Chapter 159 WarMeruem and Zoro flew towards Demon Oz, their swords slicing through the air. The eerie demonic aura and fierce killing intent were distinct yet harmoniously intertwined.Demon Oz's attack was blocked by Sanji, and seeing the two flying towards him, his eyes filled with excitement. He gathered strength in both hands, then suddenly swung them out: "Gum-Gum… Gatling!"Fists, like a rain of bullets, instantly enveloped the path of Meruem and Zoro, completely sealing off the space. If Demon Oz's control over distance hadn't been slightly off, the two would have already been engulfed by the torrent of fists. Judging by the whistling wind, the overwhelming barrage of fists possessed formidable power.Meruem drew his kitetsu and exchanged a glance with Zoro, then slightly bent his knees, shattering the air with a stomp. A sonic boom erupted as he instantly shot to the front of Zoro. He then sharply inhaled air into his lungs: "Breath of the Moon: Lone Moon, Long Night, Chaotic Slash!"Countless crescent blades were unleashed by Meruem in that instant. His kitetsu was a blur in his hands, then collided with the incoming fists.There was no sensation of cutting flesh; instead, it felt like striking steel. The clanging of metal on metal was grating, and the shockwaves shot into the sky, even dispersing some dark clouds, faintly revealing the brilliant Moonlight."Ooooh, ooooh, ooooh, ooooh!" Demon Oz roared, his fists becoming even denser and the range smaller, enveloping Meruem's figure. But the fists formed a wall, firmly declaring, "No passage.""Clang!" Meruem gripped his kitetsu with both hands and fiercely slashed at Demon Oz's fist. Where the fist and kitetsu met, black Armament Haki overflowed, striking the ground with an explosion-like force, producing a violent roar.The overwhelming barrage of fists instantly stopped. Demon Oz retracted his other fist to gather strength, then suddenly punched towards Meruem. The whistling wind sounded exceptionally terrifying; Meruem, caught in the deadlock, seemed to have no escape.But Meruem showed no panic; instead, the corners of his mouth curved upward. He gritted his teeth and stubbornly resisted Demon Oz's fist. Behind him, a figure in a blond suit appeared, spinning in the air and using the momentum for a side kick: "Diable Jambe: Mutton Shot!"Sanji's superheated right leg collided with Demon Oz's fist, and the overflowing Armament Hakibecame even more turbulent, with continuous roars."Nine mountains, eight seas, nothing I cannot cut…" Behind Sanji and Meruem, Zoro's incantation began. sandai kitetsu and Shusui started spinning like windmills, the Armament Haki spiraling around the blades making them appear even brighter. He then curled his body and suddenly extended it, a sonic boom erupting instantly."Three-Sword Style Secret Technique: Three Thousand Worlds!"In the blink of an eye, Zoro's three swords had already struck Demon Oz's neck. This was the first time he had inflicted such a severe injury. The swords deeply embedded themselves in his neck, and the veins on Zoro's hands and head looked as if they would burst."Ugh, ugh, ugh…" Zoro's muffled groan sounded somewhat painful. The blades advanced inch by inch. Finally… Demon Oz's head flew into the sky. Zoro appeared in the air behind him, sheathing his swords. A simple word like "cool" could summarize this scene… Are you two insane?! Your strength has grown so much?! If you guys keep this up, the power balance is going to break. Meruem used Demon Oz's fist for leverage, backflipped into the air after sheathing his sword, and descended to the ground, feeling somewhat annoyed by Zoro and Sanji's increase in strength.After all… seeing friends succeed always gives one the urge to stab them… Ah, no, it should be that one is always happy to see friends make progress in strength.I'm really happy… Brook's suit was already tattered, and his cane sword seemed increasingly powerless. Moriah's arrogant laughter sounded particularly irritating."Heeheeheehee~ Brook, how does it feel to be suppressed by me~ After losing your shadow and having your training interrupted for so many years, to still hold on until now, I really can't help but applaud you~" Moriah's hands danced like those of a music conductor, and shadow bats continuously attacked Brook, his smugness irrepressible.Brook pierced a shadow bat with his sword, but another shadow bat bit his shoulder. The feeling of weakness grew stronger. Gritting his teeth, he plunged his cane sword into his own shoulder, impaling the shadow bat as well. His body involuntarily stumbled back a few steps, and he knelt on one knee on the ground, gasping… Though he had no lungs, why was he gasping? He finally managed to calm his breathing and murmured, "My friends… it seems we will meet again soon…""Heeheeheehee… How is that possible?!" Moriah's expression suddenly changed drastically, and he exclaimed in shock. In his perception, a large number of shadows were being recalled; Shadow's Asgard had disappeared, and even the shadow inserted into Demon Oz's body was on its way back.The smugness on his face vanished without a trace. He clenched his hand in the air, and a shadow greatsword abruptly appeared in his hand. He said coldly, "Since you're so persistent, and your strength can't keep up with the times, then I'll send you on your way… You've really brought me a troublesome bunch." As he spoke, the shadow greatsword simultaneously swung towards Brook.Brook slowly closed his eyes… It was quite miraculous; who knew how a skeleton could close its eyes, but he did. In his mind, a kaleidoscope of images flashed by: the joyful songs and laughter of the Rumba Pirates, the battles they fought together, the landscapes they saw together, Laboon at the entrance to the Grand Line. Finally, he thought of Luffy's grinning face and murmured, "What a… wonderful smile. How great it would be if I could continue sailing with you all…"...This could be considered a two-way journey, right? Why is it always such strange things that go on a two-way journey with Luffy?The shadow greatsword swept in with a whooshing sound. "Gum-Gum… Jet Pistol!" The steaming fist even produced a sonic boom, the fist wrapped in Armament Haki striking directly at the shadow greatsword. The collision of Armament Haki caused the surroundings to be utterly destroyed, and the shockwave hitting Brook even made him slide back a bit on the ground."Straw Hat…" Moriah gnashed his teeth in fury. He gripped the shadow greatsword with both hands, and the collision of Armament Haki instantly became even more violent. The roaring sound caused by the aftershocks was like a rapid drumbeat. If Meruem were here, he would surely want to die. After all, at this moment, Moriah and Luffy's Armament Haki were clearly above the second stage. Without an actual clash, it was impossible to determine how far they had progressed within the second stage, but… this speed of power growth was too absurd.Meruem expressed his sorrow with tears…
Chapter 160 Second Gear vs Shadow Gathering Place"Bang!" After a massive explosion-like sound, the ground where the shadow greatsword and fist collided became indented, and smoke and dust scattered.Luffy, steaming, appeared beside the indentation, in a horse stance with one fist on the ground, looking up at Moriah: "Give me back my shadow! And give everyone else's shadows back!"Moriah was knocked back a step by the impact.He dug his toes into the ground to steady himself, then noticed that Luffy had arrived alone, and a sinister grin spread across his face: "Heh heh heh, for the Captain to face me, a Shichibukai, one-on-one?I'm truly underestimated.I haven't had a chance to collect the shadows of those other wastes yet.Once I cripple you and hang you in my collection room, then all of you will become my slaves!"Wastes???Meruem???Merry???Franky???Leaving aside the cowardly trio, the other three, upon hearing that, would probably educate Moriahon the spot, letting him know what cruelty was.The temperature of the steam on Luffy's body further increased.He didn't respond to Moriah's words, his figure instantly vanishing from its spot and reappearing before Moriah's eyes: "Gum-Gum... Jet Gatling!"Fists imbued with black light struck Moriah's body like meteors, directly... shattering Moriah?Looking closely, it turned out Moriah's massive body had transformed into a sky-covering swarm of shadow bats, flying wildly in the air.The noisy sound of the bats was quite disgusting.Bats hit by Luffy's fists burst like bubbles, but the number of vanished bats was merely the tip of the iceberg compared to the total.The shadow bats swarmed towards Luffy, but his surging fist shadows couldn't do much against them.Crisis approached... "Reverie... Straight Through!"A spiral blade wind swept away the shadow bats in its path.For Brook, this more skill-oriented attack was easier to handle, as he had honed his techniques to be more exquisite during the years his Haki hadn't improved.However, Moriah's previous wide-swinging, pure Armament Haki-crushing attack had still caused him immense damage.After sweeping away the shadow bats around Luffy, his body couldn't hold up, and he knelt beside Luffy.The surrounding shadow bats cowered, not daring to approach, retreating and re-forming into Moriah's tall figure.He glared angrily at the weakened Brook: "It seems you truly don't want to live.In that case... then die!Shadows Asgard!"From Moriah's collection room in the castle, shadows surged out like a tide, rushing towards him.As the shadows entered his body, Moriah's physique began to swell.Already 692cm tall, his height now increased nearly tenfold, appearing even larger than Demon Oz.The pupils of his eyes gradually became invisible as the shadows entered, leaving only a terrifying, blood-red glow."Roar! Roar! Roar! Roar!" Moriah's consciousness seemed to have been devoured, letting out a beast-like howl.Luffy and Brook before him were like ants.Brook looked up at Moriah, clenching the cane sword in his hand, and struggled to his feet, walking in front of Luffy, softly muttering: "Truly... using your Devil Fruit power to go berserk, Moriah, you really haven't improved much over the years.Strengthening yourself is far more useful than your zombie army... However, old friend, it seems I can't handle this level for now, so let's die a glorious death together, yohohoho~"As he spoke, his left hand caressed the cane sword, and as his left hand swept over it, a thin black light covered the cane sword, and a bone-chilling coldness emanated from the blade."Gum-Gum... Jet Bazooka!" While Brook was still being sentimental, Luffy, completely oblivious, charged directly at Moriah, his palms slamming into Moriah's massive body, like a mayfly trying to shake a tree.Luffy's palms collided with Moriah's body, and the surging Armament Haki aftershocks instantly exploded.Luffy was repelled, completing a 360° flip in the air... and falling to the ground, crashing into ruins and debris, instantly engulfed by dust.Moriah, however, only recoiled a little.The beast-like howl was interrupted by Luffy's attack, and he seemed to grow even angrier, raising his hand high and smashing it down towards Luffyin the ruins."Aubade... Frostbite!"Brook transformed into an ice-blue aurora, appearing beneath Moriah's palm.Bone-chilling sword energy shot from the cane sword directly towards the giant palm, stopping Moriah's swing in mid-air.The palm continuously froze and shattered, turning into a shower of ice rain that fell upon the earth.Cold ice rain slapped his face, warm tears mixed with the cold rain... Ptooey... It's a battle, be serious.Luffy struggled to his feet from the ruins, the heat from his body having dissipated, his breathing becoming heavy.Looking at the giant palm slowly but steadily pressing down from above, he took a deep breath, the skin on his legs rippling like a pump, and scorching steam rose again.A stinging pain came from his heart, but he paid it no mind, squatting on the ground and then pushing off fiercely, his entire body transforming into a red meteor as he charged towards the giant palm: "Gum-Gum... Jet Cannon!""Ah ah ah ah ah ah ah ah ah!"The ant-like fist, compared to the giant palm, continuously struck the giant palm with black light, finally making the giant palm move upwards instead of downwards."Bang!" After a huge sound, Luffy flew back into the ruins, raising another cloud of dust, blood uncontrollably flowing from the corner of his mouth.Moriah's palm also couldn't withstand such force, directly springing back into the sky, his body sliding backward, crushing the ruins, raising dust, and shadows oozing from his mouth, quickly darting into the distance.The ice-blue sword energy, now unobstructed, flew into the sky, forming an ice curtain in the air, then immediately shattered with a roar, the scattered ice crystals flying in all directions, a beautiful sight.Looking at Brook again, he knelt weakly on the ground, his cane sword returning to its original state.To save Luffy, he had used all his strength in an attack that turned into a mere spectacle in the sky.If he were to die like this, he wondered if he would feel some regret.Luffy lay in the ruins, his eyes rolled back.The side effects of forcibly activating Gear Secondhad already set in.Luffy and Brook simultaneously lost their combat capability.Moriah, having recovered, crawled towards them, his half-smiling, half-frowning expression looking very eerie.Meruem, Zoro, and Sanji ran through the jungle, their faces grim from the intense fluctuations, their speed constantly increasing.As Meruem ran, his hair gradually turned white...
