The Grand Line, Whiskey Peak.
On the surface, the island was a welcoming town, but in reality, it was a Baroque Works base. Its residents were all bounty hunters disguised as civilians, specializing in luring in and killing rookie pirates who had just entered the Grand Line.
When the Flame Emperor arrived, it received a "warm welcome."
"Welcome to Whiskey Peak!"
"Guests from afar, please be sure to join our banquet!"
"We have the finest wine and the most welcoming girls here!"
Dozens of residents crowded around the docks, their faces beaming.
Ace asked quietly, "Brother, these people..."
"They're all bounty hunters," Lin Yan said. "The Billions of Baroque Works."
"Then what are we waiting for? Let's knock them all flat!"
"No rush." Lin Yan looked toward the church in the center of town. "We need to meet someone first."
He led the crew through the streets, ignoring those false smiles, and headed straight for the church.
Inside the church, a woman in black stood at the window, looking out at the cactus grove. She had tan skin, long black hair, and a mysterious, melancholy air.
Nico Robin.
"You're here." Robin did not turn around. "A day later than we agreed."
"Something came up along the way." Lin Yan walked over to her. "Did you bring it?"
"Yes." Robin took a rubbing from inside her clothes. "A rubbing of the Poneglyph in Alabasta's royal tomb. Its contents point to the location of the Sun Tablet."
Lin Yan took the rubbing and glanced at it. It was written in Ancient Script, which he could not read, but the system could translate it.
[One of the Sun Tablets is hidden in the Sun Chamber in the deepest part of the royal tomb. Opening it requires the blood of the sun.]
The blood of the sun... that should mean the blood of the D Clan, who carried the Sun God's bloodline.
"You deciphered it quickly," Lin Yan said.
"Ohara's scholars spent their entire lives studying these things." Robin's tone was flat, but Lin Yan heard a trace of sadness.
He put away the rubbing. "Then we have a deal. Join my ship, and I guarantee the World Government won't be able to lay a finger on you."
"Can you really do that?" Robin turned and looked Lin Yan straight in the eyes. "CP9, CP0, Marine Admirals... the World Government can deploy every force at its disposal to kill me."
"Then let them come." Lin Yan smiled. "If one comes, I'll kill one. If two come, I'll kill them both."
Robin looked into his eyes. There was no arrogance in them, only absolute confidence.
"Why are you helping me?" she asked. "Because I can decipher Poneglyphs?"
"Because you're Ohara's only hope," Lin Yan said seriously. "And because... my mother was an archaeologist too."
Robin froze. "Your mother..."
"Evelyn D. Solar, the Sun Saintess, the last of the Guardian D Clan's bloodline. She studied in Ohara for three years under Dr. Clover."
"Lady Solar?!" Robin's eyes widened. "You're Lady Solar's son?!"
"You've heard of her?"
"Of course!" Robin grew excited. "Dr. Clover's private notes were in Ohara's restricted section. They recorded Lady Solar's deeds in detail! She said Lady Solar was 'living history' and knew the truth of the Void Century!"
She grabbed Lin Yan's hand. "Is Lady Solar... still alive?"
"I don't know." Lin Yan shook his head. "But I'll find her. And your knowledge can help me."
Robin took a deep breath, stepped back, and bowed deeply.
"From this day forward, my life is yours. Please let me witness the truth of history."
"Welcome aboard, Robin." Lin Yan helped her up. "Your position will be 'historical advisor.' Ace, take Robin aboard."
"You got it!"
Just then, the church doors were pushed open.
Dozens of bounty hunters poured in, led by none other than Mr. 5 and Miss Valentine.
"Well, there you are." Mr. 5 picked his nose. "Nico Robin, the boss wants your head. As for you, Flame Emperor... your head is worth two hundred and fifty million. Enough to last us a lifetime."
Lin Yan sighed. "I wasn't planning on killing anyone..."
He raised a hand and snapped his fingers.
Snap.
The temperature inside the church shot up, and every bounty hunter's clothes began to smoke.
"Wait! We-"
"Flame Emperor Domain: Cremation."
Voom-!
Golden flames appeared out of thin air, enveloping every bounty hunter. The flames had no heat, but the instant they touched skin, their bodies began burning from within.
