Idle Level-Up in One Piece Chapter 188: The Correct Way to Unlock It—Fusion Techniques!

Internally, Rampaging Bear swore furiously. "This kid—so young, yet he's already perfected countless combat skills?!"

Those kicks of his were like masterpieces.

His punches blended Fistbone, Dragon Claw Fist, Hasshoken...

You name it, and he excels at every single one? What kind of prenatal training did you do?!

Blood boiled wildly inside him, rushing straight to his throat. When his body slammed into the ground, a spray of blood erupted from his mouth.

"Such a fearsome move. It ignored my muscles and shook my organs to the core..." Rampaging Bear rose, clenching his muscles and organs tightly to contain the harm from Klein's blow.

"These oily arms... just like a slippery eel..." Klein showed a hint of astonishment—the man's arms weren't just slick, but—

He employed Kami-e too, evading and minimizing damage with masterful skill.

"Battling an admiral-level foe... isn't nearly as simple as it seems." Klein flashed a grin.

Yet it thrilled him. The fight ignited his wild impulses and savage instincts, igniting his blood and pumping adrenaline through his veins.

"Time to experiment more—skills, experience, moves, Haki... and even my body control!"

Like a shooting star, Klein dashed ahead, using Marine Admiral Rampaging Bear as his sharpening stone.

To be precise: a loot bag for XP.

Good thing this was only a practice bout, not a deadly clash. Else, he wouldn't hold back on his Scroll-Scroll Fruit.

"Perhaps... time to merge a few techniques!"

Intense fire blazed in Klein's gaze.

Battles offered a unique thrill.

"Hasshoken Secret Art: Demonic Flame Kick — Leaf Hurricane!!"

First try, yet his leg blazed with intense azure fire, fueled by Hasshoken's core power.

The attack pierced savagely—utterly devastating.

When Klein advanced, Rampaging Bear felt the shift right away. His pores tightened. Hairs rose in alarm.

"Extreme Force: Black Bear Blitz!!"

Enormous arms and fists shining black fused. Armament Haki layers wrapped and solidified into a colossal black bear form.

Boom—!

Blazing energy blasts exploded outward, causing chaos everywhere.

No shock there—Rampaging Bear flew back again. "Crap—this punk's strikes keep powering up!"

"He's fired up now!"

Klein grinned at the outcome. "Merging techniques amps the might. My best moves hit even harder!"

He rocketed forward once more, swift as a released arrow.

Azure flames on his foot burned fiercer.

"Yagami Mad Kick — Leaf Diamond Hurricane!!"

"Damn!" Rampaging Bear's expression twisted. "Again with this?! You wanna finish me off?!"

Immense pressure crashed over him, heavier than ever. Muscles swelled as he drew deep from his reserves.

Armament Haki ignited into a deep purple fireball encasing his fist.

He swung hard.

"Extreme Force: Black Ape Sphere!!"

BOOM—

Dark and azure fires collided, exploding like doomsday fireworks.

The raw power from Klein's kick hammered down like an ancient monster, ripping through Rampaging Bear's Haki with ferocious shockwaves.

One surge after another pummeled his frame. Blood welled up his throat like a raging wave.

"Pfft—!!"

A gush of scarlet burst from his mouth.

The force broke apart—and yet again, Klein's kick hurled him away.

"Insane kick art!!" Rampaging Bear trembled. "This surpasses all previous ones! His close combat is brutal!"

"Each blow tops the last... No Devil Fruit or blades in sight. He's overwhelming me totally. This ain't human!!"

Boom—!!

His huge frame soared like a dark comet before cratering into the dirt with explosive force.

In the pit...

Rampaging Bear desperately triggered his muscle and organ mastery to mend his injuries—but now the damage cut far deeper. He barely patched the exterior.

"Crap... this is hellish agony!"

"And Oharden dared tell me to hold back?! You trying to get me killed, geezer?!"

Suddenly, a flashback struck.

