《One Piece: Lightning's Heir》 [1] : Grand Line: Jaya Island
The year was 1493.
Grand Line, Island of Jaya
Dawn painted the sky. A gentle sea breeze swept across the island, carrying the salty tang of the ocean. The sun crested the horizon, its golden rays piercing the fading darkness, stretching out in every direction. The island began to stir.
Waves crashed against the golden sands, their rhythmic roar a counterpoint to the cries of seagulls welcoming the new day.
Near the shore sat a modest village, nestled beside jagged, sea-battered rocks that jutted out from the island''s edge.
In one of the larger rocks, nature had carved a shallow cave, barely large enough for one person. This is where a young boy had been sound asleep.
He was no older than thirteen.
The seagulls'' cries were insistent. They finally roused him.
"Morning already..." Arthur mumbled, his voice thick with sleep.
He rubbed his eyes, yawned widely, and tossed aside the makeshift blanket fashioned from animal hide. Stretching languidly, he crawled out of the cramped cave and stood on the smooth, sun-warmed rock.
Arthur was a striking lad, with sharp, handsome features, jet-black hair, and eyes the color of midnight. Yet, his appearance was marred by tattered clothes, dirty from long wear, a testament to his harsh life.
Sunlight, sand, and surf¡ªa scene to inspire a poet. But Arthur found no joy in the picturesque view. This wasn''t the world he belonged to.
Have you ever seen fish the size of a house, capable of swallowing a ship whole? Or beasts in the forest that towered over buildings?
Behind him, the sea mist swirled. Countless pirate ships moved across the water, their silhouettes barely visible.
This wasn''t Earth. This was the world of¡ªOne Piece.
It was Jaya, an island in the first half of the Grand Line¡ªa lawless place beyond the reach of the Marines, a haven for outlaws, pirates, and bounty hunters.
...
The thirteen-year-old was Arthur, Seabury D. Arthur. He was not of this world.
Before, back in his old life, he''d been a solitary soul, a bachelor for over two decades. No house, no car, no girlfriend. He was a man with nothing.
After graduating from university, he''d taken up welding, figuring it was a practical skill that would at least keep him fed.Stolen story; please report.
Life had been decent. He earned enough to get by, with a little extra for weekend drinks. He would dance at the local bars.
Then, one day, it happened. A faulty connection in his welding equipment sent a jolt of electricity through him, ending his life in an instant.
He awoke, surrounded by blackness, filled with a single man''s lingering resentment. He found himself in a new world, and in a new body ¨C that of an eight-year-old boy.
The boy was the descendant of a merchant family of some renown, with a trade route spanning from the Grand Line to the West Blue, navigating between the World Government and the pirate factions.
The thrill of it helped Arthur quickly adapt. He was in the world of his favorite manga, One Piece.
He was now a member of the "D" clan¡ªthe "Natural Enemy of God." Excitement surged through him, banishing sleep for three days. He dreamt of fighting the strongest Marines, of kicking the Yonko off their thrones.
But his fantasies were short-lived. The unpredictable weather of the Grand Line, coupled with the incompetence of the ship''s navigator, delivered a harsh dose of reality.
A torrential downpour and monstrous waves had struck. They smashed the merchant vessel, sending it and most of its crew to a watery grave.
Clinging to a piece of shattered deck, Arthur drifted for days. He finally washed ashore on Jaya.
As a newcomer, he was met with suspicion. Islanders were hostile to him. He found refuge in the sea cave, surviving by scavenging for shellfish, fishing, and setting small traps in the forest.
This harsh existence had continued for five long years.
...
Arthur sighed, staring out at the boundless ocean, lost in thought. Then, he began his daily training.
In the world of One Piece, power was everything. You could live without authority, without a single Beli to your name. But you could not live freely without strength.
Only the strong could carve their own path. The weak lived in constant fear, never knowing if they would see the sun rise again.
His training regimen was simple: Push-ups to Strengthen his Arms and Core, frog jumps and squats to build leg power, and weight training to enhance his overall physique.
He dropped to the ground, his hands and feet finding their positions. A large rock was placed on his back, adding weight. He began his push-ups.
"One, two, three, four..."
With each repetition, he focused on his breathing, striving for a steady rhythm.
In this strange world, human limits were pushed. Effort yielded results. The food here was packed with energy.
This was a world of Great Swordsmen, men who could cleave islands in half with a single swing. Powerful warriors could unleash shockwaves with their fists, shatter ships with a kick.
"One hundred and ninety-eight, one hundred and ninety-nine, two hundred..."
Sweat dripped from Arthur''s brow, falling onto the sand. Two hundred push-ups with added weight was hard, especially for a thirteen-year-old.
An ordinary person would be gasping for air, muscles screaming in protest. But Arthur''s breathing was only slightly heavier. His limbs were still steady.
Minutes later, he reached five hundred. His arms finally gave out. The rock tumbled to the ground as he collapsed onto the sand, panting.
Brushing the sand from his tattered clothes, he stood up. His exhausted body had already recovered. His breathing returned to normal, as if he hadn''t just undergone intense exertion.
He attributed this incredible recovery to a perk from his transmigration. Who else could recover from such a workout so fast?
After push-ups, Arthur moved on to frog jumps, hands clasped behind his head. This further developed his leg muscles.
An hour later, he stopped, drenched in sweat. He sat down, enjoying the gentle sea breeze as he contemplated his future. [2] : The Oceans Current and Wild Ambitions
On the vast ocean, there was no faster path to power than the Devil Fruits.
Ordinary fruits didn''t interest Arthur. Even if he had one, he wouldn''t give it a second glance.
People spouted nonsense, saying things like, "There''s no such thing as the strongest fruit, only the strongest user." It was complete rubbish.
Imagine two geniuses, both with the same effort and talent. Give one a stronger fruit, and that person''s starting line is instantly ahead. Where''s the fairness in that?
Of course, developing a Paramecia fruit took more than just talent. It took a creative mind, a certain spark.
So, Arthur had a plan. He either wouldn''t eat a fruit, or he''d eat the strongest one. And, being familiar with the One Piece story, he knew just which fruits were the strongest.
His top choices were two: the Dark-Dark Fruit, which hadn''t appeared yet, and the Rumble-Rumble Fruit. Both were Logia-type.
The Dark-Dark Fruit''s power was gravity. It could pull everything into nothingness. But it had a fatal flaw: it couldn''t turn the user into their element.
However, any damage could be absorbed, converted into double the pain.
What if the pain exceeded the brain''s limit? Only one outcome: the user would pass out, becoming easy prey.
The biggest issue? Arthur had no idea where it was.
In the original story, it appeared before the year 1520, when Luffy reached the Alabasta Kingdom. It was found by Thatch, the 4th division commander of the Whitebeard Pirates. Then, Marshall D. Teach, Blackbeard, killed him for it.
Right now, it was 1493. The most infamous fruit was either in the New World or hidden somewhere in the Four Blues.
His second choice was on Sky Island: the strongest Logia, not yet eaten by Enel - the Rumble-Rumble Fruit!
Arthur knew where it was. He also knew its terrifying power.
First, lightning was almost as fast as teleportation. It was better for travel than Kizaru''s Glint-Glint Fruit.
Light travels in a straight line. One wrong move, and Kizaru could end up miles away. That''s why he used the Yata no Kagami, to reflect light for directional movement. (Realistically, Kizaru couldn''t reach light speed. If he could, pirates wouldn''t stand a chance.)
But the Rumble-Rumble Fruit was different. Lightning could change direction.If you stumble upon this tale on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.
Then there was electromagnetism. With training, it could be like Shiki''s Float-Float Fruit or Fujitora''s gravity fruit, maybe even stronger.
Don''t forget, lightning generates heat. Just like Charlotte Oven of the Big Mom Pirates, Arthur could use heat to attack.
The extreme heat of a lightning strike could reach ten thousand degrees, ten times hotter than magma.
With its destructive power, it could easily destroy an island. Its electrical waves, combined with Observation Haki, could cover an entire island. And it had piercing and cutting power.
This fruit could do the work of several. Arthur coveted it. It was his, as long as Enel didn''t get to it first.
Based on the timeline, Enel wouldn''t eat it for a while. Arthur had time to get there first.
Enel destroyed his home, Birka. He drove out the God, Gan Fall. He took over and became the new God in the year 1514!
This fruit was nearly flawless. It had top-tier destructive power, speed, and Haki amplification. Only someone like Arthur could truly unlock its potential.
So, after his family''s ship sank, he wasn''t afraid of this lawless island. He was excited.
Blackbeard hid for twenty years on Whitebeard''s ship, all for a slim chance at the Dark-Dark Fruit. Why couldn''t Arthur stake his life on the Rumble-Rumble Fruit?
Arthur was just as ambitious as Blackbeard. He knew the timing of the sky current was near.
He''d waited five years for this. He might be smashed to pieces or he might reach Sky Island and claim the fruit he craved.
No one starts at the top, not even Gods. But the throne in the sky was waiting. The Pirate King would be born in three years. The tide of the era was coming. And Arthur would rise to the very top!
Life or death, it was up to fate!
...
Jaya wasn''t a large island. Centuries ago, a sky current had ripped away half of it.
Originally, the island was skull-shaped. The missing part was the top of the skull. What remained were the teeth.
It had two towns: Mock Town, a pirate haven, and a small village nearby with a few hundred people.
The small village survived because of one man, a pirate from the village with a bounty of over one hundred million Beli in the New World. His reputation kept the outlaws of Mock Town away.
Bounties in this era weren''t inflated. They were earned with blood.
...
A dense forest split the island. The villagers of the small village made their living by fishing and hunting. They weren''t rich but had enough to eat and wear.
In the forest, Arthur leaped between branches, swinging from thick vines.
He moved like Tarzan.
He was multitasking, thinking about the information he had gathered from the villagers.
According to village legend, the sky current was caused by a giant sea dragon turning over in its sleep.
The timing of the dragon''s movements was unpredictable, but there was a pattern. Arthur had figured out from the pattern that the current was coming soon.
He didn''t believe in sea dragons. He thought it was a giant Sea King or maybe an earthquake. It was just a natural phenomenon.
He reached the beach in front of the village and sat down, taking off the homemade fishing net he carried.
Moments later, a gruff voice broke his thoughts. "Arthur, quit daydreaming! Time to go!"
Arthur stood up, straightening his posture as he brushed the sand off his pants.
In five years, he had integrated into the village, persuading the fishermen to take him to sea.
Of course, he had to contribute. He couldn''t expect them to carry a useless burden. [3] : The Arrival of the Current and Pirates
"The timing of the current is always shifting¡ªsometimes long, sometimes short. It''s been like that for centuries. If my calculations are right, it''s coming today or tomorrow!"
"Five years. Five long years I''ve waited, playing nice with these villagers. And now, finally, the chance is here. If I succeed, I swear I''ll live free. I''ll never bow down to anyone again."
A sly grin twisted Arthur''s handsome features. His eyes gleamed, holding a fierce, burning ambition.
....
On the distant beach, three fishing boats were moored, two or three men on each. Their fishing gear was ready.
Arthur boarded his boat. The anchors were raised, the sails unfurled, and they used the wind to head out to sea.
"Arthur, you''re giving us half your catch today. The village is running low on food." It was Uncle Sam, a large, imposing man missing a tooth, a grin on his face.
Pirates often visited this village, buying up food and supplies.
Uncle Sam and his crew were pirates'' descendants. They had the same greedy blood.
But Arthur didn''t care. He believed in give and take. He had given five years, shared his catches. In return, he got the information he needed: the timing of the current.
Was it a loss? Not at all. To Arthur, it was a perfect deal.
If he didn''t need them, he would have punched Uncle Sam and knocked out his remaining teeth.
"Sure thing... I can''t eat it all anyway. Take as much as you want!" Arthur smiled, hiding the rage boiling inside him.
''Soon,'' he thought, ''Once I get the fruit, I won''t have to take this anymore!''
The three fishing boats sailed swiftly, helped by the wind. Uncle Sam threw a huge net into the sea, his powerful arms making it look easy.
Arthur watched with trepidation, his eyes twitching. He suspected Uncle Sam was no ordinary man. That strength was beyond even his own.
It was one reason he had endured the villagers'' greed.
The world of One Piece was full of hidden talents. Many powerful people lived quiet lives, disguised as ordinary citizens.
The year was 1493. The New World was a storm of activity.
But only three people stood at the peak.A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.
There was "Golden Lion" Shiki, captain of the Golden Lion Pirates, also known as the "Flying Pirate." There was Edward Newgate, "Whitebeard," captain of the Whitebeard Pirates. And there was Gol D. Roger, captain of the Roger Pirates.
Others, like the "Dark King," Silvers Rayleigh, were powerful but a step below. Even the famous "Red Count," Patrick Redfield wasn''t quite on their level, though his individual strength was top-tier.
These men were legends. The future Yonko were not yet established. Kaido and Big Mom might have been active, but Arthur hadn''t heard of them.
The current Marine Fleet Admiral was Kong. "Iron Fist" Garp was a Vice Admiral. Admiral Sengoku and Admiral Zephyr were at their peak.
And there were the monstrous newcomers: Sakazuki, Borsalino, and Kuzan!
....
This era was far more exciting than the later years. If Arthur didn''t make his mark now, he''d be a disgrace to all transmigrators.
He might as well die rather than live a meaningless life.
"If my calculations are correct, Roger should be sick by now. We should hear about him leaving the New World soon." Arthur gazed at the clear sky, in high spirits.
"Dad, the water level seems off!" It was Kurta, Uncle Sam''s son, also a large, strong man. He shouted suddenly.
"Oh?" Arthur''s eyes lit up. He thought, ''Is the current coming? Were my calculations correct?''
"What''s wrong?" Uncle Sam''s face turned serious. He trusted his son''s seafaring skills.
"Look, the wind is blowing from the island. The sky is clear. There''s no change in the weather. But the water is flowing from the other direction. The boat can''t move forward!" Kurta said urgently.
"What? Could it be the giant sea current?" Uncle Sam was shocked. He was a native of Jaya. He knew about the current.
"Quick, tell them to turn back! We''re not going out to sea."
"Yes, Dad!" Kurta rushed to the bow and shouted at the other two boats, "The current is coming! Turn back to the island!"
The villagers on the other boats heard him. Without hesitation, they pulled up the sails and grabbed the oars, rowing back with all their might.
No one had ever survived the current. They valued their lives. They were terrified.
"Arthur, what are you standing there for? Start rowing! Do you want to die at sea?" Uncle Sam roared. Arthur was just standing there, smiling.
Arthur ignored him, facing the sea. He stretched out his arms. The wind tousled his long black hair. He was excited.
He had waited five years for this, and wouldn''t turn back. He would either die or soar to the top. There were only two choices.
"Uncle Sam, it''s too late. Look over there. A pirate ship is coming!"
"What?" Uncle Sam followed Arthur''s finger. There it was: a pirate ship, at least ten times bigger than their fishing boats, approaching rapidly against the wind.
The deck was crowded with pirates, all armed and looking fierce.
The distance wasn''t far. The pirate ship would reach them in less than a minute.
Pirates were greedy. They wouldn''t pass up a chance to plunder.
There were a few exceptions, like Luffy, but they were rare.
Arthur didn''t think he was that lucky.
''Just a little longer. If I can just hold out until the current arrives, it will all be worth it.''
"Damn it! Why are we running into pirates at a time like this?!" Uncle Sam and Kurta clenched their fists. They had given up on escaping.
''This old man is definitely not weak.'' Arthur smiled, studying Uncle Sam.
Most people would be terrified, but Uncle Sam was calm, ready to fight. How could anyone believe he was just an ordinary villager? [4] : Marines Six Styles鈥擲have?
Also, his son had unusual skill in navigation. It was unlikely he learned it from generations of fishermen.
The only explanation was that Uncle Sam had sailed the seas. He was either a Marine or a pirate!
The seawater churned violently, waves rippling outwards.
Uncle Sam and Kurta were grim. facing the pirates nearby, The sea beneath them was also a threat.
They prepared for death, gripping their oars tightly, looking ready to fight to the end.
The other fishermen saw the situation and gathered on Arthur''s boat.
They often dealt with pirates and weren''t the type to surrender. They had pirate blood in their veins. They were no strangers to fighting, like wolves, ready to take a chunk out of their enemy even if they died.
Eight or nine men gathered together, frowning at the enemy''s flag.
"It''s the Black Bear Pirates. Their captain, ''Black Bear'' LaBeouf, has a bounty of 80 million. He''s a Zoan-type Black Bear fruit user. Be careful, this pirate crew is known for its cruelty."
They took up their weapons, ready to make a futile struggle.
Those who haven''t stared death in the face fear it. Even an ant clings to life. Fighting back was a normal reaction.
Arthur had retreated after they boarded, standing alone behind the mast, holding a wooden box.
Wood floats. It could help someone survive at sea. If things went south, he would jump into the current.
He wasn''t afraid to fight, but Black Bear LaBeouf was infamous for his cruelty, and he was incredibly strong.
He and his crew slaughtered every village and island they came across, no matter whose territory it was.
The World Government considered him a major threat, hence the 80 million Beli bounty.
The World Economy News Paper¡ªwas known for big news. Their trained news coos were everywhere, with connections to both the World Government and the pirates¡ªNews spread quickly.
Arthur read the newspapers often, keeping up with the world''s events. He knew about Black Bear LaBeouf.
He estimated his own strength, figuring he was worth around 30 to 50 million Beli. But he relied purely on his physique. He was no match for a Zoan fruit user.
Zoan users were known for their strong bodies. Fighting head-on was suicide.Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.
So¡ªArthur had a backup plan. If he couldn''t win, he would jump into the sea, using the box to float and taking his chances with the current.
If he missed this chance, he''d have to wait three years for when the Roger Pirates would return to the Grand Line or over twenty years for Luffy''s journey.
Arthur didn''t want to wait that long¡ªTwenty years was too long. His precious fruit would be long gone by then.
...
The Black Bear Pirates'' ship, sailed through the waves, its pirates grinning savagely, looking like they were about to slaughter lambs.
The ship''s figurehead was a giant black bear head with a thick cannon barrel protruding from its mouth, aimed at the fishing boat.
"Whoosh!"
Waves parted with a light sound as the pirate ship and the fishing boat finally met. Ropes and chains were thrown over with great force.
The pirates used the ropes to board, as steady as if they were on land, rushing over eagerly.
"Kill!"
"Take everything! Whoever gets the loot keeps it!" At the bow, a giant of a man, easily five meters tall, with a thick, bushy beard, gave the order.
Uncle Sam''s face was grim¡ªArthur had never seen the old cheat look like this.
He roared, "Get ready to fight!"
Kurta was only three meters tall, but his arms were thicker than an average man''s waist. His weapon was a heavy anchor.
"Arthur! What are you doing? Get over here and fight! Are you just going to wait for death?" Uncle Sam was furious. Arthur was just standing there, behind the mast, watching them. He didn''t look scared at all.
"Heh, Uncle Sam¡ªyou''re in trouble yourself. Why are you worried about me?" Arthur said calmly, with no intention of helping.
They didn''t need to pretend anymore. What was the point of keeping up the act?
"What did you say? You little bastard! I should have killed you five years ago!" Kurta swung his anchor, smashing two pirates to death. He was enraged.
