61: Chapter 61 Mutual Submission Under the Promise

Ten thousand meters in the sky, White Sea.

The massive dark gold hull of the ship crushed the surface clouds, moving steadily forward along a wide waterway formed by solidified clouds. Ahead lay a massive island shrouded in shadow: Upper Yard.

Ancient giant trees, hundreds of meters tall, blocked out the sunlight. Thick tree roots, like coiled dragons, were deeply embedded in the cloud soil. The air was filled with the scent of damp earth and the sour smell of fermenting rotten leaves. This was the absolute forbidden zone of the Sky Island: the domain of God.

The warship had just sailed into the waterway at the edge of the forest when a sudden change occurred.

Bang. Bang. Bang.

The dense sound of musket fire tore through the silence of the forest. Dozens of round lead bullets shot out from the dense bushes on both sides, accurately striking the wapol metal armor of the ship.

The kinetic energy carried by the lead bullets was instantly absorbed by the dark gold armor plates. The bullet heads deformed, flattening into circular lead discs, and fell powerlessly into the cloud river below. Not even a scratch was left on the surface of the armor.

"Enemy attack." Paula spread her fingers, and sharp black thorn-like steel needles extended from between her nails.

Above the canopy, a dozen figures draped in animal skins and with war paint on their faces leaped out.

Shandian warriors. They stepped on skateboards equipped with Wind Dials, leaving white airflow trails in mid-air as they approached the warship deck at high speed.

The man in the lead had a sturdy build, with skin of a deep wheat color. There was a large tattoo around his right eye. He held a burnt-out cigarette in his mouth. War Demon, Wyper.

Wyper stepped on his skateboard, his figure making a sharp turn in mid-air. He raised a rugged-looking Burn Bazooka in his right hand. The Flame Dial inside the barrel was instantly activated. Boom.

A column of orange-red high-temperature fire, half a meter in diameter, burned through the air and blasted straight toward Rice, who was standing at the bow of the ship.

Rice stood where he was, his feet nailed firmly to the solid wood deck.

He raised his left hand and spread his five fingers. Pitch-black Armament Haki spread like ink, covering his entire palm. His skin presented an absolute, light-devouring black.

The pillar of fire collided with the black palm.

The violent flames were forcefully blocked by the physical barrier constructed by Haki. The high temperature diverted to both sides, scorching several wooden railings on the edge of the ship. Rice's palm did not even rise in temperature.

Taking advantage of the cover provided by the pillar of fire, Wyper had lunged to a position less than two meters away from Rice. He threw away the heavy Burn Bazooka in his hand. Inside his right-hand glove, a grey-white spiral shell was pressed firmly against his palm.

Reject Dial. A forbidden weapon unique to the Sky Island. It could absorb physical impact and then release a destructive counter-shockwave ten times as powerful.

The muscles in Wyper's right arm bulged, and his veins popped out. He pressed the release port of the Reject Dial hard against Rice's chest. "Invader. Get out of the homeland of the Shandians!" Wyper roared.

Rice did not dodge.

His violent black eyes watched the shell pressed against his chest. His pectoralis major and rectus abdominis muscles tightened to the limit in an instant. His muscle fibers were like twisted steel cables, and his bone density soared.

[Iron Body · Hard].

Bang—!!

The energy inside the Reject Dial was released with a roar. A pale white cone-shaped shockwave, visible to the naked eye, gushed out from the shell's opening and slammed solidly against Rice's bronze-colored chest.

The terrifying physical destructive power penetrated the air, erupting with a deafening roar. The air behind Rice was squeezed by the shockwave, forming a violent hurricane. The hurricane tore the canvas hanging on the main mast and shredded several wooden barrels on the deck behind him.

Having withstood ten times the impact, enough to shatter the internal organs of a giant Sea King, Rice's torso did not retreat even a millimeter. The deck beneath his feet remained intact. The impact was absorbed and neutralized by his powerful muscle cells.

Crack. A bone-chilling sound of bone fracturing rang out. But this sound did not come from Rice.

Wyper let out a shrill scream.

The massive recoil generated by the Reject Dial flowed backward up his metacarpal bones.

The radius and ulna of his right arm suffered a comminuted fracture under this brutal counter-shock force. White bone fragments pierced through his wheat-colored skin, exposed to the air. Blood dripped down his arm.

Rice extended his right hand, covered in Armament Haki.

His five fingers, like steel claws, grabbed Wyper's face. His thumb dug into the edge of his cheekbone, and his other four fingers pressed against his jaw.

"I'm going up the mountain to ring that broken bell."

Rice's deep voice exploded in Wyper's ears, carrying the cold texture of raw iron. "Block the way. Die."

He put strength into his arm. Rice grabbed Wyper's head, lifted it high, and then slammed it heavily onto the deck below.

Bang. The back of Wyper's head struck the hard wooden planks. The massive physical impact cut off the signal transmission of the central nervous system.

The War Demon's eyes rolled back, and he passed out on the spot, his body going limp like mud.

