Chapter 4: Looking for Claudius?

The so-called King Engine the name of this special ability originates from the world of One Punch Man. It was the signature technique of King, the so-called "strongest man on Earth." Supposedly, once King activated this ability, it was as if he entered a berserk state, capable of smashing enemies to pulp with ease.

In reality, the King Engine was nothing more than a 'gimmick.' The strongest man on Earth was simply a bluffing master, someone who survived on sheer luck no different from the likes of God Buggy in this world.

The King Engine's only real effect was its constant acceleration of the heartbeat. Yet, it was due to this 'ability' that King was mythologized as the "strongest on Earth."

When Claudius first acquired this ability, he felt rather helpless. As a pragmatic individual, he couldn't help but think, "Isn't this just a load of crap?"

Couldn't he have been granted a more practical power? If push came to shove, Claudius would have been willing to give up his beautiful blonde hair and go bald if it meant getting something more useful!

In the beginning, Claudius viewed the accelerated heartbeat ability as nothing more than a means of showing off. He didn't believe he could become the "strongest on Earth" in the Pirate World through such a ridiculous technique.

However, after several rounds of experimentation, Claudius discovered that this ability held more potential than he had initially thought. The constant acceleration of his heartbeat inevitably increased blood circulation throughout his body, which in turn could enhance his overall physical functions, including his hematopoietic ability.

Through multiple trials, Claudius confirmed at least one thing once he activated the King Engine and his heartbeat accelerated, he could indeed enter a sort of "rampage" state. It was fair to call it a "berserk mode."

The King Engine allowed him to temporarily boost his physical capabilities, improving strength, speed, and stamina. The burst of speed he had demonstrated while chasing the wild boar earlier was a prime example of what this ability could achieve.

Of course, given his current physical limitations, this was the extent of what Claudius could do. But the potential for further development and exploration of this ability was enormous.

If Claudius's body could withstand the strain, he could use the King Engine as a trump card a sudden power surge to overwhelm enemies who were otherwise on par with him.

And, if he were to add a few flashy catchphrases, like "I'm getting serious now," or "I didn't think you'd push me this far," the whole dramatic effect would be taken to another level, wouldn't it?

Thus, Claudius was actually quite satisfied with the potential of the King Engine. Whether for practical combat or pure bravado, the development possibilities were endless, making it well worth further study.

As for the last of his transmigrator gifts, it was an ability called 'Zero Hour Mizu', seemingly originating from the world of Shakugan no Shana. Claudius didn't know much about its original context.

Fortunately, there was a manual of sorts in his mind, so he was able to grasp the basics.

Zero Hour Mizu was the ability to "reset time to zero." In essence, it allowed the user to restore all their energy and vitality to a 'reset point' at zero hour.

While the concept of "existence power" didn't apply to this world, Claudius experimented with the ability and eventually figured out its utility.

Simply put, it functioned somewhat like the "Creation Rebirth" ability from Naruto. Although it didn't rely on any special energy, it could store the user's surplus energy and physical strength within Zero Hour Mizu throughout the day.

When needed, the stored reserves could be released, restoring Claudius's stamina and strength to their peak levels.

While it wasn't an overwhelmingly powerful skill at the moment, Claudius saw its potential for the future. It could be invaluable in prolonged battles, or… for engaging in more 'vigorous' activities.

"Yeah, that's right. After all, I'm still a Celestial Dragon, a world noble. There's no problem with marrying ten or even eight wives, is there? It's completely legitimate and legal.

If the body can't handle it and I overtax myself, I could always open up Zero Hour Mizu and..."

He shook his head to dispel the distracting thoughts, focusing back on the wild boar. After ensuring that the blood had drained into a small pool nearby, Claudius shifted his attention away from his fantasies.

Using Shinsō, he sliced off a few choice cuts of meat from the wild boar, ensuring to pick the most tender and flavorful sections.

"Speaking of which, it's been two weeks since I was 'killed,' right? By now, those guys should be sending a rescue team to wrap things up. After all, if I were in their shoes, I wouldn't think my previous self could survive a shipwreck alone for a full two weeks..."

As Claudius mused over these thoughts, five massive warships were steadily approaching the island from not too far away.

On the deck of one of the enormous warships stood a middle-aged man clad in a Marine coat of justice, a cigar clamped between his teeth. He wore sunglasses and kept his arms crossed, staring silently out at the vast sea.

The man's short lavender hair was slightly disheveled, and his muscular frame exuded a restrained yet formidable aura.

This man was none other than the current Marine Headquarters Admiral, Zephyr the Black Arm. Zephyr's life was a tragic yet tenacious one. As an Admiral, he held a compassionate heart and refrained from killing pirates, earning him the nickname "The Admiral Who Doesn't Kill."

But it was this very mercy that allowed seeds of evil to remain. Eventually, vengeful pirates took the lives of his beloved wife and child.

Devastated, Zephyr resigned as Admiral and redirected his focus to training the next generation of Marines. He became an instructor at the Marine Headquarters Training Camp, raising many exceptional students.