"Ungrateful outsider! If we make it back alive, I''ll skin you alive."
"Talk big when you''re still alive¡ª!" Arthur shrugged, unconcerned. They might not even see each other after today. He himself might not even survive.
But he didn''t regret his actions. Everyone had to do something crazy in their life, to announce to the world that they were here.
If he could, he wanted to do even crazier things. But first, he had to reach Sky Island.
...
"Hey, there''s a kid hiding here!" A pirate found Arthur. Without a word, he swung his sword at Arthur''s head.
The sharp blade gleamed, with a faint hint of sword aura.
"I wanted to stay out of it, but it seems I can''t." Arthur sighed, his gaze still cold. He sidestepped, avoiding the heavy slash that could cut through steel. The blow struck the mast behind him.
The thick mast was split in two, crashing down with a loud "boom."
Arthur dodged the falling mast again and appeared before the pirate, his fist drawn back to his waist. Then, he punched.
"Bang!"
The pirate couldn''t react. The powerful punch shattered his jaw. He screamed, flying off the fishing boat and landing in the sea.
Arthur wasn''t sure how to use the¡ªMarines Six Styles. He only vaguely remembered something from the original story about Shave requiring one to stomp the ground more than ten times in 0.36 seconds, the reaction force creating explosive speed.
The burst trajectory of Shave could not be seen by the average person.
He remembered this, so when he trained his body, he tried to follow this method.
At first, his feet couldn''t take it, and he was often injured. But as his body grew stronger, the situation improved. [5] : Soar, My Dream!
He wasn''t sure if he had truly mastered "Shave" He just knew his speed had increased significantly.
His earlier movements against the pirates? That was his attempt at the technique. They hadn''t even seen him coming.
The pirate he had punched was now just a stain in the water.
The dying scream, though, had drawn the attention of everyone on the boat.
"The kid''s got some moves, huh?" Uncle Sam was genuinely surprised. He had known Arthur for five years. He never knew Arthur had such incredible strength hidden up his sleeve.
That punch? Uncle Sam figured he could do the same. Maybe...
"Arthur! You were hiding this? What did you want, sneaking into our village?" Kurta, Uncle Sam''s son, still couldn''t get over what Arthur had said earlier. He glared at Arthur, full of suspicion.
...
"Kill!"
"Kill him!"
They roared their battle cries, rushing at Arthur, surrounding him in a heartbeat.
Arthur''s back was against the railing. But his heart didn''t even flutter. He was willing to bet his life on the current. Why would he be afraid of a few thugs?
He was outnumbered. If it came down to it, he would simply jump into the sea. That was his escape. It was the worst-case scenario, and he was prepared for it.
"These guys are small-time. They rob and drink all day. They don''t even know what they''re doing. They have no real goals. They''re just... pathetic. How could I die to such low-level pirates? Keep dreaming." Arthur''s lip curled in disdain.
Just then, Arthur saw a large pirate carrying a spiked club, charging at him, roaring like a beast. Arthur sneered, casually kicking the pirate in the gut.
"Bang!"
The pirate flew back like a cannonball, crashing into three or four others. The other pirates paused, stunned. Then, their bloodlust fully ignited. They surged towards Arthur like a tidal wave.
...
Suddenly, a chaotic scene made everyone else stop fighting. They all turned to watch.
The sea was churning violently. The once-calm surface began to roil. Waves crashed against the fishing boat, rocking it precariously.
This confirmed it for Arthur. The rising sea current was coming. His spirits soared!
He rarely cared about anything. Patience was not one of his virtues. Yet, he had waited five long years for this one opportunity. Now, it was right before him. How could he not be excited?
However, the pirates seemed unfazed. They didn''t seem to notice. Only the fishermen from Jaya were starting to panic.This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.
Flames appeared from somewhere, spreading rapidly. The fishermen and pirates fought on the burning deck, a dance of death.
Arthur used his foot to flick up a sword from the deck. He dodged the attacks coming from all directions, his reflexes far beyond ordinary. He didn''t stop moving, a whirlwind of steel. He cut the pirates'' throats, one after another.
He was killing faster than Uncle Sam and Kurta. Every strike was lethal. Every move, someone fell. Soon, he was surrounded by a growing pile of bodies.
....
Suddenly, the boat lurched downwards violently. It felt like a massive weight had landed on it.
Arthur looked back. It was the captain of the Black Bear Pirates, "Black Bear" LaBeouf, a mountain of a man, a giant standing at least fifteen feet tall. He had successfully boarded.
As Arthur looked over, LaBeouf''s huge, bloodshot eyes, like those of a wild beast, locked onto him. His fierce aura alone was enough to make a grown man tremble.
"You there¡ªkid. You''ve got guts. How about joining my crew? We''re gonna follow the Great Kaido!" His voice was a deafening boom, like a clap of thunder, echoing across the embattled deck.
Arthur''s heart skipped a beat. "Kaido? So, that brute is already making waves? No wonder a Zoan user like LaBeouf would follow him."
"If I refuse, he''ll kill me here and now! But join Kaido''s crew? Are you kidding me¡ªI''d rather die than serve under anyone!"
His mind raced, but he couldn''t find a way out. Out here on the open sea, brains were no match for brute strength.
"Well¡ªkid? Speak up!" LaBeouf''s nostrils flared, spewing hot air. He was getting impatient. He took a step towards Arthur, each footfall shaking the boat like an earthquake.
The pressure was immense. Arthur could barely breathe. Nearby¡ªKurta, who was a towering nine feet tall himself and wielding a massive anchor, was swatted aside like a fly. LaBeouf crushed him into a bloody pulp in front of everyone.
Blood splattered¡ªBrain matter exploded in a gruesome display!!
Uncle Sam couldn''t process his son''s sudden death¡ªHe froze, a statue of shock and grief. In that instant of vulnerability, a pirate behind him decapitated him with a single swing of his sword.
In the blink of an eye, all the fishermen from Jaya were dead, except for Arthur.
"That kind of power and presence... he could make it big even in the New World. What''s the Marines doing? How is his bounty only 80 million Beli?" Arthur''s eyes narrowed. His handsome face was etched with anxiety. His sharp eyebrows furrowed in concentration.
"No choice¡ªMy only chance is to take a dive¡ª"
He was desperate. He wouldn''t serve under Kaido as cannon fodder. He wouldn''t even pretend to agree. That was even more unacceptable than death itself.
"Captain LaBeouf! We''ve got trouble! The Sea King''s gone wild!"
A panicked shout cut through the din. LaBeouf stopped in his tracks, turning sharply to look at the screaming underling. Arthur followed his gaze.
Beneath the Black Bear Pirates'' ship, a monstrous shadow loomed, even larger than the ship itself.
"Splash¡ª!"
The sea parted. The head of a Sea King surfaced. It looked like a sea lion that had been flayed alive.
The Sea King shrieked in terror, as if it were urging everyone to flee for their lives.
This was LaBeouf''s companion from his early days at sea. He called it "Sea Lion." It could sense underwater currents and intimidate other Sea Kings. It had saved LaBeouf from many deadly crises.
"What in the hell...? All hands, back to the ship! We''re getting out of here!" LaBeouf roared. His massive hand reached for Arthur, all thoughts of taking him on forgotten.
Arthur was ready to jump. Without hesitation, he faced the overwhelming force, smashing through the railing of the fishing boat. He plunged into the sea with a loud "splash," vanishing beneath the waves.
LaBeouf reined in his anger. He quickly returned to his ship. Under the Sea King pull, they fled the area at full speed. In the blink of an eye, they disappeared over the horizon, leaving the burning fishing boat behind.
He trusted his Sea King''s instincts implicitly. It had saved his hide countless times before.
....
Meanwhile..
The long-awaited underwater current finally erupted!
"BOOM!!!"
Like a colossal curtain rising from the depths, it shot up towards the sky, a spectacle of unimaginable power! [6] : Sky Island, Where Dreams Begin!
The line between sea and sky blurred. A colossal current¡ªcarrying the force to send an island skyward, erupted from the ocean''s depths.
"BOOM!!!"
The sound was deafening. Like a curtain¡ªvast and overwhelming, it stretched across Islands - a sight of breathtaking grandeur.
The power of nature was beyond human comprehension. Black Bear LaBeouf, who had already fled beyond the current''s reach, was still gasping for breath, his heart pounding with lingering fear.
He stared at the towering pillar of water, a mixture of awe and terror etched on his face. If he had been a moment slower, hesitated for even a second, he would be dead. His ship would be nothing but splinters, his crew, lost to the depths.
A fleeting thought crossed his mind¡ªthe boy, the one who had jumped into the sea.
...
"Hahahaha!" Arthur laughed, a wild, unrestrained sound¡ªHe had waited five years for this, five years of planning, of pretending. And now, his moment had finally arrived.
This was just the first step, the first step towards reaching the pinnacle of this world!
He was a strong swimmer; his rigorous training had seen to that¡ªHe had also spent the last five years fishing with the villagers of Jaya.
His physical strength was immense¡ªhis lung capacity incredible, allowing him to hold his breath underwater for an astonishing amount of time.
Arthur took a deep breath and plunged into the water, swimming towards the center of the towering water column. The edges were too risky; he might fall out. Only the center guaranteed a successful ascent to Sky Island.
Remember, Sky Island had two layers¡ªThe first was at around 23,000 to 26,000 feet, the second at 33,000 feet.
They were separated by a few thousand feet. Only the second layer was where Arthur desired to be.
Enel''s home¡ªBirka, was at 33,000 feet. To get the Rumble-Rumble Fruit, Arthur needed to meet Enel, to know his location.
In the original story, Enel was in his thirties when Luffy defeated him. Right now, it was 1493, meaning Enel was probably in his teens.
He might be older, he might be younger.
But it didn''t matter¡ªOnce Arthur reached Sky Island, the Rumble-Rumble Fruit would be his. He could follow Enel or search for it himself. It was only a matter of time.
....
The immense force of the current carried everything upwards. Debris from the seabed, fish, all were swept up.
Some fell back down midway. Others would remain in the sky forever. Maybe one day they would fall back into the Blue Sea during a shift in the White Sea''s cumulonimbus clouds.This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.
Arthur was in the very center of the rising current, holding his breath, his cheeks puffed out. He was excited, looking at the fish swimming around him.
Time passed. Arthur could feel the current slowing. It was still rising, but not as forcefully.
He knew he had passed through the White Sea at around 25,000 feet. He was less than 7,000 feet from the White-White Sea, from Sky Island.
"Damn it, I''m running out of air. Already?" Arthur''s face was flushed¡ªhis body weakening. The Lack of oxygen was making him dizzy.
"Hold on, hold on! My dream is within reach!" He was desperate, so close. Failure here was unacceptable.
If he reached Sky Island but failed to get the fruit, he could only blame his bad luck and grumble a bit. But failing on the way up? Unthinkable! That was not an option.
Failure meant death. There was no second chance.
"Is this where my journey ends? No¡ªI absolutely refuse!"
Arthur grimaced, holding onto his last shred of consciousness. Darkness closed in. He passed out.
....
Sky Island was a place beyond human reach¡ª33,000 feet above the Blue Sea. Most people thought it was a myth, a fantasy.
That was because most who tried to reach it died. Only the exceptionally strong, or the exceptionally lucky, survived, a mere handful. So, legends of Sky Island circulated on the seas, but no one could prove its existence.
There were only two ways to get there: one was to ride the rising sea current, like Arthur. The other was to enter the White Sea at around 23,000 feet via the High West.
A gentle breeze blew. Soft, comfortable island clouds were beneath him...
"Gah!!"
"Cough! Cough!"
Arthur gasped, coughing up seawater. He opened his eyes, clutching his head. It felt like it was splitting open. His body, starved of oxygen, was now functioning normally again.
Sky Island was high up. The air was thin. But it was enough to bring him back.
"Hahahaha! I made it..." Arthur pushed himself up¡ªgrabbing a handful of the soft, white island cloud. He was certain. This was where he had longed to be.
Tears streamed down his face as he laughed¡ªHis first step, the hardest step, was a success.
He wiped away the tears, squinting. His vision was blurry, like he was severely nearsighted.
He could only rely on common sense. The sea breeze was coming from the White-White Sea.
The restricted blood flow had definitely affected his vision.
"Nothing to worry about," he mumbled to himself. "Just a temporary side effect. A little rest, and my vision should be back to normal."
Arthur wasn''t worried. He was just excited.
He had waited years for this, paid the price. Now, he could finally relax. He felt lighter.
Taking small steps, he came to the edge of the White-White Sea and sat down, reaching out to feel for any shells that might have washed up.
He was starving. He needed food. Otherwise¡ªhe wouldn''t have the strength to deal with any surprises.
There were many types of shells on Sky Island. Arthur found a bunch, even with his eyes closed.
He brought them close, able to tell they were non-toxic and could be eaten raw.
The altitude didn''t give him altitude sickness, so he could eat raw food without vomiting. Strong people had better adaptability. He was most proud of his body''s ability to adapt and recover quickly. It was practically a superpower in itself.
After a good meal, Arthur''s vision was a little better. He began to explore.
He needed to gather information as quickly as possible. That way, he could take the initiative and form a plan.
Behind him was the White-White Sea. Only in front of him were white island clouds. The choice was obvious. Arthur adjusted his animal-hide clothing and walked forward.
Island clouds were strange. They felt different than solid ground.
Walking on them felt unsafe¡ªlike you might fall through at any moment. It was a disconcerting feeling, enough to make anyone feel a little nervous. [7] : Awakening of Observation Haki!
Arthur was bold, but cautious. He had considered that newcomers to Sky Island might not adapt well to the clouds. But he wasn''t overly concerned.
He was certain he was currently on either Angel Island or Birka.
Upper Yard, was once part of Jaya. It held a resource coveted by the Skypieans¡ªSoil!
It was currently occupied by the God of Skypiea, Gan Fall¡ªOutsiders were forbidden.
Since he wasn''t standing on solid ground, he figured he must be on Angel Island, Birka, or a nearby island cloud.
Arthur walked for about fifteen minutes. The scenery finally changed. A unique, hexagonal building appeared amidst the white clouds. He squinted, trying to focus his blurry vision. He vaguely recalled what this place was!
It was Heaven''s Gate¡ªthe entry point to Skypiea.
"So, I''m not actually in Skypiea yet? I''m still on the White Sea at 23,000 feet? Do I have to take that circular cloud road to Angel Island?"
As he got closer, Arthur frowned, looking at the path leading higher.
He had thought he was already on Angel Island. Now, it seemed he was one step short.
Arthur shook his head and continued forward, walking on the soft cloud. He suddenly stopped. A primal instinct warned him. He felt like he was being watched.
Inside the hexagonal Heaven''s Gate, there was a tunnel, a few dozen feet long. Near the tunnel''s edge, a door to a room suddenly opened. An old woman stepped out, about half Arthur''s height.
The old woman''s face was wrinkled, like a dried plum. She was quite ugly. She wore pink clothes and had a pair of small, white wings on her back - a true Skypiean.
She was holding a Sky Island-made Vision Dial camera¡ªsnapping pictures of Arthur.
Arthur''s vision was still blurry. He couldn''t see who it was from this distance. But he had a guess.
"I am the gatekeeper of Heaven''s Gate, Amazon. Are you here to sightsee? To enter Skypiea, you must pay one billion Extol!" The short, prune-faced old woman, Amazon, said expressionlessly.
She wasn''t as old as she would be in twenty years. But her voice was still raspy.
"One billion Extol?" Arthur frowned¡ªHe subconsciously touched the translucent blue gemstone hanging on his chest.
When he was eight, stranded on Jaya, he''d already thought about the future. He knew about Skypiea''s currency, Extol. 10,000 Extol equaled 1 Beli. It was cheap.If you encounter this tale on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.
But how could he get in without any money?
He had once considered using this gemstone, a family heirloom of the Seabury family. Now he''d changed his mind.
He vaguely remembered a Seabury family member saying something when they gave it to him. They said it was the key to the family''s treasure vault.
What good stuff could a small-time family have? Gold and jewels? Arthur didn''t care for those. In this world, the most important thing was strength. With strength came freedom and everything else.
But he wouldn''t just hand over this gemstone.
He wanted to live as he pleased. If they asked for it, he wouldn''t give it!
Arthur smiled nonchalantly, walking closer to Amazon. He casually asked, "Where is Birka in relation to Angel Island? Can you tell me?"
His smile was bright. With his tall frame and handsome face, he was quite charming.
"Birka? That sounds familiar. I think it''s southeast of Angel Island. I can''t quite remember... If you go to Angel Island, you''ll find out." Amazon thought for a moment, then replied.
"Thank you. Then, goodbye!" Arthur got the answer he expected. He turned, walking onto the cloud in the center of Heaven''s Gate. He knew he needed a creature called an Express Shrimp to get to Skypiea.
These creatures were incredibly fast. They would save him a lot of time.
"Those who don''t pay the toll cannot enter Skypiea. That''s illegal entry!"
Amazon was annoyed. Arthur was just leaving. She took out a weapon made from an Impact Dial and attacked him.
Twenty years later, Amazon would be too lazy to argue under Enel''s rule. But it wasn''t twenty years later yet.
Impact Dials were another Skypiean specialty. They had incredible abilities, releasing a powerful impact. The force was comparable to Arthur''s strongest punch.
Arthur had already turned his back. He couldn''t see what was happening behind him. But he clearly felt the danger approaching.
....
In that instant, his body seemed to move on its own. Instinct made him dodge to the side, completely avoiding the attack, which was as strong as a 30-million-Beli pirate''s.
"What was that? Just now¡ª"
A strong gust of wind brushed past his ear, ruffling his hair¡ªArthur was stunned.
His reflexes shouldn''t have been fast enough to dodge that surprise attack. But somehow, his body had reacted beyond his normal capabilities. It was as if he had grown an eye on the back of his head, as if he had "seen" the incoming attack.
"Could it be Observation Haki?" He was overjoyed. He hadn''t expected his¡ªHaki to awaken without any formal training.
It was well known that innate Observation Haki was stronger than trained Observation Haki.
In the world of pirates, there were many masters of Observation Haki. The closest to him was a little girl named Aisa on Sky Island. She was a Shandian. She had awakened Observation Haki at birth and could hear the voices of the dying. However, she was not yet born.
The Fish-Man Island''s Queen Otohime''s Observation Haki could sense the emotions in people''s hearts. Was that any different from mind-reading?
Charlotte Linlin''s son, the future 1-billion-plus bounty Charlotte Katakuri, had trained his Observation Haki to such an extent that he could foresee the near future.
Fujitora was blind, but his Observation Haki was formidable. he could sense the movements of distant meteors and pull them down for attacks. Maybe his Devil Fruit amplified it, but his Observation Haki was still formidable.
Many people thought Enel was a top-tier Observation Haki user. But in reality, if Enel didn''t have the amplification from his Rumble-Rumble Fruit''s electrical waves, his Observation Haki might not have been that strong.
Hearing the conversations of everyone on Sky Island was a power granted by the electrical waves. That made his Observation Haki seem incredibly powerful. [8] : Kill!
The old woman, Amazon, was stunned. Arthur had dodged the Impact Dial''s blast while facing away from her. It was unbelievable.
She steadied herself, recovering from the Dial''s powerful recoil. She aimed at Arthur again, releasing another blast.
"Boom¡ª!"
A powerful gust of wind rushed from behind.
