Attributes Surge

"Congratulations! Side quest completed: Defeat Navy warships 4/4. Received 700 EXP and 70,000 Beli!"

After completing the quest, Zero's attributes finally changed once more—

Character: Zero

Title: Enemy of Ten Thousand

Level: LV.6 (500/3200)

Strength: 320

Stamina: 320

Agility: 320

Skills: Conqueror's Haki lv3 (Mastered), Armament Haki lv2, Observation Haki lv2, Hand-to-Hand Combat lv4, Swordsmanship lv5

After leveling up once again, his attributes surged dramatically once more. Along with those changes, Zero could feel the power of his skills increasing in tandem. His Haki had grown stronger, while his Hand-to-Hand Combat and Swordsmanship had become even more refined than before.

In contrast, Zero's body felt somewhat exhausted, and there was barely any Haki left within him. Clearly, that attack had consumed a great deal of his strength. At this point, he could only maintain Moonwalk and barely remain standing in the sky without falling. As for attacks like the ones from before, he could not unleash another one anytime soon.

After Nelson's flagship was sunk, the Navy forces on the other side clearly began to fall into disorder.

Some withdrew their steel chains and chose to flee, while others were so panicked that their warships collided with one another, causing serious accidents.

At the same time, as though sensing something, Zero withdrew his gaze and looked at the Millennium Dragon beside him. It had actually stopped flapping its wings and was falling straight toward the sea.

What was going on?

Zero landed on the Millennium Dragon's back and examined its condition.

Before long, Luffy jumped over as well and called out to the Millennium Dragon in his own way.

"Dragon Lord, what do you mean, this is as far as it goes? You should be thinking about yourself! We can take good care of Apis!"

"Huh, what's this?"

Zero suddenly saw a vast expanse of green gradually appearing beneath the sea's surface. Through his Observation Haki, he came to a realization. "Looks like Lost Island is finally about to reveal itself!"

"Zero, what are you talking about?"

Luffy was still somewhat confused at first, but through the Millennium Dragon's eyes, he seemed to sense something as well.

"So that's how it is..."

The Millennium Dragon suddenly let out a long roar toward the sky, making Luffy say with relief, "So you have important companions too!"

Apis on the Going Merry also heard the Millennium Dragon's cry and explained to Nami and Usopp, "Dragon Lord is calling the Millennium Dragons from all around the world... The time has come..."

The two of them also noticed the spreading green beneath the sea. Recalling Zero's earlier speculation among the ruins that Lost Island would reappear, they could not help swallowing. In their hearts, they had already begun to believe his theory.

Not long after the Millennium Dragon's roar echoed through the sky, Millennium Dragons began emerging one after another from the clouds overhead. In no time at all, the sky above this sea was completely surrounded by countless Millennium Dragons!

"Whoa, there are so many!"

Watching the Millennium Dragons continuously soar past overhead, Zero once again marveled inwardly at these magical creatures.

At that moment, the Millennium Dragon was saying farewell to Luffy. Though Luffy was reluctant to accept it, he still nodded and told the Millennium Dragon that he would pass the message on to Apis.

The next moment, the Millennium Dragon rolled its eyes and looked at Zero on its back.

"Zero, Dragon Lord says thank you."

Listening to Luffy's "translation," Zero crouched down and silently gazed at the Millennium Dragon for a while. Only when it closed its eyes and completely stopped breathing did he slowly let out a breath.

Though he did not want to accept it either, Zero had already done everything he could. There was nothing to be done about this outcome.

In truth, Millennium Dragons were not named that because they could live for a thousand years. Rather, they migrated once every thousand years. Dragon Lord's death had more to do with his lifespan reaching its limit.

Soon afterward, the Straw Hat Pirates returned to the Going Merry one after another.

Apis looked heavy-hearted, believing that she had failed to fulfill Dragon Lord's wish and bring him back to Dragon's Nest. But Luffy walked over and told her that Dragon Lord's wish had already been fulfilled.

Then she saw it as well. As the seawater continuously receded, new land suddenly rose from the seabed. Lost Island of legend appeared before them in an entirely new form.

"Dragon Lord!"

Apis suddenly jumped off the ship and ran wildly toward a certain spot.

"Where is she going?"

Usopp asked.

Luffy answered, "Dragon Lord is over there!"

Just as Luffy had said, the place Apis was heading toward was where the Millennium Dragon had previously sunk into the sea. Now that the seafloor had risen, the Millennium Dragon's body had appeared once more.

Everyone followed behind Apis. Seeing her cry before the breathless Millennium Dragon, Luffy could not help saying, "Dragon Lord isn't dead yet! Look over there!"

Following the direction of Luffy's finger, Apis looked over and discovered a newly hatched baby Millennium Dragon, crying out toward her.

Apis seemed to hear it—

Dragon Lord's familiar voice...

She now understood what Dragon Lord had said before. Even if Millennium Dragons died, they would be reborn again. Though Apis was still sorrowful, her gaze became resolute, as though she had made up her mind!

Afterward, the villagers of Warship Island also arrived and invited the Straw Hat Pirates to the island, intending to properly thank them. Everyone politely declined. This incident had already caused them to drift off course for quite some time and delayed their journey; it was time to set sail again.

Before leaving, Luffy invited Apis aboard and asked whether she wanted to join them.

Although Zero knew his captain's personality, was it really alright to bring a child to the Grand Line? Even though she possessed a Devil Fruit, Zero still felt it was far too dangerous.

Fortunately, Apis answered that she wanted to stay on the island. Even if she could not witness the Millennium Dragons' next migration, her descendants would take her place and protect Dragon's Nest generation after generation, waiting for the baby Millennium Dragons to return.

Luffy respected her decision and did not try to persuade her further.

"Bye-bye! Take care, everyone!"

"Bye-bye!"

As the Going Merry gradually sailed away, Apis recalled the days she had spent with everyone. Though she was somewhat reluctant to part with them, she still held firm to her original resolve. Then Bogdan suddenly brought up the history of Warship Island, instantly breaking through her defenses.

"Grandpa Bogdan, you don't need to talk about that anymore!"

"Wait, Apis, don't run!"

"No!"

"No, you have to listen to me properly!"

"..."

And so, the story of Lost Island and the Millennium Dragons came to an end. Though brief, it became a beautiful memory that Zero and every member of the Straw Hat Pirates would find impossible to erase. Even long afterward, whenever they remembered it, they could not help recalling the little girl who could communicate with Millennium Dragons, as well as that island that rose from the sea only once every thousand years...