"Incredibly strong!"
Walking back, Oboro kept replaying the aura Rayleigh had radiated while using Haki in his mind.
Especially the change in his eyes.
That sharp, piercing gaze… nothing at all like what you'd expect from a feeble old man who spent his days drowning in alcohol.
"Even if his swordsmanship isn't quite at the level it was during Roger's prime, it can't be far off… He could slice right through a mountain, or even an entire island with a single strike," Oboro mused.
Admittedly, Rayleigh's power had certainly declined significantly by this point in time. But recalling how such characters and their combat prowess were described in the original story…
It was enough to send chills down anyone's spine.
Even in the world of Hunter x Hunter, no one possessed the power to cleave a mountain in half with one blow. As for Demon Slayer… that kind of feat wasn't even worth imagining.
The reason the power system in Hunter x Hunter was considered superior to that of One Piece was entirely due to the Dark Continent and the diverse life‑forms found there.
If you set that aside, excluded the Chimera Ants, and looked strictly at what humans and Nen users were capable of achieving… the gap was stark and undeniable.
Nen was a complex, rigorous art form, perfectly designed to bring out the "beauty of combat" and the sheer thrill of fighting.
Meanwhile, powers like Haki, swordsmanship, and Devil Fruits, while relatively simple in concept, offered far more direct and overwhelming destructive force.
They had already reached the level of supernatural abilities.
In that sense, they were almost equivalent to the energy sources found on the Dark Continent.
The same went for Logia‑type Devil Fruits.
Oboro remembered how, back in Hunter x Hunter, he had reached what was considered "the peak of physical perfection" — not counting the growth he achieved later on the Dark Continent, but only his time on Lake Island.
Even then, he had been completely incapable of destroying a mountain peak or an island.
Not even when he pushed his breathing techniques and internal energy to their absolute limit.
"Still… just as I suspected. Something like Haki is deeply connected to willpower. Both Conqueror's and Observation work on that same principle. My soul‑based abilities are currently suppressed by this world, but awakening all three types and refining them to a new height won't be difficult at all."
Oboro's thoughts shifted, and a smile formed on his face.
Hadn't Teacher Kai told him before…? If you want to rule over these seas, what you truly rely on in the end… is Haki.
"First, I need to strengthen my body's physical toughness… then begin forming a Sea of Energy within my Dantian, and step into the realm of 'Earthly Immortality'. What I don't know yet is just how far this cultivation method will take me in terms of physical capabilities within the rules of this world."
"Dom."
Oboro called out.
"Boss?"
Dom responded.
"You must still have some old acquaintances here on Sabaody Archipelago, right?"
"I do… a few. But I haven't spoken to them in ages. Besides, they're all local residents… not pirates," Dom explained.
Just like the innkeeper who had previously sheltered and hidden them, they were all people Dom had befriended during his childhood or teenage years.
"Arrange for them to go down to the port. They just need to keep watch from the shadows… and note exactly when the Donquixote Family's ship arrives."
"Huh?"
Dom cried out in shock. "Boss… you seriously intend to steal that Devil Fruit?"
Oboro merely yawned and said nothing.
Dom could only fall silent, though his heart was racing with anxiety.
Boss… he's actually going through with it!
...
A few days later, the lawless districts were once again teeming with pirates, fully restored to their usual bustling, chaotic state.
One couldn't help but admire Doflamingo's incredible business acumen and influence.
It was as if the massive naval operation from before, and the dark cloud that had hung over every pirate's head, had never existed at all.
Inside a small inn…
Oboro sat cross‑legged, eyes closed, regulating his breath and circulating his internal energy.
He looked as if he had entered a deep meditative trance.
Only a few days had passed, yet his once gaunt, emaciated frame had filled out considerably, and his skin had regained a healthy glow and luster.
In the previous world of Demon Slayer, after killing Muzan, Oboro hadn't traveled to the next dimension immediately.
Instead, after quietly gathering certain resources, he had settled down on a remote, little‑visited mountain peak and began cultivating the arts of the Dantian.
His plan was to use his time there to thoroughly study these methods and reach an early stage of mastery.
