Big brother, I want to become the strongest pirate in the world!

"Damn it!!! Do you know how difficult it is to meet someone like this in the Western Sea?! I will absolutely not give up!"

On the sea, Shanks, the red-haired man, watched the warship gradually recede into the distance, feeling extremely anxious.

"In that case, I won't stand on ceremony!"

Shanks finally stopped rowing, raised Griffin with both hands, and unleashed a powerful blow at the warship.

On the warship.

"I knew it!"

Kazan narrowed his eyes as he watched the massive blue sword aura hurtling towards him, muttering, "At least... a level 5 swordsmanship."

At this time, Shanks had not yet led his pirate crew into the New World and was still in the process of searching for companions.

If Shanks already possessed this level of swordsmanship at this point, it put a lot of pressure on Kazan.

Thankfully, I haven't entered the Grand Line yet... Lv.5 is still in 'Paradise', and there might be quite a few cowards like Shanks there. I need to hone my skills in the four seas for a while longer.

Earth Shattering Wave Slash.

Leaping onto the railing, Kazan drew Darkmoon and used the skill again.

The yellow sword energy collided with the blue sword energy, exploding instantly, and the sword mist scattered, causing the sea to surge.

Shanks pressed down on his straw hat, feeling the hurricane generated by the clash of sword energy, his sharp eyes fixed on the warship ahead, a serious smile appearing on his lips.

Watching the warship gradually sail away, Shanks did not pursue it relentlessly this time, because he was certain that he could not catch up with it that way.

"Wow, there are such interesting newcomers in the West Sea... We'll meet again someday."

Shanks recalled the figure he had just seen, completely concealed under a cloak. The only distinctive feature was the black sword in the other person's hand, which was completely black from tip to sheath.

He sat cross-legged on the boat, leaning against the eaves, tilting his head back, and staring at the azure sky and leisurely clouds in a daze.

"That guy should be able to pique Hawkeye's interest... Ah... I suddenly have an idea..."

"Hahahaha... Finally, there's a way to get rid of that guy, hahahahaha."

……

"Phew... So that guy finally gave up? What a troublesome fellow, he doesn't even know how to be reasonable when it comes to finding companions."

Kazan finally breathed a sigh of relief as he watched the red-haired figure disappear.

Bon Clay, who had been standing by watching, glanced at Kazan upon hearing this. How did he even get on the ship?

"Kazan... Are all the people on the Grand Line this strong?"

Feng Kelei stared solemnly in the direction of the red-haired figure from before.

Kazan tilted his head and glanced at him, then nodded solemnly: "That's right, there are countless guys like that in the first half of the Grand Line alone! So..."

"I understand... I will do my best to become stronger."

Feng Kelei was so serious that he no longer used the term "this humble servant" to refer to himself; his mind was now completely filled with the thought of becoming stronger.

They can't always rely on Kazan to survive. If someone as strong as him is considered commonplace in the first half of the Grand Line, how powerful must the people in the second half be? Even Kazan has his moments of defeat.

Kazan watched Bon Clay's resolute departing figure and nodded.

Then use Observation Haki to sense the little guy eavesdropping behind a wall.

The intensity of that aura... it must be Beckham.

Kazan was starting to get a little worried. Bellamy wasn't like Bon Clay; he was already known for his reckless training. What if he heard what Bellamy said earlier and became even more reckless...?

Kazan ultimately shook his head, deciding to put the matter aside for the time being. With Kazan watching over him, he would never allow his underlings to cause him any problems under his nose.

"I need to fight against the strong..."

Kazan raised his right hand, frowning as he looked at the rough Armament Haki on it.

Actually, Shanks was a very good training subject. He was strong enough, had good character, and surpassed Kazan in both swordsmanship and Haki. Fighting him would definitely lead to a significant improvement.

"If... you didn't covet my body, perhaps we could become very good friends."

Kazan held his head and shook it, his face filled with overwhelming grief.

Chapter 037 The Miraculous Effect of Heating

"So, why did it turn out like this?!"

Bang!

Bang!

Bang!

Bang bang bang!

Kazan stood on the deck at the stern of the ship, having activated Blood Frenzy and Berserk, relentlessly unleashing a series of slashes towards the rear of the ship.

The reason was that a small boat that looked like a coffin was chasing them on the sea.

Moreover, the person on it was wielding a large black sword, constantly releasing sword energy in this direction.

This is at least a level 6 in swordsmanship, and probably a very deep level that is about to be broken through.

Using Earthshatter Wave Slash consumes a relatively large amount of energy, and the posture is too bizarre, so Kazan chose to use dual swords, using the number of sword energies to counter the sword energies slashed by the opponent.

Kazan couldn't understand. Had the West Blue gone mad? How come it hadn't been back for two years and was now filled with monsters from the Grand Line?

Red-Haired Shanks is one thing, but this is his hometown, so at least he has a reason to go back and visit.

Why are you, Hawkeye Jorakor Mihawk, in the West Blue? Go find Shanks, don't mess with me, okay?