They were not burned to ash, but "purified"-all their sinful memories, killing intent, and malice were burned away by the flames. When the flames dispersed, they all collapsed to the floor, their eyes vacant but their expressions peaceful.
They had lost the urge to do evil and become ordinary people.
"What... what kind of ability is this?" Robin was stunned.
"An advanced application of the Flame of Life: Soul Purification," Lin Yan said. "They won't do evil again, but they'll also lose most of their combat ability and become ordinary people."
Ace scratched his head. "Brother, isn't that move way too gentle?"
"Killing is easy, but changing people's hearts is harder," Lin Yan said. "Come on. It's time to leave."
Everyone returned to the Flame Emperor and prepared to set sail.
But just as they left the harbor, they ran into trouble.
Five Marine warships blockaded the waters. Between them was a strangely shaped black warship, its Figurehead resembling the Celestial Dragons' emblem.
It was a ship belonging to CP0, a force directly under the World Government.
Three masked figures in white suits stood on the black warship's deck. The mask of the one in the middle bore an image of a sun pierced by an arrow.
A captain-level member of the Sun-Slayer Unit.
"Monkey D. Yan." The figure in the middle spoke, his voice processed through a voice changer, cold to the bone. "Hand over the Sun Tablet and take your own life to atone for your crimes. Otherwise, a Buster Call will descend upon this island."
Lin Yan stepped up through the air and hovered above the sea.
"Just the three of you?"
"Not just us." The man waved a hand.
The black warship's cabin opened, and twenty CP0 members in identical attire emerged. Each had a presence no weaker than CP9's Lucci.
"The Sun-Slayer Unit is here in full," the captain said. "Your flames will be extinguished here today."
Lin Yan smiled.
"Perfect. Time to test my new ability."
He pressed his palms together, and a phantom kirin appeared behind him-a manifestation brought about by the Kirin Fruit Template he had just fused with.
"Kirin Form: Four Symbols Domain."
Earth, fire, wind, and water-the four elements gathered around him.
Stone pillars rose from the ground, flames turned into tornadoes, fierce winds condensed into blades, and seawater formed towering waves.
The Four Symbols Domain covered the entire stretch of sea.
Every member of CP0's expression changed drastically.
"This is... a Mythical Zoan?!"
"Impossible! How could the Sun Saintess's bloodline be a Zoan?!"
"The intelligence was wrong! Retreat-"
But it was already too late.
Lin Yan thrust both hands downward.
"Four Symbols: Cataclysm."
Stone pillars crashed down, fire tornadoes raged, wind blades sliced, and a tsunami swept through.
The twenty CP0 members, along with the five warships and the black warship, were all swallowed up.
A minute later, the domain dissipated.
Only wreckage and floating bodies remained on the sea.
CP0's Sun-Slayer Unit had been wiped out.
Lin Yan landed back on the Flame Emperor's deck, his face somewhat pale-the move had taken a great deal out of him.
"Brother! Are you all right?" Ace held him steady.
"I'm fine. I just need some rest." Lin Yan looked at Robin. "Did you see that? That's my power. Is it enough to protect you?"
Robin nodded firmly. "It's enough."
The Flame Emperor sailed away from Whiskey Peak, heading toward Alabasta.
Not long after they left, however, a small boat surfaced among the wreckage.
Aboard it was the Sun Destroyers captain, his mask shattered, revealing half a burn-scarred face. Clutching a damaged Den Den Mushi, he said through gritted teeth:
"Report... the target has awakened the Power of the Four Symbols... suspected reincarnation of the Sun God Nika... requesting... the highest-level response..."
Before he could finish, he coughed up a mouthful of blood and passed out.
The small boat drifted across the sea, its destination unknown.
World Government headquarters, Mary Geoise.
The Five Elders gathered, looking at the emergency report they had just received.
"The Sun-Slayer Unit... wiped out?"
"The Power of the Four Symbols... isn't that the legendary ability of the Sun God Nika?"
"Evelyn D. Solar's son... he must be eliminated before he fully awakens."
"Notify the Marines and issue the highest bounty. Also... let 'that lord' decide."
In the highest Room of Authority, atop the Empty Throne.
An indistinct figure opened their eyes, a golden light flashing within them.
"The sun... has risen again..."
"This time... it must be extinguished completely."
In the shadows, something awakened.
Before you continue