An Old God Wants to Challenge Me?

During the conversation between Storm and Robin.

The two left the Shandora Ruins together and headed towards the Shandia people settlement.

That place was originally the site of Enel's temple, located in the core area of the island, with flat terrain and a wide view.

However, it has gradually been transformed into their shape by the Shandia people.

Barring any unforeseen circumstances, the Shandia people will establish a brand new "Hidden Cloud Village" here.

Let's leave the discussion about the navy for now.

Storm recalled the phone call from Bear earlier and slowly began to speak.

"Robin, I'll be going to the East Blue in a few days—maybe even tomorrow."

"East Blue? I understand. I'll prepare my luggage in advance."

"Um?"

Storm turned to look at Robin, raising an eyebrow slightly.

"I was going to ask you if you wanted to come along, since it's in the East Blue..."

"I'm one of your crew members."

Robin gently stroked the head of the little cutie in her arms and smiled.

"Captain, although we don't have a ship yet, since we're all crew members, we should all work together, shouldn't we?"

What you said... makes a lot of sense.

Storm nodded, then suddenly sighed.

"So, it seems I shouldn't have split up with them in the first place..."

"Them?"

Robin blinked and asked curiously.

"Captain, are you referring to your previous crew members? Like Mr. Edward?"

"More or less. Edward was my first crew member, as for the others..."

Storm raised his right hand and unleashed the power of the [Clay Fruit], attaching the illusionary effect of the [Nine-Tails Fox Fruit] to the clay.

"Bartholomew Bear, Eustace Kid, Killer, and finally this little guy..."

"Her name is Joelle Bonney, and I'm not entirely sure yet whether she counts as one of my subordinates."

"However, the three men in front are indeed my subordinates."

Robin looked at the four unfamiliar figures that suddenly appeared in front of him. "One large cup, two medium cups, and one small cup."

She first recognized the "Tyrant," then glanced at the red-haired, spiky-haired man and the blond, wavy-haired man, before finally focusing her gaze on the little girl.

"This little girl looks about the same age as Aisha."

"Jeally Bonney is a year older than Aisha, and she's run into some 'trouble' right now. Kuma is taking Kid and Killer to the East Blue to find a solution. By the way, Kuma and the others are all from the South Blue."

"South Blue? Captain, are you from the South Blue too?"

"Me? Hmph! I'm not a native of the Four Seas, my home is at Marine Headquarters!"

"... Captain, if you don't want to say it, you don't have to. There's no need to make up lies to deceive people."

Upon hearing this, Robin immediately shook his head.

The esteemed Shichibukai White Dragon, actually lives at Marine Headquarters?

Why didn't the Captain mention that three generations of his family had been in the navy?

What a joke about the ocean!

This kind of lie is so obvious that it can't even fool a child.

Robin abandoned her idea of learning about the Captain's past and changed the subject directly.

"Captain, you just said that Mr. Bartholomew, Mr. Eustass, and Mr. Killer are all your 'subordinates'."

Robin astutely pointed out a problem.

"But you also said that Mr. Edward was your 'crew'."

"So, is Mr. Bartholomew's situation the same as mine before?"

Robin was also once one of Storm's "subordinates".

It wasn't until yesterday that Storm officially recruited her, treating her as a "crew member."

According to Robin's understanding, "crew members" should be a higher rank than "subordinates"...

"No."

Storm shook his head and explained.

"Their situation is different from yours. That's why I call them 'subordinates'..."

"Actually, it's because when I recruited them, I didn't yet have the idea of forming a pirate crew."

If you're not forming a pirate crew, what kind of crew members are you recruiting?

Robin tilted her head, looking at Storm in surprise, and tentatively asked.

"Captain, if you want to say it's because you didn't have a boat then, I can understand, since you don't have a boat now either."

"... Why are you so obsessed with ships?"

Storm couldn't quite understand it. He put away the Clay Doll of his subordinates and transformed the clay into a Blue-Eyes White Dragon.

"Is the Blue-Eyes White Dragon not handsome enough?"

"Flying is certainly an enviable ability. But Captain, you can't fly forever, can you?"

Robin said calmly.

"Besides, I can't fly, Mr. Edward... but I look like I can."

"What about Mr. Bartholomew and the others? Can they fly?"

"Captain, you can't possibly take the entire crew with you on every mission, can you?"

"At sea, a sufficiently sturdy ship, one capable of supporting long-distance voyages, is still very necessary."

Storm fell silent, then waved his hand to shrink the Blue-Eyes White Dragon before placing it on his shoulder.

"... you're right."

Almost all of Storm's previous plans were based on the idea of "going it alone".

But now he's recruited Bear, Kid and Killer, and Robin...

The mindset of a lone wolf is very different from that of a pirate crew.

Storm had to admit it.

Robin's suggestion was indeed very reasonable.

"However, although it makes a lot of sense, I don't want to hear it."