Kazan was in a state of mental collapse at this moment. If Shanks, who had been the Red-Haired One, had been more accommodating just two days ago, he wouldn't have gone for the kill even if he was caught up.

But the guy following us now is no pushover; if he catches up, we're probably in for trouble.

"Quickly, faster, run! Monet, use the snowstorm to slow that guy down!"

"Okay brother!"

Blizzard.

A white torrent flew over Kazan's head, following the sword energy he unleashed, and rushed towards Eagle Eye on the sea surface.

Hawkeye Mihawk watched the blizzard coming at him but made no move, because this attack was not aimed at him.

"Forget it, I don't plan to pursue them anyway."

Mihawk looked down at the ocean in front of the coffin boat, where a thin layer of ice had formed, and then looked up again at the red figure on the naval warship.

"The strongest pirate hunter in the West Blue, 'Red Dog,' has returned from the North Blue... His swordsmanship is truly like that of a mad dog..."

"The guy who possesses this power is definitely not an ordinary person. He should grow stronger quickly..."

"A young man's ambition should be like the midsummer night's wasteland, inexhaustible and inextinguishable, with wild grass stretching to the horizon when the wind blows."

"Become my opponent, come and take my head, and I'll be waiting for you with this black knife."

The black coffin boat continued to drift aimlessly on the ocean, and the people sitting on it looked at the sea with a newfound expectation.

Kazan on the warship had already stopped using dual swords and was lying on the deck staring blankly at the sky.

He is unaware that Mihawk has his future in mind, nor that Shanks has plotted against his path. He simply feels that he can no longer stay in the West Sea.

"I really want to go live a peaceful life in the East China Sea..."

Although the East Sea is teeming with monsters, apart from a few monsters, it is indeed the weakest sea, and it would probably be a good place to hide.

Meanwhile, by the railing, Foncrat and Bellamy remained standing there, stunned, recalling the scene they had just witnessed.

Just as my brother said, there are so many monsters in the first half of the Grand Line... How come two short pirates who can't even afford a ship have this kind of strength...

Feng Kelei and Bellamy exchanged a glance, both able to see the seriousness and earnestness in each other's eyes.

I must desperately become stronger!

The two clenched their fists and headed towards their training area.

Kazan didn't pay much attention to their expressions this time, because he himself was in a similar state.

"Hawkeye's swordsmanship is probably slightly better than Shanks', but the latter's aptitude for Haki in the original work is probably higher than the former's, which is why they are evenly matched."

"But none of them are guys I can handle right now, but... it doesn't seem like the gap is that big... I can always catch up."

"All I need to do is... follow my ambition and see it through to the end."

Kazan lay on the ground and raised his right hand, looking at the Armament Haki on it again. It had become smooth, but was still slightly dull.

"I've reached Lv.2. I've mastered Armament Haki for more than half a year now, and it's taken me so long to break through to Lv.2. It seems that you can't really improve Armament Haki by just practicing on your own. You still have to rely on combat."

He propped himself up, squeezed his right hand hard, and it instantly transformed into a glossy dark silver arm, radiating intense heat.

Lv.4 steel hardening + Lv.2 armor hardening + 1800 degrees Celsius high temperature, this level of defense is enough to offset the defense reduction when Blood Frenzy is activated.

With a flick of his right hand, Kazan drew his black sword, stared at the blade, and then sheathed it back into the wooden scabbard two seconds later.

"Phew... I can't heat up the black sword yet... If I could, then swordsmen who haven't mastered Armament Haki wouldn't dare to fight me head-on."

Ordinary ironware cannot withstand temperatures of 1800 degrees Celsius. Unless one possesses Armament Haki or has a sharp sword made of special materials, Kazan would turn into a pool of molten iron upon contact with it.

When the temperature gets even higher, not to mention ordinary ironware, even the finest metals will be restrained by it.

If Kazan can heat up his sword, then ordinary guys won't even be qualified to fight him, and even the Rust-Rust Fruit user, who is a natural counter to swordsmen, probably wouldn't dare to touch his sword.

"...Can't you heat the knife...and can't you heat the steel membrane I'm attached to?! Ugh, how stupid!"

Having figured out the key points, Kazan drew his Black Blade Darkmoon again and immediately began to put it into practice.

First, a thin layer of iron film was attached to the blade of the Dark Moon sword, and then... the heating began!

"Success!"

Kazan watched with delight as the black blade emitted steam. He swung it a few times, and could clearly feel the surrounding air become scorching hot.

Kazan had worried that the blade might be affected, but upon closer inspection, given the materials of Darkmoon and Useless, if they were so easily affected, Kazan wouldn't have been wielding them in the first place.

He ran to the ship's warehouse, where there were many naval weapons, including common knives, guns, and bullets. He originally planned to sell them after arriving in Krent, but before that, he could take some out to test them out.

Clang.

Kazan brought out a large box filled with all sorts of ironware, and he plunged his scorching black blade into it.