Infinite Anime [176-178] (Patreon)

Chapter 176: Snow Wind's Misfortune

The explorer knelt on the deck, cursing in his heart.

Bringing King here to fight us? We'd have to be crazy not to surrender!

"Mr. Gusion, how should we handle this?"

King perched atop the railing, gazing down at those on the ship.

Seeing this, the explorers grew even more uneasy. They'd thought Gusion only held a nominal post within the Beasts Pirates, but now it seemed even King, once the top of the All-Stars, respected him. If word got out, it would shock the explorer community.

"Take their treasure and let them go," Gusion said.

He wasn't bloodthirsty. Since they'd already surrendered and offered their loot, killing them would be overkill.

The lead explorer breathed a sigh of relief and shouted, "Get all the treasure out here!"

He shot his companions a look. Though reluctant, they produced two Devil Fruits as their ransom.

Gusion glanced at the fruits after taking them. They were both Paramecia types—nothing special, but for ordinary explorers, this was probably their greatest haul in this world.

Devil Fruits acquired in-world could be certified and brought out at a low cost, with at least half the value retained. With certification limits, Devil Fruits were the best items to bring out.

"Bring your ship over and move it yourselves," Gusion ordered, eyeing the piles of gold and treasure.

The explorers nearly wept. Robbing them was one thing, but making them transport the loot themselves?

But none dared complain. Gusion's hand never left his sword, and King's gaze followed them like a hawk.

Soon, they brought their ship alongside the Beasts Pirates' flagship and began moving cargo.

Gusion wasn't merciless—he left them food and water to reach the next island.

In the end, the explorers slunk away with their crew, only daring to grumble once far off.

"Paramecia fruits, huh? You keep them," Kaido said when Gusion returned and showed him the fruits. Kaido wasn't interested and left them for Gusion.

Kaido's taste in Devil Fruits was extremely biased—he only cared about Zoan types, especially Ancient Zoans. Paramecia and even Logias didn't interest him, so his crew was almost exclusively Zoan users.

Devil Fruits were priceless on the black market, worth at least 100 million Berries each, sometimes several billion for rarer powers.

But to Kaido, these two were mediocre. He figured Gusion and Yamato needed to build up their own trusted followers, so these were investments in their future.

Gusion checked the fruit details: one Sticky-Stick Fruit type, the other a Cool-Cool Fruit. The gum fruit was similar to Mr. 3's Wax-Wax, but with some differences. Cool-Cool could freeze things, like a weaker, non-Logia version of Aokiji's Ice-Ice Fruit.

Kaido, though uneducated, was a seasoned pirate who knew the Devil Fruit encyclopedia by heart. He simply had no interest in these.

For Gusion, these fruits weren't useless—he could sell them for at least 100,000 End Coins each, and double that outside the world. Certified items like these were easy money.

By the way, the Ancient Zoan T-Rex fruit Kaido gave him didn't require certification—it was a space reward and could be taken out directly.

After this haul, Gusion realized there was a lot to gain from adventuring on these seas—especially with Kaido's backing. Any explorer they met, they could just rob.

So, for the next while, whenever Gusion spotted a ship at sea, he'd volunteer to plunder them.

Didn't matter if it was an explorer's ship or not. Some New World pirates fought back, but the result was obvious—even powerful enemies fell before King's blade.

Explorers, on the other hand, tended to be sensible. Seeing Kaido's ship, those who couldn't escape surrendered their spoils and lived.

After two weeks, Gusion noticed many explorers had entered the New World—he'd personally encountered over a dozen, all hoping to fish in troubled waters.

Their courage was impressive. Meeting Kaido, who only robbed them, was lucky. If they ran into someone like Red-Haired Shanks, the Ship Destroyer, they'd likely die.

Don't think of Shanks as a good guy. As pirates, they robbed as well—just usually not from nations, but from other pirates. If you had no connection or strength, he'd show no mercy.

If you provoked someone under his flag, he'd destroy you, ship and all. Just ask Kid—he spent ages being knocked out by Kaido, but Shanks wouldn't be so lenient.

