The Ultimate Water Pipe!

I have no interest in Devil Fruit...

Storm found it hard to believe that Portgas D. Ace, a man who would one day be known as "Fire Fist," would say such a thing.

Especially since the other party said this in front of [Flame-Flame Fruit].

If the [Flame-Flame Fruit] also possessed a unique will, its soul would surely cry out...

Storm casually tossed the [Flame-Flame Fruit] in his hand, and it landed on the body of the Blue-Eyes White Dragon.

The Blue-Eyes White Dragon's sturdy Dragon Scales rippled like the surface of water as it swallowed the [Flame-Flame Fruit] and preserved it.

"You don't like Devil Fruit?"

Storm looked at Ace with great interest.

"Still don't like the drawbacks that come with Devil Fruit?"

"Actually, it's not really a matter of 'liking' or 'disliking'."

Ace thought for a moment and answered seriously.

"My younger brother—that is, Luffy —ate the [Rubber Fruit]—which is the 'Savior Fruit' you mentioned before."

"Luffy and I have been fighting since we were kids, and I know all his abilities."

"Luffy's [Rubber Fruit] is quite... quite interesting."

"But what truly determines the outcome of a battle is Physique!"

"And the fact that pirates can't swim is actually quite funny... I'm not saying you're funny."

"It's alright, the weakness of Devil Fruit— the inability to swim—is almost common knowledge."

Storm waved his hand, ignoring Ace's last words.

"But when you say 'Physique determines everything,' is that something you came up with yourself, or something your grandfather taught you?"

"Yes, I think so!"

"Ace said."

"The old man's fists are very powerful; they hurt a lot when he hits someone."

"Even Luffy's rubber head can't withstand the old man's punch."

"Because he is 'Hero' Garp, 'Iron Fist' Garp, an old Marine who makes a living with his fists."

Storm raised his right hand, spread his fingers, and made a few grasping motions.

"On the high seas, there are very few pure 'martial arts fighters' like your grandfather—those who fight hand-to-hand.

"You want to be like your grandfather, hitting people only with your fists?"

"Of course I don't just use my fists. I'm not stupid, and fists aren't as hard as swords."

Ace stared speechlessly at Storm, who rummaged through the huge bag he carried and pulled out a weapon.

"Although I haven't learned how to use weapons in combat, it's actually quite simple."

As he spoke, Ace began to swing the "weapon" in his hand.

A hollow water pipe, about the thickness of an average person's thumb, danced in mid-air, making a "whooshing" sound as he moved.

So he's the owner of the "Supreme Water Pipe"...

Storm was immediately filled with a sense of awe and respect.

Speaking of which, Garp's "main weapon" when he was a child also seemed to be a water pipe...

Storm reached out to Ace with some curiosity and took the other's "supreme water pipe".

He carefully inspected the water pipe, then gently tapped its casing, producing a series of "thump-thump" sounds.

It was indeed an ordinary water pipe, as ordinary as could be.

Ace watched Storm's series of actions with some confusion.

What are you doing?

"Let's test the feel of it."

Storm gripped the water pipe as if it were a sword.

He held his breath, gripped the hose tightly, and swung it heavily towards the sky, instantly creating a sharp, explosive sound.

Ugh--

Storm's powerful force enveloped the surrounding air, and a dazzling white vacuum slash was immediately unleashed.

A crescent-shaped vacuum slash streaked across the sky.

A white cloud not far away was instantly torn to shreds by this vacuum slash.

The vacuum slash, its momentum still lingering, continued its forward flight until it disappeared into the horizon.

Ace was completely dumbfounded.

"What was that just now? Was it made with a water pipe?"

"Vacuum Slash, its power is average, not comparable to the Flying Slash unleashed by a great swordsman."

Storm weighed the hose in his hand and then handed it back to Ace.

"However, it's quite effective at clearing out ordinary henchmen."

Storm had intended to use "Flying Slash," but a pipe isn't a sword.

As a beginner, he did not unleash the "Flying Slash" but instead used the power generation technique of [Rankyaku] to deliver a vacuum slash.

As for its power, it's about 70-80%.

Ace picked up the hose and, mimicking Storm's earlier actions, swung it around several times.

Aside from a few whooshing sounds, his swing had no effect whatsoever.

"Vongola, how did you do that?"

Ace temporarily abandoned the test and asked Storm.

"That slash just now? And you're carrying a longsword, are you a swordsman?"

"No, the main reason I carry a sword is because it looks cool!"

Storm said very frankly.

"It's way cooler than carrying around a water pipe!"

You bastard...

They're definitely mocking me, right?

Ace was speechless upon hearing this.

"So I can't really call myself a 'swordsman'."

Storm unfastened the [Alcohol Iron Ore Katana] he was wearing at his waist and handed it to Ace.

"At most, he's a pirate who knows how to use a sword."

Ace took the [Alcohol Iron Ore Katana] from Storm with both hands and drew it from its sheath with a "snap".

A fleeting flash of white light shone from the gleaming sword on his face.

"What a wonderful weapon! It must be a Famous Sword!"

Even though Ace had never seen many fine swords, he could tell at a glance that this sword was extraordinary.

What is its name?

"It's not Famous Sword, and it doesn't even have a name."

Storm shrugged and said calmly.

Would you name your water pipes?

Storm has always referred to his weapon as the "Alcohol Iron Ore Katana".

Even though he used the [Big Trophy] to upgrade the quality of the [Alcohol Iron Ore Katana] to five stars, the title remained unchanged.

