In this world, a person's strength is heavily influenced by their spirit.
Take Crocodile, for example.
He once fought Barret to a standstill, yet after losing to Whitebeard, he spiraled into self-doubt and decadence. He chose to pursue strength through external means, and in the end, lost to Luffy, a rookie barely out at sea.
On these seas, pirates die three times.
The first death is when they abandon their dream, choosing to drift with the current.
The second death is the end of heartbeat, the death of the physical body.
The third death is when they are forgotten by the sea itself.
When Magnus disbanded his crew, it was as if he had already died once as a pirate.
That was the moment his body was at its weakest—
And also when his fighting spirit was at its lowest.
By instinct, he began to choose battles based solely on survival.
Call it despicable or underhanded—
When he faced the Blood Skull Pirates, instead of a direct confrontation, he preferred to exploit the island's terrain and pick them off one by one.
If not for the system, he probably never would have chosen to confront them head-on.
But once his Haoshoku no Haki (Conqueror's Haki) awakened, Magnus understood something clearly:
The more one cowers and hesitates, the weaker they become.
True Haki is forged by:
"Facing enemies head-on and defeating them with dignity—that's what makes you strong!"
Magnus swung his blade.
Even though Rona blocked in time, the sheer force shattered her shoulder blade—
Leaving a terrifying, gruesome wound across the beautiful Marine's body.
"Silent Stream!"
Another crimson arc of light soared through the air—
But this time, it wasn't an attack.
It was a forced retreat.
"Ara~ you really don't know how to show mercy to a lady, do you?"
Rona's mouth and nose were bleeding. Even with such a massive wound in her shoulder, she still wore a smile.
"This one's definitely going to scar."
"Haha! If we're talking scars, I've got way more than you."
Magnus laughed heartily.
Rona's injuries were horrific, but his own weren't much better.
Without his Mythical Zoan's powerful regeneration, he would've long since bled dry.
"You men always say scars are a man's badge of honor, don't you?"
"As if! I'm no masochist."
"Heh."
Rona sheathed her sword.
Seeing Magnus freeze for a moment, she chuckled.
"Surprised, old man? I'm just a salarywoman. Do you know how little the Navy pays me per month in Berries? Like hell I'd risk my life for that!"
"You sure weren't pulling punches just now."
"Of course not," Rona grinned. "If you'd been weaker, you'd already be dead.
But you're still standing, aren't you?"
She glanced toward the distance.
"That giant king looks like he's about to make a move.
And it's already hard enough dealing with just you—
If he jumps in, I doubt I'd make it out of Elbaf alive."
As someone without a Devil Fruit ability, having her shoulder blade shattered was a major blow to her combat strength—
Especially since she's a swordswoman who relies on her arms.
So even though she could still fight,
Rona chose to back down.
Because Magnus also had enough strength left to continue.
"Old man, five years apart and you really gave me a huge surprise.
Once word of this gets out, a lot of people are gonna lose sleep."
A pirate who could rival an Admiral was still active at sea.
That alone would massively disrupt the Navy's strategy in the New World.
Especially since that pirate was currently in Elbaf—
And seemed to have a good relationship with the giants.
"Eh, not that it's my problem. I'm technically still on vacation.
If I get hurt while off duty, does that count as a workplace injury?"
Rona laughed lightly, then turned and walked away.
At this point, they both still had strength left.
If Magnus insisted on stopping her, it would mean a fight to the death, with only one walking away.
But even as her silhouette faded from view, Magnus still couldn't figure out—
What exactly did she come here for?
To fight him?
To take him to Impel Down?
"Women are such a pain."
That was the only conclusion Magnus could draw.
He shoved the thought away.
More than Rona, what mattered to him now was—
His strength.
And he was sure—
After this fight with Rona,
he had finally crossed the threshold of the true top-tier.
Perhaps, within this realm, he was still just a newcomer.
But the fact that he could repel an Admiral,
Proved that he now possessed the power to clash head-on with a Marine Admiral—and not lose.
He had taken a true step forward again.
At that thought, Magnus couldn't hold back.
He burst into laughter.
"PUHAHAHAHAHAHA——!!"
"Captain… won!?"
Back in the upper world, Rocks stared at Magnus—
The last one standing—
And now laughing loudly.
"Duh! Of course the captain won!"
Ripley beamed with pride, her face glowing.
"He's the White Wolf—Magnus!"
Only those who had admired great pirates as children could understand what Lippley was feeling.
All the more so because—
She was now one of his crew.
"B-but… that was a Marine Admiral…"
Rocks muttered, unable to hide the awe in his eyes.
He had always known Magnus was strong.
But deep down, he had always assumed that Magnus was just—
An old man past his prime.
So he had never given up the idea of challenging Magnus one day.
But now—
Watching that battle with Rona…
Rocks couldn't help but doubt.
Could he really defeat Magnus someday?
Could he ever become that strong?
"Don't overthink it."
Ripley grinned, ruffling Rocks' hair—
Though with her giant fingers, she nearly knocked him unconscious.
"If the captain gave you the chance to challenge him, it means he sees potential in you.
If you don't even have the courage to surpass him,
how can you call yourself a member of the White Wolf Pirates?"
That fight had stirred Ripley's heart as well.
As a newly adult giant, she was still far too weak.
She didn't even qualify to intervene in such a battle.
But unlike Rocks—
As a child of Elbaf, the world's strongest nation,
Ripley's vision was broader, and her confidence greater.
After all, Elbaf had once produced a king who fought Magnus to a draw.
Ripley didn't think Harald could defeat Magnus now—
But it still proved:
The giants had the potential to stand at the peak of the world.
"Hmph! I'm not giving up!"
Though shaken for a moment,
Rocks quickly regained his resolve.
Because the stronger Magnus was,
The stronger he would be after defeating him.
And that meant—
He was one step closer to his dream.
He was going to become the King of the Seas!
How could he lose to some old man!?
(End of Chapter)
[Check Out My P@treon For +20 Extra Chapters On All My Fanfics!!][[email protected]/euridome]
[Thank You For Your Support!]