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 today's 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 treasure of the Rocks Pirates, only to die an untimely death.
Wang Zhi, meanwhile, had remained behind, openly and secretly dominating Hive Island.
The Demon King was docked there without the slightest attempt at concealment.
As a pirate paradise, the arrival of another pirate ship was nothing unusual.
A warship, on the other hand, would have drawn attention.
The massive skull overlooked the sea, as if sneering and shouting in mockery.
Beautiful women surrounded Ye Zhuo.
The moment he walked into this pirate paradise, he drew countless gazes.
"Wang Zhi, get out here!"
Ye Zhuo shouted.
Conqueror's Haki erupted in an instant.
Spectator fodder?
Were they worthy?
The Nine Shadowkhan appeared and dragged away every pirate.
Some were slaughtered, others killed.
Less than ten minutes later, they had slipped back into the Shadow Empire.
Together with the three great witches, more than a dozen squad leaders now made up the true configuration of a Four Emperors crew.
No matter how strong Wang Zhi was, he could not rival a genuine Four Emperors crew.
In the end, he was merely a gatekeeper.
"You're courting death!"
A bearded man approached from the front.
His icy eyes stared fixedly at Ye Zhuo.
"Demon King? Are you 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, Pirate King.
It seemed that Wang Zhi feared neither the Four Emperors nor Ye Zhuo.
Emperors of the sea?
Were there not already plenty of emperors in the New World?
In the end, they merely dominated one region.
Only a king could rule an era!
"I don't have much time to play around with you. I've taken a liking to this place."
All of Ye Zhuo's Haki surged forth.
He had long wanted to test just how powerful he would be with all three types of Haki fully awakened at an advanced level.
Iron Fist covered Ryuo.
Conqueror's Coating fused with Observation Killing.
Future Vision and Ultra-Long Distance.
Along with the amplification of the Voice of All Things.
Roar!
With a roar,
Ye Zhuo activated his Demon Sorcerer Form.
Using the Monkey Talisman, he transformed into the Beast-Man Form of the Azure Dragon Form.
Together with the doubled attribute boost of the Demon King Form.
Powerful!
Powerful like never before.
Already a monster among men due to the Mountain Demonic Energy, Ye Zhuo stood over five meters tall.
Not to mention that he was now in his fully unleashed state.
Shadows emerged from every direction across 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 in the streets and alleys.
Night Bat Shadowkhan hovered in the air, circling as they enveloped all of Hive Island.
Wang Zhi took one look around.
With Ye Zhuo's Haki fully unleashed, all of Wang Zhi's subordinates had been knocked unconscious.
"Wang Zhi, this is my era now!"
"The rumors were true."
Wang Zhi said only those words.
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 the wall, he was buried beneath dust and rubble.
Pfft!
One punch!
He could not withstand even one punch!
"How... is that possible?!"
Wang Zhi vomited blood in mouthfuls. The arm he had used to exchange blows was already ruined.
"Not bad. I really did get a tiny bit stronger."
Ye Zhuo remembered that when he had fought Garp, he had still needed the enhancement of demonic energy.
Now, Haki and brute force alone were enough to win.
Bang!
He stomped down.
Wang Zhi's head burst like a ball.
"This island belongs to us from now on. Clean it up. Deal with every outsider."
Ye Zhuo waved a hand casually.
The Shadowkhan hid themselves in the darkness again.
"Captain!
If we are to station ourselves here, that means we will need a vast amount of resources.
We must contact the Dark World emperors of the New World and regularly trade with them for supplies."
Kalifa stepped forward. 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.
He poured a cup of strong liquor and handed it to the Empress.
She paused only briefly before draining 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 putting it on, two hands could become four hands.
Ye Zhuo did not care much about that.
He possessed the 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!
"Another useless trinket."
Ye Zhuo could not understand what use he had for so many arms.
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.
His two small hands propped up his cheeks, while his other two large hands waved.
"Kalifa, tell those ants hiding in the darkness to come see me.
Anyone who does not come after one day will be killed.
Anyone who does not come after three days will have even their ashes scattered."
In the New World, a king stood above all emperors!
"Yes, sir!"
Kalifa was intimidated by Ye Zhuo's overwhelming presence.
She hurriedly picked up a Den Den Mushi and began making calls.
At that moment, everyone was astonished by the Empress.
After drinking the strong liquor that had been poured from the Life Grail,
her bearing and appearance had frozen at their peak.
Even her towering twin peaks had been enhanced!
"It has that effect too?"
Ye Zhuo had not expected that this was what the "Perfect Version" of the Life Grail meant.
Even Carrot entered her Sulong state after taking a single sip.
And she was completely rational, suffering no drawbacks whatsoever!
"Kalifa!"
After drinking a cup, Vivi passed it to Kalifa, who was contacting the emperors of the Dark World.
Kalifa drank it in one gulp and immediately felt her entire presence strengthen considerably.
As her height increased, all her attributes were enhanced and maintained at their peak.
"Shut up! I'm speaking 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 astonishing.
Yet Ye Zhuo used it to drink liquor.
"Captain, all the emperors of the Dark World 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.
"Really? What about that stupid bird Morgans, and little goldie Tesoro?"
"They are willing to come!"
After thinking for a moment, Kalifa added,
"It seems the Dark World would rather follow Big Mom!"
Oh?
Ye Zhuo was annoyed the moment he heard that old woman's name.
"Once those two fools seeking death are dealt with, she'll be next."
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