OP: My Aircraft Carrier Evolves#108+109: Power-Up, a Duel with Kuma, Sinking an Island! Scramble the Jets!

'Hmm, the teleportation function still has its limits—'

Jin thought. 'Only I can activate it, and it requires the crew member's permission badge for targeting. Still, that’s incredibly powerful. It means I can spend soul crystals to instantly appear at a crew member's side, which gives me a huge margin for error and a ton of tactical flexibility.'

He realized that his previous ability to retrieve items from the Munch-Munch Fruit's subspace must have been an advanced technique.

The integration of the Castle-Castle Fruit had likely enhanced his spatial abilities, strengthening them.

Beyond these functions, there was one more new addition.

Energy Conversion.

The demonic carrier’s power core had been updated.

From now on, it could be powered not only by soul crystals but also by new energy sources like electricity and magnetism, which could be converted into fuel.

Furthermore, the energy from soul crystals could be converted into electricity or magnetism—though not the other way around.

Also, activating any of the Devil Fruit abilities would now only consume soul crystals.

It seemed like a simple change, but it was a revolutionary leap forward in its energy systems.

It opened up a world of new possibilities for the demonic carrier.

Jin immediately thought of Vegapunk's "Pacifistas"—the cyborgs modeled after Kuma, with their devastating laser beams.

Through energy conversion, the demonic carrier could now unleash lightning attacks.

Of course, the intensity and upper limit probably couldn't match the Rumble-Rumble Fruit.

Jin did a quick summary.

As it stood, the demonic carrier, aside from its direct fruit control, now possessed the following functions:

Subspace, Training Enhancement, Permission Assignment, Haki Control, Teleportation, Energy Conversion, and External Damage Repair.

IT WAS POWERFUL!

COMPLETELY BROKEN.

Jin changed into a new set of clothes and found them tight. He felt like he had grown again.

"Ai, give me a full diagnostic of my physical data."

"Of course, Master."

"Data generated."

——————

[Name: Jin]

[Height: 214cm]

[Weight: 190kg]

[Body Fat Percentage: 15%]

[Composite Doriki: 36,500 - 75,700]

[Analysis: Through training, Master's potential has been activated. You are in excellent health and possess strength and speed on par with a Yonko.]

——————

"More specific metrics for speed and strength will require practical testing," Ai added.

"My height-to-weight ratio is that high?" Jin asked, stunned. "My weight is almost catching up to my height in centimeters. Is that even possible?"

He looked down at himself. He was well-built, but he wasn't fat.

"Master's bone and muscle density far exceed that of a normal human, resulting in an exaggerated weight ratio," Ai explained. "In the world of One Piece, the fact that humans can continue to grow taller through training is a result of this increase in bone and muscle density. While not the absolute rule, it is a significant contributing factor."

"I see." Jin nodded in understanding.

Fortunately, with the Kilo-Kilo Fruit, he could adjust his weight as needed.

He then looked at his Doriki numbers.

His upper and lower limits were even higher than Kuma's.

Of course, data was just data. In a real fight, one's condition, state of mind, and opponent all played a role.

And in the world of One Piece, there was a hidden rule: the power of belief.

That intangible "shonen trope."

This was most evident in the Haki system. The strength of a person's Haki was directly tied to their state of mind.

If their spirit broke, their Haki would break with it.

The most obvious examples were Crocodile and Gecko Moria.

Crocodile had been defeated by Whitebeard, and in his despair, he had given up on his own training, pinning all his hopes on an external power—Pluton.

It wasn't until Luffy had given him a verbal beatdown, followed by his "rehabilitation" in Impel Down, that he'd had his epiphany. When he emerged, he was a force to be reckoned with at the Summit War, holding his own against everyone he fought and quickly awakening his Haki.

It was the same with Moria. After being crushed by Kaido, he had hidden himself away on his ship, becoming a pathetic shut-in.

And Katakuri had lost to Luffy because Luffy's words had broken through his mental defenses. He had given up on himself.

It was clear.

Luffy could take any number of heavy blows and get back up, all because of his unwavering belief: "I'm the man who will be King of the Pirates!"

No matter how many times he fell, as long as he wasn't dead, he would get back up.

Even the three Admirals' differing definitions of "justice" were, in essence, a matter of belief.

Aokiji lost because his belief was "lazy." It wasn't as absolute, as resolute, as Akainu's.

Koby's incredible growth was also tied to his belief, his desire to catch up to Luffy.

"The reason I can't master Conqueror's Coating is that my will, my resolve, isn't strong enough. It’s not shonen enough,"

Jin thought with a sigh. "It's my biggest weakness. I don't have that absolute, unwavering belief in piracy, or in anything!"

He grumbled inwardly. Every hot-blooded manga had its “Power of belief,” especially for the protagonist—but for him, it simply didn’t work.

