"It has been a long time, Rear Admiral Griffin."
...
Sabaody Archipelago—Area 7, Happo Navy station.
Areas 1 to 29 of Sabaody Archipelago were originally lawless zones for human trafficking and pirate trade. After the incident where the Celestial Dragons were attacked, the Marines temporarily took control.
Following that, Chin Jao was promoted to the Seven Warlords of the Sea, leading the elites of the Happo Navy to station themselves in Sabaody.
Looking at the current Seven Warlords of the Sea, Chin Jao was actually the only one who truly fulfilled the original stated purpose of the system—namely, relieving the pressure on the Marines' front lines.
...
On the vast ocean, the number of pirates far exceeded the Marines.
There were always more people yearning for freedom than those who strictly adhered to the order of justice.
The station was still a loft built in the style of the Kano Country.
In the hall, Griffin sat high in the seat of honor, with Lucci and Doll standing in attendance behind him.
Chin Jao and several of his old advisors sat on the left, while the right side was occupied by the younger generation of the Happo Navy, led by Sai and Bu Wu.
Griffin picked up a tea cup that felt both strange and familiar, lightly scraping the rim with the lid.
He took a shallow sip...
"So bitter. Get me some juice, pomegranate flavor."
...
Sai stared blankly as Griffin set the teacup down. That was precious tea from the old man's private collection; the Kano Country only harvested a few ounces a year, and even he had never tasted it.
They had specially brewed a pot for this man... and instead of savoring the famous tea, he wanted juice. It was simply a waste of a heavenly gift!
Noticing Sai's gaze, Griffin gave a faint smile.
"Do you like it?"
...
"Presumptuous! Who allowed you to look directly at Lord Griffin, Sai!" Huo Qiushan, the pillar of the Second Army, barked a stern reprimand.
Three years ago, he could still tangibly perceive the boundaries of Griffin's strength. Even if he felt awe, it was still at a "comprehensible" temperature.
But now...
He could not perceive the slightest fluctuation of Griffin's power. Whether walking, sitting, or lying down, Griffin seemed no different from an ordinary person.
It wasn't the purity of returning to one's true self...
It was a sense of distance where a biological creature could not comprehend a higher existence!
...
Huo Qiushan had seen top-tier powerhouses of the sea before; he had seen Garp and Shiki in their prime.
The feeling Griffin gave him was too different. It was like...
A monster kneaded into a human shape by terrifying energy!
It was completely impossible to predict what this fellow's next move would be!
...
So, even though Griffin had asked with a smile, Huo Qiushan prepared for the worst and immediately scolded Sai, hoping Griffin wouldn't suddenly strike him.
The others didn't think as much as he did.
Chin Jao looked at Huo Qiushan in surprise. "Old Huo, what's the rush? Griffin didn't even say anything."
...
"Hey, he seems super scared of you. Did you do something bad to him before?" Doll leaned in and whispered.
Griffin was also confused.
Why was he being treated like a tyrant? He was just asking if the kid wanted it; if he did, he should take it so it wouldn't go to waste.
His brow twitched as Griffin realized something.
His consciousness receded into the depths of his mind, toward that single spark of golden, chaotic fire.
"Hunt Celestial Dragon - Miya"
"Hunting Difficulty Rating - Super High-Risk"
"Task completed. Acquired five extraction opportunities—"
"Non-knowledge-based options already extracted can be re-obtained. No priority in ranking."
"1. Shaped Magic Puppet"
"2. Ninja World Wood Release Collection"
"3. ..."
"Priority given to options with a high correlation coefficient to the holder. Extracting—"
...
"Due to the acquisition of a [Root-Unique Trait], the holder has triggered a High-Level Option."
"The holder can fuse five extraction opportunities for one High-Level Option. Artifacts are not limited to knowledge and 'Non-Intelligent Artifacts,' covering numerous timelines."
"The value of a High-Level Option far exceeds the holder's [Root-Unique Trait]; therefore, extraction is not guaranteed. The success probability is 0.78%—45%."
"Does the holder wish to proceed with the High-Level Option?"
...
...
From less than one percent to forty-five percent? Just like the previous time span of one to a hundred years connecting to the Ninja World...
This interface is far too imprecise!
...
Griffin looked at the High-Level Options.
The following options are in no particular order—
1.
