Chapter 329 - 114-126

Chapter 114 Robin, the Demon Who Makes His Words Come True"Oh! Robin!"

Boom!

Luffy charged like a runaway bull, finally catching up with Robin. At that moment, Lucci was carrying the bound and immobile Franky in one hand.

Robin, bound by seastone handcuffs, stood to the side when suddenly the wall exploded, and Luffy appeared, panting and furious. Robin called out to him the moment she saw him.

But before she could say anything, Lucci pulled Robin behind him, glanced coldly at Luffy, and casually tossed aside his cloak, saying,

"Sir, continue with Nico Robin."

Spandam had been following, but he'd hidden the moment he heard the commotion. This useless officer, weaker than an average person, was utterly cowardly.

Upon hearing Lucci's words, Spandam peeked out from his hiding place, immediately running behind Franky and Robin, shoving them and yelling.

"Run, you bastard! Any later and this place will be destroyed by the Buster Call! Run!"

Franky struggled incessantly, but bound like a mummy, his struggles were futile. Robin, however, was a different story.

Robin's eyes changed when Spandam touched her. She gritted her teeth, glaring at the damned man before her, her anger making her unrestrained.

"Left hand!"

"Huh? What are you still saying... Ah!"

Suddenly, Spandam's left hand exploded on the spot, just like a balloon. Blood splattered everywhere, and Spandam immediately let out a painful scream.

Kneeling on the ground, his eyes bloodshot with pain, Spandam stared in disbelief at his empty left hand. Coming to his senses, he endured the excruciating pain and stood up.

Trembling, he walked towards Robin, drawing his elephant sword with his right hand and gritting his teeth, saying, "It was you... It must have been you... You... demon!"

"Legs!"

However, the response Spandam received was Robin's even more cruel curse. Just like before, without any warning, Spandam suddenly felt emptiness beneath him.

He didn't even feel the excruciating pain for a moment; by the time he realized what was happening, he had already passed out from the agony. Franky, standing nearby, was so astonished his eyes nearly popped out of their sockets.

Franky's mind was filled with thoughts like, "What is this? Words becoming law? This woman is so terrifying, yet she was captured? And she needs her crew to rescue her?"

Of course, anyone unfamiliar with the situation would find this terrifying, but in reality, the power of curses has too many limitations. However, it's quite effective against this kind of trash who's even weaker than an ordinary person.

Lucci watched coldly the whole time, showing no intention of intervening. In Lucci's eyes, Spandam was nothing more than a piece of trash with a bit of status.

After regaining his senses, Franky quickly called out to Robin, "Nicole Robin! Quickly use your ability to unlock these chains for me! I'll take you out to find your crew!"

However, Robin ignored him, instead looking at Luffy with despair returning to her eyes and softly murmuring something.

"It's all over, there's no way to turn things around now... From the moment you declared war on the World Government for my sake, you had no chance... Why... were you so foolish?"

Luffy, half-understanding Robin's meaning, shouted, "I don't care! Robin, you're our comrade! No matter what happens, we'll face it together. Isn't that what comrades should be like?"

*Zzzzt!*

Suddenly, a crackling sound of lightning and thunder came from outside. Luffy smiled and said to Robin after hearing it.

"Like's side has already started, Robin! I don't have Lake's brains; I can't think of anything fancy to say. The only thing I can do is bring you back. That's what everyone expects of me!"

At this moment, Lucci, who hadn't spoken until now, suddenly interrupted, saying, "What an ignorant bunch! Do you really think talking such naive things will change anything?

Let me tell you what's going to happen next. You, Straw Hat Luffy, will die by my hand. And you, Nico Robin, are sentenced to death for murdering a CP9 commander. I have the authority to carry it out at any time. Finally, you, Katie Flam, who possessed the Pluton blueprints, are also guilty of a capital offense. You will all die here.

And your so-called crewmates, even if they defeat that bunch of trash, will turn into dust under the Buster Call's firepower. That's what will happen next."

Robin lowered her head upon hearing Lucci's words. She didn't want to admit it, but what Lucci said was exactly what she expected.

However, don't forget there's one guy here who isn't very bright; no matter how much you say, Luffy won't waver in the slightest. That's Luffy.

"Hey! You pigeon-keeper! You've been babbling on and on, get out of here! Or I'll punch you!"

"Hmph! Foolish fellow, Straw Hat Luffy, let me witness the power of the most ferocious pirate captain in a hundred years! I'll show you what true difference is."

"Just what I wanted! Robin and the others are waiting for you. You guys go ahead, I'll be back soon."

"Who gave them permission to leave!"

Lucci suddenly attacked, targeting Robin and Franky. Luffy reacted instantly.

"Shave! Tempest Kick: Kabuto!"

"Second Gear! Gum-Gum Jet Pistol!"

Boom!

Their movements were so fast that Robin and Franky didn't even see what happened. In the blink of an eye, Lucci and Luffy vanished, and then the two powerful forces collided, creating an explosion.

Lucci hadn't expected Luffy to react so quickly, and he had clearly seen Luffy's speed—it was Shave.

"Robin!"

Luffy shouted again. Robin gritted her teeth, banishing her unease, and used a spell to release Franky's restraints. Then, escorted by Franky, she began to leave towards the direction Luffy had come from.

The brief exchange had given Luffy a general idea of ​​Luffy's strength. He was confident he could capture Nico Robin, but right now, Luffy only wanted to enjoy the thrill of battle.

Rob Luffy, the de facto captain of CP9, whose true calling is dark justice, is known as the strongest and most ruthless killing machine in CP9's history, hailed as the strongest CP9 member in 800 years.

He is proficient in the Six Powers, having mastered them all to their highest level, and possesses the ultimate techniques of the Six Powers. In addition, he has a Devil Fruit ability: a Zoan-type Cat-Cat Fruit in Leopard form.

He possesses both the agility of a feline and the fighting instincts of a carnivore, allowing him to unleash his full power in melee combat.

He can typically transform into three forms: human, beast, and hybrid. In his beastman form, Lucci's killing intent and spiritual power are amplified.

Chapter 115 Lucci's Defeat, and the Sudden Unexpected EventLucci, observing Luffy's appearance, thought to himself, "A physical ability comparable to a Rokushiki user, completely different from before. The rising steam, the inexplicable reddening of his body... what happened to this man lying on the ground?"

"Razor!"

Lucci suddenly attacked again. His speed surpassed even Luffy's in Gear Second, but the difference in Haki remained insurmountable.

"Gum-Gum Jet Seal!"

Bang!

"Ugh..."

A muffled thud was heard as Luffy kicked Lucci head-on, the power level completely different.

Lucci, half-crouched on the ground, transformed into his beast form, his size increasing dramatically, adorned with leopard fur and a tail, and attacked Luffy again.

Bang!

The two exchanged blows. This time, Lucci didn't fall behind, proving their power levels were almost equal. Then, Lucci spun in the air and chanted.

"Storm Kick - Leopard Tail!"

An attack at such close range would be impossible for a normal person to react to, but Luffy showed no sign of panic throughout. He saw Lucci's attack completely.

In an instant, Luffy dodged Lucci's attack with a backbend that no normal person could do, using the momentum to kick Lucci into the air.

In mid-air, Lucci used Moonwalk to balance himself, and then the two attacked simultaneously again.

"Storm Kick - Eagle Strike!"

"Gum-Gum Jet Bullet!"

Boom!

The powerful force of their collision nearly caused the room to collapse; the floor was completely cracked, and the ceiling was collapsing continuously.

However, this was just the beginning; their battle grew increasingly fierce.

"Finger Pistol: Madara!"

"Gum-Gum Jet Machine Gun!"

"Finger Pistol: Yellow Lotus!"

"Gum-Gum Jet Barrage!"

Boom! Boom! Boom…

With their final clash, the room finally collapsed under the weight of the debris. Luffy stood amidst the smoke and rubble, his expression serious, his anger evident.

The next second, Luffy suddenly spoke: "I told you… it was useless!"

"Ah!"

The instant he finished speaking, Luffy unleashed another punch, striking Lucci, who had just crawled out of the rubble, precisely through the white smoke. Caught completely off guard, Lucci was struck by the punch.

Even in his transformed state, Lucci couldn't withstand the blow. He coughed up a mouthful of blood and flew backward, but this wasn't enough to defeat him.

Just as Lucci was about to fall into the sea, he steadied himself, his feet shattering the ground as he stopped at the edge. Before he could even catch his breath, Luffy had already appeared before him.

At that moment, Lucci knew he had lost, utterly lost.

"Gum-Gum Jet Rocket!"

"Iron Body: Sky Wood!"

Boom!

Even though Lucci unleashed his prized Iron Body technique the instant he was hit, Luffy's power had exceeded the Iron Body's limits.

After a deafening roar, Lucci was blasted away by Luffy, tracing a perfect arc in the air—a scene witnessed by everyone present.

Many Marines were still swimming in the sea, those on shore waiting for him could see him, and Robin and Franky, who had left, were right at the bridge, while their crewmates were on the other side.

Seeing Lucci, coughing up blood and unconscious, sent flying, they all knew what it meant: CP9 had lost!

The slightly disheveled Vice Admirals looked at Mole after witnessing this, and Mole immediately pulled out his last Den Den Mushi.

*Burp burp burp…*

"Report the situation."

"CP9 lost, and the Buster Call was destroyed by Lake. Requesting support from the Admirals at headquarters!"

"Hmm… I understand. Kizaru has already gone ahead. Buy some more time."

"Yes, sir!"

*Clatter*

After the Den Den Mushi hung up, Mole looked up at the sky and said, "Admiral Kizaru is on his way. That guy is too dangerous; we must stop him."

