The power of evolution was bestowed upon the warship.
Suddenly, the deck beneath Ron's feet trembled violently.
"The ship is moving! It's moving by itself!"
Terrified voices echoed from inside the cabin as several Marines rushed back, their faces pale with fear.
Ron looked down at the warship beneath him. The hull had softened, with vein-like structures spreading across its surface, pulsating like blood vessels. It moved through the water like a living creature, swimming swiftly.
Ahead, countless wrecks of pirate ships floated along with the tide.
"There's a mass of pirate wrecks ahead! Turn the ship around, quickly!"
"The speed is increasing too fast! It's too late, we're going to hit them!"
The Marines on board watched in horror as the warship hurtled towards the wrecks at ever-increasing speed. With so much debris in the way, they feared the ship would be destroyed.
Just as they were about to collide, the warship's bow split open. It was as if a shark had bared its fangs and bit into the wreckage of a pirate ship.
*Crunch!*
In moments, the warship devoured the debris beneath them. Ron felt the ship beneath his feet grow larger and more powerful, and its speed increased significantly. The scars from previous battles vanished, leaving the warship looking brand new.
"It can devour other ships, repair itself, and even grow stronger—an impressive ability."
Ron nodded in approval. The sea was filled with wrecks from countless fallen pirates. Between the abandoned warship repair yards at Naval Headquarters and the scrapyards in the Seven Seas capital, there was no shortage of ship parts to consume.
The warship was now alive, much like a marine creature, able to swim freely through the seas—even in the Calm Belt.
"Since you can evolve by consuming the wreckage of other ships, I shall name you the 'Undead Warship'."
Though it wasn't yet comparable to the top pirate ships, Ron knew that, with time and more evolution, even the legendary Pluton ships would pale in comparison.
Leaning on the railing, Ron watched as the warship devoured all the wrecks in sight.
With a wave of his hand, he commanded, "Return to base!"
The ship trembled, seemingly understanding Ron's command. It turned sharply and sped towards the Marine Base, cutting through the waves like a shark.
In less than three hours, the Marine Fortress standing on the sea came into view.
"It's at least twice as fast as before."
The warships produced by Naval Headquarters already represented the pinnacle of technology, and this one had now surpassed that. However, compared to famous sea battleships or pirate ships, there was still room for improvement.
"I wonder if the firepower of the main guns has improved as well."
For a warship, speed and defense were essential, but firepower was just as crucial. The legendary Pluton battleships could destroy entire islands with a single shot.
In Ron's ideal warship, speed, defense, impact force, and firepower were all critical elements.
"Aim at that large reef ahead. Fire."
He pointed to a reef near the fortress. Immediately, the undead warship turned its bow, and thick, black cannons emerged from the hull.
*Boom! Boom! Boom!*
After a brief charge, the shells flew towards the reef. With a violent explosion, the entire reef was obliterated.
"Even ordinary cannons now pack the power of a small warship's main gun."
Ron was impressed. His warship, a medium-sized vessel equipped with twenty small cannons and two medium-sized main guns, now had the firepower to rival large warships.
This kind of firepower, combined with the undead warship's speed and self-repair capabilities, meant it was now a formidable force, able to launch attacks comparable to a small Buster Call.
"The trade-off was worth it. Sacrificing one evolution to create a super battleship with this level of firepower is no loss."
As Ron reflected on the power of his new ship, he couldn't help but think of all the pirate wrecks he had destroyed earlier.
In the following days, Ron sailed his undead warship through various seas, searching for the remnants of the pirate fleets. Unfortunately, the wrecks had been scattered by the waves, making them impossible to find.
"So many wrecks… If only I could have devoured them all. One more evolution would have been possible."
Ron sighed in frustration, realizing he had missed a great opportunity.
After several days of fruitless searching, he returned to the fortress, feeling rather disheartened.
Just as he arrived, the sword at his waist, Crimson Cry, began to tremble.
A smile crept across Ron's face. Crimson Cry had finally completed its evolution.
Compared to its first evolution, this time had taken much longer—seven full days. With such a lengthy process, Ron wondered what new powers the sword had gained.
Drawing Red Cry from its sheath, he admired the blade's new appearance. Under the sunlight, it gleamed with a blood-red brilliance, and intricate patterns seemed to pulse with flowing blood. A blood groove had appeared on the blade.
(Images in chapter comments ⬇️)
But it wasn't the sword's appearance that Ron was most excited about—it was the new abilities it had gained.