《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. A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.
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. The author''s narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.
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. Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator.
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. The narrative has been taken without permission. 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. The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.
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. Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation.
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. This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.
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? If you encounter this narrative on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.
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. Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.
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. If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.
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? The author''s tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.
"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. Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.
"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. Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.
''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. Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.
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. Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author.
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." You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.
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. This book''s true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.
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. This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings.
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. Unauthorized content usage: if you discover this narrative on Amazon, report the violation.
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.
...
After a morning of completing all his training, Arthur exhaled deeply, preparing lunch. His days were very fulfilling. This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it.
"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.
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." If you encounter this narrative on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.
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!" [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. If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.
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.
"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!" [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.
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..."
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." The genuine version of this novel can be found on another site. Support the author by reading it there.
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. Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.
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. [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.
"Whoosh!!" This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.
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 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¡ªAnd I 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! [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 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.
He would use others to experiment first. Surely, one or two would succeed. This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings.
"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.
--
"Aaaaaaaaahhhhhhh!!!"
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. [27] : Wiping Out the Shandians in Passing
"Zzzzzzt!"
Electric arcs danced on his skin, and his powerful muscles, honed to perfection, were on full display. They rippled with barely contained energy, like tempered steel, radiating an aura of invincibility.
Sweat dripped from his brow, but Arthur didn''t bother to wipe it away. He was completely focused on controlling the lightning that coursed through his body.
His frame, once merely strong, now quivered with barely restrained power, the subtle vibrations escalating into tremors. His veins bulged, pulsing like angry serpents beneath his skin.
Initially, he had planned to use the same current he''d used on the Skypiean criminals to strengthen his body. But he discovered that the intensity was practically negligible, barely scratching the surface. So, with a surge of determination, he had drastically increased the current output.
"Zzzzzzt!"
The arcs morphed into crackling snakes of lightning, and Arthur''s muscles swelled.
Half an hour later, the transformation subsided. This latest internal organ strengthening had been a complete success.
"Huff!"
Exhaling deeply, Arthur jumped into a tub to wash himself clean.
"Good thing I spent ten months experimenting. If I hadn''t gotten to know my internal organs so well, this could have been dangerous."
He was still shaken by the recent experiment, but mostly, he was thrilled. It was a stroke of genius to use others for his experiments, saving him from a potentially fatal outcome.
"Strengthening my internal organs has made a noticeable difference in my power!" Arthur clenched his fist, feeling the surging power within. He felt a dizzying sensation¡ªas if he could shatter Sky Island with a single punch.
"Maybe one day, when my organs are strong enough, I can exhale and it''ll be like a sword, and a mere huff will kill a man?" He grinned, looking forward to the possibilities.
To celebrate his success, Arthur decided to indulge in a celebratory drink while taking a bath.
In his previous life, he had enjoyed alcohol, but since his rebirth, he hadn''t touched a drop. But now, there was no helping it. As his body grew stronger, he would probably have to drink constantly, becoming a full-blown alcoholic.
After all, alcohol was the essence of grains, packed with energy. Arthur couldn''t possibly carry around mountains of food while he sailed the seas, could he?
He stood up from the tub, wiped away the water droplets, and a constant smile played on his lips. From now on, every part of his body could be strengthened simultaneously. He would grow stronger every day. The title of the Strongest Creature was within his grasp.
Dressed¡ªArthur cheerfully left the temple, ready to explore Upper Yard, a place he had arrived at almost a year ago but had never truly seen.
"Lord God, you''re out?" Constance had been waiting outside the temple. Seeing Arthur, he immediately approached.
"How is the modification progress on the ''Ark - Thunder God''?" Arthur led the way out of the temple, his hands clasped behind his back. He wanted to see the Golden Bell and the ancient Poneglyph. This book''s true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.
"Lord God, we found the descendants of the man who designed the Waver centuries ago. His shipbuilding skills are among the best on Sky Island. I believe it will be completed soon!" Constance bowed his head respectfully.
"Hmm, there''s no rush." Arthur nodded. He had seen the original design of the Ark Maxim and found its appearance utterly hideous. So he had drawn a new design himself, based on an Aircraft carrier from his past life.
However, changing the Ark''s established appearance would inevitably require alterations to the internal structure and component placement. That was why the construction of the Ark had been delayed until now.
Walking on the cloud path, Arthur gazed at the area ahead, shrouded in mist. He didn''t see the Golden Bell or the Poneglyph as he had expected.
"What is this place? Where is the Golden Bell?"
Constance was confused. "Lord God, I''ve never been here before. I''m not sure. As for the Golden Bell... I''ve never heard of such a thing on Sky Island!"
"You don''t know?" Arthur frowned.
He vaguely remembered a place where the displaced Shandians lived.
Perhaps it was in that misty area?
With this thought, Arthur activated his Observation Haki, scanning the misty area.
...
In the mist, as Arthur suspected, there was indeed a small village.
At this moment, about twenty Shandians, armed with weapons, were sharpening their blades, preparing to attack the Temple again.
They were almost indistinguishable from the Skypieans, both having white wings and wearing peculiar shoes for gliding on clouds.
"In the name of the Great Warrior Kalgara, I, Vidar¡ªwill lead our people to reclaim Upper Yard and erase the shame of our ancestors'' expulsion!" A dark-skinned, mohawked young man with a long braid solemnly declared.
He held a bazooka and a shield. His face was marked with terrifying tattoos, and his eyes were sharp.
"Erase the shame, Reclaim Upper Yard!"
"Erase the shame, Reclaim Upper Yard!"
The Shandians behind him roared in unison, their eyes filled with unyielding hatred.
"Vidar, I heard that something major happened on Upper Yard recently. This might be our chance." A similarly shirtless young man said gravely.
He wore red-rimmed glasses, carried a blue skateboard, and had a long sword at his waist.
"Kaminari, don''t be careless! This could be a trap set by Gan Fall to lure us in!"
"Regardless, we must reclaim Upper Yard this time and make the Golden Bell truly ring, fulfilling our ancestors'' 400-year-old agreement!"
"Kill all the Skypieans! Ring the Golden Bell!"
Their speed was incredibly fast. The skateboards were faster on the cloud paths than a person running at full speed. They moved through the forest, about to emerge from the mist.
...
"Reclaim Upper Yard? How laughable..." Arthur smiled coldly. Upper Yard was now his territory. How could he allow others to interfere?
"It seems the modified Ark might face a shortage of gold. If I melt down the Golden Bell and those gold pieces, it should be about enough."
Arthur didn''t care if they were innocent or not. Being robbed of their home was simply a matter of strength.
The Shandians'' ancestors were useless¡ªNow Upper Yard was in his hands. There was no way he would return it.
To avoid endless future trouble, he decided to bury the Shandians on the island they dreamed of.
"Divine Judgment - Rain of Thunder!"
Arthur extended his palm. A ball of lightning flew into the clouds. The clear sky instantly turned dark. Bolts of lightning snaked through the clouds.
Rain of Thunder was an enhanced version of Enel''s Thunderstorm. Arthur could use it to bombard any area within his Observation Haki''s range. It was the perfect move for large-scale battles.
"What''s going on?" The advancing Shandians were stunned by the sudden change. One moment it was sunny, and the next, the sky was dark.
"Zzzzzzt!"
"Boom! Boom! Boom!"
After a moment of brewing, the dark clouds suddenly rained down a dense barrage of lightning bolts!
"Dodge it!"
"Watch out!!"
The dozens of Shandians were terrified, unable to understand why lightning was falling on them...
...
Outside the mist.
"Constance, go back and tell the God''s Militia to enter the mist and move all the gold near the temple!"
Arthur casually wiped out the Shandians and turned to leave.
"Yes!" [28] : The Ark!
Arthur casually eliminated the Shandians who had troubled the Skypieans for centuries, as if swatting a few flies, then turned and headed back to the temple, appearing rather uninterested.
No one on Skypiea was strong enough to make him take things seriously. A single bolt of lightning could slay almost anyone. Aside from training and developing his fruit abilities, there was nothing else to do.
...
Time passed uneventfully, and another two months passed.
In the temple, upon the high golden throne, Arthur lay sprawled lazily, tiny arcs of electricity coursing across his body. His muscles rhythmically twitched.
"The modifications to the ''Ark Thor'' still aren''t complete? What are those shipwrights doing?"
His voice was indifferent, yet it held a divine authority, like a soft whisper that boomed like thunder, making the guards in the temple tremble and sweat profusely.
Those in positions of power naturally developed an intimidating aura. Arthur, the acknowledged God of Skypiea¡ªhas this quality in spades.
"Lord God, your ''Ark Thor'' has been redesigned. The shipwrights are working hard to build it. This is the blueprint they asked me to deliver to you. Please, take a look!"
...
(I''m changing the name of The Ark to Thor. Its appearance closely resembles Marvel''s Helicarrier.)
...
Constance¡ªas Arthur''s loyal servant, immediately presented the Ark Thor blueprints, bowing low with humility.
"If it''s been designed, why wasn''t it brought to me sooner?" Arthur glanced at him, instantly making Constance drop to his knees, not daring to reply.
"My Liege, you''re mistaken. The blueprints were just delivered!" An old man behind Constance spoke up, neither servile nor overbearing.
This man was a descendant of the person who designed the Waver centuries ago. His shipbuilding skills were among the best on Skypiea. He often used various Dials to create everyday items and weapons for the Divine Soldiers. He was a rare talent.
"Hmm!" Arthur nodded, not particularly concerned.
He unfolded the blueprints, carefully examining his design for the exterior, and their rendition of the future Ark Thor!
The first thing depicted on the blueprint was Thor''s shape, similar to the S.H.I.E.L.D. Helicarrier from the Marvel movies in his previous life, only much smaller and sleeker to maintain speed. The lines were more aesthetically pleasing.
The entire ship was to be made of gold, incredibly ostentatious, designed to dazzle and blind. It had three levels, complete with a kitchen, bathroom, training room, bathhouse, and so on, totaling twenty to thirty rooms. The author''s content has been appropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.
There was also a flat, spacious open-air deck, large enough to host a party for a hundred people, covered with the pure white fur of Skypiea''s Thunder Beasts.
To add some life and avoid being too empty and quiet, the rear of the deck was to have some plants and a sightseeing fish pond.
At the bow of the ship, the most crucial position, stood a golden pavilion. From the base of the pavilion rose two power crystal balls, each a meter in diameter.
"A Perfect creation!" Arthur flipped through the pages, noticing slight modifications to the components, all designed to make the ship perfectly functional.
He was quite satisfied, and his mood improved considerably. "How does the Ark Thor''s overall specs compare to other ships?"
"Reporting to God!" The old man puffed out his chest proudly.
"Ark Thor''s exterior was designed by you. This streamlined body is extremely suitable for sailing, whether on the sea or in the sky. Its speed will be several times faster than a Waver."
"We''ve designed Breath Dials at the rear. Once accelerated, I estimate it will be more than ten times faster than a Waver. However, this will require exponentially more electricity, but since you, Lord God, control lightning, this minor consumption is negligible."
"At the bow, we''ve designed a very rare Impact Dial cannon¡ªalso powered by electricity! The shockwave it releases can pulverize ships miles away. It''s incredibly powerful!"
"Furthermore, even when stationary, it can hover in the air, consuming a negligible amount of electricity."
"This flying ship¡ªhas taken us nearly a year to modify. We guarantee that every part is in the most perfect condition, more than enough for you, Lord God, to reach the Endless Vearth!" The old man raised his head proudly, the whiskers on his chin quivering, making him look rather comical.
Arthur scoffed at his mention of the Endless Vearth. These Skypieans were obsessed with it, assuming everyone else was too.
Arthur wasn''t building this ship to go to the moon, but to conquer the seas. In his opinion, what was so great about a desolate place like the moon? He wasn''t Enel, living it up with a harem of robots.
The old man continued, "However, there''s one thing I don''t quite understand. Gold is a rather soft material, and at sea, it can be corroded by seawater, causing it to lose its luster. My Liege, why not add some other materials, such as wood?"
"That''s none of your concern!" Arthur waved his hand, interrupting him.
Wood... how low-class!
And what if the gold loses its luster? He could use his lightning to refine it, making it good as new.
Besides, there was so much gold on the Grand Line. He could easily repair the exterior as long as the internal structure remained intact.
Arthur rested his left hand on his head, tapping his right hand on the golden throne. "Enough talk. How long will it take to complete the Ark? I want you to finish it as quickly as possible!"
"This..." The old man smiled awkwardly. "¡ªThe other craftsmen and I have calculated the time. To complete the Ark, we will need a lot of gold. Moreover, all the gold must be melted down and reshaped. The workload is enormous. We estimate it will take at least five years..."
"Five years? That''s too long!" Arthur frowned, instantly conflicted.
It was currently 1495. Five years later, it would be 1500. Roger would have already been King of the Pirates for three years. The Golden Lion would have lost his legs. Red Count would have been captured. How could he wait that long?
"Is there any way to shorten the time?" Arthur asked gravely.
"Sir, it will take at least five years! There are too few craftsmen on Skypiea. This is already quite fast. However, I hear that you, Lord God, control lightning and can melt metal with electric heat and shape it at will. With your help, the time could be reduced by about three years!" The old shipwright''s eyes shone as he looked at Arthur.
Arthur was feeling frustrated. Blue lightning flickered around him, crackling.
"I can help them build the components for about a year. After one year, regardless of whether it''s finished or not, I''m going to sea!"
One year later, it would be 1496. Roger would be touring the Four Seas and returning to the Grand Line. Arthur had to meet Roger, or he would regret it for the rest of his life. [29] : Nothing Can Stop a Mans Journey to the Sea
Arthur knew the old man wasn''t lying. The construction of the Thor was a massive undertaking. To complete it within five years was already a stroke of luck. It couldn''t be rushed.
"This is... frustrating!"
He stood up from the throne and walked outside, joining the group of shipwrights in the construction work.
...
Time flew by. Another year passed in the blink of an eye.
This year was 1496 in the Sea Calendar. Arthur was sixteen.
A year of growth had made him even taller, reaching around six foot six. His physique was incredibly powerful, hidden beneath his clothes, every muscle defined and hard as steel.
His appearance hadn''t changed much, only becoming more ruggedly handsome.
Standing at six foot six in the One Piece world was considered average, even a little short. But Arthur was satisfied.
His most significant change was in his strength. He had developed the Rumble-Rumble Fruit''s power to 200 million volts, matching Enel''s output during his fight with Luffy. But the destructive power was several times greater.
With the amplification from the Electric Field, his Observation Haki could now easily cover the entire Sky Island. In other words, every move of everyone on the island was under his surveillance.
His explosive growth in power didn''t make Arthur overly excited. He was busy working with the shipwrights, using electric heat and electromagnetism to shape the gold, forging it into the components for the Thor.
Thanks to their efforts, his control over electromagnetism had also improved. He could now lift dozens¡ªeven hundreds of tons of gold with a thought.
During the year, all the gold on Sky Island had been gathered and piled up near the temple for him to manipulate, transforming it into precise components.
While using his Observation Haki to survey Upper Yard, Arthur discovered the super-giant serpent known as the "Master of the Sky," which was then guarding the legendary Golden Bell.
When the God''s Militia tried to covet its most treasured possession, it went into a frenzy, wreaking havoc on Upper Yard.
If Arthur hadn''t arrived in time to give it a good thrashing, it was estimated that more than half of Upper Yard would have been destroyed, and all the buildings would have needed to be rebuilt.
Sitting on the suspended golden throne, Arthur rested his head on one hand and tapped the other on the throne, as if playing an invisible instrument.
Electromagnetism was becoming more and more proficient, allowing him to transform metal objects into any shape he desired, effortlessly.
"It''s been a year. All the components are finished. We''re just waiting for them to be assembled. But assembling it will take another year or more. I should head down to the Blue Sea and see the world." Arthur thought to himself.
"Crack, crack!"
Not far from the temple, the slumbering Master of the Sky turned over, toppling all the towering trees beside it. This serpent was too large. Its enormous body could probably coil around Reverse Mountain''s whale, Laboon.
The Master of the Sky had lived for over four hundred years. It was originally from the Blue Sea, swept up to Sky Island along with Jaya by the rising current.
It was blue-striped, with fins like a fish. It was hard to imagine what it ate to survive, and why it hadn''t devoured all of Sky Island in over four hundred years.
Rows of trees were ruthlessly crushed, leaving a large, empty space on Upper Yard. The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement.
"J?rmungandr, quiet down!" Arthur shouted in annoyance.
He had given it the name J?rmungandr, because its size was similar to the World Serpent of Norse mythology.
Hearing the shout, J?rmungandr''s massive body froze, almost curling up like a turtle retracting its neck.
A year ago, when he went to retrieve the Golden Bell, Arthur had fought it, beating it senseless.
Ever since, J?rmungandr had been terrified of him.
"Hiss!"
J?rmungandr flicked its tongue appeasingly, seemingly to appease Arthur. It raised its huge head, nudging the throne in the sky.
Normal people would have been scared to death by this, but Arthur was used to it. He knew this serpent, having lived so long, had developed intelligence no less than a human''s.
"Alright, alright, stop it!"
Arthur reached out and patted its head. He instructed, "J?rmungandr, I''m leaving Sky Island soon. While I''m gone, keep an eye on these people, got it? If they slack off on building the ship, eat them all."
"Hiss..."
J?rmungandr nodded, guaranteeing it would obey, a glint of reluctance in its golden, vertical pupils.
...
"Lord God, are you really leaving?" Constance had been managing the affairs of Sky Island for Arthur, and he no longer appeared as timid as before.
"After I''m gone, supervise the construction of the Thor. I''ll come back in a year to retrieve it."
Arthur actually felt a little reluctant to leave, having lived here for three years.
But his ambitions couldn''t be confined to the small Sky Island. The Grand Line was a much larger world.
"Do you need me to inform the God''s Militia to see you off?" Constance asked.
"No need. The fewer people who know of my departure, the better!"
Arthur waved his hand, his body slowly rising into the sky. He silently gazed at the island he had ruled for two years.
"Although I can call the wind and summon the rain here, able to do as I please, this is not what I want! I want an exciting and thrilling life, a life of unrestrained joy!"
He took one last, deep look at the unfinished Thor. Without further hesitation, he transformed into a bolt of lightning and shot towards the west!
...
Arthur''s reborn family, the Seabury family, was located in the West Blue. Their family castle was built on a small island in the West Blue.
It had been a full eight years since he had last been home. He had no idea if his family still existed.
When the family''s merchant ship had sailed to the Grand Line, they were all lost in a storm. Only a few old, weak, and sick servants remained in the family.
They were probably all dead by now. Even if they weren''t, the valuables in the castle had likely been looted.
Arthur''s only reason for returning to the West Blue was to erect a tombstone for his parents, who had treated him well, as a way to repay their kindness in raising him.
