Chapter 2 It turns out that I am very strong
Early next morning, as the sky was barely light, Gaia Chaos arrived beneath the mountainside cliff, continuing his daily development of the Gold-Gold Fruit.
With his hands aimed at the ground, a mere hand gesture caused gold to erupt from within a ten-meter radius, floating before Gaia as if under his command.
With a thought, the gold transformed into eighteen types of weapons, or compressed into tiny needles akin to bullets, easily piercing rocks and trees around.
This was Gold Hardening.
Then, the gold amalgamated into a sizable mass, about the size of a cubic meter, a considerable weight!
It could be said that it was the entirety of the island's gold, which Gaia had gathered and buried here over the past three years.
Under Gaia's manipulation, the gold began to soften, forming a thick, gold venomous snake that coiled around a tree. The more it coiled, the tighter it became until it eventually snapped the tree with a crisp sound.
This power was similar to Magneto's abilities, but Gaia manipulated gold instead.
While his abilities were formidable, they relied on the existence of gold.
Currently, he couldn't create gold out of thin air or transmute objects into gold. He could only transform his own body or manipulate existing gold within a certain range.
Even the film's Gold Emperor couldn't conjure gold from nothing, even with the awakening of their Devil Fruit power. Perhaps a deeper level of mastery was required.
Under Gaia's control, the Gold Venomous Snake seemed to possess life.
It slithered across the ground like a snake, fluid and agile, unlike the solid Gold Hardening. It was now in a state of liquidity.
With a raise of his right hand, the Gold Venomous Snake stood upright and transformed into a three-meter-long Fangtian Halberd, which Gaia swung effortlessly, easily tearing up the ground.
A flick upwards caused the Fangtian Halberd to separate into numerous golden longswords, which Gaia stood upright on his back, embedding them in the distant mountain wall with a thunderous boom.
This technique was reminiscent of King Gilgamesh's Gate of Babylon.
Now he had ranged attacks too.
Once his Armament Haki awakened, his attack power would be even more formidable, combined with Observation Haki to pinpoint his targets.
After a wild bout of destruction, Gaia pressed down with his right hand, causing all the golden longswords to revolve around him, clashing like an army of swords and spears. Soon, they fused into one, extending from head to foot, molding around his body.
In just a couple of breaths, Gaia was enshrouded in a full-body gold armor.
It resembled Iron Man's Nanotech Armor from Avengers: Endgame.
Walking a few steps, there was no discrepancy, as the gold armor was flexible. Gaia could shift its shape at will, ensuring no joint stiffness.
"Shoo!"
Vanishing on the spot, reappearing three meters away, Gaia punched a tree trunk as thick as a thigh. The tree cracked and collapsed with a resounding crash.
His right hand's gold coating extended into a longsword form, slicing through the broken tree trunk with ease.
Ranged attack, donning gold armor, combined with shape-shifting weapons, offered balanced offense and defense. Whether in close combat or at a distance, there were no glaring weaknesses.
While donning the gold armor, Gaia could transform parts of his body into solid gold, creating a dual-layer defense. If he learned Armament Haki and Seimei Kikan, his defensive prowess would be astounding.
The gold armor contracted, and Gaia lifted his hands, gripping them tightly. He took a deep breath.
Then a miracle occurred: Gaia's body lifted from the ground, eventually hovering ten meters in the air, surveying the landscape below. His grin stretched from ear to ear, clearly in high spirits.
Even without learning Geppo, he could fly by manipulating the gold.
In the beginning, when he had the idea and began practicing, he often plummeted to the ground due to accidental mishaps. It felt like walking a tightrope.
It was silky smooth!
A gust of wind swept him faster, and Gaia swiftly vanished from the sky, appearing behind the forest. Then, he soared into the clouds, finally standing on a cloud layer, looking at the surroundings. The grin on his face was evident.
Even without the Moon Walk technique, he could achieve flight through gold manipulation.
This was why Gaia had the confidence to set sail—he had increased his chances of survival with flight.
Can't fly, don't feel safe on the open sea!
"Wow!"
"Amazing!"
Gaia Chaos laughed freely. This sensation of carefree flight felt like a bird possessing the entire world, it was truly exhilarating.
The giant golden sword began to soften and spread behind him. Gaia plummeted towards the vast blue sea, yet within two breaths, two enormous golden wings emerged from his back. With a flap, they stirred up waves, and Gaia soared through the air like a golden avian being.
Ascending into the clouds again, the golden wings transformed into a multitude of palm-sized mini golden swords, bullet-like, producing sonic booms. Eventually, they coalesced into a golden torrent of projectiles within the clouds.
