Chapter 78: Lieutenant General Ghost Spider!

"People's dreams may never come true… but as long as you're on the path to chasing them, you are already great."

"When the day comes that you grow old and are on the verge of death, you'll look back at the journey of pursuing your dreams—that will be the most precious thing in your life. Even if you end up in hell, you will not regret a life wasted in inaction, because you fought for your dream…"

Asa remained silent for a moment before raising his head and speaking softly, "Do you understand what I'm saying, Jessica?"

"Yes!" Jessica nodded firmly, her lips pressed together. Despite the redness in her eyes, there was now a light in them—the unwavering resolve of someone who had found her purpose.

"Then wipe your tears and come with me!" Asa looked at her solemnly, extending his hand toward her in a sincere invitation.

"Snap!"

Their hands—one big, one small—clasped together. In that moment, Jessica had officially joined his crew. She was now a part of the Thor Pirates, bound to this path for life. There was no turning back.

"Go back and tell Jessica's father…" Asa withdrew his hand, still feeling the warmth lingering on his fingertips. He then turned coldly to the Marine standing motionless nearby.

"Tell him—I've taken Jessica with me."

With that, Asa and Jessica turned and walked away without looking back.

After seizing a large ship over fifty meters long from the port, Asa personally took the helm, following the first magnetic route to their next destination—the Sabaody Archipelago!

They were approaching the terminal of the first half of their Grand Line journey, and he had officially recruited his first crewmate, Jessica. This should have been a moment of celebration.

But for some reason, a nagging unease settled in Asa's heart. It felt as though he was heading toward a life-threatening danger.

"What's going on?" Asa rubbed his temples, trying to suppress the growing sense of dread.

Logically, with his Thunder Fruit powers, if he truly wanted to escape, almost no one could stop him—not even Garp himself.

So why did he feel this looming threat?

"No matter what lies ahead, I won't know until I break through it!" Asa clenched his fists and narrowed his eyes.

If the World Government had sent someone to capture him, then the advantage of his speed would likely be neutralized. And if that happened, he would have no choice but to fight.

"Asa, what's wrong?" Jessica asked softly, noticing his unusual silence.

"Nothing!" Asa snapped out of his thoughts and suddenly grinned. "Let's eat and celebrate! You've officially boarded a pirate ship that you can never escape from! Hahahaha!"

"Fine! But this time, you have to eat your vegetables! If you don't, your nutrition will be unbalanced—Are you even listening to me? Asa, you bastard!"

Jessica, remembering his stubborn refusal to eat vegetables, flared up in anger again.

"Clang! Clang! Clang!"

She banged a pan aggressively, marching toward him. In her mind, anyone who wasted food deserved punishment.

"Don't be so harsh. I was cured of the disease that made me allergic to vegetables, but now I have a new disease—I die if a beautiful woman yells at me!" Asa joked, trying to distract himself from his unease.

Distraction was an effective coping mechanism. Shifting focus to something else could quickly make one forget about their worries.

Right now, he didn't know how to resolve this lingering sense of danger, but he did know how to lighten the mood.

"You go cook first. If some idiot tries to steal our ship, I'll take care of it," he said, standing up from his chair and heading toward the deck.

"Be careful!" Jessica called out, then fell silent and focused on cooking. She knew the best thing she could do in this situation was to ensure Asa had a warm meal to return to.

Standing at the bow of the ship, Asa gazed into the distance.

A large Marine warship was slowly appearing directly in his path.

Within minutes, the warship had cut off his route.

A tall, imposing figure stood at the front of the warship. His face was harsh and feral, a cigar clenched between his teeth. His expression was cold and cruel, and a massive sword rested on his right shoulder.

A Marine Vice Admiral.

Asa recognized him immediately.

Lieutenant General Ghost Spider.

"Pirate 'Thunder God' Asa?" Ghost Spider sneered, lowering his sword. "What a coincidence, running into you here."

"It's me," Asa responded indifferently.

He knew this man well—a prominent figure among the hawkish faction of the Marines. Ghost Spider was an extremist, known for his ruthless execution of 'justice.'

"And you, a mere vice admiral, dare to try and stop me?" Asa asked, unimpressed.

"If capturing a dangerous criminal like you means dying, then so be it," Ghost Spider replied, exhaling a thick cloud of smoke as he grinned wickedly.

The Marine factions were divided. Ghost Spider and Kizaru had hardly spoken about Asa, nor did they fully understand his abilities.

Though Asa had escaped unscathed from Garp, Ghost Spider assumed it was mere luck.

Sure, the Thunder Fruit was powerful, but was it truly invincible? He didn't believe so.

If the Tremor-Tremor Fruit hadn't been in Whitebeard's hands, would it still be considered the strongest Paramecia? No!

Ghost Spider had trained in Armament Haki for years, mastering the Six Powers technique to near perfection and achieving Life Return.

Even if he couldn't defeat Asa, he was confident that he could contain him.

"I expected a Marine Admiral to come after me," Asa said mockingly, shaking his head. "But they only sent a vice admiral? What a disappointment."

"A vice admiral is more than enough to deal with you." Ghost Spider scoffed.

Asa grinned but didn't bother responding. Instead, he laughed wildly.

"Hahahahaha! I don't know what dangers lie ahead… but I do know this—idiots like you die no matter how many times they try!"

"You're the one who's going to die!" Ghost Spider snapped, his expression darkening.

"Zzzzt…!!"

Before he could finish his sentence, Asa disappeared.

A bolt of blue lightning shot forward, appearing on the Marine warship at blinding speed.

With Armament Haki coating his fist, he threw a devastating punch, his momentum amplified by extreme velocity.

"What insane speed!"

Ghost Spider's pupils shrank as he sensed an overwhelming force crashing toward him like a tsunami.

"Iron Body!"

Reacting instantly, he activated his Six Powers: Iron Body and reinforced himself with Armament Haki.

"BOOM!!"

The sheer force of the punch was unbearable.

Ghost Spider was launched backward like a cannonball, sliding twenty meters across the deck before slamming into the ship's main mast.

The unfortunate Marine soldiers caught in the shockwave were instantly pulverized.

"Your reaction is fast," Asa sneered, walking forward. "But it's useless."

Even if an Iron Body was enhanced by Armament Haki, it couldn't withstand his attacks.

Perhaps Zephyr, Garp, Kong, or Sengoku could take him head-on—but Ghost Spider was far below their level.

"Cough… Cough…"

Ghost Spider clutched his chest, coughing up blood. His entire body ached from the shock.

"I… underestimated you…" He wiped the blood from his mouth, forcing himself to stand.

"But the Navy's justice… does not allow retreat… even in the face of death!"

"Prepare to fire!"

Ghost Spider activated Shave, moving at breakneck speed.

His sword tip gleamed, aiming directly for Asa's throat.

(End Of Chapter)

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