Argus was no fool.
He understood the truth of bloodlines—understood the lottery of birth, the cruel randomness of inherited talent. Strength and a system weren't enough to defy genetics. Even someone like him couldn't guarantee his child would be born exceptional.
But he wasn't without tools.
He had the [Many Children, Many Blessings] system.
It didn't ensure every child would be a prodigy. But it offered a crucial safeguard: the Offspring Talent Template—a measure to prevent mediocrity.
[Offspring Talent Template Activated for Firstborn]
[Initiating Scan… Complete]
[Unmodified Status:]
Talent: None
Innate Grade: C+
Estimated Potential: Moderate
[Three Random Talent Templates Generated:]
[Talent Option 1: Steel Balloon – Grade: A]
[Talent Option 2: Child of the Weather – Grade: A+]
[Talent Option 3: King of the Red Dragon – Grade: S+]
Argus furrowed his brow.
"Steel Balloon… Charlotte Linlin's monstrous durability? Great for defensive brawlers."
[System Note: Steel Balloon – Greatly enhanced durability, extremely difficult to damage physically, immune to most blunt force trauma. Inspired by the biological traits of Charlotte Linlin, but with lesser scaling.]
"Child of the Weather… tied to Nami, maybe? Weather-based empathy or atmospheric manipulation?"
[System Note: Child of the Weather – Inherited Sensitivity to Climatic Phenomena, Emotional Influence Over Weather Patterns, High Affinity with Wind/Storm-based Abilities. Closely tied to the rare meteorological intuition observed in individuals like Navigator Nami.]
"King of the Red Dragon? …Sounds like fantasy, but an S+ grade? That's elite."
[System Note: King of the Red Dragon – Inherited from a draconic bloodline . Grants user a Regenerative Constitution, high resistance to temperature extremes, and potential for beastly transformation traits. Full resonance potential accessible post-birth.]
Argus took a slow breath.
"Yeah… that one."
[Selected: King of the Red Dragon (S+)]
[Applying Talent Template… Success.]
[Administering Aptitude-Enhancing Potion… Complete.]
[Updated Status:]
Talent: King of the Red Dragon
Grade: S+
Aptitude: S+
[Resonance Power (Locked) – Regenerative Constitution – Available after Birth]
Argus exhaled deeply, tension hidden behind folded arms.
"So even with the boosts, it's still capped at S+… The leap to Ex grade must be insane."
He didn't expect miracles. But the weight of shaping a legacy? It bore down harder than any enemy.
Just then—
"Gurararara~~~!"
The door slammed open like the wrath of the sea. Edward Newgate stood in the doorway, grin splitting his face.
"ARGUS! Tell me it's true! Serena's carrying? My nephew? My niece?"
Argus, amused, nodded. "Confirmed today. One month in."
Newgate laughed, loud and wide. He actually slapped the top beam of the cabin hard enough to crack it.
"GOOD! I'll have the boys swab the deck in circles! We'll build a nursery next to the sake barrels! I'll personally find the best guards! Hell, I'll arm the damn crib!"
Argus let out a rare, honest laugh. "You're more excited than I am."
"Of course I am!" Newgate barked. "You've done what I couldn't! Started something real! A bloodline! OUR bloodline!"
He suddenly stopped, then lowered his voice. "You'll make a good father, Argus."
Argus's smile flickered. He turned away. "Let's hope I do."
—
Down in the infirmary, Serena sat calmly, her back straight, her fingers curled gently over her lower abdomen. The news had reached her ears hours ago. But she hadn't spoken of it—not even to the physician.
She stared at the flickering oil lamp beside her and whispered, "So it begins."
No delusions. No fairytale.
Just reality. Brutal, sharp, and clear.
"I'll raise a legend. Or a monster. Whichever this world demands."
When Hiroshi came to check on her, she bowed her head respectfully.
"Thank you for your concern. The child is strong."
He paused, caught off guard by the calm in her voice.
"You're handling this… a little too well."
She looked up. "I'm not here to fall apart, Sir Hiroshi. I'm here to adapt."
Later, Doma watched her sitting under the mast, sipping tea as the evening wind danced with her hair. She was alone, but not afraid.
"She's something else," he muttered. "That girl's got iron wrapped in lace."
Even Newgate, after dropping off a basket of fruit larger than Serena's own torso, found himself lingering longer than usual.
"You alright, little lady?"
"More than alright," she replied, eyes shining. "I know what I am now. And what I must become."
That silent understanding—so mature, so calculated—left even Whitebeard stunned. She wasn't just a royal concubine. She was a queen in the making.
—
Back in his cabin, Argus returned to the interface.
[System Sub-Function Unlocked: Bloodline Resonance]
[Note: Unique traits gained from heirs may be replicated at 10% strength. Transferable to allies or family at user's discretion.]
[Available Resonance (Locked): Regenerative Constitution – Transfer Available After Birth]
Argus exhaled.
"A legacy system. That's what this is. Not power for me. Power for the future."
He looked out the porthole, to the stars stretching like an ocean of fate.
"This is only the beginning."
The fire of dynasty had been lit.
And nothing could extinguish it now.
(CHAPTER END)