Chapter 22: Birth
Among the ten items, the value of the Demon Fruit was the hardest to determine, especially for Paramecia types. As for the [Minaisil Deep Sea Ore], this material could be used to create the core of an Alchemical Creature, thereby producing a water-ability Alchemical Creature.
Regarding Alchemical Biology, Su Xiao hadn't improved it in a long time. Initially, he planned to use Alchemical Creatures as cannon fodder. Who would have thought he'd create the honest bull, Amu? Therefore, he didn't treat it as cannon fodder, and Amu actually grew, evolving from an Alchemical Creature into the main tank of the team, transcending the category of Alchemical Creature and becoming a living being.
As for the legendary item [Yearning Conch], its effect was quite interesting. After smashing it, it could summon a mermaid phantom, specifically a female mermaid. Her singing would cause all living creatures within a three-hundred-meter radius to lose their hostility. This effect did not distinguish between friend and foe.
This was a very interesting and powerful item. Used properly, it could even allow one to escape from a desperate situation.
The detailed attributes of the epic gem [Moon's Elegance] were not yet known; they would only be visible after socketing. However, this was the first epic gem Su Xiao had obtained, and it would certainly not be weak. As for the item Su Xiao favored most, [Killing Instinct], it was a very powerful epic equipment.
[Killing Instinct]
Origin: One Piece
Quality: Epic
Category: Belt (Sharkskin)
Durability: 93/93
Equipment Requirements: True Agility 95 points or above, Willpower 30 points or above.
Equipment Effect: Instinct Activation (Special Skill). After wearing this equipment, a Willpower check will be performed. If the check succeeds, 'Instinct Activation (Passive)' will be gained. If the check fails, the wearer will enter a 'Killing Instinct State (Active)', which lasts for five hours. After the Killing Instinct State ends, this equipment can never be worn again.
Instinct Activation (Passive): Greatly increases the wearer's growth rate of perception-type abilities. The cost for improving perception-type abilities is reduced by 50%.
Tip: Once this equipment is successfully worn, it cannot be transferred or sold. It can be smelted and decomposed, and the resulting materials can be sold.
Rating: 700 points (Epic equipment rating ranges from 530 to 700)
Introduction: Kill them all!
Price: 390,000 Paradise Coins (Cannot be sold after successful wearing)
...
[Killing Instinct] was a very special piece of equipment. It wouldn't enhance combat power in the short term, but it could help the wearer accelerate the growth rate of their perception-type abilities.
Su Xiao's perception ability was Instinct. In melee combat, Instinct was a fairly perfect ability. Its only flaw wasn't in combat aspects, but rather that Instinct couldn't be improved within Reincarnation Paradise. It could only be improved by Su Xiao himself. As long as he kept Instinct active, the Instinct ability would slowly increase in level.
After mastering the Instinct ability, Su Xiao kept this ability active most of the time. After all, it was a passive ability, requiring no control from him, and activating it basically prevented sneak attacks.
The effect of [Killing Instinct] solved the problem of the Instinct ability's slow growth rate. This type of equipment that assists the wearer's growth was the first Su Xiao had obtained. How effective it would be was still unknown, but judging from its epic quality and full rating, it shouldn't be weak.
For now, Su Xiao couldn't try to equip [Killing Instinct]. If the Willpower check failed, he would have to start killing on Whitebeard's ship.
Walking out of the wooden compartment, Marco, who had been waiting outside the door, stepped forward.
"These two stones..." Marco showed a troubled expression. After deliberating for a moment, he said, "Kukulin, these two stones are indeed very rare, but we've studied them for a long time and haven't found what they can be used for. Are you sure you want to choose them?"
Marco spoke up to remind him. Although he looked lazy and perpetually sleepy, he didn't have the habit of taking advantage of others.
Judging by the conduct of Whitebeard and Marco, they didn't seem like ruthless pirates. But in reality, pirates were pirates. The Whitebeard Pirates were at best pirates with decent character, but they were still pirates.
It could be said that to dominate a territory in the New World, the Whitebeard Pirates must have taken countless innocent lives. This was inevitable; otherwise, the Whitebeard Pirates would have long since sunk into the sea. Pursuing freedom required paying a price: innocent lives, abandoning wives and children to come to the sea. Dreams alone weren't enough to dominate the ocean.
Obviously, Whitebeard and Marco both understood this, so they called themselves pirates. As for the protagonist Luffy, what kind of pirate was he? A typical 'disgrace' among pirates. Luffy and his crew were more like a group of adventurers pursuing their dreams.
