83. Jinbei Evolves And Breaks Into Cake Island

The waters of the New World.

The ship Sunny sails the seas.

"Are we really going to war with Big Mom, one of the Four Emperors?" Jinbei asked as he sat on the deck.

After joining the Straw Hat Pirates, it's not wise for us to challenge the Four Emperors.

"Of course, if Big Mom can't be defeated right away, what if she decides to attack Fish-Man Island?" Luffy looked at Jinbei with concern. "I promised to protect Mermaid Island and its inhabitants, and I won't let them be in danger."

"I'm with you, Luffy," Sanji affirmed. "The beautiful mermaids at Mermaid Bay deserve to live in peace. Big Mom shouldn't destroy their paradise."

"Don't speak for all men," Nami interjected sharply, cutting off Sanji's words with a glare.

"If we're going to war with the Four Emperors, we need a plan to defeat them," Jinbei said. "We have the advantage of having Luffy, Zoro, Sanji, and other strong fighters like Chopper and Usopp."

"Especially Luffy, Zoro, and Sanji," Jinbei continued. "The three of you are as strong as Admirals, the highest-ranking fighters in the sea. Even the Four Emperors can't match your strength."

"As for the difference in strength between me, the Four Emperors, and Admirals," Jinbei said, "I can't say for sure, but the Four Emperors are likely stronger."

He remembered his fight with Kizaru. Although Kizaru was slightly stronger, Jinbei believed he had a chance of winning in a real battle.

Zoro frowned, thinking about his own strength compared to an Admiral's. He knew it would be a tough fight.

"The Four Emperors are formidable opponents," Jinbei continued. "Take Whitebeard, for example. Even two years ago, he was incredibly powerful. He could defeat a Shichibukai-level opponent with ease."

"Really?" Sanji was astonished.

Jinbei explained, "Yes, my father's strength was unmatched. Even now, the other Four Emperors, like Kaido, are incredibly strong. Two years ago, when Whitebeard fought Kaido, it was a fierce battle with no clear winner."

Jinbei spoke with a grave expression.

"The strength of the Four Emperors is undeniable. While the Three Admirals are formidable, facing the Four Emperors alone would still make them seem inferior. If they were to clash, it might be on an even keel."

Jinbei paused, considering his words carefully. This was his estimation, not set in stone, but a widely held belief among seafarers regarding the top fighting prowess.

"In a one-on-one confrontation, the Four Emperors have about a 60% chance of winning, while the current Three Admirals might hover around 40%."

Zoro remarked calmly. "Then the Four Emperors' strength is likely on par with Luffy's."

The trio—Luffy, Zoro, and Sanji—were the Straw Hat Pirates' strongest fighters. Luffy, in particular, was formidable, capable of taking on an Admiral almost evenly, especially with his fifth gear.

"And as for the Four Emperors' collective strength," Jinbei continued solemnly, "it's also formidable and deeply unsettling to the Marines and World Government."

"Troops?" Nami inquired.

"Yes," Jinbei affirmed. "The Four Emperors are not only individually powerful; their organizations are also fearsome. While Whitebeard and Shanks focus less on expanding their forces, Big Mom is quite the opposite. She prioritizes growing her power."

"Because of her unique abilities and ideals, her influence is vast. Her subordinates control a staggering 35 islands, unlike Whitebeard's looser grip. Each island is overseen by one of her children."

"Thirty-five sons and daughters?" Nami queried, surprised.

"Indeed," Jinbei confirmed. "Big Mom's pirate crew is like a large family bound by blood. She has forty-three husbands, thirty-nine daughters, and forty-six sons."

"Forty-three husbands?" Nami echoed, astonished. "Thirty-nine daughters? Forty-six sons?"

The sheer numbers stunned everyone present.

"Big Mom sure knows how to expand her family," Luffy remarked, bewildered.

"Big Mom sees her children as tools for marriage and combat despite the familial bond," Jinbei remarked disdainfully. "But such a ruthless pirate crew lacks the warmth of a true family, unlike Whitebeard's."

Jinbei contrasted the Whitebeard and Big Mom Pirates, highlighting their differences in familial structure and warmth.

"Speaking of which, Jinbei," Nami interjected, recalling her encounter with Lola. She recounted Lola's words and showed Jinbei the life card.

"You needn't concern yourself with such matters, Nami," Jinbei advised. "Big Mom is ruthless and pragmatic. She prioritizes gains over any individual child."

