Chapter 248: Let's Form an Alliance, Kaido
Boom!
A ship-shaped island crashed down from the sky, stirring the sea into rolling waves.
Beside the cannon barrel, Luo Han stood alone—AEllis , Akatsuki, and the others had already gone.
"Akatsuki probably figured something out…" Luo Han thought. "She didn't ask a thing—just left."
Unlike Tuck, who had to be told to leave.
In truth, Akatsuki had indeed guessed it. After spending four years with Ochoku (Wang Zhi)and Kyo (Silver Axe) , she had come to understand their pride—they weren't the kind to serve another, yet they'd submitted. That said enough. Combined with what she knew of Luo Han's sensory manipulation, she guessed he had some ability to control hearts.
Smart as she was, she never mentioned it—and never showed the slightest fear.
Which made Luo Han only now realize.
Pushing the thought aside, Luo Han looked down at the still-paralyzed Bundy Ward.
"You'll be the first. Let's make the New World tremble."
He activated Kotoamatsukami. Ward, hovering on the brink of death, could not resist. His will was transformed, and Luo Han implanted absolute loyalty into his mind.
"Ward…"
"Captain…"
Soon, a scrawny man led a group of underlings over from a distance.
"Bundy Ward has submitted. Heal him, and serve Nightless City well," Luo Han said casually before flying back to the mountaintop plaza.
As he left, the underlings quickly gathered around the bloody, twisted figure.
"Doctor! Quick!"
"He's lost so much blood—any later and he'd be dead!"
"Start a transfusion!"
…
That night.
Under the enormous moon, a massive fireball a kilometer wide hovered silently above, burning gently.
This was the Sun God orb Luo Han had placed there earlier that day.
Its soft orange glow bathed the entire range of Nightless City, blending with the silver moonlight—strangely beautiful.
Not that anyone appreciated it. Among these brutes, all you heard was, "So bright!" and "So big!"
Atop the mountaintop plaza, a bonfire crackled. After dinner, Luo Han sat with AEllis , Akatsuki, Sora, and Aishi around the flames.
No Tuck or Cole—this had become something of a private hideout for him and his women. Everyone else had the sense not to approach.
Luo Han and Akatsuki—both towering in stature—sat together. Across from them were the other three.
"Luo Han, are you leaving again?" Aishi asked, eyes filled with reluctance. She didn't want him constantly away.
"I am," he replied.
Aishi 's face fell—until he added with a smile, "But only for an hour each day. I'll be back after that."
"Then I'll have your food ready every day!" she beamed, lips curling into a blissful smile as she daydreamed about all the dishes she'd prepare.
"Heh," the others chuckled at her adorably silly reaction.
Akatsuki smiled too, then asked, "Luo Han, are you still going to look for Golden Lion?"
"Golden Lion…"
Luo Han thought for a moment, then said, "You mean for the floating islands? That problem's solved. If not for Bundy Ward's interruption today, you would've seen them."
"They're a little different from the projections, but still fun."
"Tomorrow, you'll see."
"Then it worked." Akatsuki nodded and asked no further.
Later—
"It's getting late," Luo Han said seriously. "Let's rest early."
Before the women could respond, he teleported himself and Akatsuki away.
"…"
The three remaining women were speechless.
…
The next day.
Newspapers spread word far and wide—of the new title: Lord of Nightless City—Night King.
Stussy and the other five underworld rulers had decided that if Nightless City was to become the New World's center—welcoming all—it was better to move away from the pirate title of "Blue Demon."
"Night King" was better branding. More inclusive. More powerful.
After Luo Han shattered Big Mom's Whole Cake Island with a single punch, and annihilated World Destroyer Bundy Ward just as easily…
The world now associated one name with him:
Night King — Lord of Nightless City.
…
That same day, two future Yonko were brought together—by a certain man.
New World.
On an island near the Calm Belt, trees towered hundreds of meters tall. A dense forest covered everything except a small clearing on the eastern shore.
A small, primitive village lay there.
In its largest triangular hut, two massive figures sat cross-legged.
Gulp gulp! The burly young man with bull horns took a swig from a jug and frowned.
"Is what you said true, Linlin?"
"It is," Big Mom said seriously. "We should join forces, Kaido. Otherwise, we don't stand a chance."
"Rocks, huh…" Kaido muttered.
He remembered the day Rocks arrived on this island—Kaido, full of pride in his mutated body and Devil Fruit, believed no one could beat him.
Then—Rocks nearly killed him with a single punch.
If not for Rocks taking interest and dragging him to a ship's doctor, he'd have died that day.
That man's special Armament Haki suppressed Devil Fruit regeneration. Kaido's wounds wouldn't close—his blood wouldn't stop.
From then on, Kaido had obsessed over mastering that same Haki technique.
"If only Rocks had taught us his special Haki," he muttered bitterly. "With our strength, we could've ruled the New World."
"Now that little Blue Demon brat is called the strongest instead…"
"…But wait. Are you saying Luo Han has mastered the same kind of Armament Haki?"
"Not exactly," Linlin explained. "His is… denser. More complete. Perfect, even."
"When he covers himself in it, not even Observation Haki can detect him. It's like he vanishes."
Kaido scowled.
Just hiding from Observation Haki? That alone wasn't worth his time.
He'd seen Rocks injured by Luo Han and finished off by Garp and Roger—and understood:
Only extreme physical toughness and recovery could lead to invincibility.
Since God Valley, he'd returned to his homeland—obsessing over awakening his Devil Fruit.
And now Linlin wanted him to join forces just because some brat was stealthy?
He wasn't convinced.
(END CHAPTER)
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