The remaining four Vice Admirals understood Mole's meaning and drew their weapons, looking up at the sky with solemn expressions.

Lake, of course, also witnessed what had just happened. After Lucci flew away, Luffy's figure stood on the ruins, his gaze resolute.

Seeing Luffy unharmed, it was clear he had won the battle easily, and a sense of relief welled up in Lake's heart.

However, the next second, an unexpected event occurred. Luffy was about to go find his crew when suddenly his Observation Haki detected a terrifying aura.

Before Luffy could say anything, a deathly threat descended upon him.

"Ah!"

A scream rang out, and Luffy collapsed into a pool of blood without warning. Lake's eyes instantly turned red; his Ultra Wide Observation Haki had covered the entire island since entering Enies Lobby.

He knew the lurking rat, of course. Once again, his carelessness had led to this tragedy. Enraged, Lake immediately raised his hand and unleashed a bolt of lightning.

This bolt of lightning was almost Lake's full power; compared to the lightning pillar that attacked the warship earlier, it was like comparing a bullet to a missile.

Zzzzt!

Boom!

A pillar of lightning, carrying an aura of destruction, descended upon the entire Tower of Justice in an instant, its dazzling light seemingly brightening the sky.

After the lightning disappeared, the Tower of Justice, which had stood there, was completely gone, and even the island below was scorched black.

Lake instantly appeared beside Luffy, immediately carrying him on his back to take him to Chopper. However, it was clear that the mastermind behind all this wasn't going to let him leave so easily.

A figure in a white robe appeared before Lake, his face obscured by a large hood, only his mouth visible, a mocking smile playing on his lips.

From his muscular physique, it was clear this was a man. Considering that even Lake hadn't been able to see what had happened in that brief moment, this man was definitely not simple.

"Get out of my way!" Lake said coldly.

"I know your group has a healing pet. I've been waiting for this opportunity for so long. It'll be difficult for you to leave like this."

"Heh~ Difficult... then don't bother! I'll make you pay for messing with us!"

"I've been waiting for you. I hope you won't disappoint me. I really want to see just how capable Original Sin really is."

Lake set Luffy aside, then turned to the white-robed man. A red six-pointed star had appeared in Lake's eyes, and the white-robed man, who was about to say something, stared wide-eyed.

"Uh… damn it…"

Lake had somehow appeared before the white-robed man, his Zanpakuto piercing his chest.

Chapter 116 Luffy on the Verge of Death, Kizaru ArrivesDavid Hunter, a member of CP0, an organization directly under the Celestial Dragons, is hailed as "the Celestial Dragons' strongest shield" and "the world's strongest intelligence agency."

Due to his status, only CP0 members know Hunter's true strength: top-tier Rokushiki (Six Powers), dual-color Haki, and a strangely powerful Devil Fruit ability.

Paramecia-type Instant-Kill Fruit: As the name suggests, after activation, the fruit's power allows for a single, fatal attack that instantly annihilates the enemy. This attack is completely undetectable and unstoppable.

However, there are many limitations. First, the fruit's power is determined by the user's own strength; if you can't even break through the opponent's defenses...

Even if the attack succeeds, it cannot instantly annihilate the opponent. Furthermore, it consumes a tremendous amount of energy, as activating the fruit requires fusing all of the user's energy.

Ultimately, this energy is combined to create the maximum power attack achievable based on the user's strength. In short, the wonder of this fruit lies in two points:

First, it allows the user to ignore Observation Haki and cannot be blocked by anything. Second, it allows the user to perfectly fuse multiple powers together to maximize its power.

Returning to the main point, Lake coldly pulled Zangetsu from Hunter's chest. Instantly, a torrent of blood gushed out, and Hunter's body collapsed.

However, this guy's physical strength was still formidable. Because the wound hadn't hit his heart, he was still alive, though only for a short time.

Lying in a pool of blood, Hunter's eyes remained wide open. He knew his own condition best; his injuries were beyond saving, and he could die at any moment.

However, Hunter's mind wasn't racing; it was filled with doubt. His abilities could take down even the Vice Admirals outside in an instant.

Those Vice Admirals couldn't handle him in a direct confrontation. He was confident he could finish them off, killing them all one by one, but unexpectedly, he was the first to fall.

Lake watched Hunter coldly the whole time. He had a pretty good idea of ​​the man's identity: a CP0 Celestial Dragon's protector, but now he was dead.

Lake, having copied Hunter's abilities through his Hollow Vision, understood why Luffy had suddenly collapsed in a pool of blood. Therefore, Lake couldn't be sure of Luffy's condition.

He really wanted to pull the guy up and finish him off. Just as he was about to carry Luffy away again, Hunter coughed up blood and spoke.

"Haha...cough! Cough cough! Original sin...this is original sin...eight hundred years ago...those people...so...terrifying..."

Another riddle-maker. Lake had no time for another word. Wind wings, twice as magnificent as before, appeared behind him.

With lightning speed at maximum, Lake appeared beside his crew in an instant. Everyone gasped upon seeing Luffy, Chopper screaming in panic.

It was only after Lake quickly brought him to Luffy that Chopper realized he was the doctor. He immediately used Healing Palm on Luffy, but the effect was not promising.

The crew members all looked worried, their brows furrowed. Nami looked at Lake, hoping to hear words of comfort, but this time Lake wasn't sure either.

Boom!

This place was far from peaceful; another massive explosion rang out. Lake turned to look in that direction, and a powerful aura was rapidly approaching them.

"Phew~" Lake let out a long breath, gently ruffling Nami's hair before turning to his crew.

"Summon the Proverb. Take Luffy and get on board first. This is my responsibility. Everyone, make sure nothing else happens. Let's get out of here."

Merry obediently summoned the Proverb. A massive golden ship appeared out of thin air, and just as it was about to crash, Lake unleashed a powerful bolt of lightning into it.

The energy-filled Proverb took off from the spot. The crew boarded the ship one by one. Zoro, the last to leave, turned to look at Lake. After a moment of eye contact, Zoro spoke.

"Don't feel guilty. Your decision was a joint one, and we'll face anything together."

Lake forced a smile and replied, "Don't worry, I know. Go on, the dangerous guy's coming."

After Zoro boarded the ship, Lake controlled the lightning to send Master away from the area. A yellow flash appeared, transforming into a lecherous old man.

"How terrifying~ You've caused such a commotion~ Are you planning to go down in history with this kind of behavior? Straw Hat crew."

Three meters tall with long legs, wearing a Marine Admiral's cloak, but with the face of a lecherous old man, Lake knew this man all too well—Marine Admiral, codename Kizaru.

A master of slacking off in the Navy, he only thinks about collecting his salary, always putting off work whenever possible, and procrastinating when he can't. He never works overtime and his identity is also questionable.

His real name is Borsalino, one of the three admirals of the Marine Headquarters, a Logia-type Devil Fruit user with the Glint-Glint Fruit, and he adheres to the concept of "ambiguous justice."

He possesses powerful swordsmanship, kicking skills, and shooting abilities. He was already incredibly strong when he joined the Navy, known as a monster, and was a student of former Marine Admiral Black Arm Zephyr.

Kizaru is puzzling in many ways, but this is the first time Lake has met him, and the commotion and hostile relationship have caused such a stir.

This battle is inevitable. Everything was originally part of Lake's plan; he should have been eager to fight when the Admirals arrived.

But then Luffy happened, and now Lake is in a terrible mood! Therefore, his response to Kizaru is anything but polite.

"Since when the Buster Call became an Admiral-led operation?"

Kizaru could hear the sarcasm in Lake's tone, but he didn't care, being an old hand at sarcasm himself. He waved his hand dismissively.

"A dangerous guy like you probably couldn't be stopped without an Admiral's intervention. Speaking of which, Sakazuki and Kuzan have both fought you, and now with me added to the mix, tsk tsk tsk~ I'm starting to wonder if you're that old monster who hasn't died yet."

"I can't help it, you don't understand the world of geniuses. Do you really have to fight, Kizaru? I don't see you have much desire to fight, so why don't you just let me go?"

"That won't do~ The Fleet Admiral will dock my pay if he finds out, and besides, in this situation, I can't just back down without doing something."

Having said all he needed to say, Lake wasn't going to waste any more words. He could sense that Luffy's aura was still very weak, and it seemed there wasn't much improvement yet; he had to finish the fight quickly.

He took out Zangetsu. Lake's Hollow Vision state was still active, but since he had already copied Hunter's Devil Fruit, the Glint-Glint Fruit was unlikely to be available again.

However, fighting in Hollow Vision mode meant Lake had absolutely no worries; his confidence stemmed from his strength.

With the awakened Wind-Wind Fruit, Rumble-Rumble Fruit, and the Glint-Glint Fruit (no weaker than Kizaru's), Lake's three Devil Fruit abilities had already bridged the gap between him and an Admiral's Haki.

Looking into Lake's eyes, Kizaru's lewd face showed a bitter expression as he said, "Copied just like that? This ability... is truly terrifying~"

"Watch out, Lazy Admiral, I don't have time to joke around with you right now."

The moment he finished speaking, various enhancements appeared on Lake: huge, magnificent, transparent wind wings, crackling lightning beneath his feet, and points of light constantly appearing on his body.

Kizaru could tell that Lake was serious. Facing someone who had even caused Sakazuki a great deal of trouble, Kizaru naturally dared not be careless.

Whoosh!

Sizzle!

The two of them simultaneously turned into flashes of light and disappeared, followed by blinding flashes in the sky, accompanied by gusts of wind and continuous lightning and thunder.

The scene left the elite Marine soldiers speechless, as if they had encountered the bizarre weather of the Grand Line.

The five Vice Admirals all wore grave expressions. They hadn't even been able to directly engage the man, but thankfully, they hadn't yet.

