Chapter 172: Shanks Challenges The Train Crew Single-handedly
“The black energy he uses is this world’s Armament Haki, which can enhance attack and defense. The mental power with suppression effect is Conqueror’s Haki, and the ability to sense A Xing’s actions is Observation Haki…” Meng Huaifeng explained to the others.
“Armament Haki, from the perspective of attack and defense, is far inferior to Preservation Power, but compared to Imaginary Energy alone, it’s not much different. In many cultivation systems, it’s considered quite outstanding, just don’t know about its upper limit.” Himeko sensed the Armament Haki Shanks displayed and evaluated.
“Armament Haki is limited by body strength. If unable to step onto a destiny path, body strength will eventually have a limit, but after stepping onto a destiny path, Armament Haki probably won’t be useful anymore. On the other hand, Conqueror’s Haki is different from pure mental suppression; its strength is influenced by will, which is interesting.” Meng Huaifeng said.
For the power systems of various worlds, even if they have some characteristics, they can’t compare to destiny power.
Instead, some special abilities surprised the train crew more.
“Why does the Conqueror’s Haki you mentioned feel a bit like Sword Intent?” March 7th scratched her head.
“It really does feel a bit similar; both strengths are influenced by mental will, just different in form.” Meng Huaifeng realized.
“Can’t say it’s useless though. Normally, after stepping onto a destiny path, don’t people combine destiny power with what they learned before, causing the previously mastered abilities to undergo transformation and become even more powerful?” Yan retorted.
“Oh, I stepped onto a destiny path first, then learned other things, so I haven’t experienced what you said, my comment might be biased.” Meng Huaifeng scratched his head, but he was confident even without reason on his side.
“Same for me. From when I woke up, I was already a memory pathfinder, able to control Six Phases Ice, then I stepped onto Pioneer.” March 7th chimed in.
“I was an Immortality pathfinder right after coming out of the water.” Dan Heng also said.
“Right, A Xing too. She was a Destruction pathfinder right after waking up, and even got glanced at by an Aeon.” March 7th added.
“…” Yan couldn’t help but look at them with envious and jealous eyes. What kind of second-generation were these?
“Observation Haki isn’t bad either. Perception abilities are common in other worlds too, but few can predict the future.” Meng Huaifeng continued the previous topic.
“How does it compare to our angels’ Eye of Insight?” Yan asked.
“Hard to compare. Your Eye of Insight reads the opponent’s hidden information, then uses known data and computing power to deduce the future. If not enough data is read, it becomes inaccurate. Observation Haki’s future prediction can be interfered with by strong mental will. Each has its own merits.” Meng Huaifeng said.
“Then if I combine Observation Haki with Eye of Insight…” Yan had a flash of inspiration.
“Then if Observation Haki and Eye of Insight predict different futures, which one do you believe?” Meng Huaifeng teased.
“Uh…” Yan was stunned, speechless.
“Do the strong in this world mostly master these three types of Haki?” Himeko asked.
“Except for Conqueror’s Haki, pretty much.” Meng Huaifeng said.
“Is the cultivation method very widespread?”
“No, if talent is sufficient and strength is strong enough, it awakens and is learned naturally.”
“No special cultivation method needed, and basically all can awaken these three types of Haki. Then these three types of Haki are likely related to this world’s special physique, like Hong Kou and Po Xiao world’s life essence. People outside this world probably can’t learn it easily.” Himeko guessed.
“If really wanting to learn, it can definitely be learned, but targeted research and adjustments are needed.” Dan Heng said, pinching his chin.
Himeko is an expert in tech research, but Dan Heng is the expert in secret art cultivation research.
Douluo World’s Martial Spirits are different; no special physique needed, but to awaken Martial Spirits outside Douluo Star requires research and adjustments.
Dan Heng researched for quite some time to awaken Jingliu’s.
…
Facing Shanks’s request, Stelle looked strange.
“You sure?”
“Please!” Shanks said seriously.
Stelle used only body power, no special power at all. Shanks couldn’t be satisfied.
He had already seen this world’s power peak. Now, he wanted to see power from outside the world!
“Alright then, come on.” Stelle wrapped Pioneer Power around the baseball bat. Destruction Power was out; it could easily cause irreversible injuries.
“Divine Departure!”
Shanks went all out. A sword skill containing the peak application of Armament Haki, Conqueror’s Haki, and Observation Haki turned into a black-red light, flashing past.
Divine Departure?
Cool name. If I don’t dodge, wouldn’t I be even more badass than a god?
