Chapter 26 - New Task

Looking at the smiling old man, Blaize asked. "Old man Magnus, did you do it intentionally? Furthermore, you also ate devil fruit related to temperature?"

"I just triggered the Haoshoku Haki slumbering within you, nothing much. As for the devil fruit, yes, I ate the Mera Mera no mi[Fire-Fire fruit] when I was younger."​​

"Mera Mera no mi, the powerful logia fruit described in devil fruit encyclopedia. A fruit that's capable of mass destruction.' Blaize uttered.

'No wonder! There isn't Mera Mera no mi user in the current timeline since it was eaten by Old man Magnus long ago. Could it be only after he died, Ace found the fruit? What a coincidence!' Blaize mused.

"I personally think your devil fruit is far stronger than mine. It's different from hot-hot fruit, Heat-Heat fruit, Temperature-Temperature fruit that I have seen.

It should be some kind of rare devil fruit that's never been eaten by others. Can you demonstrate your devil fruit powers for me?" Old man Magnus asked.

"Sure," Blaize said and displayed his supreme heat manipulation which had a red-orange flame-like appearance.

"Fascinating! Your ability isn't fire but pure heat that seems like fire. It has a temperature of the normal flame, but with repeated usage, you can raise the temperature higher. Look at my flame, it may give you an idea." Old man Magnus said.

A bluish flame materialized and swirled around his form. How to say this? In Blaize's eyes, the flame looked beautiful and captivating to behold. It lacked the natural ferociousness of fire, but the temperature exuded by it countless times stronger than your average flame.

What amazed him is, the old man neither stretched his hands nor commanded anything but the flames naturally materialized with just his thought. Meaning, he 'awakened' his devil fruit power.

After all, awakening a 'logia' devil fruit is countless times harder than paramecia.

"Who are you, Old man?" Blaize asked, completely piqued.

"Hohoho, I'm just your ordinary old man who once roamed the seas."

"Around which time did you sail the sea?"

"Hmm...it's been sixty years, I forgot many things. I was a pirate for around 30 years, I think it was around 1420 to 1450." Old man Magnus replied, reminiscing his past.

"It means...you are over 100 years old!" Blaize asked, somewhat shocked. He knew the average lifespan in One Piece world is '140' but it was his first time meeting someone so old.

"Yes. I am around 115 years old. If nothing goes awry, I can live for another 5 or 6 years."

"Old man, can you teach me Haki?" Blaize suddenly asked. If the Old man taught him, he's sure his haki will improve faster.

"I don't mind teaching you, but you are too green and lack experience. Roam the sea for another one or two years, then come back I will teach you." Old man Magnus didn't decline Blaize's request but set a condition.

Blaize understood. If his understanding of Haki isn't wrong, it's a supreme Qi present in all living creatures but needs further practice to master them.

But one's fighting spirit, resolve, and willpower determine how strong one haki can become.

"Ok then." After that, Blaize chatted with the Old man Magnus and learned many things from him. The latter even gave him pointers regarding the devil fruit abilities he developed.

Conversing with him really opened his eyes. When Blaize asked, why he was living here alone?

The Old man said it's related to his crewmates and his promise to them. Even though he lives alone here, he occasionally visits the nearby islands to buy things and learn what's happening in the world.

Blaize asked, "Then, do you know about Pirate King Gol D. Roger? He conquered the whole Grandline and even reached the final island!"

"Mn. I know. Pity, he was born too early." Old man Magnus shook his head but he didn't mention the reason. "He's the best proof the times are shifting, and a new dawn will eventually be born."

--

Resting on the island for a night, Blaize departed the next day after saying goodbye to Old man Magnus.

Meeting him was a kind of fortune to Blaize. He learned so many things from him and some of the latter's experiences inspired him further to become strong.

A wider world is waiting for him to explore and only with strength, he can savor them and experience blood arousing battles.

Old Man Magnus stood at the island shore and stared at Blaize's black with a complex expression. "Is it fate? If it's not, then what is. It seems like we were predestined to meet. Only time will tell."

--

Blaize traveled in the direction pointed by his Log Pose. He hopes at least the next island would be a normal one.

He then checked his system interface. There was no change in the attribute section but new tasks had popped up in the task section.

[~ Task: Learn Haki basics [Kenbunshoku+Busoshoku]

Time Limit: Two years

Reward: 10.0 Haki Points+ 2.0 Free attribute points ~]

[~ Task: Completely Master Haoshoku no Haki

Time Limit: Two years

Status: Half awakened

Reward: 5.0 Constitution+ 5.0 Devil Fruit Potential+ 5.0 Haki Points+ 5.0 Free attribute points ~]

"Wow! What generous rewards!" Blaize can't help but get excited. Once he masters Haki, he can fearlessly go and challenge some strong people. And he knows well enough, only by fighting strong people he can improve himself.