HST: Chapter 1/5

Chapter 1: Bounty Hunter Caelan
In the year 1521 of the Sea Circle Calendar, at a marine branch base in the Sambas region of the East Blue.

Dozens of bounty hunters stood gathered in the hall. Normally rough and unruly, now they didn't even dare to breathe loudly.

Each of them stared carefully and curiously at the bounty exchange window, at the young bounty hunter known as the legend of the East Blue.

His physique was as imposing as a towering iron pillar, the muscles beneath his clothes solid and powerful without appearing bulky.

He radiated an overwhelming sense of strength even while standing still.

Strapped to his back was a massive greatsword, two meters long and half the width of a man, exuding a terrifying murderous aura.

His thick hair fell in untamed waves, and his features were sharply cut.

Some weren't sure if their eyes were playing tricks on them, but they seemed to see faint strands of black mist swirling around the young man, like the clinging presence of evil spirits.

Caelan ignored the stares from the crowd, he was long used to it.

"Calculate this time's bounty for me."

Caelan placed a black sack on the table, handing it over to the Marine officer to count and confirm.

"Understood, Mr. Caelan."

The Marine responded respectfully, carefully pouring out the contents of the sack onto the table. Seven gruesome severed heads rolled out.

"The ferocious Tiger —Goro—bounty of 4 million berries!"

"The Black Serpent —Kuroba Jin—bounty of 5 million berries!"

"The Venomous Beast—Dokuga—bounty of 4.5 million berries!"

…

With each head revealed, the Marines' expressions grew more and more astonished.

These were all notorious, bloodthirsty pirates who had slaughtered countless innocents while rampaging through the East Blue.

The bounty hunters watching couldn't help but exclaim in shock at the sight of these heads.

Some of them had once crossed blades with these pirates and naturally, had suffered defeat.

Never in their wildest dreams had they imagined these pirates' heads would one day be displayed here at the Marine base.

Such a scene was something they had only seen in their dreams.

"Mr. Caelan, here's your bounty—a total of 30 million berries."

The Marine respectfully passed a briefcase through the window as he spoke.

At the mention of this figure, all the bounty hunters gasped and stared at the briefcase with longing eyes.

The combined bounties of the pirates they hunted together didn't even come close to this amount.

But no one dared provoke Caelan, they all knew very well just how terrifying he truly was.

"Thirty million… not bad."

Caelan took the briefcase, weighed it casually in his hand, then turned and walked away.

It wasn't until Caelan had completely left the hall that the Marine base erupted into loud chatter.

The bounty hunters and Marines couldn't hold back their excitement and began discussing the event heatedly.

…

Caelan returned to his ship and opened the briefcase.

"System, recharge."

The berries inside the suitcase instantly vanished, as if they had never been there.

"Ding! Congratulations, host! Wealth value increased by 30 million!"

Hearing the system notification, a slight trace of concern appeared on Caelan's face.

"It's already been half a year since I crossed over."

"At this rate, it'll take me over ten years just to complete synchronization."

That's right.

Caelan was not a native of this world.

He came from another world, having inexplicably crossed into this perilous world in the flesh.

A world rampant with pirates, ruled by the tyrannical Celestial Dragons, and controlled by a corrupt and incompetent World Government.

Any one of these forces could easily crush an ordinary man like him as if he were an ant.

Fortunately, Caelan had been bound to the Heroic Spirit Synchronization System upon his arrival.

At the start, he had drawn the SR template [Berserker Class Heracles], the heroic spirit from Illya's route in the Fifth Holy Grail War, known by countless fans as "Basaka"—the embodiment of true manliness.

As long as he continued to embody the template's personality and traits, he could increase his synchronization rate and gain the power of the template.

He could even spend berries to accelerate the synchronization process.

Caelan understood well the dangers and excitement of the pirate world.

He didn't want to be just another nameless soul, nor did he want to be a background character in this grand era.

So, he made up his mind—he would become stronger.

Over the past half year, he had continuously aligned his behavior and combat style with the Berserker template while hunting down vicious pirates across the weaker seas of the East Blue.

At the same time, he exchanged the pirates' heads for large sums of bounty money to further increase his synchronization.

With this dual approach, his synchronization rate soared.

"Open system panel."

Caelan muttered in his heart.

A translucent light screen appeared in his mind.