A golden mini sword beneath each foot, Gaia wove his surroundings into a storm of revolving golden swords, the clash of metal creating a fervent battle cry that could ignite one's blood.
Unrestrained, he engaged in development amidst the clouds. After roughly an hour, Gaia initiated a free fall towards the island, his energy largely depleted, leaving him quite fatigued.
Descending slowly to the ground, the gold armor covering him fell off with a heavy thud. It wasn't light!
However, he had long grown accustomed to it.
Unfortunately, there was only this much gold on the island. Otherwise, just wearing this armor while walking would be akin to strength training under a heavy load.
Seated on the ground, Gaia swung his right hand towards the gold before him. It began to shift, transforming into a miniature golden humanoid standing at 1.7 meters tall. Under Gaia's manipulation, the golden figure executed consecutive backflips, leaps, and even performed calisthenics.
"Golden Warrior."
This was a golden clone Gaia crafted, inspired by Donquixote Doflamingo's Black Knight.
Similar to the Gold Armor, Sword Flight, King's Treasure, etc., Gaia drew inspiration from others' concepts, such as Iron Man, Magneto, Gilgamesh, and Doflamingo.
Compared to the original's tedious development, Gaia's approach was more diverse.
For instance, Sword Flight was not something Trafalgar Law had conceived.
This was the disparity between thinking and imagination.
After all, Devil Fruits relied on imagination. With even a modest foundation, certain ideas could manifest into reality.
However, unrealistic ideas without any basis were unachievable fantasies.
Controlled by Gaia, the Golden Warrior executed various high-difficulty moves, though closer observation revealed its lack of coordination, making it inferior to Doflamingo's Black Knight.
When Gaia developed this technique to be as versatile as himself, he wouldn't need to engage in personal combat while navigating the sea. After enemies struggled to defeat the Golden Warrior, they would realize it was merely a remote-controlled construct by Gaia. Their faces would surely turn green.
Yet this technique had a significant drawback: it wasn't yet well-coordinated and couldn't venture beyond ten meters from Gaia. Beyond this range, control was lost.
"If I could awaken Observation Haki, that'd be fantastic!"
Gaia sighed. If he combined this technique with Observation Haki, he could control it at the extent of his observation range.
Despite his soul being baptized through his transmigration, three years had passed without awakening this ability.
And this was after the baptism; without it, he would've taken an eternity to achieve his current accomplishments.
Truly frustrating!
Additionally, there was Geppo. Even though Gaia could achieve flight through gold manipulation, he had resolved to master it.
If he ever lost the Gold-Gold Fruit one day or couldn't control gold, he could still increase his chances of survival through Geppo.
This was a matter of principle.
Not limited to Geppo, Gaia also aimed to learn all the Six Powers techniques, and even Awakened Life Return.
Martial arts were essential, impacting his ability to withstand attacks, recover, endure, and his overall physical condition.
Surveying the power system within the Pirate World, martial arts held tremendous importance.
…
As spring faded into autumn, the sky was adorned with fluffy snowflakes like goose feathers.
Originally, Gaia Chaos thought that a trading ship would arrive at Goat Island in three to four months, but now five months had passed, and not even a trace was seen!
Miscalculation.
At this moment, Gaia stood tall on the island's highest peak like a pine tree stripped of its bark. His eyes gazed upon the white expanse of snow, with only hints of greenery at the half-mountain and mountain foot.
It was a monotonous winter.
Engaged in rigorous ascetic practices, Gaia was dressed in just a large pair of underpants. His muscles weren't excessively pronounced, and combined with his 2-meter height, he appeared evenly slender.
In a pirate world where the average height exceeded three meters, Gaia was undoubtedly considered disabled.
A rather sorrowful fact.
"Hmm?"
Gazing out across the boundless horizon, Gaia spotted a large ship sailing towards the island. His eyesight was keen; there was no pirate flag in sight.
It was a trading ship.
After waiting for five months, it had finally arrived!
Exhaling a breath of mist, Gaia leaped off the cliff. When he was thirty meters above the ground, he suddenly suspended mid-air. He moved rapidly towards the mountain foot, as if running through the air.
Moon Walk. Gaia had mastered it over the past five months.
Primarily, he had succeeded in mastering Shave. After all, Moon Walk could be considered an evolved form of Shave. As long as Shave was mastered, and the relevant balance of forces was grasped, Moon Walk came naturally.
And not just Moon Walk, there were other abilities as well.
At this point, he had achieved a considerable mastery of his skills. It was time to set sail and write his own legend.
Having stayed here for three years and five months, it seemed the time spent here had been valuable.
