Mike's eyes were locked on the golden item floating before him.
It was shaped like a small, elegant submarine, as if it had been born from the deepest parts of the ocean.
The level of craftsmanship was simply stunning.
[Nautilus, hidden in the waves, perished in the abyss!]
[Gold-tier item. Current star rating: 3 stars (maximum 5 stars).]
(Note: Three of the five golden items you rolled were the Nautilus, hence the 3-star rating.)
[The Nautilus has been modified by the system and possesses astonishing potential.]
Mike's eyes widened as he read the list of traits.
[1-star trait: Absolute Control—You have absolute authority over the Nautilus and can let others pilot it.]
[2-star trait: Absolute Concealment—When the Nautilus is in stealth mode, it cannot be detected by any living being or Observation Haki.]
[3-star trait: Infinite Replication—Every week, the Nautilus will create a new, smaller Nautilus. You have control over all of them.]
'Damn', Mike thought, his excitement growing with each line.
'Trait one is great. I can let my friends take it for a spin.'
'Trait two is even better—completely undetectable? Not even by Haki? That's broken'.
'And trait three… that's just downright broken!'
'A new mini-sub every single week? That means… eventually, I'll have my own secret, inexhaustible fleet of submarines!'
"Impressive," Mike murmured, a confident grin spreading across his face.
He gently traced the surface of the small, golden sub, feeling its smooth, silky texture.
Sure, there were other submarines in this world, like the Heart Pirates' Polar Tang.
But compared to his Nautilus, they were just toys.
All he had to do was place this little thing in the water, and it would instantly expand into a massive vessel, hundreds of meters long.
He was heading to Fish-Man Island next.
Originally, the plan was to go to Sabaody Archipelago, get the ship coated, and then ride the dangerous currents down to the ocean floor.
That was the normal way.
But now… holding the Nautilus, Mike didn't need any of that.
No coating, no hiding.
The Nautilus could roam the deep sea without fear.
He would pilot this beast of a submarine straight to Fish-Man Island.
He couldn't help but chuckle.
'The residents and the Whitebeard Pirates are going to lose their minds when they see this thing. Let's give them a little taste of industrial shock.'
"Mike, my boy…"
Kuzan's voice suddenly broke through his thoughts.
Mike blinked, snapping back to reality, and turned to see the Admiral pointing into the distance.
A massive warship—their warship—was slowly sailing towards the edge of the sky island, getting ready for a breathtaking freefall.
"Prepare for landing!" a Marine shouted.
As the warship tipped over the edge of the cloud sea, it began to plummet at a terrifying speed, diving straight for the blue ocean tens of thousands of meters below.
"—Whoosh—"
The ship accelerated violently, tearing through the clouds as the wind roared in their ears.
"Awesome!" Mike yelled, bracing himself against the gale, a wide, exhilarating grin on his face.
This was a thrill you couldn't buy.
"Woo-hoo!" Smoker let out an excited yell right beside him, his voice full of pure energy.
Kuzan just leaned against the railing with a faint satisfied smile, letting the wind whip through his hair.
He was clearly enjoying the ride.
"I wonder," he murmured to himself, a glimmer of anticipation in his eyes.
"What kind of scene is waiting for us at Fish-Man Island?"
*****
Mock Town.
Doflamingo strode confidently across the frozen streets.
"Why…?" he muttered, his voice low and laced with confusion.
"Why is an Admiral like Kuzan all the way out here in 'Paradise'?"
His thoughts were shattered by a deafening crash.
—BOOM—
The sound was so immense it seemed to freeze the very air.
It was followed by the violent churning of seawater as massive waves exploded in all directions.
"This…" Doflamingo's gaze sharpened, his pupils shrinking in disbelief.
He stared out at the horizon, where an enormous silhouette was gradually coming into view.
"Is that… a Marine Admiral's flagship?"
Before he could fully process it, a familiar, lazy figure descended from the warship.
"Donquixote Doflamingo?" Kuzan's calm voice carried across the water.
His icy gaze locked onto the Warlord.
"What are you doing in Mock Town?"
"Fufufufu!" Doflamingo quickly regained his composure, that cold, arrogant smirk returning to his lips.
"Admiral Aokiji. As one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea, I can go wherever I please." He puffed out his chest, his voice dripping with untouchable pride.
"Moreover, I was once a Celestial Dragon! Who in this world dares to control me?"
"Is that so?" Kuzan asked, his eyes narrowing.
He glanced back at the massive warship floating behind him.
Inside its hold was a mountain of gold from Skypiea—the startup fund for the New Marines, the key to their freedom from the World Government's control.
With this money, their orders and their politics didn't matter as much anymore.
A faint, dismissive smile touched Kuzan's lips.
He looked back at the posturing Warlord.
"Celestial Dragons," he said, his voice flat and unimpressed.
"Actually not so impressive, are they?"
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