Otherwise, they might already be heroically dead. As Vice Admirals, their Observation Haki allowed them to see far more than these Marine soldiers.

In every exchange, Lake had the upper hand. Keep in mind, he was an Admiral, one of the Marines' highest combatants, yet he was being suppressed by a pirate who hadn't even entered the New World. What was happening to this world?

Boom!

Lake and Kizaru clashed in mid-air, creating distance between them. Kizaru looked down at his torn clothes and the numbness in his left arm; he was beginning to regret his actions.

He had thought he could slack off and casually observe Lake, but he hadn't expected the other to be so serious. Frustrated, Kizaru summoned his Ame-no-Murakumo sword.

Compared to Kizaru, Lake was completely unharmed. Aside from some torn clothing, he had no injuries whatsoever. Thanks to Wolverine's regenerative abilities and the Yin Healing Technique, even severely injured Lake could recover in the blink of an eye.

Seeing Kizaru's actions, Lake immediately drew his Tensa Zangetsu. With the enhancement of three powers, Tensa Zangetsu began to change.

First, the blade transformed into the same Ama-no-Murakumo-no-Tsurugi as Kizaru's. Then, the blade was covered in a layer of lightning fluctuations. Finally, the wind blade at the hilt flickered in and out of existence.

Kizaru sighed and complained, "It's like this again..."

He said this because it had been the same during their previous battle. Kizaru could sense that Lake's Haki wasn't very strong when they fought.

In fact, even some Marine Vice Admirals had stronger Haki than Lake, but Lake possessed too many abilities, especially with the enhancement of three top-tier Logia-type Devil Fruits.

The difference in their Haki had been abruptly reversed, much to Kizaru's frustration, but he had no choice but to continue fighting.

Clang!

The two flashy blades clashed, producing a crisp sound. This swordsmanship contest was a perfect opportunity for Rek to test the limits of his free-flowing swordsmanship.

"Ama-no-Murakumo-no-Tsurugi: Flowing Light!"

"Wind Scar!"

Lake didn't recall Kizaru using many techniques; aside from the Yata no Kagami (Eight-Span Mirror), it was mostly standard attacks. This was the first time he'd seen Kizaru's swordplay.

The power was immense. The golden Ame-no-Murakumo sword flashed in Kizaru's hand, a golden streak of light streaking past, incredibly fast.

It truly lived up to its name as light. However, Lake wasn't to be underestimated. Enhanced by three powers, he unleashed the "Tessaiga" technique from Tensa Zangetsu.

A single strike unleashed a terrifying gale. Compared to Kizaru's golden light, Lake's attack was even more deadly, because it was invisible, yet Kizaru, being closest, could sense its danger.

Boom!

Two energies, seemingly sword energy yet not quite, collided. An inexplicable explosion occurred in the sky, and in the instant of the explosion, both figures vanished again.

When they reappeared, Kizaru stood above Lake, Ame-no-Murakumo sword raised high. How could light move so slowly? The Yata no Kagami's movement method was clearly just for fools.

"Ama-no-Murakumo-no-Tsurugi - A Line of Sky!"

*Sizzle!*

The power of this attack stunned Lake. Although he dodged it, the spot next to Lake where Kizaru had just attacked seemed to vanish for a moment.

The clouds in the sky parted as if they had been unfurled. The glint of light in Lake's eyes, which had instantly regained its composure, became even more conspicuous. Kizaru also sensed danger in that instant.

"Ama-no-Murakumo-no-Tsurugi - Flowing Light Flash!"

Seeing Lake's stance, Kizaru's expression changed drastically. Without hesitation, he tried to escape at top speed, but Lake wouldn't let him succeed so easily. He had chosen this angle beforehand.

*Clang!*

With a swing of Lake's sword, a sound like a blade being drawn resounded in everyone's ears, and a white light was flung out.

In an instant, Kizaru reappeared. The Ama-no-Murakumo-no-Tsurugi in his hand was wrapped in a layer of flowing Haki, looking exceptionally beautiful. Kizaru's gaze was serious, and his body began to continuously split into elements.

"Ama-no-Murakumo-no-Tsurugi - Hengyu-giri!"

The golden Ama-no-Murakumo-no-Tsurugi merged with Kizaru's scattered points of light the instant it was swung, becoming enormous upon impact, like a gigantic golden holy sword, colliding head-on with Lake's attack.

...

Silence, a deathly silence. The two powerful energies seemed to vanish miraculously after colliding. Was this possible? Of course not!

Less than a second of calm passed before a black void inexplicably appeared at the point of impact, a void that felt like another dimension.

As soon as the void appeared, the energy within began to move erratically, various chaotic energies constantly overflowing, like someone about to self-destruct.

Lake immediately abandoned the pursuit and disappeared without looking back towards the mid-air. Kizaru didn't give chase; he was already feeling exhausted.

Seeing Lake's demeanor as he left, Kizaru felt a sense of defeat. He couldn't understand why Lake, after fighting him for so long, was still at his peak.

Unfortunately, there's only one copy of the Solar Magic. The infinite stamina buff is no joke. Kizaru had already dodged it, but he reappeared to defend because Lake played a dirty trick.

His final attack was aimed at the group of onlookers among the marines, and it was Kizaru's signature move, the power of which he was well aware of.

If he hadn't blocked it, there would likely only be five vice admirals left among the marines present, most likely severely injured. Therefore, Kizaru was forced to intervene.

Chapter 118 concludes the story; Two Dragons Playing with a Pearl.The mysterious black void that appeared in the sky effectively ended the battle between the two. To minimize Navy losses, Kizaru wouldn't pursue Lake any further.

Lake, naturally, wouldn't provoke the Navy to protect his comrades. Sure enough, after the two parted ways, the black void exploded.

Boom!

This wasn't a fireworks explosion, but an explosion of converging energies. The entire Enies Lobby was affected, with gusts of wind sweeping across like slashing blades and bolts of lightning raining down.

Finally, the most terrifying part was the dazzling light generated by the explosion. Everything within its reach was instantly reduced to ashes—light travels incredibly fast!

If it weren't for Jin's survival under Lake's protection, they would have been wiped out in an instant. Kizaru wisely led all the Navy personnel to the wreckage of the warship at sea.

However, many Navy personnel who were slower to evacuate were engulfed by the light. When the light dissipated, there was nothing left but the sea.

The empty sea surface seemed as if no island had ever existed there before, but the massive thunderclouds constantly showering down lightning and the slashing winds indicated that something had happened in this area.

Kizaru looked up at the departing Zhenyan, his emotions still unsettled. Finally, he sighed helplessly and said,

"I have some things to take care of. You guys use your Den Den Mushi to contact for rescue... Seriously, what a terrifying man~"

With that, Kizaru vanished in a flash of light, leaving behind a group of bewildered Marines and five confused Vice Admirals, all wondering what they had come for.

Meanwhile, at Zhenyan's place, Ray's crew immediately rushed forward, chattering excitedly as Ray returned.

Nami: "Are you alright? What was that at the end? Let me help you."

Usopp: "That was terrifying, Lake! He was incredibly strong! But still terrifying!"

Sanji: "You must have used up a lot of energy. I'll go get you some food."

Zoro: "Is that the pinnacle of swordsmanship...? You're so much better than me, you bastard!"

Chopper: "Luffy's out of danger, but I don't know when he'll wake up. Lake, are you hurt? I'll heal you!"

Merry: "Lake-nii! Everyone was so worried about you, including Merry. I really want to help."

Franky: "Are you a monster? You're incredibly strong! You actually fought a Marine Admiral like that?"

Robin: "Thank you, Lake... Everyone told me... If it weren't for me, Luffy wouldn't have..."

After listening to everyone else, things took a turn when it came to Robin. Lake immediately looked at Robin with a displeased expression, putting a finger to her lips.

"Don't say things like that anymore. If you feel guilty, then live on. Don't forget you still have us."

Hearing Lake's words, his companions all chimed in. Overwhelmed with emotion, Robin broke down in tears again, hugging Lake tightly as if she had found an outlet for her feelings.

Lake paused for a moment, then gently patted Robin's back, softly comforting her. It was finally over, but Lake was still worried about Luffy's condition.

So after resting for a while, Lake went to the room to check on Luffy. He hadn't even bandaged him, as Chopper had completely healed his wounds.

But the problem was why Luffy was still unconscious. Chopper had repeatedly checked Luffy's body, and all his vital signs were good; he should have woken up by now.

Faced with this problem, Lake didn't know what to do. Recalling what had happened, the only thing he could investigate was the Devil Fruit he had copied today.

The Instant Kill Fruit—just from the name, you could tell that this fruit's power involved a portion of the power of rules. Generally, such fruits have extremely overpowered settings.

Like Bruno's Door-Door Fruit; once fully developed, it's not just about going wherever you want, but about being able to travel freely across the sea—like having an Anywhere Door.

Take, for example, Kuma's Paw-Paw Fruit. Look at how far it's been developed! It can deflect attacks, deflect pain, and even send people flying for a journey? It's simply outrageous.

The Instant Kill Fruit also involves a portion of the power of rules, allowing the fruit's ability to forcibly fuse and combine forces that would otherwise be impossible.

Adding to its undetectable and unstoppable nature, the upper limit of this fruit is extremely high. Therefore, Lake can now deduce that the reason Luffy hasn't awakened is because of this fruit's capabilities.

After Lake and Kizaru left with their men, a figure suddenly appeared on the empty sea. His attire was the same as Hunter, whom Lake had previously defeated.

As for him, he needs no further introduction. After appearing, he took out a Den Den Mushi from his pocket.

*Blurb blurb blurb*

*Clap clap*

"Report."

