[Panel Update]
[Strength: C+ → C++]
[Constitution: C → C+]
[Agility: C → C+]
As the message popped up, Hiroto's body let out a series of crackling sounds.
His arm muscles suddenly bulged and thickened, his entire body expanded, and powerful muscle fibers, as tough as steel bars, continued to grow.
His tall frame shot up visibly, giving off a sense of "heaviness" even from a distance. But then, Hiroto's size began to shrink again, only stopping once he reached a height of one hundred and ninety-five centimeters.
Looking at him now, Hiroto's physique was well-proportioned and powerful as usual, without excessive muscle. Instead, the lines of his silhouette beneath his clothes were very smooth. Yet beneath this smoothness lay a power far exceeding what he had before.
A single "+" sign represented an exponential increase, a doubling of his previous level—an improvement that ordinary people might not achieve even in years or decades.
Hiroto gripped Shusui and looked at the scarred hill in the distance. He then stepped forward, raised his hand, and swung his blade—no Flying Slash, just a simple hack.
The blade flashed and danced as he moved forward, hacking at the rocky hill, strike after strike falling like an unending tide.
A massive roar echoed through the back mountain, not ceasing until the sun rose.
By then, the original hill had vanished, replaced by a flat ground that had been forcibly leveled, along with tens of thousands of broken stones.
After finishing all this, Hiroto's breathing was only slightly hurried, and that was all.
'I'm still far from Garp's feat of leveling eight hills with his fists. My path still has a long way to go.'
Hiroto sheathed his blade and turned to leave the back mountain.
Returning to the Going Merry, only Nami and Carina were on guard.
The former was lazily sunbathing, while the latter was working hard to train her Devil Fruit Ability.
The outcome of her battle against Perona had left Carina somewhat frustrated, even though Hiroto had said that for a functional Devil Fruit User, combat power wasn't the most important thing.
If she could develop the conceptual application of the Smooth-Smooth Fruit, it would be a massive boon to the team.
Carina nodded at this and then worked even harder to train herself.
Hiroto didn't know what to say to that. He couldn't exactly tell her that with her base stats, training was useless and she'd be better off focusing on conceptual development.
But honestly, in his view, Carina's Smooth-Smooth Fruit really did have the potential to be developed in a conceptual direction.
There are hierarchies among Devil Fruits. For example, the Flame-Flame Fruit is a lower-tier version of the Mag-Mag Fruit.
But Paramecia fruits often don't have such hierarchies. Instead, they seem like the aggregation of certain special desires.
Girls desire a more perfect version of themselves—smoother skin, more beauty, a better figure.
For instance, the original Alvida transformed from a barrel-like middle-aged woman into a beautiful lady after eating the Smooth-Smooth Fruit, this was one manifestation.
Conversely, if one defines a "perfect self" as, say, running faster or jumping higher, that would be their more perfect self.
It might even be possible to develop the ability to the point of "sliding away" injuries to make oneself "more perfect".
If she could reach that stage after achieving Devil Fruit Awakening, Carina's Smooth-Smooth Fruit could very well rival Kuma's Paw-Paw Fruit as a powerful support ability.
Of course, all this was still quite far off for both Hiroto and Carina.
As for Zoro, he took Van Augur with him or rather, Van Augur took him.
Following Hiroto's instructions, they went to find Oars and Charlotte Lola.
Purururu...
Soon enough, just as Hiroto expected, the den den mushi started ringing.
This time, he didn't answer instantly but waited a moment before picking up.
"You won. Congratulations." Tsuru's calm voice sounded, devoid of any irritation.
She said indifferently, "However, stop taking action against Marines from now on. Otherwise, I won't be able to get the internal consensus to recommend you as one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea."
"Oh?"
A cold light flickered in Hiroto's eyes.
Tsuru didn't respond to that but continued, "Your becoming a member of the Seven Warlords of the Sea is not a simple matter, even though Moria died by your hand."
"In our view, your prestige and the strength you've displayed are still insufficient. I will later guide you to the Grand Line to kill some pirates to build up your record."
"This way, your appointment as a Warlord will proceed much more smoothly. Of course, the specifics still depend on the World Government's intentions."
"However, I must remind you that once you become a Warlord, you have an obligation to cooperate with the World Government on certain matters. As for what those are, I cannot inform you for the time being."
"You're right, but..."
Hiroto grinned. "...I refuse."
On the other end of the line, Tsuru, in her office, was about to say, "Then it's settled, I'll tell you your next target," but then she realized...
Hiroto hadn't agreed at all. Instead, he had... refused?
"Vice Admiral Tsuru, the so-called Warlord system was established by the World Government to divide pirates, using powerful pirates to eliminate others."
Hiroto said in a calm tone. "And there are only two conditions for becoming one: sufficient prestige and strength."
"What you said just now is correct, but I have a better plan. A Marine Headquarters Vice Admiral has arrived in Loguetown, right? Once I take his head, prestige will no longer be an issue."
"As for strength, once I kill another Warlord, I think the World Government will understand my power."
"And as for you Marines... it's the World Government that decides everything, isn't it?"
"What do you mean by that?" Tsuru's tone sharpened, but her heart suddenly grew heavy.
She suddenly realized that it wasn't just her side. Hiroto also knew very well that the Marines couldn't handle him now.