Chapter 63: 63. The Last Mission, Punk Hazard

Check out advanced chapters on P@treon: [email protected]/CosmicKaminari ---------- There is no need to go through Fish-Man Island to reach the New World. The ships and islands suspended thousands of miles above crossed the barrier of the Red Line and entered the second half of the Grand Line, where the powerful gather and monsters make their lairs. Now, Alex would return to this New World sea area with the spoils of nearly half a year's work. Initially, most resisted and rejected the idea, but in less than three days, the residents of Amazon Lily came to generally accept their alliance with Wanokuni. Embracing this reality, and owing to their relatively straightforward customs, the once-anxious relationship between the two sides began to move in a peaceful and even friendly direction. On the second day of this newfound alliance, Yamato gathered a group and took a lively gang of girls to Amazon Lily for some fun. Like Wanokuni, Amazon Lily is an island isolated from the outside world. Yamato regaled the people with tales of Wanokuni and her adventures on the seas, while Robin and Black Maria occasionally shared intellectual knowledge. Recently, these stories have made the visitors immensely popular among the citizens of Amazon Lily. During this time, the girls' admiration for Alex sparked a wave of enthusiasm. The fact that Alex holds the title of Shogun of Wanokuni is now well-known, and impressions of him as strong, considerate, and gentle have firmly taken root in the hearts of the Amazon Lily citizens. His influence has grown so much that some now view him as "beautiful," and even the most knowledgeable Kuja members share this opinion. If Amazon Lily hadn't allied with Alex, Gloriosa would likely have intervened in such talk. This admiration does improve his image, but she understands that Alex's personality can be somewhat mischievous, and he's unlikely to be as virtuous as these young women believe. Furthermore, Gloriosa knows her people's minds are straightforward and innocent. She fears that with an "outstanding male" image spreading through the island, a case of lovesickness could arise. She still remembers how painful that illness is. Though, in theory, Wanokuni's alliance could help cure such cases, she'd rather it not happen in the first place. Unaware of Gloriosa's concerns, Alex would be quite pleased if that were to happen. Now that Amazon Lily is within reach, Alex hasn't paid much attention, apart from being glad the girls are enjoying themselves there. Entrusting Laffitte with navigation duties, Alex spends most of his time on an island enlarged by the Momo-Momo no Mi, alongside Koshiro, solidifying his sense of swordsmanship. After mastering Conqueror's Haki infusion and reaching a level surpassing that of a swordsman, Alex now holds his own even without his Devil Fruit's awakening. He's now as capable as the monsters that roam the New World, ready to make waves of his own. At the same time, it was also time for Alex to build his reputation in the New World, laying the groundwork for more ambitious plans. In the New World, certain privileges and happiness are reserved only for the strong, and Alex intended to claim his share. As they passed by Fish-Man Island, Laffitte inquired why Alex hadn't brought the island under Wanokuni's influence. Fish-Man Island, after all, held Poseidon—one of the Ancient Weapons—and given Alex's ambitions, it seemed strange not to secure it. Alex responded that his lack of fame was the reason. Fish-Man Island is a World Government member nation, unlike Amazon Lily, a small fortress island. Although the island endures discrimination and oppression from the Celestial Dragons and survives beneath the ocean's depths, it would be challenging for a lesser-known figure like Alex to convince them to swear loyalty—even with the might of Wanokuni behind him. Of course, this was the case for now, but the future was uncertain. After all, certain events involving a merman could soon drastically alter the balance. Moreover, since Shirahoshi—the Mermaid Princess who wields Poseidon's power—has yet to awaken to this world, Alex felt there was no urgency in making immediate plans for Fish-Man Island. When the time comes, he'll have the advantage with Shirahoshi herself as his key. For now, Fish-Man Island's potential as a base for seabed resource development and an underwater army was intriguing to Alex, but he wasn't intent on forcing an alliance just yet. So, the voyage continued, and nearly a week passed. They were approaching the New World, deep in the second half of the Grand Line. Suddenly, as the bubbles on the hull met the open air, they burst with a dull pop, followed immediately by a thunderous clap. Hailstones began pelting down, striking the water with force, sending up sprays all around them. This was the New World's signature unpredictable weather in action. Though the Float-Float ability kept the ships and islands above the worst of the storm, the rapid shift from a sunny sky to a hailstorm was startling for those on board experiencing the New World's volatility for the first time. Even the younger crew members realized the Grand Line's sea was far from calm, especially in its infamous middle stretch. Alex gripped the Log Pose and, according to the map, saw that they were nearing Punk Hazard, the closest island in this area. Now that they'd entered the New World, his final stop before returning to Wanokuni would be Punk Hazard, where he planned to set the artificial Devil Fruit project into full motion. He also intended to recruit the scientific troops stationed there, aiming to boost Wanokuni's technological advancement. Within moments, at their current speed, the destination marked by the Log Pose—Punk Hazard—was already in sight. At this time, however, Punk Hazard was not yet the icy, fiery wasteland it would later become after a weapon test accident. Currently, the island was one of the three major Marine research bases, still under direct government jurisdiction.