You can read ahead up to 15 chapters on my Patreon and I've also activated a (date-to-date) subscription model on my Patreon https://www.patreon.com/darkshadow6395
After two attempts, Rojen was left utterly speechless by what he discovered.
His ability to control the summoned Sword Masters was painfully slow. An hour had passed in the blink of an eye, yet he hadn't even grasped the basics of their techniques.
"What am I supposed to do now?"
He didn't have many Berries to spare, and he'd been saving them to summon legendary figures in the future, hoping to learn their skills. Spending them now was out of the question.
Yet, these foundational Sword Arts were essential. Without them, he'd never advance.
A towering fortress is built from the ground up. Even the most advanced techniques require a solid foundation. It's like a novice sailor trying to navigate the Grand Line without a log pose— utterly impossible.
Rojen understood the problem all too well.
"My talent is still abysmal!"
With a bitter laugh, he shook his head, feeling utterly defeated.
He'd assumed that activating the Possession System would elevate his talent to extraordinary levels. But the system hadn't turned him into a prodigy. His abilities remained as mediocre as ever, and even the simplest techniques eluded him.
Every skill he'd acquired so far had been bought with Berries, not earned through practice.
"What am I supposed to do now?"
Just moments ago, he'd been brimming with ambition, determined to master every basic Sword Art in the world, achieve enlightenment, and create his own ultimate technique.
But now, he realized his talent was a joke, and his dream was out of reach.
Rojen sat in silence, racking his brain for a solution.
Half an hour passed, the salty sea breeze tousling his black hair. Beside him, Lordling tilted his head, staring at him curiously, as if wondering why he looked so troubled.
Suddenly, Rojen's eyes lit up, and he burst into laughter.
"Hahahaha, how could I be so blind? I didn't even think of this!"
"I may lack talent, but others don't. This system is full of spirits. There's bound to be one specialized in talent!"
His eyes gleamed with renewed determination.
Without hesitation, he addressed the system.
"System, summon a Yellow-Level Spirit for me, specializing in Martial Talent!"
"Understood. Summoning a Yellow-Level Spirit in the Martial Talent category. Specified summoning doubles the cost."
Three breaths later, a flash of light appeared before Rojen, and a figure stepped forward, merging seamlessly into his body.
"Yellow-Level Spirit, Sing, Martial Prodigy, summoned."
"Ultimate Skill: Tathagata Divine Palm (Divine Palm of the Buddha)!"
A smile spread across Rojen's face. He hadn't expected the system to choose such a character.
Sing, the protagonist from 'Kung Fu Hustle'. Once a small-time thug with dreams of joining the Axe Gang, his innate kindness led him to accidentally awaken his latent talent, becoming a once-in-a-generation martial genius.
"Skill: Martial Prodigy."
To Rojen's surprise, the system allowed Martial Prodigy to be exchanged as a skill, perfectly suiting his needs.
"System, exchange the Martial Prodigy skill for me."
"Martial Prodigy, exchange cost: 55,000 Berries. Exchange successful. Congratulations, Host."
Before Rojen could even process the cost, he was stunned. Then, he checked his Berry balance, and his face turned pale.
"Are you kidding me? That's ridiculously expensive!"
He felt as though he'd been robbed. The exchange had drained his savings, leaving him with nothing. He'd been planning to save up for more Sword Arts and skills, but now he was broke.
However, Rojen quickly composed himself.
His eyes closed, and an intangible aura radiated from his body.
This was the presence of a true martial master, every movement in harmony with the principles of the Deva Path, standing there as if flawless.
Five minutes later, a smile returned to his lips.
"This exchange wasn't a waste." He spoke softly, his voice filled with conviction.
Indeed, it was far from a waste.
Only by experiencing Sing's Martial Prodigy skill could one truly grasp its power. Any technique he'd seen or encountered could now be wielded effortlessly. Moreover, the skill had enhanced his physical attributes, granting him strength, speed, and reflexes beyond his previous limits.
At that moment, Rojen had undergone a complete transformation.
Thanks to the Martial Prodigy skill, his Ren and Du Meridians had been unblocked, allowing his innate energy to flow freely, providing an endless source of internal power.
However,
"It's a shame I haven't learned any internal Martial Arts techniques."
Shaking his head, Rojen felt no regret. He still wore a smile, and now he could magically introspect his body, seeing traces of energy in his dantian and meridians, along with dark spots on his limbs.
He recognized those spots as impurities from years of poor diet, late nights, and exposure to toxins.
"With this skill, my talent is now flawless. I just need to exchange for some powerful internal techniques, and I'll reach new heights in no time."
While internal techniques might not be as significant in the world of One Piece, they could still strengthen his body and enhance his combat prowess.
"And now,"
His eyes narrowed slightly as Rojen slowly closed them.
"There's something more important to focus on."
Falling into silence, Rojen's entire being seemed to fade away.
He was contemplating the Tathagata Divine Palm (Divine Palm of the Buddha), a technique of immense power, as demonstrated in 'Kung Fu Hustle'.
"Have you ever seen a palm strike that descends from the heavens?"
Yes, he was now pondering this very technique.
The old Rojen would've never been capable of learning it; his talent was too poor, so much so that even the system had ignored him, and Roger himself would've given up on him.
But now, he was a Martial Prodigy!
As the hour approached, Rojen opened his eyes, which sparkled with intensity, his right palm moving with subtle precision.
At that moment, a commotion erupted ahead.
"Captain, we're in trouble— we've run into a group of pirates!"
"They're demanding we hand over everything."
Jason's voice, honest and awkward, broke through the tension.
Rojen opened his eyes, a faint smile playing on his lips.
"Perfect timing. Let's test my new palm technique."
(End Of This Chapter)