This time, Arthur had no intention of facing it head-on¡ªHe wanted to test his newly awakened Observation Haki.
He didn''t look back at Amazon, but in his mind, a blurry, white figure appeared.
This was Amazon''s form, projected into his mind through his¡ªObservation Haki.
He tilted his head to the left. The blast grazed his ear again, another clean miss.
Arthur was ecstatic. This initial awakening of his Observation Haki was remarkable. It wasn''t just sensing air currents or the speed of the wind.
He could directly project a white silhouette into his mind. He could "see" the figure''s movements, its weapon, and even the airflow caused by the attack!
This was strikingly similar to the Observation Haki of the future Marine Admiral, Fujitora.
He remembered Rayleigh''s words: Haki was a latent power within all humans in the world.
This power was an innate ability. It was like instinct, existing alongside concepts like presence and intimidation.
Most people were unaware of this power. Or¡ªthey couldn''t unlock it, even after a lifetime of trying.
Besides Conqueror''s Haki, Armament Haki and Observation Haki could be awakened and strengthened through training.
Conqueror''s Haki was a sign of a king. Those with Conqueror''s Haki could attack without even lifting a finger. It was a form of mental attack.
Those hit would foam at the mouth and faint.
Unlike¡ªObservation and Armament Haki, Conqueror''s Haki was innate. It couldn''t be learned or inherited. It was determined by fate.
It required an innate strength of spirit!
Every person who possessed Conqueror''s Haki was a lawless individual, living freely on the sea. This was why most people who awakened Conqueror''s Haki were pirates.
The Marines had to follow orders. How could they train their own spirit?The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.
But let''s put aside Conqueror''s Haki for now.
Observation Haki heightened the five senses. It allowed one to sense the presence and emotions of others. It could also be used to predict and avoid danger.
As long as a creature was alive, its body emitted a unique sound. Observation Haki could use these sounds to predict an opponent''s next move and position. With training, the range could be expanded.
Arthur''s five senses were naturally strong. He could sense when someone was watching him. It wasn''t surprising that he had awakened Observation Haki.
"Did I gamble on this rising current and gain this power early? Hahaha, this is¡ªperfect."
Arthur laughed wildly. He moved like a willow in the wind, dodging the Impact Dial''s blasts again and again.
The old woman, Amazon, was stunned. Her arms trembled slightly. She couldn''t withstand the powerful recoil anymore.
"I wanted to enter Sky Island without fighting anyone. But you won''t let me. If I''m going to fight someone, I might as well go all the way!"
Killing intent flashed in Arthur''s dark eyes. His feet moved rapidly. The powerful reaction force made him disappear instantly. He reappeared next to Amazon. His clenched fist struck out.
He was going to silence her!
He didn''t want to be cruel to an old woman. But if he let a witness live, he would have no place to hide on Sky Island.
Amazon would surely report his arrival to the God who guarded Heaven''s Gate, Gan Fall.
With Arthur''s current meager strength, going against the endless Sky Island guards was foolish.
Gan Fall and his priests in their prime were surely stronger than Arthur.
If that happened, he would be hunted, captured, or even executed.
The best way was to kill the witness, Amazon.
Only the dead could keep secrets.
Killing her would only buy him some time. The Sky Island guards would eventually find out she was dead.
Before that, Arthur needed to get the Rumble-Rumble Fruit. If he couldn''t, things would get serious...
He quickly considered two options. He always planned ahead.
When the Sky Island army came looking for him, Arthur would either have to hide among the Skypieans or in some remote location.
Or he could join the Shandians and fight against the Skypieans.
The Shandians were the original inhabitants of God''s Land, Upper Yard. They were forced out of their homeland by the Angel Islanders, who desperately craved soil.
For centuries, they had been trying to reclaim their land. They hadn''t succeeded. If Arthur joined them, they would never refuse a strong fighter, unless they were completely insane.
Before gaining the power to crush all conspiracies, planning was essential. Once he had ''that'' power, he could just crush everything in his path. No need for plans.
Arthur understood this¡ªdeeply.
...
Appearing next to Amazon as if by teleportation, his rapid steps carried him forward in a blur. His iron fist, swift and powerful, slammed into her head.
"Despicable Blue Sea dweller, God won''t forgive you..."
Those were Amazon''s last words. Arthur''s fist struck her head. Her body flew out like a broken sack.
"Boom¡ª!!!"
She crashed into the Heaven''s Gate structure. Blood spurted from her orifices. Her bones were shattered. She died instantly.
Arthur didn''t feel any remorse for killing. In fact, he felt a faint thrill.
This lawless world, where might made right, was fascinating. Only with enough power could one achieve their dreams, their ambitions, and obtain true freedom!
"It''s so exhilarating to kill without restraint, without the burden of guilt..." A cold smile played on Arthur''s lips.
The wind rustled his black hair.
His gradually recovering vision took in the scene of blood. In the reflection of the blood, he looked like a demon. [9] : First Arrival on Angel Island.
Amazon was only half Arthur''s height. She was like a dwarf and very light.
Disposing of the body was easy¡ªHe grabbed her and buried her in the island cloud. Maybe in a day or two, she would be eaten by the creatures of the White Sea. There would be no trace left.
Before that¡ªArthur ripped off Amazon''s wings. He made two holes in his animal-hide coat and put the wings through.
These wings were just decorations for the Skypieans. They were useless. Why couldn''t Arthur pretend to be a Skypiean? It would save him a lot of trouble.
As for being recognized as a stranger? He didn''t Believe the Skypieans knew everyone on the island.
....
The gleaming Heaven''s Gate reflected Arthur''s¡ªcurrent image.
Long black hair reached his shoulders. His eyes were as bright as stars. His sharp eyebrows added a touch of coolness. His tattered clothes couldn''t hide his unusual aura. The small white wings on his back didn''t look out of place at all.
Satisfied, Arthur made sure he hadn''t left any traces. Then, he casually walked onto the island cloud.
The cloud beneath his feet surged. His Observation Haki revealed a giant, over 100-foot-long red shrimp beneath him.
"An¡ªExpress Shrimp?" Understanding dawned on Arthur. A smile graced his lips. He was in high spirits. He stretched out his arms and shouted, "Charge, towards the starting point of my dream - Angel Island!!"
The giant red shell touched his feet. It seemed to understand his words. The Express Shrimp shot forward with incredible speed.
The wind howled in his ears. Arthur''s eyes were wide. He stared at the circular sky road ahead that led directly to the Sky Island.
The sky road was like a white ribbon. It stretched from the island cloud beneath his feet to the Sky. He couldn''t see the end with his naked eye.
This magnificent sight couldn''t be created by human hands. It was either a natural phenomenon or the work of a true god.
Of course, some special Devil Fruits could also achieve this. After all, no one knew what kind of bizarre fruits might appear on the Grand Line.
The Express Shrimp was as fast as a supercar from Arthur''s past life. It was almost like flying. Its huge body was submerged in the clouds. He couldn''t imagine what gave it such speed.
Arthur was nestled in a gap in the shrimp''s red armor, as steady as a mountain. As he got closer to Angel Island, his excitement grew.
He had meticulously planned the timing¡ªrisking his life in a gamble. A series of actions others couldn''t comprehend, all to reach this island of dreams.
Now that Sky Island was within reach, Arthur''s emotions were understandable.This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.
He looked up. A bright hole appeared above¡ªThe end of the circular cloud path was a patch of white light. He couldn''t see what was ahead.
With excitement and anticipation, Arthur prepared to land.
...
"Boooooommmm!!!"
The Express Shrimp burst out of the dark cave. The force threw Arthur into the sky. Then, the shrimp''s body left the track. It fell downwards.
"Bang!"
Arthur landed on the soft, wet island cloud. He looked at the beautiful scenery. It was just as he had imagined it. He couldn''t help but burst into laughter.
"Hahahaha!!"
He clutched his forehead, laughing until he was out of breath.
Five years of waiting, playing nice with the villagers of Jaya, constantly inquiring about the rising sea current, carefully calculating the timing, and then, risking his life...
All of that didn''t matter. What mattered was that he had succeeded!
In this gamble with his life, betting that he could survive the current and reach Sky Island, Arthur had put all his chips on the table. He hadn''t let himself down.
Right now, he was on¡ªAngel Island''s Angel Beach!
Behind him was the White-White Sea, where water and clouds merged. Ahead was a patch of green vegetation, like a small forest. The trees bore dark green, pumpkin-shaped fruit.
Further away were buildings made from a special process using island clouds. They were no less impressive than skyscrapers.
He looked around. Angel Beach was deserted. It was very quiet.
Arthur was pleased. This was perfect. If there had been people, he would have had to waste his breath, or kill all the witnesses.
Before he got to know the Skypieans¡ªhe didn''t want them to know he was from below.
If he didn''t have to, Arthur didn''t want to kill indiscriminately.
Even though with power comes the urge to kill, and Arthur''s power is not small, he didn''t want to become like Big Mom, unreasonable and unable to communicate.
He wanted to focus his madness on his dream!
On the Grand Line, the most important thing was freedom, to live as one pleased. In this world without rules or laws, whoever made him unhappy, he would make them even more unhappy.
....
On Angel Beach, there were coconut trees¡ªThey bore pumpkin-like fruit.
The juice inside was sweet and delicious. It was perfect for quenching thirst.
Arthur ate a few. He rested in a nearby pavilion. He thought about his next steps.
First, he needed to avoid the local law enforcement, the guards of Angel Island, the army under the self-proclaimed God¡ªGan Fall.
Arthur estimated that Gan Fall and his four priests were at their peak. They were strong. To people from the Blue Sea, they were worth roughly 60 to 80 million Belly in bounty.
Don''t underestimate Gan Fall''s first appearance 27 years in the future. He easily dealt with a Sea King that Luffy and the others couldn''t handle.
That was because Luffy, Zoro, and the others had altitude sickness. They were short of breath. They couldn''t use their full strength.
Even so, Arthur had no intention of fighting them. If he did, he would be hunted endlessly. He might even lose his life.
However, based on the current situation, Gan Fall and the four priests should be on God''s Island, Upper Yard. They shouldn''t know that a Blue Sea dweller had snuck up here. They shouldn''t find out for a while.
During this window, Arthur needed to get a vehicle from the Angel Islanders. He needed to go to Enel''s home, Birka.
Birka was southeast of Angel Island. Anyone with common sense could figure that out. Sunrise, sunset, the growth of trees, and their rings.
From what Arthur remembered, very few people on Angel Island knew where Birka was. Once he got to Birka, he would be relatively safe.
The key was how to get there!
Swimming wasn''t out of the question. But there were many Sea Kings in the White-White Sea. The risk was high. And he didn''t know the exact distance.
The best method was a vehicle called a "Waver." It was like a motorcycle. It was fast and convenient. [10] : Mad Monk鈥擴rouge
The Waver was the primary mode of transportation on Angel Island. They said it took a decade to learn how to pilot one properly.
Nami, who wasn''t even born yet, could hop on and ride around like a pro. Arthur didn''t think his balance or skills were any worse than Nami''s. Besides, after five years on Jaya, reading the ocean currents was second nature to him.
Heck, he''d even been a bit of a street racer in his past life, able to ride a motorcycle with no hands, easy.
Moreover, Arthur trained his body meticulously, focusing on control, not just brute strength. Brute force without technique was a recipe for disaster.
If he had a Waver in front of him right now, he could ride it like he''d been doing it his whole life!
He scratched at the fake bird wings on his back, frowning slightly, a headache brewing.
His least favorite thing was interacting with the Skypieans. But without interacting, how was he supposed to get his hands on a Waver?
...
"Thump-thump-thump-thump!"
A sound like a motorcycle engine grew closer, rousing Arthur from his thoughts.
His eyes lit up, a smile spreading across his face.
Talk about a stroke of luck! He was just thinking about how to deal with the locals and snag a Waver, and now, someone had delivered one right to him.
He sprang up from the soft island cloud sofa, hiding behind the pavilion, quietly observing the Skypiean approaching from the White-White Sea.
His far-reaching Observation Haki picked up the number of people and their conversation with ease.
"Captain Urouge, those God''s Militia guys are too much. With your strength, becoming a captain should be a piece of cake. They actually refused you, the jerks."
There were two people on the Waver. One was huge, easily over eleven feet tall. He looked around twenty years old, rugged, with a thick beard. He had wings on his back.
The other was of average height, looking to be in his thirties. Yet, he called the twenty-something Urouge "captain."
"Urouge?" When Arthur heard this name, his heart skipped a beat.
....
From afar, he thought this huge guy looked familiar. It turned out to be Urouge! One of the future Worst Generation, one of the eleven Supernovas gathered at the Sabaody Archipelago. The captain of the Fallen Monk Pirates, with a bounty of 108 million Belly. Known as the "Mad Monk," he hailed from Sky Island. His crew called him "High Priest."
According to Arthur''s memory, Urouge was indeed from Sky Island. The wings on his back were proof.Enjoying the story? Show your support by reading it on the official site.
Not only that, but he was also a Devil Fruit user. The fruit''s name was unknown. Its ability allowed him to convert damage received into increased size and strength. The more damage he took, the bigger and stronger he became.
In the future, twenty-nine years from now, he would even defeat one of Big Mom''s Sweet Commanders.
Right now, it seemed Urouge hadn''t obtained that fruit yet. Arthur was sure of it. If he had, wouldn''t Urouge be challenging Gan Fall for the position of God?
A pirate captain bold enough to enter the New World and challenge a Yonko wouldn''t lack ambition.
....
"Nah, it''s fine. It doesn''t matter if I become one of the God''s Militia or not," Urouge said with a slight smile.
He was a monk. Whether he was happy, sad, or facing death, his expression never changed. He always smiled at the world.
Seeing that Urouge didn''t care, the other guy on the Waver could only bottle up his anger.
"Thump-thump-thump-thump!"
The Waver crossed the White-White Sea, landing on the island cloud. It continued towards the heart of Angel Island without stopping.
Arthur was getting anxious. If he missed this chance to get a Waver, who knew how long he''d have to wait for another Skypiean to ride by on one. How could he let this perfect opportunity slip through his fingers?
A thought struck him. Arthur took the wings from his back and tossed them into the island cloud. He took off his shirt and covered his face. He jumped out from behind the pavilion, blocking the path leading to the residential area of Angel Island.
"Shave!"
Rapid stomping generated a reaction force, propelling him forward. He vanished from his original spot. Before the two on the Waver could react...
"Bang!!"
A heavy punch landed on the man who was quietly fuming. It sent the unnamed Skypiean flying.
The Skypiean''s physique was far inferior to Urouge''s or Arthur''s. He was knocked unconscious by the sudden blow.
His body dragged across the island cloud for a dozen feet, barely breathing.
He was as good as dead.
"Abel!!"
Urouge roared. He was still no match for his future self. Although he reacted to Arthur''s sneak attack, he couldn''t do anything else. He could only watch as his companion was killed, his smile frozen on his face.
"Vroooom¡ª" The Waver''s brakes screeched. Urouge stopped the vehicle. He picked up his dead companion. He slowly turned his head, his killing intent palpable.
"No wings, you''re from the Blue Sea? Why are you attacking us?" Urouge asked Arthur, his smile still fixed on his face.
Arthur was unfazed. Killing one person didn''t faze him. To achieve his goal, what did a few lives matter?
If obtaining the Rumble-Rumble Fruit required killing everyone on Sky Island, Arthur wouldn''t hesitate.
"So what if I am? As for why I attacked... well, I just need to borrow something from you."
His face was covered by his shirt. Only his dark, piercing eyes were visible. His voice was cold and ruthless.
"Then you can go to hell and keep Abel company!" Urouge''s expression was strange. His smile remained, but his eyes were filled with rage.
He was eleven feet tall, his imposing physique intimidating. He wasn''t fast, but he moved with the ferocity of a tiger.
''Too slow. Compared to your future self, you''re weak!'' Arthur''s Observation Haki was fully activated. He saw Urouge''s every move.
His massive fist brought a fierce wind. Arthur didn''t move. He tilted his head slightly, letting the enraged punch miss completely.
Observation Haki''s ability to predict the enemy''s moves made it impossible for someone without Haki, and who was slower, to land a hit.
Arthur took a step forward, grabbing Urouge''s outstretched wrist with his left hand. His right fist was cocked. He punched Urouge''s elbow joint.
"Crack!"
Urouge''s arm was broken. Arthur didn''t stop there. He followed up with a sweeping kick, knocking Urouge to the ground.
That punch was originally aimed at Urouge''s head. But Arthur was only thirteen, five feet tall. Unless he jumped, he couldn''t reach. So, he settled for less, knocking Urouge down first! [11] : Landing on Birka!!
"Aaaah!!!"
The intense pain made it impossible for Urouge to keep smiling. He clutched his broken arm, howling in agony on the ground.
Without that unknown fruit, he couldn''t transform his pain into power. He couldn''t withstand the intense damage.
"Bang!"
Arthur''s next punch followed, landing on Urouge''s head. Urouge''s earth-shattering screams were sure to have been heard by others. This place was no longer safe.
He dragged the two men, one dead, one half-dead. He quickly moved to the edge of the circular cloud path where the Express Shrimp had brought him up. He threw them down.
He spared Urouge''s life for now, wanting to see if Urouge could still become a Supernova after this. Could he change the future?
He dealt with them. Arthur picked up the parked Waver. He pressed the switch connected to the Breath Dial. He sped off towards the southeast, as he had calculated.
"Thump-thump-thump-thump!!"
Driving a Waver wasn''t easy. It required understanding wind patterns and water currents. But these weren''t major problems. Arthur got the hang of it after a few wobbles.
After all, a skilled driver only needed one word to describe them - steady!
The sea breeze blew. Arthur was gradually moving away from Angel Island. He grinned. He stomped on the Breath Dial, accelerating. He rode the waves towards Birka.
...
Not long after Arthur left, a group of armored, winged people arrived at the scene of Arthur and Urouge''s fight.
"Captain McKinley, there are signs of a fight. There''s blood on the island cloud that hasn''t been cleaned up!" A guard said to a Skypiean who had his hand on his forehead, his middle finger pointing upwards.
"Were there any witnesses?" McKinley frowned. "Who was the first to hear the screams?"
Killing was not allowed on Sky Island. The punishment for murder was to be placed on a drift cloud and sent down the Milky Road to the White Sea, where they might be swallowed by a Sea King or eaten by the clouds.
"There were no witnesses. The first to hear the screams was Barl. He was returning from fishing!" The soldier had more to say.
"Captain McKinley, we found a pair of wings over here!" Another guard searching the area found the bird wings Arthur had discarded behind the pavilion. He was shocked.
"What?" McKinley''s normally calm face changed color. Wings were the most important thing to Angel Islanders. They took pride in their wings. They wouldn''t allow others to touch them. It was the greatest insult.
Now, a pair of wings were here, but the person was gone. A murder had definitely occurred. Who had the audacity to break the rules so brazenly?You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.
"Hurry and report this to God!" This squad of God''s Militia immediately cleaned up the scene. They rushed towards God''s Island.
...
Arthur was unaware of what was happening behind him. Even if he knew, he wouldn''t care. He was far from Angel Island now. Very few people on Angel Island knew where Birka was.
Would they chase him? Even if they did, Arthur wasn''t afraid. By then, he was confident he would have obtained the Rumble-Rumble Fruit.
