Chapter 56: Gold Rush
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Kai's gaze hardened as he locked onto his target. Recognizing the man immediately, his lips curled into a smirk. "I see…" he muttered under his breath, summoning the Clearnot Sword back into his hand with a swift gesture. Without hesitation, Kai lunged forward, his figure blurring with speed as he closed the distance.
The man's eyes widened in shock, fumbling to raise his bazooka-like cannon. A pulse of crackling energy erupted from its barrel, streaking toward Kai with lethal precision. Yet, this time, Kai was ready. His sword flashed in a sweeping arc, cleaving the energy blast cleanly in two, the fragmented energy dissipating harmlessly into the air.
Kai wasted no time, closing the gap in a heartbeat and bringing his sword down in a powerful slash. The man barely managed to lift his cannon in defense, the metallic clang reverberating through the battlefield. But before he could counter, he found Kai's Glintstone Staff aimed squarely at his face, its tip glowing ominously as a Glintstone Shard charged to lethal capacity.
"So? Who are you?" Kai demanded, his voice calm yet laced with menace. He feigned ignorance, though his mind already pieced together the truth. "I suggest you don't test me further."
The man scowled, his defiance palpable despite the situation. "How dare you, sea-dweller!" he spat venomously. "Invade our land, nearly kill our Sacred Guardian, and then demand my name?"
Kai's smirk deepened, his patience thinning. Without a word, he released the Glintstone Shard, the crystalline projectile blasting forward with a sharp crack. The shard struck true, smashing into the man's face and sending him sprawling across the dirt, a spray of blood marking his trajectory.
Kai turned, his sharp gaze sweeping across the battlefield as a cluster of armed guards moved to encircle him. "Fools," he muttered. Raising his staff, he summoned the Cannon of Haima, the sigils glowing fiercely before a massive projectile of magic erupted forth. The impact shook the ground, the explosion tearing a crater in front of the advancing guards and halting them in their tracks. Dust and debris filled the air, and the message was clear—this was not their fight.
From the smoke, the fallen warrior staggered back to his feet, blood streaming from a gash on his forehead. Rage burned in his eyes as he lunged at Kai, unleashing a flurry of kicks. Kai sidestepped the first with ease, leaned back to dodge the second, and parried the third with the flat of his sword.
The man roared, his movements becoming wilder, desperate. Kai, unimpressed, raised his staff as if to fire another shard. The warrior instinctively ducked, anticipating the strike—but it was a feint. Seizing the opening, Kai drove his knee into the man's face, sending him reeling once more.
"You're sloppy," Kai remarked coldly, his voice cutting through the chaos. Striding forward, he drove his sword into the man's shoulder with ruthless precision. The blade bit deep, pinning the man to the ground. The warrior howled in pain, his hand instinctively grasping at the blade.
Kai knelt, his expression calm yet unyielding. "Are you done now?" he asked, his tone almost casual. "I'd prefer not to kill a local, but you're making it awfully tempting."
The warrior's defiance flickered, his strength waning. Around them, the guards watched in stunned silence, their weapons trembling in their hands as they dared not intervene.
Kai stood over the fallen warrior, his gaze cold and unwavering, waiting for a response. Wyper, gritting his teeth through the pain, finally relented and gasped out, "I'm Wyper! God's Guard Wyper! Please, do not kill our protector! Nola, the Master of the Sky!"
Kai removed his sword from Wyper's shoulder and, with a swift motion, wiped the blood off the blade using the man's own shirt. Squatting down in front of Wyper, he stared him in the eyes. "See? That wasn't too hard, was it?"
Standing up, Kai smirked as he introduced himself. "I am Kai Silver, The Elden Lord. I will not kill your Sacred Guardian, nor am I here to invade your land. I'm an adventurer, just like your old friend, Monkey D. Luffy. I'm merely here for a specific purpose... I need gold."
The soldiers and Wyper exchanged blank, almost comical expressions, their minds processing the statement. Mikita, shaking her head in disbelief, took a step closer to Kai. "Are you stupid? Who goes around demanding gold like that? Of course they're not going to—"
Before Mikita could finish, Wyper interrupted, his voice surprisingly calm. "Is that really all you want? We don't mind if you take some! There's plenty of it, as long as you don't cause harm to our land and people."
"WHAT?!" Mikita shouted, her jaw dropping in shock. Kai's smirk only grew wider at the unexpected turn of events.
