At that very moment, something unexpected happened.
The system silent for three long years suddenly chimed to life.
[Temporary Mission Activated!]
[Objective: Demonstrate Your Power Before Sengoku and Join the Marines!]
[Reward: +1% Legacy Progress]
Ezra D. Vale froze.
That one percent might not sound like much, but to him, it was enormous.
As his inheritance deepened, each incremental step had become exponentially harder. Reaching even a single percentage point now demanded weeks of grueling, uninterrupted training.
And now, he had a chance to earn that reward instantly.
Without hesitation, Ezra accepted the mission.
"So then, boy," Sengoku called out, his tone half-curious, half-challenging. "I never did catch your name."
Ezra smiled faintly, drawing his blade in one smooth motion. The crimson steel of Ryūjin Jakka shimmered faintly in his grip.
"My name is Ezra D. Vale, sir," he said, voice calm yet carrying a spark of pride. "Please, take care of me."
For a brief moment, Sengoku's expression flickered.
"Another one… with the initial D?" he muttered under his breath.
But before the thought could fully form, every instinct in his battle-hardened body screamed danger.
He looked up and nearly lost his glasses.
A torrent of spiritual pressure burst from the boy before him, dense and scorching. Though Ezra had only achieved thirty percent inheritance, his Reiatsu his spiritual energy was already on par with a Gotei 13 captain.
A thunderous boom tore through the clearing.
Sengoku's coat flapped violently as the air itself seemed to ignite. The ground beneath Ezra cracked open, molten fissures spreading outward. Within three meters, everything grass, stone, even the moisture in the air burst into spontaneous flame.
It was as though the sun itself had descended to earth.
Sengoku swallowed, beads of sweat dripping down his forehead partly from the unbearable heat, partly from sheer disbelief.
"This boy… he's a monster."
No other words could capture the awe he felt. The youth standing before him wasn't just strong he radiated the weight of power, the kind that made even veteran admirals wary.
Ezra exhaled slowly, raising his sword in both hands. His eyes glowed like embers as he whispered the words of release.
"Let me show you, old man... the result of my training."
Then, with a voice that shook the island itself, he roared:
"All things of creation shall return to ash Ryūjin Jakka!"
In an instant, the blade erupted into blinding orange fire. The air shimmered, bending under the heat. A sound like cracking glass filled the silence as the terrain warped. Even the light of the sun seemed dull next to it.
Sengoku felt the energy prickling against his skin, almost searing his lungs as he breathed.
He clenched his jaw. "Incredible… and he's barely using it seriously!"
Ezra advanced, the flames trailing behind him like wings.
Then he vanished.
A gust of wind swept through the clearing, scattering embers. Sengoku's Observation Haki expanded instantly.
Fast!
His mind raced. That movement it was Shunpo, a flash step!
Before a second had passed, he felt Ezra's presence behind him.
"There!"
Sengoku turned sharply, his right fist already coated in a slick layer of Armament Haki. The obsidian sheen shimmered under the light as he swung.
A metallic clang resounded Ezra's flaming blade colliding with Sengoku's iron fist.
Ezra's eyes widened slightly, sparks reflecting in his pupils. "So this is Armament Haki…"
The old Marine chuckled. "And you'd better not lose focus mid-fight, boy!"
His other fist came swinging in.
But Ezra didn't flinch.
He merely pressed one foot to the ground and vanished again, reappearing several meters away.
Sengoku's pupils shrank. That speed… it's nearly equal to the Navy's "Soru" technique!
For a moment, a rare grin spread across the Admiral's face. This boy wasn't just promising he was a phenomenon.
Their exchange intensified. Ezra attacked relentlessly, every strike more refined than the last. Flames carved patterns through the air. Sengoku deflected, dodged, and countered, but as the battle wore on, he began to feel the strain.
It was becoming clear he was being pushed back.
Ezra, meanwhile, was in perfect flow. The rhythm of battle honed his instincts; each movement grew sharper, each cut more precise. His mastery over the Shinigami art of the Zanpakutō the "Slash" was increasing in real time.
Sparks and embers filled the air.
Then
A blazing arc of fire appeared before Sengoku. There was nowhere to dodge.
"Haah!!"
Sengoku's shout thundered across the island. His body expanded rapidly, transforming into a towering golden giant the Daibutsu, the Great Buddha.
His hands, now massive and gleaming with divine radiance, came together to catch the incoming blade.
The impact echoed like a cannon blast.
Sengoku grimaced as his right knee struck the ground, cracks spiderwebbing beneath him. Even in his Buddha form, the boy's raw strength and spiritual pressure forced him down.
Ezra, seeing this, leapt back with a calm, assessing gaze.
"So that's… a Devil Fruit ability."
There was fascination in his voice but no envy.
Sure, the power was impressive. But when you wielded the flame of Ryūjin Jakka, what more could you want?
He glanced at his sword. The flames were still raging, but his energy was waning.
"Still can't hold Shikai for long," he murmured, shaking his head. "I'm nowhere near the old man's level yet."
Taking a deep breath, Ezra turned his gaze back toward the glowing golden figure.
If he was going to test his limits he might as well go all the way.
"Alright then, old man," he called out, his tone solemn yet alive with fire. "This next move is my strongest attack so far."
He raised Ryūjin Jakka high, the flames roaring in response.
"Please watch closely!"
The air trembled. Heat rippled outward in waves.
And in that blinding blaze of orange, Ezra D. Vale prepared to unleash his full power for the very first time.