Chapter 79: Cruiser - Pola!
[Sky Island - Upper Yard - The New Palace Terrace]
The reconstruction of the island was on track, the gold was secured, and the crew was ready. It was the perfect time for the final reward of this sky adventure.
Suzaku stood on the edge of the magnificent cloud terrace, the wind of the White Sea ruffling his coat. Before his eyes, the translucent blue System Panel glowed with a number that represented conquest.
[Legend Points: 74,845]
Seventy-four thousand.
It was a massive sum. The defeat of Enel, the conquest of Skypiea, and the accumulation of fame had filled his coffers.
"With this amount..." Suzaku murmured, his heart beating faster. "I can afford it."
He navigated to the Summoning Interface. His finger hovered over the golden button that he had rarely touched due to its exorbitant price.
[Rare Grade Summon]
[Cost: 50,000 Legend Points]
"Fifty thousand points for a single pull," Suzaku took a deep breath, trying to calm his trembling hand. "This is a gamble. But high risk, high reward."
In the [Multiverse Summoning System], a Normal Summon (100 points) usually gave supplies or minor items. An Advanced Summon (2,000 points) gave characters or abilities. But a Rare Summon? That was the realm of legends. It guaranteed a strategic asset that could change the balance of the world.
"Do it."
He pressed the confirmation button without hesitation.
[Points Deducted: -50,000]
[Remaining Balance: 24,845]
VWOOOOM!
A blinding, prismatic light suddenly burst forth from the void in front of him. It wasn't just a flash; it was a pillar of radiance that pierced the clouds, illuminating the entire Upper Yard with colors not found in the natural spectrum.
Within that pillar of light, a graceful silhouette slowly coalesced.
It wasn't a monster. It wasn't a weapon. It was a woman.
The light faded, revealing a young woman with a voluptuous figure and long, flowing purple hair. She was dressed in a crisp, dark crimson and black military uniform that hugged her curves, adorned with gold aiguillettes and a white cape that fluttered majestically. Her crimson eyes held a mix of allure and the solemn discipline of a soldier.
But what stood out most was the mechanical rigging floating behind her—massive steel plates and gun turrets that defied gravity.
Suzaku was momentarily stunned. He quickly pulled up her data.
[Subordinate: Ship Girl Pola]
[Origin: Azur Lane]
[Class: Zara-class Heavy Cruiser - 4th Ship]
[Rarity: Rare (SR)]
"It's a Ship Girl!"
A surge of wild, uncontrollable joy washed over Suzaku. He nearly shouted.
For a long time, he had felt that their original ship—the Vermillion Wing—was no longer sufficient. It was a sturdy wooden sailing ship, yes, but as they ventured deeper into the Grand Line, wood and canvas felt fragile. He had been planning to steal a Marine Battleship or commission a custom vessel from Water 7, but this?
This was infinitely better.
"A Heavy Cruiser..." Suzaku grinned.
Powerful firepower? That went without saying. 203mm main guns could pulverize a coastline.
But more importantly... Comfort and Stability.
He could almost picture the scene. A steel leviathan cutting through the waves, unaffected by storms, with modern amenities and automated navigation.
"Subarashi (Magnificent)!" he exclaimed in a low voice.
He continued to examine the system panel.
[Command Authority: Absolute Obedience]
[Hint: The prize pool has been updated. Naval equipment such as main gun shells, torpedoes, and micro-repair parts can now be obtained through Normal Summons!]
The woman, Pola, stepped forward. Her heels clicked on the stone floor. She placed a hand on her chest and bowed slightly, a confident smile playing on her lips.
"I am Pola, the fourth ship of the Zara-class Heavy Cruiser of the Sardegna Empire!"
Her voice was smooth, carrying a hint of Italian flair.
"My sisters and I possess armor rarely seen among heavy cruisers, giving us a unique advantage in surface gun battles. When it comes to acting as the fleet's flagship, I might even be stronger than my sister Zara! I am at your service, Commander."
Hearing Pola's voice, Suzaku was extremely satisfied. "Welcome to the crew, Pola. We are leaving this island immediately. Manifest the hull."
Pola giggled, a teasing glint in her eyes. "You're so impatient, Commander. Fleet maneuvers are about to begin, aren't they? Very well."
She raised her arms. Her rigging glowed with a deep red light.
HUMMMMMMMM—!
The air above the White Sea vibrated. Space distorted as mass was pulled from the wisdom cube dimension.
Suddenly, a behemoth appeared out of thin air.
It didn't just appear; it displaced the atmosphere with a massive shockwave of air pressure.
A colossal steel hull, over 180 meters long, materialized above the cloud sea. It obscured the sunlight, casting a vast shadow over the palace.
The hull was painted a sleek, intimidating grey with red accents. Four twin-gun turrets—massive 203mm cannons—rotated silently, locking into position. Secondary batteries, anti-aircraft guns, and torpedo tubes bristled along the sides. The bridge tower stood tall and imposing, a fortress of steel.
"Whoa..."
