Chapter 97 Sky Island Division Returns to Qinghai[Skills being randomly selected...]
[Congratulations on obtaining the skill 'Hacking Ability' (No physical connection required; can directly infiltrate computers via bioelectrical signals, and even burn out enemy electronic devices through communication lines.)]
[Congratulations on gaining +1 Collection Point]
[Congratulations on completing the achievement 'Headquarters'; gained 20,000 achievement points]
[Congratulations on obtaining the title 'I Am God'; when equipped, friendly followers' worship value +10, loyalty +10]
[Restart template randomization?]
"No!"
"Open the basic panel!"
Luffy mentally issued the command to the system, and instantly, lines of pale blue data unfolded before his eyes.
[Host: Luffy (Monkey D. Luffy)]
[Currently Loaded Templates: None]
[Equipment: Samehada, Mazono (Dead), Desert Eagle, Bunny Girl Outfit, Kunai (One Set), Action Disc, Goblin Horn, DVD Player]
[Talent Skills: 100% chance to catch a blade barehanded (Random), Bloodline Limit Rinnegan, Code God Power, Hacking Ability]
[Bond 1: C.C. (IQ +10 when in a team)]
[Achievement Points: 24537]
[Collection Points: 13]
[Titles: 'Famous Throughout the World', 'I Am God']
This is a system feature that Luffy discovered. When no character template is loaded, the panel displays his fixed abilities.
Luffy has now loaded 13 templates. Although 5 of them were useless ordinary templates mixed in, the physical enhancement provided by the Saitama template is practically a cheat code.
Many of the techniques he mastered in battle, though not displayed on his character sheet, didn't diminish his undeniable fighting prowess.
Even in his current unrevealed state, his regular combat strength had already firmly established him as a Yonko executive.
If he were to consume another Rumble Ball made by Chopper, Luffy was confident he could unleash top-tier power comparable to Katakuri within three minutes.
Furthermore, thanks to the advantage he gained from using the Misaka Mikoto template, once the lunar city of Birka was repaired, Luffy felt he would have the right to make his move, even against the Five Elders, the highest authority in the World Government.
After all, Enel combined with the Ark constituted undeniable Admiral-level destructive power.
And with some effort and a bit of luck in drawing a top-tier template, going head-to-head with a Yonko wasn't impossible.
With such a trump card in hand, even if the Five Elders wanted to launch a full-scale war, Luffy wouldn't be intimidated.
The biggest headache before was funding, but now with Enel's free energy core and mass-produced mecha soldiers, the worry about supporting his underlings is gone.
The only weakness is a gap in mid-level combat power.
Zoro and Sanji are still developing, and the strength of the lunar robots is an unknown quantity.
To truly establish a foothold, the best way is to undermine the Navy.
Remember when Zephyr defected from the Navy to form the NEO Navy? How many die-hard fans did he take with him?
With his current status and Garp's connections, as long as he has enough funds and operates properly, it's not entirely impossible to uproot the entire Navy system and make it independent from the World Government.
"The only problem right now is that communication with the Skypiea base is such a hassle."
Luffy stroked his chin, his brow furrowed slightly.
He couldn't possibly rely on that dangerous upwelling current to get back to base every time, could he?
Currently, the only means of transportation was Enel's Ark, but that thing was too conspicuous; frequent takeoffs and landings would easily attract attention.
After all, Luffy planned to save Enel as his trump card for a crucial moment to give the World Government a big surprise.
Just as he was pondering this, C.C. led Enel over.
"How is it? Can it be repaired?" Luffy looked up and asked.
C.C. tossed her long green hair and nodded: "It can be repaired, technically it's not difficult, but the damage to this dilapidated city is more severe than expected, it definitely won't be usable for a while."
"About how long?" Luffy's brow furrowed even more.
C.C. hesitated for a moment: "It could take a few months, or a year. If we can get the power system sorted out first and activate those engineering robots, the repair speed will be much faster. If the power system can't be fixed, then we'll just have to wait."
Luffy's expression turned grim after hearing this.
He thought C.C.'s advanced technology would solve it in no time, but it turned out to be a massive undertaking.
With the countdown to the Marineford War already underway, he couldn't stay cooped up on Skypiea as a supervisor indefinitely.
Because of the butterfly effect of his previous plot changes, the situation in the Blue Sea was definitely in chaos now, and he had to go down there to make arrangements in advance.
Luffy pondered for a long time and finally decided to split up: C.C. would stay on Skypiea to assist Enel in repairing Birka.
Luffy, on the other hand, would lead the others back to the Blue Sea to assess the current situation.
The next day.
"Big brother! Really, you don't need me to take you? I can fly really fast!"
Enel looked at Luffy with a reluctant expression, like a rejected wife.
Luffy waved his hand dismissively: "If you want to help, hurry up and fix Birka! When it really comes to needing you to blow up the fishpond, I'll call you with a Den Den Mushi."
Meanwhile, the Straw Hat crew stood on the deck of the Going Merry, gazing longingly at the dreamlike sea of clouds behind them.
"Conis-chan~ I'll miss you~" Sanji twisted into a noodle shape, blasting kisses to Conis on the shore.
"My gold..." Nami waved at the distant sea of clouds, her eyes filled with longing for the unfinished treasure.
Everyone: "..."
"Enough already! You're obsessed with money!" Zoro couldn't help but complain.
"Everyone! Be careful during the descent!"
Conis's clear voice drifted from afar.
Everyone smiled and waved goodbye to her.
Wait…
The smiles on everyone's faces suddenly froze: "Falling… Be careful?"
Before they could react, Conis shouted, "Heave-ho!"
"Aaaaaaah!!!"
A giant hot air balloon octopus suddenly burst out from under the clouds, grabbing the Going Merry tightly, followed by a wave of weightlessness.
The souls that had been terrified were barely caught up with their bodies in the rapid descent.
"Hahahaha! This is so much fun! It's like riding a roller coaster!"
Luffy, gripping the railing, laughed like a two-hundred-pound child.
Nami clung tightly to the mast, wiping away the tears that had welled up in her eyes from fright, and roared, "What's so fun about this?! I'm going to kill you!!"
After a thrilling eight-hour ordeal with the octopus's parachute landing, and with Luffy unusually quiet, the Going Merry finally landed safely in a calm bay.