He pushed the Waver to its limit. It cut through the water, creating a spray of white.
The sky gradually darkened. The stars were brilliant.
Sky Island was at an altitude of 33,000 feet. So, nighttime was longer than daytime. The stars were more brilliant than on the Blue Sea. The Milky Way seemed within reach. Even the moon was enormous.
He traveled onward.
As time passed, the Waver''s power was dwindling. Arthur knew the wind stored in the Breath Dial was running out. He needed to refill it.
He stopped the Waver and lay on the wooden deck to rest. His stomach growled. He had no food reserves. He could only go into the White-White Sea and catch fish to eat raw.
Fortunately, the fish in the White-White Sea were plentiful. And they had no fishy smell. They were fine to eat raw.
After a night''s sleep, Arthur woke up and trained on the Waver for two hours. When the sun rose, he continued his journey.
Two whole days passed.
Just as Arthur was about to give up on this direction, an island finally appeared ahead.
From afar, he could see the white shoreline. Green trees stood tall. The whole island was in the White-White Sea.
Smoke was rising from the island. The residents of the island cloud were starting their day. He could smell the aroma of food from thousands of feet away.
Arthur''s tense expression finally relaxed. He was certain. This was the island he had dreamed of - Birka!
After some consideration, Arthur decided not to rush onto the island. He spent several hours piloting the Waver around Bika Island, roughly estimating the island''s total area.
It wasn''t a large island. It was only a bit bigger than Jaya on the Blue Sea. One side was a forest. The other side was where the villagers lived. The population was probably a few thousand.
He parked the Waver in the forest and made sure it was hidden. Arthur landed on the island of his dreams, excited.
He looked at the forest and grinned. His dark eyes were filled with ambition for the future and a thirst for power.
"In this world where Islands and Kingdoms are frequently destroyed, I will not be weak. I will leave a glorious mark, to announce to the world that I was here!!"
...
He walked out of the forest. Arthur entered the populated area.
Neat rows of island cloud buildings. People on the street greeted each other. It seemed peaceful.
They saw Arthur, a stranger. They weren''t surprised. They only glanced at his back, at his lack of wings. Then they showed a look of disgust.
"It seems like Enel was bullied and hated on Birka because he didn''t have wings, right? They thought he was an outcast, so when he gained power, he destroyed this place that had hurt him!" Arthur ignored everyone''s gazes. He strolled leisurely.
At least the Angel Islanders knew that there was a Blue Sea beneath their feet. Blue Sea people didn''t have wings. But Birka was different. It was almost completely isolated. They probably had never even heard of the Blue Sea.
Like frogs in a well, they thought their well was the whole world.
"Hehe!"
Arthur smiled indifferently. He walked through the streets. He was looking for Enel.
Other people''s gazes didn''t affect his mood. Finding the Rumble-Rumble Fruit was the top priority.
"Why is there another wingless freak on Birka?"
"Who knows? He''s probably related to that little freak, right?"
People were whispering. Some even shouted at Arthur, making sure he could hear them.
"Such foul mouths. No wonder Enel didn''t care about them." Cold light flashed in his eyes. He almost couldn''t help but start a massacre. [12] : Young Enel
Arthur scoffed at the villagers'' whispers, ignoring their judgments. he continued onward, navigating the winding, narrow alleyways.
Several hours crawled by. The dazzling sun, which had risen in the east, now hung directly overhead. The islanders began preparing their midday meals, yet there was still no sign of Enel.
His Observation Haki was fully active. He scanned each person he encountered, only to find more winged Skypieans.
"Could my assumption be wrong? Is Enel not even born yet?" A sense of unease washed over Arthur. The joy he''d felt upon reaching Birka began to sour.
It was 1493, a full 27 years before the start of the main storyline. There were too many unknowns.
"No, maybe he''s just holed up at home," he reassured himself.
Enel was often subjected to scorn, beatings, and abuse from the villagers. It was entirely possible he was hiding at home.
Arthur''s Observation Haki still had a limited range. He couldn''t sense into some of the cloud houses, and he certainly couldn''t penetrate the buildings to hear the "voices" of those inside.
"If Enel isn''t born yet, I''ll just have to search for the fruit myself for a while." He was already preparing for the worst-case scenario.
He had to rely on himself; he couldn''t count on anyone else.
If the Rumble-Rumble Fruit was somewhere on Birka, these villagers might actually have a hard time finding it. Otherwise, why would Enel have been the one to eat it?
Arthur rubbed his temples, trying to ease the headache brought on by his Thoughts. "First, I''ll go to the coast, catch some shellfish and fish for lunch. Then I''ll look for the Rumble-Rumble Fruit and Enel at the same time."
With a plan in place, Arthur''s headache subsided. He slowly walked towards the other side of Birka''s beach. The smoke from cooking fires, carrying the aroma of food, made his stomach rumble.
...
As he approached the White-White Sea, ready to address his hunger, he suddenly heard the sounds of children playing, a group of seven or eight-year-olds.
He was too far away to hear clearly what they were saying, but he could make out snippets.
"Beat him up! Beat up that wingless freak!"
"That freak, he wants the village''s ''ship'' blueprints."
"Hmph! He wants to get us all killed. The adults won''t do anything about him. We can''t let him off easy."
The noisy clamor faded into the sea breeze. If it weren''t for Arthur''s enhanced senses from his rudimentary Observation Haki, he wouldn''t have caught those faint whispers.The author''s narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.
"Ship blueprints?" Arthur''s heart skipped a beat. His eyes lit up. "Could it be the Ark Maxim? The wingless freak? Could it be Enel? Haha, this is too good to be true!"
He suppressed his excitement and moved closer, hiding behind a tree to listen carefully.
"Huh? The freak''s not moving?"
"Did we kill him?"
"Useless. He''s out after just a few hits. Let''s go home and eat!"
The group of brats had beaten Enel. Seeing that he wasn''t moving, the kids, being kids, were a little scared. They scattered, running away.
Before they left, they didn''t forget to mock him.
"That useless trash. He''s a waste of food. He should just die."
"Let''s go, let''s go. Ignore him. Let''s go home and eat!"
In an instant, the group vanished, leaving only a small figure lying on the ground, twitching.
With the kids gone, Arthur could easily see the beaten and bruised child.
The child was lying on his side, curled up on the island cloud. The most noticeable feature was his long earlobes, which drooped down to his chest.
He was clutching his head, his arms showing a spiky, unkempt haircut. His face was young and tender, but his flat nose was visible. He looked somewhat like the future Enel.
Arthur was certain. This was the person he was looking for. Besides Arthur himself, only Enel was wingless on Birka. And who else could have those long earlobes besides Enel?
...
Enel slowly got up from the ground. He was numb, expressionless. Only his eyes held a burning, deep-seated hatred.
The seeds of hatred had been sown. One day, they would sprout and grow into a towering tree.
Arthur didn''t pity him. It all came down to power. Only those with power could avoid being bullied, only they could control their own destiny.
His form flickering from behind the tree, Arthur instantly appeared in front of Enel. This was the perfect chance to gather information, and he wouldn''t miss it.
However, before Arthur could speak, Enel, who was wiping away his tears and not looking ahead, seemed to have grown a third eye. He walked right past Arthur, as if avoiding an obstacle in his path.
It felt like...
"Observation Haki?" Arthur''s pupils contracted. He was shocked.
He had originally thought that Enel''s Observation Haki was powerful because of the Rumble-Rumble Fruit''s electrical wave amplification. Now, it seemed that might not be the case.
Enel looked so young, only six or seven years old. Yet, he had awakened Observation Haki? It was unbelievable. No wonder he could use the fruit''s power to blanket the entire Sky Island and monitor everyone''s conversations!
"He''s got potential. Too bad, I''m here to steal your destiny!" A cold glint flashed in Arthur''s eyes. But his face remained calm as he asked, "Why didn''t you fight back? You could have easily dodged their attacks, right?"
Enel didn''t speak. He continued to stumble forward. Maybe he was in pain. He occasionally gasped.
Arthur wasn''t annoyed that he was being ignored. He continued, "Kid, why aren''t you talking? You and I are both wingless. Maybe we''re from the same place!"
"Huh?" Hearing this, Enel stopped. He turned around. He looked excitedly at Arthur for a long time. After confirming that Arthur also lacked wings, he asked eagerly, "Are you a Moon Person too?"
He sounded hopeful. It seemed like he was lonely and desperately wanted a companion.
"Moon Person?" Arthur was taken aback. He knew the Skypieans were originally from the moon. They had come to the world of One Piece because the moon''s resources were depleted. Because they still longed for the moon, they had evolved wings. But this wasn''t the time to dwell on that.
"You could say that," he answered vaguely. "By the way, why didn''t you fight back just now? dodging their attacks would have been easy. And where did you learn this ability to ''See'' others?"
Arthur was extremely curious about that last question! [13] : The Mantra Training Method!
If Enel could awaken Observation Haki at such a young age, without training, his talent was incredible. With some guidance, he would be a top-tier talent.
But Arthur''s memories of the Skypiea arc were hazy. It had been too long since he had watched the anime. He vaguely remembered that there was a "Mantra" training method on Sky Island. It seemed like Enel himself had mentioned it.
If Birka really had a method for training Observation Haki, Arthur wouldn''t mind taking it first. After all, he had awakened it a few days ago, but he didn''t know how to use or improve it. Having a specific direction was better than fumbling around in the dark.
Perhaps because he had found a "kindred spirit," also without wings, Enel was much more talkative. He said excitedly, "I could have fought them. I used to win our fights. But after I beat them, they would tell their parents, and then..."
He looked indignant. Arthur realized that Enel was just a naive child right now. He wasn''t the ruthless tyrant who would destroy an entire island without a second thought.
Can''t you just call for backup if you can''t win? Where was the fairness in that? Relying on your parents was a skill too.
Arthur understood this logic from his past life.
Enel didn''t know what he was thinking. He continued, "I learned this ability from a book my parents left me. It''s called Mantra, I''ve been practicing it since I was little. Big brother, if you want, I can teach you!"
He looked at Arthur with hopeful eyes. He wanted to show off to his "kindred spirit," to be acknowledged.
Arthur looked at Enel''s innocent eyes. He suddenly felt a little evil, a twinge of guilt. He had just been thinking about stealing the Observation Haki training method and then killing Enel after taking the Rumble-Rumble Fruit.
''Once I steal your Rumble-Rumble Fruit, I''ll find you a decent fruit to compensate,'' he thought to himself.
"No worries, I''ll come to your place later to take a look. I hope you won''t hide it from me then." Arthur pushed away the guilt. He patted Enel''s fluffy head.
"Really? That''s great..." Enel shouted excitedly. He couldn''t contain his joy.
He had never been this happy before.
"Cough cough!" Arthur considered himself a villain, a ruthless killer. But even he couldn''t stand a child''s innocent gaze. He had to change the subject. "By the way, since your parents left you something, where are they?"
"On the Endless Vearth." Enel''s chatterbox was open. He was circling around Arthur, answering every question. "I will definitely go to the Endless Vearth and find them one day."
Endless Vearth was the moon. Skypieans longed for land. They believed the Endless Vearth was their best destination.Support the author by searching for the original publication of this novel.
''Poor kid,'' Arthur thought. He pitied Enel''s parents for three seconds.
Most of his questions had been answered. The kids who had beaten Enel said he had stolen the "ship" blueprints. It was probably because Enel wanted to build the "Ark Maxim," himself, to fly to the Endless Vearth.
"Well, good luck!"
"Yeah!"
...
They chatted for a while. Arthur made up an excuse and parted ways with Enel. After all, he was busy. He needed to find the Rumble-Rumble Fruit, his dream.
But before that, maybe he should get his hands on the Observation Haki training method? And steal the blueprints for "Maxim" hidden in the village?
Of course, Arthur had no interest in the so-called Endless Vearth, He wanted the Maxim because that ship was practically tailor-made for the Rumble-Rumble Fruit''s user.
A pirate ship powered by electricity was a hundred times more advanced than one powered by wind!
Arthur was incredibly excited about it. Just imagine, in the future, he would pilot this golden ship across the Red Line. He would fire a shot at Mary Geoise from the sky. How awesome would that be?
The Celestial Dragons could only stare. They couldn''t do anything to him. Or maybe someone with aerial abilities could try to surround him? Would the Rumble-Rumble Fruit fear aerial combat?
Upper Yard had endless gold. It was the perfect material for building the Maxim.
When the blueprints and materials were all gathered. With the addition of Sky Island''s various and magical Dials, this ship would surpass the "Thousand Sunny," the "Oro Jackson," and the "Moby Dick" the moment it was born!
Thinking about this, he was itching to get started. He wanted to make this divine ship a reality.
...
He followed Enel all the way. Without alerting him, Arthur entered Enel''s dilapidated and cramped home. He searched around. He quickly found the "Mantra" training method.
The training method for Observation Haki was actually very simple. Arthur had already awakened it, so he skipped the beginning and flipped to the back.
He found a corner and started reading. The more he read, the more shocked he became.
Arthur was certain. The person who left this training method must have been a strong user of Observation Haki.
The book said that as long as a creature was alive, it would emit a unique sound. It could be heard. Not only that, even inanimate objects had sounds. But hearing the sounds of inanimate objects was extremely difficult.
Wasn''t this just like Gol D. Roger''s ability to hear the Voice of All Things?
He excitedly continued reading. By the end, even a person''s thoughts, their life force, predicting death, and glimpses of the future were all mentioned in the book.
This was a comprehensive encyclopedia of all Observation Haki development paths.
"Unbelievable!" Arthur almost laughed out loud. This book was invaluable to him. He hadn''t expected such a gain from coming to Sky Island. Even if he couldn''t find the Rumble-Rumble Fruit, it would be worth it.
He had awakened Observation Haki innately. It was much stronger than those who trained for it. He could try to train in all the highest levels and development paths of Observation Haki.
If he succeeded, with the amplification of the Rumble-Rumble Fruit, who on the Grand Line could say their Observation Haki was stronger than his? Roger, Fujitora, Otohime?
He put the book back in its place. He made sure it looked untouched. Arthur searched the dark room. He hid a Light Dial in his clothes. He carefully looked for any sign of the Rumble-Rumble Fruit.
Enel''s parents had left him the "Mantra" training method. Maybe they had also left him the Rumble-Rumble Fruit. Arthur wouldn''t give up any possibility.
Meanwhile, Enel was outside, preparing food. Arthur quickly searched. [14] : One Year...
Arthur had searched every nook and cranny of the house. He was certain the Rumble-Rumble Fruit wasn''t there. Disappointed, he finally left.
Because of the whole Enel situation, his stomach was growling fiercely. He needed food, and fast.
Returning to the beach, Arthur built a fire and roasted a couple of fish he''d caught. Cooked food was definitely a significant improvement over a raw diet.
"Enel''s parents didn''t leave him the Rumble-Rumble Fruit. So he must have found it somewhere out there," Arthur mused, after finishing his meal. He found a large tree and lay down on a thick branch, lost in thought.
"Birka has about a thousand households, a few thousand people. If the villagers had the fruit, Enel probably wouldn''t have gotten it. So, we can rule out that possibility."
"Could it be in the place where they store the ''Maxim'' blueprints? No, that''s impossible. According to Enel, any villager can go there. If it''s not either of those places, then where could it be?"
His eyebrows knitted together in frustration. Arthur''s head began to ache again. He hated thinking. He preferred to solve problems with brute force. But without strength, he had to use his brain. It was maddening.
"Based on the timeline, Enel won''t eat the fruit for many years. Do I have to shadow him for years, missing out on the most exciting era happening down below in the Blue Sea?"
Although following Enel was the most likely way to get the Rumble-Rumble Fruit, Arthur was determined to search for it himself for a while.
He was only thirteen. He had plenty of time to grow stronger. Even if he missed this era''s most turbulent times, he would still reach the pinnacle in the future.
"Blackbeard spent twenty years chasing the Dark-Dark Fruit. Surely I can wait a few years? I gambled with my life on the rising current. I don''t lack this bit of time!"
Arthur constantly compared himself to Blackbeard, trying to motivate himself.
But somehow, he still felt a pang of unwillingness. He wasn''t someone content with mediocrity. If he were, he wouldn''t have gone to such lengths, scheming and calculating the timing of the sea current.
What he desired most was to leave his mark on this great era, to do something earth-shattering, to live a life of unrestrained joy. That was the only way to make his journey to this world worthwhile.
The still-able-bodied Golden Lion, Whitebeard in his prime, the Marine hero Garp, Sengoku, and Roger, are still at the top of his game even in a weakened state!
So many powerful figures were converging in this era, all at their peak. It would be unacceptable for anyone to miss it.
"Three years. I must get the Rumble-Rumble Fruit within three years, before Roger becomes King of the Pirates!" Arthur clenched his fists, his expression resolute.Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation.
He stood at the top of the tree, gazing into the distance. That was the direction of the New World. His eyes burned with ambition.
...
Sky Island was high above. Daytime was short. Without realizing it, night had fallen again.
Arthur trained while pondering where to begin his search.
"Growl!"
The physical exertion made his stomach protest loudly. He stopped training, shaking his head, pulling himself out of his thoughts.
"First, I''ll fill my stomach. Then I''ll keep an eye on Enel, or maybe I''ll take a look in the jungle."
He took out a stolen Heat Dial and cooked dinner. After eating a shocking amount of food, Arthur entered the jungle under the cover of night.
He searched meticulously, examining almost every inch of the island cloud. He climbed trees, checking for hollows that might hide the Rumble-Rumble Fruit.
Late into the night, a weary Arthur finally stopped. He found a place to rest.
The next morning, he rose with the sun. He headed towards the village, avoiding the gossipy residents. He began to monitor Enel''s movements.
...
One month, two months, half a year.
A whole year passed without him noticing.
The year was 1494. Arthur was now fourteen. His daily, relentless training had visibly improved his strength.
He had grown taller, reaching five foot nine. His frequent swims in the sea had given his physique a streamlined look. His explosive power and strength were far greater than a year ago.
His body''s cheat-like recovery was his greatest asset so far. But the Rumble-Rumble Fruit remained elusive.
Sometimes Arthur even considered leaving Sky Island altogether. But then he thought, if he couldn''t even handle this, how could he expect to conquer the Grand Line?
He kept comparing himself to Blackbeard, managing to suppress his restlessness.
Last year, in 1493, Roger had fallen ill. He led the Roger Pirates out of the New World and found Crocus at Reverse Mountain. Crocus, wanting to find the Rumbar Pirates to comfort Laboon the whale, joined the crew. The Roger Pirates began to tour the Four Seas.
This year, the scholars of Ohara formed an expedition to study the Poneglyphs. Nico Olvia entrusted her 2-year-old daughter, Nico Robin, to her brother''s family.
And Arthur, aside from his increased physical strength and improved fighting skills, had gained nothing.
During that year, he had searched the island''s jungle almost every day. He also made time to monitor Enel.
His Observation Haki grew stronger. He could even "see" the flow of the wind, and his range now encompassed a radius of 900 feet around him. Monitoring Enel was effortless. He could always stay one step ahead without being detected.
During this time, Arthur hadn''t interacted with him. Without a companion, Enel reverted to his old self: expressionless and numb. He was bullied daily by the village children but didn''t fight back. Yet, the hatred in his heart grew to an unbearable degree.
