radicalducati Chapter 72 Clues to the Sky Island and Magic Valley Town!
Chapter 72 Clues to the Sky Island and Magic Valley Town!
Chapter 72 Clues to the Sky Island and Magic Valley Town!
Following Norton's orders, Crowe began to organize his men.
Several small boats were launched and piloted by Ivanki warriors and sailors from the shipwrights' crew, heading toward the bubbling wreckage.
The seawater was icy cold, and the water flow around the wreckage was extremely turbulent due to the ship tilting and taking in water.
As they got closer, they could better appreciate its immense size and dilapidated state.
The hull is made of a dark, black hardwood with a dense texture. Even after being soaked for countless years and experiencing a terrifying fall, most of the structure has stubbornly maintained its shape and has not completely fallen apart.
The salvage operation lasted for most of the day.
The sailors used hooks and ropes to drag all sorts of strange-looking things out of the cracks and damaged cabins.
Most of it was worthless junk.
Rotten ropes, broken pottery jars, rusted metal parts, and large amounts of seawater-soaked, mushy remnants resembling fabric.
But some special items were carefully transported back to the White Pearl.
That night.
The captain's cabin of the White Pearl was turned into a temporary exhibition hall, and the key officers were all summoned there.
.
A map made of some kind of tough animal hide was spread out on the table. The hide was old and the edges were rough, but the patterns and text on it were still clearly legible.
The map does not depict the usual sea, but rather islands suspended above the sea of clouds, marked with place names such as "Angel Island," "Appayado," and "Island of God," as well as some curved symbols representing air currents.
"The map of Skypiea—" Nami's fingers carefully traced the cloud patterns, her eyes shining.
As a navigator, the allure of these legendary nautical charts was irresistible to her.
There were several more peculiar things piled up next to it.
Some "shells" of different sizes and shapes.
Some resemble ordinary scallops, but with a harder shell and a metallic sheen; some are long and thin like nails; others are flat and wide.
What they all have in common is that their surfaces have natural, spiral patterns.
Chopper, wearing his small glasses, was carefully examining a fist-sized, pure white seashell with a magnifying glass.
Having not figured out anything, Chopper tried pressing a certain part of the shell. Suddenly, the shell emitted a soft "humming" sound, and a small ball of soft light shot out from the front end, hovering for a few seconds before extinguishing.
Chopper was startled and almost threw the seashell away.
"This should be a lamp shell."
Norton picked up another seashell and casually tapped it on the corner of the table. A small, steady flame "poof" shot out from the seashell's mouth, like a lighter, but more naturally.
"Storing light, storing fire, storing sound, even storing wind—the Sky Island's specialty, they call it 'Shell Energy.'"
Everyone looked at these amazing seashells and marveled at them.
Sanosuke picked up a cut clam and gestured thoughtfully.
Dalton, however, was more interested in a particularly heavy "impact shell." He tried gently tapping it against his palm, and a not-so-strong but very noticeable pushing force came through, making him raise an eyebrow.
The last large object leaned against the corner of the wall—a severely damaged structure, with only its basic frame remaining.
It looks like a wheel-less, streamlined metal motorcycle, its main structure a light yet strong silver alloy, but now it's twisted and broken, exposing the internal mechanics and wiring.
"This is—" Fu Ning squatted beside the wreckage of the Weba, her craftsman instincts fully awakened.
She carefully examined the broken welds, the intricate transmission mechanism, and the remaining parts that seemed to be attached to the seashell.
"What powers it? It's not steam, nor an internal combustion engine—are these shells part of the power source? And these blades—"
Is it designed to adapt to some special fluid? Clouds?
Seeing the curious and confused looks on everyone's faces, Norton gave the answer directly: "The vehicles used by the Sky Islanders to travel on the 'Sea of Clouds' are called Wiba. They work by using 'wind-blowing shells' or something similar for propulsion, making them move on the clouds like a boat on water."