A man can live without virtue, but never without feelings.
His body fully elementalized, the speed of lightning was very fast. In mere seconds, he had flown out of Sky Island''s airspace.
BOOOOOMMM!!
Arthur''s current physique and stamina were definitely strong enough to support supersonic travel and long-distance flight.
No one knew that high in the sky, a bolt of lightning was rapidly streaking towards the West Blue.
The world of One Piece was divided into four parts by the Red Line and the Grand Line.
To reach the West Blue, he needed to fly over the Red Line from the New World side.
Arthur flew ceaselessly, freely soaring through the clouds, leaving behind any lingering sadness about leaving Sky Island. All that remained was boundless excitement.
Like a prisoner escaping from jail, he felt a sense of liberation.
"Hahahaha!" He laughed loudly, darting back and forth through the clouds. The lightning he created caused a chain reaction, making the entire sky crackle with thunder and lightning.
Arthur''s actions would probably give navigators a headache, but what did he care?
....
A day later.
"Hmm? What''s that..." While flying, Arthur approached the Red Line. He saw a fantastical city in the clouds at the top of the Red Line.
Clean, tidy, magnificent. In short, it seemed like all good things could be seen there, like a paradise on earth.
"Mary Geoise?"
Only the Holy Land, Mary Geoise, was at the very top of the Red Line. Arthur was certain.
Suddenly, he grinned. "Should I give Mary Geoise a little greeting, and announce the arrival of Seabury D. Arthur to the World?"
After careful consideration, Arthur decided against it. He didn''t know what secrets and terrors were hidden here.
After all, it had stood for eight hundred years without falling. Mary Geoise must have some great secrets.
The fact that Doflamingo could use this secret to threaten the World Government, making them wary, was incredible.
"Forget it. When I''m strong enough to fear nothing, I''ll come back here... Now, I should return to the West Blue!"
Arthur transformed back into lightning and continued his journey, flying over the Red Line, returning to his hometown in this world! [30] : The Castle-Castle Fruit?
The West Blue, the home of the Seabury family. The island''s name was a bit long: The God-Given Island of Sunlight and Hope.
This island wasn''t very large. When the Seabury family was still around, it had been quite lively. But after the family left for the Grand Line to engage in trade, all contact was lost. The family''s servants gradually left, and now it was deserted.
After traveling for days, flying halfway across the world, and following his hazy memories, Arthur finally returned to his "home."
Stepping onto the ground, overgrown with weeds and moss, he gazed into the distance at the dilapidated castle.
The iron gates were rusted beyond recognition. The once-clear windows were shattered. The flowers in the courtyard were all dead, overgrown with weeds. It was clear that no one had taken care of the place for a long time.
"Ruined or not, it doesn''t matter. In this vast world, anywhere can be home." Memories stirred within Arthur, and he couldn''t help but sigh.
"Creak..."
The iron gate groaned, a long, drawn-out sound that was grating on the ears.
Arthur entered the castle and took out the blue sapphire necklace he had carried with him for many years.
His parents had given it to him, saying it was the key to the underground vault.
He had no interest in the vault''s contents. He only wanted to see if there were any belongings of theirs that he could use to create a tomb.
He entered the vault and spent two hours searching. Finally, Arthur erected a tomb for his parents in the castle''s backyard.
He made an offering of dirt in place of incense. After paying his respects, he stood up, ready to leave the island and embark on his journey to the Grand Line.
Suddenly¡ª
"Hmm? Someone''s on the island?" Arthur''s brow furrowed. His Observation Haki detected a large group of people landing on the island.
Mountains, rivers, plants, dewdrops, ants and insects beneath the earth, the sound of the wind - all were reflected in his mind.
"What are these people doing on the island...?"
Arthur''s form flickered, and he flew towards the dilapidated dock, his speed so fast that he was practically teleporting. In just a second, he had closed the distance.
...
"Little Miss, Even the ship was destroyed by cannon fire. Where do you think you''re going to run?"
The group consisted of two factions. In front was a young woman in a sorry state. Her fair face was smudged with soot, but her beauty was still apparent.
Behind the young woman were men dressed in black suits, black leather shoes, black hats, and black sunglasses, all carrying firearms - clearly members of the Mafia. This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings.
The Mafia members seemed to be playing a game of cat and mouse, casually tailing the young woman, hurling insults at her.
"Hey! Brothers¡ªlook at the way her hips sway. Once we catch her, we''ll have some fun first, eh?"
"Don''t screw up the boss''s business!"
"Stop running. Just hand over what our boss wants."
This group looked like the elite of some underworld organization, but their words were no different from street thugs.
"Little Miss, just obediently hand over the whereabouts of the Castle-Castle Fruit, and we promise not to harm a hair on your head."
The leader of the Mafia members sped up, cornering the young woman. They surrounded her, grinning menacingly.
The young woman was fierce, showing no fear in the face of death. She shouted, "In your dreams! Capone Bege, that treacherous backstabber! My father promoted him, and this is how he repays us - by killing my father!"
Tears welled up in her eyes, streaking down her soot-covered face, leaving two clean lines.
"Winner takes all¡ªEven if Boss Bege hadn''t rebelled, someone else would have! The boss just expedited the process!" The leader knew they were in the wrong, so he didn''t want to argue about this issue.
"The Castle-Castle Fruit is something Boss Bege has his eyes on. Just hand it over, or tell us its location, and we promise we won''t make things difficult for you. We''ll even give you a boat and let you leave. How about it?" He tried to coax her.
"Stop dreaming. Just kill me!" The young woman was resolute. She closed her eyes, ready to face whatever came next.
"Big brother, should we hand her over to the brothers? They have plenty of ways to make her talk..." Several of the men looked at the young woman''s alluring figure, swallowing hard, their eyes filled with lust.
"Be careful. Don''t kill her!" The leader adjusted his sunglasses and stepped aside, giving his men space.
The underlings, seeing this, eagerly pounced.
"Get away from me! Get away... I will kill you all!" The young woman, Aurora, was terrified. She screamed and backed up against a stone wall. Tears streamed down her face, washing away the soot and revealing her true appearance.
"Hehehe! Little Miss, just tell us, and you won''t have to suffer. Otherwise, if the brothers accidentally scratch that pretty face of yours, it would be such a shame, wouldn''t it?"
The underlings were eager to taste the beauty of the young woman, but they didn''t forget their mission.
"The Street of Pleasure is still missing a beauty like our dear little lady. If we sell you there, business will surely boom, hahaha!"
They continued to intimidate her, describing scenes that made Aurora''s face turn pale. She gritted her teeth, clearly terrified.
Just then, an out-of-place voice came from behind the stone wall.
"Um... Could you all wait a moment?" Arthur couldn''t stand it any longer.
He had just heard something interesting. The Castle-Castle Fruit? Arthur''s interest was piqued.
"Who is it? Get the hell out here!" The underlings'' actions were interrupted. They were momentarily stunned.
The leader, who had turned away, was startled by the voice. He instantly pulled out a flintlock pistol and pointed it in the direction of the sound.
"I..." Arthur innocently squatted on the rock, scratching his head, like a pure, naive young man who had never seen the world. "I was sleeping here. You seem to be disturbing me. Could you¡ªwait until I move to a different spot before you continue?"
He blinked at the group, looking utterly innocent!
"Hmph! Kill this nosy brat!" The leader''s face darkened. He gave the order, and two of his underlings immediately charged at Arthur.
The two burly underlings, with fierce expressions, rushed forward with powerful strides. Their thick fingers, like carrots, formed claws, reaching for him from both sides.
They seemed to be experts in street brawls, blocking all of Arthur''s escape routes, trapping him in a corner.
Aurora''s face turned ashen. Seeing Arthur frozen, she thought he was scared witless. She felt a pang of guilt. "Why did he have to get involved in this mess?"
But in the next instant, the two underlings who had rushed Arthur screamed and were sent flying back like cannonballs.
They had been struck by some unknown force, dragging through the dirt for dozens of yards, plowing two long furrows. Their chests were caved in, their eyes wide, and they were spitting up dark red chunks of internal organs and blood.
They were clearly dead... [31] : Electromagnetism鈥擥odfather of the West Blue?
Arthur kicked the two away. The immense force still proved fatal for the two small-time thugs.
Seeing their deaths, the bloodlust of the remaining underlings was fully ignited. They swarmed towards Arthur as one.
Meanwhile, the small-time leader, having some sense¡ªrecognized Arthur''s strength and was already stealthily retreating towards the port.
Arthur glanced at the fleeing leader, deciding not to hold back any longer. He reached out and grabbed towards the ground!
"Electromagnetism - Iron Sand Sword!!"
Iron sand from the ground began to rise, coalescing in his hand, forming an ultra-sharp sword that flowed like liquid. Each grain of sand moved along the blade''s edge¡ªlike a miniature chainsaw.
Faint electric currents emanated from the Iron Sand Sword, crackling softly. Anyone with eyes could see that this blade was exceptionally sharp.
"A Devil Fruit user?"
"RUN!!!"
This group, under Capone Bege''s command, had conquered many territories. They had some knowledge. They knew that Devil Fruit users were not to be trifled with. Each one of them was now entertaining thoughts of escape.
However, Arthur wouldn''t let them get away. He considered this God-given Island of Hope and Sunlight to be pure, untainted land, not to be defiled by just anyone.
"Zzzzzzt!"
Arthur slashed with the Iron Sand Sword, unleashing a blue electric sword beam. Its terrifying power cleaved all the Mafia members in half.
The electric sword beam, even after killing the underlings, continued onward, slicing through a small forest hundreds of yards behind them before finally dissipating.
...
"S... So powerful!" Aurora witnessed firsthand Arthur''s single strike killing everyone. She was stunned, her face filled with disbelief.
Then she reacted, shouting, "Where''s the leader? Kill him quickly, or Capone Bege will bring the entire Mafia..."
"Hmm? What does that have to do with me?" Arthur glanced at Aurora. "They''re looking for trouble with you¡ª"
In reality, Arthur had intentionally let the leader escape. With his Observation Haki''s range, the leader wouldn''t have escaped, even if he ran dozens of miles away. He would still have been struck down by a Divine Judgment.
He let him go because of what they had said earlier¡ªthe Castle-Castle Fruit!
If the leader didn''t bring people back to trouble Aurora¡ªhow could she voluntarily hand over the Fruit? If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement.
The Castle-Castle Fruit allowed the user to create a massive castle within their body. It was perfect for storing supplies or personnel. It was a mobile fortress.
Arthur had already eaten the Rumble-Rumble Fruit and couldn''t eat another. But remember, someone in this world could make inanimate objects consume Devil Fruits.
Dr. Vegapunk¡ªthe genius scientist who claimed to be 500 years ahead of human intelligence, had already figured out this method.
Funkfreed, the sword that ate the Elephant-Elephant Fruit in Enies Lobby, was the best proof.
If Arthur got his hands on this method, he could easily create something like a storage ring or a storage necklace.
Then wouldn''t storing things be much more convenient? He wouldn''t have to go hungry wherever he went.
He had also considered one point. For example, could inanimate objects only eat Zoan-type Fruits? He wouldn''t be satisfied unless he tried.
...
Arthur changed the subject, probing, "Of course, if you hand over that Castle-Castle Fruit you mentioned, I''ll immediately take that leader''s head for you. How about it? It''s a good deal. You should consider it!"
"Hmph! No need..." Aurora was secretly on guard, but she was also wavering. "If you want the Castle-Castle Fruit¡ªHelp me destroy Capone Bege''s Mafia. Then I''ll tell you its location."
"Oh... then forget it!" Arthur scoffed dismissively, turning as if to leave.
"Wait!" Aurora gritted her teeth, her beautiful eyes widening. "As long as you kill Capone Bege, the Fruit is yours. That''s my bottom line!"
"Kill Capone Bege?" Arthur stroked his chin, weighing the pros and cons. With his strength, killing a Mafia boss was a piece of cake.
But what surprised him was that Capone Bege was only 16 years old now, the same age as him. He was already starting to conquer the West Blue''s underworld at such a young age.
''Fate is unpredictable. I didn''t expect to clash with two of the eleven Supernovas this quickly.'' Arthur marveled to himself, but he wasn''t too worried.
After all, with his current strength, he could even fight against a Vice Admiral, although he might not win. He wouldn''t lose too badly, at least. He could hold his own for a few days and nights. And if he couldn''t win, he could always run.
"Deal. But how do I know you''re not lying? Is the Fruit even with you?" Arthur looked Aurora up and down, his meaning obvious.
"!!!" Aurora was furious, but she was helpless. She knew that without proof, no one would believe her¡ªso why would they help?
...
On the open sea.
A dilapidated small boat sailed slowly. It didn''t even have a sail, relying solely on the wind to move forward. Arthur and Aurora stood at the bow.
"According to the wind direction, it will take us about two hours to reach Elbak Island. Capone Bege''s trusted subordinate, the Assassin Gotti¡ªis on that island. He''s very dangerous. The Castle-Castle Fruit is also on that island." Aurora said sullenly.
"It doesn''t matter who''s there. They''re all weak. It''ll just take a little more effort to clean them up." Arthur waved his hand dismissively.
He didn''t think anyone in the West Blue could be his opponent. What assassin or hitman? He could kill them all with a single Divine Judgment. If there were any he missed, he could always send another.
"....." Aurora was shaking with anger at Arthur''s arrogance.
Aurora was forced to rely on Arthur. She couldn''t reveal her true thoughts. She rolled her eyes and said, "How about this? After you kill Capone Bege, you can take over the Mafia and become a Godfather of the West Blue?"
"Godfather of the West Blue? Heh..." Arthur scoffed disdainfully.
Although the West Blue was large, how many strong people were there? To stir up trouble in such a remote place, was that more fun than going to the New World and fighting against the strongest in the world?
The World Government could give him the highest authority, and he wouldn''t even consider it. His sole purpose in coming to the Grand Line was to fight the strongest, to live the most exciting life.
That was the only way to find true joy. [32] : "The Assassin" Gotti
Elbak Island, Central Street, inside the Flaming Tank Bar.
Scantily clad dancers moved provocatively, while waiters carrying trays weaved through the crowd. Pirates, bounty hunters, and mafiosi rubbed shoulders, drinking and shouting, occasionally whistling at passing women.
In a private booth overlooking the entire bar, Arthur held a bottle of wine, taking large gulps. He watched the debauchery below with a cold, sharp gaze.
These people may have once had dreams, but they had been crushed by harsh realities. Or perhaps they had ambition but lacked the strength, sinking into a life of indulgence.
"If I hadn''t gambled with my life on the rising current, would I have ended up like them in a few years, lost and unaware of the true wonders of the world?"
Arthur sighed. High-proof rum flowed into his mouth like water, some spilling from the corners of his lips and running down his exposed, muscular chest.
"You''re here. So why haven''t you done anything about Gotti yet?" Aurora''s voice was laced with barely suppressed anger.
Before arriving at Elbak Island, they had encountered a Sea King at sea. But before it could even surface, it was charred to a crisp by a bolt of lightning that appeared out of nowhere.
Learning that Arthur was the rare Logia-type Rumble-Rumble Fruit user, Aurora was deeply shocked. After all, she was the daughter of a former Mafia boss. She had more knowledge than the average person. Of course, she understood what a Logia-type meant.
It meant being impervious to ordinary firearms, swords, and other weapons¡ªTrue Invincibility.
Back then, upon hearing of her understanding, Arthur merely scoffed inwardly. In the Four Blues, those who knew Armament Haki were few and far between. It was normal for her not to know about it¡ª
"Bringing you to this bar was already a huge risk. I might even expose the undercover agents I planted in the gang. Do you even understand?" Aurora huffed coldly.
Her father''s influence in the former Mafia was deeply rooted. Even though he had been killed, some remained loyal.
"Do you think the loyalists your father left behind are loyal to you? Wake up to reality. If they were all loyal, they would have been killed long ago! We came here openly, without any concealment. This information has probably already fallen into the hands of those with ulterior motives. Someone will likely come looking for us soon." Arthur said nonchalantly
"!!!" Aurora was flustered by his words. She had already begun to believe him a little.
As soon as she spoke...
The bar''s doors were pushed open forcefully. A large group of Mafia members swarmed in, instantly filling the remaining empty space in the bar. Reading on Amazon or a pirate site? This novel is from Royal Road. Support the author by reading it there.
The Mafia underlings quickly parted, making way as if waiting for someone.
"The gang is taking action. Please excuse any inconvenience. Drinks are on the house tonight!"
A muffled voice came from the entrance. The figure of the person gradually appeared, blocking the light from outside as he squeezed through the doorway.
The newcomer was fierce-looking and already balding despite his young age. Most importantly, his right hand was equipped with a massive, heavy machine gun, its caliber thick, its power undeniable. This was Capone Bege''s trusted subordinate¡ªGotti!
"Walloon! Can you confirm that Young Miss Aurora and the guy who killed my men are here?" Gotti asked fiercely.
"They''re here. Our spy just saw them enter the bar. They haven''t left!" The man named Walloon was the small-time leader who had escaped from the Island of Hope and Sunlight.
The bar suddenly fell silent. Only these two voices could be heard!
"He''s here. The Assassin Gotti!" Aurora''s eyes filled with fear. Her body trembled slightly. Even though she knew Arthur''s power was extraordinary, she still couldn''t help but feel frightened by Gotti''s infamous reputation.
Gotti led the way, followed by Walloon and a group of underlings. They walked towards the upper-level booth.
Seemingly sensing Aurora''s gaze, Gotti looked up, his fierce eyes meeting her beautiful ones.
"!!!" Aurora subconsciously leaned towards Arthur, seeking a sense of security.
"Gotti''s nickname is ''The Assassin.'' He does all of Capone Bege''s dirty work. Who knows how many people he''s killed to earn that name."
"The meaning of this title isn''t a killer hidden in the shadows. It''s... a hand that only knows how to kill!"
She muttered to herself, her fear of this man seeming to outweigh her fear of Capone Bege. Or perhaps, her feelings towards Capone Bege were only hatred.
"Young Miss Aurora, I thought you had escaped! But here you are, delivering yourself to us? Hahaha!" Walloon laughed loudly, then turned his head towards Arthur.
"Gotti, it''s this kid. He killed more than a dozen of our brothers. You have to avenge them!" Walloon pointed at Arthur, hatred in his voice.
"Oh? You were spared before¡ªand now you''re sticking your neck out again, begging to be killed? You really don''t know your limits!" Arthur sat comfortably on the sofa, shaking the bottle in his hand, a touch of resignation in his voice.
Gotti pushed Walloon and the others aside with his machine-gun-equipped right hand. He was furious. "Kid, You''ve got some nerve, killing my men in the gang''s territory? State your name!"
"The name''s Seabury D. Arthur. Remember it well."
"It''ll be something you can brag about in hell!" Arthur said casually, as if stating an irrefutable truth.
