At this moment, the entire world knew that top-tier prodigies were beginning to reach level thirty.
"The era of true powerhouses is coming."
"Will Ye Yu soon no longer be the strongest?"
"Inevitably. It's certain that the powerful Ability Users from One Piece possess greater personal strength. These top prodigies will soon surpass Ye Yu."
"That's enough. Ye Yu has had his moment of glory and has been remembered by everyone."
...
Meanwhile, aboard the Dominant Feather Pirate Crew.
The crew members weren't panicked. Even as level thirty became increasingly common, even as the weak phase for Non-Ability Users gradually arrived, they would work harder. Moreover, their ship did have Ability Users. They vowed in their hearts to shoulder more pressure in the future—the Non-Ability Users had carried them early on; now it was their turn.
They all believed that Ability Users had greater potential. At level thirty, they could inherit the combat power of One Piece's Ability Users, and their Devil Fruits could even awaken. So even Xia Ling and Zhao Yan'er thought that perhaps, in the late game, they might become stronger than Ye Yu.
By then, they wanted to amend the ship's rule—no longer would the strongest automatically become Captain. They would let Ye Yu continue leading, given all he had done. They believed no one would oppose this when the time came.
Ye Yu was well aware of their thoughts. They all assumed he wouldn't measure up in the late game, but he said nothing. It didn't surprise him—after all, he was the only one who truly understood One Piece.
At this moment, Xia Ling and Zhao Yan'er had reached level thirty and could feel their power increasing.
Xiao Ke sighed lightly. "Level thirty... their combat power must surpass mine now."
Sun Long said, "Show us what you can do now."
The crew was eager. Currently, only Xia Ling and Zhao Yan'er on the ship were level thirty Ability Users, having inherited some of the power of the Flare-Flare Fruit and Ice Fruit users from One Piece.
Ye Yu was also looking forward to it. Knowing Aokiji and Sabo, he was certain their combat abilities had improved significantly.
Xia Ling and Zhao Yan'er, sensing their enhanced strength, were thrilled.
"I feel much stronger, especially in raw attributes—strength, defense, Haki, combat skills. It's clear now: Aokiji is a powerhouse."
Xia Ling now knew that the Ice Fruit user in One Piece was called Aokiji.
The crew was curious. "Aokiji?"
"What kind of existence was he in One Piece?"
"Vice-Captain, tell us more!"
...
Xia Ling happily explained, "I've learned quite a bit about Aokiji. In One Piece, he was a powerhouse—a Marine Admiral."
At this, everyone was stunned. A Marine Admiral?
They had some idea—after all, in two years and eleven months, the Marines would arrive. The Marines' strongest combatants were the Admirals. The Ice Fruit user had actually been a Marine Admiral?
The crew was puzzled. "But I thought we couldn't obtain Devil Fruits from the Marines?"
Xia Ling clarified, "He wasn't with the Marines anymore by then. The exact reason isn't clear."
The crew nodded. "It doesn't matter if we don't know why. We just need to know he was strong."
"Incredible... a Marine Admiral, one of the top combatants in One Piece. No wonder you're our Vice-Captain."
"Your combat power must have skyrocketed."
"Can you use Conqueror's Haki? Dominator Infusion? Observation Kill?"
At this, Xia Ling seemed surprised and shook her head. "No Conqueror's Haki, and no Observation Kill either."
The crew members were taken aback. Without Conqueror's Haki, naturally, one couldn't master Dominator Infusion.
Zhao Yan'er spoke up at this moment, "I don't have it either."
The crew was surprised. Even among the strongest Pirate Ability Users, not all possessed it? Yet Ye Yu did?
Xiao Ke frowned slightly. "Did those Pirates not awaken it, or were they born without it? Without Conqueror's Haki, mastering Dominator Infusion is impossible. As for Observation Kill, with diligent training in Observation Haki, perhaps one could achieve it in the future."
Xia Ling and Zhao Yan'er felt a slight regret, but it was overshadowed by their joy.
Xia Ling said, "I'm quite satisfied. I feel much stronger now."
Zhao Yan'er agreed, "Me too."
After speaking, Zhao Yan'er grew eager and looked at Xiao Ke.
She proposed, "Although I feel my strength has improved significantly, I know I'm still no match for the Captain. So, Xiao Ke, how about a quick spar? Your marksmanship is impressive, but your Body techniques are formidable too."
Xiao Ke nodded. "Alright."
The crew immediately grew excited, eager to see how much Zhao Yan'er had transformed at level thirty.
Zhao Yan'er added, "To showcase my current strength, I won't use the Flare-Flare Fruit's abilities."
Xiao Ke nodded again. "Understood."
Ye Yu watched with anticipation, while Xia Ling fixed her gaze intently, curious about Zhao Yan'er's progress.
Zhao Yan'er explained, "In the Pirate world, the current holder of the Flare-Flare Fruit is Sabo. Though he doesn't hold the title of Four Emperors, his strength rivals that of a Marine Admiral."
The title of Four Emperors was coveted by countless Pirates, and many now knew of these legendary figures in the Pirate world.
For instance, Bai Shaohan, who inherited Whitebeard's power, also learned that Whitebeard was one of the Four Emperors in the Pirate King's world.
Bai Shaohan was pleased but also puzzled. "Just one of the Four Emperors?"
Though the Four Emperors were formidable, Bai Shaohan had hoped Whitebeard would be the Pirate King, as in the Pirate world, the King stood above the Emperors. There was only one Pirate King, but four Emperors.
Lin Muxue knew this too and chuckled inwardly. "The reason he wasn't the Pirate King must be because the Rumble Rumble Fruit user holds that title in the Pirate world."
Li Cang flattered, "Absolutely. Even before reaching level thirty, it's clear that the Rumble Rumble Fruit user in the Pirate world is at least a Four Emperor, if not the Pirate King."
Lin Muxue sighed. "What a shame we don't inherit memories. Otherwise, I'd love to know what those seven Ye Yu inherited were like in the Pirate world."
Li Cang asserted, "They must've been nobodies. None were Ability Users, and while strong, it only proves that top-tier Ability Users are inherently stronger."
Lin Muxue agreed. "No need to dwell on it. Those seven Ye Yu inherited couldn't have been Four Emperors—not even Seven Warlords of the Sea. The true powerhouses in the Pirate world, the ones with renowned titles, are all top-tier Ability Users."
The title of Seven Warlords of the Sea was gradually becoming known, as a Shadow-Shadow Fruit user in this world had just reached level thirty.
Upon doing so, they learned about Moria, a former Seven Warlord.
Thus, the concept of the Seven Warlords spread, and people began to grasp the hierarchy: the Pirate King stood at the pinnacle, followed by the Four Emperors, then the Seven Warlords.
Had Ye Yu heard this, he would've laughed.
If they truly understood the Pirate King's world, they'd realize how absurd their assumptions were.
At that moment, Zhao Yan'er raised her right hand, her aura surging without using any abilities.
In the next instant, everyone watching was shocked, for Zhao Yan'er's hand had taken the form of a claw—a dragon's claw—coated in pitch-black Armament Haki. The crew members trembled.
"It looks so powerful and sharp."
"It's like seeing a real dragon's claw."
...
Zhao Yan'er warned, "Sabo's specialty in Body techniques is the Dragon Claw Fist. Xiao Ke, be careful."
"Alright, bring it on."