CHAPTER 53

"The improvement of my swordsmanship is progressing even faster than I expected. Hopefully, this auction will have a blade that suits me better." Ayr sat at the bow of his boat, absentmindedly running his fingers along the hilt of his sword.

His battle with Roger had pushed him to refine his skills. After rigorous training and countless battles, Ayr had now become one of the most formidable swordsmen in the New World.

While his current weapon—a Grade 50 Good and Fast Blade—was a renowned sword among the ranks of skilled warriors, it was still a tier below the Supreme Grade Blades wielded by legends like Roger, Rocks, and Whitebeard. Even Golden Lion, though his swords were not of the highest rank, wielded a pair of Great Grade Blades.

Ayr knew that in the world of pirates, power dictated fate. And a better sword could mean the difference between victory and death. He wasn't expecting to find a Supreme Grade Blade at the auction—those were treasures rarely seen even among the strongest—but if there was a stronger blade available, why settle for less?

As Ayr thought about his next steps, another idea crossed his mind.

"Right... my Sage Body progress should be nearing an upgrade." Ayr muttered to himself, opening his attribute panel.

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Attribute Panel

Host: Ayr

Abilities:

Armament Haki (1600/2000)

Observation Haki (1600/2000)

Conqueror's Haki (1540/2000)

Special Ability: Sage Body (1972/2000)

(Currently in mid-stage. Progress can be gained through intense training or battle.)

Abilities: Swordsmanship (Great Swordsman)

Unlockable Power: Sage Eye (Not unlocked)

(Requires Sage Body to advance before activation.)

Tailed Beast Chakra:

Tailed Beast Bomb (Unlocked)

Six-Tails Form (Unlocked)

Kurama Chakra Mode (Unlocked)

Kurama Mode (Unlocked)

(More abilities can be unlocked by sacrificing Devil Fruits to the Nine Tails.)

Warehouse: None

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Ayr smirked. Only 28 more points.

Once his Sage Body leveled up, his physical strength, endurance, and recovery rate would undergo a tremendous boost. And most importantly—he'd receive a special lottery draw.

The last time his Sage Body advanced, he had obtained the Rasengan technique. This time, he had no idea what he would get. It could be a powerful ninjutsu, a rare ability, or maybe even an experience boost. No matter the outcome, he looked forward to it.

And it wasn't just his Sage Body that was improving. His Haki was also making steady progress. His Armament Haki and Observation Haki were nearing a breakthrough, and even his Conqueror's Haki was closing in on the next stage.

But of all his abilities, Conqueror's Haki was what Ayr looked forward to mastering the most.

Once he reached the third stage, he would be able to unleash Conqueror's Haki Infusion—a power so rare that only a handful of individuals in history had wielded it.

Unlike Armament Haki, which simply coated the body or weapon with an invisible armor, Conqueror's Infusion allowed one to project overwhelming force onto their surroundings, shattering even the strongest defenses without direct contact.

Few had mastered it. Fewer had survived against those who did.

Ayr was determined to be among them.

He continued sailing toward Hive Island, the location of the upcoming pirate auction. But suddenly, the weather took a drastic turn.

The once clear skies darkened as heavy storm clouds rolled in. The sun disappeared behind a thick layer of mist, and the ocean became shrouded in an eerie, gray haze.

Visibility dropped to near zero.

Ayr remained unfazed.

New World weather was always like this—unpredictable and merciless.

One moment, the skies were calm; the next, violent storms could swallow entire ships.

Then, from the depths of the mist, came an unsettling sound.

"Splash… splash… splash…"

Ayr narrowed his eyes. Something was coming.

Moments later, the sea ahead surged, and a massive school of fish leapt from the water, darting toward his boat in a chaotic frenzy.

Each fish had a long, razor-sharp spine protruding from its head—similar to a lobster's, but much deadlier.

Ayr frowned.

"A school of fish? No… this isn't normal. Something's chasing them."

He tightened his grip on his sword and swung.

"SHING!!!"

A single slash sent a wave of sword energy slicing through the air, tearing through the fish and sending their blood spilling into the sea.

But more just kept coming.

"What a hassle." Ayr sighed.

Although these creatures weren't a threat to him, their sheer numbers were becoming an annoyance.

Just as he prepared to unleash another attack—

"CRACK!"

A deep, ominous sound echoed beneath him.

Ayr's boat shuddered violently as the deck cracked open, water beginning to seep inside.

His eyes widened.

The fish were ramming his boat.

"Tch… these damn things!!"

Another impact.

Then another.

The sharp spikes on the fish's heads repeatedly pierced through the wooden hull, creating more leaks.

Ayr clenched his jaw.

He was supposed to be one of the strongest men in the New World, and here he was—being sabotaged by a bunch of damn fish.

If Golden Lion ever heard about this, he'd never let Ayr live it down.

"I was careless… way too careless!"

Despite his frustration, Ayr focused on fending off the relentless swarm, his sword cutting through wave after wave of fish.

Then, suddenly—

"BOOM!!!"

A loud explosion echoed from the distance.

Through the thick fog, Ayr could barely make out an enormous figure emerging from the sea.

A Sea King.

And it was being chased by a massive pirate ship.

Ayr immediately realized what had happened.

"No wonder the fish were panicking… those bastards are chasing a Sea King!"

The monstrous creature, desperate to escape, had likely disturbed the entire marine ecosystem, causing the smaller fish to flee en masse.

And, by sheer bad luck, they had crashed straight into Ayr's boat in the process.

Ayr sighed, watching as his small, battered boat struggled to stay afloat.

But then, as he gazed at the approaching pirate ship, a smirk formed on his lips.

"Well… I guess I'm not at a loss after all."

His small boat was sinking.

But that big one?

That one was about to become his new ride.

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