He pointed to the air current symbols on the map, "To get there, conventional navigation won't work. We need a skyway."
All eyes were on him.
“Upwelling currents,” Norton said with certainty, “also called sky currents. A rare ocean phenomenon with immense power, capable of lifting ships into the sky. Find it, catch it, and you can reach the Sky Island.”
Thanks to his memories from his previous life, Norton was not entirely ignorant of the existence of Sky Island and how to get there.
Before heading to find the Sky Current, Norton's fleet first turned to a known coordinate—Magic Valley Town.
When the massive formation of Norton's fleet of thirty-seven ships appeared off the coast of Mogu Town, the pirate crews, large and small, in the town were first astonished, and then panicked.
Some of the more astute ones, sensing the danger, immediately set sail to escape, but the outer perimeter had already been sealed off by several of Norton's faster assault ships.
"I'm going to bring all the pirates in this town under my command! Let's move out, officers!" Norton commanded from his vantage point.
Sanosuke was the first to be drawn into the filthy shadows of Mako Town.
His ninja attire made him look like a faded ink stain, silently gliding across the damp wall of the tavern's back alley.
The target is "Big Saw" Artmos, a man with a bounty of thirteen million, known for his cruelty and a roaring chainsaw, who is currently roaring and gathering his men at his stronghold.
Sanosuke lay on the rusty tin roof, his breathing in sync with the distant waves.
Below, Artmos was brandishing a chainsaw, oil and spittle flying everywhere: "Just newbies! Gather them and take them down—"
The words abruptly stopped!
It wasn't that it was covered up, but rather that it was cut off. The glass of a skylight in the roof shattered without warning, and darkness instantly swallowed up all the light from the window! Countless fluttering crow feathers, like a black blizzard, poured into the room!
"What the hell is that?!"
"I can't see!"
The gasps were drowned out by the feathers.
Atmos felt a chill on his arm holding the knife, followed by a searing pain!
The roar of the chainsaw turned into a piercing wail, then stopped. He looked down and saw a smooth, deep cut on his thick forearm, the bone exposed, before the blood could even gush out.
A shadow gathered before him.
Sanosuke appeared, kneeling on one knee, his ninja sword pointing diagonally at the ground, not a drop of blood on its blade.
Behind him were seven or eight pirates frozen in place, each with a dark black feather embedded in the side of their neck or joint, precisely severing their motor nerves.
The raven feathers scattered, and light seeped in again.
Thump! Thump! Thump!
The dull thuds of bodies falling to the ground rang out one after another. Only Atmos remained standing, unable to move due to excruciating pain and fear, watching his severed hand and weapon fall to the ground together.
Sanosuke sheathed his sword, stood up, and, just as he had come, silently blended into the swaying light and shadow outside the door.
In contrast to Sanosuke's silence, Zoro went through the main entrance. He headed straight for the busiest tavern in the harbor, "Blood Anchor," where the most ruthless outlaws in Mock Town gathered, led by "Double Axe" War Demon Ryan, with a bounty of 28 million.
The tavern's heavy wooden door was kicked open, flying inwards and overturning a table.
The noise abruptly stopped, and dozens of fierce gazes were fixed on the green-haired swordsman at the door.
"Hey, I heard you guys here," Zoro scratched his head, looking like he hadn't slept well, "do you have anything valuable?"
"Kill him!" Ryan roared, his two axes crossed in front of his chest, his muscles bulging.
The pirates roared and charged forward, their swords and axes flashing in the dim light, creating a wave of metallic impact.
Zoro didn't draw his sword.
He took a step forward.
Just one step!
The three pirates at the forefront felt an indescribable, ferocious aura crashing down on them like a solid wall!
It wasn't the wind, but something much heavier that made them gasp for breath and instantly distort their movements.
Just then, Zoro moved.
Draw the knife!
Not one beam of light, but three!
