One Piece: Power-Power Fruit

Chapter 52 The Heart of a Strong Person Should Not Be Shown Fear

Chapter 52: The Heart of a Strong Person Should Not Be Shown Fear

"what…………"

boom!

"Locas, what are you yelling about?"

On the deck of the Liberty, Slard, who was observing the weather at the bow, was suddenly startled by a shout from Locas beside him. Without a word, he raised his hand and slapped him across the face, then said fiercely...

"Ah, ah! That's a towering ocean current! That's an extremely dangerous force! I've been on Jaya Island for so many years, and I've always been able to see that terrifying sight from afar. Now we're going to come into contact with it. What's wrong with me yelling a couple of times to relax???"

Locas shouted at Slade with a particularly loud voice, his voice trembling as he struggled to control his nervousness.

"Tch, coward!!"

Slad gave the other person a disdainful look, then stared intently at the boundless sea ahead, though he himself was also nervous.

"Damn it! Slard, you better not let me see you yelling when you see it later!!"

……

"Phew, Captain, no matter how many times I face the towering currents, I always feel scared!"

Hill Bott ignored Slad and the other's bickering, took a deep breath to ease his tension, and slowly spoke to Mu Chong, who was lying leisurely beside him.

"Hill Bot! It's undeniable that the power of nature is not to be underestimated, but the reason you're afraid right now is because you're not strong enough, Hill Bot! When you possess great strength, that power will give you enough confidence to face the towering ocean currents!"

Mu Chong lay comfortably on the deck of the Freedom, his eyes slightly narrowed, and slowly said...

"Get stronger?"

Hill Bott raised his hand to adjust his gold-rimmed glasses, his eyes gazing at the vast sea before him as he fell into deep thought.

The Liberty had been away from Mogu Town for quite some time. According to information provided by Montblanc Coolidge, the Liberty was currently near the Skyfall Current, but it wasn't yet time for it to awaken.

At this moment, everyone on the Freedom, except for Mu Chong and the white cat Mu Mu, was anxiously waiting for the appearance of the Sky-Piercing Current. Their eyes kept glancing at Mu Chong, who was lying flat on his back. If it weren't for their trust in him, no one else would be in this position.

"Oh dear! Why am I so nervous? Why isn't that damned surging current coming yet?"

"I'm really worried for the hero! This behavior is absolutely insane!"

"Will they really succeed? Sky Island..."

At this moment, the Freedom wasn't the only ship on this sea. Far away, all sorts of vessels were densely packed together: pirate ships, merchant ships, and even fishing boats belonging to villagers. Everyone on board was keeping a close eye on that tiny figure in the distance.

……

"Huh? What's this?"

On the deck of the Liberty, Slad, who had been staring motionless at the sky, suddenly had a flash in his eyes. His gaze fixed on a white cloud in the sky, and he uttered a sound of surprise.

"Hey, what's wrong, Slade?"

Locas, who had been standing next to Slard, immediately noticed that something was wrong with Slard's expression and asked...

"Captain, it looks like it's coming!"

Slad ignored Locas's question, and instead, without turning his head, called out "Mu Chong" in a deep voice, his eyes never leaving the white cloud for a moment.

"Ok?"

"What's here?"

"Is it time yet?"

Upon hearing Locas's shout, everyone on the deck of the Liberty immediately tensed up and rose to their feet, moving to the bow.

Locas made way for Mu Chong, who looked in the direction Slad was staring, but the motionless white cloud in the sky didn't offer Mu Chong any useful information.

However, Mu Chong didn't say anything about Slad's trust. Instead, he unleashed his Observation Haki without reservation, instantly covering an area of ​​over two thousand meters in radius. According to Montblanc Coolidge's information, the Sky-Piercing Current was within this range.

"Hiss! There's nothing there! Slard, stop being so mysterious!"

Locas was the first to be unable to bear the oppressive atmosphere, and nervously gripped the long sword at his waist.

"Hero, according to the information I have, it shouldn't be the time for the Sky-Piercing Current to erupt yet..."

Even Montblanc Coulicate frowned, looked around, and slowly said...

No, it came early!

"Huh? It's started!"

Two voices rang out almost simultaneously, interrupting Montblanc Coulicate's words.

Mu Chong and Slad exchanged a smile, both understanding the trust in each other's eyes.

"Huh? They're here?"

"Phew! I'm a little nervous!"

"Hahaha! I never thought an old man could experience something so thrilling!"

"Ok?"

As Mu Chong and Slad's voices rang out, everyone else gasped in surprise. Except for Baku, who remained standing at the mast gripping the sail ropes, the others clearly showed signs of tension.

"Hahaha! Everyone! The towering current is coming! I can already feel it awakening. Put away your tension. Fear before the battle even begins is not the spirit of a Freedom crew member. A mere current, and you think it can drown the will of the strong in your hearts? Hahahaha! That's the behavior of a weakling!"

hum!

Mu Chong's gaze was fixed on a spot about five hundred meters ahead. He could sense a terrifying power brewing there, a power that even made him tremble, let alone the people around him.

So when Mu Chong finished speaking, an aura of dominance over the world, arrogance over all heroes, and fearlessness erupted from his body, instantly enveloping the entire sea area.

The outburst of Conqueror's Haki stopped the wind, calmed the sea, dispersed the clouds, and steadied the heart.

"Everyone, raise your heads and look ahead. The Freedom's voyage has only just begun. Don't let your courage show!"

Mu Chong's sharp voice rang in everyone's ears. Under the influence of Conqueror's Haki, everyone's eyes became firm and bright, and the complex atmosphere that had been permeating the air vanished instantly.

"Hahahaha! My iron rod, Slad's, will surely pierce the sky!"

"Hehehehe! My sword, Locas's, can also cleave through this towering sea current!"

"Whew! This is exhilarating, Captain!"

"Hahaha! Brother Mu, you're amazing, truly amazing!"

"Captain, I, Baku, am not afraid!"

"Meow!!!"

"Uh, this is really..."

"Hahaha! Montblanc Coulicate, you're not a crew member of the Liberty, you don't need to take this risk with us. Come on, I'll take you to a safe place first!"

Mu Chong sensed the imposing aura of everyone on the ship, which instantly elevated his spirit. He was overjoyed; the seed had been planted, and now it was time to wait for it to sprout.

Then, Mu Chong walked over to Montblanc Coolidge's side. After exchanging a glance, Mu Chong grabbed Coolidge's shoulder and flew off the Liberty's deck at incredible speed toward a distant pirate ship.

"Look! Someone's flying over here!"

"Huh? It's the hero! And the other one is... that chestnut-headed guy!"

"Is that the direction the Hyena Pirates' ship is heading?"

When the onlookers saw Mu Chong and his companion fly over and land on the Hyena Pirates' ship, they immediately started discussing it. Those on the closer pirate ships clearly saw that Bellamy and his crew looked somewhat nervous.

Why did the hero end up on the Hyena Pirates' ship?

"Could it be that Bellamy has sided with the heroes?"

"It's very possible, the hero once saved the hyena's life!!"

Amidst the murmurs of the crowd, all that was seen was Mu Chong placing Montblanc Cricket on the deck of the Hyena Pirates' ship, walking over to Bellamy, putting his hand on the latter's shoulder, saying a few words, and then flying back to the Liberty, leaving behind a crew of wide-eyed, astonished crew members.

Bellamy, standing at the bow of the ship, clenched his fists, gritted his teeth, and stared intently at Mu Chong's back.