Chapter 161 Joint Attack "Thanks to "User 23306091" for the gift~""I'll go ahead..." As soon as the words fell, Merueminstantly transformed into a black lightning bolt and rushed forward. Zoro and Sanji clicked their tongues simultaneously, speeding up, but they couldn't catch up to Meruem.At this moment, a petite figure appeared before them. Merry moved her short legs with a running posture similar to Arale, yet her speed was very fast, surpassing Zoro and Sanji as she chased after Meruem.This was truly a blow. Zoro emanated a chilling aura from his body, and with every step Sanji took, burning footprints appeared on the ground. The two gritted their teeth... wanting to surpass the person next to them. At this moment, their Captain's safety was cast aside; only speed was their sole pursuit.However, Zoro truly lacked self-awareness. As he ran, his direction deviated, turning into a green streak of light... who knows where he went.Sanji slammed on the brakes, leaving deep marks on the ground, and spat, "That damn idiot swordsman..." Then he chased after the green streak of light... As the shadows dissipated, Moriah's consciousness was in a complex state, appearing as if he had drunk fake alcohol. The beast's consciousness made him want to destroy everything in front of him, yet his own consciousness clearly recognized that this was his base camp... However, his target was very clear: he raised his hand high towards Luffy and Brook, and shadows continuously gathered on his hand, forming a black sphere. The terrifying might was displayed without restraint, and then his palm crashed down."Breath of the Moon, Moon Dragon Suspension!"A giant dragon made of crescent blades spiraled towards Moriah's palm, but it could only obstruct him for a moment. The palm still crashed down, creating a deep pit, and smoke billowed.But all Meruem needed was that one moment. He picked up Luffy with one hand and Brook with the other, escaping from Moriah's attack range.Brook was truly light... lighter than Nami... This must be the legendary boniness... Meruem placed the two behind him. The long-distance sprint made him slightly breathless. He looked at Moriah's giant figure and murmured, "So ugly... but this power is simply toxic.""This is still good. If this guy's Shadow-Shadow Fruit takes another step forward, it could even create a domain of night. At that time, he would be very strong regardless of whether it was night or day, and it would also be impossible for him to devour shadows and lose consciousness. But looking at this guy's age... he's truly wasted. If it were someone with talent, you guys would have been completely wiped out." Tsukuyomi came out to make his presence felt again, his tone full of disdain, clearly looking down on this Shichibukai.Meruem pouted. Fortunately, he had already set off towards this place when Luffy and Moriah first clashed. He sped up when he sensed Moriah's power skyrocketing after devouring shadows; otherwise, today would have been the end. Yet this good-for-nothing Tsukuyomi still looked down on others... "Meruem... this big flaming onion head is so strong..." Luffy fumbled in his arms and pulled out... a pirate bento?!━ Σ(ﾟДﾟ|||) ━You were thrown around so much, how did that bento survive?!Luffy poured the bento into his mouth, and instantly only an empty box remained. No one else had such eating speed. Then he immediately became full of vigor again, moving to Meruem's front-side, making the starting pose for Gear Second.Meruem's eye twitched as he glanced at Brook, who was already unable to move, his skeletal face showing a look of shock. He had no idea what to say to soothe Brook's wounded heart."Meruem~ hit him! I've been here long enough, we need to continue sailing! Gear Second!" As Luffyspoke, the skin on his legs rippled like a pump, and the rising steam reappeared on his body.Meruem looked at Luffy's body, trembling slightly from the pain, and said nothing. He drew kitetsu and held it in his hand: "150% amplification. Activate!" His hair instantly turned snow-white, and the red patterns around his eye sockets looked as if they were about to burn. The aura of the two gradually merged, clashing with Moriah's aura, and cracks appeared on the ground at the point of contact."Roar!" Moriah's consciousness was overcome by the beast, and he roared as he pounced towards the two, the earth-shaking sound appearing terrifying.Luffy and Meruem exchanged glances, full of camaraderie... bah, with great tacit understanding, they simultaneously vanished from their original spots, rushing towards Moriah from left and right.A mayfly shaking a tree, a praying mantis trying to stop a chariot... From their size, the difference was simply too obvious. Meruem pointed two fingers like a sword at his heart, and the surging killing intent was almost tangible, firmly fixing Moriah's attention on himself."Roar!!!" Moriah swung his hand to attack Meruem, even the clouds in the sky swirled with his movements. Before he even got close, the terrifying air pressure reached Meruem first, and the air instantly became viscous, leaving no space to dodge.Meruem planted one leg behind him, steadying his stance. His tiny body under the giant palm was like a sampan in a raging storm, liable to sink at any moment... This intensity is too different from the original story. Meruem gritted his teeth and tightly gripped kitetsu, laboriously sucking the viscous air into his lungs. He felt a lack of confidence in blocking the upcoming attack, but how would he know without trying!Meruem's eyes became firm, his pupils changed from black to red, and mysterious patterns appeared at the corners of his eyes, as if a demon had descended... "200% amplification, activate!""Elf Magic, Sea Wall!"Following Meruem's voice, Merry's shout rang out simultaneously. She had appeared behind Meruemat some point, the terrifying air pressure making her face look a little bad. She slammed her hands on the ground, and an arcane magic circle rotated slightly.A wall formed of seawater separated Moriah and Meruem. Meruem glared angrily at Merry, then turned his head, a smile beginning to form at the corners of his mouth. He stomped his foot, which was planted behind him, and his figure transformed into a streak of light, rushing out."Breath of Water. Water Dragon. Dragon's Roar!"kitetsu was plunged into the sea wall, and Meruemrotated with kitetsu, the seawater following his rotation and attaching to kitetsu. A giant dragon made of seawater instantly formed, roaring as it rushed towards Moriah's palm.The clashing attacks of the two caused the air pressure in the open space between them to become very low. Sonic booms continuously rang out, then they roared as they collided, and a surge of air erupted."Mmm mmm mmm..." Merry clawed at the ground, accidentally letting go. She was about to be blown away by the air current when Meruem reached out and pinched the back of her neck, looking at her with a somber expression.(՞•Ꙫ•՞)ﾉ???Meruem saw Merry's expression and knew he couldn't do anything about her. He casually placed Merry on his shoulder and turned his head to look at Luffy, who was flying in the air on the other side.
