired Pirates widened their eyes in shock. "He has Conqueror's Haki too? And it's so strong? We should retreat further!" they whispered among themselves.
The two invisible powers clashed, unleashing a tremendous pressure that shattered trees and sent blades of grass flying.
"This is incredible, Jason! I sensed an animal-like aura from you before, but I didn't expect you to be this strong!" Shanks remarked, now wielding his own sword, Griffin, with his Haki radiating outward as well.
The tension rose as they charged toward each other, their swords wrapped in their respective Haki.
"Let's settle this with one move, or else this island won't be able to withstand our power!" Jason declared.
"That's just what I wanted! One-sword style! Demon Slayer!"
"Dive departure!"
The clash of their blades sent shockwaves through the air, black and red lightning crackling everywhere, as the entire island trembled under their might. In the distance, Beckman and the crew had retreated to the island's edge, bracing themselves against the aftermath; massive rocks began to fly around them.
"What kind of monster is this? How could Jason be so strong?" one of the crew members exclaimed.
"Yeah, and he is only 20! Monster doesn't even begin to describe him!" another added in awe.
Robin, too, felt astonished. She had always known Jason was powerful; he had managed to escape from Marine Admiral Aokiji long ago. But she never anticipated his strength would grow to this level!
As the two warriors remained locked in a stalemate, the center of the island, approximately a thousand meters in diameter, had sunk, and numerous cracks spread across the ground.
After what felt like an eternity, Jason finally withdrew his power. They both paused, looking at each other with mutual admiration—a recognition of strength shared between them.
"Let's not continue! One more move and the island will be gone! I didn't expect such a powerful individual to reside in the East Blue. It truly is surprising not to underestimate the world and its monsters! Hahahaha!" Shanks exclaimed.
"The Four Emperors truly live up to their reputation; I can't compete with you yet!" Jason responded. He accepted the reality: while their skills might align in swordsmanship, Shanks surpassed him in Haki!
"Well, I think you've got that right! After all, I am one of the Four Emperors! Hahahaha! How about coming aboard my ship? It would be a shame not to team up with your strength! Together, we can seek out the greatest treasure!" Shanks proposed, eager to recruit him.
"No thanks. I'm more interested in protecting Robin! I promised Luffy I would stay true to our agreement as men!" Jason said firmly.
"Oh, is that so? That's a real shame! Hahahaha!" Shanks chuckled, although slightly disappointed.
At that moment, Beckman and the rest of the crew returned alongside Robin, their gazes filled with admiration as they regarded Jason. They wore smiles, clearly impressed by the display of power.
Taking Robin's hand, Jason prepared to bid farewell. "Then let's make our departure now, Shanks! Next time we meet, let's celebrate together!"
Jason couldn't wait to return home and receive his mission rewards.
"Wait a minute, you bastard! Hand over the drink immediately! You're not getting away with this!" Shanks shouted, urgently grabbing Jason's other hand.
"Alright, alright! Here it is! You didn't forget, did you? Follow me back to the ship to grab it!" Jason laughed, leading Shanks back to the Devil to retrieve the wines.
"Goodbye! Remember to bring that kind of wine for our next sparring session!" Jason waved enthusiastically as he took control of the Devil, slowly setting sail away from the island.
Robin watched Jason on the boat, a new sense of appreciation flooding over her, as though she were seeing him for the first time.
"Are you impressed by my handsomeness, Baby Robin?" he teased.
"Yes! You're amazing, Jason!" she responded candidly, admiration shining in her eyes.
"Of course! How else can I protect you if I'm not strong? But remember, no matter how strong I become, I'll always be your Jason!"
To Jason, there was nothing wrong with letting his wife see how awesome he was—and he even considered charging for a kiss every now and then, right?
"Um!"
Robin responded with her eyebrows curved, as beautiful as flowers...
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If you enjoy please support me on my patreon Future 80+ chapters at patreon.com/Phoenizbeelze
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