It could be said that most of the Marine's high-ranking officers in the later years were personally taught by him.

Eventually, a series of further tragedies led Zephyr to become disillusioned with the World Government and the Marines. He left to found Neo Marines, attempting to destroy the New World. His tragic yet heroic life ultimately ended at the hands of then-Admiral Kizaru, Borsalino.

But those were stories for the future. At this point, Zephyr had yet to experience such heartbreak. He was still brimming with vigor and confidence.

The task of the fleet under his command at this moment was simple yet complex to locate the Celestial Dragon, Donquixote Claudius, who had been shipwrecked in this sea more than two weeks ago!

In truth, Zephyr had no desire to get involved in such affairs. It was clear that Claudius's delayed rescue was due to the scheming and power plays of those in Mariejois.

As a Marine Admiral, while his status might seem prestigious in the eyes of the common folk, to the elites in Mariejois, he was just a useful pawn a mere errand boy.

Involvement in such matters was fraught with risk. But the problem was that the Marine Headquarters only had two Admirals at the moment. Garp adamantly refused promotion to Admiral, while Sengoku had other crucial matters to attend to.

However, when something happened to a Celestial Dragon, the highest level of authority must be mobilized to address it. So, in the end, an Admiral had to be dispatched to oversee the situation.

Thus, the burden of this mess fell onto Zephyr's shoulders.

Just as Zephyr was lost in thought, a lazy yet youthful voice called out from behind him.

"Teacher Zephyr, are you still worried about the Celestial Dragon? Honestly, I don't think there's any point. It's been two weeks since the shipwreck. Even if it were a powerful person, they'd have been devoured by sharks by now.

And that's not to mention... we're talking about a Celestial Dragon. So I think this so-called rescue mission is nothing more than a political exercise, isn't it?"

Hearing the voice, Zephyr turned around, glancing at the young man behind him. A faint smile tugged at the corners of his lips.

This young man had joined the newly established Marine Officer Training Camp two years ago. During his time as an instructor, Zephyr had discovered several promising talents, and one of them was the young man who now bore the rank of Rear Admiral on his shoulders Kuzan.

"You're right, Kuzan. This mission will most likely end in failure. It may be labeled a rescue mission, but it's more of a formality, a political obligation... However…"

Zephyr sighed and shook his head. "I'm afraid that once we return, those Celestial Dragon lords will shift the blame for Saint Claudius's death onto us, claiming it was due to the Marine Headquarters' incompetence. At that point… we'll have no recourse."

Kuzan, still inexperienced, looked at Zephyr with some surprise and asked, "What should we do then? They wouldn't really be that unreasonable, would they?"

Zephyr chuckled softly, then said, "Heh, when you become an Admiral someday and interact more with those people, you'll come to understand. Their Celestial Dragon masters are indeed that unreasonable..." Zephyr replied, his smile fading slightly.

After a brief pause, Zephyr rotated his shoulders, turning his gaze back to the horizon. "So, even if this mission is just a formality, we must do it perfectly. We can't leave any room for those lords to nitpick and blame us later. Although it's highly likely that Claudius has already perished at sea, we must proceed as if he's still alive and in need of rescue."

"That's the only way we can minimize any problems that may arise in the future."

Kuzan ran a hand through his shaggy hair, considering Zephyr's words before nodding thoughtfully. "You're right, Teacher. I'm still too young to see the bigger picture. So, what's our next course of action?"

Zephyr's eyes narrowed as he glanced at the vast expanse of ocean surrounding them. "There's only one deserted island in this sea area. If, and I mean if, by some miraculous one-in-ten-thousand chance, Claudius is still alive, he can only be on that island. So, our priority now is to search the surface waters while heading straight to that island. Once there, we'll search thoroughly for any sign of Claudius."

Kuzan nodded, understanding the plan. After a moment of contemplation, he looked up at Zephyr and softly asked, "But Teacher… what if that 'one-in-ten-thousand chance' actually happens? I mean, it seems like… some people higher up might not want Saint Claudius to return alive..."

"Stop right there, Kuzan," Zephyr interrupted sternly, his expression turning serious as he fixed his gaze on his disciple.

After a tense pause, Zephyr's expression softened slightly. He placed a firm hand on Kuzan's shoulder and spoke in a low but earnest tone, "Kuzan, you're still young, and there's much you don't yet understand. But there's one thing I want you to remember: never get too involved with those Celestial Dragons. Maybe some people above us don't want Claudius to survive, but we only need to do our duty."

He looked deeply into Kuzan's eyes, as if trying to imprint the gravity of his words into his disciple's mind. "All we need to do is what's expected of us. Even if the chances are slim, if Claudius is still alive, then we must bring him back to Mariejois safely. Understand?"

Kuzan had immense respect for his teacher, and after hearing Zephyr's heartfelt admonishment, he nodded earnestly. "I understand, Teacher. I'll remember your words."

"Good," Zephyr said, giving Kuzan a reassuring pat on the shoulder. The veteran Admiral turned back to face the sea, his gaze distant and contemplative as the fleet continued its steady approach toward the lone island.