Starting with Naruto, I'll become stronger through my own efforts.

Chapter 482 Let the world see the power of the East China Sea

Celia looked at her disciple's disciple with satisfaction and said with emotion, "Frilian, you've grown up."

Then her gaze fell on the flat area, and she sighed, "But there—why hasn't it grown?"

Frilian was so angry her white fur practically stood on end: "Grandmaster Celie, you're even flatter than me!"

Seria roared in fury: "You little devil who betrays his master!"

Frillie retorted, "You stubborn, unreliable grandmaster!"

Talia Moreno, the executive vice president of the Mage's Guild and Seria's new apprentice, covered her mouth and chuckled, "Oh my, I never expected the dignified president to have this side to her. It's quite unexpected."

Xia Zuo looked at the two elves who were engrossed in arguing and shook his head helplessly, saying, "It's okay occasionally, but if it's like this every day, it'll be a headache."

"Fortunately, the two of them won't be together for too long."

Talia Moreno asked in surprise, "Lady Frilian isn't joining the association?"

Upon hearing this, Celia replied, "I would never let that awkward mage join the association!"

Frillie pouted and said defiantly, "I won't join my master's magic association either!"

Seria and Frillien simultaneously exclaimed, "Hmph!"

Talia broke out in a cold sweat: "Yes, yes."

Then she quietly asked, "Lord Xia Zuo, I heard they used to be very close, why are they acting so awkward now?"

Xia Zuo rolled his eyes: "Don't ask me. How would a swordsman like me know anything about you mages?"

After a period of commotion, the two elven mages finally calmed down and quietly completed their coming-of-age ceremony.

Celia and Shazo wished her a long and healthy life, saying, "Frilian, may you stay young forever and live a long life."

Frilian smiled and thanked the two elders of her clan sincerely.

Then Celia gave Frillie a spell—literally, a free gift that she could master without needing to learn it.

Xia Zuo then gave Frilian a sword, a sword that was formless and intangible, existing in the sea of ​​Frilian's heart.

Xia Zuo said, "If you encounter an enemy you cannot defeat and your life is in danger, look at the enemy and think: Kill it!"

"My sword will leap from your eyes and slay your enemies."

"I hope you'll never need to use this sword."

Finally, Celia, on behalf of Flame who had been dead for a hundred years, gave Frilian a pair of earrings, the red gemstones of which were exceptionally bright and dazzling.

Frilian loved it so much that she immediately put it on her ears.

With this, the ceremony of recognition by the Elven race was completed.

The next day, Frilian solemnly bid farewell to Shazo and Celia and embarked on her journey to find the best place to watch the meteor shower three years later.

Neither Shazo nor Celie asked Frilian what she was going to do next, because Frilian didn't ask, and they didn't even offer any suggestions.

Frilian is an elf who takes 240 years to reach adulthood, and she is completely in control of everything.

After witnessing Frilian leave, Shazor and Celia both let out a long sigh.

Celia leaned lazily against Xia Zuo and asked casually, "What are you planning to do next?"

Xia Zuo replied even more listlessly, "I have no ideas anymore. I'm going to find a place by the sea, settle down again, and watch the changes of history from afar."

"And you?"

"Me?" Celia murmured. "I plan to survive until the collapse of the empire, and then hand over the position of commander to a younger brother."

He then retreated into the great library of Oisaster, quietly studying magic.

"Hmph, I'm going to prove that little brat Frillian is wrong!"

Xia Zuo chuckled: "Haha, that's good, having a goal is great."

Celia asked, "I remember you were studying the birth patterns of demons, trying to deduce the rebirth patterns of the Demon King, and figuring out a way to kill it?"

Xia Zuo said disappointedly, "Don't even mention it. This research project has ended, so it can be considered a failure for now."

"Is the mechanism of the Demon King's rebirth very complicated?" Celia asked.

Xia Zuo shook his head and said, "It's not complicated, but the problem is that the whole system doesn't exist in our world. Before I break through the shackles of this world, there's nothing I can do about it."

"Just wait and see. When I'm strong enough to reach into that world that's getting closer and closer, hehehe."

Celia asked again, "Could you estimate a time?"

Xia Zuo gestured a number: "Around 900 years, fate will present an opportunity, at which time a human hero will kill the Demon King."

