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Kai smirked as he watched her shift nervously, weighing her options. "So, looks like you're done?" he asked casually, the challenge clear in his eyes.
Miss Valentine was already calculating her escape, eyeing the possible routes, the dark corners, and even the windows. But before she could make a move, Kai's sword was at her throat, close enough for her to feel its chill. In an instant, he'd closed the distance between them, pinning her with an intense gaze.
"Now, I know you're a good girl and won't consider running away, correct?"
Her laugh was a little too loud, too forced. "No, no! Of course not! I, uh… I realize I've made a mistake! Kiyahaha…so I'll just, you know, be leaving now."
She tried to turn, but Kai's grip caught the back of her collar, her feet dangling just above the ground.
"Did I say you could leave?" he asked, his tone calm but leaving no room for negotiation.
"N-no, sir! My apologies! Please, don't kill me!" she squeaked, sounding far less confident than she had a few moments earlier.
Kai released her collar, letting her drop back to the ground. "Relax. I don't kill unless it benefits me. Now, I need some information, so follow me." Without another word, he turned and walked away, trusting she'd have the good sense not to try escaping again.
Valentine hesitated, debating her options, but it didn't take long to realize that running was pointless. She sighed, resigning herself to follow him to the inn.
Inside, Kai poured himself a drink, his casual stance a stark contrast to the edge he'd shown before. He glanced at her, eyebrow raised. "Want some?"
She scowled, tossing her hair back defiantly. "Ugh! I don't drink cheap—"
Before she could finish, a Glintstone shard whizzed past her face, embedding itself in the wall a mere inch away. She went pale, swallowing hard. "Er, yes, sir! Please!"
Kai handed her a glass, smirking as she took a hesitant sip. After a moment, he looked her over thoughtfully. "What's your real name anyway?"
"M-Mikita," she stammered. After a moment, her eyes sharpened. "Why?"
Kai shrugged. "Just curious." He leaned back, swirling the drink in his hand. "Still got contact with your old boss? Or any of your old colleagues?"
Mikita's expression shifted, eyes darkening. She shook her head. "No. I haven't seen them, and I don't want to. I quit that line of work; it's not a life I want to go back to."
Kai narrowed his eyes, watching her closely. The bitterness in her voice was real. It wasn't his business, but he made a mental note of it anyway. He'd always believed in getting a clear read on people. Changing the subject, he asked, "Mr. 2. What's your opinion of him?"
Her face lit up at the mention of the flamboyant Bon Clay. "Bon Bon! He was sweet, the only one of the bunch I actually miss," she replied, a sincere smile tugging at her lips.
Kai grunted, amused. "I see. Maybe you're not so bad after all." He set his glass down, letting a moment of silence stretch before continuing, "I'll spare you for him. He's the reason I escaped Impel Down."
"YOU ESCAPED IMPEL DOWN?!" she shouted, loud enough to make Kai nearly spill his drink. He shot her an incredulous look.
"Are you insane? How did you not know that, especially when you're out here hunting for my bounty?"
Mikita blinked, her confusion as genuine as it was frustrating. "I thought I recognized you… You're that Elden Lord from the war! But… that can't be! He had blue hair and… stuff!"
Kai sighed, rubbing his temple. "It was a transformation, dumbo."
She opened her mouth to protest but seemed to think better of it. Kai's expression grew sharp again, switching back to business. "Anyway, I need information. You've been here long enough to know things, right? Tell me how to get to Skypiea—or, as people around here call it, the Sky Island."
She crossed her arms, giving him a dubious look. "Sky Island? You believe that myth? No one can go there, trust me! It's just a story."
Kai's Glintstone shard embedded itself into the wall beside her face with a sharp crack. She shrank back instantly, her eyes wide with terror. "I didn't ask for opinions. I asked for information," he growled.
"Okay, okay!" She raised her hands in surrender, practically vibrating with fear. "There's…there's an old man who lives on the edge of town. People say he's crazy, but he should know more about it."
Kai tilted his head, interest piqued. "His name?"
"Mont Blanc Cricket," she said, relief flooding her face as she finished.
Kai nodded 'oh yeah, him' , filing the name away. He downed the rest of his drink "Get some sleep, tomorrow we'll go visit him, Oh and don't think about running away, one wrong move and you're dead"
"Yes sir!"
