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Chapter 186: Finally, Red-Hair
🕑 Added 2025-09-12 14:22:01 +0000 UTCChapter 186: Finally, Red-Hair
After a few moments of quiet contemplation, he turned from the railing and made his way to the open-air dojo on the second deck.
Most of the crew had gathered there, standing in a circle, curiously observing their strange new member—the Dream Weed.
Old Link had personally entrusted it to Shane during the bonfire feast the night before, just before he drank himself into a stupor. Its original master, Rocks, was long dead. And now, after Shane had completely shattered Rocks' lingering Haki with his own, the sentient little plant seemed to hold him in a state of reverent awe. It had naturally accepted Shane as its new master.
Nami cautiously reached out and poked its "pitcher."
It immediately snapped its leaf shut with a thwack, making a mock gesture of trying to swallow her hand.
"Waah!" Nami yelped, snatching her hand back and hiding behind Nojiko.
"Hey, can you show us what you can do?" Smoker asked, amused. He leaned down, a cigar dangling from his lips. "I'd like to see what an illusion that's 'indistinguishable from reality' really looks like."
The Dream Weed remained motionless, even turning its leaves away in a gesture of disdain.
A vein throbbed on Smoker's forehead. A damn plant with an attitude problem!
"It seems it only listens to the captain," Robin chuckled, looking up as Shane approached. "Perhaps it believes that only the one who could erase Rocks' will is worthy of commanding it."
Shane walked over and gently stroked the Dream Weed. It immediately nuzzled against his fingers affectionately, its leaves unfurling to emit a faint, dreamlike glow.
"Remember everyone on this ship," Shane instructed. "From now on, they are your nakama. If they want to borrow your power to train, help them out as best you can, just like you did on Agatha Island. Got it?"
The Dream Weed nodded obediently.
"Who wants to go first?" Shane asked, looking around.
Training within an illusion was different from reality. It couldn't help with things like building raw physical strength. However, improvements in most other areas—combat techniques, Devil Fruit application, willpower, and Haki—could be carried over from the dream world into the real one.
In essence, the Dream Weed was a top-tier training facility with infinite space. The crew could enter the illusion at any time to train at full power without worrying about damaging the ship or hurting their comrades. They could face their deepest fears and fight without holding back. It was an incredibly efficient way to grow stronger.
"Let me give it a shot, Boss," Smoker said, his eyes sharp as he stepped forward.
When he first joined the crew, his strength was easily in the top three. Aside from Shane, he could hold his own against anyone. But now... not counting Nami, he was barely above average. The enemies they faced in the New World were on a completely different level, and the pressure was starting to mount.
Take that Vergo guy from Raijin Island. They'd fought three brutal, drawn-out battles, and every single one ended in a stalemate. Neither could defeat the other. In the end, as if unable to bear the humiliation, Vergo had seized an opportunity during dinner, snatched Smoker's Jitte, and tried to assassinate Shane with it.
The outcome was, of course, predictable.
Shane had grabbed him like a baby chick and snapped his neck with casual ease.
If you didn't know the full story, the scene might have even looked tragic—a Marine fighting to his last breath, worthy of respect. Unfortunately, everyone already knew Vergo's true identity from Shane. Trying to kill the captain to avenge that flamingo bastard? Smoker glanced at the Jitte now strapped crookedly to his back and sighed. Pathetic.
"Alright. You're up," Shane nodded, signaling the Dream Weed to prepare.
Smoker took a deep breath and stepped forward.
"Remember, the illusion will create an opponent based on your deepest fears," Shane reminded him. "Don't let it get to you."
"Don't worry, Boss. I was born fearless. There's nothing I'm scared of," Smoker grinned around his cigar. "Bring it on!"
As soon as he spoke, the Dream Weed opened its mouth and spewed a cloud of mist, enveloping him completely.
His surroundings twisted violently.
Smoker's vision went black. When he opened his eyes again, he was standing in a familiar training ground—the Marine Headquarters training base.
The sun was setting, casting a warm orange glow over the entire area.
"This is..." Smoker frowned, looking around, and then his eyes widened in shock.
Not far away, a tall, powerfully built figure stood with his back to him, arms crossed over his chest. His short purple hair swayed gently in the wind.
"...Teacher?" Smoker's voice trembled slightly.
The figure slowly turned around. It was "Black Arm" Z—former Marine Admiral and the instructor Smoker respected more than anyone.
