Chapter 18: The Sacred Beast Dragon Egg
"Triple Slash!"
Kaizen Reiya picked up the sword the bandit leader Higuma had dropped and slashed crosswise. Three X-shaped arcs of sword energy, radiating cold intent, shot toward the four-story building in the stronghold.
Boom! The fourth floor was pierced through. Dust billowed as a massive X-shape appeared before the shocked onlookers, moonlight streaming through the hole, sending a chill down everyone's spines.
"He really is God Yi. After just one look, he's already mastered it, and the Triple Slash has reached Major Achievement."
"This is too monstrous. I'd be satisfied if I could just master it in thirty years."
"Have to admit, people are just different. The gap is too vast."
The Windmill Villagers were stunned by the sight of the massive, pierced X-shape, taking a long time to recover.
In just a few minutes, after a single glance, he had cultivated the Triple Slash to Major Achievement. Even in the entire new One Piece world, this was superhuman.
It could be called unprecedented.
For a martial skill like the Triple Slash, reaching the top level typically took thirty years for someone with decent aptitude. Those with poor aptitude might never achieve Minor Achievement in their lifetime.
But he had mastered it in three minutes. Such talent was truly staggering.
"Sir! Please don't kill me! I surrender!" At that moment, a terrified voice came from the four-story building through the large X-shaped hole.
Though pierced by three X-shaped arcs, the building hadn't collapsed. A white flag made from clothing was poking out, waving constantly, as a figure emerged.
"It's the Fourth Commander of the bandits," someone with sharp eyes recognized him.
A centurion captain led a few men over and dragged him down.
It turned out the Fourth Commander had seen the situation turning sour. Taking advantage of everyone's focus being on Kaizen and the bandit leader Higuma, he never expected Kaizen's Triple Slash to come right at him.
Terrified out of his wits, thinking Kaizen had discovered him, he immediately took off his shorts to use as a white flag, waving it in surrender.
Kaizen was momentarily stunned; he hadn't expected this test slash to uncover a fish that had slipped through the net.
"Big brother..."
"No, sir! Spare me!"
The Fourth Commander's knees went weak. He knelt before Kaizen and kowtowed.
"I have important information to trade for my life!"
The Fourth Commander also knew the bandits had too much Windmill Village blood on their hands. He couldn't hope to be let off scot-free without offering something valuable.
"Alright, speak. Whether this information is worth your life depends on its value." Kaizen's gaze fell upon him.
"It's about Higuma's second uncle, Haig. Actually, the reason Higuma has been frantically looting villages lately is to gather enough funds to build a large ship and go to sea."
The Fourth Commander spoke.
"Go to sea?" Kaizen asked.
"Yes. Haig wasn't originally a bandit; he was a pirate. The uncle and nephew used to operate separately—one on land, one at sea. They had little to do with each other and hadn't met for years."
"However, one day a year ago, Haig suddenly returned from the sea and displayed his Devil Fruit powers. Naturally, no one in the stronghold was a match for him. Everyone submitted. Since then, village raids have become more frequent, with many villages almost completely wiped out."
The Fourth Commander continued.
"Later, when they were drunk, I learned that Haig had brought back a fragment of a map from the sea. This fragment holds a secret about a Dragon Egg. Haig went to sea to find the Dragon Egg, but unfortunately, his ship encountered a storm and sank. To raise funds for another sea voyage to search for the Dragon Egg, they began their bloody plunder of nearby villages and merchants."
"As for wanting to kidnap Makino as the wife of the stronghold leader... it's true Higuma had that intention, but it was more to cover up their real goal of going to sea to find the Dragon Egg."
Hearing this, Kaizen's expression shifted.
A dragon? At birth, it was a Level 300 Sacred Beast.
Finding a Dragon Egg, having it imprint on him, hatching a young dragon, and raising it as a pet would be terrifying.
Dragons evolved rapidly. If he succeeded, he could have a pet dragon guarding his territory in no time, developing the foremost force in the East Blue.
"What about Haig?" Kaizen's eyes lit up at the news, he was practically salivating.
Even if Haig was a Level 30-plus player, the Dragon Egg was worth the risk.
"Haig was injured in that battle with Luffy. Although he wounded Luffy, he also suffered serious internal injuries. Otherwise, Windmill Village would have been slaughtered long ago."
The Fourth Commander's expression was gloomy as he thought to himself:
If Haig hadn't been injured, I wouldn't be a prisoner now. With the combat power of a Level 30 pirate, you lot wouldn't even have a chance to stand here talking. How could you be standing here so arrogantly, questioning me?
"Haig was injured and very cautious. As soon as you broke in, he escaped through a secret passage."
The Fourth Commander said.
"Where is the secret passage? Take me there." Kaizen nearly roared, his face desperate.