…

[Host: Caelan Alaric]

[Template: Berserker Class Heracles]

[Synchronization Rate: 30%]

[Berry: 15 million + 30 million]

[Strength: B]

[Endurance: B]

[Agility: B]

[Magic Power: B]

[Luck: A]

[Noble Phantasm: A+]

[Personal Skills]: Battle Continuation (B), Mind's Eye (Fake) (B), Valor (A+), Divinity (A), Madness Enhancement (B)

[Noble Phantasms]: God Hand: The Twelve Labors (B), Nine Lives: Shooting the Hundred Heads (C–A+)

…

Looking at the panel before him, his synchronization rate had already reached 30%.

In other words, he currently possessed 30% of the power of the Mad Warrior Heracles.

This level of strength was already terrifying, enough to stand at the top among the Four Emperors' core crews or be considered a potential candidate for Admiral at Marine Headquarters.

In the weakest sea of the East Blue, his current strength made him practically invincible.

More importantly, he had already unlocked Heracles' signature Noble Phantasm—Twelve Labours.

This weapon, born from the legendary Twelve Labors of Heracles, granted Caelan twelve lives, which could be restored over time after depletion.

Compared to Marco's Phoenix Devil Fruit regeneration, the Twelve Labours were even more astonishing.

"System, consume 40 million wealth points to increase synchronization."

The next moment, the system panel in his mind changed again.

[Host: Caelan Alaric]

[Template: Berserker Class Heracles]

[Synchronization Rate: 34%]

[Berry: 5 million]

At the same time, Caelan felt a tremendous surge of power flooding into his body.

Memories began to emerge in his mind—the glorious legends of Heracles, the heroic feats of the twelve impossible trials.

His already powerful physique strengthened further. Although his attribute ranks hadn't broken through to the next level, each stat increased by 10%.

"Every 10 million berries increases synchronization by 1%. To reach 100%, I'll need 660 million berries."

Caelan frowned slightly.

That number wasn't unreasonable, it was about the cost of a high-tier Paramecia-type Devil Fruit.

But right now, he was still in the East Blue, and gathering that kind of money here would take considerable time.

Over the past six months, Caelan had roamed across the East Blue, killing pirates wherever he went. Most of the truly dangerous ones had already been dealt with by his hand.

The East Blue had now truly become the weakest of the four seas, with only a few scattered small-time pirates remaining.

Of course, if Caelan chose to become a pirate himself, pillaging the weak and innocent, then not to mention 600 million, earning even 6 billion berries would be easy.

But that went against the moral compass Caelan had developed in his previous life. He was just an ordinary person at heart.

Caelan would not sacrifice himself to save the suffering masses, but neither would he slaughter innocents for convenience.

Thus, he chose to become a bounty hunter—hunting down vicious pirates.

In each battle, he synchronized further with the Berserker Heracles template, then used the bounty rewards to increase his synchronization progress.

"It seems I'll need to head to the Grand Line as soon as possible."

Caelan made his decision.

He had already cleared out the 'starter zone' that was the East Blue, there was no reason to linger.

The pirates of the Grand Line were stronger and could give him proper fights.

Their bounties were also far higher, many of them carrying hundreds of millions in bounty, along with vast treasure hoards.

(To be continued.)

Chapter 2: Don Krieg

The next day.

Caelan stretched his body. He had expended a lot of energy hunting down those pirates.

It wasn't that they were particularly strong, but they had been too spread out across the sea.

"Well, time for a big meal and some relaxation."

The sea restaurant Baratie was in this area, so there was no reason to miss out.

Caelan took off the greatsword from his back and swung it hard toward the sea behind him.

A massive wave of sword energy roared out, creating a huge recoil that pushed Caelan's boat forward at high speed.

In just one hour, Caelan spotted a fish-head-shaped ship carrying a green two-story building.

The sea restaurant Baratie had arrived.

After securing his boat to the side of the Baratie, Caelan stepped into the famous restaurant of the East Blue.

As soon as he entered, he saw the restaurant was nearly packed, the air filled with laughter and the rich aroma of seafood and various spices.

"Smells like the food here really lives up to its reputation."

Caelan narrowed his eyes and nodded in approval.

"Oh? A guest with good taste. What would you like to order?"

Hearing Caelan's praise, Zeff, wearing his chef's hat and sporting two golden mustaches, took the initiative to greet him.

Zeff, who had spent years on the Grand Line, could tell at a glance that Caelan was not an ordinary person. He was stronger than most of the pirates Zeff had encountered.

Sanji, standing nearby with a cigarette in his mouth, widened his eyes. He had never seen the old man treat anyone so politely before.