Chapter 162 Go!"Gum-Gum Jet Axe!"Luffy extended one leg into the sky, then brought it down hard on Moriah.Moriah had just clashed with Meruem, leaving his body stiff, and his overly massive size made it impossible to dodge Luffy's attack."Bang!"Luffy's leg slammed directly into Moriah's body. The hastily gathered Armament Haki was completely ineffective in blocking the blow, and Moriah's body was dented inward. More shadows spilled from his mouth, escaping his control and scattering in all directions."Cough, cough, cough..." As the shadows departed, Moriah's body shrunk by half, though it remained enormous. However, his consciousness finally cleared: "I didn't think I'd still be unable to control it. Straw Hat, you seemed to enjoy that last hit. Shadow Horn Spear!""Two-Sword Style. Iai. Rashomon!"A spear formed of shadow suddenly shot out, aimed at Luffy. He was in mid-air, and dodging was a pipe dream. In the nick of time, a green streak of light instantly appeared beside him, and two swords fiercely slashed at the Shadow Horn Spear."Clang!" Zoro couldn't cut through the Shadow Horn Spear, nor could the Shadow Horn Spear break through Zoro. Both sides were locked in a stalemate in mid-air, the sound of metal clashing ringing out crisply.Luffy did a backflip in the air, landing in a crouch on the ground. The scorching steam around him dissipated, and he said with a look of pleasant surprise, "Zoro~ You're here~"Sanji walked up behind Luffy, glanced at the massive Moriah, lit a cigarette, and said, "This idiotic swordsman went in the wrong direction again. I just had to go find him, which caused a bit of a delay."Zoro gritted his teeth, his face a little flushed with embarrassment. After all, he truly had no retort, unable to argue. Seeing Luffy out of danger, he also did a backflip to the ground, glaring at Sanji with displeasure.╭(°A°`)╮"What are you looking at? Marimo Head!" Sanji's mocking expression looked exceptionally punchable, his provocative intent glaringly obvious.(꒪Д꒪)ノ"You!!" Zoro clutched his sword hilt tightly, his teeth grinding together with a "creak."Meruem walked over, scratching his forehead, and said helplessly, "Enough, you two... We're fighting, can you be serious for once..."=͟͟͞͞(꒪⌓꒪*)Looking at Moriah again, his face had turned green. These guys were too disrespectful. He was a Shichibukai, feared by pirates, and now he was being completely underestimated.The atmosphere instantly became a bit awkward. Fortunately, Moriah was quite understanding. With a roar, he shouted, "All of you, die!" Then he extended his palm towards the Straw Hat, and a sky-darkening swarm of shadow bats poured out from his hand.| ू•ૅω• ́)ᵎᵎᵎ...You're so understanding, I definitely won't kill you. When you go to Blackbeard Teach to seek death, I might even have a chance to save you. After all, if someone else gets your Devil Fruit, it would be quite troublesome. Meruem watched Moriah attack and breathed a sigh of relief; that atmosphere just now was unbearable."Super!" A blue-briefed pervert descended from the sky. Meruem heard the sound, looked up, and felt like his eyes were going to burn out. Franky landed beside everyone, saw the overwhelming swarm of shadow bats, formed a circle with his hands in front of him, and shouted, "Purifying Flame!" Then he breathed fire from his mouth... We still don't know why he made a circle with his hands... "You guys are ridiculously fast... When I get to a more prosperous island, I definitely need to buy raw materials to modify myself..." Franky glared indignantly at Meruem and the others, extremely dissatisfied with his current body, and prepared to evolve in an even more perverted direction... "I feel like you've given me a great reason to snatch Perona, though who needs a reason for robbery anyway." Meruem drew his kitetsu, and black flames surged from the hilt, engulfing the kitetsu: "Luffy, we'll clear the way for you again. This time, we'll make him spit out all his remaining shadows.""Oh!" Luffy's skin returned to normal. He bit his hand... no, he put his hand in his mouth, getting ready.Sanji finally stopped mocking Zoro. He seemed to find great enjoyment in such disrespectful behavior as ridiculing someone's sense of direction.Meruem declared that he wasn't a Marimo Head, he was just standing up for them... Sanji tugged at his tie, his superheated right leg glowing. He stepped forward, leaving burning footprints with each stride, his aura rising steadily as he advanced.Zoro took a deep breath, crossed his hands, and his raised Shuusui and sandai kitetsu were thinly wrapped in Armament Haki. A chilling demonic aura emanated from him.Franky... Franky pulled out three large bottles of ice-cold cola from his stomach and chugged them down. This preparation was absolutely ridiculous, appearing exceptionally absurd....Moriah was still quite honorable. Seeing his shadow bats swept away by the flames, he took a slight step back, completely refraining from disturbing their preparations."Shadow-Shadow Fruit. Shadow Flash!" A black orb of shadow appeared before Moriah's face. As his roar echoed, a beam of light shot from the orb, heading towards the Straw Hat... Well, the new guy wasn't honorable; he actually sneakily used a charged attack.Franky opened his mouth wide, swung his arms back, and stuck his butt out high... a rather eye-searing pose, but the laser cannon he fired from his mouth looked quite brutal. It felt like he would shoot anyone who dared to call it disgusting."Franky Super. Laser Cannon!"The white laser and the black Shadow Flash held their ground in mid-air, neither giving way, unleashing dazzling light.Meruem, Zoro, and Sanji took a few steps, their pace quickening, then breaking into a run, becoming three streaks of light rushing towards Moriah."Swish! Swish! Swish!"Three black Cero-like attacks arrived first, appearing before the three in an instant."Three-Sword Style. Oni Giri!""Diable Jambe. Mutton Shot!""Elf Magic. Tidal Wave!"...Someone unmentioned slipped in. Meruem's limited edition hat leaped from his head, and the magic circles on his hands shimmered with a soft blue light. Surging waves poured from the magic circles, blocking the black Shadow Flash.Meruem lowered his body, his back parallel to the ground, his speed undiminished, as he charged towards Moriah, his kitetsu dragging on the ground, leaving a trail of black flames.Moriah continued to urge the Shadow Flash, but his power was already insufficient. Somewhat thin beams of light shot from the black orb, heading towards Luffy, who was blowing into his arm.Unexpectedly, Moriah was also well-versed in military strategy. This tactic of besieging Wei to rescue Zhao was used with divine skill. Meruemgritted his teeth, preparing to block it.It seemed this charge was about to end in failure...
Chapter 163 Sun and Moon"Deathblow. Firebird Star!"As if hearing the cry of a Vermillion Bird, a firebird abruptly appeared and directly collided with Shadow Flash.Usopp, in the distance, gave a thumbs-up, looking smug… Usopp, you're really damn cool! Meruem had no time to be stunned, picking up his speed by another three points, heading towards Moriah.Seeing the distance close, Meruem's figure, like a ghost, instantly appeared before Moriah's eyes. The kitetsu in his hand cut a beautiful arc, and black flames left an enigmatic trail in the air."Sun Breathing. Sunrise. Blessing the Earth!"Fierce and surging black flames instantly obscured Moriah's vision. Meruem emerged from the black flames, the kitetsu from his rear left drawing the overwhelming black flames, pulling out a scorching path.Meruem's pupils turned crimson, yet black flames surged in their centers. His hands were covered with Armament Haki, and a black stream of light extended towards kitetsu.Moriah gritted his teeth, unwilling to admit defeat. He channeled all the Armament Haki around him into his hands, then covered them with layers of shadow, forming sharp claws. He swung them at Meruem, the lingering trail of shadows emitting a deep chill in the air.The kitetsu, carrying scorching black flames, and the shadow claws, carrying a deep chill, fiercely collided, and the resulting aftershock spread outwards like a bomb explosion.Meruem gritted his teeth, veins bulging on his hands. He suffered wound after wound from the encroaching deep chill, and bright red blood flowed out.(Small question: Will experiencing both intense heat and severe cold simultaneously cause a cold? (ง ᵒ ̌ dish ᵒ ̌ ) = 3 ⁼ ³ ₌ ₃ ⁼ ³ ₌ ₃ ⁼ ³ ₌ ₃ ORA ORA The author was beaten up by the reader...)Moriah was not faring well either. He couldn't spare a moment to deal with the black flames constantly landing on him, and the burning pain incessantly stimulated his nerves. He roared, and his massive body began to move, subtly suppressing Meruem.Meruem felt the force from his hands becoming increasingly terrifying. His body floated in the air with no leverage, forcing him to continuously retreat."Tsk tsk tsk, do you want me to activate a 250% amplification for you? Your current body should be able to sustain one attack~" Tsukuyomi's gloating voice rang out, sounding extremely irritating."You're the damn idiot, your whole family are idiots...""...My whole family is just you and me, right?""...You damn it, fine, activate for me... 249% amplification.""...No one will know. Are you obsessed with this detail or do you have some kind of serious illness?""...Activate, activate, I can't hold on!"Meruem roared internally, clenching his teeth tightly. The pressure on his arm became increasingly terrifying.As he cried out inwardly, his state abruptly changed. The aura around him shifted towards that of a demon, appearing evil and terrifying. His aura gradually ceased to be suppressed by Moriah, subtly showing signs of resistance.Meruem exerted force with his hand, using the momentum to flip in the air and dodge Moriah's shadow claws.Luffy inflated himself, and then his skin, as if pumped by a water pump, swelled and turned pink. Intense steam with high temperatures emerged. A fierce pain surged through him, his face twitching slightly, his eyes glaring fiercely in Moriah's direction."Gear Shift. Gear Second!""Gear Shift. Gear Third!""Gum-Gum. Giant Jet Shell!"Just as he charged towards Moriah, Meruem flipped and landed on the ground, bending slightly before shooting out like an arrow."250% amplification! Activate!""Breath of the Moon. Iai. Song of the Moon!"Meruem's hands were ulcerated, and his speed increased again. The pain continuously escalated, but he ignored it, all his focus on Moriah. The blade of kitetsu reflected his cold gaze.Moriah gritted his teeth and swung his shadow claws at the two of them. The Meruem he grabbed was just an afterimage. Meruem drew a musical score in the air, and Moriah's wrists just limply dropped.Luffy's attack was now unimpeded, directly smashing into Moriah. The shockwave instantly cracked the ground. Moriah's hands had just suffered severe damage and immediately took this blow, his eyes rolling back. The shadows he had collected over many years were thus destroyed in an instant, truly a sorrowful sight for all who heard and saw.To be fair, Moriah's strength was quite formidable in the first half of the Grand Line, and his strategy of 'accumulating resources and slowly claiming kingship' was also executed very well. If he hadn't met the unreasonable Luffy, his dream of avenging Kaido might have been realized once his Shadow-Shadow Fruit, Perona's Ghost-Ghost Fruit, and Absalom's Clear-Clear Fruit all awakened. But at this moment, all his grand ambitions vanished like smoke, a complete setback. Now, he had even lost his qualification to be a Shichibukai.Luffy was like a jet plane in the sky. After unleashing that attack, he also lost consciousness, darting erratically in the air. He had transformed back into little Luffy, looking somewhat innocent."Clang..." Meruem sheathed kitetsu, looking at the unconscious Moriah, who had returned to his original state, without speaking. After such a fight, the damage he inflicted upon himself was greater than the damage Moriah inflicted on him. He truly didn't know what to say... He stood there blankly, then swayed and fell straight forward... Merryappeared beneath him, looking at his unconscious face, and smiled. With her small body, she lifted Meruem and moved her short legs to find Chopper.Zoro reached out and picked up the erratically darting Luffy. Even this small action brought waves of intense pain, making his face contort. The continuous battle abruptly ceased, and his body immediately stopped obeying him... Sanji lit a cigarette, taking a deep drag. There must be many fractured bones in his right leg. The thick smoke inhaled into his lungs might have offered some relief from the pain. Then, his leg uncontrollably gave way, and he fell backward. Franky's broad chest caught him. This scene was too beautiful to look at... Franky's energy was also completely depleted; his normally spiky hair was now plastered to his head. Although there were no visible injuries on his body, using his body beyond its limits caused some of his internal parts to start malfunctioning.Chopper held the unconscious Brook. Nami, Robin, and Nami also walked over. Everyone formed a circle, and those who were still conscious exchanged glances and smiled.Straw Hat Pirates vs. Shichibukai Moonlight Moriah.Victory.Just then, a group of ragged Pirates surrounded them from a distance, a dense, vast crowd.Of all times... This is truly terrible!
