Robin

"R."

A sphere of light appeared in Ye Qiong's palm. He carefully sensed it before finally expanding it into a huge circular space.

"R takes a little too long to activate, around two seconds. Hmm, my stamina is continuously draining."

How could he speed up the activation time and maintain the R space for a long time with lower consumption?

That way, he could perfectly use "R" as combat support.

As Ye Qiong pondered, a flash of inspiration crossed his mind.

The intense stamina consumption was most likely because the expanded space was too large. If he shrank it...

Ye Qiong immediately acted on the thought, controlling his ability and attempting to shrink R.

The circular space contracted slightly, shrinking by a small ring. To his delight, the stamina consumption truly decreased a little.

But when he tried to shrink it further, Ye Qiong found it somewhat difficult, as though there were an indescribable resistance.

Still, this showed him the direction for improving R. As long as he kept training, he believed he would soon be able to freely control its size.

Mastering spatial abilities, cultivating Ancient Martial Arts and physical techniques.

A little over a year from now, how strong would I become?

The Buster Call had always left him unable to breathe, whether through self-comfort or self-avoidance. Now, he could finally face it, if only a little.

Ye Qiong suddenly smiled, feeling a wave of relief wash through his entire body.

Without realizing it, his mindset had undergone a certain transformation.

Eastern Residential District, Robin's home.

Ye Qiong sat stiffly beside Robin, facing a married couple. At the moment, the pair were studying him with strange expressions.

Although he knew that the two across from him were merely Robin's maternal great-uncle and his wife, they had taken on the responsibility of raising Robin since she was young. They could be considered her closest family.

No matter what, since he had come to their home for dinner, he should explain himself.

"Uh, I'm Robin's..." Ye Qiong awkwardly rubbed his nose.

"He's my lover." Robin, who had been quietly eating beside him, suddenly interjected.

Pfft!

Ye Qiong nearly choked. Luckily, there was nothing in his mouth, or he would have thoroughly embarrassed himself.

"We've already pledged ourselves to each other for life," Robin continued calmly.

She really wouldn't stop until she said something shocking!

Ye Qiong staggered, nearly falling from his chair.

"Robin, this chicken leg is delicious. Really delicious. Eat more." Ye Qiong hurriedly scooped a chicken leg onto her plate, trying to stuff her mouth shut.

If she kept talking, Ye Qiong could not guarantee she would not suddenly mention having a child or something.

Seeing the dumbfounded couple across from him, Ye Qiong forced himself to explain. "You two, actually..."

"Ah, ah, we understand. Young people, you know!" Robin's great-uncle nodded fiercely.

"Yes, yes. I never expected Robin to have such a handsome boyfriend." The older woman continued carefully looking him over from head to toe.

This couple was a little strange.

Ye Qiong was speechless.

Were people in this world all so open-minded?

A thought occurred to Ye Qiong. He glanced at Robin, who was quietly eating beside him, and suddenly remembered that Robin's relationship with the relatives raising her did not seem particularly good.

Perhaps they merely treated her as a servant living in their home and had never truly regarded her as family.

After that, the couple politely kept adding food to his plate and pouring him drinks.

Though Ye Qiong felt helpless, it was still all right. At least they did not seem to have any objections on the surface.

Looking at Robin's calm expression, Ye Qiong could only glare at her, telling her he would deal with her next time.

What amazed the couple was that Ye Qiong's stomach seemed like a bottomless pit. Even though they had prepared extra dishes, it was still not enough to fill him.

"It's a blessing to have such a good appetite." Robin's great-uncle's gaze was somewhat strange.

"Next time you come, I'll cook even more." The older woman nodded in agreement.

"Then thank you very much."

Now that he knew they were not particularly close to Robin, Ye Qiong did not stand on ceremony. After eating his fill, he let out a long breath.

This was his first time eating the ordinary food of residents in the pirate world. It felt pretty good.

Just then, the hurried footsteps and cries of people on the street came clearly through the window.

"Run, pirates are here!"

"Go home and lock your doors and windows!"

The couple's expressions changed as well, and they hurriedly rose to their feet.

"What's going on?" Ye Qiong asked in confusion.

"Pirates have invaded. Don't make a sound. Hide well. They won't search every house," Robin's great-uncle explained in a low voice.

"Pirates are invading so openly? Aren't they afraid the Marines will surround and eliminate them?" Ye Qiong asked curiously.

Although he did not think highly of the Marines, under normal circumstances, whether for their public image or to maintain internal order, they would do their best to preserve public safety.

"Yes. For some reason, more and more Marines have been withdrawing from Ohara Island lately. There are fewer and fewer people left to maintain order," the older woman said worriedly.

Ye Qiong's gaze grew solemn. He had not expected the Marines to have already received some news by now.

That made sense. After all, things happened gradually.

"You, have you seen a boy with black hair and black eyes recently..."

A rough voice came from outside the window. It should have belonged to one of the invading pirates, but the question made Ye Qiong feel rather strange.

A boy with black hair and black eyes? Were they looking for him?

Ye Qiong's eyes shifted, and he smiled knowingly. He had roughly pieced together what had happened.

He stood and walked toward the door.

"Ye Qiong, don't go out! Hide!" the couple cried anxiously.

"I think those pirates are probably here for me." Ye Qiong helplessly shrugged and opened the door to leave.

"This..." The couple did not know what to do.

Robin was still quietly eating. Somewhat helplessly, she comforted them, "Don't worry."

"Ye Qiong is very strong."