"Bring me all your signature dishes. If that's not enough, keep them coming."

Caelan didn't stand on ceremony. He could easily eat as much as several tables' worth of diners.

Ever since syncing with the Heracles template, his appetite was on par with a dimensional stomach. No matter how much he ate, it was never enough.

"Nani?! We absolutely do not allow any food waste in this restaurant!"

Zeff immediately shouted. His early hardships had made him intolerant of wasting food, and he didn't care how special Caelan might be.

"No problem. That won't be an issue."

Caelan smiled in response. He wouldn't waste a single bite.

But his calm reply came off as a provocation to Zeff, as if Caelan were mocking the quality of the Baratie's food.

"In that case, I'll make sure you leave here clutching your stomach!"

Zeff snapped back with a glare.

"Sanji, give it everything you've got!"

Zeff grabbed Sanji and headed straight into the kitchen.

Caelan casually found an empty seat, sat down, and leaned his greatsword against the chair beside him.

A few diners recognized Caelan and raised their glasses to him.

Some pirates, terrified, quickly paid their bills and fled the restaurant.

Caelan glanced at them and immediately saw they were just small fry with bounties of a few tens of thousands of berries. He couldn't be bothered with them.

"Old man, you're acting really weird today."

Sanji felt something was off. This wasn't like the old man at all.

Zeff shook his head and didn't explain. He simply pointed toward Caelan.

"What is it? Who the hell is that guy?"

Following Zeff's gesture, Sanji looked over—and was stunned.

The man had a lion-like build, wrapped in faint wisps of black mist, radiating an oppressive aura.

The cheerful, lively dining atmosphere had gradually fallen silent, with Caelan at its center.

The diners closest to him were visibly on edge, quickly finishing their meals and leaving in a hurry.

Noticing Sanji staring at him, Caelan smiled.

"Ugh…"

Sanji shivered. Despite Caelan's handsome face, the pressure he exuded was nothing short of demonic.

"Now you see?"

Zeff gave Sanji a meaningful glance before turning to focus on the food.

Sanji followed, putting his full effort into preparing the meal to meet Caelan's request.

"Am I really that scary?"

Caelan sighed to himself. The Heracles template naturally carried a berserk, fearsome aura. Even if he suppressed it, he couldn't completely avoid making others feel uneasy.

Grilled steak, salt-grilled chicken skewers, signature shrimp, seafood soup…

With Zeff and Sanji working together, the first round of dishes was quickly brought to Caelan's table.

"This is excellent."

Caelan tasted the food carefully. He had to admit, the skills of these two chefs were truly impressive. In both his past and present life, he had rarely encountered cooking of this level.

Though his eating manners were proper, his speed was astonishing. An entire table of dishes disappeared in moments.

From the kitchen, Sanji and Zeff watched, their eyelids twitching. They hadn't expected Caelan's appetite to be so massive.

The two of them returned to the stove, working quickly to prepare more dishes, replacing the empty plates at Caelan's table one after another.

Just as Caelan was happily enjoying his meal, a group of uninvited guests entered the restaurant.

Don Krieg, supported by Gin, limped into the Baratie. Their pirate crew had been devastated by Dracule Mihawk's blade and were in desperate need of supplies.

"Captain, let's get out of here. That's the strongest bounty hunter in the East Blue."

The moment they entered, Gin recognized Caelan.

"The East Blue is too weak. The so-called strongest bounty hunter here is just another small fry."

Krieg sneered. He was a pirate who had entered the Grand Line.

"But I'm too weak right now. I need to recover my strength first."

Not long ago, he had encountered Mihawk, who sank fifty of his ships. Krieg had barely escaped with his life, only to be hounded by the Marines. He had been starving for over ten days and was now completely exhausted.

Desperate, Krieg lunged at a diner's table like a starving dog, shoving food into his mouth frantically.

He needed to recover his strength as quickly as possible to avoid being an easy target for the bounty hunter.

"That's Don Krieg! The overlord of the East Blue, with a bounty of 17 million berries!"

"Didn't the Krieg Pirates already enter the Grand Line? How did they end up like this?"

Many of the restaurant's patrons recognized Krieg, and panic spread quickly.

"We're doomed! These are vicious pirates!"

Everyone knew Krieg's reputation. He was ruthless, despicable, and had taken countless lives. Even in his current pitiful state, no one dared question his strength.

Caelan noticed Krieg's presence but didn't take him seriously. Instead, he focused on something else.

If the story had reached this point, then Luffy and the others should be here as well.

