Want to read ahead? Join my Patreon for only $7 to get early access to upcoming chapters!
> > Patreon.com/NegativeTranslations <<
----------------------------------------------------------
Chapter 50: The World Trembles
"Where?"
Behind King's mask, his eyes moved slightly.
He heard the unusual tone in Kaido's voice.
It wasn't anger, or rage.
It was... the thrill of a beast, dormant for too long, finally catching the scent of blood.
"East Blue."
King stated succinctly.
Grand Line, Second Half.
The New World.
On an unknown sky island, the wreckage of ships and the ruins of a lavish palace were intertwined, creating a bizarre scene.
In the depths of the palace.
A man with long golden hair, with half a ship's rudder stuck in his head, was letting out a neurotic, low laugh as he stared at a sea chart.
His legs... were two sharp, famous swords.
"Jihahaha... Jihahahaha..."
The legendary pirate, "Golden Lion" Shiki! Once a man on par with the Pirate King Roger and Whitebeard (Edward Newgate)!
Beside him, a man in a white lab coat with comical wings, his confidant, Dr. Indigo.
He watched his boss's crazed state, not daring to breathe.
"Boss..."
Dr. Indigo spoke carefully, trying to reason with him.
"This news source is unknown, and... the East Blue? That weakest sea? How could power of that level appear there?"
"It's obviously a smokescreen, a trap, set by the Marines!"
"Trap?"
Shiki's laughter stopped.
He slowly turned his head. His cloudy, but insane, eyes stared at Dr. Indigo.
"Shut up!"
Bang!
His right leg, the sword "Oto," slammed into Dr. Indigo's stomach!
Dr. Indigo was sent flying like a cannonball, smashing into a distant wall and sliding down, curling up in pain.
"Trap?"
Shiki grinned, revealing his yellowed teeth.
"The number of traps I've fallen into in my life... is more than the number of meals you've eaten!"
"So what!"
He reached up his calloused hand, gently stroking the half-rudder in his head.
This mark of shame... for over twenty years, it had constantly reminded him of his defeat at Impel Down, reminded him of that bastard Roger's death!
His eyes instantly became crazed and fiery!
"Power that can defeat an Admiral..."
A keke sound came from his throat, a muscle spasm from extreme excitement.
"Something that can make the Marines' top brass lose face..."
"Jihahahahahaha!"
Shiki threw his arms wide, laughing wildly at the sky!
"If I... can get my hands on it..."
"Who needs 'IQ' plants!"
"Who needs some bulls*t Ancient Weapon!"
"Who needs to wait for that long, twenty-year plan!"
His life's ambition was to make the entire world bow at his feet! For this, he had hidden for twenty years!
Now, a massive shortcut, big enough to bring all his plans to fruition, was right in front of him!
What trap!
What conspiracy!
In the face of absolute power, it's all bulls*t!
"Jihahaha! Prepare the ships!"
Shiki swung his arm, his cape making a domineering arc.
"I'm going to the East Blue to see for myself!"
"To see just what 'treasure'... could make that old bastard Sengoku so restless!"
Wano Country, Onigashima.
Kaido's massive body slowly rose from the throne of bones.
Rumble!
The entire cave trembled, rubble raining down.
His enormous shadow fell over the kneeling "King the Conflagration" and "Queen the Plague."
"Wororororo..."
A low, deep laugh rumbled from Kaido's throat.
He grabbed the giant, spiked kanabo beside him, "Hassaikai."
Just the act of lifting it stirred a terrifying wind, making Queen's fat body sway.
"Prepare the ships!"
Kaido's voice was like a thunderclap, booming through the hall!
"We're going to the East Blue!"
"Huh?"
Queen, at the side, his two ridiculous mustaches twitched. His huge face was full of confusion.
"Kaido-san? You're not joking, are you?"
"To the East Blue? For some rumor that came from who-knows-where?"
"What if it's fake? That place doesn't even have any decent sake!"
BANG!
Kaido didn't even look at him.
The Hassaikai in his hand slammed onto the floor!
A terrifying shockwave spread out. The ground cracked, and Queen was sent stumbling, nearly falling over. He swallowed the rest of his words.
"Shut up."
Kaido's voice was filled with an indescribable boredom.
He had been the "Strongest Creature" for too long.
So strong... that nothing in this world interested him anymore.
So strong... that even death had become a luxury.
He needed a fight!
A real fight, one that would let him feel pain, one that would make his blood boil!
Or.
A worthy death, one that would finally set him free.
Kaido's golden, beast-like eyes stared at King.
"A place that can kill an Admiral..."
His voice became low, filled with a hoarse, twisted anticipation.
"Perhaps..."
"It can kill me, too!"
Worororororo!
He grinned, a smile full of destructive desire.
"If it's real, I'll take it!"
"If it's fake..."
A world-ending madness burned in Kaido's eyes!
"I'll sink the entire East Blue... into the sea!"
New World, in a certain sea.
The flagship of the Red-Haired Pirates, the "Red Force."
The atmosphere was completely different from the brutality of Onigashima.
On deck, the crew was partying, full of laughter and the smell of ale.
Only at the bow was the mood a bit serious.
"Red-Haired" Shanks was holding a newspaper, his brow furrowed.
He didn't speak, just read the short blurb, intentionally placed in a corner but glaringly obvious, over and over.
[Marine Admiral Kizaru urgently deployed. Fleet heading for East Blue, possibly related to recent "Admiral's crushing defeat" rumor?]
Beside him, Benn Beckman lit a cigar, slowly exhaling a thick cloud of smoke.
"It's that bastard Doflamingo, stirring up trouble again."
His tone was flat, as if stating a fact.
"Leaking the news to the world, forcing the Marines to react. Now, all the restless monsters in the New World are going to be reeled in."
Lucky Roux tore into a chicken leg, mumbling, "Who cares! Whoever goes to the East Blue, we'll send 'em flying!"
Yasopp leaned against the mast, cleaning his beloved rifle, and whistled.
"Something that can make an Admiral lose face... sounds pretty explosive."
Shanks was still silent.
He put down the newspaper.
His one arm, subconsciously, rested on his sword, "Gryphon."
His gaze passed over the rowdy deck, over the endless waves, and toward the distant, familiar east.
East Blue.
Foosha Village.
There... was the straw hat in which he had placed the "New Era."
There... was the boy he saw as a son, named Luffy.
Benn Beckman saw his captain's unprecedentedly serious expression and also dropped his casual air.
He knew, the Captain wasn't concerned about some power that could beat an Admiral.
He was concerned about what kind of terrifying storm... the appearance of that power... would bring to that peaceful sea.
"Boss."
Beckman's voice lowered.
"Kizaru... has definitely been deployed."
"And..."
"The Golden Lion's armada... has reappeared, for the first time in twenty years."
"Kaido's ship... has also left Wano Country."
One by one, the names left Beckman's mouth. Each one represented a terrifying power, enough to topple a nation.
And now, their targets... all pointed to the same place.
Shanks slowly closed his eyes.
When he opened them again, his usually easy-going black eyes... were as sharp as the abyss.
"Turn the ship around."
His voice wasn't loud, but it reached every crew member's ear.
"We're going, too."
.....
Support this book by leaving a Review, Comments, and Power Stone.
For Advance Chapters:
> Patreon.com/NegativeTranslations
Note: Hey guys! Since this fanfic hit 100 power stones, I decided to release tomorrow's scheduled chapter early as a bonus. That means there won't be a chapter tomorrow. I can't reschedule all the chapters because doing it on my phone is tiring. I'm sorry!