Chapter 102: Searching for Ring Tree Island
Early morning on Both Island, the sky was just beginning to brighten. The sun had yet to rise, but the normally quiet town echoed with the pitiful squeals of pigs, as if they were being led to an execution ground — and in truth, the reality wasn't much different.
At the small port, merchant ships from various nations across the New World lined up, waiting to transport the aromatic pigs, painting a picture of prosperity.
Both Island was famous in the New World as a hub for raising fragrant pigs. Merchants arrived daily, early in the morning.
It wasn't always this bustling, but since the Rocks Pirates had essentially conquered the New World, pirate attacks at sea had ceased, allowing commercial activity to flourish more than ever before.
This was the scene Luo Han and his group saw when they arrived.
"Spoon-jie, you and the others stay and rest on Both Island. Cole and I will go search for Ring Tree Island," Luo Han said to her as he and Cole stood at the bow of the ship, preparing to set off from Bote.
"Alright. You've been uneasy since last night," Spoon-jie said, pulling a small square of white paper from her pocket. She tore it in half and handed it to Luo Han and Cole. "Here, take this. It's a life paper. Place it in your hand and watch."
Luo Han took the piece and placed it in his palm. The little white square began to wriggle like a worm, slowly moving in Spoon-jie's direction.
"This is my life paper. As long as I'm alive, it will always point toward me. It's something the World Government has been spreading lately. Quite the curious little item. With this, you won't get lost while exploring."
"So it really is a life paper!" Luo Han marveled inwardly, then said, "Didn't expect something this magical. Thanks!"
"Hope you find it soon," Spoon-jie smiled.
"Let's hope," Luo Han replied.
"Then we're off!"
With that, Luo Han and Cole flew into the sky, heading out in different directions.
"That's the terrifying new face of the Rocks Pirates — the Blue Demon!"
"I heard he's from somewhere near Both Island?"
"Yeah, I think his first appearance was right here on Bote."
…
The merchants at the port whispered among themselves as they watched Luo Han and Cole take to the skies.
By then, the two were already a hundred kilometers away from the island.
"Cole, you search over there. I'll go this way," Luo Han pointed randomly — they had to check all directions anyway.
"Alright, Han-ge." Cole nodded, shifted into his half-beast form, and sped off in the direction Luo Han indicated.
Watching Cole disappear into the distance, Luo Han turned his gaze away.
"Hope we find it soon…" he thought, concern gnawing at him.
In recent days, his eyelids had stopped twitching — something that had started a few days before the Hachinosu Island celebration. Now, the sudden absence of it made him feel uneasy. It couldn't be a good sign.
Clearing his thoughts, Luo Han activated his Mind Armor Mode and flew at full speed to search for Ring Tree Island.
Boom! A deafening sonic boom echoed as Luo Han flew at supersonic speed, scanning from an altitude of 5,000 meters.
From above, there was nothing. This section of ocean seemed vast and void of islands.
Time passed slowly, and by afternoon, Luo Han was growing anxious. "Still no leads. I can't keep doing this. I need another way to find Ring Tree Island."
Hovering mid-air, he stared down at the endless sea below, dazed and frustrated.
"Hm?"
Suddenly, his mental senses picked up something — a large gathering of Sea Kings beneath the surface. It seemed like a Sea King nest. The sight triggered a memory in Luo Han: the time Ring Tree Island had been attacked by a colossal Sea King.
"Sea Kings, Ring Tree Island, the Divine Tree, Scale Fruit!" Luo Han's expression lit up with realization. Splash! He dove straight into the deep sea.
Using Kyoka suigetsu to mask his presence and avoid disturbing the Sea Kings, he plunged deeper with great speed.
Soon, a blue figure appeared in the depths — it was Luo Han. Thanks to his Mind Armor, the ocean's pressure and currents didn't affect him, allowing him to move freely.
Despite his excitement, Luo Han kept a serious expression. He activated his psychic ability to enhance his perception and extend it deep into the seabed.
"Hahaha! It's really here! Amazing!"
He laughed, thrilled. Thankfully, his Mind Armor kept seawater from getting into his mouth — otherwise, he might've swallowed a mouthful during his excitement.
"Wait… Why can't I sense Little Ring's spiritual presence from the Divine Tree?" Luo Han's face darkened as he frowned deeply. According to his mental perception, about 200 meters beneath the seabed was a massive root — one of the extensions of the Divine Tree on Ring Tree Island.
But Luo Han could no longer sense the mental waves from Little Ring, the tree spirit. Before, he could always communicate with it. Now — nothing.
"Something's definitely happened to Ring Tree Island!"
His face turned grim. He followed the root, swimming rapidly in the direction where it grew thicker. "I'll go alone first. I can explain to Cole and the others later — no time to waste now."
"Please, let nothing bad have happened… Granny Mo… everyone…" Luo Han prayed silently. "If anything has happened… World Government, just wait for my wrath!"
…
In the dark depths of the sea, a blue figure cut through like an arrow, trailing a long white streak behind.
It was Luo Han, swimming at full speed. Nearly an hour had passed as he followed the root's path.
"Almost there…" he thought as the root continued to thicken.
"Is this it?" he murmured. After another thirty minutes, he finally sensed Ring Tree Island.
Boom! Luo Han burst from the water, only to freeze in shock at the sight of the island. He flew toward it immediately.
"What… what happened…?"
"This can't be real!!!!"
"Granny Mo…!"
…
Splash! Luo Han dropped to his knees on a pile of ruins, unable to believe what lay before him. His face was ashen, eyes dry and vacant — void of emotion. He knelt there in silence.
Once-beautiful Ring Tree Island had been flattened. The towering 200-meter stone walls and the Divine Tree were shattered, fragments scattered all around. Massive stone debris and severed tree roots floated on the sea's surface as twilight fell, casting a bleak hue.
Smack!
"That's for thinking I was smart!"
Smack!
"That's for being a coward!"
Smack!
"That's for not coming back sooner!"
…
Luo Han slapped himself repeatedly, muttering to himself with each blow.
Eventually, he stared blankly into the sky.
"If I hadn't been so scared… If I hadn't used Kyoka suigetsu to hide the fact I ate the Mind Fruit… If I hadn't drawn the World Government's attention to Ring Tree Island, maybe this wouldn't have happened."
"I knew there was a potential threat to the island, but I didn't treat it seriously."
"I could've told Rocks about my special circumstances and taken a trip back… but I didn't."
"There were many ways I could've returned — but I chose the safest one. The most cowardly…"
…
After a long while, Luo Han finally stood, eyes fixed forward.
"That's right. I was still afraid. Afraid of a pirate named Rocks, so I didn't dare break his rules."
"I've always feared the World Government, always hidden my strength."
"And in the end, what did I gain? I kept waiting for the day I'd be invincible. But what in this world comes from just waiting? Wait and wait — and in the end, I got nothing. Heh…"
He let out a bitter laugh and prepared to leave.
"Who's there?" A chill swept over him. Luo Han turned sharply.
(END CHAPTER)
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