"CP9's plan failed. Enies Lobby was destroyed in the battle between Sin and Kizaru. CP0's David Hunter is confirmed dead."

"Sin's growth rate exceeded our expectations. We must take special measures."

"I don't think so."

"Hmm? Explain why."

"Sin is very different from what's recorded, and it's far from reaching the level described in the records."

"Lauren, you're too concerned about the records. You just need to know that Lake's Sin identity wasn't decided by us, but by those above."

"..."

"Sigh, since that's the case, I'll leave it to you. If you fail too, the plan will be activated immediately."

"Understood."

...

One week later—

Lake experienced a bittersweet period during this time. The very night things ended, Robin sneaked into Lake's room, insisting on taking the blanket from him.

As a hot-blooded, high-quality young man, Lake wasn't about to indulge Robin. That very night, he showed Robin what it meant to be terrified.

The aloof, mature woman's image was transformed overnight into that of an obedient kitten. The next morning, Nami walked in, only to find herself in a scene she had anticipated.

Robin, a sophisticated and mature woman, openly invited Nami to join her. The competitive Nami immediately joined the fray, fighting for the blankets, ultimately resulting in a day-long battle between Lake and the two.

Finally, they won on the second night, and Lake thought his position as head of the family was now secure. Little did he know, this was the beginning of his nightmare.

Perhaps triggered by some special attribute, Nami and Robin seemed to be in fierce competition, their challenges becoming increasingly frequent.

Even gauntlet battles and combination attacks became child's play; Robin, using her ability, was truly unbearable! Why? A brief explanation of the Flower-Flower Fruit will clarify.

The Flower-Flower Fruit user can allow "any part" of their body to bloom on "any" tangible object, like a flower! Ahem~ That's all I'll say; you can imagine for yourself.

Chapter 119 Grandfather Beats Grandson, Just Watch the ShowWater Seven—

Some time has passed since the Enies Lobby incident. Lake and his crew have returned to Water Seven, and they cannot leave without permission until Luffy wakes up.

So they have to rest in Water Seven, making this probably their most leisurely time on the journey. Lake, like a winner in life, is dragged shopping for clothes by Nami and Robin every day.

Zoro, perhaps feeling spurred by Lake's fight with Kizaru, has resumed his daily training regimen.

Sanji was heartbroken for a long time after learning that Robin was also with Lake, and during that time, Lake didn't eat any of Sanji's cooking.

Finally, Lake used his superpowers to find Sanji a group of beautiful young women to live with, allowing him to enjoy a life of comfort, which finally earned his forgiveness.

Usopp takes Chopper out to buy strange and unusual things every day, then invents pranks, ostensibly to prepare for battle.

What worried Lake most was Merry. Perhaps because of Franky's shipbuilding skills, Merry seemed to enjoy being with him.

Franky had been using the Adam Tree to build a new ship for Lake and his crew, and the Merry was being used as material, something they had all agreed upon beforehand.

Shipbuilding work, excellent shipwright—that's probably why Merry was willing to stay with Franky. The only problem was that this guy was a pervert.

Yes, the kind of pure pervert who thinks you're complimenting him when you call him a pervert. Lake was terrified that Merry would be corrupted by Franky and end up doing some of his shameful things.

Ugh~ Just thinking about it gave him goosebumps, but Lake couldn't get away from his own situation, so he could only pray that nothing like that would happen.

After this peaceful period lasted for some time, Luffy finally woke up one day. Upon waking, Luffy learned he had been unconscious for a long time and instantly calculated how many meals he had missed, then burst into tears.

Sanji quickly prepared a large amount of food to calm Luffy down. After Luffy had eaten most of it while still crying, Lake asked about his condition.

"I thought it was real! It was just a dream~ In my dream, I was fighting that guy who raises pigeons, but for some reason I always felt weak and couldn't beat him. It must be because I didn't eat enough!"

After hearing Luffy's words, Lake fell into deep thought: "An endless nightmare loop... toxic heart disease?! Can you believe that's possible?"

To make sure there was nothing wrong, Lake had Chopper examine Luffy several times, especially his heart. Chopper repeatedly checked Luffy as instructed.

The final result was that everything was fine; he had fully recovered. This result relieved Lake somewhat, but he still had many doubts.

But until they can figure out a solution, this is the best they can do for now. Luffy is awake now, the ship is almost finished, and they're finally ready to set sail again.

During their time in Water 7 and all the way to Enies Lobby, Laken didn't find a single treasure, only a few treasure maps, and only two of them were genuine.

The locations were ridiculously far, one in the North Blue and the other in the New World. He could only leave them for later, after his Door-Door Fruit powers up.

So, Lake was currently eager to open a few treasure chests to satisfy his craving. He felt his body couldn't handle this leisurely lifestyle any longer.

"Wait! Marine!"

"How can you just wander into Shipyard Number One like that!"

"There's really nothing there, you've got the wrong place!"

"Wait! That's the Straw Hat..."

"Idiot! Don't say it out loud!"

Inside, his companions were eating and chatting. Hearing the commotion outside, Nami asked in confusion, "It's so noisy, what happened outside?"

Bang!

The next second, the wall suddenly collapsed, as if hit by a cannonball, releasing a large amount of white smoke. Lake, looking disgusted, held up his dessert.

Then he gently blew on it.

Whoosh!

A gust of wind instantly blew away all the dust. Once the smoke cleared, the person who had broken through the wall could be seen: a dog-head mask and a muscular physique.

This was none other than the real Iron Fist, the legendary Marine Vice Admiral Monkey D. Garp, Luffy's grandfather and arguably Luffy's childhood nightmare.

"So you're the Straw Hat crew! Some people wanted to meet a few of you, so I brought them along."

Upon recognizing the other's identity, the crew members all became wary. They had seen the Navy's Justice Cloak three times before, all by Admirals, and now they couldn't help but feel fear.

The old man's gaze fell on Luffy, a smile playing on his lips. In the next instant, he was behind Luffy, his speed so fast that even Lake was momentarily stunned. Then, he delivered a punch filled with affection.

Bang!

"Ouch! That hurts!"

Following this was Luffy's scream of pain. His crew's first thought was that fists couldn't possibly work against rubber, but then their expressions turned serious.

The only thing causing Luffy pain could be Haki, indicating that this old man was no ordinary person. At that moment, Nami grabbed Lake's arm and whispered behind him,

"Lake, what should we do?"

Compared to his crew's fear, worry, and wariness, only Lake remained calm, his mouth never stopping. Hearing Nami's question, Lake casually replied...

"It's alright, it's their family matter. Grandpa hitting his grandson, just watch the show."

"Huh?!"

Lake wasn't whispering; everyone present heard him and gasped in surprise at the same time. Luffy, hearing this, looked up and saw Garp, his face turning into a meme of shock.

He immediately shouted, "Grandpa...Grandpa...Grandpa! Everyone, please don't interfere! I've almost been killed by Grandpa countless times before!"

At this moment, Garp removed his mask, stood with his arms crossed, and said with a smile, "Hey, hey~ don't put it so harshly.

I threw you into a bottomless abyss...left you in a forest at night...tied you to a balloon and released you into the air...all to train you into a strong man!"

Uh...

A deafening silence followed. His crewmates seemed to understand the source of Luffy's tenacious vitality. What followed was the grandfather and grandson arguing, and then Luffy getting beaten up.

According to Lake, this was their own business, and they should just watch the show. Garp just wanted to teach Luffy a lesson, and this inadvertently helped Luffy out.

After Luffy woke up this time, Lake noticed that Luffy's strength seemed to have greatly increased; the Saiyan bloodline's passive ability of near-death rebirth should have been triggered.

However, because the world is different, Luffy possesses tenacious vitality, not the monstrous physique of those in Dragon Ball who can shatter planets with a single punch.

Therefore, the passive ability of near-death rebirth to increase strength still needs external stimulation. Lake was originally planning to do it himself, but this saved him the trouble. Perhaps Garp also sensed something.

Chapter 120 Koby Reunited, Lake vs. BogartDuring their conversation, the crew learned about Shanks. Luffy had only ever heard Luffy say that Shanks was a very important person to him, and that the straw hat was left with him by Shanks.

Today, they finally learned from Garp what kind of person Shanks was. Among the countless pirates in the world, he was one of the four who could be considered on par with Whitebeard, the strongest man in the world.

The latter half of the Grand Line is like a royal court, ruled by the "Four Emperors," forces that can rival them on this sea.

Only the Marine Headquarters and the Seven Warlords of the Sea are truly balanced. Any disruption to these three forces could potentially collapse the world's balance.

However, after Garp's long explanation, Luffy's answer was unsurprisingly, "Anyway, he's doing well, right? I miss him~"

"Ah!"

While everyone was still chatting in the room, a commotion arose outside. Lake had already noticed it; Zoro, who had gotten lost, had returned.

Zoro should have been the first to spot the Marines, as he was on the coast at the time. But Zoro, well… you know how it is, it's already a miracle he even returned, even if someone else led the way.

Garp turned to ask what was going on, and his first mate, Bogart, replied, "It's the pirate hunter Zoro."

"Oh~ Luffy's crewmate? He's got spirits. You two go try and stop him," Garp said to the two behind him.

The two immediately attacked. The man wielding two swords charged at Zoro, and Luffy, seeing this, quickly shouted to stop him.

But the pink-haired man kicked him. Although he couldn't dodge, Luffy was completely unharmed, but he was naturally annoyed at being kicked for no reason.

Without even a simple test, a single, unremarkable move was enough to subdue both of them. While these two had some strength, it was only a little.

Lake, who had been watching the whole thing with amusement, tilted his head, observing the pink-haired man and his chin outside, and let out a sigh.

"Tsk tsk tsk~ What's wrong with this world? It's only been a short time, and it's changed so much!"

