476-480

Chapter 476: Won’t You Have Some Tea?  

Once it was clear Yoru had no hostile intentions… 

Nico Robin relaxed a bit and stepped aboard the Thousand Sunny.  

“Some black tea? Care for a cup?”  

Nico Robin sat down at the grassy table on the deck, lifting her teacup with a smile.  

“Thanks! Make it sweet, please!” Yoru said with a grin.  

A moment later, the tea was ready!  

“You’ve gained quite a lot from your time with the Revolutionary Army, haven’t you, Robin?”  

“What exactly are you referring to?”  

“Oh, you know, like the guy escorting you out to sea this time!”  

Yoru picked up his teacup, glancing off into the distance with a slight smirk. “The Revolutionary Army’s second-in-command personally escorting you? That’s some serious clout, Robin!”  

Under a nearby tree… 

Stood a man with curly blonde hair, a scar over his left eye, and a top hat adorned with goggles.  

A water pipe was slung across his back as a weapon.  

His gaze was sharp as he locked eyes with Yoru.  

The Revolutionary Army’s second-in-command, Sabo! 

Straw Hat Luffy’s older brother.  

Nico Robin followed Yoru’s gaze.  

When she spotted Sabo, she looked a bit surprised. “No wonder the journey’s been so peaceful!”  

“Why not invite him for some tea?”  

Yoru raised his teacup in a friendly gesture.  

Sabo strode over, pulling out a chair and sitting next to Robin, eyeing Yoru warily. “What’s your business here?”  

“What do you want with Nico Robin?”  

Yoru chuckled at the question, pouring Sabo a cup of black tea. “Just need a little help from her, that’s all. Don’t worry, I mean her no harm!”  

He spoke so casually, so effortlessly.  

Not a trace of hostility in sight.  

“You’d better mean that!”  

Sabo knew full well.  

If it came to a fight, he was no match for Yoru.  

Keeping things peaceful was the best move for now.  

“Your presence on the island’s already been leaked. That’s not a problem for you?”  

Robin spoke up, a playful glint in her eyes.  

“No big deal!”  

Yoru took a sip of his tea. “Even if an Admiral shows up, it’ll take them a while to get here. Plenty of time for me to slip away.”  

“Gotta say, this tea’s pretty good!”  

Robin gave a charming smile. “Thanks for the compliment!”  

Suddenly, Yoru seemed to sense something. “Pluto Rayleigh’s here too, huh? The Straw Hats’ reunion is getting lively!”  

He looked out toward the grassy expanse in the distance.  

Boom!  

An explosion rang out, and a blaze of fire lit up the entire Sabaody Archipelago! 

“Don’t run!”  

Faintly, the sound of Marines chasing and shouting could be heard!  

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“Hahaha, no way I’m stopping!”  

“Zoro, Sanji, let’s set sail!”  

Straw Hat Luffy’s excited voice echoed through the air!  

Then…  

It sounded like the Marines ran into some kind of trouble, their voices turning to panic! 

Transparent ghosts floated around!  

“Where’d all these weird plants come from?!”  

“No way!”  

At that moment…  

A barrage of lightning rained down from the sky, striking the pursuing Marines!  

“Argh, get away! What’s with this okama?!”  

“Don’t touch me—no, get off me!”  

Amid the chaos…  

Straw Hat Luffy, Pirate Hunter Zoro, Black Leg Sanji, Cat Burglar Nami, Doctor Chopper, Musician Brook, and Sniper Usopp came running toward the ship!  

And behind them…  

Pluto Rayleigh stood alone, holding back the Navy!  

Then there was Ghost Princess Perona! 

A bunch of okama! 

And a gentlemanly-looking beetle-man with a shovel, bringing along all sorts of bizarre plants! 

Chapter 477: Declaring War on the Four Emperors  

If you look closely, you’ll notice a few tiny old men maneuvering an sky island, brewing up a storm of lightning that crashes down. 

Together, they manage to hold back the pursuing Navy! 

“What a lively scene!”  

Watching this unfold, Yoru chuckles with a grin! 

“Who the heck is this guy…?” 

After boarding the ship, Zoro, Sanji, and the others immediately spot the uninvited guest—Yoru! 

“This guy is… is… is…”  

Usopp pulls out a wanted poster, his face turning pale with fear, too scared to even speak! 

Nami’s pupils shrink to pinpricks, cold sweat dripping down her face! 

