Edge of the Raijin Forest, Birka Island…
"Hurry, hurry, hurry! Find those great sinners!"
"How dare those sinners defy the High Priest's authority? Find them and kill them!"
"And that Enel... unforgivable!"
"…"
Rustle~
"Bazel Aniki, they're gone."
"Pay them no mind. Once I've filled my stomach, they'll be the ones who die."
Holding a half-cooked Sky Shark in both hands, he tore into it with large bites, chewing voraciously.
Having gone days without water or food, his stomach had long been starved and parched. If not for his robust physical condition and the unique properties of his Mythical Zoan-type Devil Fruit, it would have been uncertain whether he could have held on until Toki found him.
"Speaking of which, Toki, why did we end up here?"
Bazel's confusion was not without reason.
According to his memories before transmigrating, the Knock Up Stream would, at most, reach the White Sea. Yet the Sky Island they were currently on was located in the White-White Sea, above the White Sea.
Moreover, Birka was an even more remote and isolated Skypiea.
Logically, the Knock Up Stream shouldn't have had such power.
'Could it be that because I had manipulated the Poison Sea at the time, the combined force of the two had led to this disaster?'
"I'm not entirely sure either. I passed out during the impact."
Toki began recalling the events of the past few days.
"By the time I found you, you had already been captured by a group of strange people… those priests from earlier. I followed them into this town, originally planning to find an opportunity to rescue you, but then I encountered Enel being bullied."
"In a moment of soft-heartedness, I saved him. Little did I know that this rescue operation would turn out to be his great merit."
"It's pretty much as I guessed."
When he saw that young boy with the golden explosive hair, Bazel knew it had to be Enel.
His knowledge of the legends surrounding Birka was limited.
Raijin, ancient sacrificial traditions, Enel's hometown...
Compared to other Sky Islands willing to interact with people from the Blue Sea, Birka was the most unique among the Sky Island system.
Its uniqueness wasn't solely due to the fact that the deity worshipped here was actually a Devil Fruit. More importantly, it was the island's seemingly uncivilized, ancient traditions.
Perhaps it was because the power of the Goro Goro no Mi was too formidable, and the strange phenomena it caused were regarded by the local natives as the wrath of the so-called Raijin.
This was the origin of the sacrificial practices on Birka Island.
They used live sacrifices to appease Raijin's anger.
"Enel, come here."
"Aniki."
Enel, who had been keeping watch, walked over and obediently knelt down, lowering his head in a submissive manner.
Bazel shook his head. The boy before him showed none of the arrogance and wildness he would exhibit decades later.
"You know my identity. Now, I'm giving you a choice."
"Stay here and continue your life on this Sky Island, or leave with me. I'll take you to the great ocean… what you call the Blue Sea."
"But once you leave this time..."
"I'll leave with you!!"
Without the slightest hesitation, Enel immediately slammed his head heavily against the ground.
"I want to become stronger! I want to change all of this! I absolutely refuse to continue living as a sinner!!"
"I want to make those who bullied and beat me regret their actions!"
"Please teach me how to become stronger!!!"
"Methods to become stronger, huh..."
Bazel tossed aside the skeleton of the Sky Shark, let out a satisfied burp, and stood up.
"Considering you saved my life, I will teach you how to become stronger. As for the future of Birka Island, you can return to handle it yourself once you've grown powerful enough."
"Yes! I will definitely not disappoint you!"
Still kowtowing, Enel's eyes were filled with excitement, mixed with a well-hidden trace of hatred and madness.
He would stop at nothing to become stronger and destroy this place!
Bazel shook his head at Toki, signaling her not to bother persuading him further.
Enel's hatred had not developed overnight.
No matter what Toki said now, even if she argued until she was blue in the face, Enel would not change his mind.
"As for now..."
Bazel stood up, stretching his stiff body. A domineering, lofty aura gathered around him, ready to be unleashed.
He activated his Observation Haki.
"Found it. This aura... as expected."
"Toki, you and Enel go find transportation to the other Sky Islands. I'm going to explore the depths of this forest."
Toki did not cling to him at this moment.
Their current location was at the edge of the forest, but from the treetops, they could still see the incessant thunder roaring deep within.
The dense lightning strikes, which fell with no discernible pattern, were something neither she nor Enel could withstand.
"Understood. Be careful yourself. We'll return to this spot and wait for you once we've found transportation."
"Wait, Toki. Do you still have the Den Den Mushi with you?"
Bazel felt around his pockets but found that the Den Den Mushi he had been carrying was long gone.
"I do. Are you going to contact Kaido-san and the others?"
Taking the Den Den Mushi handed to him by Toki, Bazel offered no further explanation.
His identity as a spy was not something he could reveal to Toki yet.
It wasn't a matter of trust, but the fewer people who knew about certain things, the higher the chances of success in the future.