.....
The sun was barely cresting over the horizon when Kai and a very reluctant Mikita started down the dusty road. Kai was all focus, silent and stoic, while Mikita trailed behind, huffing and muttering under her breath.
"So…are you ever going to tell me what your deal is?" Mikita finally broke the silence, her voice laced with impatience. Kai kept his eyes on the road, not giving her so much as a glance.
Mikita groaned. "I mean, what are you exactly? Some kind of warlord, a fugitive, maybe? You have this crazy sword, magic, and—oh, yeah, you escaped Impel Down, right? Who even does that?"
Kai just continued walking, ignoring her with a practiced indifference that made Mikita grind her teeth. She hated being ignored. She was used to being the one people feared, the one who held the upper hand. But with Kai? She was a tag-along prisoner with no real say, and it was driving her insane.
"Fine. Be mysterious. It's not like I wanted to know anyway," she muttered, kicking a stone as they walked. The silence stretched on, with Kai paying her even less attention than before.
Finally, as the road crested a small hill, they saw a modest, weathered house standing alone, leaning slightly as if it had weathered one too many storms. Kai's face softened just a little as he looked at the place, remembering stories he'd heard about an old man who lived here, someone known for tall tales and just enough wisdom to make you listen.
They approached the door, and Kai knocked, three hard raps that echoed in the quiet of the morning. A moment later, the door swung open, and Mont Blanc Cricket stepped out. His face was rugged and lined, his gaze as hard as the wood on his front door. He looked Kai up and down, sizing him up with a hard squint.
"What do you want?" Cricket grumbled, leaning against the doorframe, his tone as uninviting as possible. "I don't take kindly to strangers on my land. Beat it."
Kai, entirely unfazed, met his gaze. "I'm here about Sky Island. I want to know how to get there."
At that, Cricket snorted, scratching the stubble on his chin. "Sky Island, huh? And here I thought I'd heard all the crazy talk there was." He smirked, shaking his head. "You know what's waiting for you up there? A one-way ticket to death. Ain't worth the trouble."
Kai didn't so much as flinch. "I know someone who's been there."
The old man's expression shifted, a glint of interest breaking through his gruff exterior. "Oh yeah? And who might that be, huh?"
"Straw Hat Luffy," Kai replied evenly, watching Cricket's reaction carefully.
For a moment, Cricket's eyes widened, and then he let out a surprised laugh. "Straw Hat, eh? Now that's a name I wasn't expecting, so you are familiar with him"
Kai nodded, a faint smile tugging at his lips. "And I plan on getting there too."
Cricket folded his arms, eyeing Kai with a new level of respect. "Well, maybe you're crazier than I thought. You want to get to Sky Island? Then you'll need the help of the Knock Up Stream."
Mikita, who'd been silent until now, let out a mocking laugh. "Oh please, everyone knows that's just a fairy tale! This old man's a descendant of a famous liar, you know. Figures he'd sell you on that nonsense."
Before she could say another word, Kai flicked her on the forehead, hard enough to make her yelp. "Show some respect," he muttered, rolling his eyes. "I didn't ask for your commentary."
Cricket chuckled, clearly amused as Mikita grumbled, rubbing her forehead.
"Knock Up Stream's real, alright," Cricket continued. "But you're early. The stream won't happen again for another few months. Might as well make yourself comfortable if you're planning on waiting around for it."
Kai shook his head. "I don't wait for oceans. I make them listen."
Cricket looked him over, intrigued. "Oh, yeah? And how are you planning on doing that?"
Kai's eyes glinted with quiet confidence. "The Elden Lord always finds a way"
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If you wish to read up to 5 Chapters Ahead! or simply support me just because? then check out my patréon at
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If you wish to read up to 5 Chapters Ahead! or simply support me just because? then check out my patréon at
"https://www.patréon.com/Riadooo"
Don't forget to change "é" to "e"
/*****************************************\
Kai settled down on an old wooden crate outside Cricket's house, arms crossed, deep in thought. He barely noticed Mikita glaring daggers at him as she dusted herself off and plopped down beside him, still fuming over their earlier exchange.
