451-455

Chapter 451: A Crazy Plan 

* According to Ding Si’s plan, the crew was about to dive into six months of intense training!  

“Let’s go, Big Bro Bashas! Dressrosa’s waiting for us!”  

Luri gave Naus a quick nod, then set off with the battle-hungry Bashas on a ship bound for Dressrosa!  

Naus grinned. “Guess it’s time for me to head into the mountains and let the lightning baptize me—time to grasp the true essence of thunder!”  

This island…  

It was his kind of place! 

To be precise, the lightning was his kind of place!  

“What a crazy captain!”  

“Hmph, he better not let us down, or I don’t mind avenging Mr. Kaido!”  

That’s what some of the former Tobi Roppo members muttered.  

Being stuck as mere Commanders didn’t sit well with them! 

They had no issue with Naus and Luri being Heavenly Generals—those two were powerhouses!  

But Bashas? What made him worthy of being a Heavenly General?!  

It felt unfair!  

Of course…  

They weren’t going to voice their gripes just yet. 

But if Bashas didn’t prove himself worthy of his rank, they’d have plenty to say!  

“Caribou, the Captain specifically told me to ‘train’ your Armament Haki, refine your Observation Haki, and help you develop your Devil Fruit powers!”  

As they walked toward the training grounds, Dogs shot Caribou a big grin—one that made Caribou’s heart skip a beat in panic!  

“W-What… kind of training?!”  

Caribou couldn’t help but recall that last training session. 

It nearly tore him apart!  

Sure, he was strong now—really strong! 

But that strength came at the cost of blood and tears!  

Jealous?  

“It’s probably gonna be tougher than last time. The other five Commanders are joining in too. You don’t want to disappoint the Captain, do you?”  

Dogs smirked at Caribou.  

Caribou nodded vigorously. Of course he didn’t!  

How do you think he managed to boost his Devil Fruit powers so much and even learn Observation Haki in such a short time?  

It was all thanks to Yoru’s training! 

Yoru would point his Haki-coated blade, Purge, right at Caribou. 

If Caribou was even a split-second too slow to dodge, he’d end up with a hole in him!  

Caribou really didn’t want to relive that despair! 

He swore Yoru was genuinely trying to kill him during those sessions!  

“If you don’t want to let the Captain down, you’d better train hard. The other four Commanders are strong enough to compete for Heavenly General spots. You don’t want them looking down on you, do you? Get to work on leveling up!”  

Dogs’ face was dead serious as he spoke.  

Caribou nodded again. 

No way was he gonna let anyone look down on him!  

Over at Yoru’s side!  

“Gahh!”  

The moment he plunged into the ocean…  

An endless wave of weakness and darkness swallowed him whole! 

His face twisted in pain as he choked on several mouthfuls of seawater!  

But…  

“No way I’m giving up here!”  

Having obtained the Poneglyph, he knew exactly what kind of challenges were coming! 

His current strength—barely above a Yonko Commander—wasn’t gonna cut it!  

He had to reach a level close to an Admiral!  

“Let’s do this!”  

Yoru unleashed every ounce of his power!  

In an instant…  

He glowed red-hot, like a boiling rod, radiating an insane amount of heat from his body!  

Gurgle, gurgle!  

The seawater around him started to boil!  

ROAR! 

SCREECH!!!  

The Sea Kings that had been circling him fled in terror! 

They’d thought he was an easy meal, but…  

This guy was horrifying! That insane heat made them feel like they were about to be cooked alive!  

“Phoenix Sun!”  

“Phoenix Feather Slash!”  

“Phoenix Fire Plume!”  

“Phoenix Meteor Strike!”  

… 

Chapter 452: The Era Runs Wild 

Yoru unleashed his powers relentlessly, stirring the entire sea into a frenzy, boiling and churning! Within a several-thousand-meter radius of the ocean, not a single thing remained! No creature dared linger near Yoru. 

Forget the scorching heat he was radiating! His slashes alone were enough! The sea itself was split in two! 

Not long ago, a massive sixty-meter-long Sea King thought it could sneak in and take advantage of the chaos. The result? 

It barely grazed one of his slashes and got half its body severed, only to be sliced clean in two by another! 

With that kind of display… 

Who’d dare mess around? Unless they had a death wish! 

“The ocean… it’s really something else!”  

Feeling the overwhelming weakness in his body and the sea’s rejection swallowing him up, Yoru felt like his body was being hollowed out! This sense of powerlessness was completely different from the absolute control he felt on land! It was like going from a mighty dragon to a helpless ant in an instant! 

