Lord of the Sky Island

"Devil Fruit?"

"That's right, a Devil Fruit. As a secret treasure of the sea, whoever eats one can possess strange abilities beyond ordinary people. As the price, he will be hated by the sea for the rest of his life and unable to swim. You could say that as long as you eat a Devil Fruit, you can possess power far beyond ordinary people and make everyone fear you."

Ye Mu still kept some things hidden, picking only the most basic facts to tell Enel.

"So you're saying the fruit I gave you is a Devil Fruit?"

Sure enough, a trace of greed flashed through Enel's eyes, and Ye Mu took it all in.

"Here, take it. Although I can't be sure exactly what ability it has, as long as it's a Devil Fruit, there's no such thing as a weak one."

Enduring the pain in his heart, Ye Mu handed the fruit in his hand to Enel. He was gambling—gambling on what Enel's nature was really like.

It seemed Ye Mu had won the bet. Seeing Ye Mu return the Devil Fruit to him, disbelief flashed through Enel's eyes. He slowly took the Devil Fruit from Ye Mu's hand, his gaze shifting back and forth between Ye Mu and the Devil Fruit in his hand. In the end, as if he had made up his mind, his clenched fist slowly loosened.

"Let's keep going. It's not far from the place where I found the Devil Fruit."

"Mm."

A faint smile appeared on Ye Mu's face, and then he followed behind Enel, walking forward.

Soon, a golden city filled with shining light appeared in Ye Mu's field of vision. Besides that, there were enormous green vines, and at the foot of the vines stood a building like the gates of hell, carved with all kinds of demons.

Ye Mu felt as if his feet could hardly move. As an ordinary nobody, when had he ever seen this much gold? At that moment, he had an impulse to rush over and melt all that gold into his body. But in order not to embarrass himself in front of Enel, he forcibly restrained his desire. His heart was truly tangled beyond words.

Fortunately, at that moment, Enel, who was holding the Devil Fruit, spoke.

"That fruit is inside that gate. Let's go over together."

"Mm."

Ye Mu's voice trembled a little. It could be said that this was the moment that would decide his fate.

Ye Mu took one step after another, slowly walking toward that pitch-black gate. Once he got closer and there was a little more light, the gate of hell no longer seemed so terrifying.

Only then did Ye Mu discover that the inside was vast and empty, with a very high roof. It was just that everything inside seemed to have been moved away long ago. Only a vine, like a rainbow bridge, ran through the entire building. And at the highest, most central point of the vine, a Devil Fruit with flame patterns hung there, flashing with dazzling light.

Ye Mu felt as if his eyes were about to leap out of their sockets. No longer caring about his image, he quickly ran toward the vine.

The Devil Fruit was positioned very high up, but fortunately, there was a giant vine there. He rubbed his palms, then began climbing along the vine toward the Devil Fruit.

It had to be said that Ye Mu's body seemed truly rather weak. After climbing only a few steps, he was already panting. But Ye Mu didn't dare slow down. What lay before him was something that would decide his future.

Fortunately, everything went smoothly.

But just as Ye Mu finally stretched out his hand and was able to touch that flame-like Devil Fruit—

Suddenly, tremors came from the earth, and hissing, hoarse sounds echoed all around.

Enel, who had been standing to the side watching Ye Mu, instantly changed expression. As if recalling something, he shouted at Ye Mu on the vine, "Not good! Hurry and come down! The Lord of the Sky Island is back!"

"What is it!?"

Standing up high, Ye Mu did not clearly hear what Enel was saying, but very soon, he saw it.

Outside the building's windows, a thick, gaudy figure kept weaving back and forth. Its enormous body crushed countless ancient ruins.

After a rumbling clamor, amid the spreading smoke and dust, an enormous, brightly colored python appeared.

No one knew how long this giant python was; its tail could not be seen at a glance. But there was no doubt that its body alone was wider than dozens of Ye Mus put together.

The giant python's two lantern-like eyes stared fixedly through the window at Ye Mu at the top of the vine, as if looking at a petty thief who had stolen its treasure. Its forked tongue flicked in and out nonstop, as if it might swallow Ye Mu in one bite at any moment.

"Hey, hey, big bro, what kind of joke are you playing?"

At that moment, Ye Mu truly wanted to cry but had no tears!

He finally understood what Enel had meant. The Lord of the Sky Island—the giant python that guarded the City of Gold.

Ye Mu's eyes met the giant python's pupils. From its gaze, Ye Mu could read a warning: put down what was in his hand, or it would eat him.

But how could Ye Mu possibly put down what was in his hand? His future depended entirely on this fruit.

Thinking of this, he immediately shouted toward Enel in the distance.

"Hey, Enel! Hurry up and eat the Devil Fruit in your hand, then run back the way we came in!"

"Then... then what about you?"

Enel had also been scared stupid, and he asked somewhat at a loss.

"Don't worry about me! You run first! I absolutely won't give up this Devil Fruit."

At this point, Ye Mu looked at Enel, who was still hesitating there, and shouted loudly.

"Don't worry! I promise you, I'll definitely make it back alive! I still have to return to the Blue Sea and become the Pirate King! There's no way I'm dying here! Hurry up and run..."

After hearing Ye Mu's words, Enel's heart churned with countless thoughts. In the end, he hardened his heart, turned, and fled in the direction they had run in from.

"Remember, you must eat the Devil Fruit! Otherwise, you won't be able to escape from here!"

Ye Mu shouted one last time as he watched Enel flee.

After all, if the Lord of the Sky Island ate him and then chased after Enel, Enel definitely wouldn't be able to escape.

After giving his instructions, Ye Mu finally looked at the giant python before him.

However, the Lord of the Sky Island seemed completely uninterested in the fleeing Enel. Its gaze had been fixed on Ye Mu the entire time.

"Fuck, what are you staring at?"

Ye Mu was also forcing himself to be brave, showing not the slightest fear of the Lord of the Sky Island. In any case, there was no way he would give up the Devil Fruit in his hand. With that thought, Ye Mu steeled his heart, grabbed the Devil Fruit, plucked it off, then slid down along the vine.

Bang...

Ye Mu's body smashed hard onto the floor, the fall making him feel as if his whole body was about to shatter.

But he had no time to worry about his body, because when the Lord of the Sky Island saw that Ye Mu had actually plucked the treasure it had guarded for so long, it instantly flew into a rage. Shaking its enormous head, it charged toward Ye Mu, ripping the building's roof clean off.

Ye Mu struggled to his feet and just barely dodged the Lord of the Sky Island's charge, but he was still blasted away by the shockwave. His already aching body now hurt so badly it felt as if his heart and lungs were being torn apart.

When the Lord of the Sky Island saw that such a tiny little thing had actually dodged its attack, it grew even more furious. Opening its huge mouth, it lunged at Ye Mu, wanting to swallow him in one bite.

Ye Mu stared at the Lord of the Sky Island's mouth, which was as huge as a truck.

Without the slightest ability to resist, he was swallowed by the Lord of the Sky Island in a single gulp. Then, with a gurgle, he slowly slid down its throat and into its stomach...