While flying over a forest, Gaia reached down to the ground and grabbed a clump of golden material. It transformed into several mini throwing knives in mid-air, producing sonic booms like bullets. They hit wild rabbits and chickens twenty meters away with uncanny precision.
Finally, carrying his catch, Gaia headed towards home!
He didn't even bid farewell to Little Jaw, Little Tiger, and Little Lion. Gaia was eager to leave.
Standing in front of the sakura tree at his doorstep, he reached for the ground. Large clumps of gold emerged from the earth and enveloped Gaia in a glistening layer, forming leg armor and greaves that adhered closely to his body. After entering his home, he put on a shirt, coat, and pants. The golden armor on Gaia's body was utterly concealed.
This was Gaia's trump card. With this golden armor, he could transform into a lethal weapon or a formidable shield at will.
Combining offense and defense was an essential necessity for all occasions.
Moreover, this set of golden armor material had been refined by Gaia, removing impurities to concentrate the essence of gold.
Entering the town, he saw many people procuring supplies. Some were leading, others guarding, and a few were eating in the tavern. It was a time of significant expenditure when ships restocked.
And it was also a time of significant earnings.
Carrying wild rabbits, chickens, and numerous dried animal pelts, Gaia arrived at the harbor. There, a ship nearly thirty meters long lay, with many people loading supplies. From the ship's size, it was evident that they were quite capable.
Generally, pirates didn't dare to rob such ships at sea.
The cannons on either side of the trading ship and the guards patrolling around it—some clad in armor, others wielding muskets—were signs of meticulous training. This ship could be affiliated with a kingdom or a powerful force.
Numerous villagers and crew members on the ship were trading goods by the shore, everyone getting what they needed.
Many villagers greeted Gaia, and he carried the animal pelts. The trading ship would definitely accept them!
However, this time Gaia didn't intend to exchange them for money or supplies. Instead, he wanted to trade these items for passage on the ship. He first wanted to see if the ship was headed towards the New World or the four blues.
Preferably to the Seven Water Capitals or the Sabaody Archipelago!
"Animal pelts over here!"
A small steward of the trading ship watched from afar as Gaia approached, his face revealing a smile, albeit a slightly cunning one.
With just a glance, he could tell the pelts were preserved perfectly. Some aristocrats and wealthy women loved this kind of stuff, and they could easily sell for fifty times their value when traded in affluent countries or cities.
In this small village, he could easily deceive them.
"Are you here to exchange goods or sell them?"
As Gaia approached with the pelts, the steward remained composed.
He had noticed several fully preserved tiger pelts, and more importantly, those pristine, pure white fox pelts. While other animal pelts were present in abundance, their value paled in comparison to tiger and fox pelts.
"May I ask where your ship is eventually heading? Are there any islands you will pass along the way?"
Gaia blinked, giving off an innocent and straightforward appearance.
"Our final destination is the Sabaody Archipelago. Along the way, we will pass through the Alabasta Kingdom, the Seven Water Capitals, and some other islands."
The junior steward didn't even raise his head, continuing to observe the pelts.
"These islands you probably haven't even heard of, so asking about them won't do any good! Is it an exchange of goods or Belly?"
"Can these items secure me a passage? I want to go to the Sabaody Archipelago."
Gaia didn't hesitate either, locking eyes with the junior steward who finally looked up.
"Are you sure?"
"Yes."
The junior steward hesitated for a moment, pondered, and then coughed lightly. "I can let you board, but consider these items your fare. Furthermore, if we encounter any pirates or danger along the way, I won't be responsible."
"Deal!"
"We'll set sail in three hours. Hold onto this," the junior steward retrieved a ticket from his pocket.
For situations like Gaia's, every trading ship would have encountered them.
At present, there were quite a few people on the ship, like Gaia, who had boarded at another island and were heading to the next one. In this era, small merchants and ordinary folk often used trading ships to travel between islands, as it offered some degree of safety.
Setting sail alone in the sea was the height of foolishness.
Especially considering that this was the Grand Line.
Unlike Luffy, who dared to sail alone from the outset, Gaia knew he couldn't do the same.
He could only admit that Luffy was truly the Chosen One of this world.
If Gaia were to venture out in the same manner, his remains might never be found. He could very well end up becoming one with the ocean.
"Gaia, are you leaving?"
A few older women and men nearby didn't display surprise on their faces. After all, everyone knew that Gaia was an outsider. It wasn't unexpected that he would leave someday.
"Yes!"
Gaia handed the wild rabbits and chickens to two older women, then turned around to look at the town and the mountains behind, feeling a bit reluctant.
After all, he had lived here for three years and five months!