Sure enough, when Caelan glanced up, he saw the Straw Hat crew watching from the second floor.

He had no particular interest in them, but since he planned to enter the Grand Line, he happened to be short of a navigator.

With that in mind, Caelan subconsciously looked around for Nami.

He spotted a slender figure quietly slipping out of the restaurant.

Oh?

Leaving so quickly?

Caelan smiled to himself. It seemed there was still a chance.

"Wahaha! I'm back again!"

After eating and regaining some strength, Krieg laughed arrogantly.

Now that he had recovered, he no longer feared Caelan, the so-called strongest bounty hunter of the East Blue.

Krieg removed his outer jacket, revealing golden armor beneath. His spiked, mountain-like cape fluttered behind him.

At that moment, his confidence returned, as if he had regained his former glory as the ruler of the East Blue.

"Hey, you over there! I'm talking to you!"

"I'm Don Krieg, the big pirate with a bounty of 17 million berries. If you've got the guts, come and claim it! Wahaha!"

Krieg pointed directly at Caelan, planning to use the strongest bounty hunter of the East Blue as a stepping stone to reclaim his lost reputation.

Faced with Krieg's provocation, Caelan simply smiled.

He hadn't expected that just coming here for a meal would bring him some extra rewards.

(To be continued.)

Chapter 3: Dishwasher Luffy

"I really miss this. It's been a long time since a bounty came walking right to my doorstep."

Caelan sighed, his eyes filled with nostalgia.

Back when he first started making a name for himself in the East Blue, many pirates would come straight to him, hoping to use him as a stepping stone to fame.

It was thanks to these reckless challengers that Caelan was able to quickly get through his early days.

But after just three months at sea, this kind of pirate "takeout delivery" disappeared completely.

Now, most pirates in the East Blue ran faster than rabbits whenever they heard his name. Many even changed their hideouts frequently, which greatly increased the difficulty of hunting them down.

"Don't get cocky! I'm the Pirate Fleet Admiral Krieg!"

Seeing Caelan's expression, Krieg felt like he was being treated like a joke.

Furious, Krieg's armor twisted as two gun barrels extended from it.

"Die, brat!"

Two cannon shells blasted toward Caelan.

Krieg was full of confidence. With his equipment, he was undefeated in the East Blue.

Countless enemies had fallen under the firepower of these cannons.

The shells slammed into Caelan, kicking up a huge cloud of dust.

"Tch, boring."

Caelan waved his hand, dispersing the dust. His body remained completely unscathed.

This was the effect of the Noble Phantasm, God Hand: The Twelve Labors. Any attack below B rank could not harm him.

Caelan had not even considered dodging such a weak attack.

"Haha, you fell for it, brat. This is a poison gas shell!"

Krieg sneered viciously. Although he looked down on Caelan, he still used his signature dirty tricks.

That was the kind of despicable man Krieg was. No matter who his opponent was, he always struck first with underhanded tactics.

"Damn it, how shameless."

Sanji, watching from the kitchen, was about to rush out to help.

"Stay put. Krieg is no match for him."

Zeff stopped Sanji. He firmly believed that Caelan, the man who had shaken even him, would not lose to Krieg.

"It's useless."

Caelan shook his finger. This poison gas didn't even reach B rank. It was completely ineffective against the Twelve Labors.

Krieg didn't give up. Dirty tricks weren't his only weapon.

He pulled out a golden war hammer and charged toward Caelan.

"Watch out! Krieg is incredibly strong. That weapon weighs a ton!"

The diners hiding nearby couldn't help but call out a warning.

Caelan casually picked up the greatsword resting beside him and swung it at Krieg.

When it came to brute strength, no one could compare to Caelan.

He possessed the synchronization of Heracles, the legendary hero of Greek mythology.

The giant sword and golden hammer clashed in midair. Krieg immediately felt an overwhelming force.

The golden hammer was cut in half instantly. The greatsword continued downward, slicing through Krieg's golden armor.

Finally, the blade drove into Krieg's abdomen, pinning him firmly to the floor.

"How… how can he be so strong?"

Krieg lay on the ground, gasping for air. He could never have imagined such strength existed in the East Blue.

The power behind that sword swing was something he could not hope to withstand.

"Defeated in one strike?"

It took the diners a while to react. Many of them couldn't believe what they were seeing.

Krieg had been the self-proclaimed overlord of the East Blue. Everyone here knew his reputation.

Some had experienced his cruelty firsthand and were well aware of how terrifying he was.

