"Is... is that really a speed a human can possess?!"
While the Marine major's soul-shaking cry of disbelief still echoed over the empty sea, Yas, transformed into his true form as "Azure Thunder," had already crossed a distance that would take ordinary people weeks or even months to travel.
In his world, the concepts of distance and space had long since blurred.
As lightning incarnate, he was the very law of speed.
Wherever his thoughts reached, his body followed.
In just a few short minutes, an enormous island brimming with an ominous aura appeared at the edge of his vision.
All year round, the island lay shrouded in an impenetrably thick, pitch-black mist that seemed alive.
Above the island, lightning flashed, thunder roared, and fierce winds howled. Streaks of scarlet lightning flickered like demonic claws and fangs within the churning black clouds, exuding a terrifying aura that made hearts tremble.
The entire island resembled an ancient, savage beast crouched upon the Grand Line, radiating a warning: "Keep out."
This was the legendary "Treasure Captain" John's lair-the Island of the Dead.
Thousands of meters above and away from the island, Yas's figure re-formed from lightning into human shape.
His ice-blue eyes glanced indifferently at the seemingly heavily guarded island below, filled with all manner of natural and artificial traps. His face remained expressionless.
He could not even be bothered to activate his Observation Haki to investigate the island's interior.
There was no need.
Before absolute power, even the most ingenious traps were nothing more than children's tricks.
He did not choose to land at the harbor, nor did he skirt those areas that looked exceptionally dangerous.
He chose the most direct, most brutal, and most unreasonable method.
Straight ahead.
Like a white meteor streaking across the sky, Yas plunged straight toward