[Command received.]
[Violation Value deduction in progress... Physique Enhancement Program activated!]
As the system's cold prompt faded, Kane didn't even have time to strike a cool pose before a terrifying surge of heat erupted violently and without warning inside his body!
"Holy... shit..."
Kane's attempt to maintain a cold, aloof expression instantly shattered, his features twisting in agony.
This time, it wasn't a gentle nourishing flow.
It was a complete, violent leap in life force!
Crack! Crack!
He could clearly hear the unnerving sounds coming from within his own body.
His bones groaned as they were compressed into denser structures, muscle fibers tore apart only to instantly reorganize into stronger, more explosive forms.
The intense pain inside felt like a hundred Garps were hammering away with iron fists on every inch of his body.
Wave after wave of agony washed over him, but he didn't make a sound, only gritting his teeth until his temples bulged with veins, his body trembling violently on the bed.
He knew this was the necessary path to becoming a "monster"!
On his retina, the Violation Value numbers were plummeting at an astonishing rate.
[Physique 65→66... 5,000 points consumed.]
[Physique 66→67... 5,500 points consumed.]
...
[Physique 75→76... 10,000 points consumed.]
...
[Physique 84→85... 14,500 points consumed.]
[Physique Enhancement complete. Comprehensive energy level raised to 85. Total consumption: 198,000 points.]
When the pain that threatened to tear him apart finally receded, Kane lay sprawled on the bed, drenched in sweat as if he'd just been pulled from water.
The next second, he suddenly clenched his fist.
Bam!
The sheer force of his grip produced a crisp snapping sound in the air.
Strong.
Unbelievably strong.
He gasped for breath, white mist steaming from every pore as excess energy dissipated from his body.
A surging torrent of vitality flowed through him, completely filling the hidden injuries left from withstanding the aftermath of Roger's "Divine Departure" and the depletion from overusing his Devil Fruit.
With a single thought, his intestines and stomach instantly began high-speed contractions, squeezing out every last bit of nutrition from what remained in his stomach.
The advanced CP9 technique of the World Government, [Life Return], had been mastered in that instant without any instruction.
"This feeling..."
Kane examined his increasingly defined physique—his skin smooth and tight, yet concealing a terrifying monstrous strength that even he found startling.
What delighted him even more was that as his physique transformed, his previously depleted Haki reserves had also exploded in a gushing surge, coursing through his limbs and bones with far greater intensity than ever before.
A wild grin spread across his face.
"I wonder how my current endurance compares to Teacher Kaido's now?"
From today onward, no one would ever make him "wilt" on the spot again!
The era of the "quick man" was gone forever!
"But just having endurance isn't enough."
The green light in Kane's eyes didn't fade—instead, having tasted the benefits, it burned even brighter.
"Since we've struck it rich, we've got to spend it all in one go!"
"System! Bring out all the remaining money!"
"Armament Haki! Observation Haki! Upgrade them for me!!"
A true powerhouse must not only be tough but also far-reaching!
[Command received...]
[Intermediate Armament Haki (External Emission) unlocked... 200,000 points consumed.]
[Intermediate Observation Haki (Foresight) unlocked... 200,000 points consumed.]
Boom!
Another 400,000 fortune vanished into thin air!
Hum—!
A resonant hum echoed deep in his mind, as if two brand-new doors had swung open in his perceptual world.
First came Armament Haki.
With a mere thought from Kane, jet-black Haki instantly enveloped his right arm.
But this was no longer simple "hardening."
The dark Haki flowed and brimmed over his skin's surface, forming an invisible yet tangible "flowing armor."
"Armament Haki... External Emission!"
Kane's eyes narrowed as he made a slashing motion toward an empty chair three meters away.
He didn't use his Devil Fruit ability—only the slight breeze stirred by his physical movement.
Yet, augmented by that layer of externally emitted Haki—
Bang!
Three meters away, the sturdy wooden chair was struck head-on by an invisible sledgehammer, instantly exploding into a cloud of splinters!
"That's more like it!"
