One Piece: Ascending the Divine Path

While the mid-level bureaucrats of the Kingdom of Dunas were indulging in their dream world, a white cloud floated about a thousand meters above the royal palace.

"So, are we going to be living on these white clouds from now on?"

Anthony stood on the edge of the cloud, looking down at the royal city below. "Thinking about it, it's quite amazing."

"Lord Night King is too strict."

The user of the Shield-Shield Fruit stood beside him, saying with some helplessness, "He has already warned us, how dare we act recklessly in this country? In the end, he still wants to banish us to the sky."

"Shut up,"

Solt, who was watching Bagginum fiddling with a giant machine, turned around immediately upon hearing this and said grimly, "The Night King's orders are absolute! We have no right to question them!"

The user of the Shield-Shield Fruit curled his lip. This guy was a bit scared after being reprimanded by Lord Night King. Even though that Lord Night King wasn't here, he hadn't said anything offensive.

"It doesn't really matter."

Anthony said nonchalantly, "Anyway, if there's nothing important, the time we spend in the real world is limited to eating, showering, and using the toilet."

They actually spend most of their time in that world, in their own dream world.

Upon hearing this, Bakingom frowned slightly.

Even a former high-ranking official like Anthony was immersed in that world, so it's no surprise how ordinary people would react after entering the City of Dreams.

If Lord Night King were to take everyone in the world to that other world, this ocean would be doomed.

If something is out of reach in the real world but readily available in the other world, who would bother to struggle in the real world?

  

In the real world, as long as you don't starve to death, that's enough.

Even if Lord Night King establishes the rule of landing within eight hours, the development of the entire world will inevitably come to a standstill as a result.

But it's none of my business.

As long as I'm happy, that's enough.

She understands the principles, but asking her to leave that world is something she simply cannot do.

"But Vegapunk is truly a genius!"

The user of the Salt-Salt Fruit also stood behind Bakengum, staring in amazement at the enormous machine before him. "They can even create island clouds! And they can actually create sky islands artificially? I never even imagined something like this before!"

"That guy was a genius who was ahead of everyone else."

As a former colleague, no one knew Vegapunk's genius better than Bakingum.

The Brain-Brain Fruit doesn't make Vegapunk smarter; his talent is innate.

"but,"

Anthony stroked his chin. "If we're living in the clouds for the sake of secrecy, wouldn't it be strange to always have a cloud floating in the sky?"

"This is where we need this."

Bagingom pointed to another machine not far away, "A holographic projection generator that can create false illusions. I'll use this machine to create an illusion of the sky and then cover up these clouds."

"amazing."

Anthony clapped repeatedly.

Science and technology are truly amazing.

"But none of that matters."

Anthony remembered something else and immediately walked over with a grin, rubbing his hands together. "Miss. Bakkin, I'm already a Devil Fruit user, so I'm not interested in artificial Devil Fruits. But what about Devil Fruit weapons?"

Anthony was very envious of the sword that Salt was holding.

"The technology of feeding weapons Devil Fruits isn't difficult, and we've taken the machines from Punk Hazard," Baginam said irritably. "But the key question is, where are the Devil Fruits?"

"Forehead--"

Anthony fell silent.

Yeah, what's the point of talking about anything without a Devil Fruit?

And it has to be a Zoan-type Devil Fruit.

"What about artificial Devil Fruits?"

Anthony tentatively said.

"Even Caesar hasn't fully mastered this technology yet."

Baginam shook his head, then said coldly with a hint of disappointment, "I sent that bastard to consult Vegapunk, but he kept making excuses. If it weren't for the Night King's order, he probably wouldn't have gone no matter what!"

"However, Vegapunk is currently being urged by the government to replicate other mythical beast species, and he doesn't have time to teach Caesar."

"Other mythical beast species?"

Anthony's eyes lit up immediately. "Then, is there a chance we can get replicas of those mythical beasts through Caesar?"

"Just say you want Caesar dead."

Baginam snorted. "The Five Elders are watching, and according to Caesar, the success rate of replicating Mythical Zoan species is extremely low. Even Vegapunk himself doesn't know the specifics."

"Is that so?"

Anthony could only sigh in disappointment.

"As for Zoan-type Devil Fruits,"

Salt suddenly spoke up, "There's a guy who should have some stock, and they're all ancient species."

"oh!"

Anthony's eyes widened. "How could I forget that guy! Salt, you mean, Hanafza, right!"

Hanafzai, the Lizard King and one of the current Seven Warlords of the Sea, is a man who is very interested in Ancient Zoan-type Devil Fruits and has been collecting them.

"Don't talk nonsense."

Baginam rolled her eyes. "Even I know that Hanafza and Kaido are on good terms. There are secret sources saying they're allies. That's why Lord Night King sent people to Wano Country. Do you guys want to start a war with the Beasts Pirates?"

"That's true..."

Anthony continued to sigh.

When will I finally get my Devil Fruit weapon?

While everything was thriving in the Kingdom of Dunas, in a certain sea area in the frontier of the New World...