"'The Elden Lord always finds a way,'" she mocked, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "Please. Are you trying to sound like some kind of legend?"
Kai didn't bother with a response. He was scrolling through his system menu, eyes flicking over various options while mentally filtering out her background noise. She huffed, the silence gnawing at her as her irritation grew.
"Oh, sure, just ignore me like I'm invisible!" she snapped. "I'd at least expect a legendary 'Elden Lord' to have some respect."
Kai smirked to himself, not bothering to look up. He flicked through his system menu, opening up the shop interface and scrolling past several spells and abilities until his gaze settled on the Gravity Sorcery School. 'If I could get access to this… changing the Knock Up Stream's timing might actually be possible' he thought.
He quickly noted the rune cost, though, and suppressed a sigh. He was far short on runes, meaning he'd have to "farm" a bit before he'd even be able to think about affording it. Still, the thought of manipulating gravity to nudge the ocean's forces into aligning with his plan was tempting.
"Hey, are you even listening to me?" Mikita's voice cut through his thoughts like nails on a chalkboard.
Kai blinked, glancing sideways at her for half a second before shifting his attention back to his menu. "Not particularly."
"Oh, I see," she sneered, crossing her arms in frustration. "Guess being a prisoner and your guide doesn't come with a decent conversation."
Kai clicked out of the shop interface, glancing at his rune count one more time. 'I'll have to take down something big if I want to rack up enough runes for that Gravity Sorcery' He mentally ran through his options, thinking of some of the stronger creatures he could farm nearby. Not that he wanted Mikita tagging along for it, but she was, unfortunately, stuck with him.
"Still ignoring me, huh?" she grumbled, her tone edging into a sulk. "I bet you don't even have a way up، just pretending to look cool. You're probably just some dreamer who thinks an Island flying in the skies is a real thing ."
Kai's lips quirked up. 'She has no idea' He looked back at her, letting a faint, knowing smile settle on his face without giving anything away.
"Or maybe you have some big secret, huh?" she pressed, leaning forward. "What's with the sword? And the weird power you used in our fight?" She paused, giving him an exasperated look. "You'd think I deserve to know something after you decided to keep me around."
Kai shrugged, letting his silence speak for him.
"You know, you're infuriating," Mikita muttered, shaking her head. "I thought I was the most stubborn person around, but you… it's like talking to a wall."
Kai ignored her once more, watching her from the corner of his eye with a hint of amusement. He finally decided to throw her a bone—or, at least, what she would assume was one.
"You'll figure it out, soon" he said, voice neutral, but there was a glint in his eye as he looked beyond her
She scoffed, rolling her eyes. "Oh, great, I'll 'figure it out.' Thanks for the overwhelming trust."
Kai glanced past Mikita, his sharp eyes catching sight of a pirate fleet heading their way. The air seemed to ripple with the tension of an incoming storm, and Kai quickly assessed the situation.
Tens of pirates, all looking like cannon fodder, were charging forward, but the man at the front... he was different. A towering figure clad in full golden armor, his presence radiating authority and strength. Not enough to even scratch Kai, but definitely a powerful figure for this part of the world.
"Hey, you two over there!" the man shouted, his voice booming. "I'm looking for Mont Blanc Cricket! I heard he's the leader of the pirates who own this island! Guide me to him or I'll rip your hearts out!"
Kai raised an eyebrow, his lips curling into a faint smirk at the man's over-the-top threat. It wasn't the first time he'd been confronted by some self-proclaimed "strong" pirate, and it certainly wouldn't be the last.
"And who might be looking for him?" Kai asked, his tone casual, disinterested.
The man beside the golden-armored figure barked in response. "We're the Krieg Pirates, you fool! The strongest army of pirates in these waters! And this..." he gestured dramatically to the armored figure, "...is our leader, Don Krieg!!"
Kai's expression shifted, his eyes momentarily glazing over in thought. Don Krieg…
A flood of memories crashed through him. It had been years since he'd last heard that name—probably the last time he saw Luffy and Mihawk wipe the floor with Krieg and his crew. Pathetic. Kai scoffed internally. These idiots were the talk of the town back then, now they're just fodder for me. His mind quickly turned to a new, more important thought: This is perfect. These weaklings will make great Runes for me.
