Capítulo 33: Chapter 33: Beehive Island!
Weiyang sat there in a daze, a kind and gentle voice echoing in his ears.
"...from now on, your codename will be [Weiyang]."
Slowly, he opened his eyes, his vision clearing to reveal a young man in a white coat standing before him. The man extended a hand, offering to help him rise.
"Heavenly Father..." Weiyang's words flowed naturally, as if he had known Edie his entire life. Grasping Edie's hand, he stood up.
Edie observed the newest addition to the Earthly Branches, taking in every detail. Weiyang was shorter than Zishu, standing at about 1.4 meters, the size of a normal human child. He bore a fluffy afro atop his head, his face serious and shaped like a Chinese character. His golden starry eyes shone with an intense light, while his brown skin contrasted with the black wings that sprouted from his back. He looked like a 10-year-old Sengoku, though his expression carried a maturity far beyond his apparent age.
After rising to his feet, Weiyang looked up at Edie, awaiting his next command.
"Weiyang," Edie addressed him.
"Yes, Heavenly Father," Weiyang replied, his tone filled with unwavering respect.
"The person behind me is Shenhou, the green dragon beneath us is Chenlong, and in Wanokuni, there is Zishu. You are the fourth compatriot to be born."
"Am I the fourth child?" Weiyang asked, a hint of curiosity in his voice.
"It's just a matter of order," Edie assured him with a smile. "Next, we are going to capture Beehive Island, which will be our future cloning base."
A fierce determination lit up Weiyang's eyes. Without hesitation, he dropped to one knee, bowing his head. "Father, you will rule over the world!" he declared, his voice steady and filled with conviction.
Edie smiled, satisfied with the new Earthly Branch's loyalty and potential. The conquest of Beehive Island would be the first of many steps in his grand design.
Beehive Island, infamously known as the paradise of pirates, was once the stronghold of the notorious Rocks Pirates, the former rulers of the seas. After the infamous Valley of the Gods incident 19 years ago, the pirate crew disbanded—some perished in battle, while others fled to different corners of the world. The current New World Pirate Emperors all trace their roots back to the Rocks Pirates, including one particularly dangerous pirate—Ochoku.
Having survived the Valley of the Gods, Ochoku had since become a prominent pirate in his own right, claiming Beehive Island as his territory. But now, inside the Skull Hotel on Beehive Island, the atmosphere was thick with tension.
A pirate burst through the door, his voice trembling with panic. "Captain Ochoku, it's a dragon in the sky!"
"What? A dragon?" Ochoku, lounging with a woman in his arms, pushed her aside and hurried to the window. His expression darkened as he took in the sight.
At first glance, it seemed as though "Hundred Beasts" Kaido himself had arrived, but Ochoku quickly realized that this was not Kaido. The dragon soaring above Beehive Island was not the one he knew.
"No, that's not Kaido," Ochoku muttered, narrowing his eyes as he recalled a recent news report. This dragon was none other than Chenlong, one of the Twelve Earthly Branches, who possessed the Azure Dragon Fruit's abilities. Perched atop the dragon's head were three figures—definitely not Kaido's style. He never allowed anyone to stand on him. Ochoku recognized the man at the helm.
"Edie, the scientist... what does this guy want in my territory?" Ochoku's thoughts raced. Edie's arrival was unlikely to be a social visit; his grand and ostentatious approach hinted at something far more sinister.
It wasn't just Ochoku who noticed. The entire island's pirate population had their eyes glued to the sky.
"Kaido!"
"No, no, no, it's Chenlong—the one from the rumors!"
"Twelve Earthly Branches! The one on top of the dragon is the evil scientist, Edie!"
The entire island was abuzz with shock and confusion at Edie's dramatic entrance. It was as though the very air trembled with anticipation.
On the dragon's head, Edie released a small sigh, surveying the island below. Suddenly, Beehive Island itself began to stir—the ground shifted, walls moved, and boulders fused together as if the island had come to life. Even the largest structure on the island, the Skull Hotel, seemed to animate, splitting open its mouth to speak.
Ochoku had activated his Island Fruit.
From near Rocky Port, a pirate captain shouted in alarm, "Ochoku's Island Fruit is active!"
The pirates scattered, seeking refuge from the impending chaos. But Edie remained calm, observing the massive skeletal structure that now spoke to him.
"Are you Edie?" the island itself rumbled, its voice echoing through the air.
Edie's mind quickly processed the situation. The Island Fruit—one of the rare Paramecia Devil Fruits—allowed Ochoku to assimilate everything on the island, controlling it as though it were an extension of his own body.
Understanding the power he was up against, Edie smiled, ready to confront whatever lay ahead. This was no ordinary pirate island—it was a living, breathing fortress. But Edie had come prepared, and he wasn't about to back down.
"Good afternoon, Mr. Ochoku," Edie said calmly, his voice carrying a casual indifference. "Thank you for welcoming me with such a grand ceremony."
"Hmph, what do you want in my territory?" Ochoku growled, his tone filled with suspicion.
"I want this island," Edie replied, his words sharp and direct.
