"Le…o…"
Nami swept over to Leo like a gust of wind, her voice sickly sweet. "My most, most, most, most respected, beloved, admired Captain~" A bright, sunny smile spread across her face. That coquettish, docile look, combined with her stunning beauty, would make any man's bones go weak.
"You want money?"
Leo glanced at Nami and saw right through her.
"The Captain is so amazing, you guessed it!" Nami nodded like a pecking chicken, her eyes gradually lighting up.
"Little thief-cat, after all these years, you really haven't changed," Carina scoffed from the side, dressed lightly and wearing women's slippers. With that mercenary look, anyone could guess.
Hearing this, Nami bristled like a cat, immediately planting her hands on her hips to retort. "You vixen, you have the nerve to say that about me? Don't think I don't know what you were planning in Gran Tesoro! Had your eyes on Tesoro's vault from the start, didn't you?"
"Little thief-cat, don't spout nonsense!"
"Heh~ Calling it nonsense?"
Nami smirked mischievously, flipping Carina over and pinning her across her knee.
"I'll teach you to talk back to me!!"
Whap!
Whap!
Whap!
Clear, crisp slapping sounds rang out abruptly. Nami pulled aside the sole piece of fabric and struck the plump, rounded rear before her. With each influx of force, the twin mounds rippled with waves.
The lounge fell silent. Robin, Doll, and Tashigi watched the spectacle with amusement. They'd heard Nami and Carina were once close sisters, separated for some years and only reunited a few days ago. But Nami was far from her former self now; Carina would likely only be on the receiving end of discipline from here on.
"Little vixen, dare to yell at me again in the future??"
Just as Leo had once done to her, Nami gently lifted Carina's chin with a teasing, half-smile.
"You little thief-cat, you…!" Carina began.
Hmm??
"Still defiant?"
Nami's beautiful eyes narrowed. She clenched her right fist, then extended her middle finger. She didn't mind taking things a step further in front of so many people.
Seeing that seemingly magical finger, Carina's lower lips tightened, and she quickly shut her mouth, swallowing the scold about to erupt. Damn it! She didn't need to guess what Nami intended. If she were truly breached in front of everyone, how could she face them afterwards?
"Captain, look, she… she just knows how to bully me."
In her panic, Carina turned to Leo with a pleading look. That pitiful appearance even made Leo feel a twinge of pity.
"Nami, that's enough."
Looking at the slightly reddened twin mounds, Leo called a halt to Nami's next move.
Carina, as if granted amnesty, clutched her behind and hurried over to Leo's side, seeking a sense of security. Nami gave a light humph and reluctantly stopped.
"Rebecca, Koala." Leo gently massaged Carina's pert rear as he addressed the two women before him.
"Yes, Captain?"
"Captain~"
Both stopped their ministrations and responded in turn.
Leo retrieved three items from his system storage and placed them before the two women.
Imperial Armament: Beast King Transformation!
Imperial Armament: March!
Zoan Type, Bee-Bee Fruit: Ancient Zoan: Killer Bee Model!
"What are these two?!"
"Devil Fruits?"
The curious women gathered around. Leo detailed the functions and effects of the three items. Doll, Kalifa, Reiju, and others nodded slightly, not feeling much stir within. After all, the Devil Fruits they had consumed were in no way inferior to these.
"Captain, are these really for us?"
The two women were overwhelmed and flattered, excitedly.
"Correct." Leo nodded, continuing, "You decide among yourselves how to distribute these three."
This was his decision after careful thought. Among the combatants, Rebecca and Koala's strength was practically at the bottom. With these items and time in the Hyperbolic Time Chamber, their power could see a qualitative leap in a short time.
Rebecca and Koala didn't stand on ceremony. After each expressed their thoughts and sought the other's opinion, the result was finalized.
Rebecca chose the Imperial Armament: Beast King Transformation and Imperial Armament: March!
Koala chose the Zoan Type, Bee-Bee Fruit: Ancient Zoan: Killer Bee Model!
"Go to the Time Chamber first to familiarize yourselves with the abilities~"
Seeing the two make their choices so calmly and peacefully, Leo nodded with satisfaction. This way, before long, he would have two more powerful assets.
Rebecca equipped the Imperial Armaments, and Koala ate the Devil Fruit before both hurriedly left the lounge.
Watching them leave, the smile on Leo's face gradually faded. The rewards were distributed. Next was finding Zephyr. He had to locate him before he detonated the Dyna Stones.
"Robin, activate the radar. Scan all ships within a 4,000-kilometer radius. Find Zephyr as soon as possible!"
"Understood."
Robin didn't dare be careless and immediately acted on Leo's orders.
