At the same time, Akira's body had fully recovered.
Under Rayleigh's guidance, he arrived at a remote, uninhabited island—a wild, untamed place where nature reigned supreme.
"This is the perfect place for you to train in Haki," Rayleigh said, his tone casual as his eyes swept across the rugged landscape.
Akira, however, was far from relaxed. His senses were on edge. He could feel it—the dense pressure of bloodlust. A dozen wild beasts lurked in the shadows, their eyes gleaming with hunger, locked onto him.
"There are several types of Haki," Rayleigh continued, unfazed. "I assume you've already grasped the basics. With your potential, you should be able to master them all. And when you do… your strength will soar to new heights."
Before Akira could respond, a massive beast burst from the underbrush, charging straight at them.
Rayleigh didn't move.
He simply looked.
The beast froze mid-charge, its entire body trembling violently before collapsing with a heavy thud.
Bang!
Rayleigh hadn't lifted a single finger. His overwhelming aura alone had brought the creature to its knees.
"That was Conqueror's Haki," he explained. "Mastering Haki takes time. But once you do, you'll never waver before any enemy."
Akira nodded, his eyes burning with new resolve.
Just then, a familiar tone echoed in his mind:
Ding! The system is generating a learning module. Haki template acquisition in progress…
His eyes widened slightly. The system was adapting—seamlessly integrating Rayleigh's teachings into its framework.
This meant one thing: he could train faster than anyone else. Far faster.
"Are you ready?" Rayleigh asked, his gaze piercing, as if testing more than just Akira's strength.
Akira clenched his fists. "Yes. This time, I'll push beyond every limit."
Rayleigh saw something in his eyes. Something raw. Something real.He looks like Roger once did…
What followed was nothing short of extraordinary.
With the system's aid, Akira's training advanced at a pace that defied logic. In just half a month, he had grasped the fundamentals of all three types of Haki—Observation, Armament, and even the rarest: Conqueror's.
Rayleigh, seasoned and unshakable, was left speechless.
"Kid, I've met a lot of monsters in my time… but you…" he trailed off, almost in disbelief. "You've mastered all three types of Haki in two weeks. Even if you haven't perfected them, you've already surpassed most Vice Admirals."
Akira gave a slight nod, knowing full well that his progress wasn't just natural—it was system-enhanced.
Rayleigh exhaled, smiling as he relaxed his posture. "Alright. I'd say your time here is done. Honestly, there's nothing more I can teach you."
Akira stepped forward and bowed deeply.
"Master Rayleigh, thank you. Without your guidance, none of this would've been possible."
Rayleigh's expression softened.
"In just half a month, the world outside has probably changed more than you know. After that mess in Mariejois, you set off a chain reaction—freed pirates, collapsed strongholds. Some of the ones you rescued have bounties that make even seasoned veterans tremble."
Akira remained calm. "The world's chaos doesn't concern me."
Rayleigh chuckled. "To the World Government, you're no longer a mere pirate—you're a threat. They'll either hunt you down… or try to use you."
Akira smirked. "Let them try. I won't dance to anyone's tune."
He paused, then added with a fire in his voice,"If nothing else—I can always become the Pirate King."
At those words, Rayleigh's smile faded. His gaze drifted toward the horizon, thoughtful, distant.
So few had dared say it with such certainty. Even fewer had the presence to back it up.
When Akira returned to the shore, Ellie and Hancock were already waiting.
But what they saw left them stunned.
"Mr. Akira… you're back already?" Ellie asked, disbelief in her voice. "Did you really… succeed?"
She hadn't expected to see him again so soon, let alone radiating with power.
Akira grinned and thumped his chest. "I did."
Ellie stepped closer, eyes gleaming with a mix of curiosity and admiration.
Rayleigh joined them shortly after. "Now that your training's done, it's time you left this place. I've had my wife start building a ship for you—it'll be ready soon. You should sail as soon as you can."
Akira hesitated. A flicker of reluctance passed through him. He had grown to respect Rayleigh deeply in their short time together.
"Master Rayleigh… I don't know when we'll meet again."
Rayleigh gave a quiet, bittersweet smile. "That doesn't matter. As long as you live freely… that's enough for me."
He gestured toward the sea. "This ship will take you far away from Mary Geoise. From there… your path is yours to choose."
Seeing the unspoken emotion in Rayleigh's eyes, Akira felt the weight of their parting.But he knew—this was only the beginning.
With the system at his side, standing still was never an option. He had to keep moving.He had to shake the world.
Without looking back, Akira stepped onto the ship alongside Hancock and Ellie.Rayleigh watched from the shore, silent, the salty wind tugging at his cloak.The old pirate didn't wave—but Akira could feel the unspoken farewell in his presence.
As the sails caught wind and the ship pulled away from the island, the sea opened up before them—endless, wild, and filled with possibility.He didn't know exactly where fate would lead them, but one thing was certain:
The world would remember his name.
With each rhythmic splash of the oars, the small vessel pushed into the unknown—carrying three figures whose names had yet to shake the Grand Line…But soon would.
No one could have imagined that this unassuming ship would stir tsunamis across the pirate world.
Ding! System panel updating…
Name: AkiraGender: MaleAbilities: All of Pain's techniques (Full Sync), Full Mastery of HakiBeast Form: NoneCurrent Bounty: 100,000,000 Berries
Akira stared at the glowing panel, his brows slightly raised.
One hundred million.From zero.
In the world of pirates, a bounty wasn't just a price—it was a message.
This meant he was no longer a ghost in the system.He was recognized.He was wanted.
He smirked slightly.
To surpass 100 million Berries with just one act—his assault on the Celestial Dragons—meant he was now ranked among the most dangerous individuals on the sea. A mark few rookies ever earned so quickly.
But what Akira didn't realize… was that this bounty was more than a warning.It was bait.
Behind the scenes, the World Government had crafted it carefully.
They needed him to be noticed.They wanted chaos to find him.They wanted to draw him out—either to crush him before he rose any further,or to reel him in, and make him their weapon.
In the offices of high-ranking marines, on the tables of pirate warlords, and whispered through underworld channels, one name was now being passed around:
Akira.
And the sea…The sea was waiting.
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