That way, upon entering the next world, he would be familiar with the process and could break through bottlenecks quickly and smoothly.
However, as he cultivated, he realized that perhaps due to the advanced nature of these techniques, progress was incredibly slow.
It was nothing like mastering martial arts, where you could achieve great things within just a few years.
In the end, it had taken him a full ten years just to reach the level of "Initial Understanding."
He had anticipated all of this beforehand.
But plans were one thing, reality another. Once he actually arrived in this world, he found that his capabilities were far more restricted than they had been in Demon Slayer.
He simply couldn't do as he pleased.
For instance, his plan had been that upon entering a high‑level world, regardless of what kind of body or circumstances his soul inhabited, he could use the system's cards — specifically the Bloodline Cards — directly on himself. Doing so would allow his physical attributes to skyrocket instantly.
Saving him the time and effort of tempering his body step by step.
Combined with other types of cards, he could build his own power structure in a very short time, allowing him to establish a foothold in that world.
That way, even if the Will of the World targeted him, he wouldn't be left helpless.
But long ago, back when the Celestial Dragons had shot at him, Oboro had already noticed… he couldn't use the system's cards on himself.
The power of the system's functions was tied directly to the strength of his soul — which was also the manifestation of the Supreme Will…
And right now, his soul was in a state of "restriction," which in turn affected the system.
Fortunately, he could still use the cards on external targets.
The world of One Piece couldn't seal him off completely.
But judging from this, the stronger and more advanced a world was, the greater the "pressure" and restriction he would face.
This was exactly why strengthening the manifestation of the Supreme Will and enhancing the system's capabilities was absolutely necessary.
Hah…
A long while later, Oboro parted his lips slightly, exhaling a stream of white vapor several feet long.
At the same time, his body temperature had risen so high that the air trapped inside the room condensed into tiny water droplets, clinging to the walls.
"Hmm?"
Oboro opened his eyes, looking pleasantly surprised.
"Human bodies in this world really are extraordinary… I've managed to expel impurities from every meridian and bone in my body in such a short time… This progress is far faster than what I achieved in Hunter x Hunter. And yet, the body I inhabit now was completely ordinary, with zero potential to speak of — truly belonging to the lowest tier of humanity. Even with that disadvantage, the difference is this vast."
"Back in Hunter x Hunter, my physical potential was, at the very least, one of my strongest points."
"But… I'm still far from being able to use Haki. My body must be tempered and refined to a certain level before that's possible."
"I need internal cultivation, but I also have to forge and strengthen my body through external means."
Oboro came to this conclusion.
In this world, there existed true physical monsters — people like Charlotte Linlin or Kaido, who were practically "invincible" even as children.
"Sticking me with such a useless body… and starting me off in a hopeless situation… They really went all out just to try and get rid of me, didn't they?"
Oboro chuckled softly to himself.
Just then, there was a knock at the door.
"Come in."
Oboro stretched his limbs and called out.
There was only one person it could be.
Outside, Dom pushed the door open nervously. He felt the intense heat radiating from inside the room and looked puzzled, but didn't dwell on it. Instead, he reported immediately: "Boss… they're here!"
The grand auction was scheduled for the day after tomorrow. Considering the timeline, it was exactly when they were due to arrive.
"Did everyone come?"
Oboro asked.
"No… only three people. They should be high‑ranking officers of the Donquixote Family."
"Only three? Doflamingo didn't come himself?"
Oboro frowned.
"That's right… I didn't see the Joker anywhere."
"Does he really think nothing could possibly go wrong? After all, any faction with even a bit of influence knows the auction belongs to him. It's been running here on Sabaody for years… and with the Celestial Dragons backing him… who in their right mind would dare to target him?"
Oboro smiled faintly. "Perfect."
"Boss… should we go over our plan?"
Dom asked cautiously.
"We're just going to take it. What plan do we need? They aren't on guard at all — they don't believe anyone would dare make a move against the auction house… That just saves us the trouble of coming up with some elaborate scheme."
Oboro looked thoroughly pleased.
"..."
Dom was speechless.
____________________
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