A bloodstained blade, strong liquor burning the throat, burning enemy ships, enemies screaming in the fire—that was a pirate, a thief who commits evil on the sea.
"These aren't stones, these are..."
Just as Su Xiao started to speak, Marco quickly raised his hand to signal him to stop. Once, when Marco had nothing to do, he chatted with Su Xiao and inadvertently got into the topic of weapon manufacturing. After that, Little Marco felt as miserable as if he were attending a physics class.
"In any case, as long as you're satisfied."
Marco quickly changed the subject and led Su Xiao out of the cabin.
The banquet on the deck had reached its climax. The pirates were loudly singing a pirate song from Whitebeard's era.
"Uohohohoho, uohohohoho, I'll give you a cup..."
Su Xiao felt that this somewhat brainwashing pirate song was familiar, then realized it was the one Brook from the Straw Hat Pirates often sang.
Amidst the singing, Su Xiao leaped down from the Moby Dick and climbed into a round submarine boat. This was a 'gift' from the Revolutionary Army.
Closing the hatch, Su Xiao signaled to Bubu Wang that they could set off.
"Woof?"
Bubu Wang, dressed like a pilot, looked at Su Xiao, as if asking where to go.
"To Marine Headquarters. What's with this outfit? Aren't you hot?"
"Woof~"
Bubu Wang stuck out its tongue, indicating it wasn't hot at all, and that this outfit could improve its submarine piloting skills.
On the deck of the Moby Dick, Marco had just seen Su Xiao off when he heard a *bang* from below the ship. This made his expression stiffen.
"Neumyr, go underwater and see what's going on."
A fish-man heard this and jumped into the sea. Not long after, he climbed back onto the ship with a somewhat strange expression.
"The Moby Dick is fine, it's just... Kukulin and his group seem to be heading into the deep sea."
"The deep sea? Can a submarine boat enter the deep sea?"
Marco was puzzled. Neumyr shrugged, indicating he didn't know either.
Inside the submarine boat, Su Xiao's brow was furrowed.
"Bubu, are you sure the direction is correct?"
"Woof (No problem)."
Bubu Wang was very confident.
"This boat... seems to be leaking a bit."
"Woo-woof?"
Bubu Wang was so startled it almost spoke human language. Fifty meters underwater, a submarine boat moving in a wavy pattern slowly advanced.
...
Marineford, Marine Headquarters.
This was a building with a stone base at the bottom and layers stacked above, reaching a height of dozens of meters. In the world of One Piece, this was already a very tall structure.
At this moment, in the Marshal's office on the top floor, Sengoku was gently rubbing his forehead. The bloodshot eyes showed he hadn't slept well recently.
"Has he already entered the Grand Line? As expected, Whitebeard won't abandon his son."
Sengoku handed the paper beside him to a small goat on the desk. This was a natural document shredder.
Inside the office, Aokiji, wearing an eye mask, was sleeping soundly. Seeing his good sleep, Sengoku just sighed. This was his most favored candidate for the position of Marshal.
With a *shhh* sound, the wooden paper door of the office was slid open. A woman with her hair in a bun and a prominently swollen belly walked into the office.
Aokiji, who had been leaning on the sofa, straightened up, pulled up his eye mask, and looked at the pregnant woman entering the room along with Sengoku. Doubt appeared in both their minds. Who was this?
"My child is about to be born. I'm very scared. Can you help me?"
The woman pressed her hands on her swollen belly.
"Ma'am, you need to drink more hot water."
Aokiji stood up, cold air rising from his hands. He sensed that this pregnant woman who had entered the office was very abnormal. Moreover, a pregnant woman not affiliated with the Marines being able to enter the Marshal's office was itself a suspicious matter.
"My child... hates hot water."
With a *crack*, the pregnant woman broke off one of her fingers, tearing the flesh. She pressed the finger against her belly. A mouth full of layered sharp teeth opened and swallowed the finger in one gulp. The woman's body began to gradually become transparent.
Meanwhile, in a residential house in the residential area behind Marine Headquarters, Apus was sitting upright on the sofa. A strange fluctuation emanated from the bio-computer in his hand.
'4 individuals witnessed. Intensity 15753. Remaining until birth: 26%.'
Seeing this string of text, the corners of Apus's mouth gradually curled up.
"He's going to see Sengoku? Such an impatient little one. Endure a little longer, or the mother body won't be able to withstand it."