But he wasn't in a hurry.

The power of belief was a crutch for the weak.

"As long as my stats are high enough, I can crush anything... I don't care what your resolve or your belief is. And it's not like my own willpower is lacking."

Jin strode out of the conning tower. With a boom, he moved faster than the speed of sound and landed on the deserted island.

There was no sonic boom. He had used the Calm-Calm Fruit to silence it.

—————————

Judge had woken up.

He had witnessed the demonic carrier warp space, had seen its "evolution." He was completely thunderstruck.

What kind of technology was this? What incredible power.

For a man of science, this technology was intoxicating. It could potentially even surpass Vegapunk.

After seeing this, even if Jin had tried to kick him out, he wouldn't have left. He was desperate to study that ship.

Judge couldn't wait to get on board.

The demonic carrier approached the shore, stopping a hundred meters out. A series of chains shot out from the ship's side, coated in a writhing layer of candy, and formed a bridge.

Ai was experimenting with the new fruit abilities, combining them to create new and strange applications. It wasn't exactly "development," just a combination of existing abilities.

True development would require human creativity.

"Incredible," Judge breathed, his eyes wide with fervor. "What kind of ship is this... a combination of Devil Fruits?"

Though the man was an arrogant fool, his scientific genius was undeniable. If it weren't for the Brain-Brain Fruit, Vegapunk's technological prowess might not have surpassed Judge's.

Once Judge, the artisans, and the soldiers were on board and back in their respective positions, Jin rolled his shoulders and turned to Kuma. "Let's spar. I need to get used to my new strength."

Kuma was also curious.

As he watched, Jin's body seemed to grow even taller—over two meters now, straight and majestic, radiating power. A potent aura, like a blazing sun, emanated from him, and even Kuma felt a faint sense of danger.

Kuma knew Jin's strength. He didn't hold back, immediately transforming into the half-beast form of his Triceratops Fruit. He then stacked the power of the Paw-Paw Fruit on top of it, further enhancing his already formidable physique and explosive power.

BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!

Kuma moved. In an instant, he had crossed the distance between them, his thick dinosaur claw descending like a heavy hammer, a compressed air cannon already forming in his palm.

The paw slammed down.

<><><><><><><><>

A brilliant light exploded.

The earth beneath them—dirt, sand, rock—was peeled back in layers. The ground was covered in a web of fine cracks.

Jin stood at the center of the explosion, unmoving, without even using Haki, and took the full force of the blow.

As the dust from the explosion settled, a crater, fifty meters in diameter and a thousand meters deep, was revealed.

Jin was hovering in the air, his shirt torn to shreds, revealing a powerful, chiseled physique.

Kuma was stunned. He had taken the full force of his attack with his bare body? The strength of this man's physique was beyond his comprehension, like something out of a legend.

Jin cracked his neck.

He felt that ordinary bullets and blades... no, even an attack from a Vice Admiral, imbued with Haki, would be useless against him now.

They couldn't even cut him.

It was an absurd thought.

But then he thought of Big Mom, Kaido, and Rocks, and he realized that he had just joined the ranks of the freaks.

—————————

"Again..." Jin said, his voice filled with excitement. He gestured for Kuma to continue. "Use your full power. Don't worry about hurting me."

Kuma nodded.

After obtaining his second Devil Fruit and killing King Bekori, Kuma had undergone a transformation, both physical and spiritual. His combat power had increased dramatically.

He also wanted to see what he could do when he went all out.

VMMMM...

Kuma unleashed his Haki, Armament Haki coiling around his body. The ground trembled, and pebbles and sand were sent flying.

CRACK!

He moved. An invisible shockwave tore through the air, and a series of sharp explosions echoed out.

He charged forward, his massive body creating a chain of sonic booms. He raised both fists high and brought them crashing down.

Jin raised his hands and blocked the attack. Their strength met, and the immense force was channeled into the ground.

The earth shook as if in an earthquake. The sea churned, and massive waves rolled.

A huge fissure spread out between them, tearing the very island in two.

The island's volcano erupted, and lava began to flow.

With a surge of brute force, Jin threw Kuma back.

This time, he was the one on the offensive. He threw a sweeping kick, as fast as lightning, the force of the blow shattering the air.

Kuma unleashed a paw shockwave, an air-paw that exploded with enough force to obliterate a mountaintop.

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

The sound was like rolling thunder, the aftershocks spreading out in all directions.

It was a battle of monsters.

They ignored the erupting lava and continued their fierce exchange.

Soon, the entire island was shattered, sunk by the force of their blows.

With no ground left to stand on, Jin and Kuma called a truce and returned to the demonic carrier.

—————————

Cocoyasi Village.

Gunshots echoed.

Maya stood on the head of the white Sabertooth, her Observation Haki locked on, her shots precise, taking down a pirate with almost every bullet.