With that, Kai turned to Mikita, his voice calm but commanding. "Mikita, get ready. This is your job interview. Beat up that man in golden armor. If you can do that, then I'll answer some of your questions."
"What?! You can't expect me to just attack them for you!" Mikita snapped, her voice full of frustration. She threw her hands up. "I'm not your soldier!"
Kai's gaze hardened slightly as he locked eyes with her. "Do it, or I will. And if I do it, you'll be disposed of. I'll get rid of you quicker than you can blink."
Mikita glared at him, teeth gritted in fury. "Fine! But what about the others?!" she yelled, clearly exasperated by Kai's blunt approach.
"Leave them for me," Kai answered, already turning his attention to the swarm of pirates advancing on him. "You deal with Don Krieg. I'll handle the rest."
With that, Mikita huffed and stomped toward Krieg, her expression dark but determined. She was already shifting her weight, preparing herself for the fight to come.
Meanwhile, Kai stood rooted to the spot, his hand gripping his sword, and casually looked over the battlefield. As the pirates swarmed in, he drew his blade, slicing through the first few with ease, each movement effortless and fluid. He didn't need to use magic, not for these weaklings. The sound of steel clashing and pirates screaming filled the air as Kai cut down one after another, his strikes precise, his movements swift. His mind, however, was on something else.
I need to focus on swordsmanship. My magic is a tool for big fights, not these small skirmishes. He thought to himself as he cleaved through another group of pirates. I've got to sharpen my skills. The more I use my sword, the better I'll be.
As Kai dealt with the dozens of pirates, Mikita was locked in her own battle with Don Krieg.
The golden-armored pirate leader grunted as he swung his massive spear toward Mikita, clearly angered by her defiance. "You think you can stand against me, girl? You don't know who I am!"
Mikita, floating just out of his reach, smirked. "Oh, I know exactly who you are, but you're not impressive." She twirled in the air, her body light as a feather thanks to her devil fruit powers. Don Krieg's spear missed her by inches, and she laughed mockingly. "Is that the best you've got?"
"Enough games!" Krieg roared, his eyes blazing with fury. He swung his spear again, but Mikita increased her weight in an instant, dropping down with explosive force. Her landing sent shockwaves through the ground, shaking the earth beneath her, and Krieg staggered back, startled by her sudden shift in power.
"I don't play by your rules, old man," Mikita said coldly, her voice dripping with disdain.
"You're really starting to get on my nerves," Krieg snarled, trying to anticipate her next move, but Miss Valentine was already adjusting her weight once again, this time increasing it dramatically. Her body became an immovable mass, and she dropped from the sky with crushing force, landing with such intensity that the ground splintered beneath her.
"Let's see you handle this, you walking bucket of bolts," she said, a malicious glint in her eyes as she charged at him, her mass making her unstoppable. Don Krieg's weapon scraped the ground as he tried to swing it, but Miss Valentine was on him in an instant. Her foot shot out, slamming into his chest, the weight behind the strike enough to send him flying backwards.
Krieg groaned, barely able to keep himself upright as Miss Valentine floated back into the air, her body now light again as she casually twirled the umbrella. "I'm done playing around," she called out.
Kai, watching the scene unfold from a distance, couldn't help but smirk. He'd been right—Mikita had enough potential to make this fun. He didn't need to get involved unless absolutely necessary.
Meanwhile, in the background, Kai was cutting through the remaining pirates effortlessly with his sword, each movement fluid and precise. His gaze occasionally flicked toward Mikita, who was now delivering a crushing blow to Don Krieg's defenses. The Krieg Pirates were nothing compared to the enemies he had faced in his past, but for Mikita, this was the perfect opportunity to prove herself.
"You're gonna need more than heavy armor and a bad attitude to stop me!" Miss Valentine taunted, effortlessly dodging a desperate thrust from Krieg's spear.
Finally, with a sudden burst of speed, Miss Valentine increased her weight one last time, crashing into Don Krieg and sending him sprawling across the battlefield. His armor cracked under the strain, and the impact knocked the wind out of him.
Kai, still cutting through the lesser pirates, grinned to himself. "Nice work, Mikita," he muttered, making sure no one overheard. "You might just be worth keeping around."
/*****************************************\
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