"The Seabury Family? Hmph! I don''t care who you are. Hand Aurora over, and maybe you can get out of here alive. Otherwise..."
Gotti might have looked rough, but he wasn''t a fool. Seeing Arthur''s confident demeanor, he understood that this person probably had something to rely on.
Although he was angry that Arthur had killed his men, the gang had just stabilized, Gotti knew it wasn''t wise to cross someone with serious backing.
"No!!" Aurora was immediately flustered, terrified.
"Leave?" Arthur finally looked directly at Gotti, scoffing. "She''s offered to trade your lives for the Castle-Castle Fruit. Or do you think your life is worth more than a Devil Fruit?"
"Castle-Castle Fruit?" Gotti knew that things couldn''t be resolved peacefully.
"In that case, you can die!"
As soon as he finished speaking, his right hand, the heavy machine gun, suddenly aimed at Arthur. A stream of bullets erupted, forming a storm of metal.
"Da! Da! Da! Da! Da!!" The bullets sprayed wildly.
The heavy machine gun''s powerful recoil didn''t affect him at all. He remained as steady as a mountain.
The metal storm enveloped Arthur, sealing off all escape routes... [33] : The Devil Fruit Encyclopedia!
The bullets formed a torrential storm of steel, spraying wildly towards Arthur.
"Tsk, tsk. You''re really going to use bullets against me?" Arthur shook his head, not even bothering to lift a hand.
Theoretically, average bullets couldn''t harm him, let alone even get close. Unless someone like Garp used overwhelming force to propel the bullets through his defenses, they were useless.
<"Electromagnetism - Barrier!">
An invisible electromagnetic field enveloped Arthur, forming a protective barrier around him.
The bullets, unable to penetrate the barrier, seemed to freeze in mid-air within two meters of Arthur.
From a distance, it looked like a giant metal sphere had formed around him.
"Clink! Clink! Clink!"
The spent bullet casings clattered to the ground, creating a crisp, jarring sound.
Not only Gotti, but Walloon, the underlings, and the remaining pirates and bounty hunters in the bar were all stunned.
"What... What kind of power is this?" Gotti asked, his face filled with shock.
Although he knew about Devil Fruits, this was the West Blue after all. Devil Fruit users were incredibly rare here. Those who did possess one were considered top-tier experts, practically untouchable.
''Gasp...'' Aurora sucked in a breath, her heart suddenly filled with excitement.
"The strongest Logia-type¡ªThunder Fruit!" Arthur''s voice came from behind the curtain of bullets, still calm and unperturbed. He hadn''t even considered hiding his ability, knowing that it would be exposed sooner or later.
The nail that sticks out gets hammered down? Keep a low profile? Hide your strength and bide your time?
Sorry¡ªHe never entertained such thoughts. If you had the power, why not flaunt it?
"Is that all you''ve got? If that''s the case, then I''ll have to ask you to die!"
Arthur''s words echoed through the silent bar, breaking the stunned silence.
Gotti was terrified. He decisively made up his mind and leaped from the booth, attempting to escape through the door. If he couldn''t fight this guy alone, then he had to get Capone Bege!
"Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!"
The bullets, frozen in mid-air, were suddenly propelled by an unseen force, transforming into a long, metallic snake that shot back towards Gotti.
Blood splattered everywhere. Gotti''s body was riddled with bullets, not a single spot left untouched.
His body crashed heavily to the ground, lifeless.
Arthur had killed Capone Bege''s trusted subordinate in seconds. The bar fell deathly silent. It was so quiet, you could hear a pin drop. After a long moment, whispers finally broke out. This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.
"He''s young but incredibly powerful."
"The Thunder Fruit? The Strongest Logia?"
The pirates and bounty hunters hid their envy and jealousy, cursing Arthur''s incredible luck. They had no idea he had nearly died to obtain this power.
But no matter what, they all understood that this young man would likely rise to prominence in the West Blue¡ªlike a newly ignited star.
"I''ve helped you kill one of them. It''s time to show some proof and bring out the Castle-Castle Fruit, don''t you think?" Arthur interrupted Aurora, who was still in shock, his voice laced with amusement.
"Alright!" Aurora made up her mind. She gave Arthur a deep look and led the way out of the bar.
The Mafia underlings had long been scared witless. Seeing them approach, they immediately parted to create a path.
....
News of the Thunder Fruit user on Elbak Island quickly spread throughout the West Blue.
All sorts of rumors emerged, like how he had stumbled upon the Devil Fruit by sheer luck, or that he was a powerful pirate returning from the Grand Line.
Even more absurdly, Arthur was rumored to be a monster capable of rivaling the Marines'' strongest fighters and the top figures in the New World.
Arthur couldn''t care less about these trivial matters. His current goal was the Castle-Castle Fruit¡ªthe existence of which was still uncertain.
According to his analysis, the likelihood of Aurora possessing this fruit was quite high.
Capone Bege hadn''t eaten the fruit yet, and they all believed it was with Aurora.
Such certainty implied they had witnessed it firsthand. The probability of it being fake was extremely low.
Aurora walked quickly, with Arthur following closely behind. They traveled for about ten miles.
She stopped at a reef by the sea. After carefully surveying the area, she seemed to have found the right spot and pressed down on a particular rock.
"Rumble!!!"
The reef shook violently, gradually revealing a dark, deep opening.
"You built a secret room in a place like this? Quite creative." Arthur casually praised her ingenuity.
"Wait for me here!" Aurora said, then entered the cave without waiting for Arthur''s response.
She returned a moment later, carrying a gray, durian-shaped fruit in her right hand. The fruit''s patterns were straight lines, resembling the markings on a castle wall. In her left hand, she held a thick book.
"Is this the Castle-Castle Fruit? Are you sure?" Arthur stared intently at the gray fruit in her hand, not hiding his desire.
Only the weak hid their true intentions. Arthur wanted to live as he pleased and didn''t bother to conceal his desires.
Aurora nodded firmly. "This is definitely the Castle-Castle Fruit. There''s no mistake!"
She handed the thick, dictionary-like book to Arthur and flipped to the middle.
The book contained a picture identical to the Castle-Castle Fruit in her hand. Below the picture were lines of text:
...
[Castle-Castle Fruit: Allows the user to store anything, including themselves, within their body, like a castle. Objects stored inside will shrink, returning to their original size when outside the user''s body.]
[In battle, the user can command their crew inside their body to fire bullets, cannons, and other weapons at the outside world. Upon leaving the user''s body, the bullets and cannonballs return to their normal size, allowing for immense firepower to attack opponents. Alternatively, the user can release their crew like a vast army, overwhelming opponents with sheer numbers.]
...
The description was clear and concise, even outlining the general direction for developing the fruit''s powers.
"This book is a Devil Fruit Encyclopedia. A Celestial Dragon who once passed through my father''s territory dropped it! So I''m absolutely certain this is the Castle-Castle Fruit. Are you happy now?" Aurora said coldly.
"¡ªDevil Fruit Encyclopedia!" Arthur''s eyes lit up. He snatched the book as if it were a priceless treasure.
The Devil Fruit Encyclopedia was undoubtedly one of the greatest works in the world of One Piece. In Arthur''s eyes, its value even surpassed the Poneglyphs.
It contained records of all known Devil Fruits, even outlining potential development paths, a culmination of generations of experience and experimentation. Its value was immeasurable.
Although the suggested development paths might not always be correct, they at least provided a starting point, preventing one from fumbling around blindly. [34] : Horizontal Development!!
Arthur held the Devil Fruit Encyclopedia, nodding to Aurora. "I''ll take this book. As for killing Capone Bege, I won''t go back on my word."
His solemn tone finally eased Aurora''s anxiety. Her cold, tense expression relaxed, and a faint, forced smile appeared on her face.
The two boarded a large ship, with Aurora''s trusted confidant acting as helmsman, setting course for the island that served as Capone Bege''s headquarters.
The ship cut through the waves, sailing swiftly across the vast, boundless sea.
In his cabin, Arthur toyed with the Castle-Castle Fruit, his eyes glued to the Devil Fruit Encyclopedia.
The book contained detailed information on thousands upon thousands of fruits with confirmed records.
Fruits like the Logia-type Dark-Dark Fruit, Magma-Magma Fruit, and so on were described in great detail, with clear directions for development. Following these instructions would lead to great power.
However, for some reason, the entry for the Rumble-Rumble Fruit was sparse, with only a few lines and a picture.
Perhaps the fruit had been lost in Sky Island for so long that information about it had become scarce.
The entry for the Paramecia-type Op-Op Fruit was even more bare-bones, with only a picture and a single sentence, possibly due to intentional concealment by the World Government.
They were likely afraid that knowledge of its effects would incite worldwide chaos.
Eternal youth, after all, was the ultimate dream of countless people.
And it wasn''t just the immortality surgery. The ability to switch minds was enough to drive anyone with ambition wild with desire.
For example, the World Government could capture a powerful pirate, switch their mind with someone loyal to the World Government, and instantly create a top-tier fighter.
It was a truly terrifying ability.
"I remember the Op-Op Fruit won''t appear for at least another ten years, on Minion Island in the North Blue, in the year 1509! If things haven''t changed by then... I''ll be sure to claim it!" Arthur''s eyes flashed as he made his decision.
He would never allow such a dangerous fruit to fall into another''s hands. Only in his possession would it be truly safe.
Who knew if the person beside you had their mind swapped, becoming someone else''s pawn, ready to stab you in the back at any moment?
Arthur even decided to find a Devil Fruit that could see through minds in the future...
....
"Boom!!"
The weather at sea was unpredictable. One moment it was clear skies, the next, dark clouds gathered, and thunder rumbled.
Torrential rain poured down, and waves crashed against the ship, making it rock violently, as if it would be swallowed by the sea at any moment.
"Arthur!" Aurora pushed open the door, her face urgent. "The weather has changed. We should turn back. The return journey is shorter than the trip to Capone Bege''s headquarters..."
"No need. Keep going!" Arthur''s expression was calm. He wasn''t afraid of the storm. He continued to peruse the Devil Fruit Encyclopedia. If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.
With his inhuman Observation Haki, how could he not sense something as simple as the movement of the wind and the shifting of clouds?
He had already scanned the surrounding dozens of miles.
Besides, even if the ship capsized, he could transform into Lightning and fly.
"Fine!" Aurora could only trust Arthur. She gritted her teeth and gave the order to her confidant.
Seeing her rush out, Arthur waved his hand, closing the door. He closed his eyes, carefully sensing the changes in the surging Lightning within the clouds.
Why was a natural Logia called a natural Logia? Because it was attuned to a particular natural phenomenon.
Therefore, in Arthur''s view, the person who could teach you how to perfectly develop a Logia fruit was nature itself.
Arthur''s Observation Haki "watched" the Lightning in the clouds, comparing it to his own, searching for differences or different paths of development, to chart his future course.
"Zzzzzzt!"
Lightning surged wildly within his body. Every inch of his skin, his muscles, even his hair, was charged with electricity, making the room glow blue.
Under Electromagnetic induction, all metal objects began to float.
"How can I overcome the two hundred million Volt limit?" Arthur sensed the Lightning in the sky, constantly comparing it to his own.
He had been stuck at two hundred million Volts for quite some time, unable to surpass this limit no matter what.
"In nature, Lightning can reach over one billion Volts. That means my Rumble-Rumble Fruit is only a fifth as powerful as natural Lightning. There''s still a vast potential for improvement!"
Arthur frowned, pondering how to catch up to the power of nature.
"Could it be a limitation of the human body? The human body can''t compare to nature?" He considered this possibility.
Humans were born from nature. To surpass nature was easier said than done, but not impossible.
Because, his current body could transform into Lightning at any time, the same as the Lightning in nature!
Right now, Arthur''s Rumble-Rumble Fruit had passed its period of rapid development. To develop it further, vertically, to increase the Voltage, would require time. He could only develop it horizontally, exploring Electromagnetism, heat generation, electric light movement, electric waves, and other abilities.
His power was far beyond Enel''s two hundred million Volts. His maximum destructive force should be comparable to, or even surpass, the strongest fighters in the Marines.
A single Raigo could easily destroy an island and wipe out a country.
Of course, destructive power didn''t equate to strength. Enel could do the same. But Arthur''s Lightning was far more powerful than Enel''s, and his physique had reached the peak of the Grand Line, not far from those legendary figures.
"It''s alright. Laying a solid basis is essential for further progress," Arthur consoled himself, his mood improving.
....
The wind stopped, the rain ceased, and the sky was clear, a brilliant blue, almost indistinguishable from the sea.
Arthur and Aurora stood side-by-side on the deck, enjoying the sea breeze and admiring the scenery. She kept chattering endlessly about the affairs of Capone Bege''s Mafia.
Arthur, naturally, couldn''t be bothered to listen. Right now, he was daydreaming, thinking about how to develop the Rumble-Rumble Fruit''s abilities horizontally.
He considered his electric light movement to be no worse than Kizaru''s, perhaps even stronger. After all, he could change direction, while Kizaru couldn''t.
So he didn''t need to develop that further, because there was no need. In terms of movement ability, he was second to none on the Grand Line, unless a legendary space-type fruit appeared.
As for heat generation, Arthur''s Voltage could instantly melt dozens of tons of gold into liquid, several times hotter than ordinary magma. He wouldn''t be afraid to go head-to-head with Akainu''s magma, and might even vaporize it.
He had reached a limit of two hundred million Volts with his Lightning. He couldn''t surpass it for now. Although his attack power was strong, it was far inferior to a monster like Whitebeard.
Only the electric field enhancement of his physique was ongoing, ceaseless.
So, after thinking it over, it seemed that only Electromagnetism had room for further development.
Moreover, Electromagnetism could almost be considered a cheat, an all-purpose ability, an abnormal level. If he could truly develop it, he might even be able to call himself invincible.
Arthur had already tried using Electromagnetism to control metal on Sky Island, with remarkable results. But his understanding of how to use Electromagnetism for attacks was still rudimentary.
He had only developed the ability to use magnetic force to propel metal to kill enemies, or to control metal. And there was the Electromagnetism - Iron Sand Sword, and using Electromagnetism to create a full-body defense. These were all the most basic understandings and applications.
Thinking of this, Arthur couldn''t help but feel a headache. "Developing a fruit really requires imagination or knowledge, doesn''t it? Damn it, it''s so annoying!" [35] : Merchant Ship!
The West Blue: known throughout the world as the strongest of the Four Blues!
This claim wasn''t without basis, nor was it mere idle talk.
On the surface, various countries in the West Blue more or less sponsored obscure Pirate groups, using them to plunder resources and wealth.
Among them, the Kano Country''s famed Happo Navy was in reality, a Pirate crew. Its current leader was Don Chinjao, with a bounty exceeding 500 million, and has the "Conqueror''s Haki," a power found in only one in several million!
However, five or six years ago, he was defeated by the Marine Hero, "Iron Fist" Garp, in a single punch. Garp flattened Chinjao''s prized, drill-shaped head. From then on, Chinjao had faded into obscurity, dedicating himself to training the next generation.
These were just the things on the surface.
In the shadows, various Mafia families operated with impunity.
The most famous among them were the Four Families of the West!
Capone Bege was still young and hadn''t yet unified his forces. He couldn''t yet claim the title of Leader of the Fifth Mafia family.
Such a chaotic landscape naturally gave rise to lawless individuals.
Therefore, the West Blue was called the strongest sea, and no one disputed it.
Although the Marines were incredibly powerful, the New World was in turmoil, with legendary Pirates carving out territories, leaving them with no time to spare and their reach limited. They couldn''t control the chaos in the West Blue, thus fostering its fierce character.
As a result, merchant ships at sea were rare. Those that did sail were either designated trade ships between countries, protected by warships, or those confident in the strength of their own escorts, or those risking their lives for profit.
...
On the route to Capone Bege''s headquarters, a merchant fleet, flying the flag of a certain family, was surrounded by Pirates.
The merchant fleet''s highly-paid guards had already drawn their swords, facing off against the Pirates. A bloody clash was imminent if negotiations failed.
Inside the merchant ship, the corpulent merchant wiped away his greasy sweat with a white handkerchief, anxiously awaiting the outcome of the negotiations between the guards and the Pirates.
After all, to do business in the relatively chaotic West Blue, one needed connections. He naturally knew that most of these Pirates were sent by other countries or Mafia families to plunder wealth.
If a peaceful passage could be secured at a minimal cost, it would benefit both sides. If negotiations failed and a fight broke out, no one wanted to see that.
Training loyal guards was very difficult!
"Ola Fursten¡ªWhy has the ''toll'' increased so much? Last time it was only 500,000 Belly. Now it''s increased tenfold, to 5 million? Are you trying to break the rules?" Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator.
The leader of the merchant fleet''s guards was a burly man, standing three meters tall, with a full beard. He was furious, rebuking the Pirate leader blocking their way.
If he wasn''t afraid of casualties among his men, the guard leader would have ordered a boarding action to teach them a lesson. They were all making a living at sea. Why make things so difficult?
"Hahahahaha! Today, you''ll pay, whether you want to or not!" The Pirate leader surrounding the merchant ship was of average height, his face reddened from years of exposure to the sea wind. His bare torso was covered in various scars, a frightening sight.
"The owner of this sea lane has just changed. It''s now under the leadership of Boss Capone Bege. If you''re not happy, come and fight!"
"Fight!!"
"Kill! Kill! Kill!"
The Pirates on the Pirate ship, or those swimming in the sea, immediately roared in unison. Their eyes shone with bloodlust.
"Capone Bege? That young upstart who hopes to become the fifth Mafia family in the West Blue?" The guard leader''s heart sank. He immediately felt that things were going to get messy.
Usually, the leaders of these underworld forces, in order to quickly spread their name, needed to be ruthless. This was an unwritten rule, known to almost everyone who operated in the West Blue.
In short, it was to establish their dominance, to let people know they were not to be trifled with.
"Haha, it turns out that Capone Bege''s forces have taken over this sea lane. Congratulations!" The obese merchant ship owner emerged from behind the guard leader, a forced smile on his face. "This small sum will be my gift to Boss Bege for his ascension!"
With that, a guard immediately brought over a box. When it was opened, it revealed stacks of Belly, fresh from the press, totaling exactly five million!
The guard leader took the box, closed it forcefully, and with a burst of strength, threw it towards the Pirate ship a hundred yards away.
"Oh? fat pig, you''re pretty sensible, aren''t you?" The Pirate leader, Ola Fursten, said in surprise, catching the box and quickly opening it, counting the money to confirm it was all there.
"Alright! Seeing as you''re cooperative, we''ll let you pass!!"
He waved his hand, and the Pirate ships made way for a passage just wide enough for the merchant fleet to pass through.
Just as the merchant fleet was about to set sail, a small boat approached, propelled by the wind. The Pirate on board shouted loudly.
"Captain, another ship is coming from behind!"