Zoro’s hand is already resting on the hilt of his sword, and Sanji’s body is tense, ready to fight at any moment. 

Both of them are on high alert, as if facing a formidable enemy! 

“You’re… the Lightning Killer!”  

This time, Straw Hat Luffy is unusually sharp, blurting out Yoru’s name! 

Unlike two years ago in the Sabaody Archipelago, when he had no clue who Yoru was, even though the guy had just greeted him not long before. 

“Are you here to visit the ship?”  

Only Straw Hat Luffy could still flash a carefree grin in a moment like this! 

“Obviously not!”  

Usopp and Nami shout in exasperated unison! 

“Who is this guy? Is he a big deal?”  

Chopper tugs at Brook’s pant leg, asking with an innocent expression. 

“One of the Four Emperors, the Lightning Killer, Yoru—one of the rulers who reigns over the seas of the New World!”  

Brook’s tone is gravely serious. 

“Wha—?! One of the Four Emperors?!”  

Chopper’s eyes nearly pop out of his head in shock, and he quickly hides behind Brook, trembling! 

“Oh, yeah, I’m just here for a visit. The tea on your ship’s pretty good!”  

Yoru raises his cup with a smile. 

“Hehe, right? I think so too!”  

Straw Hat Luffy giggles, completely oblivious to the gravity of the situation. 

“Luffy, this is no time for joking around!”  

At that moment, Sabo, sitting nearby, finally speaks up. 

Luffy turns to look, his eyes practically shaking with disbelief.  

“You’re…”  

Tears well up in his eyes as he rushes forward, overwhelmed with emotion. “Sabo! You’re alive!!”  

He breaks down sobbing, leaving Zoro and the others utterly confused. 

“Hey, hold on, Luffy! Since when do you have another brother? I thought Fire Fist Ace was your only one!”  

Sanji can’t help but ask. 

Sabo tips his hat and explains, “Here’s the deal.”  

He briefly recounts how he met Luffy and Ace when they were kids and how they got separated. 

“Alright, Luffy, we can catch up later!”  

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Calming the emotional Luffy, Sabo turns to the dangerously smirking Yoru and says, “Right now, we’ve got more important things to deal with!”  

Everyone’s eyes shift back to Yoru. 

“Luffy, this guy’s here to take Nico Robin!”  

At those words, Luffy, who had been caught up in his excitement, freezes. He glares at Yoru, his expression turning fierce. “No way. I’ll never let you take Robin!”  

He clenches his fists. “If you try to take her, I’ll beat you to a pulp!”  

The moment Luffy says this, Yoru bursts into laughter, his booming laugh echoing wildly! 

A terrifyingly powerful and overwhelming aura descends, stirring the surrounding sea into a frenzy. “Are you saying this is a declaration of war against me, Straw Hat Luffy?”  

At those words, everyone who knows Yoru’s identity pales, shouting in unison, “Luffy, don’t!” 

Chapter 478: Taking Nico Robin  

Usopp broke down, shouting, “This guy’s one of the Four Emperors! Don’t provoke him, or we’re all dead!” 

But Straw Hat Luffy didn’t flinch. “Four Emperors? If you hurt Robin, I’ll send you flying!” 

He wasn’t joking—not even a little. 

Dead serious. 

“Heh, declaring war on me?” Yoru stood up, a smirk on his face. “Fine, I accept.” 

The Straw Hat crew’s faces paled instantly. Even Sabo tensed up, ready for anything. 

“I’ll take your challenge, and I’m taking Nico Robin with me.” 

“You wouldn’t dare!” Luffy growled, his eyes blazing with a chilling intensity that could make anyone shiver. 

“Why wouldn’t I?” Yoru chuckled, unfazed. “Miss Nico Robin, shall we?” 

To everyone’s shock, Robin actually stood up. 

“Robin…” Luffy muttered, confused and anxious. 

Robin raised a hand to calm him. “Luffy, don’t get worked up. I’m just going with him to decipher some texts.” 

“It’s not like he’s kidnapping me. Don’t worry—I’ll be back in a few days.” 

She turned to Yoru, her tone firm. “You have to promise no retaliation during this time.” 

Yoru raised an eyebrow. “Do I look like that kind of guy?” 

Robin’s gaze didn’t waver. “Just making sure.” 

She glanced at the crew. “Everyone, I’ll see you at the next island in four days!” 