Chapter 164 Maid Cafe "Thank you for the gift and book review from 'Cheese Rice Cake'~"Leaving aside the unconscious Luffy, Meruem, and Brook, the heavily injured Zoro and Sanji struggled to get up.Nami, her face grim, pressed down on their shoulders and shook her head, then walked to the front of the group with her Clima-Tact.Her legs were trembling, but she still walked out with a valiant and spirited demeanor.Usopp silently put on his Sogeking mask, also trembling as he walked out, arms crossed, his upper body expressing disdain, his lower body expressing fear.It looked quite peculiar..."Hmm... it seems they were torn to shreds long ago~ So many people, I wonder how many pieces they'll be ripped into."Robin said with a rather melancholic tone, her hand on her face, but the smile on her face showed no fear at all, even a hint of eagerness.Chopper, who had just finished bandaging them and was about to follow them out, heard this and instantly collapsed, his body moving forward, but his eyes rolled back, a stark contrast between his desperate expression and his firm steps.Merry lightly leaped onto Robin's shoulder; as for why Robin... perhaps she was the only one who wouldn't shake.Merry was rubbing her fists, feeling very annoyed by these approaching guys.The ragged pirates closed in, then... collectively roared and swung down, a sound like mountains crumbling and seas roaring."Thank you, bosses!""Bosses are awesome!""Bosses screw ten thousand..."Pah, anyway, there was all sorts of shouting.The sudden change stunned everyone; it turned out these people were all individuals whose shadows had been stolen or snatched by Moriah.If the Straw Hat had not defeated Moriah, they would never have dared to come out at such a moment.Night gradually receded, and the morning sun shone upon the land.The poor wretches who hadn't seen the sun in a long time greedily bathed in its rays...Nami breathed a sigh of relief, patting Usopp's back and saying, "Not bad, not bad, you've improved.You actually stood at the front this time~""Miss, have you mistaken me for someone else?I am Sogeking from Sniper Island, and as a brave and fearless sea warrior, I always stand at the very front, facing the enemy's storms directly..."Usopp probably thought everyone was an idiot; the act of putting on the mask was clearly done in plain sight, yet he could still lie without batting an eye.He was quite a character.Chopper recovered, seeing the danger resolved, and breathed a sigh of relief, stroking the soft fur on his chest.Then, even more nervously, he picked up his stethoscope and ran towards the injured.He only had 50 Berries, yet he had to fight and save people; it was ridiculous...Maid Cafe.???!!!Maid Cafe?!A group of beautiful girls in maid outfits bowed slightly, revealing their cleavage, saying "Welcome," their cat ears on their heads and tails behind them subtly twitching...And they were beast-eared maid girls, too.Meruem covered his forehead and looked at his well-dressed self, Tsukuyomi, and said, "You really know how to play...""Right~ But your old world was more interesting.Look how interesting these are~" Tsukuyomi picked up a cup of coffee, sniffed it, looking intoxicated, then took a delightful sip.Meruem sat opposite him, pouting, and said, "What meaning is there?I used to think the Creator was a damn idiot, no BGM, no main plot, and the gap when you created your character was already worlds apart...""...Have you ever considered that you might be a wild monster, not the protagonist, so you have nothing?""...You make a good point."Meruem's eye twitched, and he leaned back, sinking into the sofa.Honestly, this bastard Tsukuyomi really knew how to enjoy himself.Tsukuyomi snapped his fingers, and the prettiest cat-eared girl brought a cup of coffee and placed it in front of Meruem, then knelt down to gently massage Meruem's legs."No... Even if it's your virtual crap, I don't want it."Meruem pulled his leg away, looking at the teary-eyed cat-eared girl with a headache.Tsukuyomi scratched his chin, thought for a moment, then a light bulb went off, and he grinned, snapping his fingers.The cat-eared girl in front of Meruem instantly transformed into... a cat-eared strong man.The cat-eared strong man attacked with a high-pitched voice: "Brother~ I'll massage your legs~"The cat-eared strong man's high-pitched voice attack was remarkably effective, dealing a lot of damage to Meruem...Meruem immediately dodged that sturdy arm, which felt like it would kill him on contact.The whistling sound of the wind alone indicated how powerful that massage would be."My god... stop messing around!"Meruem just wanted to lie down right now, not be subjected to a dual physical and magical attack by some cat-eared strong man.Tsukuyomi pouted, looking impatient, and snapped his fingers again.The cafe instantly had only the two of them left, and he grumbled, "You're so troublesome... this isn't allowed, that isn't allowed."Meruem breathed a sigh of relief, sinking back into the sofa, holding the coffee in his hands.In this cold world, only the coffee in his hands could provide a little warmth."You damn well be serious... I feel like the strength of the enemy and our side are both a bit beyond expectations.Is there any way for me to improve faster?"Tsukuyomi propped his face with his hand, an amused expression: "Is it really necessary to go all out like this?If you die, how will you find Komugi... Sorry, I misspoke."As he spoke, he raised his hand and slapped himself across the face, which instantly became red and swollen; he showed no mercy at all.Meruem paused when he heard the name "Komugi," then saw Tsukuyomi slapping himself.He waved his hand: "It's okay.They are also very important companions to me now.The series of events ahead has too many surprises; if I make even one wrong step, everyone will be wiped out..."Tsukuyomi poked his swollen cheek with his tongue and said, "Companions... what a distant word.Your current rate of improvement has basically reached its limit.To grow to Admiral level in two years is already protagonist treatment.If you want to go to Marineford and cut through enemies like vegetables now, forget about it..."Meruem was silent for a moment, then smiled brightly: "It's fine.Luffy has always managed to survive and leave Marineford.With me added, I can at least increase the chances of winning.""Really... Forget it, it's not important.I won't let you die no matter what, so feel free to go wild."Tsukuyomi spread his hands and laughed along.Identical faces, a gentle smile and an amused smile stood opposite each other.Meruem in his combat attire and Tsukuyomi in his suit appeared distinctly different yet remarkably harmonious...Meruem opened his eyes, the surrounding sounds were a bit noisy...