"Oh??"
The Pirate leader, Ola Fursten, looked towards the distant sea. He indeed saw a ship advancing rapidly with the wind. It would likely reach them in less than two minutes.
...
The approaching ship wasn''t large, but its speed was incredibly fast, clearly not an ordinary vessel.
Ola Fursten had good eyesight. He instantly recognized it as a decommissioned Marine warship that had been modified. Because of its heavy weight, it sat low in the water, but that didn''t affect its sailing at all.
At the bow of this ship stood two figures, a man and a woman, both young, seemingly not even adults.
Suddenly...
Ola Fursten shuddered, his eyes bulging. His hands and feet trembled slightly, as if a gentle sea breeze could knock him over.
He recognized who it was!
The woman was the former princess of the Mafia before Capone Bege took over, Aurora, the precious daughter of his former boss.
The one who made him shudder wasn''t Aurora, but the other figure, the one standing beside Aurora, standing tall and proud in the sea breeze.
Three hours ago, a rumor had spread from Elbak Island.
Aurora had appeared with a Logia-type Rumble-Rumble Fruit user. He had killed Capone Bege''s trusted subordinate, Gotti, with a single strike.
Den Den Mushi were incredibly convenient for communication. And for people like them, who lived on the edge, information was as vital as their lives!
Logia-type Devil Fruits were symbols of invincibility in the Four Blues! What could be used to fight against that?
Ola Fursten, though a Pirate leader, was not very strong. He could only play games in a corner of the West Blue. But his keen eye and intuition had allowed him to escape death countless times, so he trusted his instincts implicitly...
Staying here would put his life in danger! [36] : Super Electromagnetic Railgun!!!
"Run... Run!" Ola Fursten roared, quickly rushing to the helm. He slapped the helmsman aside, sending the underling flying, and took control himself.
But his voice trembled slightly, and the sound of the wind covered it, so the Pirate crew didn''t understand. They thought their captain was eager to plunder.
They cheered excitedly, beating their chests. Some of the ships, eager to get ahead, even overtook the main ship, speeding towards Arthur.
"Arthur, Pirates are blocking the way!" Aurora called out, a note of urgency in her voice.
The warning snapped Arthur out of his deep thought.
Disturbed from his contemplation, his face naturally darkened.
"...." His expression was cold. The inspiration he''d just had vanished without a trace, fueling a murderous rage.
"Hahaha, there''s a woman!"
"Kill them all, and offer the woman to the cap!"
"Kill! Kill! Kill!"
The two sides'' ships had met. The Pirates brandished their heavy chains, flinging the iron balls at the end toward the mast of Arthur''s ship.
Arthur''s gaze turned icy. He reached to his waist, and with a surge of electricity, the iron chain wrapped around his waist instantly transformed into a long, shimmering whip of crackling lightning.
"Electromagnetism - Iron Sand Whip!"
The chain around his waist was originally made of iron sand. On the God-Given Island of Sunlight and Hope¡ªArthur had drawn iron sand from the ground, developing a move called [Electromagnetism - Iron Sand Sword].
The [Iron Sand Whip] and the [Iron Sand Sword] were similar in principle.
However, the sword was generally used for close combat, while the [Iron Sand Whip] could be extended indefinitely, used for long-range attacks!
"Whoosh!!"
Driven by electricity, the whip cracked through the air. Illuminated by the sunlight, it shone with a brilliant blue light.
It extended forward continuously.
The head of the [Iron Sand Whip] suddenly swerved, lashing out at the Pirates who were trying to board.
The Pirates at the forefront didn''t even understand what had happened before their bodies were sliced in two. With a "plop," they fell into the sea, their blood instantly staining the water red.
"What''s going on?"
"What happened??"
The Pirates who were preparing to board via the chains paused, staring in horror at their dead comrades.
"Where''s the Captain??"
"The Captain¡ªhe ran!"
Some Pirates turned their heads, seeing that the main ship had already turned around and was fleeing at full speed, like a desperate stray dog.
Before they could react, the blue-electric-driven [Iron Sand Whip], like a slender thread, turned again and lashed towards them. The dazzling light, though it was lightning, felt as cold as ice, making the many Pirates shudder. Help support creative writers by finding and reading their stories on the original site.
The iron sand, controlled by Electromagnetic force, had the potential for infinite extension. And by connecting it with Electromagnetism, it ensured its sharpness and prevented it from easily breaking. Its destructive power was astonishing. With a single lash, it could even slice a Pirate ship in two.
Its sharpness seemed comparable to the level of a swordsman who had mastered cutting steel!
Ola Fursten took the helm, fleeing swiftly. Thanks to the favorable wind and the ship''s own power, it was like an arrow loosed from a bow.
He seemed to think he was safe. He took a deep breath, wiped the cold sweat from his brow, and looked back in the direction from which he had fled.
Arthur''s Iron Sand Whip had thinned to the size of a hair, but its power remained undiminished. Under his Electromagnetic control, it was as nimble as his own arm, striking wherever he directed, with incredible flexibility.
Every lash claimed the lives of over a dozen men. One ship after another was split in two and sank to the bottom of the sea, causing many Pirates to wet themselves in fear.
Let''s test the power of the Electromagnetic Railgun!
Arthur found killing with the Iron Sand Whip slow, far less efficient than the all-encompassing Rain of Thunder. So he stopped.
With a thought, the scythe-like iron sand immediately flew back, gathering in his palm.
He separated a coin-sized iron ball. Electromagnetic force instantly spread out, forming a magnetic field. He adjusted the launch trajectory, aiming at the Pirate ship with the most Pirates.
Electromagnetism, as the driving force, could greatly increase the speed and power of a projectile, making it a hundred times stronger than the cannons on Marine warships.
"Super Electromagnetic Railgun!!" Arthur flicked his hand.
"BOOOOOMMM!!!"
The iron ball and the air rubbed violently, producing a deafening roar. Because of the presence of the atmosphere, friction generated heat, and the iron ball quickly began to melt. The intense heat caused the iron to begin to vaporize.
"BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMM!!!"
Almost immediately, the Electromagnetic Railgun struck the Pirate ship, which was less than 600 feet away. The immense power shattered the ship into pieces.
Flames erupted. The entire ship of Pirates was instantly swallowed by the sea!
The Electromagnetic Railgun continued onward, striking the surface of the sea, creating a crater. Another second later, a cloud of steam rose, the heat from the friction vaporizing the seawater, which was then dispersed by the sea breeze.
"S-save... Save me!"
No one could know the feelings of these few surviving Pirates. They thought they could plunder wealth or beautiful women as usual. But instead... they encountered the grim reaper''s scythe. Their captain, seeing the situation, had fled faster than a rabbit!
Some clever Pirates immediately abandoned ship, plunging into the sea with a "plop," relying on their decent swimming skills to escape.
These small fries weren''t worthy of Arthur''s attention. He had crushed a swarm of ants, nothing more. He didn''t even change his expression. He frowned and continued to think.
"The [Iron Sand Whip] and [Iron Sand Sword] are only useful for clearing out small fry. Their efficiency is far inferior to [Divine Judgment] and [Rain of Thunder]!
So they can only be used in close combat against skilled opponents, similar to how Kizaru uses the Ama no Murakumo Sword, which he forms from light."
"The Electromagnetic Railgun''s power is great, but it also has shortcomings. Because the launched iron ball can''t be elementalized, it''s limited by speed and air pressure. Although it''s still fast, it''s absolutely unusable against skilled opponents. Observation Haki can predict the point of impact! Moreover... the intense friction generates heat. If the iron ball is too small, it will vaporize before it hits. If it''s too large, the effect is diminished, wasting stamina!"
"Moreover, I still can''t use Electromagnetism to freely increase or decrease friction and elasticity!"
Arthur fell into deep thought, ignoring external affairs.
....
Aurora, for the first time, witnessed the true power of the Rumble-Rumble Fruit. It was far more powerful than when he had killed Gotti on Elbak Island. Her heart was filled with shock.
Her pretty face was ruffled by the wind, and her eyes darted around.
Meanwhile, the Pirate leader, Ola Fursten, who had already escaped, witnessed this shocking scene through a telescope. He wiped away his cold sweat, glad he had run fast.
"That''s the legendary Logia-type Devil Fruit? How frightening... Good thing I''m quick-witted! No, the Young Miss has recruited this powerful man¡ªshe''s probably coming to deal with Capone Bege. I have to report back and let the boss prepare!"
He took the helm himself, urging the sails to their fullest, heading towards the Mafia''s headquarters! [37] : Monster Gun鈥擵ito
Aurora ordered her men to continue sailing. Arthur lost in thought, paid them no mind as the ship cut through the waves.
"Monstrous... that''s the only word for it."
The merchant fleet crew, still reeling from what they''d witnessed, watched silently as Arthur''s ship vanished over the horizon. Only then did the guard captain let out a shaky breath, his heart still pounding in his chest.
"After this job, I''m out! The sea''s too damn dangerous..." The obese merchant ship captain felt like he was about to faint from fright. He''d lost a good couple of pounds in cold sweat.
This stretch of sea was stained red. Most of the slain Pirates had become fish food. There were even signs of Sea Kings in the area.
The people on the merchant ship hastily set sail. They''d just escaped one disaster; they didn''t want to end up in the belly of a Sea King.
....
The distance between Capone Bege''s Mafia HQ and Elbak Island wasn''t too great, only a two-day voyage.
Compared to other, more distant seas, where journeys could take ten days or half a month, this was practically next door.
This sea lane was dotted with over twenty islands, home to five or six nations. It was the most prosperous region in the West Blue, as it was the main route to the Grand Line!
The level of chaos could only be described as a turbulent mix of everything.
Bounty Hunters, Mafiosi, Pirates, and the navies of various countries all vied for dominance here.
Originally, the greatest power in this area belonged to the Mafia controlled by Aurora''s father. But Capone Bege had seized it.
However¡ªthe young Capone Bege had killed his own boss to rise to power. His strength wasn''t enough to command respect, so this area had become even more chaotic.
Capone Bege had learned that Aurora''s family possessed a Devil Fruit, and he ordered his men to pursue the escaping Aurora.
During this journey, Aurora, having witnessed Arthur''s true power, told him everything.
"These are minor matters. On the Grand Line, even the most brilliant schemes are no match for Overwhelming Power!" Arthur naturally had zero interest in such mundane affairs.
He revered strength and freedom, scorning all schemes and trickery. He only used his brain because his strength wasn''t yet sufficient.
Look at Capone Bege. He killed his own boss, wanting to unify the Mafia. But he encountered Arthur, who could crush him. His fate was already sealed.
He either had to abandon his base and flee, escaping to a place Arthur couldn''t find, or obediently wait for death.
"Miss, Sir Arthur, more Pirates are coming!" A crewman rushed in to report. If you encounter this narrative on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.
Aurora looked at Arthur. She knew that with this powerful man around, their journey would be safe. So she always deferred to him in all matters.
"Annoying flies¡ª"
Arthur sighed, feeling a bit helpless. Along the way, his Observation Haki had detected at least a dozen Pirate groups. He had mostly ignored them, as long as they didn''t bother him.
Those who wanted to rob them...
With a hopeful, expectant look in her bright eyes, Aurora watched as Arthur sat cross-legged and softly uttered:
<"Rain of Thunder!">
As he spoke softly, the clouds across the entire sea area began to churn. Dark clouds instantly gathered, thunder rumbled, and thick bolts of blue lightning rolled and flashed. With a boom, they pierced the sky, striking down and instantly shattering more than ten Pirate ships.
Another group of Pirates who were watching from afar lost their voices. After a long moment, they came to their senses.
"It''s the Rumble-Rumble Fruit user, Seabury D. Arthur!"
"The Lightning Master¡ªArthur!!"
"Run!!"
They instantly scattered like birds, disappearing without a trace.
"When will they ever learn? They clearly know my strength¡ªyet they can''t even remember what this ship looks like?" Arthur was repeatedly interrupted in his thoughts, and was understandably annoyed.
Aurora looked out the cabin window and saw the shattered wooden planks floating on the distant sea.
"Their intention probably wasn''t to trouble you, but rather Capone Bege has received news of your arrival and sent people to test you!"
"Or perhaps these people are less informed, only knowing your name, but not that you''re on this sea route!" Aurora said respectfully.
"Sooner or later, your name will resound throughout the world!"
"Hahahaha!" Arthur covered his forehead, laughing so hard he leaned back.
"Not ''Sooner or later,'' but destined to... When I set foot on the Grand Line, I will definitely make the world remember my name! That day is coming soon!"
He laughed wildly and unrestrainedly. This attitude left a deep impression on Aurora''s heart, indelible even in the future.
Watching the arrogant and wicked Arthur, she gradually fell silent. Not being on the same level, she couldn''t even speak of following him.
''Domineering, sassy, arrogant, savage, cold!'' Various personalities appeared in the young man, creating a unique charm, drawing moths to a flame.
"Blublublublublu!"
"Blublublublu!"
Suddenly, the snail-like Den Den Mushi on the cabin table kept spitting out its tongue, startling Aurora from her reverie.
She glanced at Arthur. Seeing that he closed his eyes and didn''t want to pay attention, she reached out and picked up the receiver on the Den Den Mushi''s back.
After she picked up the receiver, the Den Den Mushi almost instantly changed its appearance, becoming a face with a slicked-back hairstyle, wearing small, round sunglasses, with a tongue longer than a snake''s.
Aurora was very familiar with this appearance!
"Capone Bege''s trusted subordinate Vito?" Aurora''s expression instantly darkened, becoming gritted teeth.
"Vito, what do you want?"
She had no fondness for this unscrupulous negotiator. She wanted to tear him apart.
"Nyororororo!" A series of strange laughs came from the Den Den Mushi. "Young Miss, please forgive my rudeness. I would like to speak with ''Lightning Master'' Arthur!"
Arthur naturally heard their conversation. He slowly opened his eyes, asking with interest, "Looking for me? What for?"
"Hmm?" Vito was stunned. He reacted immediately and introduced himself, "Sir Arthur, I am the Gang''s negotiator, Vito. Everyone calls me ''Monster Gun!''"
Vito spoke politely.
However, Arthur didn''t buy it. He interrupted him rudely, "¡ªI don''t care what your name is. State your purpose."
"Nyororo! Sir Arthur is a straightforward person. Are all powerful people this unique?" Vito paused, and the Den Den Mushi''s expression turned serious.
"On behalf of the entire gang, I extend greetings to you. Sir Arthur, what will it take for you to abandon your journey to the gang''s headquarters?" [38] : Raigo鈥擳he Destruction of an Island!!
"Sir Arthur, are you looking for Money, women, or power and status? Boss Bege can provide you with all of it, as long as you cease your advance!"
The Den Den Mushi''s forehead was visibly sweating, as if Vito, on the other end, was under immense pressure.
"I want Capone Bege''s head. Can you give me that?" Arthur paused for a moment, drumming his fingers on the table, a playful smirk on his face.
"Nyorororo, Then there''s nothing to discuss. It just so happens that Boss Bege has a group of former Seabury family servants. It seems they''ll be fertilizer for the back garden!" Vito reverted to his true nature. The Den Den Mushi''s tongue lolled out, giggling.
His negotiation style was always like this: threatening people with their families. It was very effective.
Unfortunately...
"Oh??" Arthur raised an eyebrow. "The Seabury family''s former servants? A bunch of purchased slaves? What do I care?"
"Tell Capone Bege to prepare his own coffin. Oh, wait! Don''t even bother buying a coffin. I''ll sink the whole island. Consider it his burial!"
With that, Arthur signaled Aurora to hang up the Den Den Mushi and waited for the cook to serve lunch.
He had no feelings for the Seabury family''s servants. What did their deaths matter to him?
Besides, those purchased slaves had fled after the Seabury family''s decline. They had committed a capital offense. Their deaths were not to be mourned.
As for the so-called equality of all people and the abolition of slavery? Sorry, Arthur had never considered that. The weak obeyed the strong, and the strong could kill the weak at will.
Wasn''t that the natural order of things?
If everyone were really equal, who would strive day and night to become stronger? Might as well just eat, drink, and wait for death.
Only the Revolutionary Army would treat such childish, foolish ideals as their mission!
Weakness was the original sin!
"Arthur... thank you!" Aurora was moved. She originally thought Arthur would accept Vito''s threat and compromise.
"Have the crew speed up!" Arthur wolfed down the delicious seafood, his words muffled.
....
The Mafia headquarters was located in the eastern part of the West Blue.
It was a medium-sized island, large enough to accommodate over a million people. It was firmly controlled by Capone Bege, who had driven out the original inhabitants and taken it over.
Tens of thousands of Mafia underlings were gathered here today, awaiting Arthur''s arrival.
The atmosphere on the island was solemn. Squads of Mafia members in black suits, black hats, black leather shoes, and pistols at their waists patrolled every three steps and every five steps.
In the lavish manor in the center of the island, security was even tighter.
The chubby Capone Bege was smoking a cigar, his expression grave. The smoke blurred his features. Unauthorized use: this story is on Amazon without permission from the author. Report any sightings.
"Boss Bege, he refused!" Vito''s snake-like tongue flicked. He was ashamed of his first failed negotiation.
"I expected as much!" Capone Bege flicked the ash from his cigar, a headache coming on.
He had risen to the position of Mafia boss at a young age, relying not on luck, but on his own schemes.
But today, his schemes had failed against someone he had never even met.
"That damned Logia Fruit! Why wasn''t I the one who found it?" He was filled with resentment, but there was nothing he could do.
He had always prided himself on his schemes, but now, it seemed, in the Grand Line, strength was king! A Logia fruit had rendered him helpless. Tens of thousands of Mafia members were useless.
"Boss Bege, what should we do now?" Vito was spinning in circles, unable to even utter his trademark laugh.
Extinguishing his cigar, Capone Bege made an important decision. Without alerting anyone, he took Vito into a secret underground chamber in the castle, known only to him. This secret passage led to a isolated, abandoned port.
"Let them fight it out!"
...
Two hours later.
The ship finally approached the island. As the crew reported, Arthur stretched lazily and stood up from his deck chair.
"So many people guarding? Capone Bege is afraid of death, huh?" He scoffed, his Observation Haki sweeping across the island, revealing over thirty thousand white silhouettes.
"Arthur..." Aurora was about to see the death of Capone Bege, the man who killed her father. Her emotions were understandably turbulent.
"The guards are most heavily concentrated in the central island. It seems Capone Bege is hiding there!"
Arthur clearly heard the hushed conversations of the Mafia guards defending the castle. He immediately knew where Bege was hiding. But for some reason, there was no one speaking inside the castle, making it impossible for him to distinguish which one was Bege.
"Tell your crew to retreat a dozen miles or so. Otherwise, the aftermath of sinking the island might affect you!"
"Once I destroy this island, we''ll have nothing to do with each other. I''ll be leaving immediately!"