Yoru had to admit—he hated this feeling! But this was the fastest way to push his Devil Fruit powers to the next level! Challenging his limits in this state of endless weakness… 

It was the only way to break through the limits of his fruit and speed up its awakening! 

No other choice! He only had 1.48 million strengthening points to work with! 

To boost his strength as quickly as possible, his Devil Fruit, Armament Haki, Observation Haki, and swordsmanship all needed attention! But with limited points, he had to use them wisely! 

So, he’d pour his strengthening points into Armament and Observation Haki. 

As for his Devil Fruit? He’d have to rely on the hard way! 

“Urgh!” 

The intense weakness brought waves of panic and a heavy, sinking body! 

Yoru felt like he was on the brink of death! 

But… 

He trusted his physical resilience wouldn’t let him die so easily! 

Meanwhile, on the shore… 

“Is the Captain gonna be okay?” 

“It’s been so long, and he hasn’t come up yet. What if something’s wrong?” 

The two crew members tasked with Yoru’s safety exchanged worried glances. 

“Should we check with Doran down there?” 

Doran…  

One of the rescue team members in the sea keeping an eye on Yoru’s safety! 

“Better check, just to be safe!” 

The two quickly agreed. 

They grabbed a Den Den Mushi and made the call! The response they got… 

It instantly put them at ease! 

Doran and the team were closely monitoring Yoru’s condition! There was no way they’d let him face any real danger! 

… 

“Have you heard? The Lightning Pirate Crew took over the Beasts Pirates’ spot and became one of the New World’s top four powers!” 

“That Lightning Killer guy even gathered all the Poneglyphs!” 

“Is he about to become the next Pirate King after Roger?” 

“Heh, that depends on whether the other big shots on the seas agree! Big Mom’s scouring the ocean for the Lightning Killer right now!” 

“And don’t forget the Red Hair Pirates and the New Whitebeard Pirates. One keeps a low profile, and the other’s got a grudge against the Lightning Killer. Things won’t stay peaceful between them!” 

“Forget those big names for a sec—don’t forget the New World’s got plenty of silver-medal players too! Not to mention that Demon Heir Barrett, who just finished his latest rampage, or that rising star they call the ‘Golden Emperor.’ He’s probably got his eyes on this too!” 

“And aren’t you all forgetting someone else in the New World? A real lunatic?” 

“Who?” 

“Former Admiral ‘Black Arm’ Zephyr!” 

“Him? Oh, yeah, yeah! That guy’s definitely not someone to overlook!” 

The seas… 

They were churning with chaos! 

In the shadows… 

Countless eyes were fixed on the Lightning Pirate Crew! 

Chapter 453: You Better Not Underestimate Me  

New World, Dressrosa! 

“Fufufu, how interesting! I never would’ve guessed the Lightning Killer would take an interest in artificial Devil Fruits!”  

The uncrowned king of Dressrosa, the Celestial Dragon Donquixote Doflamingo, laughed with unrestrained arrogance.  

“Cut the chatter, Doflamingo. Can we make a deal or not? One word.”  

“Deal or no deal?”  

Ruri had no intention of wasting words with Doflamingo. Something about him gave her a bad vibe—a creeping sense of danger.  

“Deal! Why wouldn’t it be a deal?”  

Doflamingo’s fingers twitched slightly as he grinned wildly. “Business delivered to my doorstep? No reason to turn it down!”  

Maybe…  

He couldn’t take on Big Mom’s Cracker or Katakuri. 

Maybe he couldn’t match Yoru either. 

But…  

This woman, Ruri, who’d only recently risen to become one of the “Three Heavens” of the Lightning Pirate Crew? Doflamingo didn’t have much respect for her. With a flick of his hand, he shot out a control string.  

“Doflamingo, you’re playing with fire.”  

But the moment his string flew, Ruri’s eyes turned icy. Before Doflamingo could even process it, an overwhelming gravitational force yanked him forward! Black smoke swirled around Ruri, swallowing his control string as if it were nothing, rendering it useless.  

Doflamingo quickly flickered away with a flash step.  

But…  

Whoosh!  

The instant he reappeared, Ruri’s piercing gaze locked onto him, her eyes looming large in his vision.  

“Dark Water!”  

A cold hand, wreathed in a spinning vortex of darkness, slammed into him.  

In that moment, Doflamingo felt a bone-chilling dread. To his horror, his abilities vanished!  

He scrambled back in a panic.  

This time, Ruri didn’t pursue.  