In short, sailing the New World was dangerous. Kaido was probably the most reasonable of the Four Emperors—at least he'd spare your life if you surrendered.

Gusion explained all this to his latest guests. "So, stop sulking and hand over two Devil Fruits."

Snow Wind, whose face was usually cold, now looked humiliated. "Fine, you win!"

That's right—the Blizzard Adventurer Team had entered the One Piece world. Led by Snow Wind, once the top ranker in the arena, they'd done well on the Grand Line.

Half a month ago, hearing their stay was almost up, they'd decided to enter the New World and see if they could profit in the chaos.

They knew the original story well and could avoid many dangers. If they ran into a Yonko, they'd just surrender, get imprisoned, and wait out their time to return.

But as they carefully neared their destination, they ran into Gusion.

Gusion grinned. "Why so glum? If I hadn't been here today, you'd all be digging in Wano as slaves by now!"

He took the two Devil Fruits from her. "I'm letting you off easy because we're old friends."

Snow Wind felt wronged but knew Gusion was right. If he weren't in the Beasts Pirates, she'd have no room to negotiate.

The two fruits were a hefty price, but survival meant a chance to recoup losses later. If they'd been enslaved, there'd be no hope.

"Gusion, give us a chance—we want to join the Beasts Pirates," Snow Wind offered.

"Oh? What's in it for me?" Gusion smirked.

"You already got your reward," Snow Wind gestured to the fruits.

"That's for Mr. Kaido. Don't get it twisted," Gusion said seriously.

He turned to King, "Mr. King, these pirates are old friends from the Grand Line—should we consider recruiting them?"

King looked confused—recruitment was Gusion's job as the strategist. Why was he being asked?

Still, after a moment, King replied, "To join, you'll need to show more sincerity."

Gusion grinned at Snow Wind. "See, it's possible. Just missing a little something."

He did have the authority to recruit, but he wanted to squeeze more from them.

Snow Wind's team was sizable—they'd survived months on the Grand Line, and two fruits alone wouldn't buy their entry.

"You…" Snow Wind fumed, but realizing her position, gritted her teeth. "We have two more Devil Fruits. All for the Beasts Pirates—just please let us in."

Her crew retrieved two more fruits from the hold.

Satisfied, Gusion accepted. "Very good. From today, you're part of the Beasts Pirates. Don't worry, I treat old friends well."

Ultimately, Snow Wind's ship joined Kaido's fleet, and her key members boarded the flagship with Gusion's approval.

Of the four fruits Snow Wind offered, three were Zoans—Gusion gave them all to Kaido. The remaining Paramecia, Kaido didn't want.

"Nothing like seeing an old friend!" Gusion cheerfully told Kaido. "See? I only kept one fruit for myself."

Snow Wind was surprised Gusion actually handed most over, but quickly realized: This guy must have robbed loads already!

Indeed, in half a month, Gusion had plundered many pirate ships—he now had five Devil Fruits, including Snow Wind's.

That was his certification limit—any more would be wasted.

"So, you're heading to Sky Island?" Snow Wind asked, noting the fleet's direction. Now with Kaido as backing, maybe they could recoup their losses by robbing others.

"That's not your concern," Gusion said meaningfully. "My advice: the New World is too deep for you. Don't get in over your head."

He was only warning her out of old friendship. The Snow Wind team was still too weak for the New World, and while it was possible to profit in the chaos, they could easily die.

Snow Wind looked at him wryly. "Want to come along as our guide?"

Gusion just shrugged.

He beckoned to her and her crew. "Come on—I'll take you to class. Don't say I don't look out for old friends."

Snow Wind's eyes lit up—she'd nearly forgotten she was now aboard the ship of Kaido"

Chapter 177: Conqueror's Haki

Snow Wind thought that if she could learn advanced Haki techniques, the Devil Fruits would be worth it.

But she was soon disappointed.

Kaido, of course, wasn't about to teach newcomers. Gusion's class was just watching his own training sessions with Kaido…

Still, Kaido used advanced techniques in sparring, so just observing had value.

Bang!

Kaido sent Gusion flying into the railings.