With that, he didn''t wait for Aurora to respond, his body transforming into lightning and soaring into the sky.
The Castle-Castle Fruit and the Devil Fruit Compendium were in hand. There was nothing else here that he wanted.
Aurora held out her hand, unable to stop him. She watched Arthur depart.
Arthur slowly ascended to the sky above the island''s center, looking down at the land below. The houses were the size of matchboxes. The Mafia members were like ants.
"Using the Destruction of an island to announce the arrival of Arthur¡ªIt''s not a bad way to make an entrance!"
"Well then, let''s use this move. It''s convenient, quick, and saves time!"
He stood in mid-air as if on solid ground, his gaze indifferent and cold. He slowly raised his hands.
"Zzzzzzt!"
At that moment, the lightning went wild. The entire sky flashed with lightning and thunder. Dark clouds covered an area of dozens of miles. Bolts of lightning churned within the clouds.
"What''s going on? Why did the sky suddenly darken?"
"I don''t know, maybe it''s going to rain!"
The patrolling Mafia members below looked at each other, bewildered. They were frightened by the sudden change in the weather.
"Look, what''s that?"
A sharp-eyed underling shouted, pointing to the sky. The people nearby looked in the direction he was pointing.
In the sky...
Arthur held his hands aloft. The restless thunder seemed to be drawn to something, gathering in his hands from all directions, like a snowball rolling bigger and bigger.
Not a single trace of electrical energy leaked out. It was madly compressed into a ball. Eventually, that ball of lightning became a dazzling blue sun!!
"Zzzzzzt!"
"Raigo!!!"
Arthur''s wild laughter spread to every corner of the island. He slammed his hands downwards. The enormous, sun-like Raigo descended like a meteor...
The intense blue light burned everyone''s eyes.
"BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMMM!!!"
A deafening explosion. It was as if the tectonic plates had been shattered. Earthquakes and tsunamis erupted simultaneously.
Everything on the island was destroyed and vaporized by the lightning in Arthur''s all-out attack!
The sinking of the island triggered a giant tsunami that spread in all directions...
"Hahahahaha!"
Arthur panted slightly. His stamina consumption was rapidly recovering. He looked at the vanished island below with burning eyes, as if it were his most perfect masterpiece. [39] : Headline News and a Ship Heist!
The junction of the Grand Line and the West Blue was the Calm Belt, a deadly zone that prevented the passage of all ships. That is, until one day, the World Government found the renowned scientist¡ªDr. Vegapunk.
Vegapunk was undoubtedly a genius. With the financial and technological support of the World Government, he made countless inventions. He successfully utilized Seastone to find a way to safely traverse the Calm Belt.
....
On this day, a warship bearing the Marine insignia emerged from the perilous Calm Belt.
"¡ªHow scary!" Vice Admiral Kizaru, wearing a yellow striped suit and the mantle of Justice, lay on a deck chair, reading a newspaper delivered by a subordinate officer, a look of mock fear on his face.
The newspaper featured bold text in the most prominent location, undoubtedly about Arthur''s destruction of the Mafia headquarters with Raigo!
"This man is extremely dangerous!" Admiral Zephyr, a robust man with short purple hair and sunglasses, also held a newspaper, his expression serious.
The photograph in the newspaper showed a blurry black dot, barely visible. He held both hands high, with an enormous blue ball of lightning gathering.
"The Rumble-Rumble Fruit is said to be one of the strongest Devil Fruits, and it seems this man has nearly perfected its power!" Zephyr, having sailed the seas and fought countless Devil Fruit users, could tell at a glance how terrifying the Raigo move was.
They might not know that the horizontal development of the Rumble-Rumble Fruit also included the incomprehensible power of electromagnetism.
"Compared to him, Borsalino, your Glint-Glint Fruit has no advantages! Therefore, improving your physical techniques is the right path."
Using Arthur''s example, Zephyr once again began to lecture Kizaru.
Kizaru''s eyes showed a hint of disagreement, but he superficially replied, "Yes, yes! Zephyr-sensei!"
"The World Government has issued a direct order to bring back the Rumble-Rumble Fruit user to assist Vegapunk''s research. That''s why you, with your speed, are coming..."
Zephyr knew that this student didn''t quite agree with his words, but he didn''t care. He began to explain his view on Arthur.
The Rumble-Rumble Fruit user''s speed was definitely among the fastest in the world. Only Kizaru could contain him.
Gol D. Roger had begun to advance into the Grand Line. Marine Hero Garp was chasing him with Aokiji. Admiral Sengoku was stationed at Marine Headquarters. Kong was pursuing Patrick Redfield.
Among the Marines, the only available personnel were Zephyr, Sakazuki, Kizaru, and a few others.
Therefore, the World Government dispatched Zephyr and Kizaru to handle this matter, hoping that Arthur would join the Marines and cooperate with Vegapunk on some important experiments.
After all, the Rumble-Rumble Fruit not only possessed immense combat power, but its electricity also had incredibly potent applications in certain experiments. If you encounter this tale on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.
....
"Wow! I''m on the front page of the newspaper?"
Arthur exclaimed, not panicked but rather with a touch of excitement.
He had destroyed Capone Bege''s Headquarters and had spent a few days relaxing on a deserted island. He struck down a News Coo with a bolt of lightning, and discovered he''d made the headlines of the World Economy News Paper.
"With the World Government''s pervasive intelligence network, they probably know my name. It should be easy. Destroying an island and not even getting a bounty? They''ve got to be kidding." Arthur grumbled, gnawing on a wild boar leg.
"Whatever, time to set sail!" He casually burned the newspaper. Arthur crushed and swallowed even the boar leg''s bones. Then he stood up, patting his behind.
The teeth are the rest of the bones. Strengthened bones made his teeth comparable to those of deep-sea Sea Kings. Combined with his powerful muscles, his bite force was astonishing.
His energy levels were off the charts. Arthur desperately craved a worthy opponent.
He was also merely guessing and comparing his own power level. He hadn''t fought against any real experts and couldn''t be certain.
Roger had set sail again. He absolutely couldn''t miss the coming storm.
This was the perfect era!
"Since I''m setting sail, I need a ship! It''s a shame that Thor isn''t finished yet!" Arthur sighed, preparing to fly for a while and then commandeer a ship.
"Hmm? Someone''s delivering a ship right to me?" Arthur, about to take flight, "saw" a ship with a pirate flag sailing quickly towards him from twenty miles away.
If its course didn''t change, it would soon reach the island.
"The ship isn''t pretty, but I''ll take it for now." Arthur smiled faintly. His body transformed into lightning and gradually disappeared from the spot.
Waiting was clearly impossible. He wanted to snatch it.
...
On the pirate ship, two or three slovenly dressed pirates were drinking, eating meat, and chatting idly, completely unaware that danger was approaching.
On the deck, blue lightning coalesced, and Arthur''s body materialized from thin air.
It had to be said that many Logia-type fruits had very flashy entrances. But the Rumble-Rumble Fruit was undoubtedly the flashiest.
Arthur''s sudden appearance startled the lax pirates. When they realized it was a sixteen-year-old boy, their vigilance relaxed considerably.
"Kid, who are you!"
They didn''t think a teenager could pose a threat to them. Still, someone had boarded their ship, so a pirate asked with a grin.
"Sorry to disturb you, but from today, this ship belongs to me!" Arthur scratched his nose, feeling a bit awkward.
Blame it on his youth, right? Age was something he couldn''t control.
"The ship belongs to you?" The drinking pirate was first stunned, then burst into laughter.
"Hahahaha, this kid is hilarious!"
"Captain, someone wants to steal your ship! Aren''t you going to say something?"
"I can''t, I''m dying of laughter. A kid who hasn''t even grown all his hair wants to learn how to rob like a pirate? Hahaha."
The twenty or thirty pirates on deck laughed uproariously. Perhaps the noise was too loud, waking up the sleeping captain.
The captain rubbed his sleepy eyes and tousled his already mussed hair as he stood up.
He was about eight feet tall, half a meter taller than Arthur. He was lean, his muscles like steel, and he had a crude sword at his waist, probably just for show.
"You want to steal my ship? I am the ''Barbarian'' Disco Barum!" The sleepy-eyed captain, upon mentioning his moniker, immediately brightened, seeming very pleased with himself.
"Hahaha, kid! Are you scared? Our captain is the number one pirate in the West Blue, the great pirate ''Barbarian'' Disco Barum, with a bounty of 45 million Belly!" The drinking pirate was also extremely proud.
"....."
Admittedly, in this era, a bounty of 45 million was comparable to around 100 million in later years. But for such a weakling to stand before Arthur, even a hundred of them wouldn''t be enough.
Reaching a certain level of strength made numbers almost meaningless.
Furthermore, Arthur''s Rumble-Rumble Fruit was the nemesis of group battles, and he also possessed the Logia-type''s Elementalization, which was considered invincible in the Four Blues... [40] : A Tumultuous Era
"Qualified to sail the Grand Line, yet you''re stuck wasting away in the West Blue, this pathetic excuse for an ocean. And you have the nerve to call yourself a Great pirate?" Arthur scoffed, his eyes filled with contempt.
"You little punk! How dare you look at me like that¡­ You''re dead!"
He coiled his fist, veins bulging on his hand, and threw a punch¡ªa blow perhaps even stronger than the one used by Gotti a few days earlier.
"You don''t even possess a shred of Armament Haki, and you think you can hurt me?" Arthur didn''t even bother to dodge, allowing the fist to connect squarely with his body.
"Zzzzzzt!"
The sound of crackling electricity sizzled around Arthur. Disco''s full-force punch passed straight through him, emerging from his back.
Slowly, Arthur turned his head, a grin spreading across his face. His body, though pierced, was completely unharmed. Disco, on the other hand, trembled, his entire arm reeking of burnt flesh.
"Thunder Fruit user? Seabury D. Arthur?!" Disco stammered, his eyes wide with terror as recognition struck him.
"Zzzzt..."
Arthur raised his right hand and flicked a finger. A thin bolt of lightning shot out, striking Disco squarely in the chest. The electric current''s penetrating force instantly stained his shirt crimson.
"AAAAAGH!" A bloodcurdling scream ripped from Disco''s throat as searing pain engulfed him.
"Captain!!!!!"
Disco''s crew yelled, scrambling for their weapons and rushing to his aid. Arthur, anticipating their every move, willed bolts of lightning into existence, unleashing a furious barrage on all around him.
"Zzzzzzt!"
The relentless crackling of electricity filled the air as the charging pirates collapsed one after another like dominoes.
Disco''s eyes bulged. No pirate captain, unless utterly heartless, could bear to watch his crew slaughtered before him.
"RAAGH!"
He roared in fury, drawing his cutlass and bringing it down with all his might on Arthur''s neck. Arthur''s head flew off like a kite with a severed string.
Then, a horrifying scene unfolded. The severed head slowly rose from the ground, a mocking smile on its face, and floated back to Arthur''s neck. A flash of blue light at the reconnection point, and not a single trace of injury remained.
"Hahaha! Didn''t you know that Logia users are immune to all physical attacks except those imbued with Haki or Seastone, you idiot?" Arthur taunted, twisting his neck. This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.
Despite having the highest current bounty in the West Blue, Disco Barum had never left its waters. Just knowing about Devil Fruits was a feat for someone of his limited experience. How could he possibly understand the intricacies of Logia''s intangibility?
"Monster¡­ Monster!" Disco stammered, the terrifying ability beyond his comprehension.
"So little experience¡ªso little guts. No wonder you''ve never dared set foot in the Grand Line." Disgust tinged Arthur''s voice as he saw the fear in Disco''s eyes.
''Aren''t pirates supposed to be wild, ambitious, lawless, and free? If you''re afraid, why bother being a pirate at all?''
The Iron Sand Sword sliced off Disco Barum''s head. Blood sprayed everywhere.
After killing every last pirate on the ship, Arthur tossed their bodies into the sea, keeping only Disco''s head as a trophy to exchange for some belly.
For a pirate, the sea is the perfect grave.
¡­
"I''m glad I was born in this tumultuous, perfect age of piracy. New World, just you wait!" Arthur murmured, looking up at the clear blue sky.
He walked to the helm, consulted the navigator''s chart, compared it to the islands behind him, and set a course for the Grand Line, adjusting the rudder accordingly.
After destroying the Mafia headquarters, he discovered that, having flown around aimlessly, he had deviated from his original course. To reach the Grand Line, according to the map, he still had to pass dozens of islands, taking more than a month.
Of course, Arthur could fly directly to the Grand Line, but that would take away the joy of sailing on the ocean. Unless absolutely necessary, he preferred to travel by ship.
....
Three days later, after Arthur had broken the rudder of the ship, he finally entered the waters within an island''s territory. Comparing it to the map, he found that this island had one of the few Marine Branches in the West Blue. He hadn''t gone the wrong way.
As the stolen pirate ship neared the shore, the islanders spotted the unremoved Disco Barum Jolly Roger on the sail.
"Quick, inform the Marines, a pirate ship is coming!"
On the sea, only the Marines could suppress pirates. Decades of World Government propaganda had successfully painted all pirates as villains of the worst kind.
The villagers quickly grabbed their Den Den Mushis and contacted the local Marine base.
"Moshi Moshi! Is this the Marines? A pirate ship has been spotted offshore! The entire village is requesting immediate assistance! They''re almost here! Please hurry!" The villager''s voice was a frantic squeal, as if the sky itself was about to fall.
"Please describe the situation accurately and provide the pirate ship''s markings," the Marine on the other end responded.
The implied message was clear: If it was a powerful pirate crew, the Marines would need to consider whether to engage.
The villager hurriedly described the Jolly Roger and then hung up.
....
Marine Base.
The call was received in a conference room.
A dozen or so officers sat in order at the conference table.
At the head of the table was a Captain named Mozambia, wearing a gray uniform and a white Justice coat. He would become a Marine Headquarters Vice Admiral in the future.
"Gentlemen, I''ve called you here not to discuss how to deal with the Disco Barum pirates, but rather, Marine Headquarters Admiral Zephyr and Vice Admiral Borsalino are about to arrive. We must handle this pirate incident beautifully," Mozambia said gravely.
Hearing the Captain''s words, the officers present were all shaken, their lazy demeanor instantly vanishing.
An Admiral from Headquarters was coming! Perhaps if they were appreciated, they wouldn''t have to spend the rest of their lives in this backwater.
Thinking of this, they all perked up, ready to face the Disco Barum pirates. [41] : Give Me My Bounty!
The West Blue branch of the Marines had finished their meeting in five minutes, quickly mobilizing all the currently stationed Marine soldiers.
Over five hundred personnel, a sizable force, were deployed to the port and boarded warships. The harbor was crowded with ships. Cannons were loaded and aimed at the approaching pirate ship, still a distant speck on the horizon.
The commander of the First Fleet, stood on the observation platform, peering through his binoculars while communicating with other officers via a Den Den Mushi.
"Confirmed to be the Disco Barum pirate crew, bounty of 45 million Belly. Snipers, prepare to fire. Open fire as soon as the enemy ship enters firing range!!"
The officers on several warships issued similar orders. Captain Mozambia, his somewhat plump face serious, stared intently at the sea.
The pirate ship carrying Arthur continued to advance, entering the range of the Marine warships.
"Fire! Sink them!" Mozambia gave the order!
The warship cannons, long prepared, adjusted their trajectories.
"BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!"
At least twenty cannons erupted, sending cannonballs arcing towards Arthur like scattered flowers.
Arthur, standing at the bow of the ship, smiled calmly. He watched the black iron balls hurtling towards him.
Without panicking, he raised a hand. The falling cannonballs instantly froze in mid-air.
Electromagnetic control wasn''t afraid of any metallic elements. With Arthur''s continued development, he could even extract the iron from a person''s body.
The iron cannonballs, suspended in mid-air, stunned all the Marines present. However, they quickly gave the order to fire again.
These officers were almost all graduates of the Marine Headquarters'' military academy. Their knowledge was naturally higher than the average person. They knew that Devil Fruit abilities were diverse and strange, so they weren''t surprised. They simply assumed that Disco Barum had been lucky enough to obtain a Devil Fruit.
"BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!"
More cannonballs flew, a dense barrage, stopping in mid-air. This made Mozambia realize that attacking with cannons was clearly useless.
"All Marines, approach the pirate ship! Prepare for boarding action!!" he roared into the Den Den Mushi.
....
"Are they ever going to give up?" Arthur was annoyed that these Marines were driving warships and trying to destroy the ship he''d just managed to acquire. Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.
His form vanished from the ship. He transformed into lightning, hovering in the air above the sea.
He danced his fingers, and the suspended cannonballs flew back even faster than they had come.
"What?" Mozambia''s expression was grave. He drew a fine, quick-action sword, slashing out a crescent-shaped sword energy, cutting the returning cannonballs in half and dropping them into the sea.
"Cease fire!!!"
He quickly gave the order. At the same time, he pulled out information and a bounty poster about the Disco Barum pirate crew from somewhere.
"Who is this young man?" Mozambia searched through all the information but found no connection between Arthur and the Disco Barum pirates. He immediately asked his adjutant.
As a high-ranking officer, a Captain, assigned to the West Blue from Marine Headquarters, his status was actually higher than that of a Rear Admiral promoted locally from the West Blue.
It could be said that all orders for the entire West Blue had to go through his hands before they could be issued.
The naturally ambitious Mozambia, unwilling to spend his life in the West Blue, had investigated all the powerful criminals in this sea.
He didn''t know that Arthur''s front-facing photo hadn''t been released.
"This person is not from the Disco Barum pirates. What does he want?"
Mozambia''s adjutant also searched through all the information in his mind, but there wasn''t a shred of information about this young man.
"Even if he''s not a pirate, he must be connected to pirates!" Mozambia''s expression hardened, and he made a conclusion.
From start to finish, he never thought that the West Blue''s number one pirate, Disco Barum, would be killed by a young man, and that this young man was coming to collect the bounty.
"I just heard them say that Admiral Zephyr and Vice Admiral Kizaru are coming to the West Blue. Should I sink this island to intimidate them?"
Arthur hovered in the air, looking forward, but his mind was elsewhere.
Although he didn''t have Armament Haki, he was extremely confident in his physique. He might not be a match for a Marine Admiral, and he might be inferior to Zephyr, but he was definitely superior to Kizaru.
Even if Kizaru was a Logia, so what? Could Kizaru catch him if he couldn''t beat him? What a joke.
"Forget it. Sinking the island would be detrimental to me. Besides, I killed pirates to collect their bounty!" Arthur stroked his chin, thinking.
His idea was to collect some Belly, then roam around the West Blue, before entering the Grand Line.
If he could meet Zephyr, that would be even better. He could use sparring as an excuse to challenge him.
Zephyr was known for not killing, and his Armament Haki was strong. He was also the best at teaching. Perhaps Arthur could even inquire about Armament Haki training methods.
