Chapter 36: Killing Spree
"MONSTERS!!!"
Screams shook the heavens. Even the Going Merry's figurehead looked terrified (though no one noticed).
In 0.5 seconds flat, the Merry hit 100 km/h. The oars nearly snapped as she rocketed forward.
After an eternity of sprinting, light finally appeared ahead. The ship burst out of the darkness, and everyone collapsed in relief.
"We… we survived…"
"What the hell were those things?!"
"No idea, but definitely monsters!"
"As expected of the Grand Line—anything can happen!"
Sanji's cigarette hand trembled. Luffy, Usopp, and Chopper nodded vigorously. Nami sat duck-style on the deck, voice shaking with joy. Even Zoro wiped cold sweat.
Only Luo Lin was the exception—grinning like an idiot, arms full of Robin.
This was the first time since they grew up that Robin had shown such a soft, scared expression. So cute!
Luo Lin: (∗❛ั﹃❛ั∗) So warm, so soft~ hehehe!
They were safe now, so Robin didn't lift her head—she was enjoying the nostalgic comfort of Luo Lin gently patting her back, just like when they were kids.
The others stared at Luo Lin's sleazy face in confusion.
Only Sanji had heart-eyes of pure envy.
"Scared Robin-san is beautiful too~!"
Luo Lin's face darkened.
If I wasn't holding Robin-baby right now, you'd be eating two backhands, pervert. Nami's fine. Robin? Off-limits.
Decision made: next "training" session, Sanji gets extra love.
(He'd already surpassed Zoro as the most beaten crew member—who told him to keep flirting with Robin-baby?)
"Luo Lin, you weren't scared at all? Those things were HUGE!"
Nami asked curiously.
Luo Lin's expression softened.
"What's there to be scared of?"
"They were monsters! They blocked out the sky!"
"Just shadows. Ever heard of a mirage? Did you see the actual bodies?"
Everyone froze.
Come to think of it… no. Just colossal silhouettes holding weapons. They'd been terrified by pure visuals.
"…We… didn't see the bodies."
"See? A bunch of shadows scared you this bad? Embarrassing! Oh ho ho ho!"
(„ಡωಡ„)
Everyone turned red. Damn it—he got them again!
Robin, still nestled in his arms, poked his chest lightly: Stop talking, you're embarrassing me too!
Luo Lin instantly understood. Can't tease anymore—Robin-baby's shy. Keep going and I'm on the floor tonight.
"Cough! Actually, true courage comes from true strength. You were scared because you're still too weak!"
"Really?"
"Of course! Imagine you were the strongest in the world—would those shadows have scared you?"
"Nope! Definitely not!"
"Exactly! Since your strength isn't enough to give you unbreakable courage yet, I've decided to increase your training intensity starting today!"
Luo Lin put on the most serious face possible.
"Eh? Wait—I feel like you just want to beat us up more…"
Luffy actually had a rare moment of clarity.
But Zoro immediately shut him down.
"Are you an idiot? We're already training! He doesn't need an excuse!"
Anything involving getting stronger bypassed Zoro's brain entirely. He assumed pure intentions.
"Yeah, makes sense!"
Luffy accepted it instantly.
Luo Lin: (๑≖ᴗ≖) Good boy!
No need to waste more brain cells tricking them. Zoro, you the real one.
Half an hour later, Luo Lin finally had enough cuddles. Robin, face red, fled back to the Devil and locked herself in her room.
Luo Lin stretched, evil smirk forming.
Nami and Usopp were focused on navigation—didn't notice.
Zoro was asleep.
Luffy sat on the figurehead.
Sanji was in the kitchen.
Chopper glanced over and felt a wave of murderous intent. Every hair on his body stood up.
Animal instinct kicked in—he slowly backed into his room, leaving only a crack in the door to peek.
Sure enough—
Luo Lin pulled a wooden baseball bat from the corner, turned into an afterimage—
CLANG CLANG BANG BANG!
Accompanied by three very familiar screams.
Two seconds later:
Luffy, Zoro, and Sanji were planted head-first into the deck, asses in the air.
Luffy and Zoro each had one giant lump.
Sanji had four or five—still smoking.
The commotion made Nami, Usopp, and even Robin glance over.
When they saw it was just the usual beating, they went right back to what they were doing.
Eh, normal.
"So brutal…"
Chopper whispered from his hiding spot, terrified.
"Ow! Damn it! Sneak attack again!"
"Despicable!"
Zoro stayed silent but his face was pitch black.
"Despicable? Enemies won't wait until you're ready."
No argument there.
"You've been training for over a week! Time to test results. Blindfolds on—sit!"
The three obediently blindfolded themselves and sat in a row.
At first they'd complained about the beatings.
But in the last couple of days, they'd started faintly sensing presence. Just the barest hint, but enough to shut up all doubts.
Luo Lin paced behind them with the bat, making them sweat bullets.
THUNK THUNK THUNK!
Three more head bonks.
"One bag each!!"
Luo Lin nearly laughed.
"Cough—this won't do! Over a week and you can't dodge once? Worst students I've ever had. Training intensity doubled!"
Another round of loving whacks began.
(He was lying. Sensing presence after just one week was already monstrous talent. Even Robin couldn't dodge at this stage.)