Nami looked at Lake with a puzzled expression. Lake waved his hand, indicating not to worry about it. Seeing his subordinate lose, Garp went outside and laughed heartily.

The pink-haired guy and the guy with the butt-chin revealed their identities. Yes, these two were Helmeppo, the son of Coby and Morgan. Looking at them, Lake even suspected that the Navy's food was laced with hormones.

Recognizing that the pink-haired guy, as tall as him, was Coby, Luffy's eyes nearly popped out of their sockets in shock. They had a lot to say after their reunion.

After entering the room together, Coby immediately noticed Lake, excitedly stepping forward to greet him and saluting.

"Mr. Lake, long time no see!"

Lake smiled and waved, replying, "Yo, Koby~ Long time no see. Put your hand down, what kind of Marine salutes a pirate?"

Hearing Lake's words, Koby scratched his head and quickly lowered his hand. Their conversation finally drew Garp's attention to Lake.

Lake naturally noticed the old man's gaze. The moment their eyes met, Lake felt an unprecedented pressure, and his expression immediately became serious.

Garp smiled again and said, "Kid! You're the original sin, right? Kuzan told me you're dangerous. Bogart, you give it a try."

The lieutenant, Bogart, slowly emerged from behind Garp, looking unfathomable. Lake knew very little about this man.

However, since the other party had said so, Lake couldn't back down. He finished his dessert in one gulp and then suddenly disappeared.

When he reappeared, he was in an open area outside, casually saying, "Outside, perfect for some post-dinner exercise."

In that instant, apart from Garp and Bogart, no one present could detect Lake's movement; it was simply too fast.

Garp, making no attempt to hide his emotions, said, "Oh! Quite a capable kid. If his Haki were a little stronger, he could easily recruit an Admiral."

The surrounding Marines were startled. Garp then realized his mistake, scratching his head and telling them to pretend they hadn't heard him.

Bogart showed no further emotion, turning and walking outside. The surrounding Marines politely made way for the two of them.

Coby, standing beside Luffy, said worriedly, "Luffy-san, Mr. Bogart is my teacher, he's very strong, so..."

However, Luffy said nonchalantly, "Hehehe! Don't worry, Coby, Lake will go easy on you."

"Huh?" Coby was completely bewildered.

Zoro also spoke up, "Even in terms of swordsmanship alone, Lake isn't weaker than that guy."

None of the crew members watching the scene inside the room showed any concern. Having been through so much together, they knew perfectly well how strong Lake was.

The two faced off in the open space. Suddenly...

Clang!

Bogart vanished instantly, reappearing with his sword drawn and slashing at Lake. Lake simply drew his Zanpakuto and casually blocked the attack.

"Hey~ don't be in such a hurry. You'll gain weight if you don't exercise after a meal."

"Just as rumored, a nasty personality. Keep going!"

Clang! Clang! Clang...

The instant the words left his lips, Bogart launched a fierce attack. His seemingly ordinary slashes actually possessed the power to easily cut through steel.

However, this was child's play for Lake. After a brief defensive maneuver, a glint appeared in Lake's eyes, and a smile played on his lips as he chanted,

"One-Sword Style: Storm Slash!"

Sizzle!

Clang!

The sudden attack caught Bogart off guard. A white sword flash drew blood from his body, but he managed to avoid greater damage thanks to his extensive combat experience.

The attack was merely a scratch, but for Bogart, the blow was far more than just a minor one, because the move Lake had just used was his own.

Moreover, it was the move Bogart was about to unleash, and not only had his opponent used it first, but it was also more powerful. Bogart stood there silently.

Lake wasn't one to resort to underhanded sneak attacks. Seeing Bogart's reaction, Lake shrugged helplessly and said,

"Not continuing?"

Upon hearing Lake's words, Bogart looked up, his gaze sharpening as he fixed Lake on him. The next second, the two clashed again, their speed and power both reaching new heights.

Clang!

Boom!

Even a simple collision generated a shockwave that sent the nearest soldier reeling, landing hard on his backside.

Chapter 121 The Greatest Background in History, Monkey D."One-Sword Style: Moonlight Arc!"

"One-Sword Style: Crescent Moon Slash!"

Bang!

Clang! Clang! Clang...

The crisp sounds of swords clashing in this duel were like a symphony, and gradually even Luffy and Zoro couldn't keep up.

The intensity had increased dramatically, and both had sustained injuries of varying degrees during the exchange. However, due to Lake's astonishing regenerative abilities,

Bogart now appeared quite disheveled, while Lake only had torn clothes and no injuries whatsoever.

This wasn't what shocked Bogart the most. What shocked him most was that he could feel his stamina waning, but his opponent remained relaxed, as if he hadn't been serious from the start.

Spurred on, Bogart stopped holding back, wielding his sword with one hand and radiating a powerful aura. Seeing this, Lake also stopped being careless, and wind and lightning began to surround him.

The next moment, both attacked simultaneously.

"One-Sword Style: White Blade Flash!"

"One-Sword Style: Wind and Thunder Sword!"

*Sizzle!*

The two switched positions, back to back. After a moment, Lake silently sheathed his Zanpakuto. Suddenly, blood gushed from Bogart's chest as he struggled to his knees, using his sword blade for support.

Bogart had just unleashed his strongest attack, the White Blade Flash, pushing the power of his Iaijutsu to its limit. Both its power and speed were arguably the pinnacle of swordsmanship.

However, even with Lake's multiple buffs, he was still defeated. Lake, using his Divine Vision, copied Bogart's second-block attack.

But instead of Bogart's simple swordsmanship, Lake chose his most powerful technique, Wind and Thunder, ultimately ending the battle with a crushing defeat.

The surrounding Marines quickly helped Bogart up, preparing to escort him back to the warship, when Lake spoke up.

"No need for all that trouble, Chopper! Heal him."

While the Marines were still stunned, Chopper trotted out of the room and immediately began casting Healing Touch on Bogart.

Then, Bogart's chest wound began to heal rapidly before their very eyes, a sight that stunned the surrounding Marines.

Garp exclaimed in amazement, "Is that the Healing Fruit? Wait, Sengoku said the doctor on Luffy's ship was a reindeer who ate the Human-Human Fruit!"

Chopper quickly finished his treatment. Bogart stood up, looking at his unharmed body with surprise. He thanked Chopper solemnly and then went to Lake.

"Next time we meet, I'll get my revenge."

Lake responded with a perfunctory smile, then returned to the room with Chopper. Now that the sparring and post-dinner activities were over, Garp was going to start repairing the wall with his subordinates.

Because he had broken it himself to show off, and given Garp's old-man personality, his relationship with his subordinates was always like this.

While repairing the wall, Garp didn't forget to drop another bombshell. His subordinates felt they knew too much and were probably going to die young.

"Speaking of which, Luffy, you should have met your father by now, right?"

"Father? What father? Do I have a father?"

"What?! Didn't that guy reveal his identity to you? He said he saw you off in Loguetown."

"What kind of person is my father?"

"Your father's name is Monkey D. Dragon, a revolutionary."

...

"Huh?!"

Everyone present gasped in unison, except for Lake and Luffy, who remained calm. One already knew, while the other had no idea who Dragon was.

Dragon, the Commander-in-Chief of the Revolutionary Army, was designated "the world's most dangerous criminal" by the government for advocating revolutionary ideas to overthrow the World Government.

He was considered the only leader of the Revolutionary Army capable of directly overthrowing the World Government, aiming to overthrow the unequal rule of the Celestial Dragons who controlled the World Government.

This man was Luffy's father! And the connection was striking: the world's most dangerous criminal, Dragon, was actually the son of Vice Admiral Garp, the Marine hero!

Everyone present was now in shock. Garp, slow to react, realized once again that this was something that shouldn't be said and quickly brushed it off with a "Never mind."

After repairing the wall, Garp prepared to leave with his men, speaking frankly to Luffy about things he should have said secretly.

"Because you are my grandson, I'm giving up on capturing you on this island! That's how I'll explain it to headquarters, so you can stay here in peace."

These words came naturally from Garp, prompting Bogart to quickly interject, "That's no reason at all. Just say they escaped."

Garp continued nonchalantly, "After all, I only brought two of them to see you, so you two have a good chat. I'll be leaving now!"

Luffy waved casually, "Yeah, goodbye!"

Bang!

He was met with a loving punch, followed by a banter between grandfather and grandson. Their spoiled manner clearly showed they were a family.

Afterwards, everyone dispersed. Luffy chatted with Coby and Helmeppo, mainly with Coby, while Nami asked Robin to eavesdrop and try to get some information about the Marines.

Luffy learned about the second half of the Grand Line from Coby, a place known as the New World! Only by going to the New World can they encounter the true powerhouses of this sea.

The pleasant meeting ended with heartfelt vows and promises of meeting again. After Coby and Helmeppo left, Zoro suddenly approached Lake.

"Did something happen to Coby?"

"Hmm? Why do you say that?"

"I feel like there's something off about the way you look at him. And you and Luffy are both his saviors, but I feel like you're keeping your distance from him."

"Haha~ So it's that obvious... Sorry, I just had a bad feeling. Don't worry about it."

"..."

"Haha! Don't overthink it, Zoro. Let's go for a drink! I heard there's a lot of good sake stored up at Iceberg!"

"What! Why didn't you say so sooner? Let's go!"

Watching Zoro rush off in another direction without hesitation, Lake slapped his forehead helplessly, then looked up at the sky, his expression suddenly turning serious as he muttered to himself.

"Coby… if you haven't changed by then, don't blame me. At least I'll give you a decent ending."

After saying that, Lake hurried off to find Zoro. If he ran in that direction a little longer, they'd reach the shore. Meanwhile, the crew was busy with their own things.

