System, you just glitched out, did you not?
Silas had always thought the system's previous performance was already its lower limit, but facts proved that lower limits existed to be broken.
Initially, the system had mistaken Rocks for the fully grown sea overlord he would become twenty years later. Now it obviously mistook Whitebeard for the right-hand man of Rocks, who had already become a sea overlord.
But the problem was, Rocks was currently his crew member.
So the system bugged out.
Fortunately, Silas did not have high expectations for the system. As long as it continued functioning normally like before, that was enough.
The several cellular activity enhancements had already helped Silas break through his original talent limitations, allowing him to step into the realm of Marine Admirals and future Yonko.
The awakening of Conqueror's Haki gave Silas even more possibilities.
What Silas valued was the talent the system provided.
As for skill-type rewards, things like the Six Powers and dual-color Haki mastery, rewarding these already mastered abilities again would not help break through to higher levels.
"Rocks seems to be reaching his limit."
On the Black Pearl, the future Whitebeard was currently just a slightly stronger young pirate who could not provide much help to Rocks against multiple pirates' attacks.
So Rocks not only had to fight the Red Heart Pirates' captain but also guard against sneak attacks from other Red Heart Pirates members.
This made the situation look extremely perilous.
Silas had already gripped his sword. If Rocks truly could not hold on, though it would be regrettable, he would prioritize saving Rocks's life.
Because Rocks was not some random captain. He was his crew member.
Having a crew member killed before the captain's eyes was the captain's shame!
However, Silas soon stopped worrying, looking toward the Black Pearl with approval.
Rocks had finally comprehended it.
Pushing the body's cells to their absolute limit, like a drowning person struggling desperately or a fish out of water frantically trying to return to the sea.
When death approached, the human body could unleash infinite potential.
And this potential was Haki!
Under attacks from Bennett and the surrounding pirates, Rocks was covered in wounds, but it was precisely in this life-or-death process that Rocks gained a clearer understanding of Haki.
Shave, Iron Body, Paper Art, Moonwalk, Tempest Kick, and Finger Gun. These six combat techniques that exceeded human limits were themselves a preliminary application of Haki.
But they still needed to be distinguished.
The Six Powers were the Six Powers. Haki was Haki.
The Six Powers were merely techniques, but Haki was a higher level of power.
"Useless, useless, useless!"
Watching Rocks miss his attack again, Red Heart Pirates captain Bennett erupted in manic laughter. Ever since eating his Devil Fruit, nothing amused him more than humiliating these so-called physical combat experts.
What use was strong physical combat? If attacks could not hit him, they were meaningless!
"Tempest Kick!"
"I told you, it is useless..."
Rocks kicked down, and Bennett's face still wore a mocking smile, but the next second, his smile froze.
Sharp pain came from below.
"How is this possible!?"
Bennett saw that Rocks's foot had solidly kicked him. This time, he could even hear the sound of his thigh breaking.
Crack!
Without the natural ability of Logia fruits, Bennett's physical defense was no different from ordinary pirates.
Bennett thought this was just an accident, but Rocks's next strike, kicking his face, completely shattered his illusions.
"Logia fruit user? Did anyone not tell you that Haki is the natural enemy of all fruit users?"
Looking down at Bennett, Rocks felt a faint sense of superiority. After all, when he first came out, he did not know what Haki was either.
But under Silas's guidance, though his strength might be somewhat lacking, his knowledge far exceeded that of ordinary people.
Being able to kick Bennett meant he had mastered Armament Haki.
Since he had mastered Armament Haki, could Observation Haki be far behind?
It could be said that whether one had mastered Haki was the watershed between strong and weak pirates. Mastering Haki was the mark of a mature pirate.
However, after those two kicks, Rocks felt his stamina drain at light speed.
Haki could counter fruit users. But using Haki required stamina!
Rocks was already nearly at his limit. Having just comprehended Haki, his usage was still unskilled. Just those two kicks had nearly exhausted his Haki reserves.
And around him, a large group of Red Heart Pirates were still eyeing him menacingly.
Seeing the surrounding pirates about to attack again, Rocks's mouth twitched, and he finally shouted reluctantly, "Captain, help!"
Rocks would bet that Silas had long known what was happening on the Black Pearl, so he had been holding back his pride, wanting to prove to Silas that he was already a qualified pirate.
In the end, though he had defeated Red Heart Pirates captain Bennett, his stamina was also exhausted.
Just as Rocks was about to be chopped into mincemeat, Newgate, who had also been knocked down, could only watch in despair as the pirates raised their swords and brought them down.
Then, the wind suddenly stopped.
A figure with a long sword at his waist leaped down from the distance.
All the pirates preparing to attack Rocks and Newgate froze like they were under a paralysis spell.
"Please excuse me."
Kicking aside a pirate blocking his path, Silas came before Rocks and smiled. "How does mastering Haki feel?"
"Hmph, not bad!"
Only after truly mastering Haki could Rocks realize its power. This was not something simple strength enhancement could explain, but a more fundamental change.
A qualitative transformation.
Newgate just stared blankly at the handsome old man who had suddenly appeared on deck. He noticed that after the handsome old man appeared, all the Red Heart Pirates were not unwilling to move. They did not dare to move.
Fear had taken control of their bodies, making them unable to even move a finger.
The old man walked over with his hands in his pockets, smiling.
"I am called Silas, captain of the White Wolf Pirates. I do not know if you have heard of us. I watched your fight with Rocks and think you have potential."
"How about it? Want to join my pirate crew? I happen to be short on people right now."
"Of course, if you are unwilling, I can phrase it differently."
Looking at the system information and gazing at the teenage boy before him, Silas's lips curved into a smile.
"Kid, how about becoming my family?"
[Chapter Complete]
***
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