Once he became stronger, maybe one day he would return here.
This was his starting point, where he had spent some of the most crucial years of his youth.
After bidding farewell to the older folks, Gaia boarded the ship.
With his ticket, he followed a crew member's lead to a narrow, crowded, and cluttered room on the lowest deck. The room was no bigger than an ordinary bathroom, the only plus being a window offering a view of the sea. He was the sole occupant.
The key issue was that even two people wouldn't fit.
Such rows of rooms along the corridor were numerous; they were all meant for those without much money. Wealthier passengers would stay on the upper levels in larger, more luxurious rooms.
Gaia had no intention of changing it; this room was good enough.
He didn't want to draw any unnecessary attention right now.
Three hours passed quickly, and as the trading ship started moving away from the harbor, Gaia was aboard.
And on the snowy half-mountain, three massive figures sat on the ground, watching the departing ship, all heaving sighs of relief.
That damned thing had finally left.
And it didn't even bid them farewell.
How beastly!
…
Riding the wind and breaking through the waves, an endless expanse of waves came into view!
A day had passed since the trading ship left Goat Island. Early in the morning, Gaia left his cabin and stepped onto the deck, taking in a deep breath of sea breeze.
In the boundless and uncultivated ocean, the trading ship was like a tiny leaf boat.
In the span of a day, they hadn't encountered any pirate ships or other vessels, causing Gaia's initial excitement about witnessing pirates to fade away.
It was different from watching anime.
Staying on the deck for a while wouldn't be conducive to Gaia's training, so he returned to his humble abode.
The ship offered some entertainment options, like gambling!
Gaia wasn't interested in these activities. However, it's worth mentioning that he could sense a fair amount of gold on the ship; it seemed quite prosperous.
Back in his cramped room, Gaia began doing push-ups and other exercises. It had become a habit, to the point that he felt uncomfortable if he went a day without training.
This habit was well ingrained.
By midday, Gaia extracted tiny specks of gold the size of rice grains and went to the kitchen to exchange them for some food.
Then he returned to his room and lay down, preparing for a nap.
Upon waking up, he planned to continue his training.
However, things took an unexpected turn during this nap!
In a daze, Gaia felt like he was in a cradle. It sounded like someone was whispering beside him, reminiscent of being coaxed to sleep as a child.
Suddenly, he was catapulted out of the cradle, landing on the ground with a palpable sense of heart-pounding fear. Opening his eyes, he realized the entire trading ship was violently shaking.
Dimly, he could hear the sounds of cannon fire and shouts from outside.
Peering out of the window, which was about the size of a basin, Gaia saw a massive pirate ship next door, flying the skull and crossbones flag. He spotted several pirates with bloodstained blades, exuding a ferocious aura.
"Fire the cannons!"
"Don't let them escape."
"A ship this large must be carrying abundant supplies and money."
"Whoosh, whoosh..."
Artillery shells flew from the pirate ship, while the trading ship retaliated.
Both sides exchanged a heated greeting right from the start.
"What a surprise!"
Gaia's expression changed; an artillery shell was heading his way. However, he remained calm!
Upon confirming with his intuition, he realized he wouldn't be harmed even if he were hit by the artillery.
But he still had to dodge!
Swiftly opening the door and shutting it behind him in one seamless motion.
"Boom, boom..."
A burst of fiery force came from behind. With one hand, Gaia pushed against the cabin door. Watching the panicked people in the corridor, his calm demeanor contrasted strangely with the chaotic scene.
"Run!"
"Pirates are here."
"We'll be safe, right!"
"This ship has a lot of guards!"
"Damn it, my cargo!"
"That's all my fortune."
"Help!"
Life's variety played out before his eyes as Gaia prepared to head to the deck.
Passing by some cabins, he saw they had been obliterated by cannon fire, flames consuming them. Through the small window, he could glimpse the surging sea outside. Many unlucky individuals had been turned into fragments, their innards and limbs splattered on the walls, blood and the scent of charred flesh filling the air. Gaia's brow furrowed as he felt slightly uncomfortable, witnessing such close-up carnage for the first time.
His capacity to endure it was quite good; he didn't experience any nausea or vomiting.
Reaching the ship's first floor, Gaia saw guards patrolling the corridor, armed with flintlock rifles or sabers. Even some passengers had joined their ranks, all of them appearing fierce.
Now that it was a matter of life and death for everyone, anyone with a history on the street would be armed, adding an extra layer of security.
There were also some panicked individuals who were only running and yelling, contributing to the chaotic atmosphere. Amid this, one sight caught Gaia off guard.