"I will use my Conqueror's Haki to clear a path for you. If I don't return, wait for me here for a few days."
The long-accumulated domineering aura burst forth from his body.
It crushed the treetops and grass, rolling toward the patrol teams within the forest.
"Move out!"
…
Half an hour later, Bazel, his entire body clad in Armament Haki, reached the deepest part of the forest.
"A cave? Why would there be such terrain in a place like this?"
The sound of his footsteps echoed through the cave.
When Bazel reached the depths, he discovered a large hole had opened at the top of the cave.
In the center of a long-dried pool stood a stone platform. Arcs of electricity flew from the lone Devil Fruit placed on it toward the sky.
Moments later, they returned with thunderous force, crashing down.
"As expected, it's the Goro Goro no Mi."
Several semi-transparent Phantom Snake Spirits slid out from his sleeves and burrowed into the ground beneath his feet.
"Arise, Earth Dragon."
As Bazel manipulated the earth to swallow the distant fruit, the strange lightning phenomena in the sky gradually began to weaken.
Buru Buru Buru~~
Buru Buru Buru~~
Kacha.
"Moshi moshi~~~ This is Borsalino~ yo."
"It's me, monkey."
The Den Den Mushi's originally lazy expression changed. Its eyes darted around before it whispered:
"Why are you contacting me? Shouldn't you be... Ah, I almost forgot, you did a big thing not long ago."
"Fleet Admiral Kong and Admiral Sengoku were very happy after seeing the news report. That place in Jaya has finally quieted down."
"Another major achievement added to your record!"
"If the World Destroyer had also died, you'd probably be the next Fleet Admiral."
"Save the catching up for when we meet. Go find Sengoku. He has my Vivre Card. Follow its guidance to the Sky Island, Birka."
The earth writhed, and a golden fruit that looked like a puffed-up Pikachu was delivered into his hand.
"Hurry. I can't stay here too long."
The Den Den Mushi showed a hesitant expression, "Is it something very important? Are you sure it won't expose your identity?"
"Stop dithering. Move quickly. You have at most two days."
"Understood." The Den Den Mushi no longer hesitated, "I'm at headquarters now. At my top speed... I can get there in half a day at most."
"Then it's settled. See you in half a day."
…
Half a day passed, the sky still roared with thunder.
Bazel wasn't anxious. He sat cross-legged in a safe area, meditating.
"Long time no see, Bazel-san~~"
Before the light even arrived, the lazy voice had already reached his ears.
Bazel opened his eyes, a flash of Conqueror's Haki's aura emanating from his body for an instant.
Borsalino froze, then rubbed his eyes in disbelief.
"Wait! That was the aura of Conqueror's Haki just now, right?! Why would you awaken something like that?"
"Stop being so surprised. Weren't you always saying before that I would definitely awaken Conqueror's Haki?"
Bazel laughed and scolded, tossing a fruit over.
"This is?" Borsalino's originally surprised expression now turned to astonishment.
"The Logia-type Goro Goro no Mi?! Where did you get this?!"
"Deliver it to Garp."
Borsalino frowned, not understanding why Bazel would give this Goro Goro no Mi to Garp.
"...Bazel, can you tell me why you chose Garp?"
"You ask why... Of course, it's because of the man Garp is."
Borsalino was one of his few true friends, a close confidant to whom he could speak some of his heart's words.
Regarding the coming Great Pirate Era, Bazel had searched his soul, and the result was-
He did not want to see the arrival of the Great Pirate Era.
Though that chaotic era laid the foundation for overthrowing Imu in the future, the price paid was also unimaginable for ordinary people.
Moreover, with a transmigrator like him here, there was no longer a need for the original protagonist, Luffy, to fulfill the mission of liberation.
That is to say, the Roger Pirates no longer needed to become the Pirate King, nor did Roger's death need to usher in a new era.
Bazel's reason for choosing Garp was simple.
The other party would not become a lapdog of the Celestial Dragons, a fact that would not change even if the seas were overturned.
At certain critical moments in the future, he could even serve as an ally.
As for the Beast Pirates...
He had a development philosophy and Devil Fruits more suited to the Beasts Pirates.
As long as Acier's inventions succeeded, Mythical Zoan-type Devil Fruits would no longer be rare commodities.
And the Devil Fruit User Army he created would become a sword of justice in his hand!
"For the next few years, I will focus fully on developing the Beast Pirates and attempt to intercept the Roger Pirates and any pirates trying to reach the final island in the New World."
"Tell Garp for me that I do not want to see the so-called Great Pirate Era arrive."
"No matter what, regardless of the cost, we must stop the Roger Pirates from finding the final island!"
"The era that man wants to create is too dangerous..."
Determined to be a spoiler, Bazel gazed at Borsalino, his eyes growing increasingly resolute.
"Even if this world must undergo reform, it should be changed by us, who bear justice."
"Change this chaotic world in the name of justice!"
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