"Wyper!" In mid-air, a female Shandian warrior let out an exclamation.

She had short black hair and wore a short top and leather skirt made of animal skins.

Her limbs were slender, revealing a wildness belonging to the jungle.

Raki.

Raki raised the long-barreled musket in her hand, aimed at Rice's head, and pulled the trigger.

Bang. A lead bullet wrapped in gunpowder kinetic energy shot out. Rice tilted his head. The bullet grazed his cheek, hit the metal bulkhead behind him, and ricocheted into the sea.

Rice bent his knees slightly, and his thigh muscles contracted.

[Shave].

The air made an explosive sound. Rice's figure disappeared from where he stood. The next instant, he appeared in front of Raki in mid-air.

Raki's pupils constricted, and she tried to manipulate the skateboard under her feet to open up some distance.

Rice extended his left hand and grabbed the barrel of the long-barreled musket. He exerted force with his five fingers, and the raw iron barrel was crushed into a ball of scrap metal.

His right hand wrapped around Raki's wild, wheat-colored waist. His powerful arm strength directly destroyed Raki's center of gravity. Clutching this warm body, Rice fell back onto the deck.

Raki struggled desperately, her fists pounding against Rice's hard chest muscles.

This level of physical attack wasn't even qualified to scratch an itch for Rice. Rice did not hurt her.

Those deep, violent black eyes stared directly into Raki's wild, untamable eyes.

"Save your energy. I didn't come here to destroy your homeland."

Rice's voice calmed down, and his self-reference changed to an equal term.

"That Eneru who calls himself God, I'm going to go crack his head open. The Golden Bell that you Shandians have guarded for four hundred years, I will make it sound again. The sound of the bell will travel back to the Blue Sea below, and let that man with the diamond-shaped face on the beach hear it."

Raki's pounding arms froze instantly. Turbulent waves surged deep within her pupils.

A four-hundred-year wish, the Golden Bell, the descendants of the Blue Sea.

This terrifying man who had just smashed the arm of the War Demon Wyper with one punch actually knew all the secrets of the Shandian tribe and even promised to accomplish what their generations had sacrificed blood and lives for but failed to do.

Absolute military suppression, combined with a promise that struck the Soul.

In the Law of the jungle warrior, one only submits to the truly strong.

And the man in front of her was the tyrant who could end the centuries of war on the Sky Island. She loosened her clenched fists, and a fiery, blind obedience born from awe grew in her wild eyes.

Rice released his arm that was holding her. "Take her to the main cabin."

Conis walked forward, her fair palm taking Raki's wrist. The two walked toward the heavy brass door together.

Rice took off his tattered white shirt, revealing the muscle groups on his back that bulged like a demon's back.

He walked into the main cabin with big strides. He locked the cabin door.

Sweat dripped down Rice's forehead.

His blood flow accelerated, and his body surface temperature soared.

One hour.

Two hours.

The territory of the White Dove Adventure Group expanded to twelve people.

...

The next morning.

Sunlight pierced through the dense canopy, casting mottled spots of light on the surface of the cloud river.

The ship was docked in a wide waterway surrounded by ancient ruins.

On the right was a primeval forest filled with towering giant trees.

Deep in the forest.

Four figures stood on thick tree trunks.

The Four Priests.

Sky Knight Shura. Sky Breeder Ohm. Forest Satori. Sky Guardian Nirvana.

The brainwaves of the four were connected via "Observation Haki."

Observation Haki covered the waterway below. They sensed the vital signs on that massive metal warship.

"Ten women. One pet. One man."

Satori's round body jumped on the branches, tossing a white Surprise Cloud ball in his hand.

"Lord Eneru has issued an extermination order. Not one of these Blue Sea people is to be left alive."

Ohm stroked the giant white dog beside him and drew the long sword made of Iron Cloud in his hand. The blade emitted a slight hum in the air.

On the deck.

Rice was wearing a pair of black trousers. His upper body was still bare. He had a thick cigar in his mouth. He took a match from his pocket and struck it. The orange flame ignited the tobacco. He took a deep puff and exhaled thick, blue-grey smoke.

He looked up, his black eyes directed toward the forest on the right.

Observation Haki had long ago locked onto the four auras hidden in the darkness.

"I'm having a smoke here."

Rice turned his head, his gaze sweeping over Paula, Mikita, Alvida, Nami, Robin, Vivi, Nojiko, and Makino behind him. "You guys go into the forest and practice. Don't break the newly changed armor suits."

Subsequently, he looked into the depths of the forest, his tone instantly turning into cold murderous intent. "Four running dogs of Eneru. I'm going to dismantle your bones today."

Paula stretched her slender legs.

She was wearing a deep black tight-fitting combat suit woven from wapol metal fibers. It clung to her curvaceous figure. The metal fibers provided physical defense that surpassed fine steel.

The eight female crew members crossed the ship's rail and jumped onto the soil on the shore.

