Chapter 142: Alliance of Nations, King Tayami III's Resolve!
RUMBLE! RUMBLE!
With the massive sound of something collapsing and falling.
Hans woke up from his daze.
"...Hm?"
He opened his eyes groggily and faintly saw the distant sky through the deck.
And...
In the sky, the 'Floating Island' Merveille was collapsing and falling.
Yes—its foundation was shattering, countless massive rocks plummeting toward the sea below, emitting piercing whistles.
Then, Hans realized he seemed to be suspended in the air too.
"Am I dead?"
Hans instinctively felt he was doomed.
But then...
"Idiot."
He heard a familiar voice beside his ear.
Turning around, he found Farr and the Detention Unit Marines leaning on the deck.
"Farr? Brothers? Holy crap, you guys are still alive!?"
Hans blurted out, then noticed everyone on the deck was bandaged, their injuries clearly stabilized.
"..."
Farr looked annoyed, clenching his fist slightly.
Considering Hans was the most injured among them, he refrained from punching him.
At this moment, Hans realized belatedly—they were on the deck of the 'Black Loyalty'.
Yes, although this warship was heavily damaged in the encounter with Shiki's IQ Beasts—mast and sail destroyed, hull damaged—Shiki had brought the entire ship to the Floating Island.
"The ship is flying?"
Hans found it incredible—the entire Black Loyalty seemed to be floating in the air.
"It's the Boss's new 'Wind Wave Boxing', said to guide the power of wind with waves..."
Speaking of this, Farr shook his head. "He saved us, found the Black Loyalty, treated our injuries roughly, and went back to the Floating Island to check on the villagers. He should be back soon..."
He explained the situation briefly, leaving Hans stunned.
Making a ship fly with fists? Impossible... Oh, wait, Garp seemed capable of similar feats.
However...
"Wind Wave Boxing? The Boss developed a new move?"
He looked solemn. "Outrageous—doesn't this make my dream of surpassing him and making him pour me cola even more distant?"
Farr: "..."
Detention Unit Marines: "..."
Hans: "Why so serious, brothers? Don't be afraid—that guy isn't on the ship now, you can relax..."
"Relax what?"
A familiar voice came from behind. Hans turned stiffly.
Seeing the figure returning with Moonwalk, sweat beaded on his forehead. "Bo... Boss, you... you're back? Oh my, worried me to death—how is it? I heard there are residents on the island?"
THUD!
Roy landed gently on the deck.
He glanced at Hans, secretly noting this offense—wanting to surpass him? Disrespectful!
Considering Hans's injuries, Roy didn't explode on the spot, just silently assigned all menial tasks of the Detention Unit for the next month to him.
"Look for yourself."
Then, he pointed in a direction and said calmly.
Look for yourself?
Others turned curiously.
Then, they saw...
Figures flying out from the falling Floating Island.
Villagers with wings growing from their arms—some carrying elderly people who couldn't fly or injured ones, likely conscripted villagers from the palace.
"Ah! It's that uncle!"
Among them, Xiao, also with wings on her arms, seemed to spot Roy from afar.
She waved her wings and shouted at Roy, "Thank you! Uncle!"
Uncle Roy: "..."
Who are you calling uncle?
I'm only 18 years and a hundred-plus months old, a fresh young man!
But seeing this, he wasn't surprised.
He knew these villagers living on Merveille had mutated over the past decade.
They grew wings, gaining the ability to fly.
Perhaps due to the special plant 'IQ' on the island, or perhaps just their inner desire to escape this island and regain freedom.
Like Conqueror's Haki born from the will of Kings—inner desire might spawn incredible power at times.
"The human body is amazing."
Hans accepted this surprisingly well. He looked at Roy heartlessly. "Boss, since these villagers can fly, you running up to the island seems a bit..."
Halfway through, he saw Roy's malicious gaze.
"..."
Realizing he was still weak and couldn't win, Hans sweated more and shut up immediately.
But Roy sneered. "Of course I wasn't taking a walk—I went to check on those pirates..."
And took some things.
Roy muttered internally.
He could feel the items stored in his body via the 'Fresh-Fresh Fruit'.
Bottles of green potion.
The 'SIQ' serum Shiki developed over nearly twenty years, capable of giving animals intelligence and immense power.
Roy got this after finding Shiki's subordinate Dr. Indigo on the Floating Island, along with the treasure Shiki accumulated—though most was spent on research and construction, over 20 billion Berries remained.
Additionally, Roy found a Devil Fruit in the vault.
[Paramecia · Fight-Fight Fruit (Tou Tou no Mi)]
[Analyzed, Current Level LV3]
[Fruit Effect: Enhances combat skills.]
[LV3: Enhances combat skills and battle intuition. Proficient use of all mastered martial arts, increased power. Can use any weapon to perform different martial arts. Requires 300 Million Berries for Unlock.]
[LV4: Deep-Dive Development. Gradually find opponent's martial art flaws during battle. Attacking flaws can cause 'Break', ignoring defense for greater damage. Requires 1 Billion Berries for Unlock.]
[LV5: Fruit Awakening · Unceasing Battle. Generate 'Battle Marks' during combat. Mark form controllable, indestructible. Marks increase with battle duration, max 4. Requires 6 Billion Berries for Unlock.]
[Battle Marks greatly enhance user's stats and nullify enemy's similar attacks. At 4 marks, enter 'Battle Stance': most enemy attacks invalid, user power maxed, every attack causes 'Break'. Consumes massive stamina.]
The Fight-Fight Fruit enhanced combat intuition and martial art power, aided in finding flaws—a very practical combat-type Paramecia.