Luca, who had been quietly observing, moved toward Wyper and began to heal his injuries. "I suppose people with this much land, with no outside contact, wouldn't have much use for gold, huh?" he mused, his hands glowing as he worked on Wyper's wounds.
Kai, eyeing the injured man, didn't waste any time. "Well? Where is it?"
Wyper, still in pain but now more composed, looked up at Kai. "It was moved by the order of our current god, Gan Fall. It's located near the Shandorian Golden Belfry, at God's temple at the top of the island."
At the mention of the Golden Belfry, Kai's eyes gleamed with greed, a wide grin spreading across his face. "That's what I'm talking about!" he said, rubbing his hands together as if already picturing the treasure. "Alright, let's get to it then. Hurry up and heal this guy, Luca. We're getting our long overdue paychecks!"
{
Nola, Master of the Sky: Defeated
Gained 50000 Souls
Gained The Talisman: Winged Sword Insignia
}
'Oh! This day keeps getting better!' Thought Kai as he rushed to check the effect of his newest Talisman
[Winged Sword Insignia: Raises attack power with successive attacks (3%,5%,10%]
'And with this, May Talisman Slots are finished!' smiled Kai with self satisfaction.
....
Kai and his crew trailed behind Wyper and the Shandorian warriors through the dense, lush terrain of the Sky Island. They soon arrived at a colossal, severed tree, its base sprawling across the ground like a natural monument.
"This is Giant Jack," Wyper explained, a tinge of nostalgia in his voice. "It was once the tallest tree in the skies, but during a battle long ago, it was cut down. Now, it serves as a shortcut to God's temple."
Kai's gaze lingered on the massive structure, and a flicker of recognition sparked in his memory. 'Jack, huh? Oda really had some fun with this one,' he thought, chuckling internally at the parallel to the fairy tale "Jack and the Beanstalk."
As they ascended the tree's intricate network of carved steps and makeshift platforms, Mikita's curious nature took over. She peppered Wyper with questions about the island's culture, the Shandorian people, their small wings, and their way of life. Wyper answered as best he could, though his focus remained on leading them to the temple.
When they reached the summit, the temple came into view. It was a marvel of architectural ingenuity, blending intricate carvings with natural elements. Behind the temple, at the island's apex, stood the magnificent Golden Belfry. The giant bell glimmered under the light, a symbol of Shandorian pride and history.
Kai's eyes gleamed at the sight. "I'd take that bell in a heartbeat if we had a ship big enough to carry it."
He took a step forward toward the temple entrance when a thunderous impact stopped him in his tracks. A massive lance slammed into the ground, forming a crater just inches away. Kai instinctively looked up and locked eyes with the source of the attack: a man riding a peculiar pink horse, clad in full armor from head to toe. The man's presence exuded authority and power.
"Sea Dweller! Why have you come here?" the armored man demanded. A large bird swooped down and perched beside him as the Shandorian soldiers gathered around him, including Wyper.
Kai's crew remained poised. Mikita, scanning the scene, whispered, "Have we been ambushed?"
Luca shrugged, his tone dismissive. "Looks like it."
Kai, however, was unfazed. He stepped forward with his sword and staff at the ready, meeting the armored man's gaze. "I'm assuming you're the god of this island?"
The man raised his lance, his voice steady. "I am Gan Fall, God and protector of this land. Who are you, and why do you trespass on our holy ground?"
Kai smirked, his confidence unshaken. "Kai Silver. Elden Lord and the future king of this world. I'm here for gold—nothing more, nothing less."
Gan Fall froze momentarily, his expression shifting as a memory surfaced of a young man with a straw hat proclaiming himself the future Pirate King. His grip on the lance tightened.
Kai continued, "I'm a friend of Monkey D. Luffy. I wanted to visit this island, explore it for myself, and maybe get some gold for my troubles. From what I hear, your people don't mind parting with it."
Gan Fall nodded slowly. "That may be true. However, the fact that you injured one of my guards and entered our land uninvited cannot be ignored, even if you claim to be a friend of our savior." He raised his lance, pointing it at Kai. "Prove your worth. Defeat me, and I will acknowledge your strength. Only then will you have the right to take the gold you desire."
Kai's grin widened as he raised his sword and staff. "Is that so? Fine by me. But why not let your guards join in too? It wouldn't be fair for me to defeat just a washed-up old man."
Gan Fall's eyes narrowed at the insult. "Your arrogance knows no bounds! Very well. Soldiers, prepare yourselves! We will humble this Sea Dweller and show him the might of our people!"
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