[Ding! Congratulations, Host. After your first confrontation using Supreme Conqueror's Haki, your development of Supreme Conqueror's Haki has increased by 1%!]
…
"System, say that again? After a peak-level clash with a top Haki user, I only get 1%? You better stand there—I'll make sure you regret it!"
After Tsuneo's unprecedented clash of Supreme Conqueror's Haki with Red-Haired Shanks, the system only gave him 1% development. Unbelievable!
But… on second thought, even if it's small, it's still a remarkable breakthrough—from zero to one!
One leads to two;
Two leads to three;
Three leads to a hundred.
Hope is just ahead!
Tsuneo chuckled.
…
Meanwhile, as Tsuneo and his crew boarded their small ship and sailed away, Red-Haired Shanks, another rising pirate star, kept his gaze fixed on their retreating backs.
"Captain Shanks, is there a problem? That pirate…"
"He's strong."
"Whoa! For our captain to say that… looks like this pirate isn't ordinary! Boss, is he stronger than you?"
"He possesses Conqueror's Haki as well, and is no weaker than I am."
"Ah!!!"
In an instant, the entire Shanks Pirates crew was stunned. Everyone knew their captain's Haki was unmatched in the world. Even across the entire Grand Line, few could rival him—but here, on this small island, they encountered one.
And he's just an unknown rookie pirate.
East Blue… truly a land of hidden dragons!
Immediately, the future powerhouses of the Shanks crew all turned to watch the direction Tsuneo and his crew vanished toward.
"Perhaps, in the near future, they will become our greatest rivals," someone murmured.
Yet, the Red-Haired crew, including the future Emperor Shanks, had no idea—they were overestimating things!
"Hey, stop with the idle talk! We're finally back in Windmill Village! Same as always, let's drink till we can't stand!"
"Hahaha! Let's go to the tavern, have Makino bring out all her finest liquor! Tonight, no one leaves sober!"
"Drink to the fullest!"
"No one leaves sober!"
"Yo! It's been a while—Makino must be even prettier now! And little Luffy… he hasn't got a giant booger hanging from his nose, has he?"
"Hahaha!"
Shanks crew laughed and clustered together, heading straight for the village tavern.
But when they arrived, including Shanks, they were all dumbfounded.
"What? Makino, you're saying all the prized liquor is gone? Impossible! Who else could possibly drink it besides the mighty Red-Haired Pirates?"
"Hehe, Shanks, it was Tsuneo! Actually, he's a rookie pirate like you," Makino replied.
"Tsuneo?"
Shanks furrowed his brow.
"Could it be the captain of the rookie crew that just left the village? So his name is Tsuneo…"
"Yes, that's right."
"He's strong, isn't he?"
Shanks nodded seriously, the memory of brushing past Tsuneo flooding his mind. To be honest, he felt a twinge of unease.
But quickly, his usual carefree demeanor returned. He tossed his head back and smacked the table.
"Tch! Even if this Tsuneo is strong, he can't have all the liquor! Makino, don't favor the new over the old!"
"N-no, of course not!" Makino blushed.
"Yes, Makino! Even if this rookie pirate Tsuneo is strong, can he really surpass our Red-Haired Shanks?"
"Exactly! In recent years, among all rookie pirates, we're the strongest, and our captain and first mate are both Supernovas!"
"Even the famous admirals of the Navy Headquarters have a hard time with our Red-Haired Shanks!"
"Hahaha!"
As the Red-Haired Shanks were boasting of their achievements—and indeed, they had the strength—they didn't notice when little Luffy ran in.
He climbed onto the table, likely hungry. On the table sat a wooden box containing a single purple fruit.
Without hesitation, Luffy grabbed the fruit, took a big bite, and pointed angrily at Shanks' nose:
"I won't let you say that! Tsuneo is the strongest! I've promised him, in ten years, I'll become a pirate… I will become the Pirate King—ugh! Yuck, ugh! What is this… so gross!"
Before he could finish, Luffy spat the fruit out entirely, nearly crying from the awful taste.
The Red-Haired Pirates, including Shanks, were completely stunned.
"Ah! Oh no! Luffy ate the Devil Fruit!"
In an instant, Shanks immediately lifted Luffy upside down and patted his back, trying to make him spit it out.
But…
As soon as he touched him, Luffy's arms stretched longer and longer, looking like rubber. Shanks froze.
Rubber?
The fruit's powers had already taken effect.