Hearing the chaos behind her, Nami sighed.
"Whatever. Do whatever you want."
She looked ahead—and spotted land.
"Hey everyone, quiet! Island ahead!"
All movement stopped.
Luffy, Zoro, and Sanji's pig heads nearly gave Nami a heart attack—she reflexively punched the closest one (Sanji) into the deck.
"Don't get so close—you look terrifying!"
"Angry Nami-san is charming too~"
With land in sight, training paused. Can't beat them on the island.
As the Merry approached, Nami frowned.
"Why are all the ships in the harbor pirate ships?"
"No way pirates just park openly in port. You joking?"
Reality slapped them. Every single ship really was a pirate ship.
The Merry docked among them.
Luffy and Zoro (pig heads and all) went into Mock Town to gather Skypiea intel.
Nami, worried, followed.
Luo Lin got dragged shopping by Robin and became a walking clothes rack.
They finally stopped at a bar.
"Phew—shopping is more exhausting than fighting!"
Luo Lin chugged a juice the bartender handed him.
Robin smiled—enough for today. Next time.
She asked the bartender about Skypiea.
The bar went dead silent.
Then exploded into laughter.
"Pfft—she said Skypiea? HAHAHAHA!"
"People still believe that fairy tale? What an idiot! Shame—she's so pretty!"
A drunk mocked loudly.
Luo Lin's forehead popped a vein.
Whoosh—
He appeared beside the man.
Yuhun flashed—slice.
The drunk's head rolled.
The blade rested against the second guy's neck, drawing a thin line of blood.
"Funny? Laugh again."
Thud
The first body hit the floor, blood pooling.
Laughter died instantly. You could hear a pin drop.
Fights happened on this island, but no one had ever seen someone kill that fast.
"I-I didn't mean—"
"Get lost."
"Y-Yes sir!"
He scrambled away—lucky to be alive.
Soon only the bartender and the couple remained.
"Miss, aren't you gonna stop your friend? I can't run a business like this! People fight, sure—but no one dies!"
Robin ignored him completely and kept asking about Skypiea.
Luo Lin had stood up for her—why would she scold him? Dream on.
The bartender sighed and told her everything he knew.
Robin dragged Luo Lin out.
Suddenly Luo Lin remembered something.
"Oh! Robin-baby, I forgot something. Go ahead—I'll catch up!"
He handed her the bags.
Robin rolled her eyes—definitely slacking off.
But she left anyway.
Luo Lin wandered until he found a fruit stall and bought a mountain of fruit—heavier than the clothes!
Totally not slacking! This has a purpose!
Meanwhile, Luffy and Zoro had their fateful encounter with Blackbeard, then got beaten by hyena Bellamy.
Nami was dragging the two pig-headed idiots back when they ran into Blackbeard again.
She dropped them. They stood up, dusted off.
"People's dreams… never end! Right?!"
Mocking laughter all around. Blackbeard didn't care.
"Enduring fools isn't fun. Let the idiots laugh. To reach the top you'll face baseless provocation. You don't have to answer every time! Zehahaha!"
Zoro turned and walked away first.
Nami called Luffy several times before he followed.
Blackbeard apologized and left with his cherry pies.
When both parties were gone, Luo Lin strolled up, looked around, and overheard people talking about the encounter.
"Tch—missed the legendary scene! Lost a billion beli moment!"
He slapped his forehead, about to leave, when he heard laughter from a nearby bar—mocking what he'd done in the previous bar.
Face darkened.
He kicked the door off its hinges and strutted in.
Dead silence.
Bellamy's crew stared at the newcomer.
"Talking about the people asking about Skypiea? Didn't hear clearly outside. Repeat it."
He dropped the fruit mountain on a table, sat down, and put his feet up.
"Pfft…"
"HAHAHA! Another idiot!"
Before Bellamy could speak, his crew was already laughing.
Luo Lin didn't react—face unreadable.
Bellamy swigged his drink and walked over, smirking arrogantly.
"I said people who believe in Skypiea are pathetic idiots! Dreamers like you piss me off! That woman from the other street too—"
BOOM!
Bellamy flew through the wall.
Luo Lin was now standing where Bellamy had been.
Everyone froze.
"No way… 55 million beli Bellamy… one-shotted?"
"I already killed today. A few more won't hurt. I'm not like Luffy—I do whatever makes me happy."
Cold voice.
BOOM!
Bellamy came flying back in—kicked through the hole he'd just made, crashing through tables.
"You trash who don't even have dreams dare mock people chasing theirs?
A measly few tens of millions and you think you're hot shit?
I've seen plenty of garbage, but ignorant garbage like you? First time."
Luo Lin strolled in through the hole.
Bellamy's eyes were filled with fear. He tried to stand, but pain stopped him.
(Luo Lin was holding back—one full kick would've killed him.)
Luo Lin stepped on Bellamy's chest—crack crack—several ribs broken.
"Trash like you isn't even worth killing. But why'd you insult my Robin-baby? Asking about Skypiea is funny?"
Bellamy couldn't speak—just wheezed.
Luo Lin got bored. Abusing trash wasn't fun.
He drew his sword and slit Bellamy's throat.
The remaining seven or eight crew members?
They'd all mocked him and Robin earlier.
All dead.
No survivors.
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