The word "Wado"! Snow away! The third generation of ghost Tetsu!
The first strike, a level cut!
The weapons in the hands of the pirates who rushed at them—swords, axes, hammers—all snapped off at the hilt! The breaks were as smooth as mirrors!
The second move, an upward flick!
Before the broken weapon even hit the ground, the arm holding it, dripping with blood, flew off the body! A scream had barely escaped its throat!
The third strike is a downward slash!
The heavy oak table in the center of the tavern, along with the pirate behind it who was aiming his gun, was cleaved in two by an invisible, enormous force!
Wood chips, blood, flesh, wine, and shards of glass exploded violently backward in a fan shape!
The afterimages of the three slashes seemed to still tremble in the air as Zoro sheathed his sword.
Before him lay a bloody, mangled vacuum. Only a handful of pirates remained standing, frozen in place, their faces contorted with utter terror.
Ryan stood behind the bar, his double axes still raised, but his forehead was covered in cold sweat. He had barely managed to block the aftershock of the first strike with the axe blades, and his hands were already split open.
Zoro seemed to have just noticed him, tilting his head and saying, "Oh, you seem to be more valuable."
The next second, Zoro vanished!
When he reappeared, he was already beside Ryan. The knife wasn't fully drawn; he only used the end of the hilt to lightly touch Ryan's temple.
Boom!
Ryan's eyes bulged out, his massive body swayed, and he collapsed like a mountain toppled, crushing the bar and the liquor rack behind it. Expensive liquor spilled all over the floor, mixed with the smell of blood.
Buggy took a "sweeping" approach, taking Cabaji and Mochi with him, targeting small groups of pirates who were trying to rob in the chaos or hide in alleys to snipe.
"Fragmented Carnival!"
He launched himself out like a cannonball, his body breaking into more than a dozen pieces in mid-air, each flying toward a different target.
A hand holding a dagger flew in front of an attacker, and to his astonishment, the index and middle fingers separated, precisely stabbing towards his eyes!
"Whoa!!"
He kicked a musketeer's gun away, then spun in mid-air, his boot heel slamming into the man's chin! Crack!
Bucky's torso and head hovered in mid-air, arms crossed, red nose smugly upturned: "See that? This is me—"
Before the words were even finished, a sniper hidden behind a second-floor window pulled the trigger!
The lead bullet whistled as it hurtled straight toward Pakistan's head!
"Captain, watch out!" Kabaji exclaimed.
Bucky's head separated from his body instantly, the bullet passing through the severed neck and shattering the shop sign behind him.
"You bastard!"
Bucky's head roared and crashed through the window like a meteor, flying inside. Then came punches, kicks, terrified screams, and Bucky's head's arrogant cursing.
"How dare you ambush me! Do you even know who I am?!"
Mr. 1 and Paula are sent by Norton to deal with a pirate gang that is trying to escape through an underground passage.
The passageway was narrow, damp, and filled with a musty smell.
A fork in the road appeared ahead, and five knife-wielding pirates grinned maliciously as they blocked the way.
Mr. 1's steps did not stop.
The opponent swung his knife at him.
His arm, from the elbow down, instantly transformed into a cold, gray blade with incredibly sharp edges!
Wave!
There was no sound of wind, only a cold, smooth arc of light flashing by.
The pirates' swords, along with their charging bodies, were sliced apart at the same height without any resistance!
The cross-section was smooth, and the texture of bones and muscles could even be seen. The next second, blood splattered onto the wall like a waterfall.
Paula followed behind him, her high heels stepping over the edge of the pool of blood without getting a single drop on her.
She gracefully raised her fingers, and the tips instantly extended, transforming into sharp, dark purple venomous stingers.
A pirate who was pretending to be dead suddenly sprang up and pounced on her.
Pora flicked her wrist back slightly. The poison stinger nimbly pierced the pirate's neck.
