The end of the voyage arrived between the sea breeze and fine sand. Euron Greyjoy stood on the shores of Dorne, issuing a final invitation to the strange and talented people he had recruited along the way—to return with him to the Iron Islands, using angry seas and hard rock as a foundation to fight for a magnificent future together.
Vittorio Grey, the fallen Dothraki Khal, was invited by Euron to become the new combat instructor of the Ironborn. Vittorio's exquisite arakh skills matched perfectly with the swift and fierce combat style of the Ironborn.
Facing Euron's invitation, the man of the grasslands agreed straightforwardly. Vittorio didn't want to return across the Narrow Sea; that was a place of sadness, a past he wanted to leave behind. Perhaps changing continents would allow him to start anew and open a different life.
The Bearded Priests from Norvos—Areo Hotah and Sebastian Fernandez—chose to stay in Dorne. As the captain of the guards for House Martell, it was only right for Areo to return to his post, and his best friend Sebastian stayed with him. This was all expected.
"Sorrowful Man" Castor Daniels, the elegant assassin who apologized softly before killing, was recruited by the Red Viper Oberyn Martell. Their temperaments and aesthetics were more compatible, and the Prince's offer was indeed more generous.
Samuel the Savage from the Green Hell chose to return to Essos with the Red Viper Mercenary Company. That vast, primitive, and dangerous land was perhaps his ultimate destination. The members of the Red Viper Mercenary Company didn't accept Euron's invitation; compared to serving Euron, they yearned more for the freedom of dancing on knife points. However, they bid farewell to Euron one by one, promising to come when summoned.
Unexpected yet seemingly destined were the choices of Red Priestess Gwendolyn and Shadowbinder Evelyn. They decided to follow Euron.
They had witnessed his communication with the Golden Kraken, his command over storm and thunder, the strange flames, and his insight into illusions. To these two women well-versed in magic, Euron Greyjoy himself was a profound and dangerous secret far more fascinating than any oracle or magic. They stayed to uncover it.
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Euron Greyjoy was only ten years old, yet his physique showed astonishing development far beyond his age. He stood straight as a pine, his height approaching 1.7 meters.
His build wasn't crudely bulky, but smooth and lean like a cheetah—muscle lines clear and sharp, every inch containing flexible power and potential for instant explosion. Though lacking exaggerated knots, his body was like a reef polished thousands of times by waves: symmetrical, tough, poised when still, agile as lightning when moving, like a young cheetah about to pounce, hiding overwhelming explosive power within elegance.
Throughout the long and perilous journey, unless encountering extreme weather or sudden combat, he practiced swordsmanship daily without fail. Decks, beaches, even foreign courtyards were his training grounds.
Sometimes he sparred with Raphael, the Braavosi Water Dancer whose movements were agile as water, learning to overcome hardness with softness; sometimes he fought with his fierce Ironborn crew, tempering his strength and toughness in head-on collisions; later, he actively challenged experts in the accompanying mercenary company, frequently asking "Red Viper" Oberyn for advice on his unpredictable and deadly spear techniques.
Euron viewed every clash, win or lose, as a precious opportunity to absorb combat experience. This was a path of truth learned from blood and sweat. Initially, facing these experienced warriors, he only met defeat. But he grew with astonishing speed, and battles gradually turned into fierce stalemates.
By the end of the voyage, only a very few top experts could not be easily defeated by Euron, but he could stalemate them for a long time with his flexibility and high agility. Of course, Euron didn't use his trump cards.
Euron's dual swords were like living things, swift as lightning in his hands. His footwork was agile to the point of eeriness, always cutting into opponents' defensive gaps at incredible angles. Though young, his hacking power was no less than an adult warrior's, combined with an agility rare among Ironborn, like a Water Dancer.
He integrated the "Kami-e" (Paper Art) evasion technique from the Pirate King System, the fluid sword skills of the Water Dancer, and the footwork and speed of the Sorrowful Man, forming his own unique and unpredictable combat style.
On the ship returning to the Iron Islands, Euron issued a public challenge on deck again.
The sea breeze filled the sails, becoming the only horn for this contest. Experienced Ironborn warriors stepped up to challenge one by one, only to be forced into corners by his fierce sword momentum and stumble to the ground.
Young Euron stood among the fallen, breathing steadily, gaze sharp, like a born conqueror silently harvesting the prestige and submission due to him.
This long journey across Essos was fraught with danger but yielded amazing returns. Through a series of thrilling adventures and duels, Euron Greyjoy accumulated a massive amount of points.
Knowing the dangers ahead, he didn't hoard these points but unhesitatingly invested them in immediate strengthening—he chose to grasp power firmly in his hands rather than pin hopes on an ethereal future.
