Chapter 40: Robin
Before Apollo decided to dedicate his focus to recovering his cultivation techniques and developing the Grand Heavenly Immortal Art, his progress with divine abilities had remained stagnant.
Now, he understood why.
It wasn't a lack of effort, nor was it a lack of latent potential. He had simply been missing a prerequisite condition: precise control over his spiritual energy.
As he made breakthroughs in his cultivation methods, his manipulation of energy refined, allowing him to grasp the basics of several divine abilities—including the Body Outside Body technique.
Of course, what he was demonstrating now was merely the tip of the iceberg. No, it was the frost on the tip of the iceberg.
The true Body Outside Body was an Immortal Art, a supreme divine ability comprehended by the Great Sage, Sun Wukong, after achieving immortality. The Monkey King could transform each of his eighty-four thousand hairs into a clone at will, adapting to any situation with infinite versatility.
Apollo's current version was a pale imitation.
He could only activate one clone at a time. Each creation felt as if a piece of his soul were being forcibly torn away, leaving him with a splitting migraine. Furthermore, the hair had a shelf life; even if not activated, the magic would dissipate after about two weeks. The combat power of the clone was also strictly limited.
In short, the current technique was flawed, costly, and barely practical.
However, even a flawed tool has its uses.
Since Apollo had already disrupted the timeline significantly, he couldn't be certain what dangers Luffy and the others might face in his absence. Giving Vivi and Nami a lifeline was a necessary precaution.
Apollo formed a hand seal. Two golden hairs sprang from his palm, piercing through the fabric of the girls' clothes and knitting themselves into intricate knots, resembling golden brooches.
"The activation method is simple: snap the hair and throw it," Apollo explained, rubbing his throbbing temples. "Remember this: only one clone can exist at a time. Even if you both throw them simultaneously, only one will manifest."
"Amazing!" The crew gathered around, eyes wide with curiosity.
Even without seeing the transformation, the magical animation of the hair was enough to stun them.
Usopp rushed over, grabbing Apollo's arm. "Apollo! Give me one too! I'm in danger basically all the time!"
"Get lost!" Apollo laughed, kicking him away lightly. "Can't you see my face is pale? If I make another one, I won't be able to stand up for three days."
The mental damage caused by creating a clone wasn't linear; it was exponential. Without time for his spirit to recover, forcing another split would likely knock him unconscious.
"You guy! You prioritize women over friends!" Usopp went to squat in the corner, drawing circles on the deck in depression.
Nami fingered the golden brooch on her chest, a softness flashing in her eyes. She could see the fatigue etched on Apollo's face. He was paying a physical price to ensure their safety.
Vivi's expression also relaxed. She realized that despite his arrogant demeanor, he wasn't abandoning them carelessly.
"I have a question," Zoro suddenly asked, leaning against the mast. "How are you going to leave? We don't have a second ship."
"You'll see soon enough." Apollo smiled, waving his hand. "See you in Alabasta."
"Goodbye!" "Be careful!" "We'll take care of Vivi!"
After the farewells, Apollo stepped onto the railing. Without bending his knees to jump, he simply leaned forward and shot into the sky like a reverse meteor, streaking into the distance and vanishing into the night clouds in the blink of an eye.
Silence descended on the deck.
Thirty seconds passed.
"HE... HE FLEW! APOLLO FLEW AWAY!" Luffy suddenly screamed, jumping onto the figurehead and craning his neck.
Usopp stood up, adjusting his goggles calmly. "Really, what are you surprised about? I knew it all along! Apollo can not only fly but also transform into a giant ape!"
"Can he shoot lasers from his eyes?!" Luffy asked, stars in his eyes.
Zoro watched the empty sky, his face serious. "So that's how he moves."
"Is that Geppo?" Sanji asked, lighting a cigarette.
Zoro shook his head. "No. Geppo kicks the air to create lift. He didn't move his legs. He was... floating."
"He really can fly," Vivi whispered, stunned. "What an incredible person."