"RUN!"

"IT'S A TRAP!"

"DAMMIT! WE FELL FOR IT!"

The Krieg Pirates and their alliance had been defeated so quickly that no word of it had gotten out.

And so, for the next two days, a number of smaller pirate crews had snuck toward the island, hoping to get their hands on the golden treasure.

And it wasn't just pirates. There were also bounty hunters, and "adventurer parties" and "merchant ships" sent by various kingdoms.

Jin had anticipated this. He had left Robin, Law, the Sanji brothers, and 500 soldiers behind.

With that kind of force, they could have conquered a nation in the East Blue.

The villagers of Cocoyasi, at first nervous, were now used to it. Some of them were even placing bets on how many pirates would get shot that day.

The bolder ones had even started helping out, moving bodies and cleaning the battlefield for a small reward.

They were suddenly realizing that pirates... weren't so scary after all.

Over the next few days, Robin and the others captured another seven or eight hundred men.

The pirates from before had already been organized into a "labor camp" and were now working on building an airfield at a pre-selected site.

Kuro was the supervisor of the labor camp.

Gin was the foreman.

Each pirate was given a number and randomly assigned to a ten-man squad. They were to supervise each other. If one person escaped, the other nine would be punished.

Of course, to prevent slacking, Jin had also implemented a system of rewards and punishments. They were paid a daily wage, and those who performed well were given breaks and even alcohol. He had also promised that once their labor period was over, they would be released with their wages and could become ordinary citizens.

But those who failed to complete their tasks, who delayed the work, would be punished.

Technical specialists, like ship's doctors, cooks, and shipwrights, were given better treatment.

With this system in place, and with the bloody purge still fresh in their minds, no one dared to cause trouble.

The pirates of this world were all physically strong, much stronger than the average person.

In just two days, a mountain had been leveled, a ravine filled, and a one-kilometer runway had been built.

—————————

When Jin returned, even Nami and Carina, who didn't know him well, could tell that he was different.

He seemed... bigger.

Jin used the Earth-Earth Fruit to level and harden the soil of the runway, making it suitable for takeoff.

Then, the first pirate-version Me-262 fighter jet was moved onto the runway. Jin personally named it:

Winter Tiger-001!

And he personally climbed into the cockpit.

As a military enthusiast, how could he pass up the chance to be the first jet pilot in the world of One Piece?

Wasn't that the whole reason he'd had it built?

On Earth, it would have been impossible. But here... he had to do it.

A king's toy. A king's whim.

After a series of checks, and after reading the instruction manual, Jin started the engines.

With his learning ability and physical constitution, he had no problem handling the G-forces and thrust.

WHIRRRRRRRRR...

The turbine engines roared to life.

The technology, derived from Germa 66's jet boots, had been applied to the engines, giving them immense power.

And they ran on... electricity.

Yes, electricity.

The clues had been there all along: Judge's weapons, the clone soldiers... Germa 66 had mastered the harnessing and application of electrical energy.

Jin knew he had to adapt to the local conditions. If the jet boots worked, then there had to be a scientific reason for it. Don't ask what it was. This was a world with cloning technology.

By embracing the world's quirks, by carefully adapting its technology, he had created this electric-powered turbojet.

"Is it really going to fly?" Carina asked.

She wasn't the only one. Robin, Nami, Reiju, Law—they were all watching, filled with curiosity. A hunk of iron... flying?

The Winter Tiger-001 slowly began to move down the runway, gathering speed, faster and faster, until it lifted off the ground.

Before their wide, disbelieving eyes, it roared into the air, climbing higher and higher into the sky.

"That's..."

Kuro, Gin, and all the "laborers" who had worked on the airfield stared up in disbelief.

"It flew!"

"It worked, Law! It worked!" Wolf shouted, laughing with excitement.

Long ago, he had nearly died trying to build a flying machine. And now, he had built a better one with his own two hands. He was filled with a sense of pride and satisfaction.

The other artisans were also cheering.

Who hadn't dreamed of growing wings and flying as a child?

Jin was even more excited. It wasn't the same as building it himself, but to be able to fly a fighter jet... it was something he had never even dreamed of back home.

It was the dream of every military enthusiast.

He had done it.

Jin flew the jet in a wide circle around the Conomi Islands, then returned to the runway, completing his first successful landing.

Ai had been tracking the plane's data using radar, wireless sensors, and Observation Haki.

There would be more tests to evaluate the jet's performance.

But Jin wouldn't be a part of them. He would leave that to Wolf's team and the first batch of pilots: the Sanji brothers.

Putting aside their personalities, they had a natural talent for technology, including Reiju. They learned to fly the jet quickly.

A mischievous thought occurred to Jin. "In the future, I'll form an air force for the carrier. I'll call it... the Shock Squadron..."