The Ark Maxim turned its bow around and headed back the way it came, leaving a long trail in the water behind it.
The Calm Belt returned to its usual deathly stillness, as if the previous worship of all beasts had been nothing but an illusion.
But everyone knew it wasn't an illusion.
The king of the deep sea has awakened.
The scales of the final battle have tipped in their favor once more.
The Ark Maxim sailed smoothly on the sea, returning towards Hachinosu.
Shirahoshi was in a good mood, leaning against the ship's side, swinging her legs and humming a song, watching the seabirds fly across the sea.
Yamato sat next to her, holding two pieces of jerky in his hand, chatting with her while munching on them, occasionally making Shirahoshi laugh.
Bullet and Hawk Eyes leaned against each other on the other side, chatting casually about the Sea Kings they had just seen.
Tesoro was frantically calculating something on the abacus, his brow furrowed, muttering to himself.
Roy stood at the bow of the ship, his hands in his trench coat pockets, his gaze fixed on the distant horizon.
The harvest from the Calm Belt was greater than expected.
Shirahoshi has excellent control over the Sea Kings, and the giant beasts of the deep sea obey her commands.
This trump card is now firmly in hand. Add to that Luffy's Nika power, his own Dark-Dark Fruit and Davy Jones Origin, and the army from Hachinosu.
This time, their chances of winning have increased even further.
Just then, Bullet, who was next to me, suddenly uttered a "Hmm?".
There are two ships ahead.
Roy looked up.
Sure enough, the two small dots on the distant sea became clearer and clearer.
One ship had the skull and crossbones symbol of the Kid Pirates, while the other belonged to the Heart Pirates.
The two ships sailed side by side at a slow speed, as if they were stopped on the sea and arguing about something.
"Is it Kid and Law?"
Bullet squinted and recognized him.
How did they all end up together?
Roy didn't speak, but just looked at the two ships, his eyes flickering slightly.
At this moment, on Kid's ship.
Kid leaned against the railing, one hand gripping a newspaper so tightly his knuckles turned white.
The front page of the newspaper featured the headline " Straw Hat Luffy at Laugh Tale! A New Pirate King is Born!" in huge print, accompanied by a photo of Luffy laughing heartily at the port of Laugh Tale, looking completely carefree.
"Oh shit!"
Kid slammed the newspaper against the railing with a loud "thud."
"What makes Luffy think he deserves to be the Pirate King?!"
So what if we got to Laugh Tale first?
I'll beat him to a pulp sooner or later!
Kid looked arrogant, gritting his teeth, his face full of resentment.
Supernovas the three supernovas, why did Luffy get to be at the top first?
Luo, standing nearby, leaned against the railing on the other side with his arms crossed, his expression calm.
" Luffy's strength deserves this title."
In the battle of Elbaf, he was able to fight Imu head-on; we might not be able to do that.
"Cut!"
Kid scoffed.
"Don't boost the morale of others while diminishing your own!"
"He's just Imu, I'll beat him up sooner or later."
He paused, his eyes hardening:
"I was originally planning to challenge Roy on Hachinosu first, but I've changed my mind now."
Let's find Luffy first, beat him down, and then the title of Pirate King might not even be up for grabs!
Luo frowned and turned to look at Kid.
I advise you not to provoke Hachinosu.
Roy's strength is far beyond what you can currently contend with.
He was from Hachinosu and knew Roy's terror all too well.
While Kid is currently strong, he's still far from being as powerful as Roy.
"What did you say?!"
Kid immediately exploded, turning around abruptly to glare at Law.
"It's your business if you're afraid of Roy, but I'm not!"
What Hachinosu? What Roy? I'll flatten them all sooner or later!
"You..." Luo said, somewhat helplessly.
He met Kid this time because he heard that Kid planned to challenge Hachinosu, so he made a special detour to try and persuade him.
It seems that Kid's personality is simply unyielding.
As the two were arguing, the light above them suddenly dimmed.
A huge shadow fell, completely enveloping both ships.
"Huh?" Kid was taken aback and looked up.
Upon seeing this, his pupils suddenly contracted.
An outrageously large warship hovered above their heads.
The ship was pitch black with sharp edges, resembling a mobile steel fortress that blotted out the sky, its overwhelming sense of oppression pressing down on everything.
It is the Ark Maxim!
The crew members of the Kid Pirates panicked instantly, their faces turning pale, trembling, and unable to even hold their weapons steady.
Who doesn't know the name of Ark Maxim?
Roy's flagship was unstoppable wherever it went.
Kid clenched his fists, his knuckles turning white, and fine beads of sweat appeared on his forehead.
Although he was arrogant, he knew in his heart just how terrifying Roy's strength was.
But he stubbornly refused to show any weakness.
Just then, with a "whoosh".
A black figure leaped off the warship and landed steadily on Kid's bow.
His black trench coat fluttered in the wind, his face was stern, and his eyes were deep; it was Roy.
The boat floor sank slightly as he stepped on it.
Roy's gaze swept over Luo first, and he nodded slightly as a greeting.
Luo nodded without saying anything.
The next second, Roy's gaze shifted to Kid and landed on his face.
His tone was flat, revealing no emotion, yet it carried an invisible sense of pressure.
"I heard you want to challenge my Hachinosu?"
One sentence instantly froze the air on the ship.
Kid's throat bobbed, feeling the pressure bearing down on him. He gritted his teeth.
With her neck stiff, she retorted curtly, "So what if it is!"
Roy looked at him.
Unruly and prickly, like a wild beast that refuses to admit defeat.
The ambition and fighting spirit in his eyes were impossible to hide.
Roy suddenly felt a bit of admiration for him.
With the final battle imminent, it's time to make the most of our personnel.
As one of the three Supernovas, Kid is quite powerful and a rare asset.
It's better to bring him in than to let him wander around aimlessly and accidentally ruin everything.
Thinking of this, Roy's lips curled into a slight smile.
"Okay."
Roy spoke softly, his tone relaxed.
"You want a challenge, huh?"
Then come back to Hachinosu with me.
Once we get there, you can challenge me however you want; I'm happy to oblige.
Kid was taken aback.
He was prepared to take action, but he didn't expect Roy to react this way.
He opened his mouth, about to say something, but Roy had already raised his hand.
An invisible Telekinesis instantly spread out, enveloping Kid and Law's two ships.
"They're gone."
As soon as he finished speaking, the two ships seemed to be lifted by an invisible hand, automatically turning their bows and following behind Ark Maxim, speeding towards Hachinosu.
The speed was astonishing.
Kid stood at the bow of the ship, his hair flying wildly in the wind, his clothes fluttering in the breeze.
He looked at the enormous Ark Maxim in front of him, then at the Heart Pirates ' ship that was also being carried away, gritting his teeth, feeling both resentful and somewhat shocked.
Is this Roy's power? He can even move a ship out of thin air?
Luo walked to his side and said calmly, "I told you, don't mess with him."
Kid didn't speak, but clenched his fists. The fighting spirit in his eyes intensified.
Just wait and see.
Once he arrived at Hachinosu, he was determined to have a proper meeting with this legendary man.
The three ships lined up, cleaving through the waves, and sped towards Hachinosu.
The sea breeze rustled the sails.
More and more forces are converging in the same direction.