It was a woman, at least 300 pounds in weight,
Wearing a chef's uniform, she was likely a cook. Right now, she held a meter-long boning knife, her expression fierce as she charged outside. It was as if a human tank was on the move.
Without prior knowledge, one might have thought she was off to butcher a pig.
The sight was quite impactful!
"Don't come out and cause trouble, all of you stay inside."
"Don't block my guards'; stay inside, everyone!"
The entire hallway was heated. Two or three guards in armor were shouting at everyone.
Unfortunately, panic had already taken hold. Many had lost their composure.
Outside, the once calm sea was now churning violently. The pirate ship and the trading ship were very close, and fierce battles between fearsome pirates and guards were taking place on both vessels.
Both the pirate ship and the trading ship were shaking intensely, as the explosion-induced waves crashed onto the deck, staining it red.
Many pirates and guards lay on the deck, either wailing in pain or turned into lifeless bodies.
The sight of severed limbs, horrifying wounds, and pools of blood was nauseating just to look at.
Misaimed bullets were flying in all directions, causing walls of the ship's cabins to be riddled with holes.
"Hahaha! Kill these damn guards."
"Brothers, find some women. It's been a while since we had some action."
"We finally stumbled upon a trading ship; we can't let it escape."
"We are the Venomfang Pirates. If you give up resistance, we might spare your lives."
"Our captain, Venomfang, has a bounty of 8.7 million Berries. Even the Marines give face to us on the Grand Line."
"Fire!"
"Help, I've been shot!"
"Die!"
Gaia stepped out of the cabin, surveying the chaotic scene on the deck. Pirates were laughing recklessly, while others screamed in agony. The level of bloodshed was akin to a battlefield, where a single misstep could mean death.
"Whoosh..."
A bullet whizzed past, leaving a hole in the wall where it hit.
Gaia's eyelid twitched, and his heartbeat slightly quickened.
The trading ship couldn't sink; he still needed it to reach Water 7 or the Sabaody Archipelago.
Directly in front of him, a guard with a saber was locked in combat with a pirate. Perhaps due to the guard's smaller stature, he was clearly outmatched.
In just a moment, the guard's arm was severed, and he lay on the ground, screaming in agony.
Gaia's fingers twitched slightly, and a piece of golden armor split off, rapidly transforming into a dart. With a sharp hiss, it shot through the air like a small bolt of lightning, piercing the back of the pirate's head.
Without any hindrance, the pirate's head struck the ground with a thud, blood and brain matter mingling on his forehead. His body twitched sporadically before he quickly stopped breathing.
Killing a pirate so effortlessly, Gaia didn't feel much at all.
It seemed to be no different from squeezing the life out of a chicken.
The guard who had thought he would die was pale and shocked, clutching his severed arm. He quickly found cover, sweating profusely.
Death was something everyone feared.
Gaia remained standing at the cabin door, summoning four more golden darts. Under his discreet manipulation, they functioned like the Grim Reaper's scythe, reaping lives.
It was akin to using a silenced gun, even faster than a bullet and impossible to dodge.
Especially in this chaotic situation.
Wherever the five golden darts went, pirates fell like wheat before the scythe. Some resilient pirates sensed the danger and instinctively rolled to the ground or used obstacles as cover, thinking that this would shield them.
However, crucially, these golden darts could change direction under Gaia's control. As cries of agony echoed, many people realized something was amiss.
"Damn, there's a strong one on this ship."
"Defend!"
"Notify the captain."
Leaving a deck littered with corpses, the remaining pirates and guards distanced themselves and formed defensive formations, fixated on the guards. Nonetheless, both sides continued firing the silenced guns.
The atmosphere grew tense, with the deck soaked in blood and scattered with remains, a grim and gruesome sight.
"Boom!"
A colossal figure, three meters tall, leaped from the pirate ship onto the trading ship's deck. He was a burly man with thick eyebrows and sharp teeth, wearing an open chest coat. He had three pistols strapped to his waist and wielded a gleaming and chilling large cleaver in his hand.
A ferocious aura surged forth, exuding a powerful sense of oppression.
Many guards tensely gripped their weapons, and even the captain of the guards wore a grave expression.
Venomfang, captain of the Venomfang Pirates, with a bounty of 8.7 million Berries.
If this bounty were placed twenty years later, it would be worth at least 40 million or more. He wasn't just some common thug who only knew how to kill.
"Who's in charge here!"
His two-meter-long cleaver slammed into the ground, and Venomfang's intense gaze swept over all the guards, his eyes filled with amusement.
"I am!"
The captain of the guards, wearing armor and wielding a long spear, stepped forward, his posture resolute as he faced Venomfang.
