The Corrupt King—Avalo Pizarro

"Recently, the weather's been strange..."

On the streets of Thunder God Island, a shop owner selling insulated umbrellas looked up at the sky, his face full of unease.

It was clearly not yet the off-season, yet the thunderclouds above had already begun to thin, allowing even a faint trace of sunlight to filter through.

Clear skies after rain should have been a good thing, but for the merchants of Thunder God Island, it was anything but. It would only destroy everything they had.

"I hope it's just my imagination."

The owner muttered to himself. Though his heart was filled with worry, there was nothing he could do.

How could people control the weather? At most, they could only predict it and prepare for it.

Thunder God Island had been protected by thunderclouds for so many years. They would not dissipate anytime soon.

Yeah, definitely!

He tried hard to comfort himself, but the worry between his brows refused to fade.

Looking toward the other shops, he saw that his neighbors also kept glancing nervously at the sky.

A heavy, oppressive atmosphere hung over the place, draining Thunder God Island of its former vitality.

Thud, thud, thud...

A series of somewhat heavy footsteps approached. At their head was the burly man with a pair of horns on his head.

His five-meter-tall body made him stand out like a little giant on Thunder God Island. Forget the residents—even the buildings here were shorter than him.

He wore a long, broad fur coat patterned in white and dark brown, along with a light purple necklace.

His bluish-green hair was incredibly thick, enough to form two long braids hanging over his chest. His beard was equally long, drooping in crescent-shaped curves.

Combined with his catlike narrow pupils, he looked like a ferocious tiger.

"This place doesn't seem to have that much lightning falling from the sky after all, meow..."

Avalo Pizarro, the towering man known as the Corrupt King, swept his gaze around with utter rudeness, almost completely unrestrained.

The residents of Thunder God Island did not dare meet his eyes. Whenever his gaze swept their way, they hurriedly hid, craned their necks down, or quietly crouched like quails.

Pizarro smiled without caring, merely raising the specially made umbrella in his hand and looking up at the sparse crackling bolts falling from above. His eyes grew interested.

It was nowhere near a downpour. It barely even compared to a misty spring rain.

Was this truly the legendary Thunder God Island?

Pizarro had originally intended to conceal his ill intentions, make a simple deal, and leave. He had even bought the necessary insulated umbrellas normally and put away his pirate flag.

Yet after docking and coming ashore, Pizarro and his men had only encountered a few scattered lightning strikes. It was nothing like the rumored rain-like barrage of lightning.

This weather could be considered harsh, but compared with the storms of the New World seas, it was nothing worth mentioning.

The deeper Pizarro went into Thunder God Island, the more suspicion filled his eyes.

Then he looked at the small shops with their dazzling array of goods displayed outside, and greed immediately surged within him.

If this was merely an ordinary island...

Before long, Pizarro found someone on the street who looked like a guard.

He reined in his vicious aura, pretended to be part of a merchant caravan, slipped the man several Beli notes, and began fishing for information.

"Hey, little brother, I heard Thunder God Island should be full of lightning strikes, meow. But looking at it today, why doesn't it seem that way, meow?"

After exchanging a few casual remarks, Pizarro asked with feigned curiosity.

"Ah, it used to be like that. But for some reason, the thunderclouds have thinned out these past few days. You know how it is—weather is hard to predict."

"Stay here for a few more days, and you'll definitely see it."

Having taken the money, the young guard kindly explained, conveniently recommending that they stay and keep spending.

Hearing this, Pizarro exchanged looks with his men, then held back a laugh and asked again.

"But I heard this island relies on thunderclouds for protection. What if pirates came at a time like this?"

"Oh, they won't. It's been ages since pirates came here."

"What if they do?"

"There is no 'what if.' Our island is full of lightning. If pirates come to cause trouble and raise their weapons, they'll get struck by lightning!"

"Besides, there are Marines nearby. If pirates really come, we can just report it to the Marines."

"So you don't have much in the way of defenses here, meow?"

Pizarro's tone gradually turned playful, while a vicious gleam flashed in his eyes.

"Hey, what kind of thing is that to say? Aren't I here?"

The young guard was quite displeased. He quickly raised his fists and threw a few punches, each one cutting through the air with force.

"If pirates really come, I'll beat them until they're crawling around looking for their teeth. Don't worry."

"Mm, I'm very reassured."

"Meow hahahaha!"

Pizarro burst into laughter, and the large number of lackeys behind him laughed as well. Their rampant laughter was painfully grating.

The young guard trembled. Sensing that something was wrong, beads of cold sweat slid down his forehead, and his voice began to shake unconsciously.

"What are you laughing about?"

"Little brother, thank you. You let me know this place has no protection right now!"

