Transmigrated into One Piece world with a Gift Pack
Chapter 25 - Old Man Magnus

"Old man, are you the one who called me?" Blaize asked, gulping a little. The old man seemed ordinary at a glance but a formless pressure from the latter made him think otherwise.

"Yes...Follow me!" The old man softly uttered and turned around. Blaize followed and scrutinized the surrounding. ​​

Temperature apart, the ash here is so dense, toxic, and will suffocate an ordinary person to death. The entire island is dotted with small volcanoes while a supermassive volcano dominates at the center of the island.

As they walked, the old man spoke: 'Young man, are you a marine?"

"Yes," Blaize replied as he had no reason to hide his identity. Furthermore, his instinct tells him lying would do him no good.

"A marine in undercover, huh?" The old man muttered.

"No. I'm not an undercover marine. I am just a marine recruit sent out of the headquarters to complete a test—hunting pirate crews without marines assistance.

The total bounty of pirates I either kill or capture determine my rank." Blaize stated.

"Oh...interesting. It seems like the marines of now have improved."

"A change is needed. After all, it's a 'Great age of pirates'. To stop the innocents from getting hurt, the marines require strong officers."

"You look young, but your words are like someone who witnessed countless histories. Strange!" The old man spoke while Blaize remained quiet.

"The reason I called you here is because of your devil fruit ability, it surprises me. Did you eat some kind of heat-based or temperature-based fruit?"

"Yes. The devil fruit I ate grants me the ability to control and manipulate heat however I want but it's more than that. I haven't fully grasped my abilities yet." Blaize answered.

"Mn. I can see that."

Chatting they reached the massive mountain located at the island center. At the foot of the mountain, he saw a large man-made cave with basic amenities.

The old man didn't enter the cave but perched himself on the small seating stone placed outside it. As for Balize, he directly sat on the black soils without any tinge of dislike.

"I can tell you are super strong but I can't feel your depth. I have met some strong people, but no one can come near you." Blaize told what's in his heart.

Blaize wasn't bragging, it's the truth. He has met Sengoku, Garp, Kuzan, Zephyr, but none of them had the aura exuded by the old man before him.

It's a strange aura as if none in the world can oppose him. The old man restrained it well, but Blaize somehow felt it.

"Hohoho, what are you saying? I am just an old man counting my death days." The Old man brushed off his comment but he stroked his long white goatee with a satisfied expression.

It's like he was waiting for Blaize's praise and purposely leaked his aura. And so, the old man finally showed his true colors.

"Young man, I can see it, you possess a unique ability— 'Heart of strong'. The time when I roamed the seas, it's considered the most fearsome ability."

Hearing his words, Blaize's face flushed a little and he replied by scratching his head. "I don't think I am as strong as you claim. I have a long way to go!"

"True. Your heart is pure and innocent right now, but it won't always be. Your experience, choices, and what you see with your eyes may affect them in the future.

So crave my words clearly, boy: Things happen in life, but don't let them influence your goal. You own an outstanding gift, don't lose it." The Old man solemnly stated.

Blaize kept the words to his heart as he knew they are precious.

"Why did such an unusual young man like yourself join the Marines and become the World Governments' lapdog?" The Old man asked, looking nonchalant.

"I'm under nobody's command. I am being me. As for why joining the Marines, there's no particular reason. In the pursuit of becoming strong, I want to protect what's left in the world.

And, I know I can't do it alone, so I choose the marines. Once I become strong, I will surely break the marines from world government control and make it independent."

"Hohoho. A nice goal you have there. You're going to have a hard time achieving your goal. The world government isn't as simple as they seem from the outside!"

"I know."

"You know?"

"Mn. There are countless mighty peoples in the world and yet, none can usurp the World Government from its throne; an unconcealed proof of their strength."

Hearing his words, the old man laughed. "Hohoho. You keep on surprising me, boy. What's your name?"

"Blaize...Blaize Hunt."

"Good name. Blaize, I think we were predestined to meet today, don't you think so?"

"I don't know, old man. What's your name?"

"My name is Black D. Magnus. I'm pretty sure my name's foreign to you as the World Government destroyed whatever traces left of me and made sure no one discovers our history."

"It looks like you did something that threatened the world government?"

"Hahaha...you can say so. I am not the first and I won't be the last. Most of the pirates who reach the end of their adventure will eventually have to confront the World Government.

Even if you don't, they will come looking for you in the name of cleansing the world or something like maintaining world peace. What a load of bullshit!"

When his speech reached this point, the temperature around the island rose uncontrollably, affecting the surrounding. The temperature is at least a few times stronger than what Blaize can unleash with his fruit abilities.

It's not the end. Aside from the temperature, an overpowering pressure erupted from the old man affecting Blaize. The sudden change frightened him a little.

Facing the intense pressure, a feeling of powerlessness and dizziness overcame him.

At that moment, a mysterious power exploded from his own body as if they were provoked by something and confronted the pressure released by the old man.

The two forces—one red and one golden—clashed in mid-air, splitting the air and wrecking everything in its path.

It shocked Blaize. 'It's the clash of Haoshoku Haki...that means I awakened my Haoshoku haki. Oh my god! When did I awaken it?'

'Who is this, Old man? What is his story?' Blaize wondered, gazing at the two clashing forces.

At that moment, the old man suddenly retrieved his haki and the temperature too returned to normal.