This was a pirate who had destroyed Marine bases and rampaged unchecked across the East Blue.

But now, he had been defeated in a single blow by Caelan, unable to fight back at all.

"Both the strongest in the East Blue… but the gap between them is this big!"

Krieg was known as the strongest pirate in the East Blue. Caelan was known as the strongest bounty hunter.

Even if one lost, no one expected the difference to be so overwhelming.

Yet Caelan had brought Krieg down with just one strike, leaving him barely clinging to life.

Gin, seeing his captain defeated, gritted his teeth and charged at Caelan.

"Too weak."

In Caelan's eyes, Gin's movements were slower than a turtle's. He casually threw a punch, knocking Gin out cold.

Under the stunned gaze of everyone present, Caelan placed a bag of berries on the table, then carried Krieg and Gin out of the restaurant.

Docked nearby was Krieg's flagship, still crewed by over a hundred of his pirates.

"It's too much trouble to haul them all away. Might as well wipe them out right here."

The pirates on the ship were all small fry. Many didn't even have bounties. Caelan had no interest in identifying them one by one.

Besides, the Krieg Pirates were infamous across the East Blue for their brutality and crimes. Their deaths would not be a loss to anyone.

Caelan focused his mind and swung his greatsword toward the massive ship.

The slash roared out like thunder crashing down upon the earth.

With the Heracles synchronization, even though the Berserker form of Heracles had lost the godlike martial arts of his sane state, his instinctual combat ability was still engraved deep in his bones.

After half a year of practice, Caelan had combined the swordsmanship of the pirate world with his template, finally stepping into the realm of a true swordsman.

He could cut through steel and unleash devastating flying slashes.

With just his swordsmanship alone, he could dominate the first half of the Grand Line.

The pressure of the slash, dozens of meters long, blasted out from the greatsword, splitting the pirate ship into pieces.

The entire crew aboard was killed instantly, the sea stained red with blood.

Overhead, a News Coo flew by, capturing this terrifying scene with its camera.

The immense force of the slash shocked everyone in the restaurant.

Even far out at sea, flocks of seabirds were startled into flight.

Dracule Mihawk, standing on his small raft, suddenly stood up and looked toward the direction of the Baratie.

"There's such a powerful swordsman in the East Blue?"

The presence behind that slash was enough to qualify as a worthy opponent.

Mihawk stabbed the Black Blade Yoru into the water, using it as a paddle to steer quickly toward the floating restaurant.

Caelan, unaware that Mihawk was coming for him, carried Krieg and Gin straight to the nearest Marine base.

Back at the Baratie, the stunned diners finally stepped outside to check the situation.

When they saw Krieg's flagship completely destroyed, their shock deepened.

"This level of strength shouldn't exist in the East Blue."

Zeff had not seen such a formidable fighter in many years. Even at his peak, he was certain he couldn't compare to Caelan.

Beside him, Sanji was also speechless. At some point, the cigarette in his mouth had fallen to the floor.

Born into the Vinsmoke family, Sanji clearly understood how terrifying Caelan's power was.

That presence was even more overwhelming than his father, Vinsmoke Judge.

Luffy and Zoro were just as shaken. They were new to the seas, and this was their first time witnessing such strength.

"Suge! I want to be even stronger than him. I'm going to be the Pirate King!"

Luffy's fighting spirit remained high. True to his nature, he would not be discouraged.

"Oh no, Boss Luffy, Boss Zoro!"

At that moment, Zoro's two crewmates rushed over, panic written all over their faces.

"Miss Nami took the ship and all our treasure!"

They had been so distracted by Caelan's overwhelming power that they hadn't noticed Nami quietly sailing away.

"Nani?!"

Both Luffy and Zoro shouted in shock.

Just as Luffy was about to chase after her, a white chef's hat smacked into the back of his head.

"Idiot, you still have to work here to pay off your debt for the damage!"

Zeff knocked Luffy on the head and dragged him back into the kitchen.

Since Caelan had already taken care of the Krieg Pirates, Luffy and the others hadn't yet formed a deep bond with Zeff or Sanji.

It would take some time before they could leave.

(To be continued.)

Chapter 4: I Refuse

Caelan steered his boat toward the Marine branch base in the Sambas Sea.

Just two hours earlier, he had exchanged bounty rewards at this very base.

He hadn't expected to catch two big fish in the time it took to enjoy a meal.

Krieg was worth 17 million berries, and Gin was worth 11 million berries.