"What? If this is a joke, it's in poor taste!" The giant skull's voice boomed with displeasure. Pirates were fiercely territorial, and the idea of someone casually strolling in to claim their domain was nothing short of an affront. Not launching an immediate attack was already a show of restraint.
"The Island Fruit," Edie began, unfazed by the tension, "allows you to assimilate an island into your body—impressive, but it has a glaring flaw. Any damage to the assimilated parts directly impacts you."
With a faint smile, Edie continued, "I'll give you one chance, Ochoku. Surrender the island and leave peacefully."
"You dare threaten me?!" Ochoku roared in fury. The ground beneath Beehive Island rumbled, and a colossal hand made of earth surged upward, reaching out to crush Edie.
"Two-sword style..." Shenhou's eyes sharpened as he dashed across Chenlong's back, leaping into the air. His twin blades gleamed as they cut through the sky.
"Flame Taoyuan Shirataka!!"
The swords were enveloped in Haki, and the divine flames of the Lunarian clan ignited. The cross-shaped slash blazed like a meteor across the sky, slicing through the massive hand with a resounding crash.
Boom!
The island's giant hand shattered into pieces, the flaming cross tearing it apart effortlessly.
"Ahhhh!" The skull's voice howled in agony.
In the skeleton's right eye, Ochoku clutched his bloodied hand, his face twisted in pain. "Captain Ochoku!" a nearby pirate shouted in shock. The onlooking pirates stood dumbfounded, unable to comprehend what they had just witnessed.
"The fight just started, and Ochoku's Island Fruit was destroyed with a single move?!"
"Who is that swordsman? He must be a great warrior!"
All eyes turned toward Shenhou, whose wings fluttered as he hovered mid-air. His gaze shifted to Edie, who stood above Chenlong's head, exuding an aura of absolute control.
Gulp. The pirates swallowed nervously, fear gripping their hearts.
Edie stepped lightly, descending from Chenlong's head as if the height was insignificant. "Shenhou, suppress his Island Fruit," he ordered. "Weiyang, handle Ochoku before I reach the hotel."
With those words, Edie landed gracefully on the ground and began his leisurely walk from Rocky Harbor toward the island's core. The Azure dragon above shrank in size, following him closely, a loyal guardian.
"As you command, Lord Heavenly Father," Weiyang replied, his wings fluttering as he swiftly flew toward the Skeleton Hotel, infiltrating it through the skull's right eye.
The pirates near the port instinctively parted, clearing a path for Edie. Their eyes were fixed on him, a mix of awe and terror in their gazes. To them, the man in white seemed like the rightful ruler of Beehive Island, as though he was returning to reclaim what was his. Ochoku, in their minds, was nothing more than a usurper.
The path from the port to the Skeleton Hotel was almost a straight line. Edie walked at a measured pace, occasionally glancing at the structures around him. The pirates he passed averted their eyes, too afraid to meet his gaze directly.
"Edie!" One pirate dared to shout.
Edie turned his head, smiling at the man who had called out to him.
The pirate hesitated but gathered his courage to speak. "You want to take this island? If you kill Ochoku, you'll be the new master of Beehive Island! Who are you?"
"I am Ripple Harold, captain of the Harold Pirates, with a bounty of 251 million Baileys." Harold introduced himself, his voice filled with ambition. "This island has my casino. Are you planning to become the new Emperor? To turn the era of the Three Emperors into the era of the Four Emperors?"
Edie said nothing, letting the silence stretch out. Harold continued, "Lord Edie, please allow my Harold Pirates to join your command!"
"Sorry, I'm not interested," Edie replied, shaking his head as he continued toward the hotel.
Harold clenched his fists, frustration evident in his voice as he shouted at Edie's retreating figure, "Then why are you here?"
"To do research," Edie answered, his back still turned, ignoring the pirate entirely.
As he walked, Edie took in the surroundings of Beehive Island. It was indeed a paradise for pirates, with every vice catered to—bars, brothels, casinos, and countless other entertainment venues. He was already envisioning where to establish his cloning laboratory.
The pirates watched him walk past, from the port to Happy Street, through the bar district, and finally arriving at the Skeleton Hotel. None dared to challenge him; their fear was palpable. Wherever he went, the crowds parted, giving him a wide berth.
"It's almost disappointing," Edie mused aloud. "I expected more resistance."
He stepped through the doors of the Skeleton Hotel, entering the heart of Beehive Island. The hotel was eerily empty, its occupants having fled in panic. Undeterred, Edie ascended the stairs, each step deliberate and unhurried, as if he were strolling through a garden rather than a den of pirates.
Finally, he reached the room connected to the skull's right eye. When Chenlong opened the door for him, the battle inside was already over.
A large golden Buddha, Weiyang in his transformed state, held Ochoku firmly in its grasp, while Shenhou's blade rested menacingly against the pirate's throat. Ochoku, drenched in blood and breathing heavily, looked up to see the man in white calmly walking toward him.
Edie approached Ochoku, hands casually tucked into his pockets, and looked down at the defeated pirate. "I generously gave you a chance. Why didn't you take it?"
"I... I surrender... I choose to surrender!" Ochoku stammered, forcing a bloody smile. He was desperate, his arrogance shattered.
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