Ren pressed a hand to his forehead, sighing helplessly.
Still, he couldn't deny how remarkable this ship was. How many vessels in the world could soar through the skies and dive beneath the seas alike?
And more importantly, he had just spotted something… quite fitting.
A scroll!
[One-Time Skin: Mechanical Style]
Origin: Game Dimension
Type: Rule Type Item
Effect: This scroll records a line of rule-type code that permanently transforms any architectural target into a "mechanical art style." The resulting design is fixed as steampunk.
During transformation, the system analyzes all objects equipped on the target and modularly fuses them into a perfect integrated unit. Note that this scroll only affects aesthetic style and not functionality.
Consumption: None
It was an oddly specific description. After glancing through it, Ren already had a rough idea of what to do.
He'd extract a Bubble Coating Machine, bolt on a few cannons, toss in every random mechanism he could find—and then apply the scroll to the Flying Dutchman.
He could even expand the ship's total area.
By the time he was done, he'd have a ship that could sail the seas, fly the skies, and look terrifyingly beautiful doing it.
In the Age of Exploration, nothing mattered more than a ship.
Still… I didn't expect to draw something like this.
After storing the glass bottle and scroll, Ren found a gold coin engraved with a skull resting in his hand.
Another infamous artifact—this one from the Caribbean world.
[Aztec Gold Coin]
Origin:Pirates of the Caribbean
Type: Magical Item
Effect: This coin is currently sealed. Once it begins circulating, it will curse its first possessor, transforming them into an undead skeleton.
By daylight, the user appears human. But beneath the moonlight, they revert to skeletal form—deprived of taste, touch, smell, and sleep—immortal yet cursed, forever unable to die.
Even if shattered or ground to dust, the cursed body will instantly reassemble.
Note: This item has left its world of origin and can no longer draw power from its source. Once the curse's power is exhausted, the coin will lose its effect.
Consumption: Curse Power
Interesting… a disposable endurance tool, in a way.
Ren twirled the coin between his fingers, then flicked it into his Four-Dimensional Chrysanthemum space.
Finally, there was one last item—a long, dark-red spear of exquisite craftsmanship.
[Pseudo–Gáe Bolg]
Origin:Fate/Stay Night
Type: Artificial Noble Phantasm
Effect: A replica crafted by an unknown magus attempting to imitate the legendary spear that "reverses causality."
Due to the creator's limited skill, the effect is far weaker than the original's fate-lock.
When thrown, the spear will lock onto an "enemy" target. The strike cannot miss—if it fails to hit, it will continuously adjust its trajectory, chasing the target until death.
After a secondary modification by a stubborn magus, it can now target multiple enemies across a large area.
Consumption: None
Call it trash, and you'd be wrong—it'll keep chasing its targets endlessly. Call it powerful, and it can't even guarantee a true hit.
Ren rubbed his chin, staring at the dark-red weapon.
Then, an idea struck him—what if he enchanted it with lightning?
If he used it during a thunderstorm, targeting multiple enemies at once…
He smirked. Yeah, that could work.
Ren began experimenting, and after several hours of tinkering, he achieved his goal. The spear now functioned much like a trident, capable of drawing lightning from stormy skies.
Another fine weapon—on par with Dragon's Breath Cannon as a perfect anti-horde tool.
Never underestimate mob swarms—humans have limits. Until you reach the point where quality overcomes quantity, sheer numbers can still kill you.
The Death-Piercing Spear glowed with a faint violet sheen, looking utterly menacing.
Satisfied, Ren set it aside and turned to his final two new skills.
[Ghost-Making Technique]
Origin: Magical Dimension
Type: Soul Refinement
Effect: Consumes three Mana Crystals to target a dying person and extract their soul, forging it into a highly stealthy Spirit Wraith.
The wraith retains faint intelligence and instinct from its former life, moves at incredible speed, and can phase through matter—making it ideal for reconnaissance.
However, it requires periodic recharging with Mana Crystals.
Consumption: Mana Crystals
A detection unit—convenient indeed.
Though it required taking lives to forge souls… well, as long as he killed pirates, that wasn't an issue.
A true demonic art, Ren mused. Maybe I can let Don Krieg try it out.
[Iron Golem Synthesis]
Origin:Minecraft
Type: Rule Type Item
Effect: By arranging four iron blocks into a T-shape and placing a pumpkin atop them, an Iron Golem is synthesized. The golem obeys its creator's orders.