It just needed a spark, and it would surely ignite into an inferno.
...
Arthur watched coldly. Compared to obtaining the Rumble-Rumble Fruit, he didn''t care about anything else.
Enel had also searched the entire island for him. But Arthur was either in the forest looking for the fruit or intentionally avoiding him. Naturally, he wasn''t found. Eventually, Enel gave up on his sudden appearance and disappearance. He assumed his "kindred spirit" had secretly gone to the Endless Vearth.
Over this long period, Arthur not only figured out where Enel liked to play, he also secretly searched every villager''s home.
He wouldn''t give up any possibility. But he found nothing, not even a clue. It was just as he had imagined.
Every inch of Birka''s island cloud, every household, every tree, Arthur had searched them all. He had almost overturned the entire island. He had even carefully examined the place where the "Ark Maxim" was stored.
He was certain the Rumble-Rumble Fruit was not on the island. [15] : Two Possibilities!
Arthur submerged himself in the White-White Sea, using the water pressure to train his strength. Day and night, he never stopped training.
Even though his current strength was vastly different from before, he didn''t slack off.
In the world of One Piece, relying solely on Devil Fruit''s powers was not enough. A powerful physique and extraordinary stamina were needed to use a Devil Fruit''s powers continuously.
Most fruits required physical strength to be used to their full potential.
Moreover, the stronger the body, the faster a Devil Fruit''s powers would develop.
When a fruit was eaten, it took effect immediately. But those with stronger bodies developed their powers faster than those with weaker bodies.
Luffy could stretch his body immediately after eating the Gomu-Gomu Fruit. But he couldn''t control it well. He would often hit himself by accident. But when Sabo ate the Flame-Flame Fruit, he could use fire attacks right away. This was proof.
Therefore, physical fitness determined the use of most Devil Fruit powers.
"Splash¡ª"
Arthur climbed out of the sea, shaking the water off his body. He casually put on clothes he had taken from a villager and began his breakfast.
After searching all of Birka for a whole year, finding nothing, Arthur realized that maybe the Rumble-Rumble Fruit wasn''t on Birka at all.
...
After eating breakfast, Arthur began to recall his memories about Enel''s life.
Enel destroyed Birka. Then he led his men to attack Upper Yard. He drove out the God, Gan Fall. He took over God''s Land and became the new God. He then began to use the God Squad to build the Ark Maxim. This was in the year 1514.
The blueprints for the Ark Maxim were, needless to say, taken from Birka. But before he destroyed Birka, he must have already obtained the power of lightning, which he called "God." How did he get the Rumble-Rumble Fruit?
Or rather, Enel had no strength to speak of. His Observation Haki was immature. His physical skills were notoriously poor. The villagers of Birka could have easily beaten him. How could he destroy Birka?
From this, it could be deduced that before he destroyed Birka and attacked Upper Yard, he must have already obtained the Rumble-Rumble Fruit.
Since that was the case, the Rumble-Rumble Fruit was definitely not on Angel Island or Upper Yard. It had to be near Birka.
However, Arthur had searched every corner of Birka and found nothing.
Therefore, it could be inferred that Enel had obtained the Rumble-Rumble Fruit from elsewhere, or from the White-White Sea.
Thinking of this, Arthur''s furrowed brow relaxed. This was indeed a possibility.
Devil Fruits were the treasures of the sea. They appeared randomly in some corner of the ocean.Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.
According to this, did that mean that Sky Island didn''t produce Devil Fruits? Were they brought up by the rising current or by people who entered Sky Island?
It made sense. Looking at the whole of Sky Island, besides Enel''s Rumble-Rumble Fruit, there was only the current God Gan Fall''s mount, that pink-winged bird that had eaten a Devil Fruit. The Zoan-type Horse-Horse Fruit, Pegasus Form.
Sky Island could not produce Devil Fruits. So far, only these two examples had appeared. Then the probability that the fruit was brought up by the rising current from the Blue Sea was very high.
Having sorted out his thoughts, Arthur''s heart pounded. Even taking deep breaths couldn''t calm him down. He thought this was very likely.
But although Birka was small, the area of the White-White Sea was huge. It wasn''t something Arthur could search in a short time.
...
"Enel was often bullied by the villagers. He couldn''t stand it. One day in the future, he might build a boat and leave Birka. Although the village cut off contact with Angel Island, everyone knows the direction of Angel Island. In that case, the Rumble-Rumble Fruit must be between Angel Island and Birka!"
Arthur''s mind began to clear. His analysis sped up.
"That''s not certain! Another possibility is that the blueprints for the Ark Maxim were available for anyone on the island to see, except for Enel. He must have secretly gone to look at them because he wanted to go to his dreamland¡ªthe moon, the Endless Vearth."
"This violated Birka''s laws. The villagers had long wanted to execute Enel but didn''t have an excuse. This act of secretly looking at the blueprints for the Ark was their excuse to kill him!"
"The method of execution on Sky Island is called Cloud Drifting. They put Enel on a drift cloud and let him float around, to fend for himself. By luck, he obtained the Rumble-Rumble Fruit!"
He thought it over. These were the only two possibilities. Arthur didn''t believe that Enel found it in the waters near Birka.
Because he had already searched the nearby waters. He hadn''t found any fruit. There weren''t even any shipwrecks. Not even the nearby marine life had escaped Arthur''s belly. They had long been digested into nothing.
"First, I''ll ask around the village. I''ll find out where they carry out the Cloud Drifting executions. Then I''ll search in that direction. If that doesn''t work, I''ll search in the direction of Angel Island."
...
Having made his decision, Arthur didn''t want to delay any longer. He was eager to eat the Rumble-Rumble Fruit.
Dressed neatly, Arthur rushed towards the village. Before long, he encountered a villager carrying a fishing net, about to go fishing.
He stopped. He put his long hair behind his head. He gave what he thought was a kind smile. He asked.
"Excuse me¡ªwhere on Birka do they carry out the Cloud Drifting executions? I''m curious¡ª"
But the villager ignored Arthur. He walked right past him. He muttered to himself.
"A wingless freak, asking about Cloud Drifting? Does he want to try it? What an idiot."
Arthur''s Observation Haki was now quite advanced. His five senses were extremely sharp. How could he not hear this muttering? His smile froze on his face. A cold glint flashed in his eyes.
"It seems, only by showing strength, by beating them until they''re scared, will they choose to communicate normally. In that case¡ª"
He turned around. He suddenly reached out. He grabbed the back of the fisherman''s neck. He lifted the old man, who weighed less than a hundred pounds, off the ground.
"If you don''t want to talk, I have plenty of ways to make you talk!"
Arthur grinned coldly. He couldn''t stand this disrespectful old man any longer. He carried him and strode back towards the beach.
"What do you want to do? You freak, do you want to kill someone? I''m going to report you to the village chief. You''ll be sentenced to Cloud Drifting. Freak, let go of me¡ªAh!"
"Pa!"
"Shut up. If you keep talking, I''ll make you regret it!"
"Pa!!"
"Pa!!!"
Arthur slapped him. The fisherman quieted down. He looked at Arthur''s cold, emotionless eyes. He looked at him fearfully.
Back on the beach, he casually tossed the old man onto the island cloud. He said coldly.
"Tell me¡ªwhere do you carry out the Cloud Drifting executions on this island!" [16] : A Giant Ancient Ship鈥擨t has to be Here!
The insolent old man was lifted into the air by Arthur, a slap sending several teeth flying. Only two remained, dangling precariously in his mouth.
Meeting Arthur''s icy gaze, the old man''s bravado evaporated. He¡ªalmost pissed himself in fear.
"Speak! Where on Birka do they carry out the executions¡ªthe Cloud Drifting? Tell me everything, and you might live!"
"P-please¡ªMercy!" The old man stammered, his body trembling uncontrollably. "Cloud Drifting is usually performed on this beach. The village chief gives the order, and the whole village votes¡ª"
He was desperate to reveal everything he knew. He even confessed to peeking at the village chief''s wife bathing when he was a boy. He spilled his guts, fearing another beating.
"Oh? You''re being cooperative." A cold smile touched Arthur''s lips.
Some people were like this. Polite words were wasted on them. Only when they were truly terrified would they reveal everything they knew.
In this world where might makes right and laws were nonexistent, violence couldn''t solve every problem. But without violence, no problem could be solved.
"I''m in a good mood today, so I''ll spare your pathetic life. But if you dare to reveal that I asked you about this¡ªyou know the consequences." Arthur sneered.
Arthur is in a good mood today. He didn''t want to jinx it by killing. So he spared the old man.
If he found the Rumble-Rumble Fruit on this trip, everyone would be happy. If he didn''t? He would need lives to quell his fury.
"Yes, yes, yes!" The old man nodded repeatedly. He scrambled away, running faster than many young men could manage.
Ignoring the fleeing old man, who wished he had an extra pair of legs, Arthur moved like a phantom, returning from the edge of Birka to where he had stored the Waver.
This wasn''t a search of the shallows. He was heading into the depths of the White-White Sea. He needed something to conserve his stamina.
...
Boarding the Waver¡ªArthur immediately pushed it to maximum speed, heading deep into the White-White Sea.
His heart pounded intensely at that moment. It was a strange premonition, making him feel that something significant would happen on this trip.
His¡ªObservation Haki was growing stronger, and he trusted his instincts.
"My deduction can''t be wrong. Enel destroyed Birka before going to Angel Island. That means he must have found the¡ªRumble-Rumble Fruit in the White-White Sea!"
Arthur narrowed his eyes, letting the sea breeze buffet him. The Waver cut through the waves, leaving Birka further and further behind.
"Enel is only about seven years old now. If I wait for him to go out to sea himself or get punished for some transgression, who knows how long that will take? I don''t have that much time to waste here."The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.
His heart raced. His blood felt like it was boiling. Arthur''s premonition grew stronger.
Away from Birka, the Waver''s speed began to decrease. He scanned his surroundings. Although it was misty and visibility wasn''t great, he could see that there were no ships in sight.
Arthur wasn''t discouraged. He took off his shirt, took a deep breath, and jumped directly into the White-White Sea.
If it wasn''t on the surface, it had to be below, or hidden in the mist where his eyes couldn''t reach.
Arthur searched meticulously, almost inch by inch, not letting any place go unexamined. If he missed the Rumble-Rumble Fruit due to a moment of carelessness, he would regret it forever.
Individual power was insignificant. Moreover, Observation Haki couldn''t be used to its full potential underwater. In the past year, he had consciously trained his ability to discern underwater currents. The results weren''t remarkable, but they were better than nothing.
Whenever the seawater flowed past an obstacle, Arthur would notice, then take a look, checking if it was the fruit.
When immersed in a task, time often flew by.
The sun set, and night fell.
Arthur had been searching all day and still found nothing. But he wasn''t discouraged. He was certain the Rumble-Rumble Fruit was, as he had deduced, hidden in some corner of the White-White Sea, waiting for him.
Because the more he searched, the faster his heart beat. He considered this a¡ªrudimentary form of Observation Haki''s ability to foresee the future.
One day, the seed would sprout, and his Observation Haki would reach its peak.
...
Further away from Birka, the Sea Beasts in the White-White Sea grew larger, comparable in size to the Sea Kings of the Blue Sea. But Arthur wasn''t fazed. He didn''t even bother with them.
A year ago, when Arthur was training in the sea, their sudden appearance had startled him. Later, he discovered that these Sea Beasts were all bark and no bite.
They were like balloons, easily popped with a little force. Their actual bodies were only the size of a palm, not even enough for a mouthful.
Ignoring the fierce roars of the Sea Beasts, Arthur lay on the Waver, resting for three hours. Then he continued his search for the fruit.
One day, two days, three days! Three days in a row, and he still came up empty-handed.
At noon on the third day, the sun hung directly overhead. Sunlight pierced the mist rising from the cloudy sea.
After three fruitless days of searching, Arthur suddenly noticed something. In the sea about a thousand yards ahead, a huge¡ªmulti-story ship had appeared without warning.
This ship was enormous¡ªwith several levels, stretching hundreds of yards long. It was bigger than any ship Arthur had ever seen.
He couldn''t imagine how such a great feat of shipbuilding could be achieved in this world, especially considering it was made of wood.
The sudden appearance of the ship was dilapidated, filled with a decaying aura, etched with the marks of time, and covered in green moss.
It was silent, like a ghost ship.
Arthur''s breathing quickened instantly. His heart felt like it was about to leap out of his chest. His blood rushed to his head.
"It has to be here, it has to be here¡ª"
He roared in his mind. A possessiveness he couldn''t explain rose within him. His almost crazed desire for the Rumble-Rumble Fruit made him nearly lose his senses.
His thirst for power had transformed him from a commoner into a¡ªCalculating schemer.
Eagerly, he jumped from the Waver onto the deck of the thirty-foot-tall ship. Pushing open the decaying wooden door, Arthur quickly entered the ship''s interior.
...
The inside of the ship was, as expected, enormous. It could hold thousands of people, like a cruise ship from his¡ªpast life.
With the door open, light flooded in, revealing a scene of utter carnage. Skeletons littered the floor, making it difficult to find a place to step.
The clothes and fine jewelry that hadn''t turned to dust indicated that these dead people were wealthy and powerful when they were alive.
Arthur couldn''t care less. His eyes were drawn to the chests of gold and jewels at the far end of the hold.
It wasn''t greed that attracted him. It was the half-opened small wooden box in the center of the gold and jewels. It emitted a dazzling blue light that captivated his soul, like the glow of¡ªlightning itself! [17] : The Rumble-Rumble Fruit!!!
The small wooden box amidst the gold and jewels captivated Arthur.
He held his breath, approaching slowly, like a monk on a pilgrimage. His usual calm was gone, replaced by overwhelming excitement.
He drew nearer.
Arthur extended a trembling hand. As if he had found the most precious treasure, he picked up the small wooden box. He used his sleeve to wipe away the dust that had accumulated over countless years.
The iron lock on the wooden box had long since rusted away, revealing a gap, showing a glimpse of the treasure inside.
"Crack!"
Exhaling a breath he''d been holding, he slowly opened the box. Inside, lay a blue¡ªpineapple-shaped Devil Fruit!
Arthur didn''t know whether to laugh or cry¡ªHis handsome face contorted into a strange expression, a mix of both.
Five years of planning, risking his life, and searching on Birka for an entire year. Finally, his efforts had paid off. He had found the Rumble-Rumble Fruit he had dreamed of.
Arthur was absolutely certain this pineapple-shaped Devil Fruit was the Rumble-Rumble Fruit. Natural-type fruits had a distinct characteristic: they were all shaped like pineapples, with raised bumps that resembled certain natural phenomena.
The fruit in his hand had lightning-shaped patterns all over it, densely packed. It was about the size of his palm, exquisite¡ªHe felt an urge to put it away and treasure it forever.
"Huff! Huff! Huff!"
Arthur breathed heavily. Every cell in his body was filled with intense desire.
He closed his eyes, pinched his nose, and ate the fruit, bite by bite. He didn''t leave a single scrap.
Arthur knew that eating just one bite of a Devil Fruit would grant its power.
But he wasn''t sure if there was a difference in power between eating one bite and eating the whole thing. So he didn''t waste any of it.
Then¡ª
"Ugh... Ugh..."
The instant he swallowed it, Arthur felt like he was going to collapse. He clutched his throat, his body convulsing as he started to retch.
"Damn it, this taste is too much¡ªIt''s anti-human!"
He couldn''t help but curse. He knew that Devil Fruits tasted worse than shit, but he hadn''t expected it to be this bad.
No wonder even someone as carefree as Luffy couldn''t stand it, calling it something worse than shit.
He dry-heaved for three minutes. It felt like his stomach had already been emptied. He couldn''t even bring up a drop of water. Arthur could only stuff the water and food he carried with him into his mouth, trying to get rid of the indescribable taste.The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.
His face returned to its normal color. His hand covered his forehead. His body trembled, the tremors growing stronger. His lips slowly curled upwards.
"Hahahaha!!"
Arthur laughed wildly. The sound echoed across the White-White Sea¡ªstartling all the nearby Sea Beasts, which fled in terror.
Blue electric arcs danced on his body. Gradually¡ªelectricity filled the entire cabin. The piles of gold and jewels were attracted to it, dancing on the floor.
No one could hear his inner joy. Only by laughing out loud could he release it. Arthur gradually calmed down. He extended his palm. With a thought, blue currents gathered in his hand...
"Zzzzzzt¡ª!!"
The sharp, piercing sound of electricity was like the chirping of countless birds. The jumping electric arcs continued to converge, forming a dazzling blue ball of lightning in his palm.
With a flick of his wrist, the lightning ball flew out the open wooden door.
"BOOOOMMMM!!!"
A violent explosion shook the sky. The shockwave made the large ship sway slightly.
Arthur walked out of the cabin, dispersing the water vapor that rushed towards him.
Suddenly, his pupils contracted. He was stunned by the power of his casual strike.
On the surface of the White-White Sea, a huge pit, over thirty feet in diameter, had appeared. From the pit, he could see the island clouds of Sky Island, 23,000 feet below.
In other words, Arthur''s casually formed lightning ball had pierced through the clouds at an altitude of 33,000 feet!
The clouds slowly flowed, gradually filling in the pierced area. The huge pit slowly disappeared.
Although island clouds were ten times, a hundred times softer than land, being a mixture of water and clouds, and could be easily destroyed, it was still enough to show the power of the Rumble-Rumble Fruit!
There were many kinds of Devil Fruits, beyond human imagination, encompassing almost all abilities. But not every fruit could be used for combat immediately after being eaten.
Arthur''s body was already exceptionally strong. When he ate the fruit, it immediately took effect. He knew this himself. But he hadn''t expected the effect to be so much more powerful than he had estimated.
When Enel ate the fruit, he destroyed Birka. He didn''t know how long it took Enel to develop his abilities. He probably didn''t need much time. The power of the Rumble-Rumble Fruit was truly top-notch!
""
Arthur held out his hands. Electric light danced in his hands. It slowly took shape, becoming a six-foot-long spear of lightning. He hurled it at the deck.
The spear flashed, moving incredibly fast. In the blink of an eye, it struck the deck.
"Boom!"
Another explosion, but not as intense as the lightning ball from before.
A three-foot-wide hole appeared where the Lightning Spear had struck the deck. It was charred black. The hole penetrated several levels of the ship. The powerful penetrating force pierced through the ship''s hull. Seawater from below was slowly pouring in.
After testing the Rumble-Rumble Fruit''s abilities, Arthur finally controlled his excitement. He had just eaten it. He couldn''t use it as he pleased yet. But he was already satisfied. Next, he would see if his talent was enough to develop the true power of the fruit.
""
With a thought, Arthur''s body turned into lightning. In an instant, he moved from the deck to the cabin.
This giant ship hadn''t been fully explored yet. There might be other good things left behind. Now that it was sinking, he wanted to search it thoroughly.
Gold and jewels didn''t interest Arthur. There were countless amounts of those on Upper Yard.
There was enough to build his future ship - the Ark Thunder God.
He was interested in real treasures, rare items like Meito, or Devil Fruits.
Entering the cabin, he casually pushed aside the piles of gold and jewels. Glancing around, he found nothing.
It didn''t matter if he had other gains. Arthur had already obtained the Rumble-Rumble Fruit.