“Doflamingo, I’d advise you to drop that smug attitude,” she said coolly.  

“You think Big Sis Ruri became one of the Three Heavens just like that? She earned it with raw strength. Even Brother Nous says she’s becoming more monstrous by the day. Underestimate her, and you’ll end up looking like a fool!”  

Dogus, standing off to the side, smirked as he taunted.  

No need for Dogus to spell it out—Doflamingo already knew. Behind his sunglasses, his eyes were wide with lingering shock. Cold sweat dripped down his forehead, his muscles tense.  

“Fufufu, consider the deal done!”  

Doflamingo flashed his signature grin again, agreeing to the transaction.  

“Great. Let’s talk specifics then.”  

The black smoke around Ruri dissipated, and she smiled as if nothing had happened.  

But Doflamingo? He wouldn’t dare underestimate her again.  

Meanwhile, elsewhere…  

“Have you tracked down that guy’s location yet?”  

A man wearing a half-face mask asked a red-masked figure beside him.  

“Not yet, but we’re close,” the red-masked man replied, his voice muffled.  

The half-masked man’s eyes narrowed, clearly displeased. “Hurry it up.”  

From the glimpse of a goatee on his chin, his identity was all but obvious—Rob Lucci, the current leader of CP0!  

The World Government’s higher-ups were on edge about Yoru’s possession of the Poneglyphs. They couldn’t sit still. Unlike the Marines, who were biding their time, CP0 was dispatched immediately with a mission: assassinate the Lightning Pirate Crew’s top brass and bury the Poneglyphs’ secrets forever.  

Elsewhere still…  

“Having collected the Poneglyphs, is your next target her?”  

On a balcony in the Revolutionary Army’s stronghold, Baltigo, a man with sharp eyes, strange facial tattoos, and a flowing green cloak spoke in a low voice. 

Chapter 454: Emerging from Seclusion  

At the edge of his gaze stood a sultry, mature woman—an absolute stunner! 

Her name? Nico Robin, known as the "Devil Child"!  

"But don’t think we’ll let you mess around. We’ll protect this archaeologist with everything we’ve got!"  

As the only person on the seas capable of deciphering the Poneglyphs, Nico Robin was a prized guest wherever she went, always under tight protection. 

"So, you’re telling me the Lightning Pirates have been making moves lately, but there’s no sign of that Lightning Killer guy?"  

At Navy Headquarters, Sakazuki’s face darkened as he grilled a colonel from the intelligence division.  

"Yes, Admiral!"  

The colonel snapped a salute and replied, "The Dark Queen Luri and Lion Doggs were spotted in Dressrosa not long ago. Looks like they struck some kind of deal with Doflamingo!"  

"As for the rest of the Lightning Pirates, we’ve caught wind of their activities in the New World from time to time. But Nous, Bassas, and a few others? They’ve completely vanished!"  

"We don’t even have a clue where their base is. They’ve gone totally off the grid!"  

Sakazuki’s brows furrowed at the report. 

Not knowing exactly where Yoru—the Lightning Killer—was made him uneasy.  

"Find the Lightning Pirates’ trail, and make sure we track their every move. Understood?"  

Sakazuki barked the order, and the colonel saluted before retreating.  

"Where’d you disappear to, Lightning Killer?"  

At a stronghold of the New Whitebeard Pirates, Fire Fist Ace muttered under his breath.  

The War at Marineford was over, but Ace was torn. Should he hate Yoru Nara or be grateful?  

His old man, Whitebeard, had fallen under the combined assault of the Seven Warlords—including Yoru—and the Navy.  

But…  

Yoru had also taken down the traitor Blackbeard, avenging Satchi and preserving the honor of the New Whitebeard Pirates.  

Ace’s heart was a tangled mess.  

Three months passed slowly…  

Then, in the middle of some ocean, a crimson streak shot into the sky, trailing a wave of scorching mist!  

Suddenly, the temperature spiked. The air shimmered and warped, twisting out of shape!  

"Get back! The Captain’s coming out of seclusion!"  

"Stay away from the Captain! Clear out now!"  

The pirates training on the shore erupted into panicked shouts.  

Chaos broke out! 

Everyone scrambled to retreat!  

Chirp!  

A phoenix’s cry pierced the heavens!  

An overwhelming, majestic pressure crashed down—thick, domineering, and knocking out who-knows-how-many people in an instant!  

"That’s the Captain’s Conqueror’s Haki!"  

"Unbelievable!"  

"It’s making even us tremble!"  

Foz Fuu, Tsumugi, and the others muttered, their faces grim.  

