Chapter 69: Exploring the Island
As Luo Han nodded his approval, Cole began to transform. His body flushed red and started releasing steam, as though charging up from within.
…
Uh… seriously? Did he forget how to transform again? Luo Han thought skeptically as the steam billowed.
Thankfully, that wasn't the case. Cole 's stored energy must have reached its limit. His body began to expand—first his mouth, then his head—until finally, with a mighty leap, Cole soared into the sky.
In moments, a colossal Kun Kun over 6,000 meters long appeared above everyone. The sheer size blocked out the sun, plunging the mountaintop into shadow.
What the—!!
Aaaahhh!!
Cries of awe and terror rang out as everyone stared wide-eyed at the sky, jaws agape and tongues practically hitting the ground.
"That looks like Lord Cole 's Zoan Devil Fruit power," a shaky voice stammered from behind some branches beside Tuck.
Tuck said nothing. He wanted silence. He'd once believed his own Zoan-type Mythical Beast transformation, towering ten meters tall, was top-tier.
But now, looking up at Cole 's titanic form, he felt… deeply wronged. We're both Zoans. We're both mythical. Why is he SO big—and I'm so small?!
His crew, noticing the silence, turned to see tears welling in Tuck's eyes. They wisely stepped back, not wanting to be around if their captain exploded.
Tuck composed himself, then saw his crewmates retreating. He froze, then erupted in anger.
"That's Lord Cole ! Brother Luo Han's sworn brother! Show some respect and cheer already!"
The pirates blinked—then quickly caught on and erupted into wild praise. "So reliable!" "So strong!" "As expected of Boss Luo Han's brother!"—the compliments flowed fast and endlessly.
Luo Han, sensing all of this, simply shook his head. What a bunch of idiots… poor Tuck, though. This must really sting.
Still, he laughed. Forgive me for laughing at your pain, Tuck.
"Cole , come down a bit," Luo Han called. Then he turned to Sister Shao.
"Sister Shao, Cole will carry you into the island interior to scout ahead."
"Huh? Oh—sure!" she responded, only just snapping out of her daze. The sight of a person that small turning into a creature that big was almost beyond comprehension. A 6,000-meter body was larger than most Sea Kings.
Incredible. She was still overwhelmed.
"Haha! Now I get how Cole managed to withstand Zephyr and three CP0 agents!" Whitebeard said, laughing loudly.
Compared to his full form, Cole 's ten-meter combat size didn't even seem that big anymore. Still, that smaller form was enough to take hits from Navy admirals without falling—that alone proved his strength.
But that's not even his true potential, Luo Han thought. Once Cole unleashes a full-force attack… the expressions on everyone's faces will be priceless.
"Alright, I'll head straight across to the other mountain," Luo Han said.
"I'll go left," Whitebeard replied.
"Then Cole and I will take the right," said Sister Shao, leaping onto Cole 's back. They flew toward the eastern edge.
Whitebeard bounded down the mountainside toward the west.
Luo Han rose into the sky, heading for the distant range.
Passing above the mist, Luo Han entered the island's interior. A vast forest plain stretched out before him, every tree seemingly identical in height.
Using his spiritual perception, he noticed a wide array of bizarre creatures below. Strange and fascinating—if Earth's paleontologists saw this, they'd probably faint from excitement.
Flying over the diverse ecosystem, Luo Han marveled, but also felt uneasy.
There's no sign of human life here. The absence of even a trace of civilization didn't bode well—especially since they planned to stay here for some time.
Which was odd. The climate, terrain, and ecosystem were perfect for humans.
After flying about 50 kilometers, he saw a river stretching between the two mountain ranges, flowing across the forest plain—heading toward Cole 's direction.
Hovering above the river, Luo Han scanned the terrain. It looked like he was at the center of this long, narrow island.
The river below was massive—at least 2,000 meters wide and 800 meters deep—and still deepening as it flowed eastward. Likely deeper in Cole and Sister Shao's direction.
That's... concerning.
The river teemed with fish, and the forest was filled with edible plants and fruit-bearing trees.
Then why hasn't anyone ever lived here? Luo Han wondered. Maybe the other range…
Whoosh! He sped toward the opposite mountain range.
Because he picked up speed, it didn't take long to reach it. The view was nearly identical to the first range—flat peaks, thick mist below.
Luo Han scanned the area—still no signs of civilization.
Fine. The skies were still bright, so he soared higher, hoping to glimpse the entire island from above.
At 10,000 meters, the full picture emerged.
The island resembled a massive, primitive ship. The two mountain ranges were like inflated pontoons holding up the central forest plain. A wide river ran through the middle, pooling into a massive lake at the center.
What a strange island… Luo Han extended his hand to gauge its scale. Ugh. If only I were better at math. Can't even triangulate its length…
While Luo Han grumbled about his math skills, Whitebeard had also entered the forest.
The trees here averaged hundreds of meters tall. From the mountaintop, it was impossible to tell—it looked like a deep valley, not because of elevation, but because the trees were so enormous they appeared level with the sea.
The trees came in many species, many of them fruit-bearing, filling the air with a sweet, fruity aroma.
Animals were abundant too—but one in particular dominated: something resembling a rooster.
Except… these "roosters" were 50–60 meters tall.
In a forest of towering trees, they didn't seem huge—but up close? Terrifying.
Whitebeard wandered around the perimeter of the range. Once he felt satisfied, he decided to head back.
The sun's rays shining through the branches had grown slanted.
Whitebeard figured the sun was nearly touching the sea.
(END CHAPTER)
Thank you for the support, friends. If you want to read more chapters in advance, go to my Patreon.
Read 20 Chapters In Advance: patreon.com/Bankai10