As Roger's heroic declaration rang through every corner of the world via Video Den Den Mushi, the entire Loguetown plaza fell into an eerie, deathly silence.
"Scoundrel!"
Below the execution platform, Sengoku's face—usually stern and imposing—turned instantly livid! He never imagined that a moment of hesitation from an ordinary executioner would give the world's most evil criminal a chance to overturn the entire world!
Bang!
The gunshot finally rang out.
The bullet struck with precision.
An era came to a close.
And a different era—more chaotic and more frenzied—officially pulled back its curtain in the wake of that single shot.
...
None of this mattered to Aiden anymore.
At the moment he pulled the trigger, the only thing in his mind was the system notification, which sounded like music!
[Prisoner: "Pirate King" Gol D. Roger]
[Overall Grade: SSS3]
[Status: Executed]
[Sin Index: 457,990]
[Execution Participation: 100%]
[Selectable Rewards]: (16 options available)
[Last Wish List]: (Activatable)
In the next second, a golden list so long it seemed to have no end exploded into existence within Aiden's mind!
Aiden's consciousness was nearly swallowed by this sea of shimmering golden light.
[Selectable Rewards]:
[Option 1: Physical Improvement]
Description: Improvement the "Peak" physique of the Pirate King, Roger.
[Option 2: Skill Improvement · Roger-style Swordsmanship]
Description: Gain the swordsmanship that let the Pirate King contend with the world's strongest swordsmen. Already at the [Peak] level.
[Option 3: Skill Improvement · Ancient Text Deciphering]
Description: Gain Roger's ability to decipher Poneglyphs. Already at the [Top-tier] level.
[Option 4: Special Skill Improvement · Departure]
Description: Gain the ultimate slash Roger uses by imbuing his blade with Conqueror's Haki.
[Option 5: Skill Improvement · Navigation]
Description: Gain the top-tier navigation experience that allowed Roger to conquer the entire Grand Line. Already at the [Peak] level.
[Option 6: Haki Improvement · Observation Haki]
Description: Gain the mastered Observation Haki of the Pirate King, Roger, which is capable of the "Voice of All Things." Already at the [Peak] level.
[Option 7: Haki Improvement · Armament Haki (Minor)]
Description: Gain the mastered Armament Haki of the Pirate King, Roger, which is capable of easily performing Ryuo. Already at the [Peak] level.
[Option 8: Haki Improvement · Conqueror's Haki (Minor)]
Description: Gain the mastered Conqueror's Haki of the Pirate King, Roger, which is capable of intimidating hundreds of thousands. Already at the [Peak] level.
...
[Option 16: Memory Fragment · Laugh Tale (???)]
Description: Gain all of Gol D. Roger's memories regarding the "Final Island, Laugh Tale," including its exact location, the truth of the One Piece, and the history of the Void Century...
[Warning: This reward contains a massive amount of information capable of subverting the world.]
"I'm set... I'm truly set this time..."
While Aiden was still marveling at this list that could be called a "Vault of the Gods," a system notification rang out in his head like an alarm bell!
[Due to the excessive number of selectable rewards, please make a choice within 30 seconds, or one will be randomly selected!]
[30... 29... 28...]
"Dammit! Are you trying to mess with me?!" Aiden roared inwardly. "Is this a choice that can be made in 30 seconds?!"
He forced himself into a state of extreme calm. His gaze, like a precision scanner, swept across the top of the list at an inhuman speed.
His brain was operating at an unprecedented rate.
"Physique (Minor)... Armament (Minor)... Conqueror's (Minor)..."
"That's it! Roger had a terminal illness and was already at death's door before his arrest. His body, Armament Haki, and Conqueror's Haki—abilities that require energy and vigor to sustain—were no longer at their peak! What I can get now is just scraps! Choosing them would be a massive loss!"
His gaze continued downward, skipping past [Roger-style Swordsmanship], Departure], and [Navigation]... while powerful, most were not what he immediately needed.
As for the [Memory Fragment · Laugh Tale], combined with that purple-red [Warning], he didn't even bother to look at it twice.
"Don't be ridiculous. I can find out whenever I want once I'm strong enough. That's not something I need to consider right now."
His gaze finally locked onto the only perfect option in the center of the list that lacked any negative labels!
[Haki Improvement · Observation Haki]
Description: Gain the mastered Observation Haki of the Pirate King, Roger, which is capable of the "Voice of All Things." Already at the [Peak] level.
"Yes! This is it!" Aiden's heart pounded. "Observation Haki, especially a soul-based talent like the 'Voice of All Things,' isn't affected by the state of the body or mind! This is the only flawless upgrade Roger can give me!"
[...3... 2...]
The countdown was about to hit zero.
"System!" Aiden used every ounce of his willpower to let out a final roar in his mind.
"[Haki Improvement · Observation Haki]!"
In the next second.
The world "exploded" within Aiden's perception.
A torrent of information that defied all description detonated directly inside Aiden's brain!
The deafening clamor from before was instantly decomposed into countless independent and meaningless fragments!
Immediately after, his "hearing" acted like a beast that had broken its chains. Using him as the center, it expanded outward frantically, covering the entirety of Loguetown!
He heard the groaning of the wooden boards of the execution platform beneath his feet!
He heard the thunderous heartbeats of the tens of thousands of people in the plaza!
He heard the faint crying of an infant hundreds of meters away, awakened by the noise!
He heard the sound of a seagull flapping its wings thousands of meters away!
He heard the breathing of the sea, the whispering of the wind, and the thirst for blood coming from the blades and guns!
Countless sounds, countless images, countless emotions, countless wills... in this brief instant, everything was poured into his brain brutally and indiscriminately!
The entire world turned into a hell composed of infinite noise!
"Ugh..."
Aiden couldn't put up even a shred of resistance. His brain instantly stalled under the impact of the information. His vision went black, and his body fell straight backward, completely losing consciousness.
...
On the execution platform.
Sengoku looked at the crowd below, which had fallen into total frenzy and riot. He was trembling with rage. He smashed his fist onto the railing in front of him and roared, "It's all that executioner brat's fault! His hesitation allowed Roger to say those words! Everything is ruined!"
"That's not right."
Hearing the voice, Sengoku looked over to see Tsuru staring intently at the youth on the execution platform, whose body was swaying as it slowly fell backward.
"Look at him."
Sengoku followed her gaze and saw that Aiden's face was deathly pale, and blood was seeping from his ears, nose, and eyes.
"Roger's final Conqueror's Haki was aimed precisely at the executioner closest to him."
Vice Admiral Tsuru's voice was calm and clear. "This child... he didn't just raise his gun; to complete the order, he even used his will to face the Pirate King's Haki head-on."
She spoke slowly: "Feel it for yourself. His flame of life is currently as weak as a candle in the wind. This isn't a faint from fear; this is the sign of someone whose mental energy has been completely drained to the point of near-death from resisting Conqueror's Haki with sheer willpower!"
Sengoku was stunned. He immediately released his own Observation Haki. Sure enough, Aiden's condition was exactly as Tsuru described.
The fire of anger in his eyes slowly receded.
This youth, who used the body of an ordinary Marine to withstand the Pirate King's final Haki—even willing to burn his own life to complete the mission...
He was a truly fine sprout!
"Quick!" Sengoku acted decisively, issuing an order to the medical unit behind him. "Save him!"
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