Chapter 165 Don't Be a BilianChopper and Merry, both with worried expressions, watched Meruem wake up, and their faces softened considerably. Merry directly pounced on Meruem, rubbing her head against his chest.Chopper, standing by, re-examined Meruem's body with a stethoscope, then nodded and said, "Meruem, you just need to rest well from now on. It's still that guy Luffy… I've used every method I can, and now he can only rely on himself. But the recovery speed of you two is really a bit unscientific. Is it because of the Devil Fruit…?" As he spoke, Chopper fell into contemplation, looking puzzled… Science?...Devil Fruit?A reindeer is a doctor, and you're talking about science?However, compared to Luffy's protagonist Devil Fruit, your commoner Devil Fruit is truly a bit sad.Meruem complained a lot internally, but his face remained expressionless. He sat up, stroked Merry's hair, and turned to look around.???They had now arrived at a plaza in front of an abandoned castle. The sky had already darkened, and a group of people were singing and dancing, looking very joyful. The Straw Hat were gathered in the center… No matter how he looked at it, they resembled sacrificial offerings… That guy Zoro was wrapped in thick bandages, drinking heavily with unfamiliar pirates, not even afraid of drinking himself to death on the spot.Sanji was surrounded by a group of pirate fangirls led by Lola. Amidst cries of "Brother~ So handsome~," he gradually lost himself, his eyes turning into hearts, and his hand movements becoming increasingly flamboyant as exquisite dishes were created in his hands."Brother~ So handsome~ Let's get married!" Lola shouted, clutching her chest."No." This single word instantly sobered Sanji. He glanced at Lola's appearance and immediately refused without mercy. This battle wolf's aesthetic sense was still online. If Nami had said that… Sanjiwould probably have flown into the sky, shoulder to shoulder with the sun."Proposal failed 4444 times… I won't be discouraged!" Lola wasn't sad about being rejected; instead, her fighting spirit became even higher… You should be discouraged, please. Meruem's eyelids twitched as he glanced at Luffy, who was sleeping peacefully… bah, snoring. If that guy found out they had a feast without him, who knew what kind of ruckus he would cause.He could feel Luffy's chaotic heartbeat and constantly rising Armament Haki in his perception. Worry and jealousy simultaneously filled Meruem's heart."Great Captain Usopp, riding the wind and breaking the waves~Great Captain Usopp, overcoming thorns and obstacles~On the high seas, bravely fighting Sea Kings~On Devil's Island, fighting a Shichibukai alone~…"Usopp's duck-like voice rang out again, with slightly altered lyrics. He had to admit, it was quite meticulous… Nami was clutching the pirates' hidden treasures, which Perona had already plundered, and they were so tattered, what good things could there be? Yet, that money-grubber's eyes were sparkling, it was truly embarrassing… Wait a minute… Perona?!Red light burst directly from Meruem's pupils, and surging Observation Haki instantly enveloped the entire plaza. There was no sign of Perona, nor of Absalom or Hogback.Oh, shift… (Being mischievous is super fun~)Meruem quickly stood up, startling Chopper and Merry. Even Nami, who was counting "junk" nearby, had her attention drawn."What's wrong? Enemy attack?" Chopper looked around vigilantly, his nose twitching.Please… you're a reindeer, not a police dog."Nami… Where's Perona? My money is still with her." Meruem was truly shameless, directly claiming Perona's treasures as his own.=(͟͟͞͞(꒪⌓꒪*))Nami froze for a moment, then completely blanked out. The treasures in her hands instantly lost her care, falling from her grasp and hitting the ground with a crisp sound.Oh~ That's the sound of a broken heart~o(╥﹏╥)oNami, realizing what happened, tightly clutched Meruem's sleeve, tears streaming down her face as she said, "Ai… Meruem, she should still be at Hogback's mansion. You… you hurry and get my money back."???Whose money it was… had become an unsolved mystery.Meruem nodded gravely, placed Merry, who was hanging on his chest, on his head, and lifted his leg… preparing to run in the wrong direction.Nami's face was covered in tears, but she still grabbed Meruem by the back of his neck, struggled to raise her hand to point in a direction, and choked out, "Th-that way…"Meruem could feel Merry, who was on his head, shaking from stifled laughter, and his face couldn't help but flush with embarrassment. Fortunately, the sky had already darkened, making it hard to see clearly. He stomped his foot hard on the ground and shot out like an arrow, his speed truly astonishing… Meruem ran through the jungle, wading through water, cutting down trees, for no other reason than fear of taking the wrong path, and then… he arrived at the seashore.???Meruem covered his mouth, looking incredulous. He had been moving in a straight line, so why did he end up at the seashore? The entire way was jungle; he hadn't seen the clearing where Hogback's mansion was. Could this be the legendary ghost wall?!...This guy is truly shameless; he can even blame a ghost wall for taking the wrong path.Merry, seeing Meruem run in the wrong direction, remained completely silent, showing no loyalty at all. She was practically convulsing with laughter on Meruem's head… It might not be a ghost wall; perhaps Nami pointed him in the wrong direction. He didn't expect that in the end, he could only rely on himself. Meruem sighed leisurely and activated his Observation Haki again, the ripples of his perception continuously expanding outwards.Then he fell into self-doubt again, because he discovered… Perona was painstakingly moving boxes of various sizes, muttering to herself.What the hell… Was Nami's direction actually correct? But didn't that guy say it was at Hogback's mansion? Is Hogback's mansion by the sea? Am I becoming as idiotic as Luffy?Meruem shook his head, casting aside all the wild thoughts, and held Merry, who was still shaking with laughter, in his hand as he ran towards Perona's direction… The feast dispersed, and everyone fell into a deep sleep. Nami watched the direction Meruem had left with a worried heart. Just now, she had even wanted to smash all the "junk" in front of her, but ultimately couldn't bring herself to do it. She waited and waited but Meruem didn't return. The busy and exciting day had made her unable to hold on any longer, and she too fell into a deep sleep.At this moment, Zoro suddenly opened his eyes and frowned, looking at a muscular figure beside Luffy. He reached for Shusui, then gripped it tightly."One Sword Style. Iai. Lion's Song."
Chapter 166 Bartholomew Big BearZoro instantly appeared beside Luffy, but he only struck a phantom of Kuma."If you were to travel, where would you want to go? Let me introduce myself, I am Bartholomew Kuma, the Shichibukai Tyrant, ordered to take the head of Straw Hat Boy Monkey D. Luffy." Kuma's cold words made one feel as if they had fallen into an ice cellar, and the aura he exuded was terrifying, far surpassing the intimidating presence Moriah had emanated, even unintentionally."..." Zoro reached for his sword, but every muscle in his body rebelled against his command, and he involuntarily froze in place. He gave a troubled smile and said, "Instead of taking that idiot's head, take mine. This is the head of the future World's Greatest Swordsman. In the future, the most valuable head in this Pirate Crew will definitely be mine.""Hey, hey, hey, I can't pretend I didn't hear that. The most valuable head is definitely mine." Sanji swayed as he stood up from the side and slowly walked to Zoro's front-left.Zoro stood there, silent... "Come on, this head..." Sanji hadn't finished speaking when Zoro slammed the hilt of his sword hard into his waist... Ah, no, he slammed it hard into his waist, causing Sanji to roll his eyes and pass out. His already battered body couldn't withstand the blow... Then, Zoro grabbed Sanji by the collar, pulled him behind him, and looked coldly at Kuma, awaiting his reply.In a flash, Luffy was already in Kuma's hand. Zorogritted his teeth and re-gripped kitetsu... "Since that's the case..." Kuma said, gently tapping Luffy, and a transparent, red-glowing sphere appeared before Zoro. He then continued, "Since you're so eager to die... pass through it... whether you live or die is up to fate... After this, I can let you all go."Zoro unbuckled his three swords and placed them on the ground beneath him. He looked at the dangerous-looking sphere, his face devoid of fear. Instead, he smiled: "Then I thank you~" He stepped forward, took a deep breath, closed his eyes, and walked straight into the sphere... "..." Zoro's face became twisted and terrifying. A wave of pain swept over his entire body; in an instant, he felt like death was preferable, but the increasingly intense pain was endless, with no end in sight."Truly... Boss, your son might have inherited your discerning eye for people. It's just that he arrived too quickly; this isn't the stage they should be on yet..." Kuma murmured softly, then silently retreated as if he had never been there... "Hate it~ Hate it! Where did they all run off to?! They didn't even take me! When I find them, I'll definitely use my ghosts to pass through them a hundred times, no, a thousand times!" Perona painstakingly moved a treasure chest onto the sailboat, muttering to herself, pouting unhappily.(ᇂ_ᇂ|||)Meruem sat on the ship's rail, listening to her grumbling, looking depressed... So she was an abandoned person? Snatching from her felt a bit unethical. But then again~ where would I get ethics from~"...Your 'not ashamed, but proud' attitude is truly a model for our generation." Tsukuyomi's retort, though delayed, arrived, perfectly complementing Meruem's straight man routine like a crosstalk partner... "Oh, this is my excellent quality. You don't have to praise me too much; I'll get conceited. Aren't I doing all this for my Pirate Crew anyway~ Otherwise, relying on that Captain, we'd starve to death on the voyage sooner or later.""...You're even more shameless than I am. Are you even human?" Tsukuyomi's disgusted voice almost spilled out of the screen... "Maybe I'm the Shameless God?""...What kind of lunatic would worship such a god?"...Maybe a social butterfly."...You win."Meruem, with his legs crossed and a smile on his face, touched his cheek: "Ahem... well then... good work?"Perona froze completely when she heard the voice, slowly turning her head like a master of mechanical dance, looking up, as if her heart breaking could be heard.(ó﹏ò｡)"Ho-how... how is it you? How... how did you find me? This is clearly my secret coast; I had to go through so many traps to get here." Perona's voice sounded exceptionally despairing."...This might be fate. The traps you mentioned... are those things for catching mice?" Meruem's face showed some awkwardness. After all, finding her was purely by chance, something no one would believe if he told them."Mi-mice?! You're too insulting!" Perona summoned a row of ghosts, then... seeing Meruem and Merry's half-smiling, half-frowning eyes, she burst into tears with a "wah." It was just too much bullying... "Why are you crying, you idiot? We're opponents, for crying out loud!" Meruem was at a loss when he saw the crying Perona. After all, this person didn't seem bad; he couldn't just cut her down with a sword. Just as he was worrying about how to deal with her, the red light in his pupils flickered, and a smile stretched across his lips."If you were to travel, where would you want to go?" Kuma's voice rang out behind Perona, instantly stopping her crying. Her mechanical dance movements repeated once more; with a few more times, she could definitely enter a street dance competition... "Ty-Tyrant... Bartholomew Ku..." Before she could finish her sentence, Kuma slapped Perona, showing no mercy at all. He was clearly a guy destined to be alone.Meruem gazed at Perona, who had turned into a shooting star, and said with a smile, "Yo~ Kuma, long time no see. Was it five or six years ago that we last met?""The Boss said that the guy with kitetsu was with his son, and he really wanted to come see... You, why did you decide to become a pirate? Why didn't you join the Revolutionary Army?" Kuma sat cross-legged on the ground, his face still grim, but his words were much softer.Meruem leaped down and sat casually on the ground, shrugging: "You know, my goal is to find Wheat, and I don't have that much time to spend in the same country... If I weren't bad at navigation, I'd probably be a lone wolf right now. But these guys aren't bad; following them has eased a lot of the frustration in my heart. You, you just hurt my companion, didn't you...?" His voice became much darker in the last sentence, carrying a hint of displeasure."Don't use that tone. You're still not my opponent... Besides, experiencing pain beyond limits is beneficial, not harmful, to him. I controlled the output, so he won't die. If he endures it, his strength will improve."