After all, Storm wasn't a professional swordsman.

His real weapon is, in fact, his "fist"!

He is also a "martial arts fighter"!

Storm's calm question immediately silenced Ace.

How could his water pipe possibly be compared to this clearly exceptional Famous Sword?

Those clams... they're so annoying!

Ace gritted his teeth, sheathed his sword, returned the weapon to Storm, and silently hugged the water pipe.

You use your military knife, I use my water pipe, and we both have a bright future.

Ace originally intended to use "indifference" to counter Storm.

But Storm did not let go of this newly recruited son of the Pirate King.

"Ace, can you use a knife?"

"Won't!"

Are you interested in swords?

"Not interested!"

"Don't you want to inherit your father's abilities?"

"My father—you mean, my father?"

"Yes, your father, Gol D. Roger, was actually a pirate who was also very skilled with swords."

"Storm said with a mischievous look."

"Have you forgotten the origin of your name? One of the Supreme Great Grade Swords Twelve Works, the Pirate Scimitar [Ace]!"

"I have no interest in that Pirate Scimitar that shares my name."

Ace replied coldly.

"My fists are my weapons!"

"Okay, I understand."

Storm's response caught Ace off guard.

"... What do you know?"

"You still need to train!"

"What?"

"We need to speed things up!"

"Na-ni--"

With the power of the [More-More Fruit], the Blue-Eyes White Dragon unleashed an incredibly terrifying speed.

Although it still can't compare to the [Rumble-Rumble Fruit], it's a hundred times faster than before.

It only took one day.

Storm and Ace then rushed back to the Konomi Islands from Dawn Island.

He brought Ace to Cocoyasi Village, met Nami, and had a simple meal at Nami's house.

The trio then resumed their journey, riding the Blue-Eyes White Dragon to the island where the Oykot Kingdom was located, and went directly to the giant snail where the Germa Kingdom was located.

A few days ago, Bear mentioned to Storm that the Germa Kingdom planned to return to the North Blue soon.

However, these giant snails remain in the East Blue to this day.

Bear hasn't contacted Storm in the past few days, so I guess nothing serious has happened.

The return of the Blue-Eyes White Dragon has drawn the attention of everyone in the Germa Kingdom.

The Vinsmoke Family members were the first to appear.

Robin, Kid, and Killer also arrived at the open space outside the Vinsmoke Family castle.

Storm looked around but didn't see Bear, guessing he was probably still with his daughter.

He spoke to Ace and Nami.

"You two wait here in the sky for a while, I'll go down and bring the person up."

Nami and Ace nodded in unison.

Without hesitation, Storm jumped off the Blue-Eyes White Dragon, a pair of white wings appearing behind him, and he glided down to the Germa Kingdom below like a bird.

"Robin, Kid, Killer."

Storm first greeted his three subordinates, then nodded to the Vinsmoke Family members standing nearby.

Where's Bear?

"Bear is accompanying Bonney to her routine check-up."

Robin answered directly.

"The two of them, along with Dr. Gage, are all in the lab right now."

"Routine checks don't take long; they should be here soon."

Robin had barely finished speaking.

Storm activated his senses and detected that Bear and Bonney were heading this way.

A strange "beep" sound was heard.

Bear and Bonney appeared at the gate of the Vinsmoke Family castle, standing in the shadows to avoid contact with natural light.

Storm slipped to Bonney's side and reached out to pat her head.

The "Little Bear" then appeared and took Bonney inside.

"Haha! I've turned into Dad again!"

Bonney immediately cheered up and looked at the Bear again.

Bear reached into his coat pocket and carefully took out a pair of sunglasses, then put them on his daughter.

These past few days...

What troubled Bear the most was not Bonney's treatment, but rather Bonney's lingering attachment to the "Little Bear" suit.

Bonney has always wanted to wear the "Bear" armor again so she can move freely in the outside world.

It's a pity that Storm isn't in the Germa Kingdom.

Bear couldn't even conjure up that "Little Bear" armor.

If it weren't for Storm returning to the Germa Kingdom today.

Bear even wants to ask Dr. Gage for help so that he can make a similar garment.

Anyway, the Germa Kingdom also has similar "combat suits"...

Bonney donned her "Little Bear" armor and immediately jumped out of Bear's arms, running straight into the sunlight with her short little legs.

Storm and Bear immediately followed Bonney's footsteps and joined Robin and the other two.

"Miss Reiju, could you please pass on a message to your father? My subordinates and I need to have a brief meeting."

Storm waved his hand, creating a Blue-Eyes White Dragon that carried Bear, Robin, and the others onto its back, including Bonney who was running wildly.

"Please have your father prepare the things I requested earlier!"

After saying this, Storm rode his Blue-Eyes White Dragon and flew to the side of another Blue-Eyes White Dragon in the sky.

Nami and Ace stood atop a Blue-Eyes White Dragon.

On another Blue-Eyes White Dragon stood Bear, Robin, Kid, and Killer.

The two groups looked at each other, unsure of what to say.

Nami and Ace were alright; they both knew that Storm already had another group of subordinates.

Robin and his crew were quite surprised; their Captain /leader had only been gone a few days, and now he was bringing back two new recruits...

"I'll give you the introduction later."

Storm piloted the two Blue-Eyes White Dragons and continued flying into the sky.

"We're going to heaven now!"

10,000 meters above the ground.

The Sky Garden floats quietly among the white clouds, awaiting its owner's return.

Fourth update, 13,000 words, please subscribe!

There will be another update around 12 o'clock.

It will definitely be updated.