The notifications faded from Aaron's mind, leaving a profound, humming silence in the depths of the sea.
He stood on the ocean floor, pressures that would crush a normal man feeling like nothing more than a light breeze against his skin. Thanks to his "Special Lock Lock Fruit," the seawater that should have drained his life force instead swirled harmlessly around his 2.5-meter frame. He could feel the absolute authority of the fruit pulsing through his veins—not just its base form, but its fully awakened state, ready to lock concepts, space, and movements at his command.
Slowly, Aaron closed his eyes. When he opened them, the dark ocean depths were illuminated by a crimson glow.
Three tomoe spun rapidly in his irises before shifting into the intricate, jagged pattern of his Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan. The sheer potency of the ocular power chakra-fused into his soul was staggering. He could feel the spectral presence of a Susanoo waiting to be unleashed—a colossus so durable that it would make the strongest armor in the New World look like fragile glass.
A wild, thrill-seeking smile played on Aaron's lips.
"Strongest in the world, huh?" he muttered, his voice muffled by the water but resonating with absolute confidence. "At thirteen years old. Let's see what this world looks like now."
Aaron focused his mind, testing his new toolkit. He targeted a massive, ancient Sea King passing by—a creature easily the size of a Marine battleship.
> **[ Appraisal Skill Activated ]**
> * **Name:** Deep-Sea Kraken (Variant)
> * **Strength:** Vice-Admiral Level (Physical)
> * **Skills:** High-Speed Swimming, Constriction, Basic Armament Haki (Latent).
> * **Threat Level:** Low
>
>
With a flick of his wrist, Aaron didn't even use his sword. He simply channeled a microscopic burst of his awakened Lock Lock ability.
*Click.*
The massive Sea King froze mid-swim, completely locked in time and space. It couldn't twitch a single tentacle.
"Incredible," Aaron thought. He swam closer, deciding to test his most broken ability. *Copy, Cut, Paste.* He locked eyes with the frozen beast, his EMS piercing through the dark water.
*System, copy 'Basic Armament Haki' and paste it to my panel. Then, merge it with my existing Haki.*
{Ding!}
{Skill 'Basic Armament Haki' successfully copied and merged with Host's advanced Haki. Host's Armament Haki has evolved into: **Divine Iron Lock Haki**.}
A shockwave of invisible force erupted from Aaron's body, parting the sea for hundreds of meters around him. His arms coated themselves in a Haki so dense, black, and lustrous that it seemed to absorb the meager light of the ocean depths.
Breaking the surface of the water, Aaron shot into the sky like a missile, landing effortlessly on the shore of the secluded island he had used for training over the past three years.
He didn't need to hide anymore. He didn't need to fear the World Government, the Marines, or the Emperors of the Sea. The world was his sandbox now.
His advanced Comprehension Skill immediately began processing the layout of the world around him. He could sense the political unrest, the pirate eras, the absolute tyranny of the Celestial Dragons. Before today, he was a powerful anomaly. Today, he was a god walking among mortals.
Suddenly, his Sharingan picked up three massive silhouettes on the horizon. Marine battleships.
They had likely tracked the massive energy spike from his Haki evolution. Leading the fleet was a standard Buster Call-level deployment, meant to eradicate a high-tier threat.
Aaron stood on the beach, his hands resting casually on his hips. His 2.5-meter frame cast a long, imposing shadow across the sand.
"Perfect timing," Aaron chuckled, his crimson eyes gleaming with anticipation. "Let's announce to the world that its new ruler has arrived."