"After I turn in this bounty, maybe I should go back for another meal."

"Who knows, maybe more big fish will show up if I eat there again?"

"Hahaha!"

Caelan couldn't help but laugh at the thought.

...

At the Baratie in the Sambas Sea.

Mihawk's small raft floated on the waters, surrounded by shipwreck debris.

Mihawk picked up a piece of shattered timber, closed his eyes, and used Observation Haki to sense the lingering traces of battle.

After a moment, Mihawk opened his eyes.

"Good swordsmanship. Impressive power."

In terms of swordsmanship itself, it was excellent. Though still a level below Mihawk's own mastery, the power behind the strikes at the scene had earned his recognition.

Compared to the monsters of the Beasts Pirates, this swordsman was not far behind.

"It seems I may have a worthy opponent in the future."

Mihawk smiled faintly. He acknowledged Caelan's potential.

However, for now, Mihawk had no intention of testing him. The man was still a bit too inexperienced.

On the other side.

After sailing for another hour, Caelan returned once again to the Marine branch base.

Carrying Gin and Krieg with him, Caelan walked straight in.

"Isn't that Mr. Caelan? Didn't he just come here this morning?"

Several bounty hunters gathered in the hall whispered to each other, looking at Caelan with puzzled expressions.

These bounty hunters had come in earlier that morning to turn in their own bounties, and they were still here, bragging about their exploits.

For them, any bounty exchange wasn't complete without a few hours of storytelling.

"He probably just picked off a few small-time pirates somewhere."

One tall, thin bounty hunter said sourly. He didn't believe Caelan could have gained anything significant in just a few hours.

"That's Don Krieg, and his top officer, the Man-Demon Gin!"

A bounty hunter suddenly shouted, immediately drawing everyone's attention.

"It's true!"

"How is that possible?!"

"That's a big-name pirate with a bounty in the tens of millions!"

The bamboo-thin bounty hunter was completely dumbfounded, staring at Caelan as if looking at a monster.

The jealousy he had felt toward Caelan earlier vanished completely, replaced by respect and fear.

Caelan had wiped out the Krieg Pirates, eliminating a major scourge of the East Blue. That alone earned their respect.

But what truly frightened them was Caelan's overwhelming strength. Taking down Krieg so easily meant that killing any of them would be effortless for him.

The bamboo-thin bounty hunter made up his mind to stay at the Marine base for now, hoping it would be safer.

He didn't realize that Caelan didn't even consider someone like him worth noticing.

For Caelan, such small-time characters were not even worth the time it would take to look at them.

Hearing the commotion, the Marine officer at the bounty exchange window quickly rushed over to Caelan.

Capturing two pirates worth tens of millions in just three hours was simply unbelievable.

After a careful inspection, the Marine confirmed their identities.

The former overlord of the East Blue was now a corpse, and his top subordinate lay unconscious beside him.

"Mr. Caelan, thank you for your help in eliminating this threat from the East Blue!"

The Marine saluted Caelan respectfully, his voice loud and clear.

There was even a trace of regret in his eyes. Why wouldn't someone like Caelan consider joining the Marines?

The branch's commanding officer had already invited him several times, but Caelan had refused every offer.

"I'll extend the invitation again. I sincerely hope you will consider joining the Marines. Headquarters is willing to appoint you as a captain."

The Marine tried once more. What if this time Caelan agreed?

The surrounding bounty hunters all gasped, their eyes nearly popping out of their heads.

The rank of captain in the Marines meant command of a branch base in the East Blue, with hundreds of subordinates, a patrol ship, and countless hidden benefits.

The bounty hunters stared at Caelan, practically wishing they could agree on his behalf.

"No need. I'm used to my freedom."

Without the slightest hesitation, Caelan decisively turned down the offer.

The bounty hunters were stunned. Such favorable terms, rejected so easily!

But Caelan would never allow himself to be shackled.

The Marines were nothing more than a tool of the World Government, bodyguards for the Celestial Dragons.

Many righteous men had joined with ideals, only to become disillusioned after witnessing the corruption of the World Government.

Caelan would never allow himself to walk that path.

He had come to this world with the Heroic Spirit Synchronization System.

Was it just to find a master and remain a servant?

Becoming a bounty hunter suited him far better. Free to sail the seas and kill those who angered him.

Caelan waved his hand.

Under the stunned gazes of everyone, he left the Marine base with 28 million berries.

The Marines remained behind with the bounty hunters, reporting this explosive news through their chain of command.