"I believe that the other world won't sever the Demon King's connection beforehand, just like it did with me. I'll then be able to take the opportunity to spy on the other side and reach out to them."

Celia's eyes widened: "900 years, around the same time when the Red Mirror Dragon could be killed, was that the point of destiny?"

Xia Zuo nodded and said nothing more.

He slowly sat down, leaning against the spire of the tallest building in the magical city of Oisaster, and watched the sunset with Celie.

Before he knew it, Xia Zuo had fallen asleep.

Then he entered the dream world of the dimension, and looking at the mottled bronze table in front of him, he felt a strong sense of unfamiliarity.

It's been a long time since I've been back.

Then, the hero Xia Zuo and the other Xia Zuos worshipped the God of Wealth together!

"May I become rich!"

"Ten million is not too little, ten billion is not too much!"

The God of Wealth, Xia Zuo, chuckled coldly: "Get lost! We're not even from the same world. I can't protect you!"

After laughing for a while, and confirming that no new people had joined, the Xia Zuos all placed their hands on the bronze table and began to share memories and power.

As everyone already knows, with the God of Wealth Xia Zuo becoming a true immortal, joining the official ranks, and taking on divine duties, it has become extremely difficult for him to achieve any further leaps in power.

Either a powerful, ancient Xia Zuo or a newcomer, a high-dimensional observer Xia Zuo, will appear and lead all the Xia Zuo to transcend the ordinary and break through the fourth wall.

The only hope is that the Saiyan Shazam and the Saint Seiya Shazam can break through their respective limits and become true gods equivalent to true immortals, thus winning by sheer numbers and dragging everyone out of their suffering.

Because there are already quite a few Xiazuo trapped by the world, such as Claymore Xiazuo and Misaka Xiazuo, who have long been tormented by the world's restrictions to the point of near death, or even to the point of ecstasy.

Now, Nanto Natsuzo, Yuusha Natsuzo, and others have all reached the limits of the world, becoming guys who have built five large brick houses, have no goals to pursue, and can only idly pass the time.

Otherwise, why would the hero Shazo have bothered to study the mechanism of the birth of demons, and why would he have cared so much about Frilian?

Because I have nothing to do, I'm bored.

Marvel's Shazo and DC's Shazo exchanged a furtive glance. Their worlds clearly also had unlimited potential, but nobody seemed to have faith in them—it was infuriating.

But if the American comic book alliance were to stand up and loudly declare, "I will work hard," they really wouldn't dare, because the world's potential is too great and too deep; they simply wouldn't dare to act rashly.

God of Wealth Xia Zuo, it's all your fault!

God of Wealth Xia Zuo: "————?"

He squinted at the two blasphemous fools, his eyes questioning why they were cricketing at him.

Marvel Shazor: "It's all your fault for pulling us up too high, but not high enough! You've left us hanging in mid-air, feeling miserable."

DC Shazo: "Exactly! If I could level up to fight the little blue man, I'd immediately give everyone a show of crushing the multiverse, but right now—I don't dare."

Marvel's Shazo: "I could beat Thanos to death right now, but when I think about the real Goddess of Death standing behind Thanos, I... I hesitate."

"It's not that I'm cowardly, it's just that death's status is too high. If I'm not careful, she might kill me." My divine power can affect everyone through a mysterious connection—"

DC Shazo: "My concerns are similar. The Blue Man's status seems to surpass that of God. He is truly omniscient and omnipotent, and his words can become law. He can kill all timelines and parallel worlds. Who knows if he can break through the fourth wall?"

The Xiazuo men frowned in unison, then forgave the cowards of the American Comics Alliance and agreed to their overly cautious approach.

As a result, they exchanged their experiences, and the dream party ended with them looking at each other in bewilderment.

One Piece World, East Blue 77th Branch.

The door to the branch manager's office was pushed open, and Brigadier General Xia Zuo, who had just woken up after a short rest, looked up and saw Major Bellemere, who was furious.

The brigadier general sat up straight, cracking his neck as he asked, "What happened?"

Bellemere angrily pulled out a wanted poster: "Luffy is wanted! He suddenly entered the Grand Line, defeated Crocodile in Alabasta, and got involved with Nico Robin."

"Brigadier General, I think Lieutenant General Garp will be coming to cause you trouble soon."

