Chapter 13 — Looting the Pirate Hunters
"Hey, don't zone out in a fight—or you're dead!"
Monkey D. Ash grinned as he looked down at the archer who had just launched an attack at him.
BOOM!
The archer's eyes widened in terror as Ash's punch slammed into him, smashing him into the ground. He didn't get up again.
Across the battlefield, the rest of the attackers weren't much stronger. Ash's crewmates—Tuan Tuan and Gin—quickly wiped out most of the enemies with ease.
Carina and Poker focused on looting the Treasures of pirate hunters on whiskey peak—they still weren't strong enough to handle the Pirate hunter of The Grand Line.
It did not take much time for Tuan Tuan and Gin to wipe out everyone on whiskey peak.
"See? Robbery and piracy might be crimes—but look at that. Eighty million berries, easy cash."
"But Gin… you still need to grow stronger. So this Devil Fruit is yours. Don't let me down."
Ash handed over a strange, ancient-looking fruit with spiraling patterns. Bird-Bird Fruit, Mythical Zoan Model: Nue.
He had chosen Gin for a reason. The man was loyal, hardworking, and, more importantly, dependable. Ash needed an aerial combatant—and Gin had earned this.
"Captain… this is too valuable!"
Gin's eyes shone with a fierce longing. But he fought to suppress it.
Ash laughed. "What's value without someone to give it meaning? You're my nakama. Ten Devil Fruits don't compare to you."
He clapped Gin's shoulder.
"Then I'll eat it. From the day you saved me, my life has been yours."
Tears welled in Gin's eyes as he bit into the fruit.
In a flash, A pair of burning red wings sprouted from his back, and the spectral image of a ten-headed bird emerged behind him.
He flapped his wings. Wind howled. The earth trembled. In seconds, Gin was airborne—his crimson silhouette soaring freely through the sky.
"Whoa! So cool!" Tuan Tuan gawked, green with envy. "Why didn't I pick that one?!"
Ash knocked his head. "Don't just stand there. Clean up the battlefield. Plenty of pirate hunters are yet to be checked—and their pockets might have some Berry."
"Berry?!" Tuan Tuan's mouth watered. "MEAT!!!"
Driven by hunger, he waddled off and began looting corpses.
Thirty minutes later, they'd collected about a million Berry. Not much, but still a lucky break.
After rest and a feast, Ash gave the next command.
"We set sail again."
Their destination? Skypiea.
There was another Logia user waiting up there—a potential ally that could elevate the Smiling Pirates to the next level.
To rule the seas, Ash knew it wasn't just about personal power. Like Whitebeard or Kaido, a true emperor needed a crew of monsters behind him.
Suddenly—
𝗗𝗜𝗡𝗚!
> [New System Mission Unlocked!]
Main Quest: Conquer the "God" of Skypiea — Enel
Rewards:
– Lucky Draw ×1
– Skill Enhancement Card ×1
Failure Penalty: None
Ash smirked. "Even the system's got my back. Let's go take down a god."
Thanks to a special map Dragon had once gifted him, Ash didn't rely on Log Poses. His ship's navigation system—enhanced through the system—scanned and charted sea routes in real-time.
With that, the Smile sailed forward, its dark hull cutting across the sea like a bolt of black lightning.
On the way, Ash shared the tale of the liar Mont Blanc Noland and his journey to the fabled City of Gold.
"City of Gold? It's just a myth," Carina said, shaking her head. "Captain Ash, don't waste your life on a fantasy."
The legend of Noland was well-known in the North Blue. No one had ever proven the Golden City's existence…
But Ash wasn't just anyone.
After talking about Golden City and Skypiea they sail toward Jaya Island.
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To be continued…