Dominating Hive Island, Establishing a Grand Fleet

Hive Island.

The former base of the Rocks Pirates, erased from history by the World Government.

A famous pirate paradise, the birthplace of pirate games.

Three of the current Four Emperors had originated from the Rocks Pirates.

Even now,

the legendary great pirate Wang Zhi occupied Hive Island.

Back then, the Rocks Pirates had scattered in chaos on God Island.

Captain Rocks had died.

Captain John had made off with the immeasurable treasures of the Rocks Pirates, only to meet an untimely death.

Wang Zhi had remained behind, openly and covertly ruling over Hive Island.

The Demon King brazenly docked here.

As a pirate paradise, the arrival of one more pirate ship was nothing unusual.

It would only attract attention if it were a warship.

A massive skull overlooked the sea, as if roaring in defiance with a mocking grin.

Beautiful women surrounded Ye Zhuo.

The moment he walked through this pirate paradise, he drew countless gazes.

"Wang Zhi, get out here!"

Ye Zhuo shouted.

Conqueror's Haki erupted in an instant.

Those lowlifes watching the show?

Were they worthy?

The nine Shadowkhan appeared and dragged away every pirate.

Those who needed slaughtering were slaughtered, and those who needed killing were killed.

In less than ten minutes, they sank back into the Shadow Empire.

Together with the three great witches, the dozen or so squad leaders now formed the true lineup of a Four Emperors crew.

No matter how strong Wang Zhi was, he could not rival a genuine Four Emperor.

In the end, he was merely a gatekeeper.

"You're courting death!"

A heavily bearded man approached from ahead.

His icy eyes locked firmly onto Ye Zhuo.

"The Demon King? You're worthy of such a title?"

Wang Zhi said viciously, "There are only two beings worthy of being called kings: one is Rocks, and the other is Roger."

Rocks, King of the World.

Roger, King of the Pirates.

It seemed Wang Zhi had no fear whatsoever, whether of the Four Emperors or Ye Zhuo.

Emperors of the Sea?

Were there not already plenty of emperors in the New World?

They merely dominated one region, nothing more.

Only a king could rule an era!

"I don't have much time to waste playing with you. I've taken a liking to this place."

All of Ye Zhuo's Haki surged forth.

He had long wanted to test how strong he would be with all three types of Haki fully awakened to their advanced forms.

Iron Fist was coated with Ryuo.

Conqueror's Coating merged with Observation Killing.

Future Vision combined with extreme range.

Along with the amplification of the Voice of All Things.

Roar!

With a roar,

Ye Zhuo activated his Demon Sorcerer Form.

At the same time, he used the Monkey Talisman to transform into a humanoid Azure Dragon Form.

Then came the doubled attribute boost of the Demon King Form.

Powerful!

An unprecedented power.

Already over five meters tall due to the Mountain Demonic Energy, Ye Zhuo had been a monster among men.

Not to mention with every state activated.

Shadows emerged from every corner of Hive Island.

Ninja Shadowkhan, samurai, Troll Shadowkhan, and Shadow Eaters occupied every road.

Blade Shadowkhan, Hunter Claw Shadowkhan, Alien Shadowkhan, and Mantis Shadowkhan shifted unpredictably, hiding among the streets and alleys.

Night Bat Shadowkhan hovered in the air, circling as they blanketed the entire Hive Island.

Wang Zhi took one look around.

With Ye Zhuo's Haki unleashed, all of his subordinates had been knocked unconscious.

"Wang Zhi, this is my era now!"

"The rumors were true."

Wang Zhi said only that.

His advantage was completely gone. All he could do now was fight to the death.

Boom!

Their fists collided for the first time.

Wang Zhi could not endure it for even an instant.

He flew backward like a cannonball.

Embedded in a wall, he was buried beneath a cloud of dust and rubble.

Pfft!

One punch!

He could not withstand even a single punch!

"How... is that possible?!"

Wang Zhi vomited blood in great mouthfuls. The arm he had used to trade fists was already ruined.