"I'm a pirate!"

Every bit of his previous disguise was torn away as Pizarro completely revealed his hand.

A tiger without teeth—no, a fox that had borrowed a tiger's might but lost the tiger. What was there to fear!?

"Men, the plan has changed! Loot everything here!"

"From today onward, I'm the master of this island!"

Pizarro puffed out his chest with a sinister grin. The disguise clothing loosely draped over him tore apart, revealing the massive slabs of fat-packed muscle on his bare chest.

His powerful body pressed forward, radiating a violent aura.

His shadow enveloped the young guard. The guard raised his head blankly, only then realizing that this man was at least two stories tall.

Pizarro casually slapped him. With a bang, dirt and dust flew as the young guard was smashed straight into the ground.

"Meow hahaha, so weak!"

Without even looking at the faint presence below, Pizarro laughed wantonly, startling the entire commercial street of Thunder God Island.

Most pirates were short-sighted and arrogant, and Pizarro was no exception. Known as the Corrupt King in the North Blue, he had always done whatever he pleased.

After discovering that Thunder God Island was not what it was made out to be, Pizarro made his decision without hesitation.

Loot everything here! Rule this place!

"Ohhhhhh!"

The many lackeys immediately reacted. Grinning, they drew the blades at their waists, steel flashing coldly.

Rumble!

The dark clouds exploded overhead, and a flash of light descended, illuminating the pirates' twisted faces.

Pizarro looked up and licked his lips.

Oh? It hadn't completely dried up, or was it...

Looking at the metal swords, Pizarro's expression sharpened and he immediately cursed.

"You idiots, don't use swords here! You'll get struck by lightning! Conquer this place with your fists, meow!"

Though he cursed them, Pizarro clearly did not want his lackeys dying because of that. Yet he himself swaggered out from beneath the umbrella and reached a hand toward the sky.

"Except for me, of course. Meow hahahaha!"

Metallic light gleamed from the black-and-bronze spiral gloves raised on Pizarro's hands. They were his weapons.

Boom!

The lightning within the thunderclouds seemed to have found the perfect target. The clouds collided at once, producing a deep rumble before a lightning spear came plunging down.

Amid flashing lightning and rolling thunder, it struck Pizarro's raised metal gloves directly. The scorching energy sent a numbing sensation through him, enough to shatter everything about an ordinary person.

But...

"Meow hahahaha, this lightning is part of the island too, isn't it!"

Pizarro laughed wildly, treating the lightning in his hand as though it were nothing, as if he had not been the one struck.

He clenched his fist hard. The lightning seemed to be seized in Pizarro's hand—no, it fused with his body!

With a sharp crackle, electric currents erupted, and a layer of lightning armor immediately appeared over Pizarro's body. The power of thunder was now his to command!

"This is... quite a nice feeling!"

Pizarro felt powerful energy coursing through his body. Looking toward a house in the distance, he ruthlessly flung his hand.

Rumble! Lightning erupted and struck it directly.

The violent energy instantly blasted the house to pieces. Its stone walls were utterly defenseless as clouds of dust billowed out and spread through the commercial street.

The crowd stared blankly at Pizarro holding lightning in his hand, fear flickering in their eyes.

"Trash, this is my power!"

Along with Pizarro's savage grin, the cracking of stone and earth sounded like their sense of safety shattering.

Panic spread in an instant. Screams rippled through the crowd, followed by the sounds of fleeing footsteps.

"Pirates! They're pirates!"

"Why are there pirates here!?"

"Everyone, run!"

"It's the Corrupt King Pizarro!!!"

The civilians' terror filled Pizarro with delight. Together with the flattering cheers of his men behind him, his mouth split open into a crimson smile.

"Meow hahahaha! I'm invincible!"

"Mm..."

Inside the inn, Mobius heard the commotion outside and abruptly sat up.

Confusion flashed through his eyes. He walked to the window, wanting to see what was happening.

Boom!

A thunderous blast rang out. Blinding light accompanied the sound of bricks and tiles being destroyed, instantly waking Mobius completely.

"What happened?"

Mobius instinctively widened his eyes. The fleeing crowd came into view, as did the pirates laughing openly nearby.

In an instant, Mobius understood everything.

"This sea really has no shortage of local specialties."

Rubbing his forehead, Mobius sighed. When he raised his eyes again, they were utterly cold.

He flipped out through the window and landed in the street. Swiftly weaving through the noisy crowd, Mobius headed directly toward Pizarro.

Pizarro was savoring his own violence. As a former king, he knew better than anyone how useful fear was. It was the best and fastest way to rule!

Lightning gathered in his hand again as Pizarro's slit pupils turned toward the crowd.

"Let me have a little more fun..."

"Meow!!!"