One hour.
Two hours.
Six hours…
A full day.
Two entire days passed.
With the flying ship's speed and the radar's thousand-kilometer scan range, Leo had covered nearly half the New World, yet found nothing. But he wasn't discouraged. At this rate, he would surely find Zephyr within another two days.
Finally, on the third day.
"Captain, I have a find!"
Robin, monitoring the radar, let out an excited cry.
On the screen, in the sea over a hundred miles from the ship, was a fleet. On the mast of each vessel flew a skull flag unique to "NEO."
"Found you at last~"
Leo looked at the four familiar figures gradually appearing on the lead ship's deck, a satisfied smile spreading across his face.
The central, burly man wore glasses, had short purple hair, and was covered in knotty muscles. Most striking was the massive mechanical arm, the "Crushing Machine," fitted onto his right arm.
Former Marine Admiral 'Black Arm' Zephyr.
Standing beside him was a beauty with smooth, sea-blue wavy hair, wearing a purple tank top and black hot pants, an 'X'-shaped scar on her right leg, and a blue cape.
User of the Paramecia-type Return-Return Fruit, Ain.
The man on the far left.
Flamboyantly dressed, with a pink headscarf, a black jumpsuit with yellow cloud patterns, and a katana on his back.
User of the Paramecia-type Grow-Grow Fruit, Binz.
The man on the far right.
Muscular and brawny, wearing red armor with white patterns and a purple cape.
Zephyr's beloved officer, Captain of the NEO Marines Guerrilla Unit.
A long-arm tribesman warrior proficient in Rokushiki and Haki, Z.
"So that's the former Marine Admiral, 'Black Arm' Zephyr?"
Looking at the old man on the screen, Reiju slightly furrowed her brow. While she hadn't met Zephyr, his reputation was resounding. It was well-known that within Marine Headquarters, many Vice Admirals, even the three Admirals, were all Zephyr's students.
"A pity it's all in the past. Zephyr's current strength compared to a Marine Admiral is like a chasm."
Doll chuckled and shook her head, adding from the side. Nami, Tashigi, Kalifa, and the others glanced over before similarly losing interest and looking away.
Of course, not everyone shared their attitude.
"Perfect timing~"
Rebecca gently stroked the Beast King Transformation at her waist, a glint of excitement flashing in her beautiful eyes. After a full twenty days in the Time Chamber, she precisely lacked a suitable opponent.
"'Black Arm' Zephyr, is it??"
Looking at the purple figure on the screen, a powerful fighting spirit and aura erupted from Rebecca's body.
"I'd like to test my fruit ability too~"
Koala played with the killer bee in her hand, her gaze locking onto the burly figure at the head of the group. A big target, but she wondered if it could withstand her killer bees.
"Captain, I'll help you snatch that pretty beauty over."
Monet excitedly pointed at the blue figure.
Leo nodded with a smile. He had already shared information about their opponents, including their strength and abilities.
"In that case, I'll take the remaining one."
Baby-5 naturally chose Binz. Some Grow-Grow Fruit, manipulating plants? She'd just blast it all to smithereens with a missile.
While the women chatted, the flying ship had already appeared within Zephyr's line of sight.
On the ship.
"Teacher, it's Leo!!"
Ain stared at the figure on the deck, her pupils suddenly constricting. Leo's exploits were legendary, needless to say. Nowadays, on the seas, merely mentioning his name involuntarily brought to mind many labels. Powerful topped the list.
"Teacher, I don't see Hancock, Nami, or the others. I don't recognize those four women with Leo."
Ain looked at Rebecca and the other three, her brow furrowed. Binz and Z both seethed with surging aura, their eyes full of wariness. Though they were prepared for a life-or-death battle with Leo, his sheer power still instinctively inspired fear.
"What are you afraid of?!"
"A heinous pirate like Leo must be eliminated even more!"
Zephyr keenly sensed their unease and bellowed angrily. He understood Leo's strength better than anyone. His close friend Garp, his prized student Kizaru—both died by his hand. The main reason Zephyr dared to be so bold and unafraid was because of a certain something that gave him ample confidence.
"Go."
Leo's demeanor was calm and composed. As his words fell, Rebecca and the other three shot forward like arrows from a bow, speeding toward the fleet ahead. Their targets were clear, each seeking their designated opponent.
"You really think we're pushovers!!"
Binz watched the four approaching menacingly, cracked his knuckles, and immediately adopted a fighting stance.
"Make your move. Let me see your strength!"
Baby-5 calmly blew out a smoke ring, her tone quite casual.
"Bastard!!"
Being so utterly disregarded, Binz's face turned completely gloomy.
