Chapter 27: Giants in the History of Human Development
"Moshi moshi, this is Demon Spider. Darren Eric , Akame, and Chiron have escaped. Their bounty levels are severely mismatched with their actual strength. Captain Eric is manageable, but Chiron is extremely powerful. His archery range surpasses the range of Marine cannons! He disabled three—no, four warships from long range. He appears to be a Zoan-type user capable of transformation. His bounty must be significantly increased. Also, his loyalty to the captain is exceptional. In a pirate world where power speaks loudest, this suggests Captain Eric may have a charismatic ability to rally others! These three are still in their early stages—eliminate them as soon as possible!"
Truly worthy of the justice-driven Marines—Eric had barely escaped before they were already filing a report on him.
Meanwhile, on Eric 's end, now safely out of the Navy's sight, he let out a breath. "Let's sail north for two hours first. Don't want to get blocked by the Navy up ahead." He glanced at Chiron steering the helm. "Why does it feel like you alone could've handled him?"
"While I could've dealt with him on the sea, the captain also needs training. If you just hide in the back and never engage in combat, you won't improve. So I tried to wear him down before he boarded our ship, making sure he couldn't fight you at full strength. With Akame and me here, your life wasn't in danger. He was a perfect whetstone to sharpen your sword."
"So knocking him into the sea and hiding your strength was part of your strategy too?"
"Yes. Killing him on our ship would draw far too much attention from Marine HQ. A spike in our bounty brings more harm than benefit right now. Next time, there might be more Marines—and stronger bounty hunters too. Our crew is still too weak."
"Here, let me bandage your wounds." Akame held the medical kit and started tending to Eric .
[Ding… Hidden Achievement "Captain with Lower Bounty than His Crew" completed. Achievement Points: 1]
[Achievement "Billion-Berry Crew" completed. Achievement Points: 2]
[Tch… weakling.]
'You said weakling, didn't you?! I heard that!!' Eric screamed in his mind at the system's taunt, and then started cursing Marine HQ again. 'Seriously? We just escaped and you're already raising our bounties? If the Marines are that efficient, why don't you clean up the scum in your own ranks?! You only get motivated when it's about me, huh?'
A sharp pain interrupted Eric 's internal monologue. "Ouch~"
"It'll be over soon, hang in there," Akame comforted him, gently and carefully wrapping his wounds.
Eric couldn't help but stare at her blankly…
"So, proper pressure and challenges, forcing out your potential and facing death—all greatly help in improving one's strength." Chiron's words broke Eric 's gaze. A wise man, indeed… sage mode, huh?
"All done." Akame even tied a butterfly knot on the bandage.
"..." Eric stared in a daze at the butterfly knot on his bandage—though in truth, he was looking at both his and Akame's stat panels.
[Name: Darren Eric ]
[Age: 17]
[Physique: 3.5 stars]
[Martial Arts: 1.5 stars]
[Swordsmanship: 3.5 stars]
[Marksmanship: 1.5 stars]
[Armament Haki: 1.5 stars]
[Observation Haki: 1 star]
[Name: Akame]
[Age: 15]
[Physique: 3.5 stars]
[Martial Arts: 2 stars]
[Swordsmanship: 5 stars]
[Observation Haki: 3.5 stars]
[Armament Haki: 1 star]
His marksmanship and Observation Haki had increased. Akame's physique improved too. As expected, real life-or-death battles are the fastest way to grow stronger. No wonder the Straw Hat crew always goes all out in every place they land.
Meanwhile, Chiron's stat panel showed all stars fully lit—his power had completely recovered.
"Next up, it's time to welcome our four companions!" Eric drew a summoning circle using his own blood and placed the recently acquired Swallow-Swallow Fruit at its center as the medium.
"Come forth, giant of human development history, great scholar—respond to the call!"
A flash of white light. A graceful figure emerged through the white mist.
Red dominated her outfit, with blue gloves and over-the-knee boots. On her left hand was a steel-like armored glove gripping a staff. The top of the staff featured two interlocking circles forming a cross, with a blue polygon floating inside the frame.
"Hello, Master… Leonardo da Vinci reporting in. From now on, I am your Da Vinci-chan."
"Oh oh! I look forward to working with you!" Eric beamed at his new companion.
"So, who are these two?" The newly arrived Da Vinci glanced at Akame and Chiron.
"Akame." Akame cutely nodded in greeting.
"Chiron." Chiron transformed into his centaur form to show his identity. Because he was so easily recognized this way, he usually kept to human form in public.
"Oooh!" Da Vinci's eyes sparkled as she circled Chiron twice. "Are you the legendary sage Chiron who educated countless heroes? This is my first time seeing a centaur. I'd love to dissect you to understand your internal structure."
Spoken with chilling casualness.
"Ahaha, that I'll have to decline. But it's an honor to pique the curiosity of one of humanity's rare geniuses."
"So, what are we doing next? I didn't expect to appear in this form… and why do I feel like I can devour anything and create all sorts of things from it?" Da Vinci seemed puzzled by her new ability.
"Oh, that's a Devil Fruit power. You're a landlubber now," Eric explained.
"A Devil Fruit from this world? What are they like?" She blinked curiously and stepped closer.
"It's inside your body now. By the way, Devil Fruits come in many types—each one is different. When we reach a safe place, Chiron can sketch the one you ate."
"I see. Still, I'd love to examine Devil Fruits that defy all known physical laws. So thrilling. Waku waku~"
"Your thirst for knowledge is really something." Eric gave a wry smile.
"Humanity's progress comes from our desire to know." Da Vinci spoke in a nurturing, big-sisterly tone.
Eric checked Leonardo da Vinci's stat panel:
[Name: Leonardo da Vinci]
[Physique: 2 stars]
[Martial Arts: 1 star]
[Swordsmanship: 1 star]
[Marksmanship: 1 star]
[Armament Haki: 0 stars]
[Observation Haki: 0 stars]
[Devil Fruit: 5 stars]
[Weapon: Omni Wisdom, Knowledge of Foundations — Note: Da Vinci contemplates the mechanisms of all things. From man-made birds, staffs representing celestial bodies, to all-purpose gauntlets suited for any battlefield—she pursues beauty through perfection. To that end, she must acquire vast knowledge.]
[Bond Level: 1 (Casual Friend)]
[Overall Combat Power: 2 stars]
[Note: Calling Da Vinci a great painter is not quite right. She's a polymath, with achievements in painting, music, architecture, mathematics, geometry, anatomy, physiology, zoology, botany, astronomy, meteorology, geology, geography, physics, optics, mechanics, invention, and civil engineering.]
Though Da Vinci's stats were low—shockingly low—her role wasn't to fight. It was to advance their technology. Why send a scientist to the frontlines with a gun? She'd be far more useful in the back, developing tech and weapons.
'I wonder how our brilliant polymath from pan-human history compares to Vegapunk, the genius scientist said to be 500 years ahead of this world?'
'Gundams, artificial robots… they're calling to me!' Eric wiped away the drool forming at the corner of his mouth.
(END CHAPTER)
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