Moments later, Suzaku and his entire crew stood on the spacious main deck. The feeling beneath their feet was incredibly solid—cold, hard steel instead of the soft bounce of clouds.
Below them, on the ground made of Island Clouds, the residents of Skypiea had gathered to see them off.
Gan Fall and Wyper looked up at the steel mountain floating in the sky. Their faces were filled with absolute awe. To them, who lived in a world of dials and wood, this was technology from another dimension.
"That... is a ship?" Wyper muttered, his hand trembling on his bazooka. "It looks like a fortress of iron."
Suzaku leaned against the steel railing, looking down at them. His voice was amplified by the ship's systems.
"You two must protect my Sky Island!" Suzaku instructed in a deep voice. "Guard the territory. Protect the civilians. And ensure the safety of the women and families I left in your care."
Gan Fall and Wyper immediately knelt on one knee, their voices booming.
"As you command, Lord Suzaku!"
"We shall certainly protect your territory with our lives!"
"Thank you for bringing this precious peace!"
Beside them, little Aisa vigorously waved her arms, tears streaming down her face. "Take care of yourselves! Come back soon! Don't forget us!"
Ram and Rem, standing beside Suzaku, leaned out. They smiled gently, waving back.
"Don't worry, little Aisa!" Rem called out.
"You take good care of yourself too!" Ram added.
As the farewells finished, Rem stepped forward.
She extended her hands. An invisible, purple fluctuation of gravity appeared in her palms, wrapping around the massive 10,000-ton hull of the Pola.
VRRRRR...
The massive cruiser emitted a faint hum.
The gigantic hull began to slowly lift away from the sea of clouds, ascending steadily. Under Rem's power, the heavy steel floated as if it were a feather.
"Setting course for the Blue Sea," Rem announced.
The bow turned downward. The ship broke through the cloud floor, diving into the white abyss below.
[The Descent - 7,000 Meters Above Sea Level]
The ship was falling, plunging through layers of clouds, but on deck, it felt smooth.
Apart from Albedo, whose expression remained one of elegant indifference, Ram and Rem both gasped in admiration. They touched the cold steel railing, their eyes full of novelty.
"I never thought that beautiful girl was such a massive ship," Rem marveled, patting the breech of a main gun. "That's amazing! Steel and fire!"
"Lord Suzaku!"
Ram suddenly turned to Suzaku. She bowed deeply, her pink hair fluttering in the slipstream.
"Thank you for bestowing such powerful abilities upon me!"
Small sparks of blue electricity danced around her fingers—a sign of her new power.
She glanced at Nami, who was listlessly slumped over the railing nearby. "And thank you, Nami, for giving me the chance to eat the Rumble-Rumble Fruit."
Indeed, Nami had refused the Logia fruit because she refused to lose her ability to swim. Ram had taken it without hesitation to better serve Suzaku.
Nami waved her hand weakly, her gaze reluctantly fixed on the receding Sky Island. Her mind was entirely focused on the gold she hadn't been able to take with her due to space constraints on the old ship (though Pola could carry it all now, Nami was still grieving the 'lost' potential).
"It's fine..." Nami sighed. "The stronger you are, Ram, the better you can protect me! I'm just a Navigator, not a fighter! I can't be a hammer!"
Suzaku smiled and patted her shoulder.
"Don't be discouraged. If a suitable Devil Fruit appears later, I'll save it for you. Besides..."
He pointed to the center of the ship.
"Haven't we already brought a lot of gold? We even moved that giant Golden Bell onto the ship! And tons of ingots in the cargo hold!"
Nami's head snapped up. Her eyes turned into Berry symbols ($).
"That's right! That's incredible! A bell that huge made entirely of gold!"
She instantly cheered up, nodding vigorously. She quickly ran to where the Golden Bell was secured on the mid-deck and hugged the cold metal ecstatically. "My precious!"
Suzaku watched the money-obsessed Navigator speechlessly, then shook his head. He looked at Ram with a hint of teasing.
"Ram, you are now just like Rem. A Devil Fruit user. A Hammer."
He grinned. "Both of you are now landlubbers. You can't just swim in the sea anymore. If this steel ship sinks, you sink like a rock."
Ram didn't mind the joke. She looked at her sister, Rem, who was focused on controlling the gravity of the giant ship. Her eyes became incredibly determined.
"It doesn't matter!" Ram declared, lightning crackling in her palm. "As long as I can help Lord Suzaku, just like Rem... as long as I can be his sword and shield... sinking is a small price to pay."
BOOM!
Under Rem's control, the massive Heavy Cruiser named Pola tore through the final layer of clouds at a terrifying speed.
They burst into the open air of the Blue Sea.
SPLASH!
Accompanied by a loud crash that sent a tsunami of spray into the air, the immense steel hull settled steadily onto the deep blue ocean.
The ship rocked once, then stabilized instantly. The heavy cruiser finally revealed its true form in its natural habitat.
Its sleek and intimidating lines made it look like a steel predator lurking in the deep sea. Simply being anchored there, it exuded a suffocating majesty that made the wooden pirate ships of this era look like toys.
