Starting as a Roger Pirates Apprentice

Buggy desperately hoped Orin would come and save them, but unfortunately, Orin had his own matters to handle.

"Sorry, Buggy, I've got something else to deal with. You and Shanks hang in there a little longer."

Orin patted Buggy on the shoulder, then in a flash, cut his way out of the encirclement again.

"W-Wait... Damn it!!"

Buggy was on the verge of tears. All he could do was wear a bitter face and fight alongside Shanks as they retreated.

They weren't monsters like Orin. Even though the two twelve-year-olds were fairly capable fighters, they still found it hard to hold their own against the overwhelming number of elite pirates.

Shanks, however, remained cheerful. After bidding Orin farewell, he jumped back into the fray against the charging pirates.

"Don't let your guard down, Buggy! More enemies incoming!"

"Damn it!!!"

...

Meanwhile, at the heart of the Edd War battlefield,

Roger and Shiki were unleashing their Conqueror's Haki, clashing wildly. Black and red lightning bolts tore across the battlefield, seemingly threatening to rend the sky apart!

Some of the weaker pirates didn't even dare approach. The sight of veterans passed out on the ground was warning enough.

Their battle was ferocious.

"Divine Departure!!!"

Their swords clashed without ever touching. Orin, watching from a distance, didn't dare blink, staring fixedly at the two blades that never physically met.

"No matter how many times I see it, this kind of power never stops being terrifying!"

Conqueror's Haki Infusion!!!

Orin was out of his mind, standing amidst the overwhelming pressure of the two supreme Conqueror's Haki forces. He remained rooted to the spot, observing closely, using his Observation Haki to feel the sheer innate talent radiating from the two.

Facing this world-shaking power directly, Orin admitted that it was the first time he felt fear.

It wasn't cowardice or weak will—just the biological instinct of a living being facing death.

He knew that if he took even a few steps closer, no matter how strong his body or dual Haki were, he'd be shredded to dust by the force.

But Orin didn't back down. He admitted he was gambling.

And clearly, he won the bet.

In the face of such overwhelming terror, people often break through their limits.

Maybe it was because he got too close—Orin's body began to show countless wounds, even Armament Haki couldn't shield him. Blood trickled from his seven orifices.

Still, Orin refused to retreat.

Because if he did, that one step back would cost him his future!

If he retreated due to fear of someone else's Conqueror's Haki, then based on what Orin knew of that power, he might never awaken it himself. At most, he'd end up as a vice-captain level fighter for life.

Then how would he act cool? How would he have fun?

No way he was going to be the kind of guy who gets one-shotted by Conqueror's Haki. Not even an Admiral-level fighter? He didn't want to be someone who couldn't even stand before Shanks in the future!

In his previous life, he lived stuck at the bottom.

In this life, he finally had talent and a chance to grow stronger.

He would become the strongest man in the world!

The king of style!

The freest soul alive!

He wanted people to break into a cold sweat just from hearing his name!

It was this simple belief that filled Orin's heart, allowing him to bravely endure the baptism of two world-class Conqueror's Haki masters!

BOOOOMMMM!!!

Just as Roger and Shiki were enjoying the height of their battle, a young but domineering will surged onto the battlefield. The sudden surge of black and red lightning drew their attention!

Roger and Shiki widened their eyes, then both burst out laughing.

"Kid, looks like you've got some ambitions of your own! Join me! I can overlook that shot you fired earlier!"

"No way, Shiki! This kid is one of the futures of the new era!!!"

In the distance, Rayleigh and the other commanders fighting their own battles also sensed the pure and powerful Conqueror's Haki, smiling with recognition.

The most shocked, though, was Buggy. His hair blew wildly in the shockwave, his eyes full of disbelief.

"Wha?! Orin actually awakened Conqueror's Haki?!?"

"Aha, that's Orin for you!"

Shanks, by contrast, stayed calm, genuinely happy for his friend's progress.

But none of them noticed

Among the flying pirates watching from afar, one inconspicuous pirate raised a Den Den Mushi.

On the other end of the line—

Marine Headquarters, Marineford.

"To awaken Conqueror's Haki at such a young age... This brat on Roger's crew might have potential that rivals Roger himself!"

"I know this guy."

A voice suddenly came from behind Vice Admiral Garp, startling him so much his snot bubble popped.

"Nani? Is the meeting over?!"

"GARP!!!"

Seeing Garp asleep again, current Admiral Sengoku ground his teeth in rage. Just as he was about to erupt, Fleet Admiral Kong raised a hand to stop him.

"The Marine on Garp's ship, explain in detail."

Aokiji, seated behind Garp, stood up and stared at the image in the Den Den Mushi of the youth radiating black and red lightning in military uniform. He slowly pulled out a bounty poster.

"Target: Orin. Age 12. Master of dual—no, triple Haki, gunmanship, physical combat. Suspected to possess extremely high Observation Haki talent. Possibly one of the inheritors of Roger's will!"

If the earlier intel came from years of Marine combat and resource-gathering,

Then that last statement... was pure personal grudge.

...

He's a Logia-type user, and even now the scar on his thigh hasn't faded.

"A monster like that at such a young age... We have to nip this in the bud!!!"

Upon hearing Aokiji's words, Fleet Admiral Kong frowned deeply.

There were more and more monstrous geniuses among pirates these days, and that was a growing problem for the Marines—especially when they came from someone like Roger.

Now that it was confirmed he had Conqueror's Haki, if he grew stronger and learned to infuse it...

Just the thought of another Roger-level pirate rising in the future made Kong feel a weight on his shoulders.

"That brat with the gun on Roger's crew... he's grown up this much already?" Marine hero Garp muttered while munching on senbei.

Crunch crunch (￣～￣)

"MY SENBEI!!! GARP!!!"

Sengoku let out a furious Buddha roar.

...

"One by one, none of you will submit to me!"

"Then go to hell!"

"Don't talk big, Shiki!"

Bang—

Even after awakening Conqueror's Haki, Orin was still just a kid. Roger had to shield him behind his back.

Just a residual shockwave from a single sword clash sent Orin flying again.

He steadied himself, but instead of charging back to the center of the battlefield, he used Geppo to soar over to Shanks and Buggy.

Seeing him appear, Buggy was clearly thrilled.

"Orin! There are too many enemies! What should we do?!"

"Relax, Buggy!"

Orin flicked the rain off his blade and looked up at the stormy sky, as if a tempest were brewing above.

"You're no less lucky than me or Shanks...you're the one blessed with Conqueror's Luck!"

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Pls Drop some Power Stones

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