Stelle didn’t move, just used Preservation Power to protect her clothes.
Divine Departure slashed onto Stelle, completely unharmed.
This is the power!
Not Devil Fruit Ability, but power from outside the world!
Shanks’s face twisted ferociously; the violent power could no longer be contained, leaking out in all directions.
Feeling the ground starting to shake slightly, Stelle covered the ground with her Preservation Power.
Meng Huaifeng also used Preservation Power, adding a firewall of dual body and soul protection for the onlookers.
“Go for it, Shanks!” Luffy was completely unaffected by Shanks’s leaking Conqueror’s Haki and cheered loudly.
Though Luffy thought Shanks was a bit weak, he was still his friend.
Stelle smashed the baseball bat toward Shanks’s forehead.
Shanks unwillingly sheathed his sword to dodge.
However, as per Shanks’s request, Stelle used a bit more force; her attack was too fast.
Though Observation Haki sensed Stelle’s attack, Shanks couldn’t dodge at all.
“Clang!”
Good sound means good head.
Even with Pirate World’s tanky physique that could clash with strong persons for days and still be lively, it couldn’t withstand Stelle’s one baseball bat strike.
Shanks fell headfirst and passed out.
But Stelle was very measured. After fighting Shanks for a while, she had fully gauged his physical qualities.
This strike would definitely stun without brain damage; the force was just right.
“Whoa, boss got knocked out in one hit…”
“These Nameless Guests are so strong.”
“Beaten by a tender and delicate young girl. Boss is really lame.”
This time, the pirates’ laughter was much less; they were genuinely shocked.
Not like when facing Bandit King Sig, which they found funny.
Pirate World’s tanky physique lived up to its name. Even though Shanks didn’t specialize in physique, he got up from the ground after fainting for over ten seconds.
“Miss Stelle, what degree does your strength rank among you all?” Shanks asked with a complicated expression.
He had thought he might lose, but not that he’d be defeated so easily.
Lost too fast, didn’t feel anything.
Are people from outside the world all this strong?
Makes sense; if too weak, they couldn’t adventure in other worlds.
“I’m the train crew’s combat powerhouse!” Stelle puffed out her chest, not modest at all.
So he challenged the wrong target.
Shanks breathed a sigh of relief.
Shanks scanned the train crew.
That young girl looked silly and probably not strong, but Shanks felt he had face to save and wouldn’t bully her.
Shanks felt too embarrassed to challenge the obviously weaker ones in the train crew and turned his gaze to Meng Huaifeng.
“Mister Meng Huaifeng, please advise.” Shanks said.
“Me? Sure.” Meng Huaifeng stepped forward.
“Please use special abilities directly. I want to witness them.” Shanks said.
Meng Huaifeng nodded.
After watching Stelle fight him for a while, the train crew each had a basic assessment of Shanks’s strength.
Knew how much power to use; no need for more probing.
Meng Huaifeng took out the Phantom Spear and twirled a few spear flowers.
Shanks didn’t probe with Flying Slash and charged straight up.
Aether Editing.
The Phantom Spear instantly extended, stabbing toward Shanks.
Shanks swung his sword to intercept, intercepting nothing.
Gryphon slashed over the Phantom Spear, but the spear didn’t break.
Bad!
Shanks wanted to dodge, but it was too late.
The blunted spear tip turned physical, poking Shanks right in the chest.
Shanks was poked flying, clutching his chest and landing headfirst.
If the spear tip hadn’t been blunted, it wouldn’t be just poked flying, but heart pierced!
“Boss… got one-shot again…”
After a while, Shanks got up and forced a smile at Meng Huaifeng.
“Sorry for the disturbance, please head back.”
Could he really not beat any of them?
Then Shanks chose to challenge Dan Heng and was taken to the sky by a water dragon.
Chose to challenge Zhu Zhuqing, took a few more moves before being pinned by a group of phantom clones.
But Shanks reignited his fighting spirit. Not all of them were that strong, right?
Continued challenging. Yan activated Thunder God of War, igniting the thunder gene in his body; Shanks’s hair exploded instantly, coughing black smoke.
Lost so many times already, who cares about face? This time challenge that silly girl!
Then Shanks turned into an ice sculpture.
Shanks lost repeatedly, even without power to fight back.
The new pirates who just boarded, who hadn’t believed Stelle’s words at first, now doubted if they boarded the wrong ship.
Originally thought Shanks was one of the top strong persons on the sea.
Turns out he was the one inexperienced; actually, any random person could beat up the captain he saw as powerful.
