Chapter 113 – Laboon Story
I still had around four hundred and twenty thousand Lust Energy Points before the upgrades, and I had spent roughly one hundred and forty thousand of them. That left me with approximately two hundred and eighty thousand points remaining.
With that amount, I could further enhance any two among swordsmanship, Observation Haki, or Armament Haki. I could even upgrade my Conqueror's Haki.
Master Swordsmanship – 100,000 Lust Energy Points
Comparable to Zoro's level during the Dressrosa arc
Peak-Level Armament Haki – 100,000 Lust Energy Points
Peak-Level Observation Haki – 100,000 Lust Energy Points
Advanced-Level Conqueror's Haki – 100,000 Lust Energy Points
Technically, I could push these skills even further, but my body wasn't strong enough to fully handle them yet. It felt like installing cutting-edge software on outdated hardware. The potential was there, but the physical foundation wasn't ready.
That meant my main task was clear: level up, gain more attribute points, and strengthen my body.
Of course, the system offered shortcuts.
I could purchase potions to boost my attributes directly. It was a shameless pay-to-win mechanic, and I had no intention of pretending otherwise. If the system allowed it, I would exploit it without hesitation.
I bought several advanced potions and drank them immediately. In total, I spent around forty thousand Lust Energy Points on two advanced potions—one for Strength and one for Agility. Each potion cost twenty thousand points, an absurd price, but the effects were undeniable.
I could have bought more, but I held back. I wanted to reserve points for my crew as well. For now, two advanced potions were enough.
As the power settled into my body, I could feel my foundation finally beginning to catch up with my growing abilities.
Name — Alex Brown Level: 42 [18,500/42,000 EXP]
Strength: 200
Stamina: 190
Agility: 200
Vitality: 196
Luck: 30 [Having sex with the protagonist or changing fate grants additional luck points]
Stat Points: 00
Now all four of my attributes—Strength, Stamina, Agility, and Vitality—had risen to around two hundred each.
I clenched my fists, feeling raw power surge through my body, My muscles were responding effortlessly to my will. The strength flowing through me was solid and stable, and the sensation left me deeply satisfied.
I took one final look at my status screen, committing the numbers to memory for future upgrade.
Just then, Kaya's voice called out that lunch was ready, pulling me back from the system and into the warmth of the ship's daily life.
Name — Alex Brown Level: 42 [18,500/42,000 EXP]
Strength: 200
Stamina: 190
Agility: 200
Vitality: 196
Luck: 30 [Having sex with the protagonist or changing fate grants additional luck points]
Stat Points: 00
Haki: Advance-Level Armament Haki, Advance-Level Observation Haki, Intermediate-Level Conqueror's Haki
Skills: Karate, Advance-Level Swordsmanship, Pregnancy Turn On/Off, Common Sense Domain [Lv. 5], Dual Cultivation Manual [Low-Level Grade], Green Green Beam, Sex Pheromones, Hand of Incubus
Unique Skill: Blessed by the Goddess [Level 2]
Current Lust Energy Points: 240000
…
…
[Scene Change]
It seemed that the food was prepared.
Kuina called out, "Hey, someone come help carry these plates!"
Before long, the girls had set up a big table on the shore. Everyone gathered around, plates piled high with food. The mood lightened as we ate together.
I picked up my plate and looked across at Crocus. "So, old man. What's the deal with this whale?"
All eyes turned to him.
"His name is Laboon," Crocus began, taking a slow sip of the whiskey Kuina had poured for him. "A unique and magnificent creature—an island whale, one of the largest species in the world. You can only find them in the West Blue."
He paused, staring out at the massive shape floating nearby. "Those two you just tied up? They were hunting Laboon for meat. A whale his size could feed a small island for two years, easy."
Lily nodded slowly. "So that's who they are. Evil people, but hungry ones too."
Kuina glanced around the ship. "Hey, where did they go?"
"Don't worry about them. They'll be back soon."
Everyone turned back to Crocus as he continued.
"There's a reason Laboon keeps slamming into the Red Line and howling at Reverse Mountain." He took a bite of food before going on. "Inside that whale beats the heart of someone utterly devoted to a certain band of pirates."
Lily raised an eyebrow at that.
"Laboon followed a group of pirates all the way from the West Blue," Crocus explained. "They entered the Grand Line together and reached these Twin Capes. Their ship was wrecked so badly they spent months repairing it here. When it was finally seaworthy again, the Grand Line's dangers forced them to leave Laboon behind. But they promised they'd come back for him."
