One Piece: I'm not Roger

[S-Class Figure Ulti has developed positive feelings toward the Host. Initial Friendliness acquired, reward: 1,000 EXP]

[The Host has changed the fate of S-Class Figure Ulti for the first time. Fate Points increased by 1,000]

Returning to the cabin, Aether paused for a moment in surprise. He truly had not expected Ulti, that stubborn iron-headed girl, to suddenly raise her friendliness toward him.

Initial Friendliness could barely be considered friendship, but it was still a good sign.

Women really were difficult to understand.

Still, Aether did not dwell on it for long. As long as Ulti had no intention of betraying him, that was enough.

This trip had already exceeded his expectations.

Not only had he accomplished all of his original goals, but he had also taken away three members of the Beasts Pirates' new generation and even forced one of the strongest Tobiroppo to join him.

Kaido had suffered a devastating loss.

Yamato, Jack, Ulti, Black Maria, and Page One were the future pillars of the Beasts Pirates. If things had continued according to Kaido's vision, the crew would have become even more terrifying within a few years.

Yamato possessed the potential to rival an Emperor of the Sea.

Jack, Ulti, and Page One all had the qualifications to become future All Stars.

Among them, Ulti's talent was especially impressive. In the future, she could have easily become a top commander comparable to an Emperor's right-hand man.

The Beasts Pirates would have become far stronger than the other Emperor crews in terms of their younger generation.

Even the former Whitebeard Pirates could not compare.

Unfortunately for Kaido, reality had turned out very differently.

Yamato was determined to rebel against him.

Ulti, Black Maria, and Page One had now joined Aether.

Only Jack remained to support the younger generation of the Beasts Pirates.

As for Black Maria, despite being the weakest among the group, she still possessed strength comparable to a Marine Headquarters Vice Admiral at only twenty-seven years old. She still had room to grow stronger in the future.

Less than half a day later, Aether and the others returned to Black Spear Swordfish Island.

Most of the pirate crews stationed on the island had already departed, heading toward the border regions to reclaim lost territory. Diamond Jozu and Portgas D. Ace personally led the advance forces.

Meanwhile, the rear forces were helping civilians return to their homes and rebuild their towns.

Aether even used his own funds to assist with reconstruction.

This time, Kaido had paid twelve billion Berries in compensation, while the Big Mom Pirates contributed another eight billion.

Twenty billion Berries in total.

Rebuilding the damaged areas would only require a fraction of that amount.

As their ship approached the island and contacted the defense forces for permission to dock, a massive disturbance suddenly erupted from the opposite side of the island.

Gigantic rocks floated through the air alongside torrents of seawater.

Sword slashes soared into the sky one after another, tearing apart enormous stone lion heads.

Even the clouds overhead were split apart by violent bursts of Conqueror's Haki.

The scale of the battle was comparable to a clash between Emperors.

Aether immediately spread out his Observation Haki.

The moment he sensed the two familiar auras of Conqueror's Haki colliding, his expression became strange.

"Rayleigh got here this quickly? And he's fighting Shiki? These two old monsters combined are over one hundred and fifty years old, yet they're still causing trouble."

A grin slowly appeared on his face.

"Still, I definitely can't miss something this entertaining."

After giving a few quick instructions to the people aboard the ship, Aether stepped into the air with Moonwalk and headed straight toward the battlefield.

Ulti, Black Maria, and Page One stared blankly as their captain disappeared.

What kind of captain abandoned his newly recruited crew members without even introducing them properly?

Were they not worried people would mistake them for spies and attack them?

Naturally, the three of them could sense the terrifying pressure radiating from the distant battle.

Even Ulti became tense.

The intensity was comparable to the fights between Kaido and Yamato, though Yamato usually ended up getting beaten badly.

Ulti crossed her arms and snorted.

"Let's go take a look too. Those two should be famous figures in the crew."

Page One nodded immediately.

"Yeah, Sis. I think one of them is the Dark King, Silvers Rayleigh. He's Captain Aether's right-hand man."

Aether arrived near the battlefield not long afterward.

From a distance, he could see Rayleigh and the Golden Lion Shiki clashing head-on with Advanced Conqueror's Haki coating their attacks.

The surrounding land had already been completely devastated.

Massive craters covered the battlefield.

Jewelry Bonney stood in the distance, watching the fight with excitement.

Aether casually found a place to sit and quietly observed the battle.

Shiki's Float-Float Fruit continuously manipulated the environment around him.

Countless rocks and seawater gathered together into gigantic lion heads that roared through the battlefield before charging toward Rayleigh.

The entire island trembled violently as enormous boulders crashed down from the sky.

The visual impact was overwhelming.

Meanwhile, Rayleigh stood firmly in the middle of the destruction like an unshakable mountain.

His sword moved with smooth precision.

Every slash effortlessly shattered the incoming attacks.

After watching for some time, Aether gradually noticed the difference between them.

At first glance, the battle appeared evenly matched.

In reality, Rayleigh held the advantage.

And that advantage was slowly increasing.

Although Rayleigh lacked Kaido's overwhelming brute strength, his swordsmanship was far more refined and adaptable than Shiki's leg-based techniques.

Even with the support of the Float-Float Fruit, Shiki was steadily being pushed back.

Unless he abandoned direct combat and chose to attack from long range by dropping islands from the sky, defeat was only a matter of time.

Unfortunately, the proud Golden Lion would never choose such a method.

An hour later, the two men collided once more, splitting the sky apart before finally stopping.

There was no need to continue.

Rayleigh's advantage had become obvious.

Although Shiki had regained his youth, his stamina had yet to fully recover, and his breathing had already become rough.

The two of them had also noticed Aether and the others watching nearby.

Once everyone gathered together, Aether looked at them curiously.

"So, how did you two end up fighting?"

Shiki's face darkened immediately.

Rayleigh merely shrugged helplessly.

"Shiki wanted to compete for the position of First Mate."

"..."

Aether nearly laughed out loud.

As expected of the Golden Lion.

Looking at Shiki's ugly expression, Aether struggled to hold back his amusement.

"So you lost, Shiki. Looks like you'll have to listen to the First Mate from now on."

Rayleigh waved his hand with a smile.

"I wouldn't dare order Shiki around. He's far too dangerous for that."

The teasing from both men made Shiki's expression grow even uglier, but he could not refute them.

After all, he was the one who proposed the fight and lost.

"Hmph. Don't get too pleased with yourselves. Once I fully recover my strength, I'll beat both of you sooner or later."

Shiki crossed his arms and snorted coldly.

"Right now, I'm going to find Trafalgar Law."

Aether immediately raised a hand.

"Wait first. Let me introduce the new crew members."

He gestured toward Ulti, Black Maria, and Page One standing behind him.

Facing the gazes of two legendary pirates, the three became noticeably stiff.

Even Ulti felt nervous under the pressure.

Page One lowered his head awkwardly while Black Maria maintained a composed expression, though her eyes remained cautious.

Aether pointed toward them one by one.

"Ulti, user of the Dragon-Dragon Fruit, Ancient Zoan Model: Pachycephalosaurus."

"Black Maria, user of the Spider-Spider Fruit, Ancient Zoan Model: Rosamygale Grauvogeli."

"Page One, user of the Dragon-Dragon Fruit, Ancient Zoan Model: Spinosaurus."

"Page One is currently an apprentice crew member. The other two are official members."

Aether still used the standard of Marine Headquarters Vice Admiral strength when determining official membership within his crew.

Anyone below that level would remain an apprentice for the time being.

Afterward, Aether turned toward Rayleigh and Shiki.

"And these two old men don't need much introduction."