So Roy was quite satisfied.
"Pirates?"
Hearing this, Hans reacted. "Right, Boss... those pirates on the island, and Golden Lion..."
He just woke up groggy and was distracted by the residents, only remembering this now.
But he stopped mid-sentence.
He realized—the collapsing Floating Island was enough to explain Shiki's fate.
And if that wasn't enough...
"Golden Lion is dead."
"As for those pirates... if they survive falling from ten thousand meters while unconscious, consider them lucky."
Roy's calm words ignited the atmosphere on the deck.
In fact, although Farr and others woke up earlier, they couldn't be sure of Shiki's fate.
Until Roy confirmed it... they finally dared to believe.
"That... that legendary 'Golden Lion'..."
Even though they fought Shiki fearlessly.
They knew what this name represented.
A legend ended here.
More importantly...
"..."
They couldn't help but look at Roy.
Roy looked calm, gently removing the 'Black Mane'.
But they knew.
Shiki's death meant a new legend had begun.
And that newborn legend was right before their eyes.
"Boss... you... you're too damn fierce..."
Amidst Hans's inappropriate words, the cheers of the Detention Unit Marines resonated in the sky.
"Long live the Boss!" (xN)
Yes.
'Update of The Zodiac's Bounties', 'Black Judge Slays Golden Lion'—these explosive news would surely sweep the sea soon.
But before that news spread...
Another event already garnering much attention was unfolding.
Taya Kingdom, Royal Palace.
"Cough, cough, cough... Neverland... location confirmed?"
King Tayami III of the Taya Kingdom was coughing.
Not from illness, but simply old age.
This 98-year-old King, reigning for over 60 years, was near death—he even missed the last Reverie due to old age.
Ministers were already discussing his successor privately, believing he wouldn't last another year.
But clearly...
The old King himself wasn't resigned.
"Almost—the 'Alliance' fleet has confirmed its recent location, surrounding waters are sealed..."
His trusted minister said.
"However, it is said landing with malice is extremely dangerous. So the King of Mogaro has hired the famous assassins 'Funk Brothers' as mercenaries, the King of Lvneel hired 'Explosion Expert' Jett, plus 'Plunderer' Jean, even the Donquixote Family..."
He listed names.
Bounty hunters, assassins, martial artists, pirates... all famous powerhouses in the Grand Line.
Invited by various kingdoms to land on the island, the meaning was clear.
Besides...
"Kingdoms in the Grand Line have also dispatched massive fleets..."
The minister was worried—his power was tied to the King. If the King failed, he would lose power soon.
"Normal... cough..."
The old King coughed, blood on his handkerchief.
"The 'Alliance' was formed temporarily to counter Big Mom's pressure—that Emperor declared she would take 'Neverland' after this year's Tea Party. But... cough... who would give up treasures like the 'Fountain of Youth'?"
He whispered about the hottest topic on the sea.
'Neverland'.
This fairy tale-like legendary island was confirmed.
Dream creatures, faeries, and the legendary 'Fountain of Youth'... were the biggest hotspots.
Kingdoms investigated and tracked intel, hoping to obtain the exaggerated resources and wealth.
But things changed recently.
The source was Emperor 'Big Mom'.
Known for collecting rare creatures for her 'Totto Land'.
Naturally, 'Neverland' with its legendary creatures attracted her.
"This island belongs to me!"
She declared.
But since her birthday Tea Party was approaching, everyone knew she would wait until after the party to find Neverland.
Normally—if an unclaimed island in the Grand Line was claimed by a 'Four Emperors', few nations would dare offend them to seize it.
Even World Government member nations.
But clearly, Neverland was an exception.
Because most people on this sea craved eternal youth and life.
So recently, nations desiring the Fountain of Youth formed a temporary 'Alliance' to counter Big Mom's pressure and seize Neverland before the Tea Party.
With multiple nations involved, not just member nations—they had some confidence even against Big Mom.
But clearly...
Although allied nominally, they weren't truly united.
The minister's report proved it.
Finding Neverland went smoothly—even a moving island would eventually be located with enough eyes.
"Sending mercenaries, pirates, and bounty hunters... those who land first will naturally possess the most 'Fountain of Youth'."
King Tayami III's face flushed.
"That is MY water!"
Yes—among all Kings, he was one of the most desperate for the Fountain of Youth.
He was dying of old age.
But with that magical water, he could live on, even regain youth.
He could wear his crown forever, hold onto everything in the kingdom—just thinking about it drove him mad.
Once tasted, no one wants to let go of power.
Once tasted, no one wants to continue aging.
But unfortunately...
Taya Kingdom was a World Government member, but not large or rich in resources.
Like the 'Nice-Mayer Kingdom', it prospered through trade with Mafia or illegal forces using its member status.
But after an incident years ago, its national power declined sharply.
Located in the South Blue, it couldn't intervene much in the Grand Line.
So knowing other Grand Line kingdoms prepared to act on the Fountain of Youth, sending mercenaries and fleets, he was helpless.
If this continued, how much water would he get?
One drop? Two?
But just then...
"Your Majesty..."
His minister thought of something.
"Perhaps we can... release That Person."
"That Person?"
Tayami III paused, then realized who he meant.
A criminal imprisoned in Taya Kingdom.
The culprit behind Taya Kingdom's decline in recent years.
But...
"If it is him..."
At this moment, King Tayami III was tempted.
☆☆☆
-> 30 Advanced chapters Now Available on Patreon!!
-> https://www.pat-reon.co-m/c/Hollowborn
(Just remove the hyphen (-) to access patreon normally)
If you like this novel please consider leaving a review that's help the story a lot Thank you