However, it lacks intelligence and can only follow simple commands. When damaged, it can be repaired using iron ore.
Consumption: Iron Blocks, Pumpkin
Note:It will never betray you!
This could work nicely aboard the Flying Dutchman—as a ship guardian.
But I'll need to extract the iron blocks and pumpkins from the Minecraft world first.
Even so, the ability to mass-produce loyal golems made the 10 million Beli price tag seem reasonable.
That wraps things up for now.
Ren concluded his lottery draws and headed out to assist Nami and the others with navigation.
At the same time—
East Blue, Gerumida Archipelago, somewhere at sea.
A Marine battleship cut through the waves. Its twin masts bore the massive Marine insignia and a numbered flag.
The second sail displayed a distinct emblem—a balance scale and seagull, the unmistakable mark of the Marines.
But not every pirate feared that symbol—least of all the notorious Black Cat Pirates of the East Blue.
"Jango! Marine ship ahead! The figurehead's a dog's head—it looks weird!"
The lookout of the Black Cat Pirates shouted from his perch as their ship passed an island.
"Call me Captain Jango!"
A man with heart-shaped glasses snapped irritably.
Before the lookout could answer, two men—one thin and one fat, both with sharp, claw-like fingers—snorted derisively.
"With just a nine-million-Beli bounty, you dare call yourself captain?"
"Yeah! Captain Kuro's barely gone a few years, and you're already itching for his throne?"
"Shut it, Sham! You too, Buchi! Captain Kuro's not here, is he? When he's around, I'm his first mate; when he's not, I'm the captain! Nine million bounty, and I'll fight anyone who disagrees!"
Jango snarled, pulling out his sharp-edged ring pendulums, clearly ready to brawl.
Sham and Buchi exchanged a glance, then grinned."Why fight among ourselves? Let's make it a contest—whoever wipes out that Marine ship first wins!"
"The last man standing?"
"Of course."
"Fine!"
Jango barked, "Helmsman! Close in and blast their sails off with the cannons!"
"That's the Marines, Captain…"
"You think I'm scared? Fire!"
Their cannons roared—the first salvo struck true, tearing through a Marine sail in an eruption of flame.
Bold move!
Bogard frowned, drew his blade, and leapt high, slicing through the next barrage mid-air.
The Marines scrambled to return fire, but the Black Cat Pirates maneuvered swiftly, dodging shots and closing the distance. Then they leapt aboard.
Cutlasses clashed, and chaos erupted as pirates swarmed the deck.
Jango, Sham, and Buchi were the last to join the melee—but once aboard, they tore through the Marines with savage precision.
"Hahaha! Marines, die!"
Sham vaulted up the rigging to the sail; Buchi and Jango followed close behind.
A Marine swordsman who had already cut down several pirates charged toward them.
From above, Sham froze.
The Marines had formed a defensive ring around a reclining chair.
And in that chair… lay a man wearing a dog-head cap, fast asleep.
"Damn it! The Black Cat Pirates are here, and you're sleeping!?"
Sham lunged downward, claws flashing toward the man's throat.
"Don't wake him!"
Bogard's sword shattered Buchi's claws; his face went pale.
His superior had been testing himself—seven days without sleep—and had only just drifted off!
"Over my dead body!"
Jango swung his hypnotic pendulums, stalling the swordsman.
But then—
As Sham's claws sliced through the air, the gust lifted the dog-head cap slightly… and a pair of cold, steel-hard eyes snapped open.
An iron-like hand seized Sham's wrist. Bone cracked under the pressure.
"AAAHHH!" Sham screamed, but couldn't break free.
The man blinked, loosening his grip slightly.
"Huh? Did I fall asleep?"
"Vice Admiral Garp!"
The Marines cried out in relief.
"Ha ha ha ha! Guess my ten-day no-sleep challenge failed after all."
Garp scratched his head with a sheepish grin.
"The Marine Hero… Garp!?"
The pirates' faces turned ashen. That name alone—famous in the World Economic Journal—was enough to chill their blood.
Captain Kuro wasn't here. None of them could possibly face such a monster.
"Pirates, huh?"
Garp's gaze swept the deck. He stomped once—and vanished.
When he reappeared, he was already airborne.
That pot-sized fist wrapped in Armament Haki came crashing down from the sky—
(End of Chapter)