Kane looked at his palm, his eyes filled with astonishment.
This externally emitted Haki could not only form an invisible defensive barrier but also qualitatively transform his attack range and power.
Just one more step—mastering "internal destruction"—and he'd achieve the pinnacle of "Ryou"!
Next came the qualitative leap in Observation Haki.
Kane closed his eyes.
His world suddenly became incredibly "noisy."
Countless fragmented images flickered through his mind.
In one second, a seagull outside the window would drop a splatter of bird excrement, landing precisely on the railing.
In three seconds, rookie soldier Allen at the end of the corridor would trip over his own feet and fall flat on his face.
In five seconds...
Innumerable chaotic future fragments flooded his mind like a snowstorm.
Kane frowned slightly, his brain somewhat overloaded, but he quickly adapted to this new sensory mode, actively filtering out the useless noise.
His focus became unprecedentedly sharp.
One exceptionally clear "future image" solidified in his mind:
—Bogard, dressed in a black suit, pushed the door open, holding an overcoat. His typically impassive face carried a trace of seriousness. "Kane, pack your things. We're passing through the Gate of Justice. Admiral Sengoku wants you on deck for formation."
The vision flashed and vanished.
Foresight!
Though it lasted only a few seconds, in a battle between experts, that was the difference between life and death!
Kane could no longer suppress the smile curling at his lips.
He leisurely sat up from the bed, meticulously straightened his patient gown, and even took the time to pour himself a glass of water.
One second.
Two seconds.
Three seconds.
Click.
The door lock turned, and the familiar figure appeared right on schedule.
Bogard indeed held that overcoat and was about to speak.
Kane had already turned his head, raised his water glass, and wore his trademark, heartwarming "gentle" smile as he preempted:
"Is it time to pass through the Gate of Justice, Mr. Bogard?"
"I suppose Admiral Sengoku must be growing impatient on the deck by now?"
Bogard's foot, poised to step inside, froze mid-air.
His face, as if drawn with a ruler, showed a crack in its perpetually unchanged expression for the first time.
He looked at Kane, his eyes filled with astonishment and confusion.
The admiral's flagship's intensive care unit had top-tier soundproofing. How could this kid know so precisely that they had just arrived at the Gate of Justice? He even guessed Sengoku's orders word for word?
Unless... Observation Haki?!
But how was that possible?
Although this kid had awakened Observation Haki, he was still only at a basic level.
After sleeping for two days in a coma, he could predict the future upon waking up?
His talent... was it even more monstrous than a monster?!
Watching Bogard's expression as if he'd seen a ghost, Kane was inwardly overjoyed.
Satisfying!
Those six hundred thousand Violation Points were totally worth it!
"...How did you know?" Bogard's voice carried a rare hint of hesitation.
"Intuition."
Kane pointed to his head, his smile pure and harmless.
"Perhaps brushing shoulders with death has made me particularly sensitive to the currents of this sea."
That line was delivered with maximum flair.
Bogard gave him a deep look but didn't press further. He simply tossed the coat over, his tone returning to its usual coolness: "Then hurry up. The Admiral is waiting on the deck. Welcome back to headquarters, hero."
He caught the Justice Coat and draped it over his shoulders with practiced ease, stepping barefoot off the bed.
He stretched, his entire skeleton emitting a series of crisp, dense cracks. Every muscle swelled slightly beneath the coat, radiating an explosive, powerful beauty.
[Current Violation Points Balance: 340,200.]
Spending nearly six hundred thousand had bought him a brand-new self, one who had truly stepped into the realm of the strong!
High durability and defense, mastery of advanced Haki, paired with the world-destroying Storm Fruit.
Now, he finally had the capital to truly walk sideways across this sea!
Kane flexed his wrists, his gaze passing over Bogard's shoulder toward the deep corridor outside the door.
Through the porthole at the end of the corridor, the massive gate symbolizing the world's highest authority had already come into view.
The curve of his lips turned playful.
"Let's go, Mr. Bogard."
"Let's not keep my dear friends waiting."