Chapter 249: Alliance
"Linlin, you're saying you got beaten by a Haki that just blocks Observation Haki?"
Kaido scoffed. "Has your strength declined? If so, don't come looking for me again. The weak have only one option—to serve me!"
Glug glug— Kaido took another deep swig of liquor.
But Charlotte Linlin didn't take offense. Instead, she spoke seriously:
"His Armament Haki isn't like Rocks'. Rocks' was sharp and piercing—his is purely solid. My natural defenses were bypassed, and the brute force went straight into my body, tearing me up from the inside."
"It's not like Rocks' shockwave Haki, but…"
She curled her lip and looked at Kaido with disdain.
"If I couldn't block it, you definitely can't."
"In terms of durability, you're not tougher than I am."
"What?!" Kaido erupted. "You saying I'm weaker than you?!"
BOOM! He slammed his kanabo into the ground, smashing a crater in the floor.
"Wanna test it right now?!"
But Linlin didn't rise to his provocation. Instead, she calmly added:
"That special Armament Haki also suppresses Devil Fruit abilities."
…
Kaido froze. In a flash, the image of Rocks landing that fateful punch returned to his mind.
He fell silent. That moment was something he could never forget.
"Now you see why I said that Blue Demon guy has Haki on par with Rocks?" Linlin said.
"There's no doubt. He's mastered a form of Armament Haki on the same level."
"And…" Linlin paused. "His Devil Fruit is even more terrifying."
"You remember the God Valley battle, right? The first time Rocks was injured, it was by Blue Demon's fruit ability alone. He didn't even have this kind of Haki yet!"
"What are you getting at?" Kaido cut her off. "That's why you're really here, isn't it?"
He frowned. "Even if we teamed up, it sounds like we still couldn't beat him."
"Not yet," Linlin replied. "Do you know the legends of the Ancient Weapons?"
"The ones that could supposedly destroy the world? That's just a myth, isn't it?"
"They're real," she said firmly. "They're hidden in the Poneglyphs."
"…The Poneglyphs?" Kaido muttered. "Those stones the World Government banned from being studied?"
"Exactly," she nodded.
"The three Ancient Weapons are recorded in those stones. If we can find the Poneglyphs that show where they're located, we'll find the weapons. The problem is…"
She frowned.
"We don't have anyone who can read them."
"So you've come to me because you've found someone?" Kaido asked, sharp-eyed.
"I have." Linlin answered. "The scholars on Ohara in the West Blue. That island has the largest library in the world—it's a hub for archeologists."
"If anyone can read those ancient texts, they'll be from there."
"And the other possibility," she added, "is the Three-Eyed Tribe. When their third eye awakens, they can read the Poneglyphs too."
"So that's your plan—get a Three-Eyed person?" Kaido mused.
"Looks like you've been aiming for the Ancient Weapons for a while now, Linlin."
She smiled, but said nothing.
Kaido downed more liquor and muttered, "Well, I can't leave just yet. I'm this close to awakening my Devil Fruit…"
"And besides, we'll need more than just the two of us. We'll need an army—and weapons."
"I've thought of that too," Linlin said confidently.
"For now, I just want us to be on the same page—secretly. We can't draw the World Government's attention yet."
"My plan is for both of us to build in the shadows. Find the Poneglyphs, gather strength, and when the time is right—turn the world upside down."
"Topple the world, huh?" Kaido laughed loudly.
"That'll be one hell of a war. I can't wait."
Seeing that he agreed, Linlin didn't linger. She stepped outside and rode her new Zeus back toward Totto Land.
…
Arknight Island
Between Island 9–18 and the central Arknight Island, in the inner sea region—
Luo Han stood with AEllis . Akatsuki, Aishi , and Sora hovered nearby.
"We're heading down," Luo Han said, activating a psychic shield around himself and AEllis .
Splash! The two dove into the ocean.
Underwater, they moved quickly—planting the seed and channeling natural power into it.
RUMBLE!
A giant vine burst from the seafloor, shooting 3,000 meters into the sky.
Moments later, Luo Han and AEllis emerged.
AEllis flew to the vine and pressed her hand against it, reading its condition.
She frowned.
"Not working?" Luo Han asked.
"No. The seawater's eroding it. Without my power keeping it stable, it'll die in a month."
"I'll try to modify it," she said, channeling natural energy into the vine.
Luo Han flew back to the others.
…
Half an hour passed. AEllis was still hard at work.
"Will she succeed?" Akatsuki asked.
"Probably," Luo Han replied, uncertain. His spiritual senses showed the vine's aura changing—but it was chaotic. AEllis wasn't quite sure how to give it the traits needed to survive underwater like the Yarukiman Mangrove.
"Why not use your ability?" Akatsuki suggested.
"Transfer the Yarukiman Mangrove's trait to the vine."
"Yeah!" Sora and Aishi chimed in. "Try it!"
"…"
Luo Han was stunned.
"…Did I ever tell you about my ability to implant traits?"
How did they all know?
"You didn't tell us, no," Akatsuki said coolly.
"But did you really think we're that dumb?"
"I didn't mean—"
"We've been in battle for years, Luo Han," she continued.
"You think we don't notice changes in our own bodies?"
"Besides, we've all heard of Big Mom's body's unique traits. When we realized we were exhibiting similar abilities, it wasn't hard to figure out."
She smirked.
"You treated her powers like they were wholesale—everyone gets one. You really thought we wouldn't figure out what you did?"
"…"
Sigh.
Luo Han let out a long breath.
The lesson? Never underestimate people.
They weren't ignorant—they were just playing along with your act.
(END CHAPTER)
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