…

After Caelan left, the news of his annihilation of the Krieg Pirates spread across the entire East Blue.

Within a day, every major newspaper printed the story, featuring Caelan escorting Krieg and Gin on the front page.

Some of the more influential papers even managed to obtain images of Caelan destroying Krieg's pirate ship.

"Extra, extra! Get your papers here!"

"Caelan, the strongest bounty hunter in the East Blue, makes a shocking move!"

"Pirate Fleet Admiral Krieg defeated! The Krieg Pirates wiped out!"

The young newspaper boys shouted on the streets, while passersby stopped in their tracks, unable to believe what they were hearing.

"Give me a copy!"

The newspapers sold out immediately, the explosive news spreading like wildfire.

"Hahaha! That bastard Krieg is finally gone!"

Back when the Krieg Pirates were at full strength, they commanded fifty ships and over five thousand men.

They burned, killed, and looted across the East Blue, destroying countless families.

Now, thousands of ordinary people laughed and cheered at the news of their downfall.

Their gratitude toward Caelan for ending Krieg's reign of terror was immeasurable.

At the same time, bounty hunters all across the East Blue were stirred up.

"He's incredible! Caelan is just too powerful!"

Every bounty hunter was in awe of Caelan's accomplishment. His success was something they couldn't even dream of reaching.

As bounty hunters themselves, they were still struggling to take down pirates with bounties in the hundreds of thousands. And even then, they bragged about it for days afterward.

"I remember this guy only appeared about half a year ago."

One bounty hunter muttered to himself, wondering if his memory was playing tricks on him.

"That's right. Half a year ago, he was like the rest of us, only going after small-time pirates with bounties of a few hundred thousand."

"And now, he's hunting down big-name pirates worth tens of millions."

Another bounty hunter stared blankly, unable to understand how anyone could grow so fast.

"It looks like another powerhouse is about to rise in the Grand Line."

A seasoned bounty hunter spoke quietly, sensing what was to come.

With Caelan's talent and strength, he was clearly not someone who would remain confined to the East Blue.

He was destined to head for the Grand Line, to challenge the monsters who ruled those seas.

(To be continued.)

Chapter 5: Navigator Time

Navy office in the East Blue.

"Excellent, excellent! That bastard Krieg is finally dead!"

Kallen laughed heartily.

He popped open a bottle of champagne and toasted with several of his subordinates to celebrate.

The Krieg Pirates had burned, looted, and committed countless atrocities across the East Blue, leaving the people filled with anger and resentment. Their existence had caused an extremely negative impact.

Kallen was originally due for promotion to rear admiral and a transfer back to Marine Headquarters for advanced training. However, because of Krieg's rampage, the promotion was delayed, and he was even reprimanded by Fleet Admiral Sengoku.

Frustrated, Kallen had dispatched forces multiple times, but Krieg's cunning always allowed him to escape.

Now that the Krieg Pirates had been wiped out by Caelan, it was no wonder Kallen was in the mood to celebrate with champagne.

"Still, this Caelan really is impressive."

Kallen held the newspaper in his hand, staring at the strong and handsome figure printed on the front page, his expression filled with emotion.

"Half a year ago, he had just appeared and was only able to handle pirates with bounties in the hundreds of thousands."

"Now, just half a year later, he has grown to this level, easily wiping out the Krieg Pirates."

Several subordinates reviewed Caelan's intel and had never seen such an astonishing rate of growth.

"In just six months, he went from a rookie bounty hunter to the nightmare of pirates."

"Even I am no match for him."

Kallen fell silent for a moment before finally speaking.

In his hand was a photo, capturing the moment Caelan destroyed a pirate ship with a single slash.

Several subordinates had initially wanted to offer words of praise, but when they recalled the terrifying image of that ship being cut apart, they found themselves unable to say anything flattering.

Even though they knew Kallen was an elite trained at Marine Headquarters, possessing the strength of a rear admiral, none of them believed Kallen could defeat Caelan.

"He has already reached the level of a true swordsman. Among the vice admirals at Headquarters, few have reached that realm."

Kallen drained the champagne from his glass, his heart filled with complicated emotions.

Having specialized in swordsmanship himself, he could clearly see the depth of Caelan's skill.

Despite years of training, he could not match Caelan's half-year rise.

Is this what it means to be a genius?

Caelan's performance reminded him of his former classmates, the three admirals who now stood as the highest combat power of the World Government.

Back in Zephyr's training camp, the gap between Kallen and those three had been like an uncrossable chasm. He could only look up to them.