"The women around Leo can't be judged by common sense~"
Looking at the massive weapons on Baby-5's back, Binz narrowed his eyes slightly, putting away the hidden kunai throwing stars in his hands.
"In that case, let's settle this!!"
"Grow, grow~"
"Grow, grow~"
Binz twisted his body, and the plants on the deck grew at a rate visible to the naked eye. The originally thin vines quickly thickened into massive tendrils.
"Let you taste my power!"
"Let you taste my power!"
At Binz's command, in an instant, all the tendrils, carrying extreme piercing and binding power, attacked Baby-5.
"Hahahaha… Bring it on!!"
Baby-5 laughed heartily, activating her Weapon-Weapon Fruit ability simultaneously.
"Weapon Transformation: Scythe Woman!!"
Baby-5 instantly completed her form change, her upper body transforming into a giant scythe. Reflected in the sunlight, it gleamed with a dangerous, cold light.
"Your plants are no match for my weapons!!"
The giant scythe spoke in human tongue, slashing out.
Swish~
A full 360-degree spin. One strike severed all the encircling vines. While these plants could block bullets and cannon fire, slashing attacks and super-high-temperature flames were their bane.
"Damn it!!"
Looking at the completely severed plants, Binz cursed angrily. His opponent was actually a Weapon-Weapon Fruit user who could transform into any weapon. This was troublesome~
Simultaneously, on another front.
"Die!!"
Z leaped up, his brawny body taking on a pitch-black luster.
Full-body Armament Haki coverage!
Powerful physical combat skills and Haki were his means of attack, the source of his confidence.
"As if I fear you!!"
Koala raised an eyebrow slightly, snorted coldly.
"Killer Bee: Beast Form!!"
The next moment, her petite frame rapidly swelled. Under Z's astonished gaze, a creature covered in an exoskeleton, with black and yellow stripes, and complex-veined transparent wings behind it, took shape before him at an extremely fast speed.
"This is… a killer bee??"
Z's pupils constricted slightly, a sense of foreboding rising in his heart.
"Swarm Summon!!"
"Venom Sting Attack!!"
The giant killer bee spoke. The next moment, a sky-blotting swarm of killer bees instantly surrounded Z. Soon, amidst a scalp-tingling sound of tearing and biting, Z's piercing screams could be heard.
.........…..
"Little sister, you're no match for me. Just surrender."
Monet said with a smile, looking at Ain, who stood before her as if facing a formidable enemy. She was a woman the Captain fancied. If possible, she'd avoid roughness.
"You scum! How could I possibly surrender to vile pirates like you?!"
"Let you taste my power!!"
Ain shouted lightly. With a poof, a peach-colored flame resembling will-o'-the-wisp rose from her palm. This flame held no lethal force or destructive power; it only allowed her to activate her Return-Return Fruit ability. Anyone or anything she touched would have their age regressed by twelve years. Multiple touches could even erase the target from existence.
"The Return-Return Fruit ability, huh?"
Monet glanced at the flame in Ain's palm, her eyes filled with vigilance.
"Little sister, since you won't listen to reason, don't blame big sister."
"Don't worry, big sister will go easy on you."
Monet's golden-yellow eyes gradually took on a dangerous gleam. The jade-like teeth in her mouth transformed into sharp, shark-like fangs.
"Blizzard!!"
Monet created distance from Ain while sweeping her arm upward.
In an instant, the surrounding temperature plummeted drastically. The entire area completely transformed into a world of ice and snow. Sensing the advantage on the other two battlefields, Monet didn't want to waste time either, directly unleashing her strongest move! The blizzard tornado she created could easily trap enemies within, limiting their vision and mobility. Given time, those trapped would turn into ice sculptures from the low temperatures.
"Bastard…"
The all-white world immediately panicked Ain. Looking at the peach-colored flame in her hand, she suddenly felt as if her strength had no outlet.
"So… so cold…"
Before long, the flame sputtered out. Covered in ice crystals, Ain exhaled frosty breath, her body involuntarily beginning to shiver. Her consciousness gradually grew hazy.
While the battles for Ain and the other two fell into dire straits…
"A former Marine Admiral, is it??"
As Rebecca continuously closed in on Zephyr, her gaze kept drifting toward the "Crushing Machine" on his right arm. She'd heard that after Zephyr's arm was grievously wounded, Marine scientists rebuilt his right arm into a mechanical one fitted with Seastone, boasting immense power.
"Leo, you send this little girl to be my opponent?"
Zephyr adjusted his slipping sunglasses, shook his head disdainfully.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
T/N :
Support me and Access 25 chapters in Advance on my P@treon: [email protected]/GodFic