Starting as a Roger Pirates Apprentice

"So this is Wano?"

After landing, everyone disembarked from the ship and began exploring the ancient island.

Only Orin stared ahead with excitement on his face, his eyes flashing red.

"Is it here?"

"Hey, Orin, where are you going?"

Seeing Orin suddenly leap to the nearby hillside as if scouting something, Shanks, who was squatting nearby in his captain's hat munching on chocolate, looked up and asked.

Buggy followed close behind.

Unlike Orin, he didn't have such exaggerated Observation Haki, so he had to use binoculars to survey the distance. Suddenly, as if he had discovered something, he shouted:

"Captain Roger! It's the Whitebeard Pirates! They're on the other side of the island!"

Roger, on the other hand, didn't react much after hearing this. He just laughed heartily.

"Alright then, let's have a fight!!!"

At that moment, a figure rapidly approached.

"Captain~ A samurai is charging over."

Orin said calmly. He didn't react as dramatically as Buggy; just a small perception was enough for him to know who it was, so he wasn't surprised.

Kozuki Oden, the hot-blooded idiot samurai.

A man with great potential who played all his cards poorly.

Seeing this, Rayleigh and Gaban drew their weapons, ready to fight.

"Just as strong as the rumors say. Stop him, Rayleigh!"

"Let's do it."

"Wait, Gaban, Rayleigh!"

But Roger was already excited, rushing past the two of them.

"Can't let you guys get hurt now!"

"You just want to fight him yourself."

Orin smiled, but his eyes were locked onto Roger and Oden as they were about to clash.

His Observation Haki surged, covering both of them. Orin didn't want to miss a single detail.

Roger charged forward with a smile, black and red lightning crackling along his blade.

"Divine Departure!!!"

Such precise control of Conqueror's Haki!

As Oden was sent flying with a single strike, Orin was still savoring the power of Roger's Conqueror's Haki infusion.

After witnessing it multiple times, he was gradually coming to understand the principles behind this technique—it wasn't so different from what Rayleigh had taught him.

Unlike the reckless release of Conqueror's Haki that knocks out fodder indiscriminately, infusing it into attacks was more like concentrating it to a point, then unleashing immense force.

This was also how Shanks used it at his peak—extreme compression of Conqueror's Haki into black-red lightning, powerful enough to overwhelm even Vice Admirals, and even Admirals had to be cautious.

However, it wasn't like Armament Haki which could be physically attached to the body at will.

A year had passed. Orin looked at the faint black-red arc forming in his palm, and he realized he had only grasped the very basics.

Everyone's eyes were on Oden, who had been sent flying hundreds of meters and only stopped after crashing through countless trees.

Only Roger, Orin, and a few others were looking to the sky.

A powerful aura was approaching fast!

He's here!!!

Orin's eyes widened, staring at the towering figure approaching in the distance.

A massive, exaggerated physique. Long golden hair. A white cloak. And that iconic crescent-shaped white mustache.

The world's strongest man.

Edward Newgate!

He charged straight toward Roger, who didn't flinch. His blade, too, was wrapped in Conqueror's Haki as he slashed upward.

The blades didn't even touch, clashing with only their Haki-infused auras.

Black and red lightning crackled between them as the overwhelming shockwave knocked everyone else away.

The sky seemed to rip open, clouds dispersing in all directions.

Even though Orin wanted to experience it up close, he couldn't withstand the force. He had to grip a sturdy ancient tree nearby to keep from being blown away.

As for Buggy, Shanks, and the others, Rayleigh had already dragged them far away from the battlefield.

Orin, facing this overwhelming natural force, unleashed his own Conqueror's Haki without fear, trying to infuse it around himself.

"Gurararara… What an interesting brat!"

Whitebeard noticed the small figure still standing nearby and grinned.

"Is he one of yours, Roger?"

Roger laughed heartily.

"Hahaha! Yeah, that kid's a real monster! Jealous, Newgate?"

"Hmph… My sons won't lose to anyone!"

As usual, the two exchanged banter. After a few seconds of standoff, they both laughed and lowered their weapons.

"Hahahahahaha~"

"Leave all your valuables here!" ×2

With the two captains giving the order, both pirate crews officially began their clash.

However, no one noticed the figure perched in a tree far away.

A skilled sniper had already raised his rifle.

A glint of red light flashed in his eyes.

"You've let your guard down, Marco."

"Bang—!"

It was Orin, sneaking a shot.

Having just experienced the force of infused Conqueror's Haki, Orin felt that joining the battle to fight small fry wouldn't improve his willpower at all.

It was like tasting fine flour and then being asked to chew on coarse grain.

Besides, Orin clearly sensed it—ordinary battles and killings could no longer improve his Conqueror's Haki.

There were only two ways to grow stronger now.

One: Let time pass. With age, the mind and body naturally mature.

Two: Fight against others who wield powerful Conqueror's Haki. That's the only way to improve.

So for now, he returned to his old habit:

Sneak attacks!

As for why he didn't try a sneak shot on Whitebeard—Orin had considered it. But unfortunately, no matter how many times he glimpsed the future, the result was always the same.

Failure!

Failure!

And more failure!

Alright. Looks like he couldn't pick a fight with someone that strong yet.

Instead, Orin chose a more reasonable target—the First Division Commander of the Whitebeard Pirates.

Marco the Phoenix.

Just as Marco spread his wings and prepared to charge into battle, one shot shattered his pirate dream.

His wings retracted instantly, and he collapsed to the ground, unable to move. He was nearly trampled by his own charging comrades.

"Is this… Seastone?"

After the shot, Orin didn't bother staying hidden. He leapt from the tree.

With his black hair fluttering, the uniformed young man stepped out from the shadows.

He slung the sniper rifle behind him and slowly drew a long blade he'd taken as loot.

"Sching—"

Dark Armament Haki wrapped around his arms and then slowly coated the blade.

Upon closer look, there were faint traces of black-red lightning crackling around it!

Seeing the attacker clearly, the Whitebeard Pirates grew furious.

"Damn it! A sneak attack!"

But the Roger Pirates looked unfazed, as if this was nothing unusual.

"Oh, it's Orin… Well, that's just his style."

Although Orin had shown himself, he clearly wasn't interested in the weakling among the Whitebeard Pirates.

His eyes locked onto one man.

One of the only two Conqueror's Haki users in the Whitebeard crew—

Kozuki Oden!

----------------

Pls Drop some Power Stones

+100 chapters and support me on Patreon(.)com/Jixo