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"Clear your mind."
"Don't try to fight the recoil."
"Flow with it, like water."
"Don't force the shot—feel it."
"Be water."
On the deck, Jin stood behind Maya, guiding her aim. In her hands was a brand-new sniper rifle.
The Karabiner 98k.
During his travels through the North Blue, Jin hadn't just been training—he'd been developing the Munch-Munch Fruit, attempting to synthesize a firearm from scratch.
After ruling out several other options, he had settled on the Kar98k.
He'd considered the Barrett, the M24, and others, but their construction was too complex—unfamiliar territory for him. More importantly, they weren't suitable for mass production. You couldn't equip an entire army with them.
But the 98k—that was a different story. It was the classic bolt-action sniper from countless first-person shooters, a weapon he knew intimately.
It had been his favorite. He'd poured over its blueprints and schematics, and if it hadn't been illegal, he probably would have tried to build one himself.
It held a certain nostalgic appeal.
Besides, it wasn't just a sniper rifle; it could also serve as a standard-issue weapon for his troops.
In the world of One Piece—
—it was perfect.
It was a full generation or two ahead of the flintlocks and Gatling guns currently in use. At the very least, it would give him an edge against the Marines.
As for the other weapons, like the AK or the Barrett—it wasn't that he couldn't make them. It was that technology had to evolve in stages.
You don't play your trump card right at the start.
He had to master the profound military philosophy: field one generation, produce the next, develop the third, and research the fourth.
After countless experiments and refinements, Jin had finally perfected the material composition for the 98k. Using the Munch-Munch Fruit, he synthesized the very first one.
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[Overall Length: 1107 mm]
[Capacity: 5 rounds, internal staggered magazine]
[Action: Manual, bolt-action]
[Caliber: 7.92 mm]
[Rate of Fire: 10-15 rounds/min]
[Muzzle Velocity: 755 m/s]
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The 98k didn't use lead balls like a flintlock.
Jin first synthesized smokeless powder—which was surprisingly simple. He had the standard formula, and Ai could control the process.
With the formula, the work was fast.
Then, he combined it with copper and synthesized the 7.92x57mm rifle cartridge.
Success.
After test-firing the rifle—he had Ai use the Munch-Munch Fruit to produce a hundred more, along with ten thousand rounds of ammunition.
The first batch was for his crew's training.
And then—he discovered that Maya, with her Observation Haki, had a remarkable talent for sniping. So he began to train her personally.
In the hands of a normal person, a sniper rifle is just a gun. In the hands of a true sniper, it's a different weapon entirely—especially in the world of One Piece.
A master sniper could imbue their bullets with Haki and lock onto their targets with Observation.
They might not reach the godlike standards of a bullet that can hit a target from five hundred miles away, like in the old movies—but a shot from ten miles out? A single shot that could sink a ship?
That was entirely possible.
Maya aimed at a pirate flag a thousand meters away. A faint blush crept onto her cheeks. Behind her, she could feel the powerful, steady beat of the king's heart.
Her own heart began to race in time with his.
His hands covered hers.
Their breaths mingled.
She felt a little dizzy. She might have been young, but as a shamaness, she already knew what she needed to know.
An age where the first stirrings of love begin to bloom.
How could she possibly bear it?
Fortunately—Maya's Observation Haki, bolstered by the spirit of her ancestor, was incredibly powerful. Her ability to listen to all things gave her an immense range...
CRACK!
The trigger squeezed.
The bullet flew.
A perfect shot. It snapped the rope holding the pirate flag, and the Jolly Roger fluttered down into the sea.
"I DID IT!" Maya cheered, bouncing with excitement in Jin's arms.
Jin had been traveling the North Blue for a month now. He had only encountered six small pirate crews. This was the seventh.
The battle was over quickly.
The sea grew calm once more.
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In the distance, Reverse Mountain stood like a colossal giant, its peak shrouded in mist, the reverse current crashing against its red cliffs.
Jin let out a soft breath.
The North Blue journey was over.
This time, the demonic carrier didn't climb Reverse Mountain. Instead, it sailed directly into the canal, carried along by the chaotic current.
The waves churned violently, all the water surging in one direction.
The demonic carrier was tossed about in the current.
But it was fine.
Tempered by Spacetime energy, even the most violent seas couldn't harm its hull.
"Hey! See that light?"
"That's the lighthouse on the cape! The guide light!"
"The path it illuminates is the entrance to the Grand Line!"
"So that's the Red Line?"
"Incredible!"
Hearing that they were about to ascend Reverse Mountain, Law, his crew, and Maya all gathered on the deck, chattering with excitement.
Robin watched calmly. She had already witnessed this once, when she had entered the Grand Line from the West Blue.
Reiju was even more composed.
Years ago, Germa 66, led by Judge, had crossed the Red Line in three weeks to invade the East Blue. After entering the East Blue, they had gone to war with the Cozia Kingdom. It was during that war that Sanji had been freed by Reiju.
After Judge had discovered his escape, he had disowned Sanji and let him go.
And in the years since, Germa 66 had crossed the Red Line more than once, traveling to the South Blue, the West Blue, and the Grand Line to carry out their missions.
So, she was even calmer than Robin.
Some things... you just get used to them.
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The layout of Reverse Mountain was the same for all four seas. Because Robin had explained everything in advance, there was no fear of the unknown. And even if something unexpected happened, they would be able to handle it.
Besides, Jin's demonic carrier was no ordinary ship.
It needed no one at the helm, no one to man the sails...
The demonic carrier navigated on its own.
They rode the current with ease, ascending rapidly.
"Aaaahhh...!" Bepo screamed.
"This is amazing! So exciting!" Maya cried.
"Let's go!" Shachi yelled.
After being forced to accept their new reality, the members of the Heart Pirates had quickly adapted. Jin treated them well. Aside from not being able to leave the ship, they had plenty of food and drink and were sheltered from the elements. It was a much more comfortable life than before.
And when they encountered other pirate crews, they were even allowed to fight, to train themselves. With a powerful backer, their confidence was soaring.
Besides, Law wasn't planning on escaping. So what did it matter who they followed?
Amidst the excited shouts, the ship reached the ten-thousand-meter peak.
The currents from the four seas converged, paused for a moment, and then flowed down into the wider channel of the Grand Line.
"Waaahhh...! We're going to fall!" Bepo shrieked.
Seeing the massive drop, even Law, who had been trying to maintain his cool, looked a little nervous.
"Hold on!"
"Be careful! Don't get thrown off!"
The ship shot down the channel, a ten-thousand-meter-long waterslide that was more thrilling than any roller coaster.
GRAND LINE, I'M BACK!!!
SPLASH!
The demonic carrier hit the water. It rocked violently for a moment, but it was completely undamaged.
They had entered the Grand Line!
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