Rubbing his sore head, Gusion stood up. "Mr. Kaido, hold on—I think I'm awakening something."

"Oh?" Kaido's eyes shone with joy. "So you really have the potential?"

Kaido already saw Gusion as a confidant, his only complaint being Gusion's own strength. Awakening Conqueror's Haki meant he had higher potential—a great thing for Kaido.

Gusion nodded. He could now confirm he had the aptitude for Conqueror's Haki. As an outsider to this world, only after mastering Observation and Armament Haki had he begun to awaken it. Kaido's repeated use of Conqueror's Haki in training had brought out his potential.

In front of the amazed explorers, Gusion focused his gaze—a wave of invisible force radiated out, with faint dark-red lightning flickering in the air.

In an instant, the explorers felt paralyzed. One even nearly fainted, drenched in sweat.

Snow Wind stared at Gusion like he was a freak. She remembered clearly—his bounty was still under a billion, so he couldn't have awakened Conqueror's Haki the usual way. He must have been born with the potential.

"So this is Conqueror's Haki… Feels strange and hard to control," Gusion mused.

Unlike Luffy, who awakened his under extreme emotion, Gusion unlocked it through research and training with Kaido, gradually drawing it out from within.

Thus he could consciously use it, skipping the initial stage—though controlling it took effort.

"You're slower than Yamato, but awakening is good. Practice coating, you'll get it," Kaido advised. He wasn't a theoretical teacher—his method was hands-on.

"Let's try again, Mr. Kaido," Gusion said.

He wasn't discouraged by being slower than Yamato—after all, Yamato had grown up immersed in Haki, with natural aptitude. Hers awakened naturally as a child; his was unlocked through training.

But once he mastered the basics, he'd progress fast.

"No more, no more—time for the feast!" Kaido called, already bored with training.

Gusion didn't insist, joining the party with the officers, eating and drinking as he assessed his current state.

[Pioneer 008, your stats (including equipment/title bonuses):]

Constitution: 50 (+1)

Strength: 44 (+2)

Agility: 42 (+2)

Spirit: 50 (+2)

Charm: 5

Luck: 2

[]

After consuming large amounts of Sea King meat and Kaido's help with exercise, his stats had soared in half a month.

His biggest gain, though, was awakening Conqueror's Haki.

[Conqueror's Haki]

Skill Level: 1/40

Description: The rarest form of Haki in the One Piece world. Cannot be learned through training—only those with the king's disposition can awaken it. It can intimidate, shock, or even knock out weaker foes without physical contact. Poor control can affect allies as well.

Effect: At current level, user can intimidate all targets. Targets with Spirit 20 less than the user are instantly knocked out; 30 less, may die from fright.

Targets with Spirit 10 less are stunned/confused for 1-3 seconds, taking 30% more damage.

Targets with equal or higher Spirit are only briefly hesitant.

Cannot affect targets with higher Spirit than the user.

Skill Evaluation: Develop your kingly potential.

[]

Like Armament Haki, the max level is 40; Gusion just awakened it, so he's at level 1.

This confirmed his suspicion: As an outsider, it's less "Conqueror's Haki potential" and more "special potential" manifesting as Conqueror's Haki here. In other worlds, it might become something else.

Natives who awaken Conqueror's Haki start with much greater power—not "level 1."

Gusion's was forced out a side door and needs development.

Even so, natives don't instantly master the advanced stage—they still need training, especially for things like coating.

After the party, most pirates passed out drunk, Kaido snoring away.

Only Gusion stayed awake, finding a quiet spot to practice.

His training partner, naturally, was explorer Snow Wind—he called it "teaching Haki," but she was really just a test dummy.

After a night of intense sparring, Snow Wind lay bruised and exhausted on the deck, her sweat dried to salt crystals by the sea breeze.

Gusion leaned on the railing. "Not so tough, are you? Didn't used to be this weak."

Snow Wind nearly coughed blood. Did he think everyone's stats shot up like his? She was at the peak of Tier 2 and couldn't allocate points—her main stat was 50, now raised to 55 after eating a Devil Fruit.