Chapter 167: Choose "Digging a hole chapter, compared to Ace, this is what I really feel bad about""That's not necessarily true…""Clang!" The sound of a sword being drawn rang out. Meruem remained seated, but his flying white hair gradually turned black, showing the trajectory of his recent movement.Kuma touched his shoulder, a clear note of happiness in his voice: "...You truly are a junior not to be underestimated. If that incident hadn't happened back then, you would now be qualified to step onto the stage."Meruem's eyes narrowed. He didn't reply, his gaze fixed on the shallow sword wound on Kuma's shoulder, the reflective metal beneath the skin particularly striking.Kuma saw Meruem's gaze and forced a smile: "Don't worry about me. This is just a small sacrifice made for the greater plan, and as the former king of the Sorbet Kingdom, it is also my duty to protect them.""Seeing your face, which can't even manage a smile, my anger is starting to rise…" Meruem's pupils turned crimson, and his voice became much colder. A blood-red killing intent continuously seeped out, making the air gradually thick.Merry sat obediently to the side. When she felt this killing intent, she looked at Meruem with some worry, but her face was also full of determination.Kuma pulled at the corners of his mouth with his hand, revealing the smile they had when they first met, and continued: "Everyone has their own path to walk. If I made you bear this, and Wheat could continue to live, your choice and mine would be no different…"Meruem paused, then frowned and said: "Wheat wouldn't want that… And how can you trust the promises of an enemy?"Kuma stood up, turned his back to Meruem, his broad back appearing so mighty: "For an ideal, there will always be someone who needs to sacrifice. What's wrong with me sacrificing myself then? At least I myself find it sweet. Well, we've met, and I need to leave. Don't go forward for now; you all aren't qualified to step onto the stage yet, and neither are you…"As he spoke, he slapped his chest and flew off like a shooting star… What kind of ability was that? Meruem didn't even know whether to envy this mode of travel. He sighed softly and murmured: "Things have truly changed, but Kuma, I still prefer you from before, when you used various methods to trick me into joining the Revolutionary Army, rather than how you are now, like the setting sun…"Merry heard Meruem's sigh and didn't know what to say. She ran behind Meruem and hugged him with her small body.Meruem took a deep breath, stood up, and smiled: "Merry, everyone has their own choices. Even if he chooses to enter hell himself, I can't say anything.""Ai… Meruem, even if you choose hell, I will pull you out," Merry said firmly, looking up.Meruem was stunned by these words, then his smile gradually became even brighter: "That's right~ Merry, you're amazing! How he chooses is his business; how I act is my business! That scoundrel tricked me so many times before, I can't let him choose such an easy path! Come on, Merry, let's go carry the treasure back~ Hmm… I'll hide some, you hide some, and don't tell anyone else~""Mhm~"...Sanji stood up with difficulty, clutching his waist, then instantly reacted and looked around warily. Bartholomew Kuma's figure had already vanished. The morning sun shone brightly. Zoro stood with his back to him, facing the sunrise, his body covered in blood appearing even more dazzling than the morning sun.Sanji walked over to Zoro, silent for a moment before speaking: "What happened after I fainted…?""Nothing happened…" Zoro, who had been tormented all night, spoke coldly. Seeing Sanji wake up, all his mental energy seemed to disappear, and he simply fainted, falling backward.Even like this, he still had to stand guard, truly… Sanji caught Zoro's body, looking at Zoro, who was still frowning even in unconsciousness, and murmured: "Truly… a guy who has to snatch everything." He then helped him over to Chopperand gently woke Chopper up."Ah ah ah ah ah ah! How can he be so badly hurt, Doctor?! Doctor!" Chopper's scream instantly rang out, flustered and not knowing what to do."...Stop. Aren't you the ship's doctor?" Sanji used his last bit of strength to grab Chopper's horn. Having such a ship's doctor was simply absurd."Oh oh oh! That's right! I'll treat him immediately!" Chopper snapped back to reality, immediately grabbed his stethoscope and aimed it at Zoro's chest, his face solemn as he began to mix medicines."Mmm~ I slept so well, Sanji, I'm hungry~" Luffy got up and stretched contentedly, shouting loudly, showing no sign of having been on the brink of death earlier.(-"- Fury)"Luffy, you… never mind. There's some left over from last night over there, go get it yourself." Sanjiremembered what Zoro had just told him. He said nothing, simply pointed in a direction, then lit a cigarette and sat beside Zoro, waiting for Chopper's next steps.Chopper's earlier scream had woken everyone up. The Straw Hat gathered around, looking worriedly at Zoro, who for some reason seemed even more injured overnight."Was… was there another enemy attack last night?" Usopp looked at Zoro and felt the pain himself, his body trembling as if he had Parkinson's."No, nothing happened," Sanji said, taking a puff from his cigarette, the hazy smoke obscuring his expression.The others didn't press further. At this moment, Chopper finally looked up, letting out a sigh of relief: "It's nothing serious, he should wake up after a few hours of sleep…""Don't worry, once this guy wakes up, beating Sanjiwill be a breeze~" Meruem's voice rang out. In his perception, Zoro's Armament Haki had already steadily crossed the second stage. This speed made the desire to complain constantly rise. From the looks of it, when they separate at the Summit War, this guy will reach the peak of the second stage, reaching the watershed between ordinary people and gifted monsters. As long as he steps into the third stage, he can be considered a strong person even in the New World....Sanji glared at Meruem indignantly, but he was clearly more concerned about the disparity in strength, looking so dejected that even the thought of worrying about the Marimo Head completely vanished.Everyone also breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing Chopper and Meruem's words. Nami looked at Meruem with an expectant expression, the desire in her eyes absolutely terrifying.Meruem gave an "ok" gesture, which made Nami's mood brighten. Her eyes even turned into "$" signs, then she walked in front of Meruem and reached out to pull at Meruem's clothes.(ᇂ_ᇂ |||)...Please be more reserved, Miss Nami. Or perhaps we can discuss this somewhere else.
Chapter 168 News from the East China SeaNami reached out and rummaged through Meruem's clothes, pulling out all his carefully hidden private stash.Who knew how Nami, despite her revealing attire, could make those items disappear as if by magic?(=͟͟͞͞(꒪⌓꒪*))...Oh my, that was careless.Meruem stood there in a daze, watching Nami walk away contentedly, feeling his heart bleed."Zoro! Don't you dare die!" Luffy's voice rang out, mixed with the sound of him chewing meat.(￣～￣) Chew!At that moment, a somewhat melancholic piano melody began to play.With the BGM's enhancement and Luffy's words, it felt as if Zoro wouldn't live past today...Meruem, already feeling down, found a punching bag delivered right to his door.He instantly appeared behind Luffy and delivered a resounding slap to the back of his head, saying angrily, "Don't jinx Zoro!"Luffy's first reaction to the blow was to cover his mouth to prevent the meat from flying out.Hearing Meruem, he looked at Chopper, and seeing him nod, Luffy chuckled and said, "Oh~ then it's fine.Where's Brook? He hasn't agreed to join my Pirate Crew yet, I'll go find him."After delivering the slap, Meruem felt much better.He pouted and pointed towards the source of the piano music.Brook's fingers danced like elves on the keys, and the long, mournful piano melody seemed to express longing.His expression was very serious, and the music seemed to be a farewell, for a departing friend.The music gradually faded, and Brook looked at Luffy, who was lying on the piano, staring intently at him."Straw Hat Captain, may I be your crewmate and sail with you?""Brook, be my crewmate and sail with me!"Luffy and Brook's voices rang out simultaneously.Brook's questioning tone contrasted with Luffy's affirmative tone, making for an interesting comparison."Hehehe~ Time to set sail~" Luffy grinned, happily going to gather his unfortunate crewmates.As for his unfortunate crewmates... they could only shake their heads helplessly at his actions, after all, decisions made by this Captain rarely had any chance of being reversed.With that, the Straw Hat Crew gained another member..."Hehehehe..." Nami's laughter was like that of a pervert.She looked at the piles of treasure in Sunny's storeroom, completely dumbfounded.Meruem leaned against the cabin door, Merryperched on his head.Both of them were quite speechless at Nami's appearance.It was just a bit of treasure, it wasn't worth getting so worked up... it wasn't... Waaah, as he thought about it, he couldn't help but cry.o(╥﹏╥)oAll their hard-earned private stash, hidden away, was confiscated during Nami's body search and intimidating glare, leaving them nothing.He couldn't take it anymore!Meruem gritted his teeth... and turned to leave.Nami in her pervert-like state was just too much.On the deck, Brook played a melodious tune on his violin.Luffy lay in his favorite spot, enjoying the gentle sea breeze.Usopp and Franky were organizing the weapons and equipment acquired from Thriller Bark.Chopper was examining Zoro, who was still unconscious.Sanji hummed along to the violin music in the kitchen, his hands moving just as swiftly.Robin was reading a book.Everything seemed very leisurely."Meruem, Meruem~ You've acquired so many weapons and equipment this time, so how much treasure did you get~" Usopp said excitedly when he saw Meruem come out.Usopp, you truly are the GOAT.Unintentionally, he delivered a critical blow to Meruem and Merry's hearts.It turned out there was something even worse than having their private stash confiscated: not knowing how much they had acquired because it all went into Nami's pocket...It was even difficult to know the exact amount.Meruem's eye twitched slightly, and he glared fiercely at Usopp, saying irritably, "I don't know! Go ask Nami yourself."This reaction left Usopp bewildered and completely confused, but he didn't mind.He continued to excitedly discuss weapon modifications with Franky.The two became more and more engrossed in their conversation, as if they wished they could become sworn brothers on the spot.Usopp's wild imagination and Franky's monstrous modification abilities, with Meruem providing unlimited raw materials, sparked a passionate... ah, no, intense sparks.One by one, strange and peculiar things took shape in their hands, and their expressions became increasingly similar to Nami's expression in the ship's cabin.As expected of Meruem, he single-handedly created three perverts..."Zoro, you're awake~" At this moment, Chopper's surprised voice rang out.Zoro had slowly opened his eyes, looking utterly bewildered as if he were still dreaming.After all, he had been asleep for nearly a week; anyone would be bewildered...Then Zoro felt a shadow fall over his head... ━Σ(ﾟДﾟ|||)━Chopper didn't react in time, and Luffy pounced on Zoro, as if the sound of his wounds tearing could be heard."Zoro~ You're finally awake~"Looking at Zoro again... he had already fainted once more...It was utterly speechless.To encounter such a Captain was truly Zoro's blessing...Chopper suddenly transformed into his Heavy Point, lifted Luffy, and subjected him to a merciless beating.50 Berries beating 300 million Berries, a crewmate beating the Captain, it was truly a unique characteristic of the Straw Hat Pirate Crew.Ah, what a peaceful and leisurely day~...Nami bought a newspaper with two Choppers.She merely glanced at it, and her entire body froze."Multiple towns in the East Blue wiped off the map, suspected to be attacked by an Ability User.""H-how could this happen..." Nami's murmur attracted everyone's attention.Luffy took the newspaper and glanced at it, no one expected him to actually be literate.Meruem leaned in to look.He felt this scene was somewhat familiar, but he couldn't recall how this event happened...Everyone who saw the newspaper fell silent, especially those from the East Blue, whose expressions turned grim.Their hesitant looks showed their internal struggle.Luffy was silent for a moment, then spoke, "Nami... prepare to turn back.We're going to resolve this matter.""Is that really okay..." Usopp seemed very conflicted.On one side was the place they had painstakingly reached, and on the other was his hometown.Luffy smiled brightly: "It's just doing it again, it's fine."...The Vivre Card of Ace, kept by Luffy, hadn't started burning yet, proving that he hadn't encountered Blackbeard.Was there a problem with this timeline?However, if there was a bit more time, the chances of success at Marineford would also increase significantly, which wasn't necessarily a bad thing.Meruem heard Luffy's words and exchanged glances with everyone, seeing the smiles in their eyes, he also smiled noncommittally.At this moment, the sky seemed to be covered by dark clouds, and it grew dim...