"Don't worry, he's a very reliable guy," Nami said, patting Vivi's shoulder with a reassuring smile. "My hometown was saved by him, you know. If he says he'll be there, he'll be there."
After Apollo left the Going Merry, he didn't fly for long. His Divine Sense had already locked onto a specific signature nearby.
Drifting on the dark waves was a giant sea turtle wearing a bowler hat. On its shell, a comfortable leather sofa was installed, complete with a sunshade and a small table.
Miss All Sunday—Nico Robin—sat there, staring blankly at the horizon, her glass of wine forgotten in her hand.
Apollo descended silently, controlling his momentum to land as light as a feather. He didn't make a sound until he was standing directly in front of the sofa.
"What are you thinking about?"
Robin jumped.
For a woman who had spent twenty years running from the World Government, surviving on paranoia and instinct, being sneaked up on was a terrifying failure.
"This is the open sea... how?"
Robin spun around, her hands crossing reflexively to activate her powers. But when she saw who it was, she froze. "It's you."
She recognized him.
On the Going Merry, two people had caught her attention. One was Monkey D. Luffy, a D-carrier with a 30 million berry bounty. The other was Apollo.
Her reason for noticing Apollo was primal: he felt dangerous.
It wasn't that he radiated malice. It was the feeling of standing near a sleeping lion. Even if it did nothing, every instinct screamed that you were in the presence of an apex predator.
Apollo gave her that exact feeling—not just strong, but a creature higher on the food chain.
Robin composed herself, her mask of elegant indifference sliding back into place. She scanned the ocean around them. "How did you get here?"
There were no ships nearby. He was dry, so he hadn't swum.
"I flew."
Apollo pointed to the sky, then casually walked over and sat on the other end of her sofa. He looked her over with appreciation.
Unlike Nami's youthful beauty, which was bright and naive, Robin possessed a mature, dark allure. Every movement exuded an effortless mystery, like a blooming black rose—beautiful, intoxicating, and covered in thorns.
"Flew?" Robin echoed. She processed the information. It sounded absurd, but given the world they lived in, and the fact that he was sitting here dry, it was the only logical explanation.
"What do you want with me?" she asked, her voice steady. "Are you here to seek revenge for Mr. 8?"
"He's not dead, so what revenge would I seek?"
Apollo answered indifferently. He patted the empty space on the sofa next to him. "Don't be shy. Sit."
Even with Robin's experience, she was momentarily speechless.
This is my turtle, she thought.
The sofa was designed for one person, or perhaps two intimate lovers. It was definitely not meant for a Baroque Works Vice-President and a pirate she had just met.
Seeing her hesitation, Apollo smirked. "Do you intend to stand there all night?"
Robin realized he had no intention of leaving. Fighting him here, on a turtle in the middle of the ocean, was a tactical error she wouldn't make.
After a moment of calculation, she sat down.
Their shoulders brushed. Their legs pressed against each other in the cramped space.
Robin didn't flinch. She rested her chin on her hand, turning to look at him with intellectual curiosity. "If not for revenge, then what is your objective?"
Apollo leaned back. Then, with supreme audacity, he swung his legs up, crossed them, and laid his head down directly onto Robin's lap.
Robin stiffened slightly but didn't push him away.
"What do I want? Nothing complicated," Apollo murmured, getting comfortable on her thighs. "I just wanted to see you and hitch a ride to Alabasta. Oh, and my head is killing me from that technique earlier. Could you give me a massage?"
He pointed to his throbbing temples.
The man's boldness was staggering. He was treating a high-ranking enemy assassin like a personal maid.
Robin looked down at the man resting on her lap. She hesitated for a split second, then extended her slender fingers. She pressed them against Apollo's temples and began to rub gently.
"Aren't you afraid I'll kill you?" she asked softly, her eyes searching his face for any sign of fear. "My hands are quite literally on your neck."
"You won't," Apollo said calmly, closing his eyes and enjoying the touch.
He knew Nico Robin better than she knew herself. And more importantly, he had absolute confidence that even if she tried to snap his neck, his body was tougher than her will.
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