Counting the Spoils, Adding Points to the Trophy!

The golden light flashed intensely for a moment.

It looked as if a second sun had risen in the sky near Hachinosu Island.

A blinding golden light instantly blanketed the entire sea, coating its surface with a shimmering layer of gold leaf.

The next instant.

The golden light dimmed.

Kizaru, moving at lightning speed, instantly disappeared into the waters near Hachinosu Island.

As a "Flash Man" who ate the [Glint-Glint Fruit].

Kizaru doesn't actually need the "Yata no Kagami" to achieve light-speed movement.

Kizaru can travel at the speed of light anytime, anywhere, whenever he wants.

"Slash--Eh? Wave?"

Golden Lion II, wielding [Sakazuki] and [Karasuma] in both hands, belatedly unleashed several Flying Slash powerful enough to split mountains and cleave seas.

A crescent-shaped Flying Slash descended from the sky, splitting the sea into several pieces. The seawater surged outwards, revealing the dark seabed beneath.

However, Kizaru, the target of the attack, has completely disappeared.

How can this be considered a 'strategic retreat'?

Red Giant Dragon, riding on billowing Flame Cloud, flew out from the Hachinosu Island.

Storm's large, dark golden dragon eyes were fixed on the spot where Kizaru had disappeared. A red light surged deep within his eyes, indicating that he had activated [Observation Haki].

Even with Storm's Eight-Star Observation Haki, he couldn't sense Kizaru's presence at all.

If we only consider the speed of "escape".

Kizaru's [Glint-Glint Fruit] is second to none.

Perhaps only the [Rumble-Rumble Fruit] can be compared to it.

Storm's golden eyes swept over Edward Teach.

"Whitebeard the Second" transformed into a bolt of lightning, crashing directly into the Red Giant Dragon, merging into its body like a drop of water.

A [Rumble-Rumble Ring] appeared on Storm's Dragon Claws, and he once again unleashed his [Observation Haki].

After incorporating the power of the [Rumble-Rumble Ring], Storm's [Observation Haki] range increased significantly.

Even so.

Storm still couldn't sense Kizaru's presence.

"You really just ran away like that?"

Speechless, Storm deactivated his Red Giant Dragon form, reverting to his original appearance.

His gaze swept over Rhein, Natsu, and Joan one by one.

"Aren't they just a few mediocre rookie pirates?"

"I haven't even made a move yet!"

Storm's daily training was interrupted by Kizaru's unexpected intrusion.

He still doesn't understand why Kizaru suddenly came to Hachinosu Island...

However, after that period of frenzied fighting...

Storm has mastered the power of the [Red Dragon Ring].

He even mastered the abilities of the [Flame-Flame Ring], [Bubble Ring], and [Explosion Ring] one by one.

"Let's find a place to rest first! We seem to have made a bit too much noise..."

Storm deactivated the [Clay Fruit]'s power and retrieved all the [Demon Ring].

He looked back at Hachinosu Island, where the Flame Cloud ribbons of the [Red Dragon Fruit] swept down like a bolt of silk, wrapping around the entire Hachinosu Island.

Rumble...

A loud roar followed.

The entire Hachinosu Island was forcibly dragged into the sky by the Flame Cloud ribbons of the [Red Dragon Ring].

A massive crater the size of an island instantly appeared on the sea surface. The surrounding seawater surged into the crater, filling the void. The collision of billions of tons of seawater produced a deafening roar, and the waves surged violently.

Storm felt the heaviness emanating from the Flame Cloud ribbons and shook his head.

"As expected, when it comes to things like moving islands, we still need specialized Devil Fruit!"

[Float-Float Ring], activate!

This Hachinosu Island has already been touched by [Float-Float Ring]!

The moment the power of the [Float-Float Fruit] was applied to Hachinosu Island, the Hachinosu Island's original gravity vanished without a trace.

Storm then wrapped the Hachinosu Island with his Flame Cloud ribbons, as if he were holding a balloon, effortlessly.

"Let's bring Hachinosu Island back to Paradise!"

Storm plans to merge the Hachinosu Island of the New World with the Ant Nest Hell he brought from the East Blue to the Paradise stage, creating a brand new, larger Sky Garden!

Let's do it!

Storm first lifted the Hachinosu Island to an altitude of 10,000 meters, and then dragged the island toward the Red Line Continent.

Since it will be some time before we can return to the Paradise.

Storm summoned his own [Big Trophy] once again.

When he defeated Ochoku, Storm summoned a large number of Blue-Eyes White Dragon to launch a saturation bombardment of Hachinosu Island, sending it back to the primitive era.

The pirates on this pirate island were naturally sent to hell along with Storm!

Ochoku dominated Hachinosu Island for decades and also amassed a group of powerful subordinates.

Storm quickly checked the Big Trophy he had won this time.

Aside from Ochoku's seven-star Star Trophy.

Storm also received a six-star Death Diamond Trophy, as well as several five-star Platinum Trophy.

The rest are just the Golden Trophy, which can be completely ignored.

"We had one Blood Diamond Trophy left before, and now we have another Blood Diamond Trophy. We now have two six-star Death Trophy."

Storm glanced at his various abilities, considered for a moment, and then summoned the two Blood Diamond Trophy, placing them into the [Demon Ring - Imitation] and [Bubble Fruit] respectively.

In an instant.

The [Bubble Ring], which was originally only six-star, has been upgraded to seven-star after being enhanced by winning two Blood Diamond Trophy!

Storm now possesses six seven-star Demon Ring.

Currently, there are only two Demon Rings that remain at the six-star level: the [Explosion Ring] and the [Hobby-Hobby Ring].