Xia Zuo took the wanted poster, glanced at it casually, and, confirming the bounty was a whopping 100 million, couldn't help but laugh: "Crocodile the Sand Crocodile must have quite a bit of influence. Defeating him gets you a 100 million bounty; it seems the World Government really recognizes his strength."

"It's alright, Major Bellemere. Vice Admiral Garp can't do anything to me. His two grandsons have become pirates; he wouldn't have time to settle scores with me."

"Even if he comes, I'm not afraid of him."

Xia Zuo stood up, stretched, and his bones cracked like thunder: "It's been a long time since I've properly moved my hands and feet."

Suddenly, he remembered something and turned to ask, "Is your adopted daughter Nami still a second lieutenant?"

Speaking of her adopted daughter, Bellemere's negative modesty vanished, replaced by a bright smile: "Of course not! She's already a captain, and the captain of a patrol ship!"

Xia Zuo nodded: "Very good, arrange for her to be on the next round of training and recommendation list. I think no one in the East China Sea can stop our 77th Branch from skipping the line."

"Yes!" Bellemere proudly declared, "No one in the East Blue can surpass our 77th Branch!"

Once the office was quiet again, Xia Zuo walked to the window, looked at the neatly arranged fleet in the base harbor, and smiled with delight.

"Seriously, you can't appreciate how outrageous the plot is until you come to this world yourself. I just found out last month that Luffy was doing nothing at home, and in the blink of an eye he's gathered up Long Nose, Curly Eyebrows, and Green Moss Head and headed off to the Grand Line."

"That's right. They set sail on May 5th, 1520 of the Sea Calendar, and the Marineford War broke out on July 12th. It's only been two months, they've moved like the wind."

"Wait, it's now—June 2nd—"

"I need to get ready; the Marineford War will inevitably require my fleet to be called up."

"It's called the 77th Branch Fleet, but it's actually a four-seas patrol fleet. No matter how you look at it, it's a second-rate fleet."

Sure enough, the next day, Shazo received an official notification: half of the officers and elite soldiers in the selected fleet were to proceed to headquarters, Marineford, as quickly as possible.

Xia Zuo asked General Kuzan, who was on the phone, "What happened?"

Admiral Aokiji made no attempt to conceal anything, answering directly, "Blackbeard Marshall D. Teach captured Fire Fist Portgas D. Ace."

Xia Zuo chuckled and said, "Fleet Admiral Sengoku is truly ruthless. He even wants to kill Vice Admiral Garp's grandson. Isn't he afraid that Vice Admiral Garp will punch his head off?"

Admiral Aokiji sighed, "Even Fleet Admiral Sengoku couldn't do anything about it. Blackbeard Teach sent them directly to Enies Lobby and made direct contact with the World Government."

Xia Zuo snorted coldly: "World Government—"

"Understood, Admiral Aokiji! I will lead the fleet to arrive on time."

After hanging up the phone, Xia Zuo summoned the officers at the base.

He shared all the intelligence with his officers without reservation, and emphasized the dangers of the operation.

"Portgas D. Ace was no ordinary pirate; he was the combat captain of the Whitebeard Pirates. The World Government forced Fleet Admiral Sengoku to execute Ace because they were dissatisfied with the Navy's performance and were forcing us into a decisive battle with the Whitebeard Pirates."

"Therefore, this trip to Marineford will inevitably involve a battle with the Whitebeard Pirates and an encounter with the world's strongest man. The danger is self-evident."

Navy Lieutenant Commander Borg scoffed, "The title of 'World's Strongest Man' is far too heavy a burden for a 70-year-old like Whitebeard. It's time to take it off."

Navy Captain Faye agreed, "That's right, our commander truly deserves that title of the strongest!"

Although Lieutenant Commander Bellemere was a woman, she spoke more aggressively: "Hmph, Commander Xia Zuo has been wearing the rank of Brigadier General for more than three years, which has also suppressed the ranks of officers in our 77th Branch too much."

"It's time to let the guys at headquarters see the East China Sea fleet, the East China Sea navy."

Faye and Borg nodded in unison, saying, "Belmel is right. It's time to let the whole world know that our East China Sea is not the weakest sea!"

When the officers shouted slogans, they all looked at their superior, Xia Zuo.

Because the person who suppressed their promotion was none other than this brigadier general whose strength was beyond comprehension, yet who willingly stayed in the East China Sea to diligently patrol.

Xia Zuo smiled slightly: "Alright, let the world see us."