Chapter 150: The Gathering Before the Tempest

Inside the Jibeck.

Karl and his group sat quietly in the meeting room, waiting for the battle that was soon to come.

This meeting room, nestled in the heart of the Jibeck, was spacious and luxurious.

Weapons and trophies lined the walls, showing that the owner was no ordinary pirate but a true legend of the seas.

Newgate sat across from Karl, a giant of a man. He was shirtless under his billowing cape and took deep swigs from a bottle of liquor.

Linlin sat beside him—at this time, she was still a voluptuous woman, her figure not yet changed. She snacked from a plate in her hand, munching and chatting idly with Karl.

John and the rest wore grave expressions. Everyone knew that this battle could decide their very lives, so no one dared act carelessly.

The atmosphere in the room grew heavier by the minute. Even the slightest conversation became hushed, as if a crushing weight pressed upon them all.

Rocks looked at the assembled crew, knowing full well this battle would shape all their futures.

He couldn’t say whether he’d make it out of God Valley alive.

“Shiki, how much longer till we reach God Valley?” Rocks’s voice was especially clear in the tense silence.

Hearing the edge in Rocks’s tone, Shiki quickly answered.

“About two more days.”

Rocks paused in thought, then spoke.

His voice rang deep and commanding, making everyone instinctively bow their heads. “Since that’s the case, there’s no need to wait here. Go back to your own ships.”

Seeing the look in Rocks’s eyes, Karl rose immediately and nodded, then turned to the others.

“We still have two days, so let’s return to our ships and rest up for what’s ahead!”

……

After leaving the main cabin, Karl and Linlin walked together to Linlin’s ship, the Song of Saints.

Not many of her children had come along this time—just four: Perospero, Katakuri, Daifuku and Oven.

The others were either too young or not strong enough, so she hadn’t brought the whole family.

Karl led the way and soon arrived at the study alone. Linlin, seeing him enter, didn’t disturb him.

Instead, she headed for the kitchen and told the chefs to start preparing dinner.

Once in the study, Karl brought up his System template.

“Host: Lux D. Karl (Bounty: 2.7 billion Berries)”

Templates fused: Elder Heavenly Master from Under One Person. Sword Saint Gai Nie from Legend of Qin (not fused). Wang Quan Fugui from Fox Spirit Matchmaker (not fused).

Skills: Armament Haki Internal Destruction, Observation Haki Future Sight, Conqueror’s Haki Infusion, Six Powers, Golden Light Spell, True Fivefold Thunder, and more.

Talent: Titan Strength.

Wealth: 378 billion Berries.

Items: Shaolin Great Rejuvenation Pill x13, Rejuvenation Pill x9, Bloodline Pill x7, Halberd, Dragon Spring Blade, Great Blade—Ancient Moon Blade, Great Blade—Silver Alloy Blade, etc.

Devil Fruits: 18.

Template Draws Remaining: Three.

Evaluation: Top-tier powerhouse of the sea. Overall strength: Admiral peak.”

He’d held onto his draws for three years, waiting for this very moment.

“System, start the template draw—three in a row.”

This was it. Everything rode on this draw.

The screen shifted back to the familiar golden compass, which began to spin slowly at first.

The compass whirled faster and faster, glowing like a golden sun.

Focusing on the spinning compass made his eyes go a little dizzy.

He quickly blinked, trying to clear his vision.

“Ding! The draw is complete!”

“The templates are: Cao Yanbing, Qi, and Liuxing.”

Even though he’d only spent four years in the One Piece World, most of his memories from Blue Star had faded. Still, these three names all felt so familiar.

Karl clicked on Cao Yanbing’s template first.

“Template: Cao Yanbing (from the Chinese animation Rakshasa Street)

Skills: Great Flame Sky Hammer, Yama Cannon, Dragon-Binding Pillar of Fire, Unrivaled Fire Sovereign, Enhanced Unrivaled Fire Sovereign, Seven Generals Transforming Into Dragons, Indestructible Flame God.

Items: Ten Yama Halls (containing eight souls of fallen warriors!).

Strength: Limited by the One Piece World’s power ceiling—Warlord level!

Evaluation: Steadfast, courageous and kind; a descendant of Wei King Cao Cao!”

Just as he thought—Cao Yanbing really was from Rakshasa Street.

He hadn’t expected to draw Cao Yanbing.

He wondered if the souls inside the Ten Yama Halls could be strengthened with the Soul-Soul Fruit.

His eyes shifted to the strength category. So in this world, Warlord seemed to be the upper limit.

But then again—did Im surpass even that ceiling?

As much as the template was strong, it didn’t quite fit where he was at right now.

This skillset made him think of Daifuku, since Daifuku ate the Steam Fruit and could summon a demon. But Daifuku’s demon had no mind of its own, only following orders. This template might suit him just right.

Having decided on that, Karl didn’t dwell further. He opened Qi’s template.

He couldn’t remember ever meeting anyone else called Qi—maybe there weren’t any, or barely any, with that name.

“Template: Qi (alias: Wu Liuqi from the Chinese animation Scissor Seven!)

Skills: Blade Control With Qi, Break Up!, Scissor Blade, Fast Little Flying Chicken, Thousand Blades As One, Moon-chasing Blades, Star-chasing Blades.

Items: Magic Blade Thousand Edge, Seven-Stage Scissors, Gaiba Egg of Many Forms, No. 7 Hair Wax.

Strength: Limited by the One Piece World’s power ceiling—Warlord level.

Evaluation: Always searching for himself in the midst of confusion; a true top-tier assassin.”

Karl rubbed his chin—so it was him.

He’d watched a lot of Scissor Seven. Still, he was unsure if Qi could bring out his full power in this world.

The One Piece World wasn’t like Blue Star or the world of an animation. Here, everyone had strange powers and monstrous bodies.

He just didn’t know if this template could adapt to this world’s systems.

He figured the Heaven’s Net assassins could use a template like this—it was a good fit.

He clicked on the last template: Liuxing.

The name Liuxing sounded so nostalgic.

But rather than overthink it, he decided to take a look.

“Template: Liuxing (from the Chinese animation Stellar Transformations of September!)

Skills: Seventh Sense (Control of Cloud, Ether, Light, Lightning, Metal, Wood, Water, Earth, Fire), Battle Techniques (Cloud Fist, Flowing Cloud Shield, Cloud Gathering, Black Cloud Blade, Cloud Clone, Tempest Cloud, Faux Somersault Cloud, Darkstar Cloud—Star Birth, Doomsday Cannon)

Items: Blackstar Ring

Strength: Limited by the One Piece World’s power ceiling—Warlord level.

Evaluation: A soft-spoken, shy boy who would sacrifice himself when disaster strikes.”

Damn! Just—damn!

Could someone like Liuxing really exist in a world like this?

Unbelievable.

Karl was so excited his gums started showing.

He’d loved reading Stellar Transformations of September as a kid, and Liuxing had been one of his favorites.

Gathering all eight elements was said to be a power belonging only to gods.

“Huff, huff, huff…”

Karl’s face flushed bright red and his breathing quickened.

No way—this template was his and his alone. Nobody else was getting it.