It had been over a week since the Whitebeard Pirates clashed with two of the Four Emperors.
In this confrontation, the Whitebeard Pirates made a remarkable impression. Two Sweet Commanders of the Big Mom Pirates and the eldest son, Perospero, had been captured. News of this quickly spread across the world, and it was said that Totto Land echoed all night with the horrifying sounds of Big Mom's eerie wails.
As for Kaido, Whitebeard's relentless blows left him battered, shattering the myth of Kaido's unbreakable reputation in duels. Additionally, his right-hand man, Jack, was captured. At the same time, countless of his elite forces—those with artificial Devil Fruit powers and the Numbers—were either killed or gravely wounded.
The prestige of the Whitebeard Pirates increased significantly, and Shin, along with his two companions, gained widespread recognition from this battle. Many in the New World had already started viewing the Whitebeard Pirates as the unofficial leaders among the Four Emperors.
However, none of this fame mattered much to Shin. What thrilled him most was that nearly everyone, both Whitebeard Pirates and captured prisoners alike, had sustained injuries in the fight.
Where there were injuries, there was a need for treatment. Previously, Marco handled most medical issues for the crew, and while his skills were adequate, they paled compared to Shin's unique healing abilities. With his powers, Shin could heal almost any injury in seconds. This advantage not only helped the Whitebeard Pirates but also gave Shin ample opportunities to gather biological data on several of the world's strongest individuals, like Katakuri, Jack, and Diamond Jozu. Each possessed unique physical traits that Shin could learn from and incorporate into his own body.
While these warriors' physical attributes were less potent than Whitebeard's, they each offered distinct strengths. Now, Shin deliberated on how best to combine these attributes and enhance his body.
His powers even allowed him to replicate aspects of Devil Fruit's powers if they left physical markers. By studying Jozu's diamond-hard structure, he could make his body tougher, and from Katakuri's genetic flexibility, he could enhance his agility.
Of course, human genes had their limitations, and he couldn't mimic Devil Fruit's abilities to their full extent. Body structure elements often conflicted with one another, limiting how much he could integrate at once. He found himself gradually incorporating more minor modifications rather than powerful, sweeping changes.
Reflecting on his progress, Shin realized his most significant leap came from studying Ace's genes. He had no other body enhancements back then, making each new trait a significant upgrade.
"If only I had something like an AI chip," he muttered to himself in the cabin of the Fourth Division, lifting a massive ballast stone as part of his training regimen. "Using my brain to study all these complex structures is exhausting. If I ever end up in a high-tech world, maybe I'll come across some advanced AI to help streamline things."
Body modification primarily boosted Shin's potential, not his immediate strength. The changes laid the groundwork for improvement, but he still needed to train hard to maximize his gains. To that end, he kept a strict routine: enhancing his physique and then testing each enhancement through intense physical exercise.
"Shin, dinner's ready!" Thatch's voice called from outside.
"Got it! Coming!" Shin replied, setting down the ballast stone and making his way out.
One of the perks of staying with the Fourth Division was the food. Thatch, the division commander, was a skilled cook, and most of his crew were culinary experts. Shin had gained some weight and a few inches in height during his stay. He now stood nearly six feet three inches.
After a hearty meal, Shin lingered at the table, casually chatting with Thatch.
"So, they've sent back the Big Mom and Beast Pirates members?"
While picking his teeth, Shin chuckled. "That was fast. I wonder how much ransom those two groups had to cough up."
"It's common practice," Thatch explained, grinning. "Usually, they pay double the bounty for each prisoner. And besides, when they're sent back, everyone gets a payout. You made a significant contribution, Shin—you're looking at a few hundred million berries at least!"
Shin's eyes widened. "Wait, even I get a share? I thought the Whitebeard Pirates went to war mainly because of our Spade Pirates."
"We've clashed with other Emperors before, even without you guys, though maybe not on this scale," Thatch shrugged. "Plus, there's a set protocol for dividing up spoils. Pops gets the twenty percent portions, and the rest is split based on contributions and rank."
"Speaking of rank, do you want to lead a division? Ace has already taken up the role of the Second Division captain," Thatch added.
Shin shook his head. "Sounds like too much responsibility for me."
In truth, staying with the Fourth Division had strategic advantages. He was still waiting for the opportunity to acquire the Dark-Dark Fruit, and being a division commander would make it harder to keep his actions low-key.
"Shin, you're too laid back. Even Yamato's thinking of forming her own squad!" Thatch said, chuckling.
Before Shin could reply, a shout came from the lookout: "Captain, there's a pirate ship in sight! It looks like our mission target—the Dire Wolf Pirates, the ones raiding our islands!"
Shin's face lit up. "Perfect timing—I could use some exercise to help with digestion!"
Before Thatch could respond, Shin had already leaped overboard and was racing toward the distant ship.
"Shin's been too eager lately," Thatch muttered with a grin. "He's not leaving anyone else a chance to join the fight."
Shin, of course, had a personal reason for his enthusiasm. He wasn't sure how Thatchhad acquired the Dark-Dark Fruit, but he suspected it might have come from captured loot. By joining each battle himself, he hoped to locate the fruit early and prevent any unforeseen complications.
Meanwhile, on the Dread Wolf Pirates' ship:
"Captain, that's a Whitebeard-affiliated ship up ahead!"
"What? How did they spot us so soon? Turn the rudder—prepare to escape!"
"Captain, someone's coming across the water! He's running on the sea!"
"Fire the cannons, now! Fire!"
"He's here!"
"Ahh—!"
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