....
Thinking of this, Arthur picked up Disco Barum''s head and flew directly towards the Marine warship.
"Careful..."
This action immediately terrified the Marines on that warship. When they saw it was a human head flying through the air, they were shocked.
"It''s Disco Barum''s head?" The sharpest-eyed sniper exclaimed in disbelief, instantly causing the Marines who heard him to look over.
Mozambia was the strongest and naturally had good eyesight. He looked closely, then compared it to the bounty poster, confirming it.
"Disco Barum is dead?" He was very shocked.
When he found Disco Barum, he discovered that he was evenly matched with him. Neither could do anything to the other.
That 45 million bounty was something he had the Marine Headquarters put out.
But now, Disco Barum''s head was right in front of him.
Mozambia looked up at Arthur in the sky, wanting to see just who this person was.
"Disco Barum seemed to be a wanted pirate. His head is here. When will you give me the bounty?"
Arthur''s form flickered. His speed was so fast that Mozambia was shocked again. He was far away one moment, and the next, he was right in front of him.
This speed... was like teleportation. [42] : Cipher Pol 0
"A Pirate Hunter?" Mozambia studied Arthur intently.
The adjutant beside him instantly raised his flintlock, aiming it squarely at Arthur, ready to fire at the slightest provocation.
"You could say that. Gotta make a living somehow, right?" Arthur ignored the Marines'' hostility, offering a casual, fabricated explanation.
Mozambia waved his hand, ordering his soldiers to stand down. He led the fleet back towards the base. As they went, he asked, "Bounty Hunter, may I have your name?"
"No reason I can''t tell you. It''s Seabury D. Arthur..." Arthur scanned his surroundings and then sat down unceremoniously on a deck chair.
His casual attitude once again irritated the disciplined Marines.
"Seabury D. Arthur? The Lightning Master who destroyed the Mafia HQ?" Only now did the full impact of the situation hit Mozambia.
"No wonder he''s strong¡ªas fast as Vice Admiral Kizaru. He''s a Rumble-Rumble Fruit user." Possessing a powerful fruit provided an insane boost to one''s strength.
Arthur''s name now echoed throughout the West Blue, and it was beginning to spread to the Grand Line.
After all, destroying a medium-sized island with a single attack was far beyond the capabilities of most Pirates. Combined with lightning''s ability to both attack and defend, it was practically semi-invincible in the Four Blues.
Accompanying the Marine fleet, a group of Marines returned to the branch base. After collecting the 45 million Belly bounty, Arthur had no desire to linger. He left immediately.
Mozambia tried several times to persuade him to stay, probing for information from all angles. Arthur deflected with vague answers about unimportant matters and expressed no interest in joining the Marines. Only then was he allowed to leave.
....
Carrying 45 million Belly, Arthur strolled leisurely through the town on the island.
His first act after getting the money was to change his clothes. After all, he''d been at sea for three days without a bath. Arthur''s cleanliness was the only thing preventing him from smelling.
Carrying a case of Belly, he entered a clothing store. The attractive proprietress was incredibly enthusiastic, personally selecting clothes for the statuesque Arthur.
He chose a white shirt and pants, along with a blue greatcoat the same color as his lightning. His six-foot-six frame was on full display, the powerful chest visible through the unbuttoned shirt. Combined with his handsome looks, he appeared to be a completely different person.
It''s true what they say: clothes make the man.
Ignoring the proprietress''s subtle flirting, Arthur changed and left the store.
He had always wondered why people in the One Piece world wore greatcoats. Now he finally understood.
Not only did they protect against the sea breeze, but they also looked cool and were a way to show off. If you encounter this story on Amazon, note that it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it.
The blue greatcoat billowing behind him in the wind, Arthur strolled slowly down the street, happily buying a bunch of food and clothes similar in style to what he was wearing. He sent it all back to the Pirate ship, then continued his leisurely stroll.
The people he was waiting for hadn''t arrived yet. He didn''t want to leave just yet.
He stopped here and there, Arthur''s mood was still good. He found a few more taverns and bought a batch of strong liquor to bring back to the ship...
....
Outside the waters of the branch base island, a warship bearing the mark of Marine Headquarters finally entered the harbor.
A squad of uniformly dressed Marines disembarked, splitting into two lines on either side of the path, clearing a passage wide enough for several people.
Shortly after, a man wearing pants, shirtless, with a Justice greatcoat draped over his shoulders, his purple hair striking, and a somewhat disheveled Vice Admiral in a yellow striped suit disembarked together.
Behind Zephyr and Kizaru followed several strangely dressed individuals of varying heights and builds¡ªmembers of the World Government''s direct, secret intelligence agency¡ªCipher Pol 0.
Although they were dressed differently, they all radiated a dangerous aura of indifference to life. Even Zephyr and Kizaru were reluctant to spend much time with them.
"Admiral Zephyr, Vice Admiral Kizaru! We of CP0 will take our leave first. You need not concern yourselves with this mission!" The CP0 member, covered in a white robe and wearing a smiling mask, spoke in an indifferent tone, as if he were giving orders to Zephyr rather than consulting with him.
The World Government''s direct intelligence agency¡ªCP0, answered directly to the world''s highest authority, the Five Elders. They could even disregard orders from the Fleet Admiral, Kong.
After all, to the World Government¡ªthe Marines were merely a facade. The real obedient dogs were always the members of Cipher Pol.
Therefore, the Five Elders trusted Cipher Pol more than the Marines. They could perfectly handle any dirty work.
The best example was five or six years ago, around 1490, when "World Destroyer" Byrnndi World, user of the More-More Fruit, a formidable Pirate who rampaged through the New World.
Byrnndi World''s More-More Fruit was extremely powerful. His amplified¡ªpowerful attacks were impossible for the Marines, who were suppressing the Grand Line, to deal with.
In the end, it was members of Cipher Pol who turned World''s subordinates against him, severely wounding him with firearms. Only then was he finally frozen and sent to the Underwater Prison, Impel Down.
This organization was practically omnipresent. No one knew if there were members among their own ranks.
"The opponent is a Rumble-Rumble Fruit user. This fruit is very fast. Only Kizaru has a chance of successfully restraining him. You are not up to the task!" Zephyr disliked CP0, believing they lacked justice due to their indiscriminate killing. But for the sake of the mission, he had to offer a reminder.
Just moments ago, Captain Mozambia had reported via Den Den Mushi that Seabury D. Arthur was still roaming the island. The combined forces of the Marines and CP0 could easily "persuade" him to join.
"That is none of Admiral Zephyr''s concern. We have our own arrangements!" The masked CP0 member said indifferently, directly leading the others away.
He didn''t believe that the opponent would refuse after they revealed the name of the World Government.
....
"Are they here?" Arthur strolled down the street, looking around, sipping from a bottle of liquor. His Observation Haki clearly picked up their conversations.
He finally understood by now. The World Government didn''t know the true capabilities of the Rumble-Rumble Fruit, or perhaps they only knew some of its surface abilities.
They didn''t even know about the electric wave ability that could vastly amplify Observation Haki, and they dared to speak in his "presence"? Didn''t they know they were exposing themselves?
No wonder the Devil Fruit Encyclopedia only had a few lines describing the Rumble-Rumble Fruit. Arthur had initially thought that the World Government was intentionally concealing the fruit''s detailed information, not wanting others to know.
Now it seemed that their information on this invincible fruit was insufficient.
"Vegapunk wants the Rumble-Rumble Fruit''s electricity to aid in research? No wonder they''re looking for me." Arthur stroked his chin, calmly pondering. [43] : Besieged鈥擜rthur vs. CP0!
"Dr. Vegapunk is hailed as having a mind 500 years ahead of humanity. He''s invented countless advanced technologies. He must have deduced that the Rumble-Rumble Fruit could utilize the extraordinary power of electromagnetism, right?" Arthur narrowed his eyes, a flicker of doubt crossing his mind.
"It seems this guy isn''t just a research-obsessed maniac... Perhaps there''s room for manipulation here?"
Arthur''s eyes gleamed with a sharp light. He walked and thought, his gaze idly taking in the several CP0 agents gradually surrounding him.
...
The smiling-face mask man nodded to his similarly masked companions nearby. He then pulled out a photo of Arthur''s face from somewhere, confirming without a doubt.
Two CP0 agents were left to evacuate the civilians. He and another member with a red mask and sunflower-like hairstyle immediately approached.
"Seabury D. Arthur?" The smiling-face mask man seemed to be asking a question, but his tone was extremely certain.
"What do you want?" Arthur stopped. A glint of eagerness flashed in his eyes, knowing that the showdown was about to begin.
He was very excited¡ªSince obtaining the Rumble-Rumble Fruit, he had never had a truly satisfying battle to vent his emotions.
Today, he could finally fight to his heart''s content.
"The World Government has issued a summons. Please come with us!" The masked man''s tone was incredibly forceful, leaving no room for doubt.
"Oh? You seem very confident¡ªthinking I''ll definitely go with you?" Arthur''s body began to tremble with excitement, his state adjusted to its peak.
The masked man saw him trembling with "Fear" and was immediately pleased. "No one can refuse the World Government and still live. Therefore, joining us is the wisest choice¡ª"
"Hahahahaha! No one can refuse? I''ll give it a try today. DIE!!" Arthur finally couldn''t suppress his desire to attack. He interrupted with a wild laugh, his iron fist eagerly smashing out.
This punch was without any warning, but its immense power was already evident. The air above his fist was compressed like a cannonball, unable to escape in time.
The masked man was startled.
As a member of the world''s strongest intelligence agency¡ªhe quickly made the most perfect response. His body suddenly became like paper, lightly dodging the fist.
At the same time¡ªhe kicked off the ground, instantly retreating dozens of yards.
"Hahahaha, that''s more like it! This is the Grand Line I''ve been waiting for!" Arthur''s punch missed, but he laughed without concern.
The sunflower-masked man, silent until now¡ªhad a change of expression hidden beneath his mask. He never expected Arthur to suddenly attack the World Government''s direct intelligence agency. Was he unaware of the World Government''s power?
However, when he saw the unparalleled excitement in Arthur''s eyes, he suddenly understood.
This kind of crazed look was the same as he had once seen on the Pirate¡ªGolden Lion Shiki, filled with ambition and desire. Reading on Amazon or a pirate site? This novel is from Royal Road. Support the author by reading it there.
The only difference was that the Golden Lion''s ambition was to conquer the world¡ªwhile Arthur''s was to fight the strongest and live the most exhilarating and free life!
The sunflower-masked man would never forget this look!
"This Seabury D. Arthur is very dangerous. Take him down by force!" The smiling-face mask man said gravely, adjusting his white robe.
"Navy Six Styles - Paper Drawing and Shave¡ªhuh?" Arthur grinned. This dodging method was indeed unique. It could be said that the person who developed the Navy Six Styles was a genius in physical techniques.
However, once faced with Observation Haki¡ªwhich could predict attacks, it became less effective.
"This man is dangerous. Attack together!" The smiling-face mask man said gravely.
He never expected that waving the flag of the World Government would be ignored. Since that was the case, he could only forcefully capture the other party to complete his mission. The consequences of mission failure were very severe.
"Good!" The sunflower-masked man was ruthless and didn''t waste words. He stomped his feet repeatedly, using the immense reaction force from the ground to move forcibly.
"Shave!!"
His figure instantly vanished from Arthur''s sight. The speed of Shave could make a person invisible to the naked eye. But it was useless against Arthur¡ªHis Observation Haki could completely perceive the flow of the wind, instantly revealing the person''s location.
Moreover, in recent days, with his mastery of electromagnetism, he could vaguely sense the intensity of a creature''s bio-magnetic field.
If he could combine Observation Haki with electromagnetic sensing in the future, his Observation Haki would reach an unprecedented level. The range of magnetic field monitoring, coupled with the amplification of electric waves, meant that no one could escape his eyes. Perhaps the title of the greatest Observation Haki user in history would fall upon him.
"Not fast enough!"
Arthur closed his eyes, abandoning visual observation. His Haki sensed the movement of the wind, and a white figure materialized in his mind.
The sunflower-masked man used Shave to appear behind Arthur. He extended his index finger, which flowed with a dark, metallic luster. "Finger Pistol - Machine Gun!"
The air was torn, emitting a sharp whistle. The Finger Pistol was aimed at the back of his head and thrust out fiercely.
With the CP0 agent''s extraordinary physical skills, plus the addition of Armament Haki, if Arthur were hit by this attack, his head would be pierced through.
Even Arthur''s body, strengthened by the electric field, couldn''t withstand the shock of such a terrifying attack on his brain.
"Hahahaha¡ªLightning - Teleport."
Facing the sunflower-masked man, Arthur suddenly laughed. His body instantly completed a turn that no one could have perceived.
Clenching his fist tightly, he fearlessly met the power of the Finger Pistol, wanting to use his fist to have a head-on collision with the Finger Pistol¡ªto see the gap between his physical techniques and those of the CP0 agent.
"BOOOOOOOOMMMMMMM!!"
The Finger Pistol and fist collided, the shockwave rippling outwards. The houses on both sides of the long-empty street were instantly shattered.
The ground was overturned, revealing a large pit.
"Hiss..."
Arthur took two steps back, taking a deep breath. He looked at his slightly trembling hand, exclaiming in excitement, "Impressive! Armament Haki increases the strength of the physique. It can reach this level? It seems I must learn it as soon as possible."
He was extremely confident in his steel-like body. He hadn''t expected to be at a disadvantage in their first clash.
However, the sunflower-masked man was even more shocked than Arthur. This man could contend with his physical techniques and Armament Haki with his bare body?
"Tempest Kick - Cross Slash!"
While Arthur and the sunflower-masked man were stunned after their clash, the smiling-face mask man''s sneak attack finally arrived. Intersecting, cross-shaped slashes broke through the air, cutting towards him.
"I''ve been waiting for you!"
Arthur''s Observation Haki meant that sneak attacks were nonexistent.
Knowing that he was unwise to compete in physical combat without Armament Haki, his body instantly turned into lightning. He quickly flashed to the side of the smiling-face mask man. Lightning stimulated his cells, increasing his attack speed. Blue currents jumped on his leg as he kicked out fiercely. [44] : Yata no Kagami!
<"Tekkai!">
Speed was power. Under the extreme speed of the lightning, the smiling-face mask man had no time to react, no place to dodge. He could only harden his body to withstand Arthur''s all-out kick.
"BOOOOOOMMMMMMM"
Even though he used Tekkai to strengthen his body, he was still sent flying backwards, crashing into a building on the side of the street.
"Cough, cough!"
An entire row of neat houses was destroyed. Dust filled the air. The smiling-face mask man staggered out of the rubble¡ªspitting up two mouthfuls of blood, his expression sinister and venomous.
The cross-shaped slash he had sent flying earlier completely destroyed the distant shops, neatly slicing them in two.
"Don''t look at me like that. Hatred is just an excuse for a lack of power. Who can you blame if you''re weak and I beat you?"
Arthur grinned down at him, twisting his neck, making cracking sounds. It seemed like the fight had just been a warm-up, not satisfying at all.
He had now pretty much confirmed where his Physical skills stood.
Maybe he was still some distance from the very top of the world, but he was confident he could catch up quickly. If he learned [Armament Haki].
<"Tempest Kick!!">
The sunflower-masked man appeared out of nowhere, using Moonwalk to fly into the air. A slash flew from his foot, cutting down with a sharp, piercing chill.
"Don''t bring out this useless attack to embarrass yourself. Give me something useful!"
Arthur tilted his body, not even moving his feet, letting the Tempest Kick graze his cheek and slice into the ground.
This move was nothing more than using leg muscles, rapidly contracting and extending, generating kinetic energy, and then kicking out quickly, surpassing the speed of sound and causing the air in front of the leg to compress, creating a "vacuum" and sending out a sharp slash.
Even if it was powerful and fast, so what? As long as it was speed, it could be dodged.
If this attack were seen often, many people could predict it from the leg movements and dodge it easily, let alone Arthur.
"Let me show you what a ''Real'' slash is!"
Arthur''s tone was indifferent. He reached out and grasped. The iron sand belt around his waist reformed, bit by bit gathering in his hand, forming a constantly flowing Iron Sand Sword!
<"Lightning Slash!">
He slashed downwards. Lightning flashed. The blue electric current transformed into a crescent-shaped blade, speeding towards the sunflower-masked man at lightning speed.
The speed of lightning was such that even if one reacted, the body couldn''t keep up. But at the instant Arthur raised his hand, he had already sensed the threat of death.
After all, he was a member of the strongest intelligence agency, CP0, honed through life-and-death struggles. His body couldn''t dodge, couldn''t make any movements, but his thoughts were still very fast. Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.
<"Tekkai!">
He made the best response he could to this lightning slash. At the same time, his body moved to the side as slowly as a turtle.
Arthur could even see the blood rushing to the surface of the sunflower-masked man''s hand.
He watched the electric slash pass by, disappearing without a trace. The sunflower-masked man sighed in relief, glad to have dodged this fatal blow.
Before he could celebrate¡ª
"Ssshh..."
His entire arm fell from his body. Blood spurted out several yards, staining the ground red.
This lightning slash was so fast that it severed the sunflower-masked man''s arm before he even realized it. He didn''t even know he had been hit.
The blood continued to spray. If it continued, he would be severely damaged.
The smiling-face mask man naturally couldn''t watch his companion die in front of him. Otherwise, not only would the mission fail, but he would also be punished for his inaction.
<"Shave!!">
His figure flashed out of the ruins. He grabbed the sunflower-masked man, who had lost too much blood and passed out, the smiling-face CP0 agent planning to escape.
"You think you can come and go as you please?" Arthur smiled coldly. He swung the Iron Sand Sword without hesitation.
A blue electric light slashed out from the tip of the sword, dazzlingly beautiful!
....
<"Yata no Kagami!">
Just then, Kizaru''s creepy voice reached them.
Before the CP0 agents could engage, Zephyr and Kizaru, resting at the Marine branch base, had sensed the commotion. They knew something was wrong and immediately rushed over.
Kizaru¡ªwith his Glint-Glint Fruit, was the fastest, arriving first. He used Yata no Kagami to reflect Arthur''s electric light, saving the lives of the two CP0 agents.
Afterward, the robust and imposing Admiral Zephyr arrived belatedly, standing in front of the two injured men, staring gravely at Arthur.
"Admiral Zephyr, be sure to capture him. This person is extremely dangerous, another unstable element on the Grand Line." The smiling-face mask man said through gritted teeth.
As the World Government''s strongest intelligence agency, he had never been so miserable, forced to flee in defeat. It was a disgrace.
"You take him back to the base for treatment first..." Zephyr waved his hand without turning his head, his eyes still fixed on Arthur.
Because the Rumble-Rumble Fruit''s speed was too fast, one careless moment could result in being hit. He couldn''t be distracted.
