Robin carefully surveyed the ancient ruins.
Holding a notebook in one hand and with a camera slung over her shoulder, she diligently jotted down notes and snapped photos.
Come to think of it, Carl had given her the camera.
He'd explained that archaeological materials were invaluable and irreplaceable if destroyed, so capturing them in photographs was essential for preservation.
Robin wholeheartedly agreed and didn't hesitate to accept Carl's thoughtful gift.
It seemed that she and Carl had always had a comfortable, informal relationship; she was the only one on the ship who didn't address him with honorifics.
"These ruins aren't substantial enough. It seems we should proceed to the giant bean vine quickly. If my hypothesis is correct, the golden city of Shandora should be nearby,"
Robin mused, quickening her pace.
However, trouble seemed to have a knack for appearing precisely when one was in a hurry.
Two bleating sounds echoed, and two divine soldiers leaped out, immediately launching an attack.
"People from the Blue Sea! By the will of the Almighty God, be eliminated!~"
"Dos Fleur, Grapple!"
The two divine soldiers were swiftly subdued mid-air, proving no match for Robin's abilities.
However, another sound reached her ears. A portly man with a round belly appeared on a tree branch, sporting a hat resembling a chef's toque and a massive gun barrel resting on his shoulders.
A Shandian warrior, Jinbe!
Jinbe glared at Robin and demanded, "What are you Blue Sea people doing in Upper Yard! Get out of here, or don't blame me, Jinbe, for being rude!"
"I'm busy right now. I don't have time to talk to you. Don't bother me!"
Robin's expression also hardened. It was always the same – someone would appear to obstruct her when she was in the middle of something important.
These people needed to learn a lesson!
Seeing Robin's lack of cooperation and refusal to engage in conversation, Jinbe fired directly.
A massive iron ball hurtled towards Robin. This projectile was unlike typical cannonballs; it was simply a solid iron sphere. While it wouldn't explode, it would undoubtedly cause severe injury or even death upon impact.
Robin merely tilted her head to evade the iron ball, crossing her arms defensively in front of her chest.
"Diez Fleur, Clutch!"
Numerous hands suddenly sprouted from the surrounding trees, firmly gripping Jinbe's limbs.
"Cuarenta Fleur, Tempest Kick, Barrage!"
Countless feet erupted from all directions, including the branches overhead. All the feet swept forward simultaneously, unleashing a storm of Tempest Kick slashes.
Jinbe, caught in the center of this Tempest Kick barrage, was instantly riddled with cuts, his eyes rolling back as he lost consciousness.
This technique was one Robin had developed after mastering the Marine Six Styles and combining them with her own Devil Fruit abilities. While it consumed a significant amount of stamina, its power was undeniable.
Even someone as formidable as Zoro would struggle to emerge unscathed if caught off guard by this attack.
Robin didn't even glance at the fallen Jinbe. She turned and continued towards the giant bean vine, her urgency growing.
Driven by her haste, her pace quickened considerably. As she drew closer to the bean vine, more and more abandoned ruins came into view. Robin was overjoyed, feeling as though she had stumbled upon paradise.
"These are the ruins of Shandora, the land of gold? But it's a bit strange; it seems rather small."
After looking around, Robin realized the ruins were partially concealed by a thick island cloud. She used her dagger to tear open the cloud and stepped inside.
Meanwhile, Nami proceeded cautiously.
Despite her improved skills, like Usopp, she still hadn't completely overcome her timidity.
If it weren't for the promise of gold ahead, Nami likely wouldn't have ventured into this forest. The thought of gold, however, filled her with excitement, and she couldn't help but quicken her steps.
At that moment, the bleating of sheep echoed.
Two divine soldiers appeared before Nami and charged as soon as they saw her.
But before Nami could react, two gunshots rang out from behind, and the two divine soldiers immediately collapsed to the ground.
Turning around, Nami saw a tall man standing on a tree branch, holding two guns in his hands. The brim of his hat obscured his eyes, making it impossible to discern his expression.
A Shandian warrior, Braham!
"Blue Sea people, get out of here immediately! This is Shandian territory!" Braham said in a low voice.
"I refuse! And I heard this is the place of the god Enel, but I didn't hear anything about the Shandians," Nami retorted rudely.
"In that case, you're not welcome."
Braham fired directly. A blinding light erupted from the gun muzzles, making it impossible for Nami to keep her eyes open.
The bullets struck her body but slid harmlessly away due to her Devil Fruit ability.
Braham was taken aback for a moment, then realization dawned on him. "Devil Fruit power? A Paramecia type?"
Nami opened her eyes and glanced at the guns. "What kind of guns actually glow, blinding people? If you can't see, it's hard to dodge! Honestly, some people just never learn!"
Inexplicably drawn into a fight, Nami was very annoyed.
The crucial point was that her opponent was armed with guns. If she didn't possess her Devil Fruit ability for protection, she would have been killed long ago.
Eating the Slip-Slip Fruit at the beginning had definitely been the right choice!
Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!
Several more shots rang out as Braham continued firing, but none of them hit Nami.
But Nami didn't like being a passive target. She used Moonwalk to pursue him up the tree. However, Braham's speed wasn't slow. By the time Nami reached the branch, Braham was already on the ground beneath the tree.
A big man avoiding girls and only daring to shoot from a distance – how cowardly.
But Braham was this type of fighter. He didn't rely on fists and feet but on his two guns. He simply fought according to his own style.
However, after firing a dozen or so shots in quick succession, Braham grew increasingly frustrated.
That Blue Sea woman's Devil Fruit ability was incredibly strange. It seemed to deflect bullets, rendering all his attacks useless.
Moreover, she would sometimes suddenly disappear and reappear behind him, which also startled Braham. If it weren't for his sturdy build, he would have been knocked down long ago.
Nami was also slightly troubled.
Although she could also use Shave, the stamina cost was significant, so she couldn't use it too frequently.
Furthermore, this guerrilla fighter was very sharp, sometimes even managing to dodge her Razor, and she hadn't been able to defeat him after several exchanges.
It wasn't that Nami hadn't considered using thunder and lightning weather, but the idea was immediately dismissed. While using such weather could quickly defeat the enemy, she remembered what Carl had explained.
Find a way to awaken Observation Haki!
This was one of the important missions on Sky Island this time!
Nami always felt that she was still very weak. Even though she had eaten a Devil Fruit, learned a few moves of the Marine Six Styles, and even activated Armament Haki, she still felt she couldn't compare to those monsters.
She often worried that even as a navigator, she might hold everyone back.
Therefore, whenever there was a chance, Nami would also try to become stronger!
This current battle was that opportunity!
As for the gold, she hadn't come alone. She trusted that her crewmates wouldn't let the gold slip away!
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