No one was able to come to terms with what just happened, they all knew how powerful Ori was. Able to fight toe to toe against Yonko Executives and with his Devil Fruit being the Air Logia speed was naturally where he most excelled. But this new comer had easily defeated Ori the same way they've all seen Ori do to ordinary marines in the past, but not one of them had even saw him when he moved.
Shaya was shaking as she held her bow up.
"So…
So fast!"
It wasn't till they heard what he said did they wake from their shock.
Bai who was known for always feeling scared was currently petrified by the robed man's sudden appearance.
[Am I going to die today? Was joining the Heavenly Demons a mistake?!
No…
Ori told me that True bravery is not the absence of fear, but the ability to show strength in the face of adversity despite fear!
No one forced me to join the Heavenly Demon's, it was my choice. I refuse to let my fear control me so soon after agreeing to join them!]
Thinking to there, Bai's body glowed orange as it shrunk burning all the fat he had previously. He fired into the robed intruder like a bullet swinging the hammer that had enlarged in his hands wanting to pummel his target.
"LET GO OF MY…"
Before he could finish his sentence, he too was grasped by the neck.
"A member of the Torch family with such a pure bloodline and at the Grandmaster Hammer boundary? Why would your family allow a man of your stature to become a pirate…
Never mind, I don't care!"
As he said that he glanced around at the others who were eyeing him cautiously.
"Each and every one of the Yonko are able to sit in their thrones as Emperor's of the sea for a good reason. You'd do well not to underestimate them!"
As he said that, he let go of both Ori's and Bai's necks. As soon as he regained his freedom, unlike Bai, Ori didn't bother putting any distance between them. He understood from their prior exchange it would just end up being a futile effort.
"Who… Who are you?!"
Hearing Ori's question, the robed man reached up towards his hood and said.
"Ahh right I'm yet to introduce myself, how rude of me. I'm…"
Before he could finish introducing himself, Malia who immediately recognised him was further panic-stricken by his identity.
"You're…
You're the only disciple of the Martial God, one of the leading Cardinal Saints and the Ace of the Federation…"
It wasn't just her, Ori also recognised the man before him.
[How…
How can it be him?! His height, his build, that shoulder length orange hair, the stubble covering the lower half of his face…
It really is him…]
"You're Gildarts Clive?!"
Gildarts let out a carefree smile as he said.
"I guess my reputation proceeds me!"
Even though he had already recognised him, when Gildarts confirmed it himself, it sent shivers down his body.
Of all anime characters, although not the strongest, Gildarts was definitely his favourite. To meet him now…
Ori had already forgotten about how he was so easily beaten.
Other than Ori who recognised him from his previous life, everyone present had heard of the Ace of the Federation; Gildarts Clive. He was a legend in this world. From fighting against the Yonko's, to saving islands from the attacks of Sea Beasts, he'd garnered the adoration and or respect from everyone from Marines to Pirates.
Seeing that he was the one who had appeared on their ship, they gave up any hopes of fighting against him. Shaya who was still anxious about his presence asked.
"What do you want from us?"
Gildarts walked leisurely to the edge of the ship where he took a seat on the railing.
"Haha relax, I'm no marine and I have no interest in your little bounties. I just came to pay a visit to my new little brother."
As he said that he was looking directly at Ori. Everyone present followed his line of sight back to Ori before looking back at the orange haired powerhouse.
"LITTLE BROTHER?!"
Even Ori was confused by his meaning.
Gildarts smiled as he nodded still looking at Ori.
"You were able to feel my presence weren't you?"
Shaya and the others realised that Ori was the only one of them who was actually able to feel his presence. They concluded that only a select few who were able to feel his presence were qualified to be his brother.
Gildarts ignored their questioning gazes as he continued.
"The fact that you could feel me when the others couldn't proves that like me you've unlocked 'instinct'."
Malia frowned when she heard that. As a former member of the league she was privy to a lot of sensitive information about special abilities, but she'd never heard of "instinct".
"What do you mean "instinct"? I've never heard of that before."
Gildarts glanced at the attractive former assassin as he replied lightly.
"That's no surprise, as before that day 2 weeks ago the only 2 people who'd unlocked it were the old man and my-self. In fact unlocking Instinct is the first and last pre-requisite for the old man to take one as a disciple."
Everyone understood that when he said, "old man", he was referring to his master; the leader and founder of the Federation; The Martial God.
Shaya who had been listening intently to Gildarts' words felt an explosion in her brain as she put 2 and 2 together.
"You mean now that Ori has unlocked that "Instinct", the leader of the Federation will…"
Gildarts nodded with a smile.
"Right. I guess calling him Jr. apprentice brother would've been more appropriate."
Ori suddenly thought back to his fight with Katakuri and the ability he unlocked that allow him to feel any incoming danger and move accordingly. He looked up at Gildarts and asked.
"Instinct…
What is it exactly?"
"Well technically it's the rarest type of observation haki but I guess you can think of it as the ultimate 6th sense.
Like you already discovered, it allows you to sense when any other living creature has any malicious intentions towards you and if they decide to act upon it you'll be able to clearly feel it making dodging faster opponents easier, providing your body can move fast enough.
It also allows you to sense when people are looking at you, even if that person's level is far above yours which would normally prevent you from sensing them i.e. how you were able to sense me.
But one of the most useful abilities is that, like those with the voice of all things, when trained to the highest level you too can understand anyone and everyone around you. But unlike those with the voice of all things you can't use instinct to communicate back with them. I suppose it's not actually you truly understanding their words but being able to sense the meaning of their words from their intentions.
The one thing you have to keep in mind is that "instinct" only works on living creatures like humans, beasts and even trees. But inanimate objects don't have intentions, so you can't use instinct on them."
Hearing his description, everyone thought the same thing…
"Isn't that a little overpowered?!"
Hearing Ori's question and seeing his shocked face, Gildarts couldn't help but laugh as he replied.
"Haha, are you complaining?!
Although once trained to its highest level you would be pretty overpowered, it's incredibly demanding to train. Not even I've reached the highest level yet.
Ori could imagine how difficult it was to train. After unlocking it, he was going to try experimenting to try and find the best way to train, but he had no idea where to start.
Gildarts didn't wait for him to get over everything he had just said before he continued.
"I'm sure the old man would love to know he has another successor, how about coming over to HQ to meet him? Your crew can come too, the training facilities we have there far surpass anything you could even imagine. The training you'd do there would far surpass anything you could do out here in paradise by yourselves."
Hearing that, Ori was more than a little tempted, but then he remembered he and Roman had a little sibling each who were on the run from the World Government. How could he justifiably train peacefully in seclusion knowing that his little siblings were being chased down by all the strongest organisation in the world.
He looked up at Gildarts and asked.
"Would we still be okay to go to the auction in 3 months first and then go?"
Gildarts frowned as he said.
"I don't know why you're so desperate to attend the auction, but I suggest you steer clear. The high level players attending aren't those you should get involved with at your current level."
Ori could see that Gildarts was coming from a place of care, but he couldn't afford to give up.
"Thank you for your care but I can't afford to skip the auction this time around."
"Please don't tell me you're doing all of this for a trivial Yin-Yang Fruit?"
Ori shook his head but didn't say anything further.
Although he loved watching Gildarts in fairy tail, he wasn't prepared to risk the lives of his little siblings by telling the truth. Who knew how the Federation felt towards his parents.