It should have been a welcome reunion, but Z's eyes were cold and distant, filled with profound disappointment.
"Smoker," Z's deep voice rumbled. "I heard... you betrayed the Marines and joined a pirate crew."
A jolt went through Smoker. He instinctively retorted, "No, I didn't! I just—"
"Just what?" Z sneered. "Just decided the Marines were too corrupt to deserve you? So you decided to throw in your lot with pirates?"
"That's not it, Teacher!" Smoker gritted his teeth. "There are serious problems within the Marines, and I've been disappointed many times. But I have never betrayed my own justice! The reason I chose to follow Captain Shane is because he—"
"SILENCE!"
Z exploded in fury, stomping his foot so hard the entire training ground shattered. "A pirate is a pirate! There is no difference! Stop making excuses for them! Smoker, I once saw you as the future of the Marines! You have disappointed me more than you can possibly imagine, you worthless fool!"
BOOM!
Z vanished, reappearing in front of Smoker in an instant. His right arm, coated in a terrifying layer of black Armament Haki, smashed toward him—
Back in reality, everyone's eyes were fixed on Smoker's face.
From the moment he entered the illusion, his pupils had constricted, his face had begun to twitch, and cold sweat poured down his forehead. His breathing was ragged and panicked. The fear was palpable.
"What in the world is he seeing to be this scared?" Nami wondered, standing on her tiptoes. She curiously waved a hand in front of his face. "Hey, Smokey, can you hear me? Smokey?"
Smoker, of course, didn't react.
"Stop it, Nami," Nojiko said, pulling her back. "If you're so interested, why don't you try it yourself?"
No way! Nami immediately backed away. She had little motivation to get stronger; she'd come up here to watch the show, not become the main attraction.
"Let me try." A quiet voice spoke up.
Everyone turned. The speaker was, surprisingly, Robin.
"I think everyone can guess who my greatest fear is," Robin said, removing the sunglasses from her forehead and letting them hang from her shirt. She looked down, her voice soft. "It's thanks to our captain... that I was able to escape from that darkness and fear."
Her fingers unconsciously traced the frame of her glasses. She looked up, smiling at the Dream Weed. "But I know that fear is still lurking in the depths of my heart. Since I have this opportunity, I want to face it head-on."
"This time, I want to banish that shadow with my own strength."
Shane turned and met her gaze. He didn't say anything, but a wide grin spread across his face.
As if encouraged by his silent support, Robin's eyes hardened with determination. She took a step forward, and the Dream Weed immediately enveloped her in mist.
She, too, fell still.
"I'm going in," Shane said, patting the Dream Weed. He took hold of one of its leaves and entered Robin's illusion.
As its master, he had higher-level access. He was like an administrator with a key, able to enter others' dreams to observe or even intervene.
The mist cleared, revealing a burning island under a black sky. Robin stood with her back to him, her body rigid and trembling.
In the distance, a figure in a Marine justice coat, his hair a bit messy, was walking toward them with his hands in his pockets and a look of utter indifference on his face...
"Just as I thought. Aokiji," Shane muttered. He quietly backed out and took a peek into Smoker's illusion. That one was a bit of a surprise.
Z...
He mentally reviewed the timeline. The current Z had already suffered the attack from Edward Weevil years ago, where he lost his arm and nearly all his students. However, he hadn't yet replaced his arm with the Sea-Prism Stone prosthetic, nor had he left the Marines to become a vigilante. That wouldn't happen for another five years, a year after the Summit War, when Weevil was made a Warlord.
But his disappointment and anger toward the Marines hadn't built up overnight. Weevil's appointment was just the final trigger. This meant that the current Z was already a potential ally worth recruiting.
Shane filed that information away. After enjoying the sight of Z beating the tar out of Smoker for a little while longer, he returned to reality.
He glanced at the Dream Weed. The fact that it could simulate these world-class fighters' abilities and Haki to this degree was impressive. It was a god-tier training tool for his officers.
Unfortunately, it was of little use to him. His own training still required him to smash his fists against a Poneglyph. The illusions—whether it was Z, Aokiji, or the Rocks he had shattered yesterday—were pale imitations of the real deal. For powerhouses at his level, who were at the peak in nearly every aspect, a battle was a clash of Haki, physicality, will, and conviction... all things the Dream Weed couldn't perfectly replicate. An opponent he could shatter with a few punches offered no real pressure.