Jinbei recalled Big Mom's cold nature, knowing she had even killed one of her own sons.

"There's no need to seek compromise; it's time for action," Luffy declared confidently.

But Jinbei cautioned, "It's not that simple, Luffy. Military strength is crucial. Even a powerful individual can be overwhelmed by a group of formidable opponents."

"And what Big Mom lacks most is military strength. If we charge in directly from the outer perimeter with a big fuss, we might not even make it to Cake Island's core and end up drained," Jinbei cautioned.

"Besides, taking on Big Mom's fleet with just Sunny is out of the question," Jinbei acknowledged, recognizing the stark gap between the Straw Hat Pirates and any of the Four Emperors' crews.

Top-tier fighters can sway a battlefield's outcome significantly. In confined spaces like during the Summit War, sheer power can overshadow troop numbers. But on the vast sea, fleets play a crucial role.

Jinbei recalled the Battle of Edd War, where, despite the strength of the Roger Pirates, they were pushed to the brink by the Golden Lion Shiki's formidable fleet. Only a massive tsunami saved them from defeat.

"There's only one viable approach for us: a direct rush into Cake Island. We can't let peripheral forces hinder us, and once inside, we must end the battle swiftly," Jinbei asserted.

"We need a detailed battle plan," Jinbei continued.

"Why not just wing it?" Luffy suggested, showing his aversion to complexities. For him, fists should do the talking, not strategies.

"Because, with our current strength, a straightforward approach won't work. We need a plan," Jinbei explained patiently.

The Big Mom Pirates aren't pushovers. Their strength, bolstered by the likes of the Four Generals and numerous capable cadres, poses a formidable challenge. While individually powerful, the Straw Hat Pirates, aside from a few, have average combat abilities.

Improving their strength seems logical to Luffy. "If we're not strong enough, let's get stronger," he proposed casually.

"But how can one improve their combat power so quickly?" Jinbei asked, feeling a sense of helplessness.

Yet Luffy had a solution. He opened the panel, revealing his evolution points. These points, gained from various battles, could be used to enhance their abilities.

"During the Summit War, I earned enough evolution points," Luffy noted, checking his current balance of 12,000 points.

He recounted the battles that earned him points, including his clash with Akainu, Zoro's skirmish with Hawkeye, Sanji's fight against Kizaru, and more.

With these points, they could potentially bridge the gap in strength and face the Big Mom Pirates with a better chance of success.

As Luffy scanned the crew image to locate Jinbei, he directly initiated Jinbei's evolution.

"Individual successfully scanned: Straw Hat Pirates' helmsman, Jinbei. Estimated evolution cost: 4,000 points. Would you like to evolve?"

Without hesitation, Luffy confirmed his decision.

"The comprehensive evolution of physical fitness has begun. Estimated time to completion: one day."

"Conqueror's Haki evolution initiated. Evolution complete."

"The evolution of Fish-Man Karate has begun and is complete."

Luffy observed Jinbei's evolution panel with a hint of confusion. The evolution points required and the time taken seemed surprisingly low compared to previous instances.

Jinbei, on the other hand, could feel profound changes occurring within him. His physical prowess, already honed to its peak, continued to ascend. Additionally, a formidable spirit surged within him—the Conqueror's Haki. His knowledge of the Color of Observation and the Color of Armament also strengthened. Fishman's karate and jujitsu techniques flooded his mind, seamlessly integrating into his muscle memory.

In less than a minute, Jinbei sensed a monumental shift in his strength. He knew he wouldn't be as helpless against an Admiral-level opponent as he had been during the Summit War.

"Luffy, what's happening?" Jinbei inquired, bewildered by the sudden surge in strength.

Sanji clarified that Luffy possessed a unique ability acquired from Thriller Bark, which granted him immense power.

Understanding dawned on Jinbei. With such a potent ability, the Straw Hat crew's exceptional strength at a young age became clear.

However, Luffy noticed discrepancies in Jinbei's evolution compared to theirs. His evolution required significantly fewer points and was completed much faster.

"While I used 20,000 points for my evolution, Zoro utilized 10,000, Sanji 8,000, Chopper 7,000, and Usopp around 5,000 or 6,000. Plus, our physical evolution takes ten days, whereas yours only needs one," Luffy pointed out, voicing his doubts.

He acknowledged his lack of analytical skills and sought clarification, highlighting the anomaly for discussion among the crew.

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