"History may always repeat itself, but people can never return to the past..."
Nico Robin picked up her cowboy hat from where it had fallen, lightly dusted it off, and placed it back on her head. She then turned to look at the Captain of the Divine Warriors, who lay on the ground, barely clinging to life. With a calm expression, she continued:
"The ruins you just destroyed were priceless treasures. I can never forgive someone like you who wantonly tramples upon history."
Earlier, Robin had been forced into a difficult position by the massive man because she was worried about damaging the surrounding ruins. However, against her Devil Fruit powers and joint locks, the Captain—who relied solely on brute force—was no match for the "Devil Child."
"I absolutely cannot!"
At the thought of the historical sites destroyed by this "fat pig," Robin's gaze grew cold. She had truly had enough. Couldn't these guys just let her conduct her archaeology in peace and be a beautiful lady archaeologist for once?
"Cien Fleur!" Still fuming, the intellectual beauty crossed her arms over her chest, activating her ability.
Swish, swish, swish... In an instant, a long trail of arms sprouted from the grass like blooming flowers, forming a path leading toward the distant cliff.
—Delphinium!
"No, wait... what are you doing, woman?! Aggghhh!"
Accompanied by the terrified screams of the Captain of the Divine Warriors, the arms created by the Hana Hana no Mi dragged his massive body along, causing him to roll rapidly like a conveyor belt until the high-tonnage brute tumbled right off the cliff.
Listening to the fading, wretched screams, Robin's elegant and ethereal face showed not a hint of unnecessary emotion. She confirmed her direction and looked up. In the distance stood a green beanstalk so massive it defied belief, looming prominently against the sky.
"Is that the 'Right Eye of the Skull'? I wonder what interesting things await there."
After a brief moment of contemplation, the dark-witted woman, her mind filled with thoughts of ancient ruins, set off once again.
Meanwhile, the small reindeer who had encountered the "Ordeal of Swamp" was locked in a bitter struggle.
"Jet Punch!"
Bang!!! With a sudden burst of air, Gedatsu's sandbag-sized iron fist slammed heavily into a fluffy ball of fur, sending it flying a great distance.
Compared to the other two types, the greatest characteristic of Zoan-type Devil Fruit users was their durability. Chopper's Guard Point had enhanced his defense to a formidable level.
Even so, under the impact of the Spider-Head Priest's heavy punches—boosted by Jet Dials—the poor blue-nosed reindeer was finding it hard to cope.
(Dammit! The Rumble Ball's time limit is almost up...) His consciousness fading slightly, Chopper shook his head violently, his round deer eyes shining with determination.
(However, I've already discovered his weakness. Success or failure depends on this one move!)
—Jumping Point!
Chopper instantly transformed into his best form for leaping and jumped with all his might.
"Do you think jumping that high will let you escape, raccoon dog?"
Completely unaware that he was missing a vital piece of equipment, Priest Gedatsu looked up at the high-leaping reindeer and sneered, "You should know that the sky is also my domain! Jet Dial!"
Pffft!!! The Jet Dial installed in the sole of his shoe provided its usual powerful thrust, but unlike his previous stable flights, the Spider-Head Priest went spiraling wildly into the air.
"What? One of my shoes is gone?! Aghhh! You cursed raccoon dog!"
Gedatsu was both shocked and enraged. The dim-witted Priest finally realized that one of his shoes had been removed, causing him to lose his balance as he charged toward Chopper, unable to change his trajectory.
"I... I am strong!"
Seeing that his plan had succeeded, the blue-nosed reindeer naturally wouldn't waste this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. He let out a roar and transformed again mid-air.
—Arm Point!
Exaggerated muscles immediately bulged on Chopper's arms, displaying explosive power. His small hooves took on a metallic luster.
"I am a monster!"
With a final shout, Chopper slammed his iron hooves—capable of easily shattering rock—together in a cross shape. He then branded them onto the mid-air Spider-Head Priest with lightning speed!
"Kokutei Cross!"
On a Milky Road in Upper Yard, a handsome young man wearing glasses was maneuvering a board-type Waver at high speed. Although his stance appeared slightly unrefined, it was already a miracle in the eyes of a certain Shandian girl.
"Are you... are you really driving a Waver for the first time???" Aisa, who was being carried dutifully on the young man's back, looked on in utter bewilderment.
Not long ago, after Sherlock defeated three Divine Warriors, he had seized their Dials and a Waver. What the little girl couldn't wrap her head around was how this "Blue Sea" person with glasses had mastered a vehicle that usually required ten years of practice on his first try—especially since the one the Enchanter was driving was a board-type, the most difficult to control!
One could only wonder how a certain Angel lady, who had practiced since childhood and only recently learned to drive, would feel if she knew about this...
"Yes, this is my first time encountering such a wondrous vehicle."
Sherlock adjusted his glasses. The gale created by their speed blew through his black-and-white hair, making him look quite dashing.
"Besides, is controlling this thing really that hard? It requires a bit of technique, sure, but as long as you pay attention to the changes in the sea currents, there isn't much difficulty."
(Could it be... is this what they call a genius?)
Aisa fell silent. As someone who still hadn't learned to use a Waver, her current mood was incredibly complex. Not wanting to dwell on the subject, the little girl quickly changed the topic:
"By the way, Sherlock, your companions are all heading toward the Giant Jack."
For a man in glasses who was exceptionally good at gaining favor, "Talk-no-Jutsu-ing" a little girl was far too easy. Indeed, Aisa—who had previously been intent on killing the Blue Sea people—had willingly become a human radar after hearing that Sherlock and the others were allies who came to help the Shandians defeat Enel.
"All of them? Did Robin find the other three?"
In Sherlock's mind, aside from the dark-witted woman, the probability of those other three idiots finding the right direction on their own after getting separated was practically zero.
"Let's not worry about that for now. We must first... ugh."
At that moment, the side effects of Somna suddenly flared up again. A violent headache caused the Enchanter to groan, and the Waver beneath his feet wobbled, nearly causing him to fall.
"Hey, hey! What's wrong? Were you hurt by the Divine Warriors earlier?" Aisa hurriedly tightened her grip around the Enchanter's neck.
"It's nothing, just a headache." Sherlock's face turned pale. These side effects were truly annoying; not only did they prevent him from using Mirage Fusion, but the occasional bursts of agony were also incredibly "exquisite."
"A headache, huh..."
Aisa blinked her bright, large eyes. As if remembering something, she said, "If you have a headache, let me take you somewhere first. There are some 'very tasty fruits' growing there that are very effective at treating headaches."
"Oh? What are they?" A hint of curiosity flashed across Sherlock's face. He was about to ask more, but in that moment, a sudden change occurred!
(Something is wrong!!!)
An intense sense of crisis surged within Sherlock's heart for no apparent reason. Without hesitation, he steered the Waver toward the edge of the Milky Road and leaped high, landing on the trunk of a nearby giant tree.
—Crackle!
The second he left the waterway, a bolt of blue-white electricity flashed abruptly through the white Milky Road. Though it lasted only an instant, Sherlock could feel how terrifying the energy contained within that arc was!
Splash... splash...
On the surface of the river, dead fish began to float up one after another, bellies up—clearly victims of the lightning strike.
"Ahhh!!!"
Aisa suddenly let out a cry of pain. She hugged Sherlock's neck tightly, her small body trembling with uneasy shivers.
"The voices... everyone's voices... are disappearing!"
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