As for the ship's captain, he cowered behind the guards. He was merely the captain of a trading ship, not a pirate crew captain. Apart from firing a few shots, he had no other abilities and was perhaps a bit old.
In this situation, they could only rely on the most powerful captain of the guards.
"Surrender your treasures, women, and goods, and I might spare your lives."
Venomfang's eyes were filled with danger as he looked at the captain of the guards and the guards around him, full of disdain.
"Never!"
The captain of the guards didn't hesitate at all. Having traveled far and wide, he knew well the greed of these pirates.
Handing over all their treasures, women, and goods would not only tarnish their ship's reputation but might also lead the pirates to go back on their word.
Furthermore, giving everything to the pirates would mean certain death in the vast uncharted sea. They wouldn't last three days.
Unless they were close to the nearest island.
But according to the map, they were still two days away from the nearest island. There was also the possibility of encountering severe weather such as storms during the journey.
The weather on the Grand Line was unpredictable. One moment, the sky could be clear for thousands of miles, and the next moment, a torrential downpour could begin. The various bizarre weather phenomena were impossible to guard against.
Handing everything over to the pirates was tantamount to signing their own death warrant.
"Hmph! Keep the women, kill all the men."
Venomfang let out a cold snort. He had just observed the situation.
The current captain of the guards was the strongest. The other guards and ordinary people were hardly worth mentioning.
As for the strange occurrences that his subordinates had reported, it was likely due to the silenced guns. Even if there was a strong presence lurking, Venomfang wasn't afraid. He was highly confident in his own strength.
"Kill these pirates!"
"Charge!"
"Attack!"
The melee began again, even fiercer and more brutal than before.
Gaia remained standing at the cabin door. With a flick of his index finger, the golden darts, previously stained with blood and scattered in the corners, were once again reaping lives with a sonic boom.
"Ah~"
"Captain, it's an ambush."
The cries of agony abruptly ceased as a pirate's temple was pierced through. He fell to the ground, twitching a few times before stopping altogether.
"Damn it, it's a sniper."
"Find the sniper's location."
"Got it!"
"Attack!"
Severed limbs, splattered gore, and scorching hot blood continued to spatter. Cold bullet after cold bullet shot forth. In terms of the ongoing battle, the duel between Venomfang and the captain of the guards was particularly thrilling.
As Gaia continued to harvest lives, he also watched the battle between Venomfang and the captain of the guards.
Venomfang's face was twisted in amusement as he brandished his massive cleaver, sweeping it through the opposition like a cold gleam against a thousand troops.
In a critical moment, the captain of the guards dodged, causing a cabin behind him to shatter like tofu.
Gaia was somewhat surprised. Was that a slashing attack?
The captain of the guards propped himself up with one hand on the ground, thrusting the venomous snake spear with his right hand, aimed straight at Venomfang's heart.
Unfortunately, Venomfang managed to dodge.
"With just this level of strength, you dare to resist me."
Venomfang leaped high into the air, gripping his massive cleaver tightly in both hands. His speed was astonishing, and his momentum was like a fierce and powerful beast pouncing on its prey.
The captain of the guards remained calm, responding with composure. While he might not be a match in terms of strength, he had the advantage in speed.
Back and forth they clashed, the cleaver and the spear colliding, sending sparks flying and creating a gust of wind that swept away some corpses and debris.
"Clang..."
Sparks flew, and the captain of the guards' spear blocked above his head. His face turned red, and his feet sank into the deck. A hint of blood appeared at the corner of his mouth. On the other hand, the pirate, with bulging eyes, clenched his hands around the cleaver, striving to overpower his opponent.
"Die!"
Venomfang sneered cruelly. Suddenly, he pulled a pistol from his waist and, at point-blank range, fired a shot at the captain of the guards.
Even though the captain managed to turn his head at the critical moment, the bullet still grazed his face, leaving behind a streak of blood and flesh. At this moment, Venomfang sidestepped and delivered a powerful kick to the captain of the guard's chest.
Hot blood spewed from the captain's mouth as he was sent flying, crashing into and shattering a series of objects. Amidst the wreckage, he lay in his bloodstained armor, his face pale.
"Haha~"
Venomfang had successfully executed his ambush. Instead of getting carried away by his success, he seized the opportunity to press forward, attempting to finish off the captain of the guards in one fell swoop.
Once this guy was eliminated, the entire trading ship would be his for the taking.
He would have his pick of treasures, food, and women.
Gaia, who had been watching everything, sighed. Given Venomfang's slightly superior strength compared to the captain of the guards, and his sufficient cunning and treachery, the current outcome wasn't surprising.