Shaped Magic Puppet (Transcendent Quality)
Can be worn as a Morphing Magic Puppet. In the worn state, training speed increases by 10–50 times. Can activate 'Soldier Release' mode, temporarily increasing energy levels by 100–300 times. (Risk depends on the holder; relatively small.)
2.
Stone Throne
Can drain 30%–50% of the energy from all supernatural ability users within a one-kilometer radius of the throne for a one-time release. (Limited to use while on the throne. Risk of body explosion; quite high risk.)
3.
Sealed Nine-Dragon Arm
Under certain conditions, the nine evil dragons within the arm can be released. (Ultra-high risk. The nine dragons once destroyed a Small Plane. Uncontrollable.)
4.
...
...
Seriously... are you guys the manufacturers of the Shaped Magic Puppets?
Was this interface developed just to sell Shaped Magic Puppets?
Even in the High-Level Options, this thing is still ranked first. Saying they're in no particular order is just self-deception!
...
Among the High-Level Options, the only one Griffin was familiar with was:
134.
Divine Tree Seed - (Ten-Tails)
The origin of Chakra in the Ninja World. Planted on a specific planet, it can grow into a Divine Tree and bear a Chakra Fruit. Consuming it in large quantities can increase one's Life Level. (No current risk. Yield is quite high. A High-Efficiency Conversion Superior Plant.)
What surprised Griffin was the interface's evaluation of the Ten-Tails.
That thing... no risk? Superior plant?
How exaggerated were those "ultra-high risk" ones then!
...
Should he choose five guaranteed extractions, or gamble on a High-Level Option with an extremely low success rate?
And even if he succeeded, he had to gamble that the option wouldn't be some high-risk catastrophe.
Currently, the knowledge-based items he had obtained through normal extraction included the Fire Release Ninjutsu Collection, Genjutsu Collection, and Uchiha Sword Technique. Artifact-wise, he had the Shaped Magic Puppet, True Relief Pill, and the Flame War Fan.
For the time being, Griffin couldn't think of anything else he absolutely needed.
He hadn't fully mastered Genjutsu and Fire Release yet, there was room for improvement in his sword techniques, and he still needed to develop his own Ice Release and Devil Fruit Ability...
The best result would be to draw some Large-Scale Destructive Artifacts, like a bomb capable of blowing up a large island. Anything else wasn't strictly necessary...
Should he gamble?
...
Nonsense!
Now that a High-Level Option had appeared, how could he resist taking a shot!
At worst, he'd waste five extraction opportunities. He'd only regret it now, but if he didn't pull, he'd regret it forever!
The higher the risk, the greater the reward!
Without hesitation, Griffin chose to combine his extraction attempts and perform a High-Level extraction.
"Prioritizing products with high correlation to the holder. High-Level Option extraction in progress—"
Correlation... if I win, it'll likely be the Ten-Tails, or maybe a Shaped Magic Puppet (Transcendent model).
My luck has always been good. Isn't winning only natural?
If I could become a Ten-Tails Jinchuriki... I might be able to overcome the limits of life!
...
The good news was that he won. Unfortunately, it wasn't the Ten-Tails, nor was it the number-one product, the Shaped Magic Puppet.
...
A spark of surging, golden flame ignited deep within Griffin's consciousness.
"Selected high-correlation product for the holder—"
"[End - Ember]"
"The final fire at the end of the world, a Conceptual-Grade Fire Seed."
...
"Characteristic 1—Persistence:"
"The flame uses the target's existence itself as fuel, burning continuously until the target is annihilated. As intensity increases, it can touch upon [Root Annihilation]."
...
"Characteristic 2—Spread:"
"A powerful user can, through sight or contact, directly instill a Destructive Mad Will into another's spirit, causing them to lose control and undergo Self-Combustion."
...
"Characteristic 3—Finality:"
"The targets burned away by this fire will have the Trace of Existence and their Karmic Connection with others become blurred and eventually forgotten by the world."
...
"Characteristic 4—Exhaustion:"
"If used excessively, two situations may occur:"
"1—Vessel Shattering, causing End Ember Spread."
"Unless stopped by specific means, the Final Embers will indiscriminately burn all things in the world to ash, returning them to oneness."
"2—Ember Exhaustion, causing the holder to forget its existence."
...
"(Specific risks depend on the behavior of the End Ember Vessel. Minimum: no risk. Maximum: no upper limit.)"
"It is both the Hope Flame to Mend a Shattered World and the Despair Flame that Burns the World to Ash."
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