Still... Shane was curious. If he entered his own illusion, what would he see?
He deactivated his Reinforced Occlumency and let the Dream Weed spray him with its mist. He honestly had no idea what his own deepest fear was.
Fear? To be honest, ever since awakening his Conqueror's Haki, he hadn't felt that emotion in a long time. Even on Thor Island and at Water 7, facing monsters far stronger than himself, he had never felt fear—only a primal excitement and a will to fight.
Hoooo...
The mist rolled in.
Shane's vision distorted, and his surroundings became a blank, white void. The scene was completely still, and for a long time, nothing happened. Just as he was getting bored and about to lose patience...
The scene finally changed. A salty sea breeze hit his face, and he felt the fine grit of sand beneath his feet. He looked down to see that he was standing on the shore of Cocoyasi Village.
Looking back toward the village, he saw the familiar wooden house with smoke curling from its chimney, the coconut trees rustling in the wind.
And turning to face him was a tall, imposing figure he'd seen in his nightmares countless times before...
"You insignificant humans!" Arlong spread his arms wide, baring his teeth in a savage grin. "Listen up! From this day forward, this island is under the rule of the Arlong Pirates! Shahahahaha—!!!"
BOOM!
A torrent of black energy shot out from Shane's finger. In an instant, Arlong's body exploded into countless pieces.
Shane retracted his finger, his face dark.
What the hell was that? Talk about digging up ancient history! The others got to face off against legends like Aokiji and Z, and he gets a purple fish-man? Was this some kind of joke?
Sigh.
He let out a sorrowful sigh and exited the illusion, heading for the training room where the Poneglyph was stored.
It seems I truly have nothing left to fear.
Time to get back to practicing my Water Stream Rock Smashing Fist.
Three days later, a light rain that had started in the morning was still falling. Through the blurry veil, the outline of the next island finally came into view.
Nojiko, in the crow's nest, alerted the crew, and they began to emerge from the cabins. In the past few days, everyone except Nami had been using the Dream Weed to train. Progress varied, but no one had yet managed to completely conquer their fears. It wasn't something that could be done overnight.
Shane, fresh from the training room and a quick shower, came to the prow. He let the raindrops soak his black hair as he peered through the mist toward the distant island.
A bustling port city slowly came into focus. It was a town of pure black; nearly every building was constructed from dark stone, giving it a solemn and mysterious look in the rain. At its highest point, a towering black spire pierced the clouds. The streets were teeming with people, and even the residents wore black clothes and carried black umbrellas.
"Blackstone City?" Robin asked, stepping up beside Shane with an umbrella. A hint of surprise was in her eyes. "I didn't expect to see it here."
"You know this island?"
"Yes," Robin nodded. "It's one of the New World's most famous trade hubs, known for its production of a very durable black stone. It used to be Shiki the Golden Lion's territory. After his capture, it fell into chaos for a while, but about a decade ago, the Whitebeard Pirates declared it under their protection. It's been stable and prosperous ever since."
"Whitebeard, huh..." Shane narrowed his eyes. On top of the high black spire, he could just make out a black skull flag fluttering in the wind.
It reminded him of Fish-Man Island, and the promise he'd made to Marco to visit the Moby Dick and meet Whitebeard someday. But the sea was vast, and he hadn't run into any of Whitebeard's crew since. He wondered if any of Whitebeard's commanders were stationed on this island... Just as he was thinking this, a sudden cry came from the crow's nest above.
"Brother! Look, seven o'clock! That ship... the symbol on its sail is... it's..."
Hm?
Shane looked in the direction she was pointing. A rather conspicuous pirate ship was docked at the far left of the port. It was eye-catching because its hull was painted a deep crimson. On its two large white sails was a prominent skull with two crossed sabers behind it and three red scars over its left eye. The figurehead was a red sea serpent with bull-like horns.
"The Red-Hair Pirates," Shane said, a slow grin spreading across his face.
The ship before him was unmistakably the flagship of the Red-Hair Pirates, the Red Force. And in the entire Red-Hair Grand Fleet, there was only one man who had the authority to sail it—
Red-Haired Shanks himself.
Behind him, Nami, still in her pajamas, sleepily emerged from the cabin hugging Mochi. She happened to see the expression on Shane's face.
She wasn't sure if she was imagining it... but she thought her brother was smiling. And it looked like he was very, very happy.