He couldn't remain a mere spectator any longer.
His golden inner armor liquefied, streaming out from the hem of his pants, transforming into a massive golden greatsword. With a single gesture from Gaia, the sword shot forth with a sonic boom toward Venomfang.
"Who goes there!"
Venomfang became alert, sensing the sound of the sonic boom. He immediately placed his cleaver in front of his chest just as the colossal golden sword arrived. The tremendous force pushed him backward, almost causing him to tumble into the sea.
"Found you."
Gaia's intervention was now unmistakable. Many pirates in the vicinity turned their gaze toward him. All of them fiercely charged or opened fire.
Gaia's skin beneath his clothes rapidly transformed into gold. He pointed his hands toward the floating gold darts, which quickly reconfigured themselves into five golden longswords, hovering above his head. The deck was already strewn with fallen pirates.
After all, the guards hadn't just been idle spectators; they had taken advantage of the chaos to capture foes.
"You've angered me."
A ferocious voice emerged from the cabin. Venomfang, dragging his cleaver and spitting out the blood from his mouth, stared at Gaia with a fierce expression.
The five golden longswords were all aimed at Venomfang. Gaia's lips curved into a mocking smile.
"Bang!"
Venomfang charged forward suddenly, his left hand holding a pistol that fired off five consecutive shots.
With a thought, Gaia turned one of the golden longswords into a shield, firmly suspended in front of him. The other four longswords shot forth.
Ding ding ding~
Venomfang roared in anger, and astonishingly, his cleaver managed to deflect the four golden longswords. He reached Gaia in an instant, raising his cleaver high as if to cleave heaven and earth.
Gaia remained utterly composed. The golden shield transformed back into a sword, and his right hand grabbed the sword suspended above his head. With tremendous force, he struck down, creating a crack in the deck and causing Gaia's coat to flutter.
He had once thought that his opponent was formidable, but after a few exchanges, Gaia realized he could easily dominate the situation.
In fact, he was incredibly powerful!
Gaia clenched his left hand, which transformed into a cluster of densely packed golden spikes. Each sharp spike gleamed with a cold light. With a punch, he aimed it at Venomfang. The latter's expression changed to shock, and he quickly distanced himself, barely avoiding the attack.
But Gaia swiftly used his Razor ability to close the gap. He leaped high into the air and swung his right foot horizontally across Venomfang's face. Teeth and splattering blood went flying. Venomfang's face contorted in extreme agony, and with a sonic boom, he was sent tumbling amidst the debris, barely managing to stand up.
Gaia landed and raised his hand. The five golden longswords were launched one after another. Each sword sparkled in the sunlight, but now they were deadly weapons.
Venomfang struggled to his feet and rolled away, no longer caring about his appearance.
The five golden longswords plunged into the deck, leaving only the hilts exposed.
Gaia played with Venomfang like a cat toying with a mouse, testing out the techniques developed from the Gold-Gold Fruit.
Metal clashed, and the five golden longswords split into countless golden needles, radiating sharp edges toward Venomfang.
"Damn it!"
As if the voices of swarming bees, Venomfang's face turned pallid in terror. He quickly found cover behind debris to catch his breath.
Devil Fruit – that guy was a Devil Fruit user.
Venomfang did have some knowledge about these things. After all, his bounty of over eight million made him somewhat known in the surrounding waters, even though he was a minor-league pirate.
He had heard about the Great Sea's secret treasures on more than one occasion, but he hadn't expected to encounter them today.
"Sea's Shackles!"
The collision and fusion of the three golden longswords resulted in a glistening golden chain. It coiled toward Venomfang like a python, rendering his attempts to fend off the chain with bullets or his cleaver useless.
The chain not only evaded his efforts but could even reconnect if severed.
Both of Venomfang's hands were successively entangled. His massive body was hoisted into the air, and the chain constricted tighter and tighter, as though it were shattering his bones.
With a wave of Gaia's hand, the remaining two golden longswords transformed into spears, poised to pin Venomfang in midair.
"Spare... spare my life!"
"I'll serve you!"
The specter of death and fear gripped Venomfang's soul. His mouth was full of blood, and his face was a mask of terror as he pleaded.
He didn't want to die.
Gaia glanced around at the surroundings: the captain of the guards, some other guards, and many people who had secretly watched from the cabins. They all gazed at him.
As for Venomfang's subordinates, most of them were already dead. The remainder were tied up, their fate to be determined – whether death or being sold into slavery.
In general, this was the fate of pirates!
"Splat~"
A golden spear pierced through Venomfang's back, and his body trembled. Blood gushed from his mouth and nose, while his eyes filled with despair and terror.