"Not bad. I really did get a tiny bit stronger."

Ye Zhuo remembered that he had needed demonic energy support when he fought Garp before.

Now, Haki and brute force alone were enough for him to win.

Bang!

He stomped down.

Wang Zhi's head exploded like a ball.

"This island belongs to us from now on. Clean it up. Deal with every outsider."

Ye Zhuo casually waved his hand.

The Shadowkhan hid themselves in the darkness once more.

"Captain!

If we station ourselves here, that means we'll need enormous resources.

We must contact the Dark World emperors of the New World and regularly trade with them for supplies."

Kalifa stepped forward, and her words made Ye Zhuo frown.

"We still have to contact them?"

Ye Zhuo was displeased.

[Ding!]

[Side quest completed: Dominate Hive Island]

[Quest reward: Life Grail: Perfect Version]

He held the Life Grail in his hand.

He filled a cup with strong liquor and handed it to the Pirate Empress.

After only a brief pause, she drained it in one gulp.

[Side quest triggered: Dominate the Dark World. Make all Dark World emperors submit within three days.]

[Quest reward: Shivas' Bracelets: Perfect Version]

Another divine artifact from the world of the Twelve Talismans?

After wearing it, two hands could become four.

Ye Zhuo did not care much about that.

He possessed Moon Demonic Energy, and Tso Lan, the Moon Demon, had four arms.

He could grow them whenever he wanted.

Once he obtained it, he would have six arms instead!

"Another useless thing."

Ye Zhuo could not understand what use having so many hands was.

To release demonic energy?

Whoosh!

With a thought, the bat wings of Hsi Wu, the Sky Demon, grew from his back.

Along with Tso Lan's other two small arms.

He wore the robes of the Eight Demons.

Having returned to his normal human form, Ye Zhuo also grew the twin horns of Demon Di Kui, the Earth Demon, atop his head.

He sat upon a towering throne.

Two small hands supported his cheeks while his other two large hands swept outward.

"Kalifa, tell those ants hiding in the darkness to come see me.

Anyone who doesn't arrive after one day will be killed.

Anyone who doesn't arrive after three days will have even their ashes scattered."

In the New World, a king stood above all emperors!

"Yes, Captain!"

Kalifa was overwhelmed by Ye Zhuo's powerful presence.

She hurriedly picked up a Den Den Mushi to make contact.

At that moment, everyone was astonished by the Pirate Empress.

After drinking the liquor that had been in the Life Grail,

her bearing and appearance had frozen at their peak state.

Even her towering twin peaks had been upgraded!

"It has that effect too?"

Ye Zhuo had not expected that this was what the "Perfect Version" of the Life Grail meant.

Even Carrot, after taking a single drink, activated her Moon Lion state.

And she remained fully rational, without suffering any drawbacks!

"Kalifa!"

After Vivi drank a cup, she handed it to Kalifa, who was contacting the Dark World emperors.

Kalifa drank it in one gulp and immediately felt her entire aura strengthen considerably.

As her height increased, all her attributes were enhanced and maintained at their peak.

"Shut up! I'm talking to you as the shipwright of the Demon King Pirates!"

Kalifa hung up the Den Den Mushi.

She looked at Ye Zhuo, then at the cup he used to drink.

The Life Grail's effects were astounding.

Yet Ye Zhuo used it to drink liquor.

"Captain, all of the Dark World emperors have agreed.

However, some have chosen to refuse.

That includes the Queen of the Pleasure District and the Shipping King, Umit!"

Kalifa knelt on one knee, finding it difficult to maintain her balance with her enhanced body.

"Is that so? What about that dumb bird Morgans and little Gold Tesoro?"

"They are willing to come!"

After thinking for a moment, Kalifa added,

"It seems the Dark World is more willing to follow Big Mom!"

Oh?

Ye Zhuo felt annoyed the moment he heard about that old hag.

"Once I deal with those two idiots courting death, it'll be her turn to die."