That evening, at the pool behind the Kalaka Company, what started as a barbecue by Sanji inexplicably turned into a massive feast for the entire Water Seven due to word-of-mouth.

Chapter 122 A Heart-to-Heart Talk with Aokiji, Information for the Next StopThe party continued until dusk, and everyone was having a great time. Suddenly, Lake's gaze fell on Robin, who was leaning against the wall, and he noticed something was wrong with her expression.

Because a terrifying voice was coming from behind the wall.

"Just listen, Nico Robin."

"Could it be… Aokiji…"

"Why didn't you run away like before? You should have been able to escape from CP9 alone."

"I told you, I'm different now. I won't run away anymore."

"Twenty years ago, Haguval D. Saul, who fought for Ohara, was my best friend…

That day, I obeyed his wishes and let you leave that island. Since then, I've had the obligation to care for you. But after twenty years, you still have nowhere to go. I can no longer ignore this ticking time bomb. After all, you're ready to die.

This time, I originally planned to settle things in Ohara. Of course, I didn't expect CP9 to be defeated so easily without that man's intervention… Have you finally found a place to go?"

"Yes."

"Was it right or wrong for Saul to let you live? Will you show the answer to that question?"

"Of course."

"Then live well. Ohara is not yet destroyed."

…

As the conversation ended and Aokiji's voice faded, Robin, snapping out of her daze, immediately ran behind the wall, only to find ice marks remaining.

Robin bit her lip, head bowed, her mind a jumble of thoughts that made it hard to breathe. Suddenly, a pair of large hands pulled her into a warm embrace.

"It's okay... no matter what happens, I'll be by your side," Lake's voice reached her ears.

At that moment, all of Robin's previous emotions vanished, replaced by an overwhelming sense of peace. She closed her eyes, pressing herself tightly against Lake's chest.

Lake gently ruffled Robin's hair, wiping the beads of sweat from her face, and spoke softly.

"Go play, everyone's waiting for you."

In the center of the banquet, Luffy and his crew were playfully wrestling, their laughter never ceasing. Robin, amused by the scene, jogged over and joined them.

Lake, casually grabbing a handful of freshly grilled succulents and two bottles of liquor, vanished. When he reappeared, he was already sitting on the shore.

Soon, a bicycle pulled up behind him, and a lazy voice immediately drifted over.

"Oh dear~ You found me after all. Looks like your strength has become even more terrifying."

Lake smiled but didn't respond to Aokiji. He tossed the succulents and liquor to Aokiji and continued to gaze quietly at the sea.

Aokiji instinctively caught them, paused for a moment, then casually sat down next to Lake. The two ate the grilled meat and drank like old friends.

"Don't worry about Robin. I'll protect her."

"This is the path she chose herself. What she faces is just fate."

"By the way, are you really not considering leaving the Marines and joining me?"

"I'll say it again, Lake: if one day I really leave the Navy, and you extend an invitation to me in your own capacity, I might accept."

"We'll talk about it later."

…

After a moment of silence, Aokiji spoke first.

"Do you know what Original Sin represents?"

"That CP0 guy I met before seemed to have mentioned it. Looks like my new title isn't so simple."

"Original Sin… I don't know much about the specifics, but I know it's related to history from eight hundred years ago. The government will be making a big move soon."

"I see. But you're a Navy Admiral, is it really okay to tell me this so casually?"

"Consider it payment for the barbecue and drinks."

After saying that, Aokiji got up and returned to his bicycle. At the beach, he turned back to Lake and said one last thing.

"If you survive, I'll buy you drinks next time we meet."

Lake didn't respond, just smiled and nodded, watching Aokiji leave. Afterwards, Lake sat alone on the shore, feeling the sea breeze and pondering Aokiji's words.

Were his choices along the way truly correct? His appearance triggered a series of butterfly effects, and everything began to spiral out of his control.

The journey ahead would only become increasingly dangerous. He hadn't responded to Aokiji's words earlier because Lake had confidence in himself, as he always had.

However, after each unexpected incident, Lake would experience a period of self-doubt. This time, Luffy had almost been killed on the spot because of his carelessness. How could One Piece continue without Luffy? Lake didn't dare to think about it.

The next morning, Lake groggily woke up in his large bed. Although he was alone, the soreness in his lower back instantly reminded him of the frenzied battle of the previous night.

Sitting up, Lake quickly stretched, muttering, "That was killing me~ Robin is so wild after resolving her inner conflict yesterday."

Last night's battle, where Lake had always been the victor, had for the first time found himself on the defensive. Robin had developed her abilities in an indescribable direction.

A single combo easily defeated both Lake and Nami. Poor Nami, she never had the upper hand; Lake could take her down single-handedly.

With Robin joining the party, Nami is now too afraid to go to Lake's bed at night. To maintain a normal appearance and avoid being noticed, the two girls paid Chopper the exorbitant price of a marshmallow to make them painkillers.

So, the next day, both girls acted as if nothing was wrong, thus avoiding strange looks from their companions.

When Lake came out of his room, he overheard Granny Kokoro explaining their next destination to their friends: Fishman Island, the underwater paradise.

And the recent major event: nearly a hundred ships mysteriously disappeared in a certain area of ​​the sea, known as the Magical Triangle, which was also the only way to reach Fishman Island.

Ghosts, demons, skeletons—all sorts of similar rumors, coupled with Granny Kokoro's embellished descriptions, had the Cowardly Squad terrified.

Lake suddenly remembered something: at the end of the banquet last night, Iceberg had gotten him another treasure map, one he'd only recently acquired.

He'd stolen it from a group of troublemaking pirates, but no one wanted to go to the location because of it. He then recalled that Lake had been searching for a treasure map recently.

So he gave Lake the map. The map showed the location of the treasure in the Magic Triangle, right on their inevitable route.

To boost morale, Lake immediately told them about the treasure map. Hearing about the treasure, his companions instantly became excited. They were no longer afraid of monsters or ghosts; compared to the treasure, those were minor problems.

Chapter 123: Latest Bounty Announced, Franky Boards the Ship"Pirate brother!"

Chimoni's voice rang out from afar. The door was flung open, and Chimoni, panting heavily, exclaimed anxiously.

"The ship...the ship is finished! It's an incredibly powerful ship!"

This good news thrilled everyone. Just as they were about to head over to see it, another shout came from outside.

"Straw Hat brother!"

This shout was even louder than Chimoni's, as it came from a large group of people. Reaching the door, they saw Franky's family rushing towards them in a panic.

Leading them was Squad Leader Zambry, also panting heavily.

"Actually... we need your help with something. Oh, by the way! Did you see the bounty posters? Everyone has a really high bounty!"

For them, bounties are a symbol of status, a source of bragging rights among pirates, so they care a lot about them.

Zanbai pulled out the bounty posters from his pocket and spread them out on the ground, acting as a presenter.

"Your bounties have all been increased, especially Straw Hat and Lake's, they've risen to some pretty high amounts, it's scary to even look at them!"

Then Zambry began reading them out one by one: "Straw Hat Boy, Monkey D. Luffy, Bounty: 500 million Berries!"

Luffy: "Hahahaha! That's awesome! It went up!"

"Pirate Hunter, Roronoa Zoro, Bounty: 300 million Berries!"

Zoro: "Hmph, not bad."

"Sanji, the Fiery Leg, bounty: 277 million Berries!"

Sanji: "I'm so close to that idiot swordsman again! Why can't they ever capture my handsome face in my photos?!"

"Usopp, the Sniper King, bounty: 99.99 million Berries!"

Usopp: "Oh my god! What does this bounty mean? I'm doomed! The government is on my radar!"

"Nami, the Elementalist, bounty: 150 million Berries!"

Nami: "Ugh! Over 100 million! Looks like my ability has been discovered. I'll have to be careful from now on."

"Nico Robin, the Devil Child, bounty: 100 million Berries!"

Robin: "She must have been scared by the curse's power. But this will save us a lot of trouble in the future, not bad."

"Monster, Tony Tony Chopper, Bounty: 77 million Berries!"

Chopper: "Monster! I'm not a pet anymore! My bounty has gone up so much! Hehehe~"

"Raincoat, Merry, Bounty: 50 Berries! PS (Suspected kidnapped child)"

Merry: "Huh? There's me too? That was Chopper's previous bounty! What do you mean 'kidnapped child'?"

"Original Sin, Lake, Bounty: 1.5 billion Berries! PS (Extremely Dangerous!!!)"

Lake: "Uh... 1.5 billion, huh? It just goes to show that the bounty still doesn't keep up with my strength. But why is there a separate note like 'Extremely Dangerous'?"

The Straw Hat crew's reaction to the bounty poster stunned Zambai and the others. When he came to his senses, he remembered that he had come to ask for help and quickly said...

"I understand you have a lot to say, but please look at this first..."

As he spoke, Zambry produced another bounty poster; the person on it was their eldest brother, Franky.

"Cyborg, Franky, Bounty: 44 million Berries!"

Lake hadn't expected Franky's bounty. Franky had been involved throughout, and even without any outstanding achievements, he was a key figure.

Furthermore, Franky possessed the blueprints for the Ancient Weapon Pluton, so a bounty was reasonable. Zambry's urgent request was for the Straw Hat crew to take Franky in.

The crew members had no objections, and Luffy readily agreed. However, one side's agreement wasn't enough; Franky himself hadn't decided where to go.

Franky's family stated they would assist, even if it meant forcing Franky to leave with them. Afterward, Franky's family left first.

Then, Zimoni led Lake and the others to Shipwreck Island. Their ship was there; because of the overtime shipbuilding, everyone at Dock One was still asleep.

Iceberg himself had participated in the shipbuilding. Seeing them arrive, he immediately stepped forward to greet them.