With Venomfang's death, the golden longspear and the golden chain floated in the air, shedding the bloodstains and eventually entering Gaia's sleeve, transforming back into his inner armor.
Killing Venomfang was a warning, and considering how many lives this guy's hands were stained with, Gaia considered it an act of justice.
If only he were a bit stronger, Gaia mused. He might even consider recruiting him.
Unfortunately, he was too weak.
"Thank you for saving us, sir."
The captain of the guards, the ship's captain, and their group approached, all expressing gratitude to Gaia.
If it weren't for Gaia, they might have ended up at the bottom of the sea.
The steward who had given Gaia the ticket earlier stood there, gaping in astonishment.
He had completely misjudged the situation.
This wasn't a hunter; he was a powerhouse.
"No problem, just lending a hand!"
People hid their true intentions. Gaia wasn't sure whether their gratitude was genuine or feigned, but he was now the strongest person on this ship. He had nothing to fear even if they had ulterior motives.
...
Mock Town was located in the first half of the Grand Line, a pirate-infested gathering spot. One could say it was a paradise for pirates, bustling with activity.
Gambling, red-light districts, and taverns were all readily available here. It was less of a town and more of a small nation, a gathering place created specifically for pirates.
There were no so-called ordinary folks here, as every person's hands were stained with blood.
People came and went through the town center, each one armed with a knife or a gun. Even if someone appeared as a delicate young girl, her hands were likely responsible for taking several lives.
The possibility of a brawl breaking out at the slightest disagreement could occur. If you're not cautious, you might not even know how you died!
Far on the horizon, quite a distance from Mock Town, a merchant ship was anchored.
Viewed from the bow of the ship, Mock Town appeared as a mere speck on the horizon.
"Mr. Gaia, are you sure you want to go to Mock Town?"
On the deck, the captain of the guards, along with several guards and others, looked at Gaia.
"Yes."
Gaia gazed at the tiny dot there.
Dealing with Venomfang's pirate crew two days ago was the first time in three years that he'd engaged in combat with humans. Even though he easily dealt with his opponents, Gaia believed he could improve, especially in controlling the speed and versatility of his golden manipulation.
Furthermore, fighting humans was entirely different from fighting animals!
Although the battle had been easy, Gaia's mindset and insight had improved considerably.
Indeed, he needed to fight against humans to make progress. Some things could only be better grasped and refined through combat.
So Gaia intended to go all out!
Mock Town was conveniently located in the surrounding waters, and the merchant ship was willing to give him a lift.
After Gaia saved them, their treatment improved dramatically.
The rooms provided were the most luxurious, and they automatically offered the treasure of Venomfang's pirate crew. However, Gaia only took the gold, refining it and merging it with his golden armor.
This was the transformation brought about by strength.
With power, wealth, reputation, authority, and women were all easily within reach!
Additionally, Gaia remembered that Mock Town was part of a sky island. In other words, the sky island floated above this island. He planned to test his luck and see if he could find the Goro Goro no Mi, the Thunder-Thunder Fruit.
Even if he couldn't find the gold up there, it would be worth storing for later use. It might be very valuable in the future.
Furthermore, a sky island was an excellent choice for a main base, a rare haven.
Mock Town below was also a good place – a haven for all sorts of formidable pirates. It would be the perfect place for training.
So, after careful consideration, Gaia decided to stay in Mock Town for a while. He wasn't in a rush to head to the Seven Water Capital or the Sabaody Archipelago.
"But Mock Town is a small town frequented by pirates, and there are many powerful pirates there."
"I am leaving."
Gaia waved his hand, not giving anyone a chance to speak. Manipulating his golden armor, his figure shot into the air like a cannonball, heading toward Mock Town.
"Let's leave this area as well!"
The ship's captain was somewhat anxious. They were too close to Mock Town, and there was a chance they could encounter pirate crews at any moment.
As the merchant ship rapidly turned around, it didn't take long for it to vanish from the horizon.
At that moment, Gaia's figure descended in the jungle on the opposite side of the island. He didn't enter Mock Town from the front, opting for a more discreet approach.
Mock Town truly lived up to its reputation as a pirate town flush with riches. Even after twenty years, its exceptional influence remained unchanged.
For the most part, pirates who held lofty ambitions or were self-assured, even if it meant taking a detour on the Grand Line, would deliberately come here.
After all, it was relatively easy to become famous here.
Gaining fame on this island could quickly spread to the Grand Line. Therefore, Mock Town was one of the best places to earn a reputation.
Of course, this required having sufficient strength!
(Chapter End)