The pirate froze, his face turning purple and then black at a visible speed, a hissing sound emanating from his throat, before collapsing to the ground, convulsing, and remaining still a few seconds later.
"Be careful, Daz, the blood will stain your clothes," Pora whispered.
Mr. 1 did not respond, but simply restored his bladed arm to its original state and continued forward.
Dalton opted for a direct assault, targeting a makeshift fortified bunker in the port, reinforced with sandbags and sheet metal, where about twenty diehards had gathered and blocked the entrance with muskets and a small cannon.
The Avenki warriors attempted to charge but were suppressed by heavy fire.
Dalton took off his coat, revealing his muscular upper body. He took a deep breath, the sound of air entering his lungs heavy like a bellows.
Then, I started running.
The first step is to break the stone slabs!
The second step: the ground trembles!
In the third step, his body swelled and deformed as he ran! Fur sprouted, bones cracked, his head elongated, and huge bull horns burst from his forehead!
When he charged into the opponent's shooting range, he was already a raging bullman, three and a half meters tall, with bulging muscles!
Bang! Comment! Bang!
The musket bullets struck his thick fur and muscles with dull thuds, embedding themselves but doing nothing to stop him!
The small cannon fired, and solid shot came hurtling towards them!
Dalton didn't flinch or dodge; he lowered his head and aimed his hardest skull and massive horns at the cannonball!
A deafening metallic clang! The shell bounced back, crashing into a corner of the fortress, but Dalton merely shook his head, his charge undiminished!
Boom!!!
He crashed into the fortress like a real cannonball!
It didn't just smash open a breach; it smashed the front wall, along with the cover, sandbags, and gunmen behind it, to pieces and sent them flying!
Wood chips, bricks, and human bodies were mixed together and thrown inside!
The interior of the fortress instantly transformed into a scene of carnage. Dalton, in his bison form, was a complete disaster in the confined space.
Simple charges, stomps, and jabs—each movement was accompanied by the cracking sound of bones breaking and desperate screams. Any resistance seemed laughable in the face of pure brute force and defense.
A moment later, the dust settled.
Dalton returned to human form, standing amidst ruins and wailing, and dusted himself off.
The fortress is gone, leaving only rubble and pirates rendered powerless.
Akin's mission was to pursue the routed leaders. Carrying his heavy iron crutches, his figure appeared and disappeared amidst the chaotic streets and rooftops, like a vengeful ghost.
He had his sights set on an agile swordsman nicknamed "The Sting," with a bounty of seventeen million, who was leaping across rooftops using his speed to try and escape.
Ajin followed at a leisurely pace, as if taking a stroll.
It wasn't until "Stinger" jumped to a relatively open rooftop, thinking it was safe, that it looked back.
Their eyes met.
Ajin stomped his feet in place!
The tiles beneath his feet shattered instantly! He was launched like a bolt from a crossbow, hurtling straight toward "Poison Sting"!
"Poison Sting" hurriedly swung his sword and thrust it forward, the tip of the sword whistling as it aimed at Ah Jin's throat.
Akin didn't block, but instead twisted his body very subtly in mid-air.
The tip of the sword grazed the skin on the side of his neck, leaving a trail of blood.
At the same time, his iron crutch arrived! The tip of the crutch precisely struck the wrist of "Poison Sting" who was holding the sword!
click!
A clear sound of bone cracking!
"Poison Sting" screamed as the sword slipped from his hand.
The second turn followed immediately, aimed at the side of his knee!
Another click!
"Stinger's" legs went weak, and he knelt down.
Ajin landed, stood in front of him, and looked down at him. Then he raised the iron crutch and gently lowered it onto Ajin's other shoulder.
thump.
The scapula resonated and caved in.
"Poison Sting" couldn't even scream anymore; it could only lie paralyzed on the ground, convulsing in pain.
Ah Jin then used his iron crutch to pick up the sword that had fallen to the ground and casually threw it downstairs.
......