But Gusion, fruitless, had grown even faster. And he could go berserk…

What hurt most: Gusion never used those godlike skills she'd seen before—just his Shikai Zanpakuto. Even then, his Strength and Agility were only 48, maybe 50 with Thunder Breathing.

On paper, she outclassed him, but in actual combat, his defense and offense crushed her.

Ryuo boosted his attacks and defense immensely. With Observation Haki, she couldn't touch him, and even when she did, Armament Haki blocked it.

And Gusion was ruthless, combining Kido and Ryuo without mercy. Only when she called for a break did he switch to bare fists, but even then, she was covered in bruises.

Snow Wind gritted her teeth, enduring the humiliation for the sake of learning Haki. At least she'd improved her control over Armament Haki—Ryuo, though, was still far off.

She struggled over and whispered, "How much did your Ryuo scroll cost?"

Gusion looked at her like she was an idiot. "I spent all my money last time we fought. I learned Ryuo myself."

Snow Wind's mouth fell open. A few months and you learned Ryuo, advanced Observation Haki, and Conqueror's Haki?! How is anyone else supposed to compete?

"How… how long did it take?" she forced herself to ask.

"Ryuo? Not easy. Took me a whole day to learn it," Gusion replied.

Snow Wind turned away, facing the morning breeze, wondering if she should just quit this world and go home.

"Is that... the Ballon Terminal?"

Just then, Snow Wind spotted something on the horizon. Gusion followed her gaze and saw a vast bank of clouds rising like a stairway to heaven.

He marvelled at the sight, but before he could say more, the crew sprang into action.

The flagship sped up. Kaido came to the bow. "When was the last time I was here?"

King reminded him, "Don't jump down again, Kaido-san; we have business to attend to."

The Beasts Pirates braced for possible enemies. In half a day, they reached the base of the Ballon Terminal—a small island of earth and sky-clouds.

As they docked, a figure stood at the pier: short black hair, purple kimono, leaning on a cane, with scars crossing both eyes—a fearsome sight.

As the flagship approached, he drew his blade—a straight sword, one of the twelve Supreme Grade swords, Yakuza Kasen!

He crouched into an iaido stance, and in a deep voice declared, "Gravity Blade: Tiger!"

The sword flashed.

He channeled gravity into the blade, unleashing a massive horizontal force that crushed everything in its path.

Visibly, the sea sank where the blade struck.

Seeing this destructive power, Kaido leapt to the bow—ready to show Gusion his true strength for the first time.

Chapter 178: Fujitora: Impossible!

Kaido flexed his massive muscles, taking the bow with his giant kanabo, his Conqueror's Haki so powerful it was visible as dark red lightning.

With a step, his sheer strength made the 300-meter flagship dip forward, the stern rising.

As the ship shot forward, Kaido's body transformed—blue dragon scales spread, a tail sprouting, giving him a majestic, terrifying aura.

Spinning his waist, Kaido swung the kanabo as thunder boomed, Conqueror's Haki and Ryuo coating the weapon, turning it black and red.

As he struck, he roared, "Thunder Bagua!"

Boom!

A deafening blast—the blow met the invisible sword slash head-on.

Instantly, the sea churned and the earth shook.

One side of the sea rose, the other, under the influence of the Gravity Fruit, sank—creating a scene like the world splitting.

Explorers on board were both terrified and awed.

Standing behind Kaido, Gusion realized the true gap between himself and the strong.

Kaido wasn't holding back as he did in training. Gusion even suspected that if this Kaido faced Gear 5 Luffy, Luffy wouldn't stand a chance.

Was Kaido really at full power in the original battle? What did he truly lose to?

The tides surged as the flagship rode the rising wave, flying atop the crest.

The other side, under the gravity slash, became a massive whirlpool, swallowing everything like a black hole.

"Hahaha, what a rare strong opponent!" Kaido laughed, landing steadily on the bow from the aftershock, while young crew members screamed in terror.

The ship seemed doomed to smash into the island at this rate, but Kaido was unfazed. "King!"

King soared into the air, transforming into his hybrid form for superior maneuverability.

He flew to the stern, unsheathing his sword as flames erupted from his body—a mighty fire dragon surged with his blade, crashing into the sea currents.

