Chapter 14

Eight years before the Sky Island Arc, after Enel destroyed his homeland of Birka, he overthrew Gan Fall through violent means and crowned himself the new god of the Sky Island.

However, Enel, who is now the same age as Saint Saint Saiwen, is still wasting time in his hometown of Birka.

As the saying goes, one step ahead means every step ahead.

Saint Saint Saiwen chose to woo the Shandia people, negotiating with the Sky Island people under Gan Fall's rule, using both peace and force, tackling the entire Sky Island with a two-pronged approach.

Truly, the Sky Island is too perfect to serve as a base.

Above the Bai Bai Sea, ten thousand meters above sea level, here one need not worry about the World Government's wanted notices, nor fret about the Navy led by Garp making arrests.

Looking across the entire pirate world, there is no place more suitable for cultivation than the Sky Island.

Moreover, there are the Wind Shells, Laser Shells, and Drum Shells, among other supernatural natural creations unique to the Sky Island; these are all points!

Of course, the premise is to be crowned the god of the Sky Island.

"How about I become your god?"

Carpa stood frozen in place; if it were Luo Jie wanting to be their god, he could reluctantly accept it, but aside from being good at cooking, Saint Saint Saiwen seemed to lack the qualifications to become a god.

"Saint Saint Saiwen, you know our traditions."

The Shandia people revere martial prowess; to become a leader, one must defeat all warriors within the tribe and become the strongest great warrior of the group.

"Then what are we waiting for!"

Saint Saint Saiwen is not a dawdler; the earlier the Sky Island is taken, the earlier the path of the strong can begin.

"Come, fight."

Thunderstorms filled the sky, with white, yellow, blue, red, and purple Lei Ting flashing in unison, as if the end of the world had arrived, or as if it were the wrath of a god.

When out on the Great Sea, Saint Saint Saiwen summoned Lei Ting from the sky clouds to strike targets with precision.

But at this moment, the thunderstorms filling the sky came not only from above the Sky Island but also from the Bai Bai Sea where the Sky Island is located.

In short, Lei Ting was everywhere, both above and below.

In a version without Haki, the deterrent power displayed by Natural-type Devil Fruits far exceeds that of Paramecia and Zoan types.

The Goro Goro no Mi is even the standout among them.

A group of Shandia warriors who possess no Haki at all; the power of the Goro Goro no Mi is sufficient to handle them, making Conqueror's Haki completely unnecessary.

Much like the sense of oppression Enel brought to everyone except Luffy when he first appeared.

The Shandia warriors, led by Carpa, stared dumbfounded at everything before them; such a miracle made many warriors feel fear in their hearts.

Even so, there were still brave souls daring to face the might of the Lei Ting, drawing their swords one after another.

"We are not afraid of you!"

Fear is the instinct of living beings, courage is the anthem of humanity... but for this unequal battle, courage alone is not enough.

In just a single exchange, hundreds of Shandia warriors fell to the ground, and this was because Saint Saint Saiwen was holding back.

Otherwise, the Shandia people would face total annihilation.

Devil Fruits are simply unreasonable like that.

The Lei Ting filling the sky dissipated, and Saint Saint Saiwen sat down to continue the internal banquet of the pirate crew.

"Mi-san, have you thought of a name for the pirate crew?"

Mihawk set down his wine glass: "Before settling on the pirate crew's name, I want to know—"

"Barzab Saint Saint Saiwen, a man like you, who has already reached the Final Island and knows what ONE PIECE is, why do you choose to set sail again?"

For a man as mysterious as Saint Saint Saiwen, Mihawk held many doubts in his heart.

If he could, he would even want to pry open this guy's head to see what secrets were hidden inside.

Saint Saint Saiwen drained a cup of wine without any pause; Conqueror's Haki surged skyward, knocking every living creature on the entire island unconscious.

Only Mihawk remained unaffected.

Some words are only worthy of being heard by one's own people.

"Mi-san, I indeed arrived at Laugh Tale with the Captain and the others, and witnessed the truth of what the world calls ONE PIECE."

"But knowing ONE PIECE..."

"... does not mean the journey ends, because freedom is not an answer, but a state."

"Just as reading all the sea charts does not mean one has experienced the winds and waves of every sea."

"ONE PIECE tells me what the world can become, but it does not dictate that it must become that way.

True freedom is not choosing between two given options, but forging a third route that even Joy Boy never imagined..."

"I choose to set sail to breathe the sea breeze carrying the scent of salt and freedom.

To raise a glass and drink together with new partners on unknown islands, just as we are doing right now.

To prove that a person's dreams never end just because they know the answer.

Even knowing everything, I can still embrace this imperfect world with the curiosity and passion I had when I first set sail.

So, do not define our voyage by the Final Island; where we go is decided only by our will at this moment and the sea breeze ahead."

"Mi-san, this is my freedom."

Since the Luo Jie Pirates disbanded, Saint Saint Saiwen has never spoken so openly with anyone as he did today.

Perhaps this is the meaning of companionship.

Mihawk raised his wine glass: "To freedom."

"To freedom," Saint Saint Saiwen raised his glass in response.

"My dear First Mate, now can you tell this Captain what our pirate crew is called?"

"How about Inazuma?" Mihawk asked.

"What do you mean?"

"The lightning that appears during a Lei Yu."

Saint Saint Saiwen shook his head: "It's too pointed. The pirate crew isn't just my crew; we are a single entity. Don't cultivate a cult of personality."

"What about Dawn? It implies darkness is about to pass, and light and hope are about to arrive."

"Dawn... isn't that unlucky?"

The hand holding the wine glass tightened slightly around the glass.

"Twilight? Dawn? Daybreak?"

Saint Saint Saiwen swirled his wine glass, unable to help but think inwardly: Daybreak? I'm Edward, too!

Regarding the name for the pirate crew, Captain Barzab Saint Saint Saiwen and Vice-Captain Mihawk engaged in a fierce debate.

"Freedom?"

"Too blunt."

"Stars?"

"Too distant."

"Sun?"

"Someone already took that name."

Finally, at a certain moment, Mihawk let out a cold snort, stood up, and drew the black blade Yoru from his back; he had finally figured it out—this guy was doing it on purpose.

"Barzab, draw your sword."

Saint Saint Saiwen hurriedly waved his hands, putting an end to his thoughts of continuing to train Mi-san: "See, you're getting impatient again."

"Think of another one; I promise I won't object."

Mihawk took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing the urge to cut down the dog captain: "How about Morning Star?"

"The solitary Morning Star shining in the eastern sky at the darkest hour before dawn, holding fast through the long night, guiding those who are lost."

"It represents hope, guidance, and vigilance."

Saint Saint Saiwen raised his head, looked at the brightest star in the eastern night sky, and silently gave a thumbs-up.

"Mi-san, this name has a very high artistic component."

"Truly, as expected of a cultured man."

"Then this captain now declares: The Morning Star Pirate Crew... is established!!!"