The giant ship had five levels. Arthur was incredibly fast. It only took him few moments to search from top to bottom. His methods were simple and brutal. He directly used lightning to blast open the doors and the gaps between floors.
Inside the ship''s treasure vault, a glint of something caught Arthur''s eye. A genuine treasure. [18] : The Horse-Horse Fruit, Pegasus Form!
The treasure resting quietly in the vault was a white, banana-shaped fruit with feather-like patterns. Arthur immediately lost interest.
Banana-shaped fruits were almost always Zoan-type, utterly useless. Aside from Mythical Zoans, which were even rarer than Logia-types, Arthur had no interest in any Zoan fruits.
He didn''t think his luck was that extraordinary, getting the Rumble-Rumble Fruit and then a Mythical Zoan right after.
"I robbed Enel of his destiny¡ªso I''ll compensate him with this fruit," Arthur mused, stroking his chin. He considered himself a benevolent person.
Mood dictates action!
Arthur was in an exceptionally good mood, making decisions based on his whims.
He was gradually becoming more unrestrained¡ªhis actions carrying a sense of casualness. When his spirit was strong enough¡ªhe was sure his Conqueror''s Haki would awaken as well.
Reborn into the Seabury family, bearing the initial "D" in his name, being the natural enemy of God, his destiny was already extraordinary. He possessed the qualities of a king. As long as he nurtured his spirit¡ªawakening Conqueror''s Haki would be a cinch.
...
Tucking the white Zoan fruit into his clothes, Arthur flew out of the hole he''d blasted.
The ancient ship was being steadily swallowed by the encroaching seawater and clouds. It was at its end, about to sink at any moment. But Arthur wouldn''t forget it. It was here that he had obtained the power that would influence his life forever.
Hovering in the air¡ªArthur watched solemnly as the giant ship was devoured by the sea. Then he returned to the Waver, parked not far away.
The Rumble-Rumble Fruit granted flight and the ability to stay airborne for extended periods. But long-distance flight would drain his stamina.
Recalling the trials and tribulations of the past year, all his efforts had finally yielded a bountiful reward. A smile touched Arthur''s lips as he piloted the Waver back towards Birka.
"Next, I need to get the blueprints for the ''Ark Maxim'' from Birka. There are no strong fighters on the island¡ªNo one can stop me."
Arthur didn''t care if Enel could return to the¡ªEndless Vearth, in the future. Compensating him with a Zoan Devil Fruit was already a great kindness. What more could he want, a bicycle?
"After I get Maxim''s blueprints, should I focus on developing my fruit powers for a while, or directly attack Upper Yard? All that gold up there won''t run away. I should train first. Strength is the foundation of everything," he pondered silently.
Even though the Rumble-Rumble Fruit allowed for elementalization, making him untouchable to those without Armament Haki, maintaining that form required stamina.
Arthur didn''t know how many guards were on Upper Yard, so he decided to postpone his attack.Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.
He wouldn''t underestimate the power of Logia fruits as being invincible. If he became that arrogant, he wouldn''t know how he died in the future.
Ace thought the same when he first set sail. He fought Warlord Jinbe for five days and five nights, believing himself to be invincible.
Then he foolishly challenged Whitebeard. If it weren''t for Whitebeard''s magnanimous spirit¡ªnot taking him seriously, Ace would have been crushed with a single quake-punch.
He was lucky he didn''t challenge Big Mom or Kaido. Otherwise¡ªhe wouldn''t have even made it to the Summit War. He would''ve been instantly killed.
The Waver sped in the direction he had come from. He didn''t need to waste any time. In just half a day, Birka was in sight.
Arthur leaped, soaring into the sky, his body transforming into lightning as he flew.
Flying now felt like an instinct, no training required.
He descended as a bolt of lightning, landing in front of Enel''s house. He snuck in silently.
...
It was midday. Every household was starting to cook lunch. There were few people on the streets. No one could see him.
Enel was no exception. He was in the kitchen, preparing his meager meal.
He had no means of production. He could only scavenge for fish and shrimp on the beach or steal some food.
Arthur took out the Devil Fruit. While Enel wasn''t looking, he placed it in the apple basket nearby.
Enel''s favorite food was apples. He occasionally ate bananas too. He would surely see it soon.
Arthur hid behind the door, watching him through the crack. He didn''t leave immediately because he wanted to see what that fruit''s power was.
Enel was completely oblivious. He finished his fish, let out a satisfied burp, and reached into the basket.
However, he didn''t pull out a round apple as usual. Instead, he pulled out a banana-shaped object.
"What kind of fruit is this? A banana?" Enel was surprised, a hint of curiosity in his eyes.
There was no one to answer him. He was just asking himself.
He peeled the white skin, revealing the patterned flesh inside. Enel looked disgusted. But he thought about how he had no food to waste, so he decided to eat this "banana."
He wolfed it down.
As Arthur expected, Enel couldn''t stand the anti-human taste of the Devil Fruit. In fact, no living creature could.
He vomited until bile came up. Finally, he recovered. But then, something strange happened...
The clothes on Enel''s back bulged. It was as if something was about to burst out.
"Rip!"
His clothes tore open. A pair of pure white wings emerged from his back, just like the Skypieans, but several times larger.
"Zoan Mythical type, Human-Human Fruit¡ªAngel Form?" Arthur was startled. He felt cheated. If it really was a Mythical Zoan, he wouldn''t have been willing to give it away. Good things should be kept for oneself, even if they rotted, rather than given to others, unless they were family.
Then, he frowned. "No, it might be another form of the Bird-Bird Fruit!"
After all, just because it had wings didn''t make it a Mythical Zoan. Most Bird-Bird Fruit users had wings.
Enel''s transformation continued. After growing huge wings, his face began to change.
His earlobes gradually retracted, turning into a pair of horse ears. His face began to elongate. Soon, he had an incredibly long horse face. Even his limbs showed signs of transforming into hooves.
"Isn''t this¡ªthe Zoan-type Horse-Horse Fruit, Pegasus Form, eaten by the sky bird that is the mount of the God of Skypiea¡ªGan Fall?"
Arthur was stunned, staring wide-eyed as Enel showed signs of transforming into a Pegasus.
But he was still young. His body was not fully developed. He was also malnourished. He didn''t have the stamina to complete the transformation.
After just a minute, he reverted to his human form, collapsing on the ground, panting heavily.
"That makes sense. There are only two Devil Fruits on Sky Island. I ate one. This is the other one. Gan Fall''s bird wasn''t lucky enough to get it."
It had been a long time since 1520. It was perfectly normal that the sky bird hadn''t eaten the fruit yet. [19] : Electric Field Enhancement!!
Arthur left the village, returning to the forest on the other side of Birka.
He had taken Enel''s fruit and given him another in return. It was a fair trade, he reasoned, feeling no guilt whatsoever.
Now, he could set aside all distractions and focus on training in the forest.
Daily workouts were essential. Physical prowess was a vital asset in the future. Arthur pushed himself relentlessly, each punch thrown with all his might, the force of his blows rustling the leaves on the forest floor.
Sweat flew in every direction, drenching his clothes, but he paid it no mind. He was completely absorbed in the feeling of growing power.
"My Rumble-Rumble Fruit is only in its initial stage. To get stronger, I need to hone it. But what''s the fastest way to increase my strength?"
Even while training, Arthur''s mind was occupied with other matters. These physical exertions were not enough to fully engage his attention.
"Electric current can stimulate muscle and bone cells¡ªleading to rapid physical enhancement. Should I give it a try?"
The idea suddenly struck him, and his eyes lit up. It seemed worth exploring.
In his past life, he had enjoyed various anime¡ªOne Piece was his favorite, but he had also watched an anime called¡ªNaruto.
The Raikage¡ªin Naruto used a secret family technique to enhance their physical strength. That technique involved channeling¡ªlightning through their bodies!
Once the idea took root, it wouldn''t let go. Arthur even stopped his physical training.
"I have to try this method. Failure is no big deal. But if I succeed¡ªIn the future, I might even be able to contend with the likes of Kaido and Whitebeard in raw power!" His eyes shone with an almost frightening intensity.
However, this method was extremely dangerous, potentially fatal. It required time and careful experimentation.
The Raikage''s technique was a family secret. His ancestors must have spent a considerable amount of time, generation after generation, developing it.
Only through such dedication could they have created their unique enhancement method.
But Arthur was different. He had consumed the Rumble-Rumble Fruit and could control lightning. He could precisely regulate the intensity of the electric current.
He could develop this technique in the shortest time possible. And with time, surpassing the Raikage was a given.
...
The experiment was extremely dangerous. Arthur had to be the test subject. One misstep, and death was the only outcome.
A normal person''s cause of death from electrocution was typically when the current passing through the body exceeded a safe threshold.
Beyond that threshold, the lungs stopped breathing. The heart muscles lost their ability to contract and beat, leading to ventricular fibrillation. The "blood pump" would cease to function, halting blood circulation throughout the body.You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.
Once blood circulation stopped, it caused cellular oxygen deprivation. Within 10-15 seconds, a person would lose consciousness. After a few more minutes, nerve cells would begin to die, ultimately leading to death.
This was all common knowledge. In his previous life¡ªArthur was a welder. He frequently dealt with electricity, so he knew this like the back of his hand.
The severity of electric shock depended on several factors: the current''s intensity, voltage, resistance, duration, the path it took through the body, and the individual''s physical condition.
When a current of 1 milliampere (one-thousandth of an ampere) passed through the body, a person would feel a tingling sensation. At 10 milliamperes, the sensation would become unbearable, and the body would start to react.
At 20 milliamperes, muscle contractions would occur. If the current continued, it could lead to death. At 50 milliamperes or more, even a brief exposure could be fatal.
Arthur''s current physical condition was far beyond that of an ordinary human. In short, he was superhuman¡ªHis robust physique could withstand a higher electrical current¡ªTherefore, he could start his experiment with a slightly increased intensity.
But he couldn''t forget that besides current, voltage was also a danger!
The higher the voltage, the more dangerous it was. Generally¡ªa person could safely withstand voltages of 36 volts or less. Above 36 volts, there was a risk of fatal electrocution.
Furthermore, the longer the duration of the shock, the greater the risk. When a person couldn''t break free from the power source, their muscle contraction ability would rapidly decline, leading to heart failure, suffocation, coma, shock, and ultimately, death.
Arthur wasn''t worried about this aspect. As the master of lightning, he could control it at will. If he felt any discomfort, he could stop it immediately.
The Rumble-Rumble Fruit had a technique called¡ª"Electric Therapy," which could stimulate the heart with electricity and revive a person from the brink of death.
If Enel could develop such a bizarre ability, there was no reason Arthur couldn''t use electricity to stimulate his muscles and enhance his physique.
He found a spot and sat down, carefully regulating the lightning while ensuring his body didn''t become elementalized. He began his experiments, starting small.
Of course, Arthur was too cautious to experiment directly on his body at first. He channeled the current into his little finger, completely isolating it from the rest of his body.
It was just a little finger. If it got damaged, he could simply cut it off. It wouldn''t affect his combat ability. There were plenty of ways to recover on the Grand Line.
But if he used it on his body and damaged his internal organs, he''d be on the verge of death. He wouldn''t have the luxury of finding a doctor then.
The current flowed, gradually increasing in intensity. Arthur meticulously observed the changes in his little finger...
...
Time flew by. A month passed.
"Finally, success!" Sitting on a thick tree branch, Arthur nearly leaped up in excitement.
After a month of experimentation, he could clearly feel that his left little finger was stronger than his right, not just in terms of raw power, but also in flexibility and dexterity.
"Hahaha! Now I can confidently use electricity to enhance my body! Kaido''s title of ''Strongest Creature''¡ªwill soon be mine!" Arthur''s spirits were high.
Over the past month, he had continuously increased the current and voltage. His left little finger had nearly been burnt to a crisp in an accident. Fortunately, he had managed to elementalize in time, avoiding amputation.
Now that the experiment was successful, his body would be constantly strengthened by the electric current. Sooner or later, he could reach a terrifying level of power, where he could shatter mountains with his fists.
<"Zzzzzzt¡ª!">
The faint sound of electricity crackled. Under Arthur''s control, it flowed through every part of his body, even his bones, except for his fragile internal organs.
He wasn''t about to take risks with his internal organs yet. One mistake could be fatal. However, Arthur was confident that one day, he could enhance even his organs. Then, he would become a true Superman, with no weaknesses, inside or out.
His skin, muscles, and bones were slowly growing stronger. The tingling sensation made Arthur''s body shiver involuntarily. He glanced around, feeling a little self-conscious.
Fortunately, no one was nearby. Otherwise, he would have had to ''silence'' them.
The sensation was even more pleasant than soaking in a hot spring, a tingling feeling all over his body. Arthur relaxed and enjoyed the moment. [20] : Training and Fruit Development Controlling the electric current to strengthen his body not only didn''t drain his stamina, but instead invigorated Arthur, leaving him feeling refreshed and comfortable. After a hearty meal to replenish his energy, Arthur was stunned by the sheer amount of food he had consumed. He quickly shook off the surprise¡ªA Powerful body and a Powerful Devil Fruit naturally required a high energy intake. It wouldn''t be strange if he could eat an entire mountain in the future. "Humans can only replenish their energy through food¡ªThe stronger the person, the more energy they consume!" Arthur mused, not overly concerned. There was one thing the world of One Piece had in abundance: high-energy food. If worst came to worst¡ªhe could always spend some Belly and buy a Sea King to eat. ... In a remote, sparsely populated forest near the White-White Sea, stood a small wooden cabin¡ªThis was Arthur''s current dwelling. "1998...1999...2000!" Next to the cabin, on a wooden board made from a thick tree trunk, a shirtless Arthur, with a large log strapped to his back¡ªwas doing one-finger Push-ups, using only his thumb to support himself. This exercise was designed to Strengthen his Arms and Core! Sweat dripped from his sharply defined muscles¡ªas if he had just showered. After completing a full two thousand push-ups, Arthur showed no signs of stopping to rest. He was determined to push his limits as far as possible. Up and down he went¡ªwith incredible speed. His body, enhanced by the electric current¡ªfelt stronger almost by the second. To maintain control over this rapidly increasing power, Arthur had to train relentlessly. This level of high-intensity training, especially with the added weight, would have terrified an ordinary person. Training with a single-minded focus¡ªArthur found no hint of boredom. He reveled in the joy of growing stronger. During this period, his strength had increased exponentially. If he were to encounter ''Black Bear LaBeouf'' from a year ago, he was confident he could kill him with no more than two punches. Wiping the sweat from his brow, Arthur''s handsome face turned towards Angel Island. He made a decision¡ªIn another month, he would conquer Upper Yard, and have them build his future vessel, the¡ª"Ark Thunder God." After the push-ups, he moved on to squats, followed by intense punching drills. He didn''t want to rest for even a second. His ambition was to become the freest man on the Grand Line, unbound by any rules. To achieve this¡ªstrength was paramount. If he wanted to live a thrilling and exciting life¡ªhe would inevitably make others unhappy. ...If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. After a morning of completing all his training, Arthur exhaled deeply, preparing lunch. His days were very fulfilling. "In the morning, I train my body and master my growing strength. In the afternoon, I develop my Devil Fruit powers¡ªAt night, I sleep while using the electric current to enhance my body!" He had his path laid out. As long as he followed it resolutely¡ªit wouldn''t be long before he had the power to dominate the seas. Wiping his sweat, he scooped up a ladle of water, washing the sweat and grime from his body. Devil Fruit users were weak to seawater, but ordinary water didn''t affect them. Otherwise¡ªhow would they bathe? (One Piece Film: Z Proves this¡ªThe Straw Hats and Aokiji had no problem soaking in the hot springs.) Arthur even intentionally let his body be washed by seawater. Although he couldn''t eliminate the Devil Fruit''s weakness to seawater, he could at least endure it a second or two longer. Aokiji could stick his hand in the ocean to freeze it, proving he could overcome the weakness to seawater for a short time. Returning to the cabin, Arthur devoured the food he had prepared, replenishing his stamina. Then, he transformed into lightning and flew to the airspace above the White-White Sea to begin developing his fruit powers. The destructive power of the Rumble-Rumble Fruit was terrifying. He didn''t want to accidentally destroy Birka¡ªWhere would he get the blueprints for the Maxim then? Away from Birka, Arthur floated in the clouds, stretching out his arms to relax. Then, his gaze sharpened. Lightning began to gather around him. <"Zzzzzzt!"> Powerful currents roared. His entire body turned into lightning, shining brilliantly. Streaks of lightning, like serpents, danced around him. The heat generated distorted the air. <"Ten Million Volts, Thunderbird!"> Controlling the dancing lightning¡ªArthur pushed his hands forward¡ªHe softly uttered, and the dazzling lightning formed a giant bird of prey. "Screech¡ª!" The Thunderbird¡ªFormed entirely of lightning, seemed to possess a life of its own. It emitted a deafening shriek. Blue electric currents flickered intensely on its body. Its outstretched wings, like sharp blades of lightning, sliced through all the clouds and mist in its path. "BOOOOOOOOOMMMM!!!" Arthur directed the Thunderbird to crash into the White-White Sea. Instantly, mist filled the air, and water splashed everywhere¡ªAn unknown amount of water was vaporized by the lightning. The destructive power far surpassed that of his first casual lightning ball. Even though he had anticipated it, Arthur was still shocked by the terrifying power. "It''s a Cheat-like ability¡ªHow did Enel develop it to the point where Luffy could defeat him?" He couldn''t understand it¡ªno matter how much he thought about it. Maybe he would only find the answer when Luffy set sail over twenty years from now. The large hole beneath his feet, created by the Thunderbird, was still shocking Arthur''s senses. His Observation Haki could clearly sense the airflow from below. He knew that the dozens of feet thick island cloud had been pierced through once again. This Ten Million Volt Thunderbird was even more powerful than ''Enel''s Thirty Million Volt Thunder Beast''¡ªTo make his attacks even more powerful, Arthur had meticulously manipulated the electric current. He had specifically made the edges of the Thunderbird''s wings flow irregularly with electricity. This greatly enhanced its cutting power, slicing through anything in its path¡ªIt was horrifying. Unless someone had a freakish physique like Kaido''s¡ªany flesh-and-blood body would be sliced into pieces by this cutting ability. ... Arthur''s current Observation Haki¡ªamplified by the electric current, had reached a staggering range of¡ªThree Miles. Within this three-mile radius¡ªhe could make lightning strike anywhere he wanted, with absolute precision. The Rumble-Rumble Fruit was very powerful¡ªalmost flawless in every aspect. Whether it was destructive power, speed, or detection ability¡ªIt was top-tier among Devil Fruits. Arthur was extremely glad he had made the right choice. Moreover¡ªhis development of the Fruit far surpassed Enel''s. To put it bluntly¡ªEnel had completely wasted the Rumble-Rumble Fruit. Although Arthur hadn''t yet reached Enel''s level of casually unleashing 200 million volt attacks, he would get there sooner or later, maybe even surpass it. After all, he had only just obtained the fruit. It was unrealistic to expect to reach the pinnacle in one step. However, having Enel as a template to learn from, Arthur could first develop all the abilities Enel had already developed. Then¡ªrelying on his knowledge from the technological age, he could develop even more powerful moves. [21] : Attacking Birka <"Thirty Million Volts, Thunder Beast!"