They’d always known Yoru was strong, but this strong?  

Just his aura alone was enough to make them feel a twinge of despair!  

And the Flying Six weren’t exactly pushovers. On the high seas, they were top-tier, each with bounties of five or six hundred million!  

Roar! 

Howl! 

Whimper!  

Every monstrous beast on the island cowered, prostrating themselves in terror.  

The regal authority of the king in the sky was undeniable!  

"Man, the Captain’s terrifying. Like a blazing sun—merciless and unstoppable!"  

Nous, the Lightning Pirates’ second-in-command, gazed up at Yoru in the sky.  

He was the only one at the scene who wasn’t fazed too badly.  

Both of them wielded Mythical Zoan powers, drawn from legendary tales. The gap between them wasn’t that big!  

Chapter 455: Stepping Into the Pinnacle Realm 

December 16, 2022  

In the sky…  

Yoru’s figure soared higher and higher, until he eclipsed the blazing sun itself, radiating a terrifying brilliance and heat!  

“Ability awakening—finally reaching its ultimate form!”  

Feeling the overwhelming power surging through his body, Yoru let out a triumphant roar!  

Breaking free from shackles…  

Shattering limits…  

It felt exhilarating!  

All those three months teetering on the edge of death, pushing himself to the brink—it was worth it!  

“System, enhance Armament Haki and Observation Haki!”  

Without a moment’s rest, Ding Si dove straight into his enhancement journey.  

All this grueling effort to break through the limits of his awakened ability? It was all to save enhancement points for boosting his Armament and Observation Haki!  

“Enhancement requires 1.5 million enhancement points. Proceed?”  

The system’s voice, long unheard, rang out once more.  

A nostalgic smile crossed Yoru’s face as he answered without hesitation, “Do it!”  

System: “Enhancement commencing!”  

A surge of pure white energy erupted from Yoru’s body, flooding through his limbs and every acupoint!  

A tingling, almost unbearable sensation—both painful and exhilarating—washed over him!  

“Hiss!”  

Yoru sucked in a sharp breath. This mix of agony and ecstasy was downright addictive!  

He plummeted from the sky, crashing down!  

Splash!  

As Yoru plunged into the sea, the onlookers stood dumbfounded.  

“Quick, quick, quick! Save the captain! He’s a Devil Fruit user—he can’t stay in the water long!”  

A Fish-Man crew member snapped to attention and dove into the sea to rescue Yoru.  

But then…  

BOOM!  

The ocean exploded!  

Yoru, transformed into his human-beast form, burst out of the water and landed on the ground, the flames of his ability fading.  

His body…  

A shimmering white energy coursed across it, as if every pore was breathing, exuding an aura of boundless terror!  

The crowd didn’t dare approach Yoru…  

They could only sense his presence growing more and more formidable!  

Half an hour later…  

Yoru’s eyes snapped open, his aura suddenly retracting into nothingness.  

But his gaze? It gleamed with a terrifying intensity!  

Host: Yoru 

Age: 19 

Bird-Bird Fruit, Phoenix Form: Awakened (95/100) 

Skills: Phoenix Fire Feather, Phoenix Meteor Strike, Phoenix Feather Slash, Phoenix Solar Flare 

Passive Ability: Rebirth in Flames (Recovers from any damage within flames) 

Observation Haki: Advanced (35/100) 

Armament Haki: Advanced (80/100) 

Swordsmanship: Level 4 (Flash) 

Weapon: Truthbreaker 

Enhancement Points: 0 

World: One Piece 

Physical Attributes:  

• Strength: 275 (Normal Human: 5)  

• Speed: 202 (Normal Human: 5)  

• Agility: 200 (Normal Human: 5)  

• Stamina: 265 (Normal Human: 5)  

• Defense: 280 (Normal Human: 5) 

Power Level: 94 (Admiral: 95)  

“I’ve finally reached the top of this world!”  

Standing up, Yoru glanced at the crowd around him with a faint smile. “Long time no see, everyone!”  

Now…  

He had the strength to face a Navy Admiral head-on!  

Even in a direct clash, he wouldn’t struggle in the slightest!  

He might not be able to defeat an Admiral yet…  

But an Admiral would have a hard time capturing him!  

His innate ability, Rebirth in Flames, meant that unless he was dragged into the sea, even Seastone couldn’t fully nullify his powers!  

In this state…  

He was practically invincible!  

“Congrats, Captain! Your strength has skyrocketed. I bet you could really take on an Admiral now, huh?”  

Nous stepped forward, grinning as he spoke.