"You've arrived."

"Uncle Iceberg! Where's Franky?"

"Unfortunately, Franky isn't here right now, but the ship is finished, so I'll show it to you. Even I was astonished when I first saw the blueprints! It can traverse any sea, and even reaching the ends of the earth with this ship is not a dream!"

"Oh! Let me see it!"

"Franky told me to say this to you: if one day you really become the Pirate King, then sail on this King of Beasts!"

With Iceberg's movement, a huge white sheet was lifted, and the new ship was finally revealed to everyone. It was a two-masted sailing ship with a square sail on the foremast and a vertical triangular sail on the mainmast.

A lookout tower stood atop the foremast, and the Straw Hat Pirates' flag adorned the foremast's square sail. The ship was equipped with a variety of brand-new equipment and was more than three times the size of the Going Merry.

After everyone had toured the ship several times, their excitement began to subside, and Luffy started asking Iceberg about Franky.

Through Iceberg's explanation, the crew learned why Franky hadn't appeared: he was very fond of the Straw Hat crew and longed to adventure on the high seas with them.

However, Franky had bound himself to this island for life as atonement for his past sins against Mr. Tom, so he feared he wouldn't have the courage to refuse Luffy's invitation and had left prematurely.

But Luffy wouldn't easily give up on someone he had set his mind on. Just then, Franky's family began to move; a group of people could be heard running noisily towards them from afar.

Franky's angry shouts could still be faintly heard from behind: "Damn it! Give me back my panties! That's my only pair!"

Hearing this, Lake shook his head helplessly, then turned to Nami and Robin and said, "You two take Merry to her room and don't come out."

Nami looked puzzled and was about to ask something when Robin, with a meaningful smile, pushed Nami towards the room, leading little Merry along as well.

This is also what Lake likes most about Robin: she's intelligent and mature, and many things don't need much explanation. The reason he wanted them to go back was simply to prevent them from seeing the pervert.

Soon, the Franky family escorted Franky's panties to the abandoned ship island. Luffy, holding the black, untouched panties, confronted Franky, who had been running around in a vacuum.

Chapter 124 New Partners and New Ship, Lake Was Left Behind?"Come on, Franky! Come on my ship."

"Haha, don't be so cocky. You bunch of amateurs who only know how to patch holes. Such a luxurious ship and you don't even have a shipwright? How pathetic... Oh well, I'll take care of him! Your shipwright duties will be handled by me, Franky!"

"Great! Another new companion!"

As for what happened, without Robin's support, Lake naturally had to find another way to save Franky's face. Dealing with someone like him, who was made entirely of metal, was incredibly easy for Lake.

A bolt of lightning silently entered Franky's body, instantly electrifying him. Even his little Franky was constantly changing shape from the shocks.

Finally, after much persuasion, Franky finally chose to board the ship. Coincidentally, Garp returned with his men at that very moment.

On a warship not far from the coast—

Coby: "Vice Admiral Garp! We just had a very pleasant farewell with Mr. Luffy, so we feel incredibly guilty now!"

Garp: "If you want to complain, go talk to Sengoku! I wouldn't have come back if I hadn't angered him! Acting all high and mighty, huh!"

Another person was on deck, lounging lazily in a deckchair, saying, "It's all your fault for saying 'he's my grandson' on the phone, that's why this happened."

Garp, looking unconvinced, picked his nose and said, "Annoying, shut up, you brat!"

This man, whom Garp called a brat, was Admiral Aokiji, too lazy to ride his bicycle back, so he was taking Garp's warship.

A grumpy Garp, holding a megaphone, shouted, "Hey! Luffy! Can you hear me?! It's your grandpa! It's your grandpa! Answer me if you hear me!"

Luffy, on the ship, yelled back angrily, "Hey! Grandpa! Didn't we agree you wouldn't catch us here?!"

Garp, without a trace of remorse, said, "Anyway, something happened. Sorry, you'll all just have to die at sea! Consider it an apology, so I'll handle this myself!"

After speaking, Garp put down the megaphone and ordered his soldiers to bring him cannonballs. Then, he unleashed an astonishingly powerful attack, throwing the cannonballs with his bare hands.

Boom!

The force was far more terrifying than any cannonball launch. What kind of monstrous power was this? His crew was terrified, not to mention the enemy was preparing a thousand cannonballs!

"Fist Bone - Meteor Shower!"

Sensing the intensity of the cannonballs, Lake stepped forward with a serious expression and said, "Get ready to set sail immediately. It looks like the old man is getting serious."

With that, wind wings appeared behind Lake, and he flew into the air, spreading his arms and shouting.

"Extreme Wind - Turning Point!"

An invisible gale constantly shifted around Lake, and after a moment, a giant wind tai chi symbol formed. Standing at the center, Lake faced the dense rain of cannonballs without fear.

The cannonballs were all deflected by a strange force the moment they approached. The impact of the cannonballs had even felt like they were tearing through the air, but upon contact with Lake, they all fell straight to the sea.

Franky was speechless with shock at the sight. His companions, though used to it, were worried about Lake and immediately asked why they weren't setting off right away.

Startled, Franky quickly explained, "This ship is missing a name. A nameless ship setting sail lacks any presence, so a name is essential!"

Ultimately, they chose the name Iceberg had suggested earlier from a list of odd names, including "Lion Bear Polar Bear," "Lion Boss," "Dark Pill," and "Sunflower Owner."

The Thousand Sunny, from now on known as the Sunny. Now that it had a name, it was time for the Sunny to show its power. Franky went to the control room below.

"Wind Jet!"

Boom!

With a loud bang and Franky's shout, the Sunny took off from the spot, disappearing in an instant with nitro acceleration.

However, they seemed to have forgotten one thing: Lake's expression as he continued his tai chi-like maneuvering in the air.

(⊙ˍ⊙)?

That's right, the ship was gone. He was still hovering above it, completely stunned. Before he could even get angry, the giant iron ball Garp had thrown earlier was already directly above his head.

"Damn it! A bunch of bastards! You're all dead when I get back!"

"Thunderous Extreme: Chidori!"

Sizzle!

Enraged, one of Lake's hands was covered in terrifying lightning. He then charged straight at the giant iron ball. After a moment of calm, a blue bolt of lightning pierced the sky.

The giant iron ball blocking the sky was blasted into pieces by this attack, the fragments falling into the sea. Having done all this, Lake vanished into the wind.

On the warship, Koby excitedly shouted, "Luffy-san is so cool! Mr. Lake is so strong!"

And so, the new ship, the new crew, and everything in Water 7 came to an end. As the Sunny departed, the group was about to begin their new adventure.

Baratie, the Sea Restaurant—

Zep returned to his room from the kitchen, put down his hat, picked up the latest newspaper and the wanted poster, and silently hung one of the photos in his room.

The photo showed a man in a black suit, his feet seemingly engulfed in flames, his entire body covered in a layer of eerie blue fire, while in the background was a werewolf foaming at the mouth.

"Looks like it won't be able to stay hidden any longer. Sanji's grown up, huh? He's caused such a huge mess. Hmph~ I can picture that brat without even seeing his face, he's probably got a real smug look on his face..."

East Blue, Windmill Village—

"The banquet's starting!"

"A toast to the most successful man in the East Blue, the wanted criminal with a 500 million bounty."

"A toast to our Luffy!"

The village chief shouted angrily, "Shut up, you bunch of bastards! Don't you have any shame? What's there to celebrate about a great pirate coming out of the village?!"

Makino smiled and picked up Luffy's wanted poster, saying, "It's alright, village chief. Luffy seems genuinely happy. These must be his friends."

The village chief took a sip of his drink and sighed, "Honestly, what is Garp doing with his grandson doing something so big?! I wonder if Dadan even knows about this."

East Blue, Syrup Village—

Kaya flipped through the latest newspaper, picking out Usopp's bounty poster and examining it with a gentle smile. Then she opened the window, as if she could see Usopp still up in the tree outside, telling her stories.

"Usopp~ You're working hard towards your dream, and I can't fall behind. I'll always be waiting for you."Chapter 125 So what if there's no treasure map? No big deal!East Blue, Shimotsuki Village—

"Sensei! Sensei! Did the Pirate Hunter Zoro really live in this dojo before?"

Koushirou looked helplessly at the group of kids who idolized Zoro and replied, "Yes, but you can't idolize him."

"Hey! Why? He's so cool! Sensei, teach us how to become pirates too!"

East Blue, Cocoyasi Village—

"Uncle Ken, here are today's oranges."

"Why are you bringing them again, Nami? I told you I'd buy them myself."

"Well~ don't be so formal. Uncle Ken is like a father to Nami and me. What are you doing?"

"Huh? Oh! Right! I'm complaining to the Navy. Look at this bounty poster! It's so revealing!"

"But actually, you like it, don't you? You even zoomed in so much..."

"What! I didn't! I wanted to see more clearly if there were any overly revealing parts so they could improve it!"

"Hahaha~ But it's not so bad, is it? It's their agreement with Uncle Jian."

"Hmph! That kid certainly didn't disappoint, otherwise I wouldn't let him off the hook if we met again!"

Grand Line, Sakura Kingdom—

The witch, riding Laban, arrived at the village, looking annoyed. "Dalton, why did you call me down so urgently! I'm very busy!"

Dalton, with a gentle expression, took out a bounty poster and said, "I'm really sorry, but I think you should take a look at this."

"Oh? Is this the latest bounty poster? This is..."

"Yes, the name is the same, so it should be him."

"Looks like... Hahaha, it seems my silly son has really turned himself into a monster. Looks like he's finally found a comrade worth the effort."

Grand Line, Alabasta Kingdom—

"Princess Vivi! Princess Vivi!" Icarus shouted anxiously down the corridor, holding the bounty poster.