"Ah?"

Robin was momentarily stunned.

She wanted to say something more.

But just ahead, near the Shandia people settlement, a sudden clattering sound of fighting erupted.

Robin immediately abandoned the idea of talking.

"Captain!"

"Yes, I heard you. Don't worry."

Storm said calmly.

"That person is stronger Vearth, but only by a limited margin."

Robin soon saw "that person" that Storm had mentioned.

It was a tall, elderly man dressed in silver armor, holding a huge knight's lance in his hand.

Robin only glanced at the old man before her attention was immediately drawn to the strange creature beneath him.

It was a strange-looking "horse".

Its entire body is covered in pink fur, which is covered with dense black spots. At first glance, it could easily kill someone with trypophobia.

At the same time, it has a bird's face, and a pair of white, bird-like wings grow on its flanks.

To the average person, this is a bizarre creature that is too grotesque to look at.

But it just so happened to suit Robin's aesthetic tastes.

"Kawaii..."

"Hey! Hey! Hey!"

Storm couldn't resist grabbing Robin's shoulder and shaking him vigorously.

Don't make everything "kawaii"! Making everything "kawaii" will only harm you!

"Besides, what about that pink creature that's neither horse nor bird can be described as cute?"

Just as Storm and Robin were talking.

The old man also spotted the two of them.

He was the former god of Sky Island.

Gan Faure.

As for that bizarre creature that resembled neither a horse nor a bird...

Actually, it was Gan Fall's pet.

Piel, a Sky-Dot Bird unique to Sky Island that ate a Zoan [Horse-Horse Fruit].

"Chirp chirp chirp--"

Piel let out a sharp cry, flapped its wings, and carried Gan Fore to Storm.

"Outsider".

The ancient gods of the Sky Island introduced themselves to Storm.

"I am Gan Fall, the 'Sky Knight' of Sky Island."

Tell me your name, and make me laugh.

Storm smirked and nodded to Gan Fall.

"Vongola Storm"

Before Gan Faure could utter his next sentence.

The current chief of the Shandia people approached, accompanied by Vearth and other members of the Shandia guerrillas.

"Lord Storm, I'm truly sorry, but this fellow has some mental issues."

Chief Shandia apologized to Storm first, and then spoke to Gan Fowle.

"Gan Fall, don't do anything foolish! And don't offend Storm!"

"Otherwise, all the Shandia people will see you as their enemy!"

"It's alright."

Gan Fall gripped his lance tightly.

"I am the Sky God. Enel is dead, so I should continue to protect this Skypiea— "

"Stop using such flowery language."

Storm interrupted Gan Fall.

"What do you want? Do you want to challenge me? Do you want to take this island back from me?"

"Right!"

Gan Fore nodded sharply, and he was about to spur his horse and charge the enemy with Piel.

But Storm was much faster than him.

"So slow and hesitant."

Storm raised his right hand, and an octopus-like clay tentacle flew out, grabbing Gan Fall and his mind-polluted pet with lightning speed.

"I'll take you to the White Sea right now, and you can play fishing games with the sky lampreys. Maybe that will clear your head a bit."

Before Gan Faldo could say anything...

Storm manipulated the clay directly, flinging him into the distant White Sea.

The old gods of the Sky Island made their grand entrance, only to disappear just as quickly.

Under normal circumstances.

Storm wouldn't do anything to the elderly, children, or women.

Unless the other side truly deserves to be hit.

Seeing how easily Storm prepared Gan Fall and his pet.

A bitter smile crept across the face of the Shandia chief; his relationship with Gan Fall was actually quite good.

However, the Shandia guerrillas, led by Vearth, all showed expressions of joy and excitement.

As Shandia people, Vearth and his people had no respect for God.

Whether it's Gan Fall or Enel.

The young Shandia warriors of Vearth didn't like it.

Storm's actions directly satisfied the wishes of Vearth and his young warriors.

"Lord Storm"

Aisha pushed her way through the crowd, holding a clay sculpture in her hands, and carefully presented it to Storm.

"This statue is for you."

Robin looked at the statue in Aisha's hand and immediately praised it.

"This statue is so cute, Aisha."

Robin's assessment reveals just how abstract this statue truly is.

Storm stared at the clay sculpture in Aisha's hand, which resembled neither a human nor a ghost.

"Is this your statue?"

"This is your statue!"

Aisha held the statue high in her hands, as if presenting a treasure.

When Aisha first "heard" Storm's voice, Aisha thought it was a god like Enel.

Even a god more terrifying Enel!

However, after Storm gave Jaya Island to the Shandia people without any hesitation...

Aisha instantly understood that Lord Storm was an extremely good god!

Lord Storm once gave her a clay doll of a Nine-Tails Fox.

Of course, Aisha had to return the favor by giving Storm a doll.

"Lord Storm, here you go!"

Fifth update, 20,000 words delivered!

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