"I've completely used up all my six-star Death Diamond Trophy, and I can't add any more points to my Devil Fruit..."

Storm put the seven-star [Bubble Ring] back on and checked his other belongings.

"Fine! Let's upgrade this sword too!"

Storm drew his long-time companion, the [Alcohol Iron Ore Katana], and summoned a five-star Death [Platinum Trophy], further upgrading the weapon, which had already been upgraded to five stars, to six stars.

[Alcohol Iron Ore Katana: ★★★★★★] (Six-star rating)

Storm admired the [Alcohol Iron Ore Katana] in his hand; its gleaming blade clearly indicated its exceptional quality.

If we set aside the issue of fame...

The [Alcohol Iron Ore Katana] in Storm's hand is more than capable of competing for the title of one of the "Twenty-One Great Grade Swords"!

As for the Supreme Grade Sword...

Storm wasn't extravagant enough to invest a large number of high-level Big Trophy in a weapon he rarely used.

"I won't add any more, but I can slowly 'grind' it; maybe it will turn black after a while..."

To be fair...

Storm was somewhat skeptical of the claim that "a sword will become Black Blade after being honed through hundreds and thousands of battles."

Many powerful warriors on the high seas fight with swords.

Just like the four Pirate Emperors in the New World right now.

Whitebeard, Red-Haired, and Big Mom are all pirates who fight with swords.

However, none of the three men's "knives" were Black Blade.

Whitebeard's [Murakumogiri] is widely recognized as one of the Supreme Great Grade Swords Twelve Works ".

However, [Murakumogiri] is not Black Blade.

The Red-Haired [Griffin] is also a Famous Sword, but it's not some kind of "Black Blade".

As for Big Mom's [Napoleon], let's not even mention him...

"I remember that future Marine Headquarters Admiral Fujitora's Sword Cane [Black Road Fire Wire] was also one of the Supreme Great Grade Swords Twelve Works, but that Sword Cane wasn't Black Blade either..."

Storm pondered the question about the "Black Blade" for a moment, then quickly put it out of his mind.

A six-star [Alcohol Iron Ore Katana] is good enough!

Just as Storm was dragging Hachinosu Island back to the first half of the Paradise.

Meanwhile, Kizaru has also returned to the G5 Branch.

"This is troublesome... this is really troublesome..."

As soon as Kizaru landed, he didn't go to the G5 Branch to rest. Instead, he took out Den Den Mushi and dialed the Marine Headquarters.

"Moshi moshi~ Fleet Admiral Sengoku, there is important intelligence to report."

Marine Headquarters, Fleet Admiral's Office.

Sengoku received Den Den Mushi from Kizaru via Den Den Mushi and immediately located the white Den Den Mushi that was being used to prevent eavesdropping.

"Wasn't the problem with G5 Branch already resolved? Tianzheng just reported it to me..."

"Oh..."

Kizaru was taken aback and asked a question instinctively.

"Vergo, he..."

"Vergo was indeed the first 'Heart' of the Donquixote Family!"

When Sengoku pronounced the words "red heart," his tone became somewhat heavy.

Because his "Little Heart" – Donquixote Rosinante – held the position of "Heart" in the Donquixote Family.

First was Vergo.

Next is Rosinante.

Judging from their identities and experiences, the Heart should be the position that Doflamingo trusts most within the Donquixote Family.

But it's pointless to talk about all this now...

"I see."

Kizaru then skipped over the topic of Vergo.

He wasn't interested in this "pirate spy."

What Kizaru cares about is another "Navy infiltrated as a pirate"!

"Fleet Admiral Sengoku, I just went to Hachinosu Island, and the situation there is extremely dangerous..."

Kizaru reported in detail.

"Whitebeard the Second., Golden Lion II., and two newcomers, one with fire-based abilities and the other seemingly capable of depriving others of their five senses... Very troublesome!"

"So many troublesome pirates have appeared on Hachinosu Island again!?"

Sengoku was immediately taken aback, but he quickly recovered.

"Wait a minute! Where's Storm? Didn't you see him?"

"The situation was extremely urgent!"

I can't help it Kizaru said helplessly.

"I can't afford to be distracted while facing Whitebeard the Second..."

"These pirates clearly know each other; they can even launch coordinated attacks in unison."

"If I weren't so fast, I probably would have gotten injured too~"

Really?

I don't believe it.

That was what the Sengoku originally intended to say.

But when he thought of Whitebeard the Second., and then of the several encounters between Kizaru and Whitebeard the Second...

The Fleet Admiral had to admit one thing.

Kizaru might not have been lying when he said that.

However.

Kizaru found that group of Great Pirate so troublesome.

What about Storm?

Sengoku asked with concern, "Didn't you detect Storm's presence?"

"All I can say is that I didn't see Storm's dragon."

Kizaru thought for a moment, then added another sentence.

"Furthermore, Hachinosu Island has been almost completely destroyed."

"Judging from his appearance... Ochoku is probably in grave danger!"

Who cares about Ochoku's situation?

At this moment, Sengoku fully demonstrated his indifference towards the Great Pirate.

He chatted with Kizaru for a few more minutes before hanging up the Den Den Mushi.

'Storm, you have to be alright...'

The Fleet Admiral sat alone in his office, silently praying for a few moments before dialing that familiar Den Den Mushi number again.

"Moshimoshi... Storm?"

"Fleet Admiral Sengoku?"

Storm's disdainful voice came through the Den Den Mushi's receiver.

"It's you again?"

Fourth update, 16,000 words, please vote with monthly tickets!

One more chapter to come.

After 12 o'clock.