His voice grew heavy. "That was fifty years ago."
Eyes widened around the table.
"Fifty years?" Kaya echoed. "That's... extremely long time. Even my mother was not born."
"Those pirates really know how to test patience," Lily muttered as she was clearly dissatisfied that they made the innocent whale wait for that long.
Kuina snorted as she heard the Lily's complain.
"You idiot, this is the Grand Line. Those pirates are probably long dead."
Crocus nodded sadly. "Sad to say, but yeah, that's likely true."
I stayed quiet. I already knew the full truth—the crew was gone, except for Brook, and even he wasn't exactly "alive" anymore.
Lily stared thoughtfully at the whale in the distance. It was as if she was thinking something.
"Did you ever tell him the truth?" she asked Crocus, eyes never leaving Laboon.
"Every miserable detail," he replied, voice thick with regret.
"That was the day Laboon started howling at Reverse Mountain. Not long after, he began ramming the Red Line, as if he believes that wall is what's keeping his friends away. If he can just break through, they'll come back."
Kaya looked like she was crying hearing such sad story.
"Laboon is a lost soul," Crocus finished. "Dying to be with his friends, and slowly killing himself trying."
Lily stood up without a word. She walked to the edge of the island, right where Laboon floated, and stared at him for a long moment.
'Is she going to fight him like in the stories?' I wondered. I didn't stop her. This was her choice.
"Gomu Gomu no Pistol!"
She launched herself high into the air. Her fist rocketed downward and slammed into Laboon's head. The whale let out a howl of pain and fury.
"You want to fight, you stupid whale?!" Lily shouted.
Laboon narrowed his eyes, then surged out of the water, slamming his massive head toward her. She was still airborne—no way to dodge. The impact sent her flying back.
As Laboon sank back into the sea and turned to charge again, Lily lunged forward, driving another punch straight into his forehead.
"LILY!! WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!"
Nami shouted as she asked what madness she was doing by beating the poor whale.
Lily didn't answer. She just grinned wider, trading blows with the enormous creature like it was the most natural thing in the world.
Laboon pulled back, swimming a short distance away before turning and charging once more. Just as he was about to ram her, Lily spoke.
"It's a tie."
The words hung in the air. Laboon froze mid-charge, staring at her with those sorrowful eyes.
Lily dusted off her clothes. She was still grinning from ear to ear after the intense exchange with the massive whale.
"I'm strong, aren't I? Do you want to defeat me? Our fight isn't over, so we'll have to go at it again someday. Your friends might be dead, but now I'm your friend now."
A huge, genuine smile lit up her face as she looked up at Laboon.
"Wait for me," she continued. "As soon as we finish our journey, I'll come back to see you. Then we can fight again properly."
Tears welled up in the whale's enormous eyes. He lifted his head toward the sky and let out a joyful, booming howl that echoed across the water, shaking the very air around us.
I figured it was the right moment to step in. I didn't want to see the poor creature keep crying over false hope.
"You're waiting for the Rumbar Pirates here, aren't you?" I said clearly, addressing both Laboon and Crocus. "I know about them. They're all dead... except for one. He's still out there somewhere on this sea, trapped. Do you want me to save him?"
Crocus whipped his head toward me. His eyes were wide with disbelief.
Laboon also froze. He was looking at me with disbelief.
Even the girls turned, giving me strange looks as if wondering how on earth I knew any of this.
"That's impossible," Crocus said, shaking his head slowly. "I joined a pirate crew and searched for them for years. I did not find a single trace. Either they were dead, or they somehow got out of the Grand Line."
He clearly didn't believe me. But Laboon did. It could see that I was speaking the truth.
"You didn't find any trace because they vanished inside the Florian Triangle," I explained.
Crocus's eyes widened even further.
I turned to Laboon.
"Don't worry. Brook's shadow was stolen by a very bad person, and now he is trapped in that fog-shrouded place. He wants to meet you more than anything, but he can't leave the area."
"His shadow is stolen. If he comes in light then he will die. But once I save him, I'll make sure he comes straight here to see you."
Laboon's entire body trembled with happiness. He let out another deep, grateful roar that rolled across the sea like thunder.
It felt like the whale was saying thank you in the only way he knew.