A pirate ship is rapidly breaking through the water.

"Damn it!"

The ship's captain stood at the stern, holding binoculars and gazing at the several large warships scattered across the distant sea, relentlessly pursuing them at a leisurely pace.

"Didn't I plunder non-member states? How did our naval guerrillas get here?! What business is it of yours, you piece of shit navy?!"

Non-member states are all lawless zones, and the navy never interferes with what happens there, does it?

The tall, thin pirate captain clenched his fist.

Damn it, even though he thought highly of himself, he knew he had absolutely no chance of winning against the pursuing former general, Black Arm Zephyr!

"captain!!"

At that moment, the pirate captain suddenly heard his first mate's scream.

"Um?"

The pirate captain turned around, about to reprimand the first mate, when he saw the first mate looking up in terror.

So the captain followed the first mate's gaze and looked up, and saw a boy standing on the mast of the ship.

Undoubtedly handsome, his black curly hair trembled slightly in the wind, revealing the boy's lazy eyebrows and eyes. He was lazily placing a Den Den Mushi on the mast.

The classic combination of a white shirt and a black suit is such a simple look, but because of the boy's exceptionally outstanding physique, he exudes a cool and refined temperament.

But none of these are the most important things. The most important thing is the coat of justice draped over his shoulders, fluttering in the wind.

"You bastard—"

The pirate captain's eyes widened. He recognized this suddenly appearing navy kid; he had just seen a report about him in the newspaper that noon.

"Naval Captain, Thousand Shadows Knight!"

"Oh, do you know me?"

Knight, standing on the mast, nodded knowingly. "In your meaningless life, at least there's something worth remembering."

Today, the headquarters has officially begun its campaign to promote him.

The newspaper detailed the deeds of Navy Knight.

This includes graduating from the recruit training camp with top marks, helping Zeff capture Edward Weevil, defeating the great pirate Black Axe Leonard, and finally, on Parrell Island, first defeating the great pirate Swift Sword Solt, and then gaining the upper hand in a battle against Charlotte Cracker.

These achievements are already quite impressive.

So the newspapers were practically raving about him, calling him everything from the Navy's future star to the future pillar of the Navy, a sure-fire next admiral, and the heir to justice.

Of course, Knight felt that these descriptions were just plain and simple sketches.

Barring any unforeseen circumstances, Knight's name has now spread far and wide, and he has become quite famous.

The nickname given to him is rather ordinary.

Thousand Shadows, because he can create a large number of phantom clones, just like a white-bearded man has a white beard, a red-haired man has red hair, and a straw hat wears a straw hat.

"A bounty of 136 million Berries, right, Rocky the White Wolf?"

Knight looked down at the pirate captain and said, "Alright, now you can kneel down and beg for mercy."

"Captain! What do we do?!"

The first mate screamed, "This guy is a monster who can fight Charlotte Cracker!"

White Wolf Locke gritted his teeth, "Stop howling! Will howling kill him?"

"You brat! Don't get too cocky!!"

His body was swelling, white hair was growing out, his mouth and nose were bulging, and sharp claws and teeth were growing.

Zoan type, Dog-Dog Fruit, Arctic Wolf form!

The white werewolf roared to the sky, "I am—"

He hadn't finished speaking.

Because a foot stepped on his face.

They stomped on his protruding mouth and nose until they caved in, stomped on his head until it smashed through the deck, and stomped the tall werewolf until he could only lie on his back on the deck, convulsing.

"You're holding your head too high."

Knight stepped on the werewolf's head and said calmly, "You talk too much."

The first mate, already terrified, was so shaken by what he saw that he could no longer stand and collapsed to the ground with a thud.

"ah!!!"

A desperate scream.

"It's so noisy."

Knight glared at him.

The unrestrained, domineering color surged like a tide.

Later.

Five massive warships surrounded the pirate ship, and the naval soldiers escorted the unconscious pirates back to the makeshift prison at the bottom of the warship.

"Well done, Knight!"

Professor Zephyr held the Den Den Mushi that Knight had just placed on the mast and nodded in satisfaction. "The photo is quite good."

"Because it was me who was photographed."

Knight replied matter-of-factly, "How could it not be good?"

"Say what you will."

Zephyr was already immune to Knight's level of commentary. "He's a pirate with a bounty of over 100 million, after all. Headquarters deserves to give you some more publicity."

"So, Professor Zephyr, when will I be able to get a promotion?"

"You've only been promoted for a short time? It can't happen that fast! What's the rush?"

"Tsk."

Knight clicked his tongue in slight annoyance.

"Oh, right."

Zephyr remembered something, "That old bastard Garp has gone back to headquarters and will be heading to G-1 base next. When you go back to resupply, you can ask him for advice on Conqueror's Haki."

"Oh?"

Almost simultaneously.

A small boat also arrived at a chaotic sea area.

The sea here is full of all kinds of turbulent currents.

On the bow of the small boat, a man held binoculars, gazing at the distant, high island.

"We've finally arrived in Wano Country! Let's quickly inform Lord Night King!"