Fighting against someone with extreme speed, one couldn''t be distracted. Once distracted, one might be hit. This had nothing to do with combat experience or awareness.
"Well, well, this young fellow is quite scary!" Kizaru made his scared face, but he casually lit a cigarette, not showing any signs of fear at all.
"You must be the Rumble-Rumble Fruit user who sank an island, Seabury D. Arthur, correct?" Zephyr asked sternly.
Arthur squinted at the two, shrugged, and said, "That''s me. Admiral Zephyr, do you have any advice?"
"I don''t know if those two told you, but the World Government wants to invite you to join the Marines!" Zephyr''s tone was filled with anticipation.
"With your ability¡ªIf you learn [Armament Haki], you could easily become the Marines'' strongest fighting force!"
It seemed he was used to being a teacher. When he saw someone with potential, he wanted to bring them to the path of righteousness.
"Join the Marines? What a joke. I am free. No one can restrain me. Besides, I can''t stand taking orders!" Arthur stared at Zephyr and Kizaru standing beside him. He realized he had underestimated the strongest fighting force of the Marines.
With his current abilities, unless he flew into the sky and used ranged attacks, there was no way he could defeat Zephyr. This was his intuition, without any basis, but he was very sure of it.
Even though Zephyr had lost his family to Pirates and had lost his former fighting spirit, he was still not someone ordinary people could defeat.
And, even if he flew into the sky, there was a Kizaru with flight ability watching him intently.
"Can''t stand taking orders?" Zephyr''s muscles instantly bulged, his aura fierce. He was about to explode in anger. Because those who said such things, eighty percent of them became Pirates.
In his view, Pirates, these lawless individuals, should all be locked up in Impel Down.
It was a matter of differing viewpoints!
In a world where power was supreme, who wouldn''t want to be commanded and ordered around? Who wouldn''t want to live freely? Most Pirates were like this, and so was Arthur.
But the Marines wanted to maintain order on the seas.
Different viewpoints, so conflict arose. [45] : Showdown! Light vs. Electricity!
"Admiral Zephyr! I hear that the rising stars of the Marines were all trained by you. Could you give me some pointers on Armament Haki?" Arthur asked earnestly, no longer dwelling on the previous issue.
His words were genuine. He desired to learn about Armament Haki.
His clash with the sunflower-masked man had been a loss due to his lack of Armament Haki. His hand still throbbed faintly. If he had known Haki, defeating the two agents would have been effortless.
Hearing Arthur''s words, Zephyr''s eyes lit up. He immediately felt that this person could still be saved, could still be pulled back to the right path.
"Teaching you Armament Haki is not out of the question. But as I said before, as long as you''re ready to join the Marines, anything is possible."
"Oh? It seems I was mistaken."
Arthur was disappointed, but it was within his expectations. Although Zephyr was benevolent, he clearly wouldn''t help an enemy.
Besides, Arthur was likely to become a pirate.
"It doesn''t matter if that avenue is closed. There are plenty of people on the Grand Line who know Armament Haki. If worst comes to worst, I''ll just capture one and interrogate them. That''ll solve everything."
Arthur thought it through, then fixed his burning gaze on Zephyr. His fighting spirit began to boil. "Admiral, would you allow me to experience the might of the Marines'' strongest fighting force? Let me see how far I am from the summit?"
"....." Zephyr squinted, trying to discern whether Arthur was an idiot or confident.
Kizaru leisurely lit a cigarette, stepping out from behind Zephyr. "Hey, brat¡ªlet me be your opponent!"
"You? Very well." Arthur twisted his neck, licking his lips, a cold smile on his face. "Be careful not to get killed! Electricity is more suited for offense than light!"
Devil Fruits had superior and inferior counterparts, and there were also mutually reinforcing cycles. Fire and smoke, for example. Without using Haki, they wouldn''t be able to harm each other.
But the relationship between the Rumble-Rumble Fruit and the Glint-Glint Fruit was strictly superior and inferior!
What was light? An Electromagnetic wave. If Arthur controlled Electromagnetic waves, he could definitely harm Kizaru, even if he didn''t know Haki.
"Don''t talk big, kid!" Kizaru shrugged, indifferent to Arthur''s words. "There are many pirates who want to kill me, but I''m still alive and well, while they... are all in Impel Down!!"
That was no empty boast. With the Glint-Glint Fruit''s speed, it was unlikely anyone on the Grand Line could kill him, except for Arthur!
If he could influence the movement of Electromagnetic waves, it was equivalent to disabling Kizaru''s ability, rendering him helpless.
Then, relying solely on physical techniques, Arthur''s chances of victory were very high.
One day, he would wave his hand and make Kizaru crumble, forcing him to sing his praises. The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.
However, Arthur was still too young.
Kizaru was about twice his age. So this time, Arthur was only trying to understand the power of the peak. Although Kizaru was far from the peak at this point.
Arthur wanted to know how far he was from the summit. He needed a comparison.
"You''ll soon find out if I''m talking big!" Arthur lowered his head. Lightning crackled around his body. The muscles of his steel-like body bulged.
"Oh! The Rumble-Rumble Fruit. so scary!" Kizaru still looked crooked, but his eyes were serious.
"....."
He was smooth and sophisticated, well-versed in the ways of the world. Although he was flippant, he wouldn''t underestimate anyone.
"Electromagnetism¡ªIron Sand Sword!" Arthur shouted in a low voice. The scattered iron sand reformed in his hand.
This time, as he took his first serious opponent, the Electromagnetic waves on the Iron Sand Sword were condensed to an unprecedented degree.
"Ama no Murakumo!" Seeing Arthur using a sword, Kizaru extended his hands, pulling. Golden light gradually took shape.
"Hahahaha! Be my stepping stone, Kizaru!"
"Lightning¡ªTeleport!" Arthur''s blood began to boil. He instantly vanished from the spot.
The next instant, he appeared in front of Kizaru, slashing down with the Iron Sand Sword.
"Your movement speed is indeed fast, but compared to me, you''re still lacking!"
Facing the oncoming sword, Kizaru''s body gradually faded into photons from its original spot.
The trajectory of light was traceable. Arthur, with his strengthened reflexes, immediately discovered Kizaru''s form appearing on his left.
Without panicking, he vanished again, teleporting into the sky.
The sky was vast, expanding the range of movement.
"My Electromagnetic waves can''t get close enough to him to cause any harm." Arthur''s mind raced, his brow furrowed.
Kizaru probably had the Glint-Glint Fruit for a long time. His combat methods and experience were abundant. It was extremely difficult to get close to him, if not outright impossible.
"Kid! Have you ever been kicked by light?" Asking a nonsensical question, Kizaru raised his right leg, aiming it at Arthur.
His foot shone with a starlight-like glint. His leg transformed into a beam of light, kicking out fiercely.
Kizaru''s light-beam attacks were horrifying. Through a special method of condensation, they became laser beams, not only capable of inflicting burning damage, but also exploding upon impact.
"Divine Judgment¡ªThunder Dragon!"
"Roar..."
The Thunder Dragon roared. Blue electricity and a golden beam of light collided violently.
"BOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMMMMM!!"
The massive explosive shockwave shattered the already ruined street once again. All the nearby houses collapsed completely.
Fortunately, two members of CP0 had evacuated the civilians earlier. Otherwise, everyone nearby would have died.
"How frightening! To be able to fight me to a standstill at such a young age?" Kizaru spat out the cigarette butt on the ground.
He retracted the Ama no Murakumo, placing his hands in a praying position, crossing them in front of his chest.
He squinted and said softly, "¡ªYasakani no Magatama!"
"Whoosh whoosh whoosh!!"
Photons condensed into countless light particles in front of him, then instantly launched towards Arthur, covering a vast area in a fan shape.
"When it comes to area of attack, you''ll never be able to compare to me, Kizaru!!" Arthur laughed loudly.
"¡ªRain of Thunder!!"
''Rumble''
The Lightning accumulated in the clouds to its limit, smashing down towards this area.
All the rubble was shattered into powder under the immense pressure. Blue electric light ultimately drowned out the Yasakani no Magatama and Kizaru!
A few seconds later, both the Lightning and the light beams disappeared completely.
Kizaru emerged slowly from the ruins. His clothes were still neat, showing no signs of distress, but the white hat on his head had vanished without a trace.
The Rain of Thunder and the Yasakani no Magatama. It seemed Arthur had a slight edge! [46] : My Goal?
Seeing the result he desired, a grin spread across Arthur''s face, a sense of satisfaction washing over him.
It seemed his fruit ability, combined with the application of electromagnetism, could indeed harm Kizaru. If he continued to develop it, he could press Kizaru to the ground and make him regret being born, while Kizaru would be helpless.
This was also a path of development...
"You''re not all that, Kizaru!" Arthur attacked verbally, a disdainful look on his face, trying to provoke him into revealing an opening.
"...." Kizaru wanted to step forward, but Zephyr stopped him, forcing him to suppress his anger.
Since his debut, due to his speed, no one had ever gotten the better of him. To think he''d be at a disadvantage today?
Unforgivable!
Arthur sighed at this, shaking his head, and adjusted his billowing blue greatcoat. He knew that this battle wouldn''t have a decisive outcome unless both sides were exhausted. He had to give up.
Once he ran out of stamina, there was no guarantee that Zephyr wouldn''t capture him. Even if Zephyr adhered to his principles, the CP0 agents of the World Government were still there.
They had no principles or bottom line. They resorted to any means necessary.
Arthur clearly wasn''t foolish enough to expose his back to the enemy.
"Enough fighting for today. Admiral Zephyr, I''ll take my leave. We''ll meet again on the Grand Line someday!" Seeing them stop, Arthur turned to leave without hesitation. The Grand Line had even more exciting events waiting for him.
Today''s battle had also made him aware of the gap and his shortcomings. It was time to go.
Kizaru wanted to stop him, but Zephyr held his clothes tightly, preventing him from moving.
"Let him go. We''ve done our best, but we still can''t keep him."
"Hmph!" Kizaru snorted coldly, and could only give up.
Zephyr watched Arthur''s receding figure, then suddenly called out loudly, "Seabury D. Arthur, what is your goal in going to sea?"
"Hmm?" Arthur paused, not turning his head. "To live freely, to fight strong opponents, to live a life without regrets, and to enjoy myself. I want it all!"
"I hope you won''t become an enemy of the World Government!"
"Hahahaha, that depends on whether the World Government becomes my enemy!" Arthur teleported back to the ship, his voice still echoing in place.
These words were just casual nonsense. What did the World Government have to do with him? As long as they didn''t annoy him, he would respond with.
Fear? Nonexistent.
.... If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.
"Although we failed to recruit him this time, at least we didn''t become enemies, and we also learned about the extent of his fruit development!"
Thinking back to Arthur''s words, Zephyr pondered.
Seeing the situation from another perspective, he was the one who had let Kizaru fight Arthur instead of going himself, naturally, it was because he wanted to know how strong Arthur''s abilities were.
"He doesn''t have Armament Haki. Why could his lightning attacks hurt you?" Zephyr asked gravely.
Kizaru lit a cigarette and thought, "I don''t understand either. I felt that his Iron Sand Sword and lightning had a special power, very dangerous. It seemed to affect even my light during the battle, so I never fought him in close combat."
"However, this special power isn''t strong. It only has an effect. As long as I don''t come into contact with it, he can''t do anything to me!"
"Special power?" Zephyr frowned.
"Could it be that the Rumble-Rumble Fruit not only controls lightning but also has abilities we don''t know about? Why isn''t it recorded in the Devil Fruit Encyclopedia? Could it be something he developed?"
The information on the Rumble-Rumble Fruit in the Devil Fruit Encyclopedia was truly scarce. Since centuries ago, this fruit had never appeared in the world, until Arthur''s recent emergence...
"This kid is really too dangerous, and he''s already grown up." Zephyr sighed.
Why hadn''t such a powerful young man joined the Marines to uphold justice? Moreover, this mission from the World Government had also failed. He would definitely be reprimanded by the Five Elders when he returned.
"The power of pirates is growing stronger. Roger has returned to the Grand Line... Charlotte Linlin, Kaido, these people are all monster-level."
Currently, the power on the Grand Line. It seemed that the Marines were suppressing everything, but in reality, it was not the case. Talents were emerging among the pirates of the New World, and the Marines were almost losing their place there.
"Seabury D. Arthur..."
"Sigh!"
Zephyr and Kizaru returned to the Marine branch, their brows furrowed.
"Teacher, should we notify the World Government and issue a bounty for him?" Kizaru suddenly asked, brooding over his first failed battle in his life.
"I can''t make that decision. Contact the World Government and Fleet Admiral Kong. Let them decide."
Zephyr didn''t want Arthur to become their enemy. After all, his attitude was still unknown, whether he was close to the Marines or close to the pirates.
Once a bounty was issued, pushing Arthur to the opposite side of the Marines, a monster would definitely be added to the New World in the near future.
....
Zephyr and Kizaru left. Arthur likewise didn''t stay on the island for long. His purpose on the island was to wait for the Marines.
Now that they had fought, he was satisfied.
The battle with Kizaru, compared to that with the CP0 agents, made him understand his current power level.
He was probably equal to the top-tier Vice Admirals of Marine Headquarters. Using his Rumble-Rumble Fruit abilities, he could rival Admiral Candidates like Kizaru. He was still a step below true Admirals, but he could crush Average Vice Admirals.
But many factors determined a fight. With the Rumble-Rumble Fruit''s mobility and destructive power, Arthur could remain undefeated against anyone.
In the One Piece world, there was no clear hierarchy of combat power. However, the World Government''s direct intelligence agency had a test called Doriki.
....
Back on the ship, fiddling with the broken rudder, Arthur piloted the ship and continued to set sail.
On the vast, boundless sea, the hoisted sails propelled the ship forward rapidly.
Arthur was bored to death, lying on the bow of the ship, drinking and eating meat, replenishing his lost stamina and spirit.
With his physique, he could be lively again in a few minutes, but his spirit was different. That required sleep to recover.
What annoyed him was the ship''s direction. As long as he didn''t steer, the wind would immediately blow the entire ship off course. Every time, he had to forcefully correct it, which was extremely bothersome.
"I should find a helmsman. I can''t do everything myself, can I?" Arthur thought helplessly.
The West Blue was so chaotic, with pirates and mafiosi running rampant. He would probably encounter pirates in a few hours, and then he could just snatch one to steer the ship. [47] : Clues to the Door-Door Fruit!
The pirate ship drifted on the sea. Arthur, utterly bored, trained his body. At the same time, his Observation Haki spread out, searching for any ships that might cross his path.
Not having a helmsman was incredibly annoying. The "Ark Thor" was still under construction back on Skypiea. Once it was finished, he wouldn''t need a helmsman.
"I''ve been waiting for hours. Finally!" Arthur wiped his body clean and put his greatcoat back on, his gaze fixed on the direction where his Observation Haki had detected a ship.
....
....
"Captain, there''s a ship over there!"
On the open sea, under a clear sky, a pirate crew of no particular renown was sailing. The navigator, standing on the high crow''s nest, spotted a ship approaching using his binoculars.
Because Arthur thought the Disco Barum pirates'' flag was awful, he had taken it down after his fight with Kizaru. He hadn''t replaced it with his own mark, so no one who saw the ship would know who it belonged to.
If there was a ship, it meant there was an opportunity for plunder. Where else would a pirate''s expenses come from if not robbery?
"Captain, a ship has been sighted to the starboard bow! There are no identifying flags or markings. It might be a black market cargo ship. Should we approach?" After observing for a while, the navigator shouted down from the crow''s nest.
"A ship?" On the deck, a group of pirates were partying, drinking and reveling. They all put down their drinks and stood up, excited.
"What are we waiting for?" The bearded captain waved his hand, drawing the long sword at his waist. "Men, set sail in that direction! We''re going to rob them of treasure and women!"
The captain gave the order, and the helmsman immediately changed course, sailing towards Arthur.
"Ooh!!"
The pirate crew cheered.
"Have you finally shown yourselves? I''ve been waiting so long..." Arthur lay lazily on the deck, enjoying the breeze¡ªhis Haki monitoring their every move.
After a few more minutes, that pirate ship and Arthur''s ship met. The pirates, looking like they were on drugs¡ªquickly boarded.
"I''ve been waiting¡­ you scum!" Arthur stood up slowly.
"Captain, there''s someone here!" A pirate discovered Arthur''s presence and immediately shouted, calling for the captain.
"Hmm?" This captain wasn''t likely to be an unknown. Hearing that there was someone, he jumped directly from his ship to Arthur''s.
Taking a closer look, he saw a teenager looking at them impatiently. If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.
"Kid, are you alone on this ship?" the bearded captain asked. In his mind, this was a merchant ship that had already been plundered, and this teenager was probably a survivor who had been lucky enough to escape.
"Well, I''d like to ask you a question. Do you have a navigator in your pirate crew?" Arthur asked casually.
"Huh?"
The bearded captain was taken aback.
He thought, ''Isn''t this guy a bit off? Shouldn''t he be begging for his life after seeing pirates?''
"If you have a navigator, you can live. If not, you''ll have to be thrown into the sea to feed the fish!"
The glint of lightning flickering in his hand as a nearly-formed Lightning Spear slowly took shape, crackling softly.
"..."
"Y-you are... the Lightning Master, Seabury D. Arthur? The one who destroyed an island?" The bearded captain saw the flickering electric arc. How could he not know who this was? He was immediately terrified and at a loss for words.
"We do! My pirate crew has a navigator..." He nodded repeatedly, fearing he''d be stabbed to death.
Right now, Arthur was the most unapproachable figure in the West Blue, far surpassing even the most powerful kingdom¡ªthe Kano Country.
"Very sensible," Arthur nodded. "Bring the navigator to my ship. You can go!"
"Yes!"
The bearded captain was drenched in cold sweat. He used the fastest speed of his life to return to his own ship and grab the stunned navigator from the crow''s nest.
All the pirates holding swords were dumbfounded. They couldn''t imagine why their captain would do this.
Arthur yawned, gesturing with his chin to the stunned navigator, telling him to steer the ship. He himself lay back down on the deck chair to sleep.
"...." The bearded pirate captain hadn''t left yet. He hesitated for a moment, then gritted his teeth, as if he had made an important decision.
"Hmm? Why aren''t you gone? Do you want to take a bath in the sea?" Arthur opened one eye, glancing at him, and asked impatiently.
"Sir, I have a request. I want you to help me!" He steeled himself and knelt on both knees, his forehead pressed firmly against the deck.
"I have access to information. I know that the reason Sir Arthur destroyed the Mafia Gang was because someone offered a Devil Fruit as payment. I also have a clue about a Devil Fruit!"
"Oh?" Arthur woke up from his lazy state, asking with interest, "A Devil Fruit? What does it look like?"