He was so much weaker than the captain; could he really make it on the sea?
The newly recruited pirates thought of getting off the ship and going home to be an honest citizen.
Shanks didn’t give up and continued challenging.
Though losing miserably, it wasn’t without gains.
Witnessing brand new power shattered Shanks’s previous cognition that Roger was the world’s peak.
Sometimes, what limits a person isn’t talent, but cognition.
He first realized the sky could be higher, the ground thicker!
He had much more room to grow!
Though kept losing, Shanks’s spirit kept elevating!
Some, seeing stronger power and getting defeated, would be greatly discouraged and never recover.
Others would fight harder, climb higher peaks, becoming even stronger.
Shanks was undoubtedly the latter.
In the end, Shanks found he could only beat Su Xiaoli, tied with Po Xiao wearing Gravity Body, and was suppressed by Hong Kou.
As for Himeko, she looked like the leading elder; her strength surely wasn’t weak.
But finally, Shanks gritted his teeth and chose to challenge.
Result… couldn’t even beat one of Himeko’s drones.
Luffy sighed, giving Shanks a disappointed look. Turns out Shanks really was that weak; couldn’t beat anyone.
Even though Shanks was his friend and he wanted to be a pirate before, he couldn’t join such a weak pirate crew.
As for now…
“Smack!”
Luffy slapped his fist hard and said, “Decided! I don’t want to be a pirate anymore; I want to be a Pioneer!”
Adventuring in the universe sounds way cooler than adventuring on the sea!
“Himeko, let me join you! I don’t want to be a pirate anymore!” Luffy ran to Himeko.
He had seen Himeko was the train crew’s captain.
“Not being a pirate is great, but you’re too young now. If you still want to be a Pioneer when you grow up, I’ll definitely agree to you joining.” Himeko gently ruffled Luffy’s head.
“Same thing again! I’m already grown up.” Luffy said angrily, his cheeks really puffed like two balloons.
Meng Huaifeng couldn’t help poking one side; March 7th poked the other.
“Pfft~”
Luffy instantly deflated, blown flying backward.
“Haha, too fun!” March 7th couldn’t help laughing.
After a round of sparring with the train crew, it was already late.
“Getting to know such amazing friends is my honor, Shanks. Worth celebrating! Lads, banquet time!” Shanks announced.
“Banquet? Yay!” Stelle cheered.
A huge bonfire was piled up in the farm center.
Makino had no more alcohol; the pirates carried down the stored liquor from the ship.
The train crew dispersed too: some helped carry ingredients, some chatted idly with pirates, others went fishing in the sea.
Luffy still wanted to show off his superb swimming skills, completely forgetting he ate a Devil Fruit and became landlubber.
Meng Huaifeng fished Luffy back.
Caught some sea fish; ingredients were mostly ready, pots and pans brought over. The banquet officially started.
Red-Haired Pirates’ chef Lucky Roux’s cooking was much better than Makino’s; the train crew finally tasted Pirate World’s signature delicacies.
Big chunks of meat, big bowls of alcohol. The train crew shed some elegance, blending into this world’s style, becoming more bold.
March 7th, Zhu Zhuqing, and Luffy drank juice.
Musician Binks’ Sake performed Pirate World’s music, rough and bold, with unique flavor.
The train crew didn’t hold back; March 7th sang a favorite, Galaxy famous singer Robin’s Make a Heart Immune to Sorrow.
But pigs can’t eat fine bran; pirates’ reaction was flat, not buying it. Only musician Binks’ Sake appreciated it, praising astonishingly, making March 7th barely satisfied.
Stelle showed off her Wildfire War Song, earning unanimous praise from the pirates. March 7th realized abstract Stelle fit like fish to water in this world.
Shanks told of his original captain, Pirate King Roger’s great achievements. The great treasure made countless pirates flock, sailing out to the Grand Line.
The train crew didn’t evaluate Pirate King. Though he wanted to change the world, he indeed caused greater chaos.
Bloodshed is inevitable in era’s change; the train crew knew this and wouldn’t critique him from another height.
Not too keen on pirate stories. Though this world’s ways were like that, it didn’t align much with train crew’s morality.
So after Shanks boasted about Pirate King, Meng Huaifeng took over, telling of train crew’s adventures in other worlds.
Meng Huaifeng’s telling was way more captivating than Stelle’s, and that vast worldview made pirates feel their so-called hot-blooded adventures insignificant.
Of course, some believed, some didn’t; train crew’s adventures really exceeded their cognition.