On the street, people fled hurriedly to one side with pale faces. Only Ye Qiong walked toward the pirates, and his lone movement against the flow drew particular attention.

"Friend, it's dangerous over there!"

"Run for your life!"

Many passersby looked at him anxiously and tried to persuade him, all out of kindness.

Ye Qiong nodded to show that he understood, but his steps did not waver as he continued toward the pirates.

As he approached the screams, the street ahead had already been emptied.

There was only a pirate gang of around twenty men. Each looked vicious, carrying swords and guns as they seized several residents and interrogated them.

When they saw Ye Qiong approaching, they were confused as well, and their gazes turned toward him. They had not expected that while everyone else feared them, a child would actually walk toward them.

"Kid! Do you have some information to provide?" A pirate pointed at Ye Qiong and asked arrogantly.

"Look, am I black-haired?" Ye Qiong asked back.

The pirate looked him over and nodded.

"Then look again. Do I have black eyes?" Ye Qiong pointed at his own eyes.

The pirate was confused, but still nodded.

"Then look once more. Am I a boy?" Ye Qiong spread his hands.

"Of course you are..." The pirate felt like he was being toyed with. Just as he was about to get angry, he froze, seeming to understand something.

"Idiot! He's the brat who got the Devil Fruit!" A pirate behind him slapped the back of his head.

"Congratulations, you guessed right."

Ye Qiong shrugged boredly. He found that these pirates seemed a little useless. Well, in the brains department.

"Brat, congratulations. You've angered us." The pirates released the residents, their rage surging.

The residents lying on the ground and groaning looked at Ye Qiong worriedly. Ah, poor child. He would be killed, wouldn't he?

"Come on, let me see your anger." Ye Qiong casually beckoned at them.

The pirates immediately exploded.

"Brothers, get him!"

The pirates swarmed forward, swords and guns raised!

"R."

Ye Qiong extended his left hand and released R, enveloping the surrounding area.

Everything appeared clearly in his mind, with nowhere to hide!

Ye Qiong vanished from where he stood in a teleport, appearing among the pirates the next moment. He kicked several of them down, then unleashed a barrage of punches.

In the briefest instant, several pirates were sent flying, rolling a long distance across the ground.

Once Ye Qiong entered the pirate group, he was like a tiger among sheep. The battle was completely one-sided.

Not a single pirate lackey could withstand even one exchange with him!

Before this, dealing with them would have taken some effort. But after gaining spatial abilities, dealing with them was simply too easy.

With spatial teleportation alone, the numerous pirates never touched even Ye Qiong's sleeve throughout the entire fight.

An effortless crushing victory!

By the end, only Ye Qiong remained standing, his clothes spotless. All the other pirates lay collapsed around him, groaning endlessly.

The residents secretly watching from the surrounding streets were dumbfounded!

Who would have thought that a child who looked only eleven or twelve years old possessed such strength?

"You all, leave this place immediately!" Ye Qiong coldly told the pirates on the ground.

"Yes, yes..." How could those pirates dare linger? Supporting one another, limping or clutching their arms, they hurriedly fled.

Ye Qiong was in a fairly good mood today and did not want to massacre people in a residential district, so he had merely broken their arms and legs without killing them.

This counted as killing a chicken to warn the monkeys.

Once the pirates fled in panic, people flooded back into the street and walked toward Ye Qiong with cheers of excitement.

But as though he had expected it all along, Ye Qiong vanished using "Silver Flash."

He left behind a crowd of jubilant people.

"Silver Flash" activated. Ye Qiong teleported behind Robin, only to discover that he had directly barged into Robin's room.

Unlike the rooms of other young girls, it had no decorations at all. The wooden furnishings were plain, with a simple bed and a wooden desk by the window piled with books.

"Ye Qiong, you're standing on my bed!" Robin looked at Ye Qiong, who had suddenly appeared, seemingly used to it by now. She merely slapped him in dissatisfaction.

"Oh, oh..." Ye Qiong took off his shoes.

Robin looked at him speechlessly. Who had allowed this bad guy onto her bed?!

Ye Qiong smiled, pulled her soft, delicate body into his arms, and lay down on the bed.

You had always been alone. It must have been lonely, Robin.

He thought of how, before they met, Robin had always quietly read by herself. Her mother's departure at sea, the coldness of her great-uncle's household, and the bullying from the villagers—Robin had endured it all with a soft, warm heart. She must have been terribly lonely and sad.

Ye Qiong's heart ached slightly.

"Qiong, have you dealt with everything?" Robin did not resist. Blushing, she asked softly.

Sometimes, she liked calling him simply "Qiong."

"Mm." Ye Qiong nodded, closing his eyes and breathing in the faint floral scent of her hair.

"Qiong, you're not allowed to do anything bad," Robin whispered in his ear again.

What was this girl thinking about?

Even if he wanted to do anything, he would have to wait another eight or ten years.

Ye Qiong patted her head. "Sleep for a while."

"Mm." Robin closed her eyes and buried her head in his warm embrace.

Before long, the two drifted into sweet dreams.

A faint sense of happiness filled the simple room.

The next day, among the rocks on the island's eastern shore.

Ye Qiong was bare-chested, carrying an even larger boulder than before.

The blazing sun beat down, and sweat poured like rain.

Every step was difficult, yet his heart was as firm as stone, without the slightest wavering!

Become stronger! Become stronger! Become stronger!

He shouted toward the sky! He marched toward the future!

Ye Qiong swore to overturn the original story!