He had just reached the door when his wife knocked him to the ground with a frying pan and scolded him, "What kind of behavior is this, shouting like that in the palace?!"

Icarus, clutching his head, handed over the bounty poster, saying, "The latest bounty poster for the Straw Hat crew. I believe Princess Vivi would love to see this."

Inside the room, all of Vivi's crew's bounty posters were spread out on the table, but his gaze remained fixed on the man's face the entire time.

"1.5 billion... You're getting more and more impressive, Lake. I wonder when we'll meet again. I miss you so much..."

Grand Line, Baltigo—

"The Revolutionary Army has achieved a great victory in the South Blue battle zone! Impressive! Adding to the victory in the North Blue a while ago..."

"Don't get complacent with this small victory! This is war!"

"Yes, Commander."

After finishing his speech, Dragon went outside alone, looked at the bounty poster in his hand, and suddenly spoke.

"Live according to your own will, Luffy. Sometimes, the times bring all sorts of coincidences and passion to challenge the world! We'll meet again someday, won't we?"

East Blue, Loguetown, Pirate King Tavern—

A hunched old man sat alone in a run-down tavern, drinking with a skull-shaped object. A stack of the latest wanted posters lay on the table. He pulled one out, looked at the face on it, and chuckled.

"Today is truly a day to celebrate. That arrogant brat has done something big again. But… Original Sin, it seems necessary to contact some old friends."

On the Sunny, the crew was having a party, raising their glasses in celebration. This was an essential ritual whenever a new crew member joined, and the best way to strengthen the bond between them.

Luffy: "Cheers to the new ship and the new crew!"

Everyone: "Okay!"

Where Luffy is, the party is never boring. The lively and relaxed party continued until late at night, until the crew, tired from playing, went back to rest.

Lake leaned against the ship's side, enjoying the sea breeze and drinking. He seemed preoccupied, but he really had nothing on his mind; he just wanted to enjoy the breeze.

But those who cared about Lake didn't see it that way. After a brief silence, Nami and Robin appeared beside Lake, each putting their arms around him.

Lake smiled and said, "It's nothing, I just wanted to get some fresh air."

Nami pouted, looking unconvinced, and said, "Hmph~ Nobody believes you!"

Robin chimed in, "This doesn't seem like you at all."

At that moment, Lake realized that he already had people in this world who cared about him so much. Overjoyed, Lake freed his arms and hugged both women tightly.

Then, with a gasp from the two women, he forced his way into the girls' quarters on the Sunny. Since there were only two girls on the ship—Merry was still young and usually slept with Chopper—

the girls' quarters were much more luxurious in terms of space and decor, and of course, the bed was much larger. When Lake's soundproof barrier activated, it was clear that tonight would be another sleepless night.

The next morning, as soon as Lake stepped out of his room, Franky, for some unknown reason, rushed up to him, startling Lake instantly.

"Lake! Was what they said yesterday true? A super magical treasure! All you need is a treasure map?"

Lake finally understood what was going on and nodded, saying, "Of course it's true, but I don't have any extra treasure maps on hand right now, so yours will have to wait."

Lake thought Franky would be disappointed, but to his surprise, Franky was incredibly excited, shouting, "Wow! That's great! It's just a treasure map, come with me!"

And so, completely bewildered, Lake was led by Franky to the lower deck of the Sunny, which would henceforth serve as Franky's workspace. Once inside, he saw Franky starting to rummage through everything.

Lake initially thought Franky had one or two treasure maps, but when the guy pulled out a box, Lake was utterly dumbfounded.

The system notifications kept ringing in his mind, and he didn't know how long they lasted; he felt his ears were starting to ring.

Finally, the noise stopped. Lake quickly shook his slightly dizzy head and looked at the box. He opened it, and sure enough, there it was.

It was a stack of treasure maps, probably over a hundred of them. Good heavens, Lake was so excited he almost swore on the spot.

Franky, on the other hand, struck his classic pose with a proud look and shouted, "Hahaha! How about that, aren't you surprised?!"

Lake nodded and gave Franky a thumbs up, saying, "Amazing! To be honest, I'm really surprised. Where did you get all of these?"

"Hahaha, this is my entire collection!" Franky made a huge contribution to the team this time!

Chapter 126 The Magical Triangle: The Ghost Ship AppearsFranky then explained that he had been collecting these treasure maps since childhood, initially just searching for them, but later turning to stealing them from pirates.

Since Franky's family was in the ship dismantling business, they wouldn't leave anything behind once the ships were gone. Franky kept all the treasure maps he found.

Unexpectedly, his hobby became their future asset for becoming stronger. Finding all these treasure maps would be a piece of cake.

It looked like the next few days would be busy. Lake put the box into his spatial ring and then went to the deck with Franky to gather the crew.

A moment later, all the crew members were present. Lake took out Franky's box and spread the hundreds of treasure maps on the deck.

Luffy, Usopp, Chopper, and Merry all looked incredibly excited, their eyes shining. Zoro and Sanji stood there speechless.

Nami and Robin were equally excited, hugging Lake tightly. Franky explained the origins of the treasure maps to everyone again.

The crew praised Franky after hearing his explanation. This windfall might not be important to others, as there were too many uncertainties associated with these treasure maps.

Most would likely end up empty-handed, but it was different for Lake. A treasure hunter wasn't called that for nothing; as long as the location was right, even an empty box buried by someone else could yield treasure.

Lake looked at the numerous treasure maps and said, "So everyone needs to get busy for a while. Nami, you'll have to work harder."

Nami nodded and leaned on Lake's shoulder. She knew what he meant; determining the location of treasure maps was usually the navigator's job.

However, with so many maps, to speed things up and relieve Nami's burden, everyone had to participate. Those who didn't understand would look it up, and Luffy would be responsible for separating the found maps from the unfound ones.

Lake methodically assigned tasks, and everyone immediately sprang into action. Everyone present, except Franky, knew firsthand how wondrous Lake's treasure was.

To prepare for the unknown adventures to come, improving their strength was essential. For the next few days, everyone on the Sunny became like office workers, spending their time eating, sleeping, and studying the treasure maps.

Finally, after half a month, they successfully located the positions of all the treasure maps. However, they couldn't backtrack, so they had to further refine their selection.

Ultimately, they confirmed almost all the treasures along the route, even including five or six hidden in the Magic Triangle, and this wasn't entirely certain.

After working so hard for so long, the crew finally finished. Everyone lay on the deck like dead fish, collapsing into bed. Luffy, who hadn't even used his brain, was the loudest.

Unsurprisingly, this earned him a good beating from his crew. With all the preparations complete, the crew returned to their peaceful and leisurely daily lives.

Luffy and Usopp, along with Chopper and Merry, spent their days running around the ship, playing all sorts of games with boundless enthusiasm, their laughter never ceasing.

Nami and Robin spent most of their time in the ship's aquarium, drinking tea and reading. Sanji and Franky were in the galley and workshop, respectively.

Zoro trained and observed the surroundings from the lookout tower, while Lake occupied the stern, lounging on a sun lounger, enjoying sweets and the sea breeze.

"I really enjoy this feeling. If only there weren't so many troubles, every day would be like this..."

"Hey! What's that floating down from the sea again?" Lake heard Zoro's voice through the loudspeaker before he could finish speaking.

Reluctantly, Lake got up and went to the deck, where his crew had gathered, discussing the wooden barrel Luffy had just retrieved.

It was inscribed with "Sea God, Before the Treasure," Robin explained that it was called a "flowing vessel," an offering to the sea god for a successful voyage.

This left Luffy and his crew, who had initially thought it was treasure, looking disappointed. However, Zoro became interested when he heard it contained sake, and besides, it wasn't something they couldn't drink.

So, they eagerly opened it, but the moment the lid was opened, a beam of red light shot out from the wooden barrel.

Boom!

After exploding in mid-air, it almost dyed the entire sky red. Only then did the crew realize something was wrong, except for Lake, who was still complaining.

"So blinding!"

Robin, with a serious expression, said, "That's a glowing blast. This is probably a trap. Our ship might be targeted next."

Usopp and Chopper immediately huddled together in fright: "Hey, Robin, don't be so scary!"

Sizzle!

A sudden flash of lightning illuminated the clear sky, silencing everyone. All eyes turned to Lake, who scratched his head and shrugged, saying, "Why are you all looking at me? It's the weather, it has nothing to do with me."

Nami rolled her eyes at Lake and immediately ran up the stairs, shouting for everyone to get moving—a storm was imminent!

Although they were used to the unpredictable weather on the Grand Line, this sudden change in weather still felt connected to the glowing blast from before.

The Sunny once again demonstrated its capabilities, ignoring the wind and waves and easily navigating the turbulent sea without even needing to row after setting off on its outer deck.

After calming down, Lake looked around and said, "This fog... if nothing unexpected happens, we've entered that sea area."

Nami, startled, immediately hid behind Lake and whispered, "The Magical Triangle! What do we do? I'm not ready!"

Usopp shouted and quickly pulled out his gear: a garlic, onion, and cross—a fusion of East and West. Chopper also quickly asked Usopp for some equipment.

Humans subconsciously fear ghosts and monsters, except for Luffy, whose mind was now filled with talking skulls, as if catering to Luffy's desires.

A ship approached, faintly visible in the fog, accompanied by a leisurely, ethereal song, instantly creating a chilling atmosphere. Even Lake felt a shiver run down his spine.

"Yoohoo~ Yohoohoo~"

As the song drew closer, the enormous ship finally came into full view. It was even larger than the Sunny, and looked dilapidated. They could vaguely make out an afro on board.

At that moment, everyone except Lake and Robin had the same reaction:

"It's here! The ghost ship!!!"