Guardian Fire Dragon Emperor!

King's attack vaporized massive amounts of seawater, and the ship landed by the island's port, the tsunami diverted away.

Boom!

The ship splashed down, waves cascading like waterfalls, blocking all view.

Kaido, soaked, laughed heartily. "Smooth landing."

The young crew was terrified, but the veterans were used to this violent docking.

Kaido jumped ashore first, eyeing the swordsman who'd attacked them.

"King, is that him?"

King landed. "Yes, sir. He's very strong."

The swordsman, Issho, was also sizing up Kaido. "Emperor Kaido," he said solemnly.

He didn't want these brutal pirates on peaceful Sky Island, but facing Kaido, he realized he was outmatched. He'd stopped many pirates, but not the unstoppable force of the Emperors.

"A strong one indeed. Looks like I can stretch my muscles," Kaido said, eager for battle.

"Mr. Kaido."

Gusion's voice interrupted.

He jumped down. "You haven't forgotten our purpose here, have you? Now's not the time for a fight."

Kaido grumbled but relented. "Fine—your turn. If you can't handle it, I'll step in."

Gusion approached Issho. "Mr. Issho, can we talk?"

"I have nothing to say to pirates who invade nations and torment the innocent," Issho replied, like a swordsman of old.

He was unmoved by Gusion's words, convinced the Beasts Pirates were evil.

"Mr. Issho, isn't it unfair to judge us by rumor alone, especially when you cannot see for yourself?" Gusion said, careful not to get too close in case Issho attacked before Kaido could save him.

"I may be blind, but my heart is clear. If the whole New World says you invaded Wano, can you call that justice?" Issho retorted.

"We did invade Wano, but let me ask—what is justice to you?" Gusion countered.

Issho replied without hesitation, "Pirates who invade, destroy peace—they are evil. True justice is ensuring the people live in happiness and security."

Gusion smiled. "So, do you believe pure justice exists in this world?"

Issho frowned, not realizing he was being led into Gusion's pace. After some thought, he said, "That's idealistic. Pure justice doesn't exist."

He spoke from experience—though his heart sought justice, he had a dark past and wasn't always in the light.

"But if the Beasts Pirates invade Wano, yet bring peace and prosperity, is that justice?" Gusion pressed.

Issho was stunned. "Nonsense! Pirates can't bring prosperity!"

Crew members gathered behind Kaido, enjoying Gusion's lectures.

"You didn't answer my question. Even hypothetically—would we be evil or just?" Gusion smiled.

Issho frowned, thinking long before answering, "Even if it were true, it'd still be evil—you took another's country. The people were already at peace."

"What if the country was poor, starving, suffering?" Gusion asked gently.

"What are you suggesting? That you made Wano better?" Issho scoffed.

"Wano suffered under the Kozuki clan's feudal rule—peaceful but poor. Later, under the Kurozumi Orochi, things worsened. But the Beasts Pirates corrected that."

Gusion continued, "Orochi's rule was as bad as you've heard, but we've fixed it."

"Convenient timing—you just waited to take over," Issho sneered, determined to stand against the Emperors.

"Call it a coup, call it invasion—both are true. But it's also true we improved the lives of Wano's people," Gusion said, playing a recording from a Skypiea Tone Dial.

It was Kaido distributing homes to workers—grateful voices, cheers of "Protector King Kaido!" even through the recording, the emotion was powerful.

Issho was wary, but as he listened, his expression changed.

"You think this recording will fool me? Pirates aren't so kind," he said, but didn't attack.

"That's your prejudice. Why can't pirates care for their people? Wano is ours now—we care for our own," Gusion said. "And as I said—seeing is believing. If you doubt, come see Wano for yourself."

Issho hesitated. He could sense Gusion wasn't lying. But how could such a notorious pirate crew be benevolent rulers?

Gusion boldly pressed the Tone Dial into Issho's hand.

Feeling it, Issho confirmed it was a genuine Skypiea product—impossible to fake. The voices were real.

Would Kaido really go to such lengths to trick him? Unlikely—Kaido could simply kill him if he wanted.