"I saw it clearly. It''s a green fruit with a multifaceted shape." The bearded captain, fearing he wouldn''t interest Arthur, was sweating nervously.
"A green, multifaceted fruit?" Arthur''s pupils constricted. He stood up directly from the deck chair. "Are you sure you have a clue about this fruit? If you''re lying to me... you know the consequences, right?"
Arthur had seen the Devil Fruit Encyclopedia. That book was now in his arms, along with the Castle-Castle Fruit. With his memory, remembering those thousands of images was easy.
Among the Paramecia-type fruits, there were several that Arthur desired greatly. Ranking first was the Op-Op Fruit. Second¡ªthings like the Luck-Luck Fruit and the Door-Door Fruit were also must-haves.
This green¡ªmultifaceted fruit, strictly speaking, had eight sides, meaning interconnectedness in all directions. It was precisely the bug-level fruit Arthur wanted very much¡ªDoor-Door Fruit.
This was one of the fruits that involved the power of space. It could create doors on anything, and opening a door in the air would create a green space. Entering and exiting could achieve an effect like being within arm''s reach of the ends of the earth.
It originally belonged to Blueno, a member of the World Government''s direct intelligence agency, CP9. But right now, Blueno was only four or five years old.
Arthur didn''t know if the fruit was in the hands of the World Government or if Blueno had found it himself. But now... it was being delivered to his door?
"¡ªIt doesn''t matter if your information is true or false. I''ll help you with this." Arthur had a feeling of looking up at the sky and laughing.
"I was originally the heir to a Kingdom in the West Blue. This fruit is in the kingdom''s treasury!" The bearded man, Puros, said with hatred, likely having his own story. [48] : War Orders and a Marine Meeting
The bearded Puros was originally the heir to a kingdom in the West Blue.
Just a year ago, this kingdom was conquered by the neighboring Kano Country. The reason for the invasion was utterly ridiculous.
The Kano Country was a World Government member nation. To receive the World Government''s protection, they had to pay a hefty "Heavenly Tribute" to the World Nobles, the Celestial Dragons.
The Kano Country had vast sources of income and immense wealth, but they were unwilling to use their own resources. So, they set their sights on the neighboring Vira Kingdom.
The Vira Kingdom was not a member of the World Government and therefore not recognized by it. Thus, isolated and without allies, it was quickly conquered by the Kano Country.
The Door-Door Fruit, along with a trove of treasures, was taken from the Vira Kingdom''s vault by the Kano Country forces.
This year, the Heavenly Tribute was due to the Celestial Dragons. The Kano Country planned to offer the Door-Door Fruit, along with a batch of treasures.
Although the Vira Kingdom was destroyed, remnants of its army still roamed. They were currently hiding on an island, barely surviving. Word had it that the Kano Country had discovered their location and was preparing to send a large force to exterminate them, eliminating any future threat.
After listening to Puros''s hateful account, Arthur shrugged¡ªinwardly looking down on him.
Such a powerful Devil Fruit had been sitting in his family''s possession, and they hadn''t used it. Now, after the kingdom was destroyed¡ªhe resented his own incompetence and the ruthlessness of the Kano Country.
What kind of logic was that?
If Puros had eaten the fruit, he could have at least defended himself. His safety would have been higher than even Arthur''s, and no one could have captured him.
"Alright, this Devil Fruit is mine now. As for the Celestial Dragons'' Heavenly Tribute? I wouldn''t be doing myself justice if I didn''t try to snatch it from those parasites and imbeciles¡ªhahahaha!" Arthur laughed wildly.
Puros pressed his forehead firmly against the deck, unable to lift his head under Arthur''s imposing presence.
Yet, his heart was filled with admiration.
To have the gall to steal from the Celestial Dragons¡ªthis was true audacity, true recklessness!
"Sir, I became a pirate to cause trouble for the Kano Country and to learn the transportation route of the Heavenly Tribute. I''ve already made some progress. I can give you the route right now, only asking that you save the surviving forces of the Vira Kingdom!"
Puros was very clever. He knew that threatening Arthur with a clue about a Devil Fruit would not only cost him his life but could also endanger his country''s army.
"This is a good deal. I accept..." A smile touched Arthur''s lips as he quickly agreed. Unauthorized usage: this narrative is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings.
¡ª¡ª
A few days later, Admiral Zephyr''s warship crossed the Calm Belt and quickly traversed the Red Line, returning to Marine Headquarters¡ªMarineford.
In the conference room, only a few people were present: Fleet Admiral Kong, Admiral Zephyr, Vice Admiral and Chief of Staff Tsuru, and Vice Admiral Kizaru. The other Vice Admirals were busy with important matters and couldn''t attend.
"Fleet Admiral, this person''s attitude is unclear. We couldn''t determine if he''s leaning towards the Marines or the pirates. However, without a doubt, he is extremely dangerous, uncontrollable, and... ambitious!" Zephyr reported his assessment to Kong, seated in the first seat below.
The mission to "invite" Arthur was proposed by Vegapunk. Although Vegapunk was part of the Marine research facility, he could directly communicate with the highest authority of the World Government.
He had asked the Five Elders to issue this mission. One could imagine the consequences of failure.
This matter concerned Vegapunk''s research progress. It couldn''t be taken lightly; these were his own words.
"Even Borsalino''s Glint-Glint Fruit couldn''t detain him?" Fleet Admiral Kong frowned, asking in disbelief.
"He''s very cunning. He wouldn''t exhaust his stamina fighting us. And... Borsalino suffered a minor setback in their clash!" Zephyr, disregarding Kizaru''s unpleasant expression, revealed the truth.
This incident could serve as a wake-up call for Kizaru, showing him that relying solely on fruit abilities was insufficient. What harm was there in that? Zephyr was even a little pleased.
"Hmph!" Kizaru snorted coldly. His smooth, worldly demeanor vanished, and he stood up and left the conference room, probably to find a place to be alone.
"According to the information from the West Blue, this Arthur is the only son of the Seabury family, right? He''s sixteen this year. His family''s merchant ship had an accident near Jaya in the Grand Line a full eight years ago. Somehow, he returned to the West Blue." The taciturn Vice Admiral Tsuru spoke.
"Send someone to investigate near Jaya. Find out where he got the fruit! He''s so young and already comparable to an Admiral candidate. He''ll be a dangerous figure in the future."
Starting the investigation from Jaya was actually just a pretense. The underlying meaning was to have someone check if there were any surviving members of the Seabury family. If there were... at least it could make Arthur wary.
Don''t assume that the Marines represent justice. They committed far more dirty acts than pirates, but they represented Justice, so they could do it openly without leaving any leverage.
"Should we issue a bounty?" Zephyr asked.
"Let''s wait and see for a while. If he does anything to harm the Marines or the World Government..." Kong said gravely. Right now, Arthur had only injured the CP0 agents, which was considered self-defense and couldn''t be used to convict him.
"The World Government just sent a telegram. They want the Marines to stay out of this matter. They will let the CP organization handle it entirely."
The conference room fell silent. Zephyr and the others said nothing.
"Vice Admiral Tsuru, do you have anything else?" Kong inquired.
"Fleet Admiral Kong..." Chief of Staff Tsuru handed over a classified document. "The West Blue archaeological team that you asked us to monitor has now entered the Grand Line. The leader, Nico Olvia, they are indeed searching for the Poneglyphs. What should we do next?"
"Those restless fellows!" Kong put down the document, rubbing his temples. "Keep a close watch. If they cross the line, immediately report it to the Five Elders!"
Each of them held high positions and naturally knew what the World Government was desperately trying to conceal from 800 years ago.
It could be said that this was a taboo. Whoever touched it would die. If the Ohara archaeologists crossed that line, the World Government would definitely find an excuse to eliminate them.
Without power, yet doing things beyond their capabilities, the consequences were very dangerous. One misstep could cost them their lives.
Those archaeologists were doing nothing wrong in studying archaeology, but what they were doing was opposing the World Government. The outcome was already determined.
For a person, if their strength wasn''t enough to bear the consequences, the more they knew, the closer they were to death. [49] : The Most Desired Fruit
Sailing on the sea for five days, they finally approached the island where the remnants of the Vira Kingdom''s army were stationed.
Arthur abandoned the pirate ship he had seized and boarded Puros''s ship to travel together.
On the sea, under a gentle breeze, the ship sailed swiftly, parting the waves and riding the wind!
Arthur stood at the bow¡ªhis tall, imposing figure standing firm against the wind¡ªhis black hair and blue greatcoat billowing.
Though facing the sea, he was multitasking¡ªconstantly manipulating electromagnetism.
Some say that the development of a Devil Fruit is endless. Arthur didn''t believe it before, but now he was starting to.
The abilities of the Rumble-Rumble Fruit, developed as he envisioned, had long since moved beyond its original capabilities, growing stronger in an unknown direction, for better or worse, endlessly.
With enough time, he would eventually try all his ideas.
"How much further to the remnants of the Vira Kingdom''s army?" Arthur asked casually. His Observation Haki hadn''t detected any islands within his range.
"Lord Arthur¡ªaccording to the nautical chart, we should arrive in about two hours." Puros stood respectfully beside him, bowing his head.
He had already shaved off his beard, no longer looking like a disheveled pirate.
"Two hours?" Arthur nodded slightly.
He had obtained the route to the Heavenly Tribute from Puros. If everything went according to plan, the Door-Door Fruit would surely be among the large batch of treasures being offered.
Once Arthur traveled to the Grand Line and collected enough excellent fruits to reward his loyal subordinates¡ªthe core abilities of his future pirate crew would be complete.
The appearance of the Op-Op Fruit was more than a decade away. He could put that aside for now, or perhaps¡ªonce he had enough manpower, dispatch them to the North Blue to search.
Next¡ªthe Luck-Luck Fruit was another ability Arthur determined to obtain!
However, this fruit was even more elusive than the Op-Op Fruit. It appeared two years after Luffy set sail, in the year 1522, on the largest entertainment city at sea in the New World - Gran Tesoro.
The owner of Gran Tesoro was "Gold Emperor" Gild Tesoro. One of his subordinates¡ªa beautiful woman named Baccarat, was the user of the Luck-Luck Fruit.
Luck was intangible¡ªyet it existed. If one absorbed enough luck, would it mean that one''s wishes would come true? This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.
However, Baccarat''s time with Gild Tesoro was uncertain. Arthur could only think about the time when Tesoro was released from Mary Geoise.
¡ª¡ª
"Puros, why didn''t you lead the remnants of the Vira Kingdom''s army, and instead became a pirate, living a precarious life?" Arthur asked, puzzled.
If it was just to cause trouble for the Kano Country, becoming a pirate was a foolish thing to do. This man was clearly the heir to the Vira Kingdom, yet he became a pirate. It was perplexing.
"...." Puros was a bit embarrassed. "It''s not that I didn''t want to lead them, but after the war, they were weary. They just wanted to live in peace..."
"I see!" Arthur could understand the thoughts of this remnant army, but he didn''t approve of their actions.
Anyone would understand the principle of cutting the weeds and removing the roots to prevent future trouble. Did this remnant army naively believe that the Kano Country would let them go? It was ridiculous.
Once their location was discovered, the Kano Country would send troops to exterminate them.
If it weren''t for Puros summoning Arthur, the Vira Kingdom would likely have been completely wiped out.
''After I help him quell the war, I''ll immediately go and snatch the Heavenly Tribute. Then I''ll find a way to sneak into the Marine Headquarters'' science division and see Vegapunk!''
Arthur had arranged the next steps and the path meticulously. This was a habit he had developed over the years, to avoid being clueless and not knowing what he wanted to do.
To see Vegapunk, he had this idea long ago, because so far, only Vegapunk had a way to make inanimate objects eat Devil Fruits.
Arthur had been wanting a storage bracelet, like those common in transmigration stories, for a long time. The Castle-Castle Fruit was in hand, just waiting to be implemented.
For some reason, he also felt a faint excitement. Perhaps it was the warrior''s spirit or the adventurous spirit within him, urging him to approach the most dangerous places.
"Speed up. I can''t wait any longer..." Arthur flicked his blue greatcoat and said to Puros.
"Yes!" Puros was excited.
The Kano Country''s army might have already reached the Vira Kingdom''s current base. He couldn''t wait either.
¡ª¡ª
New Vira Kingdom.
At the newly established port on the edge of the island, most of the population of this pitiful country was gathered.
They had all received news that their prince¡ªwho had disappeared for about a year, had invited the renowned "Lightning Master" Seabury D. Arthur to help them against the evil Kano Country army.
Although they wanted peace, it didn''t mean they didn''t want to avenge their compatriots.
"Once the Lightning Master arrives¡ªplease don''t disturb him."
"I heard he''s a monster who sank the Mafia HQ island. Is that true?"
Everyone at the port was discussing.
Although they welcomed Arthur''s arrival, they still couldn''t believe that someone could destroy an island.
The leader of the Vira Kingdom''s remnant army¡ªMorata Ditton¡ªwaited with his soldiers, eager with anticipation.
"Sir, Prince Puros was able to invite the Lightning Master. This time, the Kano Country''s army should be nothing to worry about." Ditton''s adjutant whispered in his ear.
"Mm!"
Morata Ditton responded absentmindedly.
"He''s here, he''s here!!!"
Sharp-eyed citizens saw a ship approaching rapidly on the distant sea, stopping at the new port.
At the very front of the ship stood a man with an indifferent expression¡ªwearing a white shirt and a blue greatcoat, a young man. [50] : The Happ艒 Navy
Arthur, with an imposing aura was the first to step off the pirate ship. Puros followed closely behind, like a servant.
"Welcome, Prince Puros, and welcome, Lord Arthur, to the New Vira Kingdom! Please, follow us to the palace for a banquet!" Morata Ditton, the leader of the remnant army, called out loudly.
Puros looked at Arthur, waiting for his decision.
"No need for that. Tell me where the Kano Country''s army is!" Arthur had no desire to waste time on a meaningless banquet. He interrupted Ditton coldly.
"....." Ditton''s prepared speech was useless. A flicker of annoyance flashed in his eyes.
Perhaps ruling the New Vira Kingdom for so long had made him think he was the true ruler of this kingdom.
Arthur thought about it and understood. The reason Puros had become a pirate was probably not just because these remnants didn''t want to fight¡ªbut because he couldn''t take back power from Ditton.
"Puros, lead the way. Let''s get this over with quickly," Arthur said indifferently.
He didn''t care about any conflict between them. He didn''t even care if Puros was using his influence to intimidate Ditton. He just wanted to resolve the issue quickly and set sail for the Grand Line.
"Yes, Lord Arthur..." Puros humbly took the lead, bringing Arthur and his pirate crew with him, leaving Ditton and his group behind.
¡ª
"Sir, the leader of the Kano Country''s army this time is the Happ¨­ Navy''s leader, ''Don'' Chinjao. Rumor has it that this man is very powerful, possessing the legendary Conqueror''s Haki, which only appears in one in a million people. Six years ago, for some unknown reason, his original drill-shaped head vanished. He''s been quiet ever since, focusing on training his descendants!"
"Their army is stationed on an island not far from the New Vira Kingdom!"
Puros revealed all the intelligence he knew.
"''Don'' Chinjao?" Arthur was intrigued. He naturally knew why this man''s drill-shaped head had been flattened.
Chinjao''s bounty exceeded 500 million Belly. He was originally a great pirate who rampaged through the New World. Unfortunately, he was unlucky enough to encounter Iron Fist Garp, who smashed his head in with a single punch, crushing his spirit.
He could no longer open the ice continent passed down through his family for generations. Countless treasures were buried there, never to see the light of day.
What truly interested Arthur was that this man not only possessed Conqueror''s Haki, but his Armament Haki was also quite strong. Could he use this opportunity to obtain a method for training Armament Haki? Unauthorized usage: this tale is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings.
This deal not only gave him clues to the Door-Door Fruit, but there was also a chance to obtain the Armament Haki he lacked.
He didn''t even care about Puros''s little scheme of using him to intimidate Ditton.
Business was business. Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose.
In Arthur''s view, he was undoubtedly the big winner. He was likely to obtain two things he most desired in one transaction.
¡ª
The time required to travel from the New Vira Kingdom to the Kano Country Happ¨­ Navy''s base was very short, not requiring ten days or half a month like some journeys.
Puros led Arthur and the pirates back onto the ship. In just about an hour, they successfully arrived at their destination.
"Lord Arthur, I''ll leave it to you..."
"Of course. You can go back. It won''t be more than two days before you hear news of the Kano Country army retreating!" Arthur stood at the bow, speaking lightly.
"Yes! Then I wish Lord Arthur success." Puros gritted his teeth and said.
He wanted to follow Arthur, but Arthur didn''t want to bring him. He had no choice.
"Whoosh!"
Arthur transformed into lightning and teleported away, landing on the island where the Kano Country army was stationed.
In the distance, soldiers were setting up camp. Tents stretched as far as the eye could see. There were likely several thousand soldiers.
In the One Piece world, a few thousand people in a naval battle was already considered a large force. After all, not every battle was like the Summit War, which could gather 100,000 Marines!
Arthur''s gaze swept across the area. He spotted a man with a bare upper body, wearing a dark green cape and loose pants, patrolling. He was holding a naginata. He looked very familiar. (Don Sai father)
"Let''s start with you!"
<"Super Electromagnetic Railgun!">
He attracted iron sand from the ground with magnetic force, forming an iron ball at his fingertip. Arthur aimed at Don Cai''s head.
BOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMM!!!
The piercing shriek of air being torn apart instantly alerted Don Cai. He instinctively blocked with the naginata in his hand.
"Clang!!!"
This action saved his life, but he was still sent flying dozens of yards by the immense force, crashing into several tents. The soldiers behind him were instantly crushed into meat patties.
"Enemy attack!!!"
Don Cai, his arms numb, roared, having reacted.
Arthur walking towards them step by step. Lightning crackled around him, striking down any Happ¨­ Navy soldiers who approached.
This close-range Super Electromagnetic Railgun could kill most pirates with bounties under 100 or 200 million. The fact that Don Cai could block it with an instinctive action showed that he was strong.
"Rumble-Rumble Fruit user? Everyone, fall back..."
Don Cai had the bearing of a leader. He shouted, making the correct response.
Facing the Rumble-Rumble Fruit, charging forward would only lead to a quick death. Retreating had a chance of survival.
The Happ¨­ Navy was disciplined and well-trained. Hearing the order, the hundreds of soldiers present quickly retreated. As they retreated, they kept notifying the tents further away.
Arthur smiled faintly.
If he really wanted to kill these weaklings, they would have died long ago.
A single Raigo could probably kill everyone except Don Cai and Chinjao. Even if those two survived, they would be severely injured.
Don Cai sheathed his naginata, stepping forward alone to engage Arthur in battle.
Arthur, seeing his movements, stopped and with a quick stomp of his foot, broke the mast, making the ship unusable