Chapter 169 Golden Lion ShikiA giant island ship floated in the sky, slowly drifting over the Straw Hat's heads.━ Σ ( ﾟ Д ﾟ | | | ) ━"What is that… Wait, a Pirate Crew flag?! Is that a Pirate Crew ship?!" Usopp pulled down the scope on his head, looked through it, and then exclaimed."So cool… Franky, can our ship fly too~" Luffy's eyes lit up as he looked at the floating island ship, his face filled with longing.Franky's expression was like he had just… Ah, no, Franky's expression was very awkward. By no means was this something a normal ship could do. It was already incredible that the Sunny could move using "Coup de Burst." He didn't expect this idiotic Captain to push his luck… Nami raised a hand, feeling the sea breeze on her skin, and frowned, saying, "Luffy, a rare storm is coming. Turn the rudder 90°, we're leaving here!"It appeared! This method of predicting the weather was simply inhuman… Luffy, hearing her, didn't doubt her in the slightest. He nodded and replied, "Oh! Then I'll remind them too." With that, he shouted loudly. It was truly absurd that he could be heard… Island ship, storm, a town removed from the East Blue. Meruem frowned in thought, the increasingly familiar scene making him feel a bit disoriented.Just then, a Tone Dial floated down from the sky, landing in Luffy's hand."Huh? A Tone Dial? They've been to Sky Island too. Well, their ship can fly, so it must have been much easier for them than for us." Usopp still felt a lingering fear recalling their previous trip to Sky Island. He didn't know how much luck they had used up just to survive going up that damned sea current."Looks like they're not just anyone." Zoro wore an unbuttoned shirt, the bandages on his body very noticeable.Luffy, who had been to Sky Island, surprisingly didn't know how to use the Tone Dial. He casually handed it to Nami: "Nami, tell them."Nami was helpless with this overly enthusiastic Captain. She took the Tone Dial and said, "I am Nami, the navigator of the Straw Hat Pirate Crew. A rare storm is approaching ahead. Please turn the rudder 90° immediately."After speaking, she released the Tone Dial, and it floated towards the island ship. Franky sharply turned the rudder, and the Sunny drifted on the sea, heading in the direction Nami pointed… Shiki held the Tone Dial in his hand. After hearing Nami's words, he muttered, "Straw Hat Pirate Crew? The newcomers of this era are really warm-hearted. Hey, my expert team, is there a storm ahead?"The navigators of the Golden Lion Fleet were also tense after hearing Nami's message. They checked various data on their computers, and then a guy who seemed to be a junior leader rubbed his hands and said, "Admiral, according to all the data, that guy is purely talking nonsense. There are no abnormalities."No sooner had he spoken than a huge dark cloud swept towards them. Getting proven wrong came so suddenly… "Afro?" Shiki's cigar even fell to the ground, his foolish expression looking similar to Luffy's.Dr. Indigo, beside him, slapped him on the head and roared, "It's clearly a dark cloud! Helmsman, turn the rudder 90° immediately! Follow that Pirate Crew ship!"Shiki's foolish expression lasted only for an instant before a chilling look appeared on his face.The navigator team knelt on the ground, trembling, not even daring to look up."Bang!" After a gunshot, the junior leader of the navigator team covered his mouth with one hand and his shoulder with the other, lying on the ground, not even daring to cry out in pain."Next time you're wrong, it won't be just the shoulder." Shiki held a pistol, gently blowing away the gunpowder smoke, and murmured, "Nami? What an incredible navigator…"…After running a long distance, they finally escaped the range of the storm. Before they could even catch their breath, Luffy and Meruem simultaneously turned their heads, watching a figure float down from the island ship… A ship's rudder stuck in his head, his feet replaced by famous swords, golden hair like a lion – Golden Lion Shiki. Was this when they were supposed to meet him? If they could beat him now, the power scaling would be broken. Meruem frowned, looking at Shiki, and moved his feet to shield Nami behind him, his face full of vigilance.Shiki landed on the deck, bowing slightly: "I've come to thank you. Which one of you was the navigator who spoke just now?"Everyone's gaze involuntarily shifted to Nami. Shikismiled as he saw their gazes: "So it's this little darling. You really can't judge a book by its cover. You are more excellent than 99% of the navigators in this world."Luffy, hearing Shiki praise Nami, beamed as if he himself had been complimented, his entire face smiling like a flower: "Of course! My Straw Hat are all super amazing~"Usopp and Chopper, hearing this, couldn't help but puff out their chests, looking embarrassed but quite smug.Shiki smiled noncommittally, then continued, "As a token of my gratitude, I'd like to invite you to a banquet I've meticulously prepared. Would you be willing to honor me with your presence?"Luffy waved his hand, refusing without a second thought, which seemed very unbelievable. He said with a smile, "Thank you for your invitation, but we still need to rush back to our hometown, the East Blue. Maybe next time we'll have a chance?""Oh~ From the East Blue? Is this little darling also from there?" Shiki paused at his words, then his tone became somewhat ambiguous."Uh-huh." Luffy replied directly, not suspecting anything."I see… Then I'll give you a ride, as a small token of my appreciation~" Shiki's lips curved upward. He reached out and touched the Sunny's mast, and the Sunny immediately lifted off the sea, flying into the sky."Oh oh oh oh oh oh~ Thank you, Uncle, you're such a good person!" Luffy's eyes lit up like a dog's… Ah, no, his eyes shone with excitement as he saw the Sunny fly."Perhaps we don't need your help." Meruem's cold voice rang out, instantly causing the atmosphere on the entire ship to freeze.Luffy looked at Meruem, puzzled: "Meruem? You…"Before he could finish, the Sunny suddenly accelerated, arriving above a floating archipelago in the sky. Shiki looked at Meruem with a playful expression: "Good perception, but your strength is still a bit weak. However, if you're willing to join my Golden Lion Fleet, I'll still roll out the red carpet for you. I can give you the position of Captain of Ship No. 1."The atmosphere became even more eerie. Everyone looked at Shiki and Meruem, who were staring at each other, and felt a bit unable to comprehend their conversation."Clang!" The sound of a sword being drawn rang out. Meruem's kitetsu sliced through the air in an arc towards Nami behind him."Clang!"kitetsu collided with Shiki's leg, making a crisp sound. Nami had already been embraced by Shikiand was floating into the air.At this moment, everyone finally reacted, and the battle horn instantly sounded."Poison." Shiki floated in the air and snapped his fingers. The Sunny instantly lost its buoyancy and plummeted downwards.Everyone lost their footing but paid no attention, rushing towards Shiki using their own methods.
