One Piece: The Strongest Trait System novel Chapter 13

Chapter 13 - [13] : Zoro Joins! Equipable Traits Updated!

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BOOM!

The massive explosion echoed through the base. Rowen and Zoro turned towards the sound, watching as a colossal statue plummeted from the highest point of the Marine building, crashing heavily to the ground and kicking up a cloud of dust.

"Th-That... Don't tell me..." Zoro's eye twitched as he stared at the shattered remains of the statue.

The statue's likeness was clearly that of the base's commander, Marine Captain Morgan.

Zoro had been stuck here for twenty days; he'd seen them working almost non-stop on that statue. That man Morgan was incredibly obsessed with it.

"Looks like Luffy got lost again," Rowen commented, amused.

In the original story, Luffy destroyed Morgan's statue while chasing Helmeppo. But this time, Helmeppo was already with Luffy, yet he still managed to bring the statue down.

Guess it just proved that scum like Morgan never deserved a statue like that in the first place.

"Rowen... Could I ask you a favor?" Zoro hesitated, looking towards Rika. He struggled to get the words out.

Asking someone for help was proving more difficult than Zoro had anticipated.

"Don't worry. Rika will be fine," Rowen reassured him, stepping protectively in front of the little girl with a calm smile.

"Rebels!" Just then, a group of Marines surged towards them, led by a tall, imposing figure.

The most striking feature of the leading Marine was that one of his arms was entirely replaced by a massive axe.

—Marine Captain 'Axe-Hand' Morgan.

"You're accomplices of that Straw Hat brat! And you—planning a coup, are you? Roronoa Zoro! This ends now! You're all guilty of rebellion! I'll execute you on the spot!" Morgan roared, his eyes bloodshot with fury.

"Rowen! At least get Rika out of here!" Zoro yelled desperately.

"Trying to run? All units, prepare!" Morgan raised his hand.

Click! Clack!

Forced by Morgan's authority and power, the Marines reluctantly raised their rifles.

Is this... really how I die?

Feeling the chilling approach of death, Zoro wasn't afraid, but he was filled with immense frustration.

He hadn't fulfilled his promise to Kuina yet—to become the world's greatest swordsman.

And now, he had dragged Rika and Rowen into this mess.

"So noisy." Rowen kept Rika safely behind him, the crimson-black light in his eyes flashing wildly.

"Aren't you underestimating me? You're merely a Branch Captain," Rowen stated coolly.

VMM!

An invisible pressure washed over the Marines aiming their rifles.

The next instant—

Thump! Thump! Thump!

The numerous rifle-wielding Marines' eyes rolled back, and they collapsed unconscious.

"That power again... Can he just use it infinitely?" Zoro muttered in shock, staring at the sea of unconscious Marines littering the ground.

"Rowen? I remember now! There was a recent news report! About a man in the East Blue who wiped out the entire Alvida Pirate crew without even lifting a finger—just with his presence alone!"

"The man who claims he will stand above all! Are you... Are you that 'Sky Sovereign' Rowen?!" Morgan stammered, sweat beading on his forehead as he witnessed the incomprehensible scene and recalled Zoro shouting Rowen's name.

The most prominent news story in the East Blue lately flashed through his mind.

The World Economic News Agency's front-page headline from a few days ago perfectly matched the current situation.

That report had hailed this man as the herald of a new King's birth upon the seas!

For Morgan, who believed titles were everything, a man bearing such an epithet was inherently terrifying.

And now, he had witnessed this utterly unbelievable power firsthand.

"'The man who will stand above all', 'Sky Sovereign' Rowen?" Zoro murmured, looking at Rowen.

What an arrogance!

—[Kingly Disposition increased. Conqueror's Haki intensity increased.]—

'Just as expected.' Rowen's earlier hypothesis was confirmed again.

As for why, Rowen gained a slight intuitive understanding.

Felt really good.

"Gomu Gomu no... ROCKET!" Just then, accompanied by a familiar shout, Luffy launched himself down from the top of the Marine base building.