Three years back, at Klein's evaluation, Kong had sparred—and ended up crushed flat.

...Impossible.

Icy sweat poured down his spine. "I'm not about to relive that nightmare, right?!"

He'd laughed at the spectacle then. Today? Sheer torment.

At the same time...

Joy lit up Klein's eyes. "Combined arts are game-changers!"

"This is prime material—!"

"Path to victory!"

Excitement surged through him.

This was skill usage done right! Had I wasted them before?!

Thus...

What fusion next?

Mid-thought—

Rampaging Bear thrust up his palms, yelling, "Hold it! I forfeit—I'm finished!"

Continuing would mean...

Defeat. Undeniably. Klein hid aces still.

No way to let onlookers witness his humiliation.

"???"

Klein descended from the sky, eyeing him puzzled.

Hands high, Rampaging Bear smiled and declared, "Just gauging your power. You aced it! Well done!"

"..." Klein touched down softly, flames fading. "Weren't you gonna unleash your huge muscle transformation or something?"

"C'mon, don't stop!!"

Rampaging Bear massaged his wrist, then shrugged without shame. "Nope. No chance of winning. You're a total monster. I'm tapping out."

"Folks say age breeds monsters. But you outdo the veterans already!"

I yield.

Any longer, and he'd join Kong in the hospital.

Decades my senior in age—yet zero dignity left?

Blood smeared from his lips as Rampaging Bear wiped it. "For real, kid... what training hell did you endure? How do you outshine me in every damn thing?!"

Logic held no sway here, but damn—it was unjust!

"All thanks to hard work and talent!"

Straight-faced and earnest, Klein proclaimed it.

Rampaging Bear eyed him deeply... visions of Klein's insane secret grind flashing in his head.

—

Aboard the battleship—

"Klein triumphed?!" Kong's chest clenched hard.

Instructor Carter nodded grimly. "Yep. That boy defies all reason!"

"Those final kicks—even from this distance, they screamed death. Pure dread!"

He'd schemed to coax Klein's advanced moves for group profit.

Until recall hit...

Advanced Demonic Flame Kick? Scarcely any Marines worldwide could pull it off.

Lifetimes passed without basics mastered for most.

Profit dream dashed.

Fleet Admiral Oharden's eyes sharpened. "Remarkable. Haki, kicks, martial arts, punches... zero flaws."

"Klein could conquer the oceans."

Carter chimed in fast: "Marines' top dog—likely already. Even against you—"

"Klein would snap your ancient bones!"

Oharden shot a glare. "Us veterans skip clashing with youth!"

"We're fossils from old times. The new era isn't ours."

"These seas... soon theirs."

His look turned to Kong. Sans Klein, Kong was heir apparent.

But retirement calls...

No lining up nonsense.

Seize the fun now.

Oharden clapped Kong's shoulder. "It's yours. Next Marine Admiral—for sure!"

"I will." Kong replied resolutely. "One Admiral post is mine!"

Klein's leap caught him off-guard.

That single gap...

...stretched like the full Grand Line.

Three years prior, Klein was easy prey. Now? Reversed fates.

Destiny played cruel tricks.

—

"Now it's clear—the future Admirals: Rampaging Bear, Klein, Kong," Carter laughed. "Time for this geezer to bow out."

"No way!"

Oharden quashed it quick. "Not retired myself. You wait till I do!"

Carter puffed up indignantly. "Why?! Klein's my pupil! Kong too! Sengoku, Garp—Admiral material!"

"Check Academy records—how many teachers spawned this Admiral horde? Only Carter!"

"Statue out front, honoring my genius instruction!"

"..." Oharden seethed, beard bristling, face flushed furious.

Had I skipped the power chase, the title wars for Fleet Admiral...

With a redo from fate, I'd ditch it and thrust Carter forward...!

Too late though!

—

On the Titanic—

Kaido vaulted three floors in glee.

"YOOO!! OYAJI WON!! He's gonna be a Marine Admiral now!!"