After her farewell, she faced Yoru again. “Four days from now, you’ll personally bring me back. No problem, right?” 

Yoru nodded. 

“Robin…” Luffy called out one last time as she prepared to leave with Yoru. 

“If he hurts you even a little, I’ll crush him. I swear it.” 

Robin gave him a warm smile. “I know, Luffy. I trust you.” 

Sabo chimed in, his voice sharp. “If you touch her, the Revolutionary Army won’t let you off either!” 

Faced with their threats, Yoru raised his hands in mock surrender. “Whoa, spare me! I’m just asking Miss Nico Robin for a little help here.” 

“Stop acting like I’m kidnapping her!” 

With that… 

He grabbed Robin and leaped into the air, sparking a wave of cheers from the crowd below. 

“The Fourth Emperor, Lightning Assassin!!!” 

“It’s really him! He’s actually here in the Sabaody Archipelago!” 

“Big news! Huge news!” 

Amid the uproar… 

Yoru landed on his ship. 

“Set sail!” 

Riding the breeze under the bright sun, his ship passed by the Sunny and locked eyes with Pluton Rayleigh for a fleeting moment. 

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… 

Night Island 

They arrived a day and a half later. 

The entire island was on high alert, like they were bracing for an attack. 

Countless ships were gathered. 

Most of the crew was assembled in one place. 

Robin frowned, puzzled. Why was the headquarters of a Four Emperor so tense? 

It felt like they were preparing for an enemy. 

“Heh, you probably haven’t heard,” Yoru said. “We captured Cracker, one of Big Mom’s Three Sweet Commanders.” 

“Now that’s some shocking news!!!”  

Robin’s eyes widened in surprise. 

“But that’s got nothing to do with you,” he added. “Thing is, I might not be able to send you back right away. You’ll have to stay here for a few days.” 

Robin raised an eyebrow. “Seems I don’t have much choice.” 

The deciphering work…  

It was done quickly. 

And with that, Yoru finally obtained the key to reaching Raftel! 

Chapter 479: Testing Moves in Person  

“That’s one heck of a secret,” Nico Robin said, still unable to hide the shock on her face after deciphering it. She teased, “Mr. Yoru, are you really okay with me knowing something this big?” 

“I trust you’re not the type to blab, Robin,” Yoru replied with a sly grin. “But if you do, I might have to get someone to wipe your memory!” 

Then… 

After arranging for some crew members to “protect” Nico Robin, Yoru added, “Until the big fight’s over, I’d appreciate it if you didn’t wander around too much, Robin. Wouldn’t want you getting caught in the crossfire.” 

He didn’t restrict her movements or lock her up, which let Robin breathe a sigh of relief. 

Yoru was true to his word, at least! 

“Wahaha! Captain, help me test out this new ability!”  

As soon as Yoru stepped out of the deciphering room, Burgess barreled toward him, practically vibrating with excitement. 

“You ate a Devil Fruit?”  

Yoru could sense Burgess’s aura, now much heavier and more intense. 

“Just ate it not long ago,” Burgess said. “Come on, Captain, let me show you what I can do now!” 

Yoru was happy to oblige. He was curious about what kind of power Burgess had gained and just how strong it was. 

“Let’s do it.” 

They headed to a dedicated training arena, already packed with onlookers who’d heard the news. 

“Man, Burgess could’ve tested his skills with Captain Nous or Captain Ruri, but nooo, he’s gotta go straight for Lord Yoru. Talk about sucking up!” someone grumbled. 

“Haha, if you had his guts, you’d be sucking up too!” another laughed. 

“Here I go!”  

Burgess flashed a toothy grin. “Rhino Man Form!” 

Right off the bat, he unleashed his strongest form. 

A layer of gray, armored skin rapidly covered his body. A thick tail sprouted behind him, and his head transformed, a large horn jutting from his nose, making him look like a rhinoceros. His already massive frame bulked up even more. 

“Zoan-type Ox-Ox Fruit, Rhino Model, huh?”  

Yoru identified Burgess’s Devil Fruit with a glance. 

Whoosh! 

Despite his hulking size, Burgess moved freakishly fast, cracking the ground with a single step as he closed the distance to Yoru in a flash. He swung a fist, unleashing a powerful shockwave, his punch coated in Armament Haki. 

“That’s insane!”  

“No way you could dodge that!”  

