Chapter 3: Emperor Engine

The deserted island is a good place. Although it is located in the New World, this island is a perpetual spring. It feels like spring all year round, with a mild climate. There are no extreme fluctuations between hot and cold, so Claudius found himself quite content on this island. It's easier.

At this time, on this island, a huge wild boar was fleeing frantically. Despite lacking much wisdom, the fear evident in its eyes was palpable.

Don't be fooled by the name "pig". In fact, the wild boar is a formidable creature in the wild, with massive fangs, heavy fur, powerful muscles, and a huge body. These attributes are enough to position the wild boar in the upper echelons of the food chain.

Especially the wild boar currently fleeing desperately was immense, comparable to the elephants Claudius had seen in his previous life. Obviously, this creature was a variant specific to the Pirate World. This world is peculiar; its creatures undergo upgrades, some becoming incredibly large compared to their counterparts in the real world.

Even humans undergo various changes in this world. There are many towering individuals. From Claudius' perspective, Donquixote and Doflamingo, his little cousins, would likely reach heights of three meters or more once fully grown, starting with a standard Admiral's height.

And Doflamingo's height is quite common in this world. It's not unusual. Many individuals are even taller than him.

Claudius believes that with proper exercise and development, despite his current corpulence, he shouldn't fare worse than Doflamingo in the future.

But these thoughts can wait. Why was the wild boar running frantically at this moment? It had encountered the little human troublemakers who had been running rampant on the island for the past two weeks, dispatching all overlords such as lions and tigers.

Indeed, at this moment, Claudius was chasing after the wild boar, panting heavily. In the span of two weeks, Claudius' once-chubby figure had slimmed down considerably. Though traces of his former plumpness remained, he now possessed a somewhat muscular physique.

It was quite a comical sight. A ten-year-old human child chasing a robust wild boar the size of a hill, with the boar seemingly unwilling to turn back and crush the child. Its desperate flight was both amusing and absurd.

"You pig... almost... give... up?" Claudius gasped, gazing at the scarred and bleeding wild boar before him, muttering curses under his breath.

After a few more steps, feeling he was nearing his limit, Claudius gradually slowed his pursuit, taking a deep breath, his expression darkening.

Simultaneously, his heartbeat quickened. Within a radius of two or three meters around Claudius, his accelerating heartbeat seemed almost audible.

'Boom boom boom boom', the rhythmic thumping felt like a drumbeat in Claudius's chest. In the next moment, Claudius moved again, his pace several times faster than before. The diminutive figure chased after the trail of blood on the ground, quickly catching up with the wild boar frantically fleeing ahead.

In the wake of the wild boar, it seemed to have noticed the small figure chasing it once more, its eyes reflecting a deeper shade of fear.

But the creature's sustained flight worsened its injuries, with blood flowing profusely from its wounds, sapping its strength and slowing its pace.

However, as the beast grew more injured, it also grew more ferocious. Realizing escape was futile, the colossal wild boar abruptly halted, executing a seemingly impossible 360-degree drift maneuver on the ground.

"Damn, has the wild boar learned to drive?" Claudius mused, surprised by the spectacle.

With a burst of strength, the wild boar accelerated on all fours, its massive, lethal fangs aimed at Claudius as it charged forward.

"Dying struggling? But it's futile..." Claudius smirked, murmuring softly.

As the wild boar collided with him, Claudius also moved, leveraging his feet to lunge at the boar's head.

"Death grip!" Claudius snarled softly.

In the next moment, the immense wild boar pulverized Claudius into pieces, his figure dissipating into nothingness. Subsequently, the wild boar seemed to encounter an uncomfortable situation. After taking a few steps forward, it stumbled and collapsed, raising a cloud of dust. Its limbs twitched in a futile struggle, its head rolling on the ground as if attempting to rid itself of something.

Yet, these struggles were in vain. With time, the beast's efforts weakened. Gradually, near the wild boar's snout, Claudius's figure began to materialize!

Indeed, although Claudius, the unfortunate child, was a "mentally impaired Celestial Dragon" with frail limbs and lacking in refinement, thanks to his condition, he had consumed a salad made from a Devil Fruit. Just one bite was enough.