A vivid streak of crimson suddenly filled his vision. The next second, agonizing pain tore through his abdomen, and Pizarro spat out a mouthful of blood.

Bang!

His laughter came to an abrupt halt. Pizarro's expression stiffened instantly, like a fish starved of oxygen.

His body flew upward, tracing a perfect arc through the air. The immense force blasted rings of airwaves behind him.

With a boom, Pizarro crashed into the ground, creating a massive crater lined with dense cracks.

The nearby lackeys had still been laughing, but the scene before them suddenly changed. Their captain's figure vanished, replaced by a tall young man.

Mobius flexed his fingers a few times, regret showing in his eyes.

After transforming into a dragon, his physical strength had already surpassed that of an ordinary giant. The power of that punch would have been more than enough to stop a freight train.

But at that critical moment, Pizarro's body had instinctively defended itself. Though Mobius had struck a vital point, he could sense that Pizarro still retained consciousness.

Not an instant kill...

"Who the hell are you!!!"

At last, Pizarro's lackeys reacted. They immediately pointed at Mobius and cursed loudly.

"You actually dared to sneak-attack the captain!"

"Get him! Kill him!"

The lackeys swarmed forward, their eyes bloodshot.

They had crossed the Grand Line and fought their way into the New World with their lives on the line. Even knowing they had encountered a formidable opponent today, these lackeys did not lack the courage to fight.

"Oh? You dare approach me?"

Mobius smiled at the sight. In the next instant, a shadow fell over that smile.

"You really have underestimated me!"

Thunder Roar!

Violent lightning instantly burst forth from Mobius's mouth like an unfurling fishing net, flooding toward the lackeys before him.

Destructive energy spread outward. The moment it touched the ground, even the earth was shattered.

The lackeys merely blinked, and a flash as bright as daylight appeared before their eyes.

At that moment, warmth spread before every lackey, but their hearts were filled with cold.

Boom!

Explosive lightning swallowed every lackey. Currents flickered across their bodies, searing deep into their bones.

The heat nearly vaporized their blood. Their brains went numb, and their consciousness faded.

Thud...

Bodies fell one after another, though the sound was drowned out by the thunder. Once the thunder faded, only a field of charred corpses remained.

Total annihilation!

"Hah..."

Mobius opened and closed his mouth, exhaling a cloud of black smoke after unleashing Thunder Roar.

By then, the fleeing crowd had stopped. They stood frozen in place, staring at Mobius's back in lingering terror.

Was this young man protecting them?

Glancing back at the residents of Thunder God Island, Mobius scratched his head. He did not know whether this had started because of him, but "fighting evil was everyone's responsibility."

"Member of the Naval Science Unit. Don't worry, you should be safe now..."

"Hm!?"

Mobius suddenly whipped his head around, his gaze instantly locking onto the deep crater Pizarro had crashed into. Observation Haki told him that the presence there was fading!

"Tie up these lackeys first. The mastermind is trying to escape!"

Stomping hard on the ground, Mobius flashed several times and instantly arrived at the edge of the crater.

Before him was half of Pizarro's body. The rest of him had already completely merged into the massive pit underground.

In an instant, Mobius recalled Pizarro's intelligence.

A Paramecia-type Island-Island Fruit user. This fruit granted its user the ability to assimilate with an entire island, allowing him to control all nonliving objects on it.

This was Pizarro's windup before merging with the whole island!

Heat Breath!

Without mercy, Mobius opened his mouth and unleashed a scorching blast of breath.

Dazzling flames immediately swallowed the entire opening. The overflowing fire even surged into the sky, forming a strange spectacle like fireworks.

"Meowaaahhh!"

Pizarro let out a heart-rending scream. The Island-Island Fruit could assimilate him with an entire island, but its drawback was that if the island was attacked after assimilation, he would be injured as well.

The user's health bar was tied to the island's. Even if his ability to withstand damage was greatly enhanced, the damage was real!

In his agony, Pizarro hesitated no longer. He swiftly turned and burrowed into the island, completely fusing himself with it.

"Brat, if you dare, come after me! I'll tear you to pieces!"

Pizarro completely merged into the ground. A huge face emerged from the earth and stone, then he viciously called out to Mobius.

Following the senses he gained after assimilating with the island, Pizarro immediately raced toward the place with the densest energy on the island.

He would use Thunder God Island's lightning to kill this little brat!

Pizarro's presence vanished before him. Mobius closed his eyes and traced its direction with Observation Haki, a strange look appearing on his face.

The direction that guy was heading... was an uninhabited wilderness?

Blinking, Mobius rose into the air without hesitation and immediately chased after Pizarro.

He wanted to use lightning to destroy him? What a ridiculous idea.