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“That punch is way too heavy! I couldn’t block it!”  

The onlookers’ faces grew tense. 

Facing Burgess’s charging punch, Yoru threw a fist of his own, coated in advanced Armament Haki, meeting Burgess’s attack head-on in midair. 

BOOM! 

The ground cratered beneath them, dust flying everywhere. A wild shockwave roared outward, making it hard for the crowd to keep their eyes open. 

“Your strength’s really shot up, Burgess!”  

Even with Yoru’s level of power, he could feel how formidable Burgess had become—strong enough to give him a bit of trouble. 

“You’ve made some serious progress, Burgess,” Yoru said with a grin. “But it’s still not enough!” 

Suddenly, Yoru ramped up his strength. Burgess’s eyes widened as an unstoppable force hit him, sending him staggering back. 

“Come on, show me what else you’ve got!”  

Yoru didn’t press the attack, instead encouraging Burgess to keep going. “I’m in a good mood today, so make it count.” 

Yoru personally sparring like this? That was a rare sight. 

Chapter 480: Earth-Shattering Showdown  

Under the envious gazes of those around him, Burgess trembled with power, the air humming violently around him. 

It was as if the heavens and earth were about to be overturned, an unimaginable surge of ferocious energy erupting from him. 

“Captain, this is my strongest blow—watch out!” 

Burgess’s massive frame charged forward again, his speed terrifyingly fast. 

“Multi-Impact: Tempest Shatter!” 

With a fierce roar, Burgess swung both fists, each strike carrying the terrifying force of a meteor. 

The ground itself split open from his overwhelming presence, cracks forming in the earth without even being touched. 

“So strong! Even from this distance, it feels like my body’s being torn apart!” 

“No way, I can’t handle this! We’ve gotta fall back!” 

The surrounding warriors paled, retreating in a hurry. 

“Burgess has gotten insanely strong,” Fozzie remarked, while Ulti and others felt a bone-chilling dread. 

They knew full well they couldn’t withstand Burgess’s current attacks. 

Only Nous and Luri watched with calm indifference. 

“Now this is getting interesting,” Yoru said, facing the charging Burgess. His fists radiated a terrifying aura of advanced Armament Haki. 

“Let’s see just how tough your fists really are.” 

“Fist Bone: Spine-Piercing Style!” 

Yoru didn’t know any so-called “Spine-Piercing Fist,” but that didn’t stop him from using his experience and raw strength to mimic a devastating technique. 

BOOM! 

The moment their fists collided, it was like two meteors crashing into each other. 

The earth quaked, mountains trembled! 

The shockwave blasted everyone nearby off their feet, screams and gasps filling the air in a spectacular scene. 

The ground shattered under the impact, collapsing into massive chunks of rock, with cracks so deep they were terrifying. The earth sank a full meter down. 

“Not bad,” Yoru muttered, feeling the challenge in Burgess’s punch. 

“Hyah!” 

Their fists clashed again, like two ferocious beasts locked in combat. The air blurred from the sheer force of their struggle. 

The ground split further, groaning under the strain, trembling uncontrollably. 

“No way, we can’t get any closer!” 

“Fall back! Keep retreating! Don’t get caught in this!” 

“It’s unreal!” 

The warriors and other fighters scrambled back in panic. 

Only a handful—Nous, Luri, Fozzie, and Ulti—could stand their ground and watch the battle unfold. 

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! 

Like two savage beasts fully unleashed, their clashes grew faster and fiercer. 

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Fists flew like a storm. 

The air exploded with each strike. 

The surrounding earth kept shattering, blasted apart by the rolling waves of ferocious energy sweeping in all directions. 

The air screamed in agony, letting out ear-piercing wails. 

Their speed only increased. 

Blood began to splatter through the air, spraying with each brutal exchange. 

The onlookers could barely keep up with the pace of their clashes anymore, only catching glimpses of two blurred figures colliding relentlessly. 

Each punch… 

It was like striking the very pulse of the world—powerful, majestic, making the blood of everyone watching surge with the urge to cough up blood. 

The ground kept exploding, torn apart, reduced to ruins. 

In the blink of an eye… 

A hundred blows had been exchanged! 

“Man, Burgess is terrifying. His strength might even rival mine now. Even the captain’s using seventy or eighty percent of his power,” Nous said, his voice full of admiration. 

In the midst of the battle… 

Yoru had already transformed into his Phoenix Man form.