Since then, Claudius had gained the powers of a Demon fruit. Regarding this ability, it's unclear whether it stemmed from the arrogance of Celestial Dragons or some inherent nobility.

Yes, this Devil Fruit was a Logia-type Devil Fruit. From his memories, it belonged to the rare gas Logia Devil Fruit, known as the "Nitrogen Nitrogen Fruit".

Claudius, being an uneducated turtle in his previous life, didn't comprehend the fruit's abilities or the inexplicable gas it produced. Thus, he never fully utilized the fruit, indulging in its powerlessness. However, considering his penchant for waste, this suited him perfectly.

But Claudius was different now. He was a "cultured man" of the new era, having received compulsory and higher education. Although he hadn't extensively developed his abilities, he could still grasp the basics of this "nitrogen fruit". In essence, it was nitrogen.

This substance was ubiquitous, comprising a significant portion of the air—more than 78% of the atmosphere, to be precise. It's an inert gas.

Of course, this was a rudimentary understanding. Claudius hadn't delved deeply into its potential. Nonetheless, as long as he could utilize the basic effects of this Logia Devil Fruit, he could easily dominate this small desert island. Beasts on the island couldn't employ Haki, so Claudius needn't worry about sustaining injuries. Elementalization could resolve any issue.

Furthermore, Claudius hadn't encountered any restrictions on his abilities so far. Without the presence of Haki or similar powers to contend with, his abilities seemed virtually invincible.

Finally, his method of dispatching the wild boar was a basic application of his Logia abilities. There was no need for Claudius to develop further techniques. A simple "grasp" sufficed—by enveloping the wild boar's nose and dispersing his body to create a nitrogen-rich environment, he effectively deprived the boar of oxygen, causing it to suffocate.

After completing this task, Claudius returned to his normal state. He stroked his chin, eyeing the wild boar. A slight smile graced his lips as he murmured to himself, "Overall, the beginning of my journey isn't bad. Despite some melodramatic moments, my Celestial Dragons lineage is genuine

. Plus, I possess the abilities of a Logia Devil Fruit... Next, with a solid foundation, I should be able to make a mark in this world. What could possibly go wrong?"

As he spoke, Claudius drew the Short Sword hanging from his waist. Resembling a Wano country samurai sword but shorter, it seemed to be only two-thirds the length of a standard sword. However, its craftsmanship was impeccable, exuding the aura of a master craftsman. The white handle was wrapped in delicate silk lines, while the scabbard, though modest, bore subtle decorative patterns.

This wasn't an ornament scavenged by Claudius, but one of the three gift packages he had received during his journey.

Indeed, as a traveler, how could Claudius resist the allure of "family status"? Whether through divine blessing or some supernatural intervention, upon arriving in this world, he had received some "rewards".

This Short Sword, named 'Shinsō', was the legendary Zanpakutō, a saber wielded by Ichimaru Gin, the captain of Seireitei III in the Shinigami world.

Now in Claudius's possession, the blade seemed to have been altered by the world's power during his journey. While not as potent as in the Shinigami world, it remained a formidable weapon.

It retained its ability to extend and retract rapidly, albeit at a reduced pace. Claudius determined through experiments that Shinsō's speed was now at most three times the speed of sound.

While three times the speed of sound might sound impressive, it was only notable for average individuals. In comparison, a musket's bullet approached the speed of sound, meaning Shinsō's speed was merely two to three times faster. While formidable against ordinary foes, it might not be as effective against skilled opponents.

Despite its diminished power, Claudius was unconcerned. An unbreakable blade capable of extending and retracting was more than sufficient. He hadn't planned to rely solely on the sword for survival, so he accepted it gladly.

With Shinsō drawn, Claudius proceeded to make a few exaggerated incisions on the massive wild boar, allowing the blood to flow freely. Without draining the blood, the meat would have an unpleasant odor when cooked. Having learned from past experiences, Claudius ensured the blood was properly drained to enhance the taste.

Shinsō was the first significant gift package, and the second—a gift Claudius found particularly intriguing—was his ability to manipulate his heartbeat at will, commonly known as the Emperor Engine!