Seventy percent of the points were used to upgrade existing abilities, and thirty percent for lucky draws.
Due to the uncertainty of the draw, he often got inexplicable items and food, such as a Marine Justice Cloak, Smoker's cigars, Alvida's iron mace, Kalifa's stockings, Kalifa's red high heels...
Red Priestess Gwendolyn had a beautiful face and a top-tier figure. Putting on the stockings and red high heels made her incredibly sexy, causing countless hungry wolves to swallow saliva with lust wherever she went. After letting her wear them once, Euron had Gwendolyn put them away—such clothes were better suited for her to wear for him alone in a few years!
After drawing countless similar items, finally... a loud noise in the sky, and Lady Luck finally opened her... ahem... mouth to kiss Euron.
Purple light flashed, and a Devil Fruit appeared in Euron's hand: milky white, surface covered with flowing cloud patterns, emitting a soft halo like a cocoon wrapping soul power. It was the Soru Soru no Mi (Soul-Soul Fruit), possessed by one of the Four Emperors, Big Mom—Charlotte Linlin.
The system corrected the side effect of Devil Fruit users being unable to touch seawater, but didn't correct its disgusting taste. This beautiful fruit tasted like eating shit. Although anime said one bite grants the ability, Euron wasn't sure if eating it all would have better effects. So, despite the taste, Euron endured the nausea and ate it all, leaving nothing.
Soru Soru no Mi (Soul-Soul Fruit):
System Adjustment: Seawater weakness removed.
1. Can extract souls.
2. Can create element-like creatures (Homies) and endow them with souls.
3. Can endow own body organs with souls for healing or temporary enhancement.
4. To be developed.
5. To be developed.
6. ...
Currently, he only possessed the ability to extract and endow souls, far from Big Mom's terror. He could only extract souls from the recently deceased or extremely weak. Extracted souls were stored temporarily. Euron wanted to create elemental lives like Zeus and Prometheus, but the sun he created was only pinky-sized, and investing all obtained souls didn't give it any intelligence. A long way to go before reaching Big Mom's level.
Euron named this flame Apollo—after the Sun God in Greek mythology.
Only Red Priestess Gwendolyn noticed the "light spot" Euron placed on his shoulder; others thought it was just a flame-like piece of metal.
Another item from the draw was a support skill: Doriki Test - Lv.1 (from CP9's Fukuro). By withstanding an opponent's attack intensity combined with self-perception, it quantified the target's comprehensive combat power. Theoretically, higher Doriki means higher martial force. It served only as a basic judgment; blindly trusting Doriki while underestimating enemies would lead to an ugly death.
Meito — Konpira: The sword of Marine Vice Admiral and Admiral candidate "Momousagi" Gion. Blade like autumn water, unparalleled sharpness. It was now Euron's second sword.
Conqueror's Haki: Upgraded from Lv.1 to Lv.3. Changed from passive to active.
Passive: Innate kingly pressure became more solid and controllable, able to deter those with weak wills precisely by will.
Active: Consumes Stamina and Spirit (1 point each per second). Stops automatically when either drops below 2.
Upgrade cost: Lv.1 to Lv.2 took 2000 points; Lv.2 to Lv.3 took 4000 points. Lv.3 to Lv.4 requires 8000 points. Too expensive for now. Combat and self-preservation abilities were prioritized.
Rokushiki - Kami-e (Paper Art): Promoted directly from Lv.1 to max Lv.10. His evasion reached perfection. His body could drift like paper based on subtle airflow changes caused by opponent movements, neutralizing physical impacts.
Upgrade halted at Lv.10; requires Agility at least 20.
(Lv.3: Movement speed increase, Agility +1. Lv.5: Kami-e Slime (Force Unloading) has a chance to dodge back attacks. Lv.7: Kami-e Bushin (Fighting Body), reduces strength to save stamina and increase speed, greatly enhancing Kami-e effects, dodging many attacks by instinct. Lv.10: Kami-e Combat Intuition, combined with combat instinct to form predictive defense mystery, Agility +1.)
Nitoryu (Two-Sword Style): Also upgraded from Lv.1 to Lv.10. Dual swords were extensions of his arms, offense and defense unified, moving like a storm without flaws.
Upgrade halted at Lv.10; requires Strength, Agility, and Stamina all above 20.
Fish-Man Karate: Upgraded from Lv.1 to Lv.3. Now, when Euron focused and punched the air, the trajectory was round and smooth, hardness and softness generating each other. The fist wind faintly pulled airflow, forming a miniature vortex.
(Normal Skills: Lv.1-3 cost 1000 points/level. Lv.4-7 cost 2000 points/level. Lv.7-10 cost 4000 points/level. Additional effects may appear at Lv.3, 5, 7, 10.)