Now, after so many years, Caelan once again brought back that bitter feeling of being crushed by true talent.

Seeing Kallen's gloomy expression, none of his subordinates dared to speak. They held their wine glasses quietly, as if they were truly savoring the champagne.

The office fell into an uncomfortable silence.

After a while, Kallen collected himself.

"Pass down my orders. Any Marine branch in the East Blue that encounters Caelan must extend an invitation. Offer him at least the rank of commodore!"

"I will personally apply to Marine Headquarters to recruit him at any cost."

Kallen's tone was firm, filled with determination.

Such a terrifying genius was clearly destined to become a central figure in this era.

If they could recruit Caelan into the Marines, it was very likely they would gain another admiral-level powerhouse in the near future.

Thinking of the shortage of top talent in the current generation of the Marines, Kallen became even more eager to see Caelan join their ranks.

He even imagined that if Caelan one day rose to become an admiral, his own status would rise along with him.

Several subordinates were stunned when they heard Kallen's decision.

Offering the rank of colonel right from the start was almost unheard of.

There had never been such a precedent in the Marines.

But when they thought back to the newspaper's description of Caelan destroying a flagship with a single slash, they felt it was justified.

"Understood, Captain Kallen. We'll notify the branches immediately."

The subordinates turned and left, leaving Kallen alone in his office, deep in thought.

…

On the other side, Caelan, whose name had shaken the entire East Blue, was sailing quietly across the sea.

On his boat, Caelan opened the box containing the bounty rewards and recharged 28 million berries into the system.

Looking at the system panel, Caelan felt a bit disheartened.

[Host: Caelan Alaric]

[Template: Berserker Class Heracles]

[Synchronization Rate: 34%]

[Berry: 5 million + 28 million]

[Strength: B]
[Endurance: B]
[Agility: B]
[Magic Power: B]
[Luck: A]

[Noble Phantasm: A+]

[Personal Skills]: Battle Continuation (B), Mind's Eye (Fake) (B), Valor (A+), Divinity (A), Madness Enhancement (B)

[Noble Phantasms]: God Hand: The Twelve Labors (B), Nine Lives: Shooting the Hundred Heads (C–A+)

"Fighting an opponent like that doesn't improve me at all."

Caelan sighed.

When he first started out, battling pirates with bounties of tens of thousands helped increase his synchronization rate.

As the bounty levels of his opponents rose into the hundreds of thousands and then millions, he continued to make progress.

But now, even defeating Krieg, with his 17 million berry bounty, had done nothing to increase his synchronization.

Caelan understood why. A one-hit kill like that couldn't possibly help him improve.

If he wanted to gain synchronization through battle, it would have to be against an opponent who could at least survive a few exchanges. A drawn-out fight, not an instant defeat.

"Consume 30 million berries to increase synchronization."

The system panel blurred for a moment, then updated.

[Host: Caelan Alaric]

[Template: Berserker Class Heracles]

[Synchronization Rate: 37%]

[Berry: 3 million]

[Strength: B↑]
[Endurance: B↑]
[Agility: B↑]
[Magic Power: B↑]
[Luck: A]

[Noble Phantasm: A+]

[Personal Skills]: Battle Continuation (B), Mind's Eye (Fake) (B), Valor (A+), Divinity (A), Madness Enhancement (B)

[Noble Phantasms]: God Hand: The Twelve Labors (B), Nine Lives: Shooting the Hundred Heads (C–A+)

Caelan's stats had improved again, though there was still a long way to go before reaching the next rank.

"Every 25% synchronization brings a qualitative change. If I want a real breakthrough, I still need another 13%."

Caelan calculated carefully. With just 130 million berries, he could steadily push his synchronization rate to 50%.

If he could find stronger opponents, that progress could be accelerated even further.

"There's no one like that left in the East Blue. Looks like it's time to head to the Grand Line."

Caelan made up his mind. He would head for the Grand Line as soon as possible.

There, he would find more breathtaking sights and much stronger enemies.

But the Grand Line's climate was unpredictable, and the journey was filled with danger.

Without an excellent navigator, even setting sail would be nearly impossible.

"So, my navigator needs to be in place first."

Thinking of Nami, who had slipped away from the Baratie, Caelan smiled faintly.

He steered the boat, occasionally swinging his sword across the sea to maintain speed, heading straight for Cocoyasi Village.

Cocoyasi Village was also located in the Sambas region, not far from Caelan's current location.

(To be continued.)