> The airspace above the White-White Sea was engulfed in electric light. Arthur''s form floated within, like the reincarnation of a god of thunder! "ROARRR!!" He increased the current output. A lifelike beast of thunder emerged from the lightning, emitting a deafening roar that shook the clouds. The Thunder Beast¡ªinstantly appeared a thousand yards away, carrying immense destructive force as it flew. It dissipated slowly after half a minute. At present, Arthur could unleash lightning of about sixty million volts, comparable to Enel''s attack, Thunder Dragon. However, his attacks were several times more powerful than Enel''s. The two were not comparable. "Hmm?" Immersed in developing his fruit abilities, Arthur''s heart stirred¡ªHis Observation Haki detected an anomaly in the White-White Sea. A rather aggressive, serpentine Sea King had mistaken him for prey, wanting to leap out of the water and attack. "Not a balloon-like Sea Beast from Sky Island¡ªBut a Sea King that came up with the current? Today''s dinner will be you¡ª" Arthur smiled casually and grasped his hand in the air. <"Lightning Spear!"> A spear of flickering blue light¡ªsurging with electric current, was pulled from thin air. He twirled it, then, with an unstoppable force of judgement, he hurled it downwards¡ªThe spear tip crackled with lightning. It was incredibly fast. At the same time, the Sea King in the White-White Sea roared and leaped out of the water, revealing its huge maw. It unknowingly flew straight into the path of Arthur''s spear, impaling itself on the deadly weapon. "Crack!" The penetrating power of lightning was displayed vividly on the Lightning Spear¡ªIt was as if it was piercing through paper. With just a single thrust¡ªthe Sea King was impaled... The excessive voltage caused irreversible burns where the Sea King was injured, and the smell of cooked meat wafted through the air. Within moments, it was charred. Arthur felt a little pained. The charred part was meat, his food. But there was nothing he could do. Great power always came with great destruction. Part of the Sea King was burned. He could just cut it off. The skewered serpent Sea King floated on the surface, instantly dead. "Let''s test one last move, then go back for dinner." Arthur closed his eyes. If this move succeeded¡ªhe would have ultra-long-range striking power and rapid clearing ability. Attacking Upper Yard¡ªwould then be a sure thing.If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. Feeling the ubiquitous electrons in the air, Arthur pushed his Observation Haki to its limit. Every creature, air current, and water flow within a three-mile radius could not escape his "eyes." Controlling the electrons to gather, condense, and collide, Arthur suddenly opened his eyes, uttering a low shout. <"Divine Judgment!"> Three miles away on the surface of the sea, a thick bolt of lightning suddenly appeared from the sky, descending from the sky and striking directly onto the water. "BOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMM!!!" The seawater was blasted apart, boiling and turning into steam, or splitting into oxygen and dissipating into the air. "Success!!" Arthur was overjoyed, a smile breaking out on his face. This was the very move Enel used to punish those on Sky Island who broke the law. His Observation Haki blanketed the island. Whoever dared to cause trouble would be struck down by lightning. But Arthur''s version was improved, ten times more convenient than Enel''s method of transforming his hand into lightning. Moreover, he could freely change the form of the descending lightning. For example... <"Divine Judgment - Thunder Beast!"> "Roarrrrrr...!" The lightning bolt transformed into a Thunder Beast. Not only was it more powerful, but it was also easier to control. "Hahaha, mission accomplished. Time for dinner¡ª!" Arthur laughed heartily. He grabbed the Sea King floating on the surface and dragged its massive body back to his dwelling on Birka. A satisfying meal of Sea King meat was born. The meat was incredibly delicious. Combined with the fact that it roamed the deep sea for a long time, the meat was very chewy and full of energy. Satisfied, Arthur lay on his wooden bed and began his daily¡ªElectric Field Enhancement. ... One Month Later¡ª Late at night, all was quiet. Stars illuminated Birka. A figure quickly emerged from the forest, heading towards the temple in the center of the village. Under the starlight, the figure''s appearance was revealed. Long black hair, sharp eyebrows, bright eyes flashing with lightning, tall and well-proportioned¡ªIt was Arthur. After another month of training, he couldn''t stand Birka''s monotonous life any longer¡ªHis inner wildness wouldn''t allow him to remain dormant. Even his rapidly growing power couldn''t suppress his desire for the Grand Line. He was going to get the "Maxim" blueprints¡ªhead to Angel Island, and conquer Upper Yard. Arriving at Birka''s central, towering temple¡ªArthur casually opened a Light Dial, not caring if anyone saw him. And if they did? So what? Who could stop him? He might as well just smite them with a Divine Judgement. There were only weaklings on Birka. Arthur was confident no one could withstand a single lightning bolt from him. He climbed the stairs made of island cloud. With a flick of his wrist, he blasted open the door with lightning. "Who is it?" The guards, who were dozing off, were immediately awakened. About a dozen winged Skypieans surrounded Arthur, pointing their spears at him. "Kid¡ªwhat are you doing?" a guard captain asked sternly. "Captain, why waste words with him? Just take down this wingless freak!" The surrounding soldiers nodded in agreement. He had disturbed their sleep, so he shouldn''t expect to leave unharmed. And a wingless freak, at that? "I''m here to get the blueprints for the¡ªArk Maxim. Are you sure you want to stop me?" Arthur asked casually. "Outrageous! A freak dares to covet¡ªBirka''s treasure?" The captain was enraged when he heard Arthur''s words. This was the ship they were going to use to return to the Endless Vearth! "Kid, are you going to surrender, or do we have to do it the hard way? Surrender and you might lessen your sentence. Otherwise¡ªyour only fate is to be subjected to Cloud Drifting!" a few sleepy soldiers asked lazily. "Oh, drifting?" Arthur was impatient. He waved his hand. "I don''t have time for you. If you can survive my lightning, consider yourselves lucky!" <"Ten Million Volts, Thunderbird!"> A blue lightning bird suddenly appeared, spreading its wings. With overwhelming force, it charged forward. "Ah!!" Screams filled the air. The dozen or so guards were instantly electrocuted to charcoal¡ªBeyond dead. One who was lucky enough to survive was scared witless, soiling himself, babbling and running out of the temple, shouting, "Monster, monster! Help!" ------ Read +10 (Soon 18) Ad-va-nced Ch-ap-ters on my Pat-re-on! patr-eon.com/dragonnx (Just remove the hyphen to access Patreon normally.) - There is 9 Exciting Fanfics already available! [22] : Heading to Angel Island! "A monster? You can call me that if you want!" Arthur yawned, scratching his ears. "Where are the blueprints for Maxim?" He scanned his surroundings. He found a box on a high platform in front of the temple. It was made of gold, the rarest material on Birka. "Zzzzt!" He channeled electricity into his hand, drawing the golden box to him with electromagnetic force. "Crack!" The box opened. Inside was a thick stack of blueprints. Arthur flipped through them, his eyes shining. "Hahaha, my Ark blueprints." Even though he couldn''t understand the blueprints, he could make out some of the components, like the power source. "With the Rumble-Rumble Fruit in hand and the blueprints for Maxim, it''s time to leave this barren land of Birka." Arthur was feeling reflective. He recalled his careful planning, his five-year wait, and the year spent searching for the Rumble-Rumble Fruit. Now, everything was in his grasp. "The sea is where a man belongs, the place where my journey begins¡ªBirka, farewell!!" Arthur murmured. Electric arcs danced around him, crackling. He stomped his foot, breaking through the temple roof, and soared into the sky, flying towards Angel Island at high speed. The blue lightning was dazzling in the night sky, startling the guards who had come after hearing the commotion. They could only bow down and pray, shouting "God of Thunder!" Enel hid behind a cloud house, staring blankly at the departing figure. He felt like he had lost something important. ... Arthur flew at low altitude, the speed of lightning making him practically invisible on the surface of the sea. Only a faint blue light could be seen before it vanished again. "Long-distance flight really drains stamina. Maintaining high speed doubles the drain!" He silently assessed his stamina consumption. Even though it was draining, Arthur didn''t worry too much. He knew the limits of his current, electrically-enhanced body. "At this point, if I were back on the Blue Sea, I could probably be considered a big-shot pirate with a bounty of over 300 million Belly¡ªMaybe even higher," Arthur thought, feeling a surge of confidence. The fruit, which had made him gamble with his life, had increased his power to a terrifying degree. It was definitely the fastest way to gain power among all the Devil Fruits. He was glad he had taken the gamble.The author''s narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. Flying at high speed, he silently calculated the route he had taken to Birka over a year ago. Maintaining this speed, he estimated it would take about half an hour to reach Angel Island. Lightning could travel at nearly the speed of light, but Arthur''s body couldn''t handle that kind of speed, even after being elementalized into lightning. If he forced it, his body would likely collapse. He figured the current Marine Vice Admiral¡ªKizaru, probably had the same problem. Speed was useless if the body couldn''t keep up. The reflexes couldn''t keep up. Arthur slightly reduced his speed to conserve stamina, in case he needed it upon arriving at Angel Island. "Whoosh!!" Not long after he slowed down, a Sea King, looking like a cross between a fish and a snake, suddenly targeted him, mistaking him for a flying lightbulb. It opened its massive jaws, trying to intercept him. "Foolish!" Arthur''s Observation Haki had already detected the Sea King. He didn''t even bother to turn around. A bolt of lightning shot out and struck the Sea King directly in its open maw. "BOOOMMMMM!!" The 150-foot-long, snake-like Sea King with a fish''s head was instantly pierced through, the areas where the lightning struck instantly turning to charcoal as it fell into the water. A few seconds later, he left the dead Sea King far behind, continuing his unwavering advance towards Angel Island. As he further developed his Rumble-Rumble Fruit powers and continued to train his Observation Haki, combining the Fruit''s power with his Haki, his detection range had reached six miles in the past month. This meant that as long as he had his Observation Haki active, he could clearly perceive everything that happened within a six-mile radius. Of course, he wouldn''t be unaware of a little water current. So, in the future¡ªwhen he sailed the unpredictable Grand Line and the New World, he could act as his own navigator by sensing the direction of the wind and the flow of the currents. "Right now, my Observation Haki combined with the electric field is growing rapidly. It won''t be long, maybe a year or two, before my detection range covers the entire Sky Island. The future top spot for Observation Haki¡ªI''ll gladly accept it! Haha." Arthur was feeling fantastic. Others trained painstakingly for decades, hoping to make a name for themselves one day. However, some people could grow stronger just by sleeping. That was the difference¡ª There was truly no fairness in the world. Sometimes, a little bit of luck could surpass a lifetime of effort. Arthur had awakened his Observation Haki just over a year ago, But after eating the Rumble-Rumble Fruit, it had increased¡ªa hundredfold. It was enough to make most people on the Grand Line jealous. ... Morning arrived. Sunlight pierced through the clouds, shining on Upper Yard. Inside the resplendent temple! "So, you''re saying that the entrance to Angel Island has been sealed off, that you''ve searched every corner of Angel Island for over a year, and you still haven''t found the ''madman'' who killed my people?" The current God of Sky Island, Gan Fall, wore a silver helmet and armor. He held a knight''s lance. He sat calmly on the throne, his beard slightly white. Beside him stood a pink Pegasus, lazily preening its feathers. "Please forgive us, God!" The captain of the God''s Militia, McKinley, knelt on one knee, filled with trepidation. "That madman likely has only two paths. One is to go deep into the White-White Sea, searching for other existing cloud islands. The other is¡ªto seek refuge with the damned Shandians. It''s even possible that the killer is a Shandian." "It can''t be the Shandians. If it were them, how could they have bypassed us, bypassed Angel Island, and killed Amazon, Abel, and Urouge?" Gan Fall''s eyes flashed with wisdom. "Then..." McKinley buried his head even lower¡ªashamed that he had spent an entire year and still hadn''t found the culprit. "Increase patrols. Assign some of the God''s Militia to investigate this matter. We must find this madman who desecrated the wings of my Skypiean people and subject him to Cloud Drifting!" Gan Fall waved his hand, giving the order. "Assign the God''s Militia? But what about the Shandians..." McKinley was taken aback. "You don''t need to worry about that. Step down!" "Yes!" ------ Read +10 (Soon+18) Ad-va-nced Ch-ap-ters on my Pat-re-on! patr-eon.com/dragonnx (Just remove the hyphen to access Patreon normally.) - There is 9 Exciting Fanfics already available! [23] : Devils Emotions! The sun rose, golden rays intermingling with blue lightning. In the distance¡ªthe coastline of Angel Island was faintly visible. Arthur''s form flickered¡ªand he landed on the familiar Angel Beach where he had arrived a year earlier. "It''s been over a year. The last time I arrived, I was cautious, wary of crossing the God''s Militia and risking my escape. Now, just a year later, I have the power to sweep through them. How unpredictable life is!" Looking at the familiar yet unchanged Angel Beach, Arthur felt a sense of nostalgic detachment. "Hmm? Why are there so many patrolling soldiers? Could it be that when I killed those people a year ago, they developed a sense of crisis and strengthened their defenses?" In the distance, soldiers armed with spears patrolled back and forth in groups of five and squads of ten, seemingly searching for something. "Could it really be related to me?" Arthur stroked his chin, surprised. "Oh well¡ªI''ll just crush them directly." Those with extreme confidence in their own strength tended to avoid using trickery, regardless of whether others used it against them. When he heard that Roger had been captured by the Marines, the Golden Lion went berserk and single-handedly attacked Marineford, not bringing a single subordinate, all because of his extreme confidence in his own strength. Would you call him a fool? Arthur didn''t think so. As one of the three great rulers of the sea and the one with the strongest forces, how could he lack even a bit of strategy? Even if he lost his mind, it was impossible for him to single-handedly raid Marine Headquarters. He must have had confidence in himself. Strength¡ªwas the foundation of confidence. Arthur was not as weak as he was a year ago, forced to flee from Black Bear LaBeouf, who wanted to join Kaido''s crew. With the Rumble-Rumble Fruit, he could attack or retreat. At worst, he could fly into the sky and bombard them with lightning. Who could do anything to him? -- As if he could teleport, Arthur took each step spanning several yards, heading towards the soldiers. The patrolling soldiers also noticed him. Without hesitation, they quickly approached, spears in hand. Twenty soldiers immediately surrounded him. "Who are you? What are you doing here?" The patrol captain stepped out from the soldiers and questioned loudly. "Captain, something''s not right. This person doesn''t have wings. He must be from the Blue Sea. But the path to Angel Island has been sealed for over a year. How did he get in?" A seemingly astute young soldier whispered. "Hmm? You''re right." The captain''s eyes lit up. He carefully examined Arthur, then loudly asked, "Blue Seaman, answer my questions. Who are you? How did you get to Angel Island? Does the murder from a year ago have anything to do with you? Speak..."Unauthorized use: this story is on Amazon without permission from the author. Report any sightings. The twenty soldiers brandished their weapons with a clang. If Arthur said it was related to him, he would be immediately apprehended. "I don''t have time to waste with you small fries!" Arthur waved his hand impatiently. "You''re the so-called God''s Militia, right? Tell that self-proclaimed God¡ªGan Fall, to come out and meet his death." He hadn''t even proclaimed himself a god. How could a native of Sky Island have the audacity to call himself a god? This was¡ªoutrageous. Arthur couldn''t tolerate such a thing. Having eaten the Rumble-Rumble Fruit¡ªhis personality had become more overbearing. Lightning represented the power of God¡ªJudging and Punishing all beings. Devil Fruits did have the ability to alter one''s personality. Sakazuki''s Magma-Magma Fruit made him gloomy. Aokiji''s Ice-Ice Fruit made him like to hibernate and have a lazy personality. Luffy''s Gomu Gomu Fruit made him simple-minded. These were the best examples! ... "What?" Hearing Arthur''s insulting words, insulting the God of the entire Sky Island, the patrol captain exploded in anger. "Blasphemy against the Great God? You''re out of control! Men, take him down quickly and offer him to God!" The captain gave the order, and the twenty or so patrolling soldiers roared in agreement. Their spears formed a spear formation, on the verge of piercing Arthur. "A group of nobodies thinks they can take me on? Very well!" Arthur sneered, his body transforming into electricity. "Zzzzzzt!" "Die, all of you¡ªFifty Million Volts, Discharge!!" Blinding blue electric light engulfed all the soldiers who had surrounded him. In less than two seconds, the light receded. The twenty or so Skypieans were all turned into black charcoal. They were all electrocuted to death. Arthur sneered at the dead soldiers¡ªfeeling a sense of satisfaction in his heart. Suddenly, his expression changed drastically. "No, that''s not right. I was just influenced by my emotions. Although they angered me¡ªbased on my personality, I should have left one alive to lead the way. I wouldn''t have killed them all." Arthur''s face was serious. He frowned¡ªtrying to understand why he had reacted so excessively. "Is it the influence of the Rumble-Rumble Fruit? It''s rumored that a devil resides within each Devil Fruit¡ªgranting power while depriving the user of the ability to swim, making them forever fearful of the sea! Could it also be affecting my personality?" "The stronger the fruit, the more severe the personality change?" Arthur''s expression turned cold. "What a joke¡ªHow can I let myself be controlled by emotions and become a slave to power?" "I control the power¡ªnot the other way around!" His will was incredibly firm. Once he realized the issue, he immediately took action. Moreover¡ªemotions were inherently part of a human being. Arthur was well-versed in how to control them. When he was stranded on Jaya, he had suppressed his desire to kill Uncle Sam for a full five years. Furthermore¡ªhe didn''t think arrogance was a bad thing. As long as he stayed true to his heart, he could tolerate arrogance, conceit, self-importance, bloodthirst, and cruelty. ... "Oh? One survived?" Arthur''s Observation Haki stirred. He saw that the patrol captain, lying on the ground, was breathing heavily, his heart racing, but his expression was blank as he stared at Arthur. "...." "M-m-monster, you''re a monster!" The surviving patrol captain had never seen a human who could control lightning. He wasn''t scared into incontinence, which was already commendable. He watched Arthur in terror, fearing that he would also be judged by the lightning, just like the dead soldiers. "Still able to speak¡ªit seems you''re alright." Arthur squatted down and patted his face. "Since you''re alive, lead the way. Take me to Upper Yard. Maybe if I''m in a good mood¡ªI''ll spare your life!" The patrol captain was already scared out of his wits, unable to stand. He had already developed a mental shadow towards this person who could control lightning. "I''ll say it again, lead the way. Otherwise¡ªI''ll blast the entire Angel Island with lightning!" Arthur was running out of patience. "O-okay, I''ll take you¡ªDon''t destroy Angel Island!" Hearing Arthur''s threat, the patrol captain scrambled to his feet, fear and awe etched on his face. At this moment, he had completely forgotten about the Sky Island God, Gan Fall. Many thoughts raced through his mind. He believed that only this person, who controlled lightning, was truly worthy of being called a god. "Hmm!" Arthur nodded¡ªsatisfied with the Skypiean''s cooperation. He followed closely behind him. [24] : Gods Land, Upper Yard The patrol captain walked in front, with Arthur leisurely following behind, taking in the sights and customs of Angel Island with great interest. "What''s your name?" he asked casually. "Ah?" Hearing Arthur''s question, the captain shuddered. He hurriedly replied, "Constance, a captain in the God''s Militia¡ª" Constance answered every question, revealing everything he knew, even down to how many people were in his family and what he had done in the past. "You''re a smart kid. I like you. Stick with me¡ªand you''ll have a good life. When I leave Sky Island, this whole island will be yours!" Arthur patted his shoulder, almost making him fall to his knees. Constance could only manage a bitter smile. He was forty years old this year, yet he was being called a kid by a youth who looked to be under eighteen. Of course, he didn''t dare say this out loud, and he immediately disregarded the last part of Arthur''s statement. The two quickened their pace, walking ceaselessly. Under the astonished gazes of the Angel Islanders, they headed towards God''s Land, Upper Yard. "Sir, Upper Yard''s¡ªGod... Gan Fall and his God''s Militia are very powerful. May I ask what your purpose is in going there...?" Constance hesitantly tried to warn Arthur. He had been scared witless by the lightning earlier, and he still hadn''t fully recovered. He even felt that this man could replace Gan Fall and become the new God of Sky Island! Seeing Constance''s caution, Arthur chuckled. "Don''t worry about what I''m going to do. It''s nothing major." Upper Yard was full of gold, firmly in Gan Fall''s grasp. Arthur''s goal¡ªwas to kill him and take all the gold to build his vessel¡ªArk Thunder God. "Yes!" Constance nodded obsequiously, not daring to probe further. -- It took them two whole hours to reach their destination. Arthur''s patience was almost worn thin. He almost grabbed Constance and flew there directly. This fellow was a captain in the God''s Militia, but his strength was very lacking. If he had flown at high speed, Constance probably would have been in danger. Arthur had to suppress his impatience and walk. "We''ve arrived, sir¡ªUp ahead is Upper Yard!" Constance was panting, out of breath. He pointed to a landscape completely different from the rest of Sky Island, a hint of intoxication in his eyes. Soil was the scarcest resource on Sky Island. Every Skypiean dreamed of one day living in a place where only "God" could reside. Upper Yard was a part of Jaya¡ªCenturies ago, it was sent up to the sky by a super-giant rising current. When it first arrived, it immediately astonished the Skypiean natives. They fought with the Shandians, the original inhabitants of Jaya for centuries, and finally won the right to live there.Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation. It retained its appearance from centuries ago. Yellow soil was covered with towering trees, like a primeval forest. Even Arthur was a little excited. He had left the Blue Sea for over a year and hadn''t set foot on solid ground in all that time. "Sir, it''s beautiful, isn''t it? This is the soil and stone that drives everyone mad!" Constance exclaimed in admiration. Seeing Arthur''s excitement¡ªhe mistakenly assumed that this man had never seen soil before either. ''Looking at this fellow''s expression, you could probably convince him to live his life eating dirt, and he would gladly do it.'' Arthur thought, feeling speechless. Could he tell Constance that below Sky Island¡ªsoil was the most readily available thing, only less valuable than air and seawater? However, the saying that the rarest things are the most precious was indeed a universal truth. Skypieans had no soil, so they considered it priceless! ... As the two approached Upper Yard, they hadn''t even set foot on the land when they were immediately discovered by a pair of armored guards. "Who dares to approach God''s Land? Are you tired of living?" This group of God''s Militia was identical to the one Arthur had encountered on Angel Island. They were fierce and quickly closed in. "Huh? It''s Captain Constance? Who is this behind you¡ª?" One of the leaders seemed to recognize Constance. "Captain Kilgardan, this person wishes to see God. So I brought him here to report." Constance hesitated, hiding the fact that Arthur had killed many people, clearly not wanting to offend either side. "See God?" The leader sized up Arthur, his gaze lingering on Arthur''s wingless back. His expression changed drastically. "Outrageous! A Blue Seaman dares to show such disrespect¡ªwanting to see God? Take him dow...." "BOOOOMMMMM!!" Before he could finish, a bolt of lightning descended from the sky, striking him directly. His body was bathed in electric light. In moments, he was charred black, collapsing to the ground, dead as a doornail. "You talk too much!" Arthur casually remarked, not caring about the loss of a life. "People only learn to fear when they''ve witnessed true power. Unfortunately, once you know, it might be too late to save your life..." The soldiers of the God''s Militia all took a step back, looking at each other, unable to react to what had just happened. Only Constance trembled, once again witnessing the nightmare he could never forget¡ªLightning. These ignorant fools would probably never understand why humans could control the power of a god. "It''s him, he killed the captain! Avenge the captain, ah!!" Arthur flicked his finger. A Lightning Spear instantly formed at his fingertip. He pierced the one who spoke, who immediately flew back as if struck by a cannonball. The spear, which hadn''t dissipated for a long time, impaled a row of soldiers behind him, stringing them together like candied hawthorns. Facing the horrified gazes of the surviving members of the God''s Militia, Arthur spoke indifferently, "Those who don''t want to die, get out of my way." With that, he stepped onto the cloud path leading up to Upper Yard, constructed specifically from island clouds. This action scared the God''s Militia half to death. They retreated to the trees, fear, awe, and other emotions flashing in their eyes. Constance, with a hint of reluctance, steeled himself and followed Arthur. Who knew how much courage he had mustered to make that decision. "Don''t let this lowly Blue Seaman defile God''s Land! Kill!!" A few soldiers, seemingly brainwashed, charged forward, prioritizing loyalty over fear. Breath Dials built into their boots emitted powerful bursts of air, propelling them forward. Their knight''s lances were aimed at Arthur''s back. "Don''t!!! Stop!" Constance shouted in horror. He wasn''t worried about Arthur. He just didn''t want to see any more Skypieans die before him, helpless to stop it. "Truly Fascinating contraptions. It seems the vastness of the sea breeds¡ªEndless wonders," Arthur remarked, seeing the accelerating air from the boots and the impact wave from the lance, comparable in force to his punch before he had the Rumble-Rumble Fruit. Admiration was one thing¡ªArthur showed no mercy. Bolts of lightning descended from thin air, striking each of them down. ------ Read +10 Ad-va-nced Ch-ap-ters on my Pat-re-on! patr-eon.com/dragonnx (Just remove the hyphen to access Patreon normally.) - There is 8 Exciting Fanfics already available! [25] : Conquest鈥擳he Advent of the Thunder God! In the center of Upper Yard. A magnificent temple¡ªbuilt entirely of gold, stood proudly. Ascending the long, golden steps, one would see eight solid gold pillars standing within the spacious temple. Everything inside was made of gold. The floor was covered with luxurious animal furs. The radiant gold¡ªrather than appearing vulgar, emanated an aura of solemn dignity. -- At this moment... "What did you say? Another squad of the God''s Militia has gone missing?" Gan Fall''s expression was grave. "Could it be the Shandians? Why haven''t I received any news?" "Great God¡ªthese brave soldiers have all been confirmed dead. After investigation, it appears a Blue Seaman kidnapped Captain Constance and is heading towards God''s Land. Please allow me to apprehend him!" McKinley said, struggling to contain his anger. "A Blue Seaman? Damn it..." Gan Fall felt his divine authority being challenged like never before. "It''s bad, God! The guards... the guards have been struck by¡ªDivine Punishment!" A guard stumbled in from outside, out of breath. He looked terrified, as if he had witnessed something unbelievable. "BOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMM!!" Outside the temple, thunder roared. Bolts of lightning descended from the sky, striking down the God''s Militia one by one. The enormous tremors shook the solid temple. The wine in Gan Fall''s hand spilled all over the floor. After several tremors, everything stopped. Just then... "Zzzzzzt¡ª!" A piercing hum descended from the sky. A dazzling blue flash formed in the temple, its tip aimed directly at the Sky Island''s God¡ªGan Fall, seated at the highest point. "Watch out!!" McKinley, kneeling on one knee, roared. He tried to use his body to block the Lightning Spear. This sudden turn of events stunned the guards in the temple. Gan Fall''s expression changed drastically. Rage surged through him. But he was, after all, the God of Sky Island. He wouldn''t have held the position without some power. His silver armor shimmered. In the nick of time, he sprang from his throne, displaying astonishing speed, dodging the Lightning Spear which struck the golden throne. The golden throne now had a hole melted through it, shocking everyone. After the Lightning Spear dissipated, Gan Fall, catching his breath, looked towards the door. "Lightning? Is it divine punishment, or can someone control the power of lightning?" The area outside the hall was empty, except for the fallen guards. "What happened?" Gan Fall was furious, a bad premonition rising in his heart.Love this story? Find the genuine version on the author''s preferred platform and support their work! "Whoosh!!" A figure, accompanied by blue electricity, suddenly appeared in the temple, startling the guards. They immediately braced for a fight. The electricity coalesced, revealing Arthur''s form. "You weren''t killed by my Lightning Spear? You''ve got some skill!" Arthur said. Although his Lightning Spear hadn''t reached its maximum speed, it wasn''t something just anyone could dodge. Gan Fall had dodged it without any preparation, proving his exceptional abilities. But that was all! "Who are you?" Gan Fall was wary, not daring to act rashly. He could only ask sternly. "The one who will take your life!" Arthur didn''t want to waste words. He flicked his wrist, and another bolt of lightning shot out. He wouldn''t be respected unless he killed Gan Fall. How else would the others obey him and build the Ark for him? That was why Arthur didn''t mince words. Others killed chickens to warn the monkeys. Arthur was doing the opposite, killing the monkey to warn the chickens. Thunder roared again. A surge of lightning, ten times larger than the Lightning Spear, seemed to lock onto Gan Fall, giving him a feeling of unavoidable doom, as if he would be pursued to the ends of the earth. The lightning bolt grew larger in his eyes. Gan Fall''s pupils shrank to pinpricks. Despair welled up in his heart. "How can a human control lightning? This really is the power that only a true God should possess," he thought fleetingly as his body was gradually engulfed in white light. "Aaaah!!!" Gan Fall''s strength wasn''t weak. He actually withstood the Rumble-Rumble Fruit''s power for several seconds, filling the temple with his agonizing screams. "God!" "Lord Gan Fall!" McKinley and the guards watched with bloodshot eyes, tears streaming down their faces. But not a single one dared to step forward. They could only glare hatefully at Arthur. The lightning dissipated, slowly revealing Gan Fall''s fallen form. He was still alive, but barely, gasping for his last breaths. "You didn''t die?" Arthur was a little surprised. He had used high-voltage current, not ordinary lightning, and Gan Fall had actually withstood it. "Since obtaining the Rumble-Rumble Fruit, I''ve become a little complacent. There are many strong people on the Grand Line. There must be many who can withstand my lightning..." He reflected deeply, looking down thoughtfully. Then he laughed. "Haha, so what if there are many? The more there are¡ªthe more exciting it will be, right? The one who reaches the summit, in the end, will be me!" Arthur cast aside all distracting thoughts. Lightning gathered in his hand once more. This action terrified everyone... "Such great power. It''s not something humans can grasp!" "Could it be that this person is the true God, who came to punish Lord Gan Fall?" Among the God''s Militia in the temple, some began to waver in their faith, looking at the fallen Gan Fall with less reverence and worship. In a world where power was supreme, the rules were simple¡ªThe strong were gods! "Cough, cough!" Gan Fall regained consciousness, his mind already starting to blur. "Lord Gan Fall!!" McKinley rushed over to support him. "My Sky Island... hasn¡¯t done anything to provoke the Blue Sea, has it? I don''t know... cough cough, why are you attacking us without any warning?" Gan Fall''s fading gaze fixed on Arthur. "No, you''re mistaken on one point!" Arthur shook his head, correcting him. "Nobody provokes anyone. Strength is everything¡ªI want to conquer Sky Island!" He looked up at the assembled God''s Militia, his voice indifferent. "Those who don''t wish to die, submit to me now. My patience is limited! From this day forward, I am the new God of Sky Island¡ªThe Thunder God!" "That''s it... cough cough, you''re right!" Gan Fall''s arm drooped powerlessly. "Captain McKinley, everyone in the God''s Militia, I - Gan Fall, relinquish my position to the Thunder God today. From now on, you will obey him..." He had seen the situation clearly. They couldn''t resist this man. Resistance meant death. Before he could finish, his head lolled to the side. He was dead! The God''s Militia looked at each other, uncertain. McKinley was fiercely loyal to Gan Fall, diligently carrying out every task assigned to him. He took the lead, and the God''s Militia behind him knelt on one knee, pledging their allegiance! "We greet the great Thunder God!" Their voices were firm and orderly, echoing through the temple. Constance, who had arrived late, walked through the door and witnessed a scene that would forever be etched in his memory. "Hahahahahaha!" Arthur''s booming laughter echoed across Upper Yard, heralding the arrival of the Thunder God! ------ Read +10 Ad-va-nced Ch-ap-ters on my Pat-re-on! patr-eon.com/dragonnx (Just remove the hyphen to access Patreon normally.) - There is 8 Exciting Fanfics already available! [26] : The Edd War Sea Battle A new day dawned on Skypiea. More than a month had passed since Arthur had conquered the God''s Militia, killed Gan Fall and became the new God. During this time, no one had the resolve to oppose him. The sight of that day, with the flashing lightning and Arthur''s descent from the storm, was still fresh in everyone''s minds. Lightning represented divine might, the ultimate power that only a true god could wield. This was the common belief among most of the guards. Their reverence and awe for Arthur, the new God¡ªfar surpassed that for the old one. They meticulously carried out their daily patrol duties. Even most of the residents of Angel Island had peacefully accepted the change¡ªwith no thoughts of resistance whatsoever. After Arthur assumed the position of God, he casually handed over power to Constance and McKinley¡ªbecoming a hands-off ruler. He spent his days developing his Fruit abilities¡ªTraining his body (which was growing stronger each day thanks to the¡ªElectric Field Enhancement), and honing his Observation Haki. Only when it was time to eat did he order his subordinates to bring him High-energy food. He hadn''t forgotten his original purpose. Strength was the Foundation of everything. Killing Gan Fall and seizing power was the best proof of that. He wasn''t worried about betrayal¡ªA single bolt of lightning would take care of any dissent. -- The lush forest faintly glowed with golden light. The magnificent golden temple stood eternal. Inside the great hall, Arthur supported himself on the golden floor with a single finger, performing push-ups. At the same time¡ªhe was multitasking, thinking about how to further enhance his strength. Two months ago¡ªhe had developed the Electric Field Enhancement Technique, strengthening his Muscles, Bones, and Skin¡ªBut he didn''t dare to experiment on his internal organs. Although the strengthening of his muscles and bones indirectly benefited his organs, the effect was far less potent than direct electric field enhancement. Arthur had been pondering this problem for a month. He sought a way to bring the strength of his internal organs in line with his muscles and bones. His urgency was natural. The blueprints for the ''Ark'' had already been handed over to the God''s Militia. He had ordered them to find shipwrights and begin construction. "There are so many Strong people on the Grand Line who have mastered special physical techniques. They must have found ways to directly damage internal organs. My body, with its reinforced bones and muscles, is only a surface-level defense. If my internal organs are injured¡ªI''m finished." Arthur stopped his training, stroking his chin thoughtfully. "Someone!" "Lord God, what are your orders?" Constance entered from outside the hall and bowed respectfully. "Have there been any criminals sentenced to Cloud Drifting recently? If so, bring them all to me..." Arthur waved his hand, making his decision.The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement. He would use others to experiment first. Surely, one or two would succeed. "Yes!" Constance didn''t know what Arthur wanted with the criminals, but he didn''t question it. He carried out the order resolutely. -- Two hours later. About twenty Skypieans with wings were brought before Arthur. He took them all to a newly opened underground chamber and began his inhumane experiments! The advancement of biological science was impossible without human experimentation. It was just a secret that no one talked about. The world''s leading scientist¡ªDr. Vegapunk researched Artificial Devil Fruits for the World Government and created the "Pacifista." Do you question whether he used humans for experiments? The corpses of slaves alone could probably fill Mary Geoise. For the next eight or nine months, screams echoed daily from the underground chamber of the temple¡ªterrifying the God''s Militia. They no longer had the courage to approach the area unless summoned to report on their duties. As time passed, rumors of hauntings even began to circulate. Many believed them. Arthur was too lazy to explain. Only Constance had a vague idea of what was going on, but he didn''t dare to speak about it. -- It was 1495, the second year since Arthur had arrived on Skypiea. A major event occurred on the Grand Line¡ªone that would create enormous waves. The Golden Lion''s fleet and the Roger Pirates unexpectedly encountered each other in the Edd War Sea. Golden Lion Shiki invited Roger to be his subordinate, but Roger refused. The two sides clashed, and a battle commenced! Outside the area, Marine Admiral Sengoku, Marine Hero Garp, Chief of Staff Tsuru, Vice Admiral Sakazuki, Vice Admiral Borsalino, Vice Admiral Kuzan¡ªalong with many others including Yamakaji, Momonga, and Jaguar D. Sauro, were all present - encompassing most of the fighting force of Marine Headquarters, lying in wait. They were waiting for Roger and the Golden Lion to destroy each other, hoping to swoop in and take advantage. Unfortunately, their plans were thwarted! Unpredictable weather brought fierce winds and rain, and lightning flashed. A super-giant wave capable of swallowing the Golden Lion''s fleet rose, sinking dozens of his ships. The Roger Pirates escaped with minor losses. The Golden Lion suffered heavy casualties. To add insult to injury, a stray ship''s wheel lodged itself in his head, forcing him to flee in a sorry state. The Edd War Sea Battle ended in this dramatic fashion. (The timing of the Edd War Sea Battle should be 1495. In the Strong World prequel, it was mentioned that two years after the event, Roger became the Pirate King.) Although Arthur knew this major event would occur this year, he was too preoccupied to leave. Otherwise, he would have definitely gone to witness the gathering of the world''s strongest. He deeply doubted the claims that Roger had escaped by luck. Such a massive wave was a once-in-a-century occurrence, even in the New World. Why did it happen to coincide with this battle? In fact, Arthur even suspected that Whitebeard was behind it. Remember, Whitebeard was in his prime. Using the Tremor-Tremor Fruit to trigger such a tsunami wasn''t easy, but it definitely wasn''t too difficult either. Of course, this was just his personal speculation. He regretted immensely not witnessing this battle in person. -- "Aaaah!!!" A mournful scream echoed from the underground chamber of the temple, sending shivers down the spines of the patrolling God''s Militia. "Lord God is punishing criminals again. It''s so scary!" They quickened their pace, moving further away from the area. On the golden operating table in the underground chamber. "The 100th experiment. The internal organs haven''t been charred. They''ve withstood it? Hmm? The heart is beating stronger, the lungs are breathing more deeply, and the liver, spleen, and kidneys show no adverse reactions. Hahaha!" Arthur was overjoyed. The results of the experiment were highly satisfactory. This ten-month-long experiment had finally reached its conclusion. In reality, if he had used himself as the subject, it wouldn''t have taken so long. But he wasn''t ready to die yet. Organ strengthening was no joke. One wrong move could be fatal. Although he had developed Electric Therapy, a near-resurrection ability, it was useless if the heart was burnt to a crisp. "One success. To be safe, let''s do it two more times. If it works every time, that means there''s no danger. I can strengthen my internal organs!" Arthur wiped the sweat from his brow, filled with joy. ------ Read +10 Ad-va-nced Ch-ap-ters on my Pat-re-on! patr-eon.com/dragonnx (Just remove the hyphen to access Patreon normally.) - There is 8 Exciting Fanfics already available!