Sanji!" Meruem and Zoro stepped onto the Sunny's main mast simultaneously. After a few steps, Meruem suddenly shouted.Sanji immediately understood. He pushed off the main mast, jumped into the air, and bent his leg towards Shiki: "Air Force. Power Shoot!" Meruemand Zoro each stood on one of his feet, and with Sanji's powerful kick, they shot towards Shiki."Three-Sword Style. Great Buddha Slash!""Breath of the Moon. Iaido. Song of the Moon!""Gum-Gum. Rocket!"Luffy, Meruem, and Zoro charged towards Shikifrom three directions. Their attacks had to avoid Nami, which created quite a few obstacles.Shiki watched the three restricted figures with a smirk, extending his index finger to draw a circle in the air. The Sunny spun with his finger, its sails striking the three. With no leverage in the air, everyone was directly sent flying by this attack, plummeting downwards."Nami!" Luffy's eyes were bloodshot. He completely disregarded his hundred-meter altitude, his arm suddenly stretching out to grab Nami.Shiki merely rose a little to dodge: "Kekekekekeke, welcome to my world,'Strong World'! If you don't get pulverized, help me test the strength of my darlings. As for this little darling navigator, I'll be taking her with me, kekekekekeke."After speaking, Shiki headed towards the highest main island in the center of the floating islands. The Straw Hat Crew plummeted downwards, the distance between them growing. The strong winds at high altitude were particularly fierce, and with no place to gain leverage, everyone was uncontrollably flung in different directions. Merry merged into the Sunny, looking conflicted as she watched Meruemfly towards another side."Protect the Sunny! Don't come over!" Meruemshouted, looking at the island even further below him.Merry gritted her teeth and nodded... Everyone thus fell towards different islands... "Boom!"Meruem landed on the ground, creating a large crater, looking dejected. Shiki's ability to fly was simply a bug; in some ways, it made him practically invincible.Suddenly, a red light flashed in his pupils. A Tyrannosaurus Rex was eyeing him menacingly nearby."You all want to bully me?! What do you take me for?!" Meruem looked at the Tyrannosaurus Rex's gaze and prepared to draw his sword, then felt his legs a bit sticky. He looked down to see several broken eggs crushed under his feet, clearly beyond saving.(ᇂ_ᇂ|||)He instantly felt a bit awkward. Meruem looked at the Tyrannosaurus Rex, then at the eggs, then at the eggs again, then at the Tyrannosaurus Rex. He scratched the back of his head and said, "I don't think this can be blamed on me... Let's be reasonable...""Roar!" A mournful roar sounded. The Tyrannosaurus Rex, clearly not one for reason, charged towards Meruem in the pit, opening its large mouth and firing a fireball.Meruem lightly leaped to dodge. The egg liquid on the ground was engulfed by the flames, immediately releasing a fragrant smell. Smelling this, Meruemfelt a bit hungry himself. He sighed, bent down, and sprang into the air. A sonic boom sounded, and the Tyrannosaurus Rex crashed down. Looking again, the Tyrannosaurus Rex's head was already separated from its body. Behind it, Meruem casually flicked his wrist, and the blood on kitetsu was splattered onto the ground.A family should always be together... The aroma of roasted meat diffused. Meruem sat by the bonfire, propping his face with his hand, looking quite helpless. After all, even with Observation Hakiactivated, he couldn't sense the edge of this island. So the problem now wasn't killing Shiki, but... where the hell should he go from here... Sigh... "Ah ah ah ah ah ah ah!" Luffy ran through the jungle, a piece of meat still in his mouth. Behind him, a flat alligator rapidly pursued him. Looking at the meat in Luffy's mouth, it was clearly an alligator leg. Heaven knows which relative of the alligator family this guy had killed, but how should one put it, Luffy might be a bit better than Meruem; at least he wouldn't make an entire family 'together'... Luffy had just run past when a gigantic octopus emerged from the jungle, its tentacles transforming into fists, striking the alligator like a machine gun, causing it to roll its eyes. Then, as if in a relay, the giant octopus also chased after Luffy.(￣～￣) Chew!"If you keep chasing me, I'll hit you! Wait until I finish eating before you chase me!" Luffy ran, his mouth never stopping, chewing meat and shouting, looking quite busy.Before long, Luffy was chased out of the jungle and arrived at a wide plaza. A praying mantis taller than a human glanced at Luffy, then flapped its wings and flew towards him.A mantis in front, an octopus behind, this was simply... a feast about to begin.Luffy slid under the mantis, quickly stuffing the remaining meat into his mouth with both hands. He stood up, turned his head, and looked warily behind him.The mantis, however, ignored him and flew directly towards the octopus. Amidst flashing blade light, freshly made octopus sashimi appeared. This green mantis must have some kinship with Zoro... Luffyfrowned, watching this scene, completely confused about what was happening.The mantis turned its head and looked grimly at Luffy. Just as it was about to move, a pair of huge arms embraced it, squeezing hard, directly making the mantis brother feel the sensation of a forceful hug, and its entire body's segments shattered.Upon closer inspection, it was clearly a Kuma with arms longer than its body. It wasn't satisfied with crushing the mantis; it looked excitedly at Luffy, wanting to give Luffy a big hug too."Bastard! Want to fight?!" Luffy assumed a fighting stance, glaring fiercely at the Kuma."Roar roar roar!" It might have been saying: "I just want to hug you!"But Luffy was completely unromantic, immediately biting his palm and blowing air into it."Gear Third. Giant Pistol!"A giant fist shot towards the Kuma, slamming hard into the poor Kuma's face. The Kuma was directly sent flying, clearly beyond saving."Moo moo moo moo..." Jet-plane Luffy darted around in the sky, finally landing on the poor Kuma's corpse. Little Luffy propped himself up with both hands: "This move is such a hassle... I have to shrink every time. I need to hurry and find those guys, I wonder how they're doing..."... "Two-Sword Style. Iaido. Rashomon!"A flashing blade light streaked across the air. Zorosheathed his sword and landed on the ground. A saber-toothed tiger collapsed with a crash. Chopperskipped over to Zoro's side, looking at the saber-toothed tiger's corpse and saying with lingering fear, "I didn't expect to encounter animals we can't communicate with. Zoro, where do we go now?"???If Meruem were here, he would surely want to open Chopper's head to see what was inside. Asking Zorowhere to go, it must be that he had lost his mind...
Chapter 171 Stop Barking Like a Dog"Judging by the decay of this wall, this place has been damaged for at least twenty years. From the traces, it seems to have been caused by wild beasts invading." Robin squatted on the ground, putting on her glasses and transforming into a bespectacled beauty, exuding an intellectual charm that was irresistible.Franky's hair drooped. After continuously using Coup de Burst, he had barely managed to land safely with Robin. Now that the Merry was not around and he couldn't refill his cola, his combat power was practically negligible. He looked conflictedly at Brook, who stood motionless like a corpse beside him. After all, this guy had fallen from a great height without stirring a single speck of dust, his strength was a complete unknown."Yo ho ho ho, how scary~" Brook's acting, honed on dead people, seemed very fake. He tried hard to look scared, but it was clear he wasn't afraid at all. Although his Armament Haki and Observation Hakihad stopped growing for all the years his shadow was stolen, remaining at the first stage, his skills had been honed to perfection. After his shadow returned, his strength was no longer constrained, and he felt a rapid improvement every day.Robin stood up, adjusted her glasses with her hand, and softly said, "Let's go, towards the main island at the very top. Those guys should be heading there too."Tsk, Robin is too naive… Luffy has no concept of going to the main island at all… Expecting Meruemand Zoro to find their way to the main island is a fool's dream. It could be very soon, or it could take a lifetime for them to find it… Merry is diligently guarding the Sunny… As for Sanji… "Miss Nami!!!" Sanji roared, while Usopp desperately tugged at Sanji's sleeve. These past few days have been like living in hell.Sanji has been shouting non-stop, and it's a mystery why his voice is so resilient; after several days and nights of shouting, it's still full of vigor.Sure enough, with Sanji's voice, a giant scorpion burrowed out from underground. After all, anyone woken up would be grumpy. It had just eaten and drunk its fill, ready for a good sleep, only to be forcibly woken by Sanji. Could it tolerate this? Probably not. The scorpion charged fiercely towards them.Usopp's dark circles were already very severe. He looked at the charging scorpion and Sanji, who had been barking for days beside him, sighed and rummaged through his bag."Sure-Kill. Fire Bird Star…"The fire bird engulfed the scorpion, which barely managed to stop in front of them before collapsing with a crash, looking as if it had been roasted. But honestly, it smelled quite good… much better than Luffy, who couldn't make fire and could only eat raw food."Sister Robin!!!"Sanji's barking was truly non-stop. He didn't even glance at the scorpion, striding forward and continuing to shout.Usopp followed behind, looking as if he were about to die… After all, their ammunition was almost depleted from this guy's shouting. They couldn't possibly use Tomato Star to season any more beasts that came their way, could they?… Merry pouted, sitting on the ship's railing. The area around the Sunny was piled high with dense corpses of beasts. If the Ship Spirit of the Sunny hadn't appeared yet, she would have truly wanted to drag that guy out and beat him up. Not being able to protect his own ship was simply incompetent."How boring… Where is everyone…" The mumbling dissipated in the wind, only the scattered corpses on the ground could hear… Meruem frowned, looking at the bonfire in front of him, falling into deep self-doubt… These past few days, he would rest up and then run out. Each time he sensed the direction of beasts, he would excitedly rush out, only for those guys to completely fail to understand human speech, rushing at him without hesitation to their deaths. This resulted in him collecting more and more ingredients, but he hadn't found the way at all.This guy's sense of direction is a little different from Zoro's. After all, Zoro doesn't know where he's going, while Meruem will always return to his starting point no matter where he goes… This is enough, damn it. He can't see a single beast in his perception, and even climbing to the top of a tree doesn't give him a clear view of the other islands. What should he do?[Shocking: The Demon - Melu Meruem's departure from the Straw Hat Pirates was due to this reason.]...It's a waste of talent that you're not working at UC.Tsukuyomi's phantom gradually condensed, appearing beside Meruem. He flicked the hair in front of his eyes and said with a playful expression, "I didn't expect you to awaken such an extraordinary attribute. Going out alone to find people, you must be dreaming.""That's why I joined the Straw Hat Crew, didn't I… I think it must be kitetsu's fault. I never thought I was directionally challenged before. I think swordsmen being directionally challenged must be a common problem in this world. Mihawk must have also wandered into the East Blue because he was directionally challenged…" Meruem painfully covered his forehead, almost wanting to unbuckle kitetsu and give it a beating.kitetsu: Isn't it good to be human? Why be a dog?Tsukuyomi shrugged noncommittally, the mockery on his face growing stronger: "If you're directionally challenged, you're directionally challenged, why blame the sword? What are you going to do now? Even if you find the way, based on the distance between the islands I saw from the sky earlier, I don't think you can cross it.""That's not the problem… The problem is where those islands are…"Silence is golden, silence is the tranquil wind of tonight, silence is the bright Moonlight of tonight… The two sighed in unison. Meruem squinted at Tsukuyomi. It was obvious that this guy was also directionally challenged; why was he mocking himself? It was absurd… A small girl, clutching a strange flower and dressed very sparsely, struggled through the snow. A fierce beast emerged from the blizzard, its ferocious gaze fixed on the little girl.The little girl saw the giant claw, looked up, and then, without hesitation, simply… fainted.This action stunned the beast, which then swung its paw, preparing for a pre-meal dessert. Although the little girl was indeed a bit tiny, not even enough to get stuck in its teeth, a mosquito is still meat, no matter how small, and the beast wasn't going to waste it.At the moment of extreme peril, a flash of blade light streaked past."One Sword Style. Iai. Lion's Song…"Zoro appeared behind the beast, kneeling on one knee, as the sound of Shusui sliding into its sheath rang out. Only then did the beast's head and body begin to separate, collapsing with a thud.Chopper, in his heavy point form, jumped off the back of a mammoth, cradling the little girl in his arms. He checked her breathing, then sighed in relief, saying, "She just fainted… but she's dressed far too lightly.""Then Chopper, quickly take off your fur for her," Zoro walked over, saying casually.Chopper responded, reaching for his waist… ━ Σ (ﾟ Д ﾟ | | | ) ━"Are you sick?! Can I take this off?!" Chopper's face was furious; he was almost led astray by Zoro. Taking off his fur, only a guy like Zoro could even think of that.