Their figures flashed as they rushed into the dense jungle.

The first battlefield. Shura was riding the giant bird that spat fire, circling in mid-air.

In his hand, he held a lance wrapped in flames. "Women of the Blue Sea. Accept your judgment!"

Shura urged the firebird and dove down. The lance pointed straight at Mikita's chest.

Mikita stood where she was, the corners of her mouth curling into a sneer.

She spread her ten fingers and pressed them down violently. [Gravity Zone · 100,000 Kilograms].

Within a circular area with a radius of ten meters centered on her, the rule of gravity underwent a sudden mutation.

The firebird, which had dove into mid-air, suddenly bore a terrifying downward pressure of 100,000 kilograms. Caw— The firebird let out a shrill scream. Its wing bones broke on the spot.

Along with Shura on its back, it slammed heavily into the ground like two meteorites. Boom. The ground collapsed into a large crater. The firebird's sternum shattered, its internal organs spewed from its mouth, and it died on the spot.

Shura struggled to climb up from the bottom of the crater. A black shadow flashed by.

Paula appeared beside him. Her right leg was raised high. A black thorn-like steel needle, one meter long, extended from her toe.

Puchi. The steel needle pierced through Shura's chest, accurately piercing his beating heart. Shura's eyes widened, his body twitched twice, and he completely lost his breath.

The second battlefield.

Ohm waved his Iron Cloud sword, the blade changing shape in mid-air, like a steel poisonous snake, winding toward Alvida's neck. "My Iron Cloud can cut through steel." Ohm said coldly.

Alvida drew her blue-grey pure Sea Stone rapier.

Meeting the Iron Cloud sword, she slashed down. Clang! The two weapons collided. The density of the Sea Stone presented a crushing advantage.

Ohm's proud Iron Cloud collapsed in its physical structure the moment it touched the blade of the Sea Stone sword. The long sword was forcefully cut into two sections. The broken Iron Cloud fell to the ground and turned back into a pool of white clouds.

Ohm was terrified. Just as he wanted to retreat.

Makino swung the living eggbeater with a raw iron mouth in her hand and smashed it from the side. The eggbeater's mouth suddenly opened wide and bit down on Ohm's right arm. The sharp iron teeth closed.

Crack. The radius and ulna were bitten off.

The entire right arm detached from the torso. Alvida swept her sword horizontally, the blade passing across Ohm's throat.

It cut the carotid artery and trachea. Blood spurted out. Ohm fell to the ground clutching his neck.

The third battlefield. Satori moved at high speed in the forest, setting up a large number of Surprise Cloud traps along the way.

"You can't catch me! My Mantra can predict all your moves!"

Nami stood on a thick branch. She used the gunpowder from the white dove to trigger a series of violent explosions. The air waves and high temperature generated by the explosions completely disrupted the surrounding airflow.

Satori's Observation Haki perception was severely interfered with by the physical sound waves of the thunderstorm.

Just at the moment he was stunned. Robin crossed her hands in front of her chest.

[Thirty Fleur · Clutch].

On the surface of Satori's round body, thirty fair arms grew instantly.

These arms locked his cervical vertebrae joints tightly. Exerting force in the opposite direction. Crack.

The first cervical vertebra and the second cervical vertebra were dislocated and fractured. The spinal cord nerves were severed.

Satori's head hung on his shoulder at an eerie angle.

The corpse fell from the branch.

The fourth battlefield.

Sky Guardian Nirvana stepped on the Swamp Cloud with his feet, attempting to sink into the ground to carry out a surprise attack.

Vivi pulled out her Peacock Slashers with both hands.

With a turn of her wrists, the saw blades turned into two high-speed rotating metal discs, blocking Nirvana's escape route.

The saw teeth cut through the surrounding tree trunks, cutting off the connection to the Swamp Cloud.

Nirvana was forced to jump back to the ground. Nojiko stepped with light footsteps and appeared silently behind him.

Between her slender fingers, she held four sharp surgical scalpels. She exerted force with her wrists.

Four silver lights flashed by. The scalpels accurately cut into the Achilles tendons of Nirvana's ankles. The tendons ruptured. Nirvana lost his support and fell to his knees. Vivi stepped forward, and her Peacock Slashers slashed across his throat. The battle ended.

Less than ten minutes. The Four Priests were completely wiped out.

The eight female crew members shook the blood off their weapons and turned to walk back to the edge of the waterway.

The wapol metal combat suits on them were intact.

Rice threw away the burnt-out cigar butt in his hand. He looked up.

His gaze passed through the dense canopy and looked toward the giant vine in the center of the island that pierced the clouds. At the top of the vine, a huge flying ship could be faintly seen slowly rising into the sky.

"The main course has begun."

Rice loosened his neck. His cervical vertebrae made a crisp sound. He bent his legs slightly.

His soles stepped on the air. The compression of the airflow created a sonic boom.

His body turned into a black cannonball, violently rising into the sky toward the huge ark in the high altitude.