[Command received.]
[Deducting Violation Points... Physique enhancement program initiated!]
As the system's cold prompt sounded, a terrifying heat current erupted violently inside Tatsuki's body without warning.
"Holy... shit..."
Tatsuki's originally cool and aloof facial expression instantly shattered, his features twisting together in agony.
This time, it was no longer a gentle nourishment. It was a thorough, violent leap in life.
Crack! Crack!
He could clearly hear the sickening sounds coming from within his own body. His bones groaned as they were compressed into a denser state. His muscle fibers tore, only to be instantly restructured in a stronger, more explosive manner.
The intense pain inside felt like a hundred Garps were wielding iron fists, madly forging iron in every corner of his body.
Pain washed over him like a tide, but he didn't utter a sound. He just gritted his teeth, veins bulging at his temples, his body trembling violently on the bed.
He knew this was the necessary path to becoming a "monster".
On his retina, the number representing his Violation Points was plummeting at a shocking speed.
[Physique 65→66... 5,000 points consumed.]
[Physique 66→67... 5,500 points consumed.]
...
[Physique 75→76... 10,000 points consumed.]
...
[Physique 84→85... 14,500 points consumed.]
[Physique enhancement complete. Physique raised to 85. Total consumption: 198,000 points.]
When the pain that threatened to tear him apart receded, Tatsuki lay collapsed on the bed, drenched in sweat as if he had just been fished out of water.
The next second, he clenched his fist violently.
Bang!
The sheer force of his grip alone produced a crisp popping sound in the air.
Strong.
Unbelievably strong.
He gasped for breath, white mist steaming from every pore—the overflow of excess energy from within.
A surging, unceasing vitality flowed wildly through his body. The hidden injuries left from withstanding the residual shockwave of Roger's "Divine Departure" and the depletion from overusing his Devil Fruit ability were now completely filled.
With a mere thought, his stomach and intestines instantly began to churn at high speed, squeezing out every last bit of residual nutrition in his belly.
The high-level technique from the World Government's CP9, Life Return, was mastered in that very moment, without any instruction.
"This feeling..."
Tatsuki examined his increasingly well-defined physique. His skin was smooth and taut, yet beneath it lurked a terrifying monstrous strength that even he found startling.
What delighted him even more was that, along with the transformation of his physique, his previously depleted Haki reserves also experienced an explosive surge, churning restlessly through his limbs and bones, far exceeding his previous levels.
The corner of his lips curled into an arrogant arc. 'I wonder how my current HP compares to Kaido's now?'
From today on, no one would ever make him "go limp" on the spot again.
The era of the "quick man" was gone forever!
'However, just having a thick HP bar isn't enough.'
The green light in Tatsuki's eyes didn't fade. Instead, it burned even brighter after tasting the sweetness.
'Since I've struck it rich, I might as well spend it all in one go.'
System! Armament Haki! Observation Haki! Upgrade them for me!
A true strong man must not only be hard, but also long!
(Settings of Haki in this book:
1. Observation Haki
Beginner Stage: Sensing the enemy's position, number, and movements. Extracting information from enemies outside the field of vision.
Intermediate Stage: Able to briefly see into the future and predict the opponent's next move.
Advanced Stage: Feeling others' thoughts and emotions, influencing and changing their consciousness. Roger's Voice of All Things also falls into this category.
2. Armament Haki
Beginner Stage: Haki covers the body, enhancing offense and defense, and allowing contact with the physical bodies of Logia users.
Intermediate Stage: Haki can cover the outside of the body or weapons. It can be gathered and then released, such as
gathered and then released, such as attaching Haki to a slash.
Advanced Stage: A high-level technique of Haki emission that allows Haki to penetrate the surface of an object and directly destroy the interior.
3. Conqueror's Haki
Beginner Stage: Unconsciously erupts due to emotional excitement, capable of knocking out weaklings nearby, but unable to control targets.
Intermediate Stage: Free control over power and range. As one's spirit improves, the range and pressure also increase.
Advanced Stage: Conqueror's Haki can be wrapped around attacks to achieve long-range strikes, generating immense destructive power.)
[Command received...]
[Armament Haki (Intermediate) unlocked... 200,000 points consumed.]
[Observation Haki (Intermediate) unlocked... 200,000 points consumed.]
Another 400,000 in massive funds, vanished into thin air.
Hum!
A roar echoed from deep within his brain, as if two brand new doors had suddenly been thrown open in his perceptual world.
First, Armament Haki.
With a thought from Tatsuki, pitch-black Haki instantly covered his right arm. But this was no longer simple "hardening." The black Haki flowed and brimmed over the surface of his skin, forming an invisible yet real "flowing armor."
Armament Haki Emission!
Tatsuki's gaze sharpened. He made a chopping motion through the air towards an empty chair three meters away.
He didn't use his Devil Fruit abilities, just the slight breeze stirred by his physical movement. Yet, enhanced by that layer of emitted Haki—
Thump!
Three meters away, the sturdy wooden chair was struck head-on by an invisible heavy hammer, instantly exploding into a cloud of flying splinters.
"That's more like it."
Tatsuki looked at his palm, his eyes filled with pleasant surprise.
This emitted Haki could not only form an invisible defensive barrier but also qualitatively change the range and power of his attacks.
Next came the qualitative change in Observation Haki.
Tatsuki closed his eyes, his world suddenly became incredibly "noisy." Countless fragmented images flickered in his mind.
One second later, a seagull outside the window would drop a piece of bird poop, landing precisely on the railing.
Three seconds later, the rookie Allen at the end of the corridor would trip over his own feet and fall flat on his face.
Five seconds later...
Countless chaotic fragments of the future flooded his mind like snowflakes.
Tatsuki frowned slightly, his brain somewhat overloaded, but he quickly adapted to this new mode of perception, actively blocking out the useless noise.
His spirit was unprecedentedly focused. An extremely clear "future image" froze in his mind.
Bogard, wearing a black suit, pushed open the door, holding a coat in his hand, his usually impassive face carrying a hint of seriousness. "Tatsuki, pack up. We're about to pass through the Gates of Justice. Admiral Sengoku wants you to line up on the deck."
The image flashed and vanished.
Future Sight!
Although it was only a few short seconds, in a battle between masters, that was the difference between life and death.
Tatsuki could no longer hide the smile at the corner of his lips.
He leisurely sat up from the bed, unhurriedly straightened his patient gown, and even had the leisure to pour himself a glass of water.
One second.
Two seconds.
Three seconds.
Click.
The lock on the ward door turned, and the familiar figure appeared at the doorway right on time.
Bogard indeed held that coat in his hand, just about to speak.
Tatsuki had already turned his head, raised the water glass in his hand, wearing that trademark, heartwarming smile, and spoke first, "Is it time to pass through the Gates of Justice, Bogard-san?"
"I imagine Admiral Sengoku is already getting impatient on the deck, right?"
Bogard's foot, about to step in, froze in mid-air.
A crack appeared for the first time on his eternally unchanging face. He looked at Tatsuki, his eyes filled with astonishment and confusion.
The soundproofing in this special care ward on the flagship of an Admiral was top-notch. How could Tatsuki know so precisely that they had just arrived at the Gates of Justice? How could he even guess Sengoku's order word for word?
Unless... Observation Haki?
But how was that possible?
Although he had awakened Observation Haki, it was only at a beginner level.
He slept for two days in a coma, and upon waking up, he could see the future?
Was his talent even more monstrous than a monster?!
Looking at Bogard's shocked expression, Tatsuki was practically bursting with joy inside.
Awesome!
Those 600,000 Violation Points were spent so worth it!