"Phew... now this is enjoyment!"
Suzaku stood on the spacious deck, feeling the ground beneath his feet as stable as land. He stretched lazily in contentment.
Although their previous ship was decent, it was structured like a regular sailboat. It rocked, swayed, and creaked with every wave. But the Pola? It was a mobile island.
"Yes! It feels much more comfortable!" Nami also let out a long sigh of relief, leaning back on a sun chair. Her face showed unprecedented relaxation.
"I finally don't have to constantly steer! No more adjusting sails! No more checking the wind!"
As the "Ship Girl," Pola possessed autonomous navigation capabilities. Nami only needed to issue a destination command; Pola handled the rest with machine precision.
"Lord Suzaku," Albedo walked over gracefully, holding a tray with a drink. "The view is lovely out here. Should I fetch your fishing rod?"
"Not for now!" Suzaku smiled and waved his hand, taking the drink. "I just want to enjoy the stability."
Just then, Ram, who was standing by the railing acting as a lookout, suddenly spoke. Her tone was calm, but curious.
"There's a News Coo."
She pointed upward.
"But... it seems quite afraid of our new ship. It won't come down."
Everyone followed her gaze. Indeed, a News Coo was circling high in the sky, squawking nervously. It had never seen a steel ship this size before. It likely thought Pola was a Sea King or a Marine battleship.
"I'll go buy the newspaper!" Ram said. She waved her hand toward the sky, holding up a coin to signal that she held no malice.
The News Coo hesitated for a long time. Only after seeing the shiny Berries displayed in Ram's hand did its greed overcome its fear. It cautiously lowered its altitude, landed on the cruiser's wide deck with trembling legs, and quickly exchanged the paper for the coin before flying off as fast as possible.
Ram bought all the newspapers from the last few days and turned to hand them to Suzaku.
"Let's see what the world has been up to," Suzaku mused.
He casually took the newspapers and glanced over the front-page headline.
His smile immediately turned playful.
It was the newspaper published by the World Economy News Press. Big Morgan never missed a scoop.
The front-page headline, written in bold, black, panic-inducing font, read:
[ENIES LOBBY FALLS!]
[MARINE ADMIRAL SUFFERS CRUSHING DEFEAT AT THE HANDS OF ROOKIE PIRATES!]
Below the title, a photo dominated the entire page.
It was a high-definition picture of the ruins of the Tower of Justice. And standing there, looking cold and indifferent, was Ulquiorra Cifer.
Beneath his photo was a freshly issued wanted poster.
[WANTED: DEAD OR ALIVE]
[Ulquiorra Cifer - "Wing of Disaster"]
[Bounty: 1,000,000,000 (1 Billion) Berries]
"Whoa..." Suzaku whistled, genuinely impressed. "His first bounty already surpassed mine! One billion Berries right out of the gate? That's truly impressive. He must have really humiliated Akainu."
He continued flipping through the papers.
[WANTED: DEAD OR ALIVE]
["Blue Ogre" Dorry - Bounty: 800,000,000 Berries]
["Red Ogre" Brogy - Bounty: 800,000,000 Berries]
"The Giants got a raise too," Suzaku laughed. "Eight hundred million each. The World Government is terrified."
"Hmph, Ulquiorra was just lucky," Albedo said from the side, crossing her arms with a huff. She looked at Suzaku with eyes full of adoration. "Besides, with Lord Suzaku's strength, you will certainly surpass him very soon! A mere billion is an insult to your true power!"
"It's fine, don't worry about it!" Suzaku smiled nonchalantly and casually handed the newspaper to the curious Nami, whose eyes popped out at the numbers.
"The higher their bounties are, the better! It means our reputation is resonating across this sea. The Marines know we are coming."
He stood up and walked to the bow of the steel ship. The wind whipped his coat as he gazed at the distant horizon where the deep blue sea met the sky.
"Everyone, listen up!" Suzaku announced, his voice full of high spirits.
"Our next destination is Sabaody Archipelago!"
"Ulquiorra and the others should already be waiting for us there. It's time to reunite the crew and head to the New World!"
[Akarin Note:
Your Support Keeps This Story Alive!
If you're enjoying this novel, your support means the world to me. Simple actions like leaving a review, power stone, comment, or sharing the story let me know you're out there. It's the greatest motivation for me to keep updating until the very end and ensures this project continues.
For those who wish to support me more directly, you can join my Patreon at [patreon.com/AkarinTL]. As a thank-you, you'll receive access to 50 advanced chapters.
As a special offer, I've opened a few limited-time tiers at a discounted price! You will get all the benefits of "The Founding Pillars" (normally $20), but at a much cheaper rate.
These slots are extremely limited:
"The Plot Uncoverer": $4.99 (Save 75% / $15.01) - Only 3 slots
"The Dedicated Fan": $9.99 (Save 50% / $10.01) - Only 7 slots
"The Lore Diver": $14.99 (Save 25% / $5.01) - Only 15 slots
I hope I am still worthy of your support. My life truly depends on this... haha, I know I'm so shameless.]