One Piece: The Archangel's Guide

Chapter 30: The Whispers

Although Marine warships are sunk in droves in every major incident, the Marines have stood as the World Government's most powerful instrument of violence for over eight hundred years. Similarly, warships, as the standard vessel of the Marines, have also undergone eight hundred years of updates and iterations.

Over these eight hundred years, the Marines have experienced every kind of natural disaster the sea has to offer. The warships, in their construction, have absorbed the craftsmanship accumulated over these centuries, making their resistance to natural disasters absolutely outstanding.

A warship, especially the personal vessel of a Vice Admiral, is definitively superior to the ships of 99% of the pirate crews on the sea. The future Blackbeard even wanted a higher-class warship so badly that he offered to trade the special-status Jewelry Bonney for one. Unfortunately for him, the Marine admiral who came to negotiate was named Sakazuki. In the end, Blackbeard could only flee with his tail between his legs.

Louis's current requirements weren't high. A standard-issue warship for a branch colonel would be enough. In the calm East Blue, a warship capable of housing several hundred Marine soldiers and a colonel-class officer was more than sufficient to meet all the needs of Louis's trio during their voyage. In the future, if they invited more partners to join them, they could just get another ship. It could be a brand-new vessel purchased with a large sum of Berries, or a second-hand warship "picked up" from the Marines.

Yelena and Uta had no particular objections. In their view, getting a warship was a relatively simple matter. With Louis's and Yelena's power, they could sweep through most of the East Blue.

As for why "most"? That's because a certain guy with a dog-head hat pops up in the East Blue from time to time.

One day later, in the waters near Asuka Island.

The trio had not stopped their training just because they had set sail. All of them, being in a rapid growth phase, understood that if they wanted to become strong, they could never slack off. Even Uta, who had the least natural talent in terms of physique, understood this. Without even needing an invitation from Louis and Yelena, she gritted her teeth, picked up a lighter one-handed sword, and joined the training. She had changed into light, workout-appropriate clothes and shorts, her two-toned hair tied up. Her sweat-soaked face and purple eyes showed an incredibly serious attitude.

Just as she had said, she truly wanted to play the role of a proper partner, to be as reliable as Shanks's crewmates.

Beside her was Yelena, undergoing her own super-high-intensity training.

After leaving the harsh environment of the plateau, Yelena's appearance had completely changed from its previously sallow, rough, and chapped state. Her facial features were deep and exquisite, her facial lines soft and clear. Her skin was fairer than snow, with almost no blemishes. Her pair of red eyes, like perfectly cut rubies set in their sockets, revealed a resolute expression. The curves of her body, wrapped in a sports vest, were wonderfully full and well-defined, showcasing a feminine, graceful charm. Her smooth, lustrous white hair was tied into a high ponytail, swaying naturally with her intense movements.

Yelena felt that due to her illness, she had wasted a lot of time during the best years for training. If she wanted to catch up to the top powerhouses of the sea, she had to temper herself with a training intensity many times greater than that of an ordinary person.

With her vigorous movements, beads of sweat slid down her face, flowing along her neck and into the deep curve of her sports vest. She was drenched in sweat, which reflected a golden sheen under the light of dusk, her perfect body's silhouette faintly visible.

"Hah... huff..."

"Heave... ho..."

The intense training left both Uta and Yelena panting, their bodies exhausted.

"Let's call it a day!"

"We can already see the next island up ahead." Louis was the first to stop training, gently placing a barbell the size of a small hill onto the Island Cloud.

Following his lead, Yelena also put down her barbell and let out a long sigh. She brushed the messy white hair from her forehead, flicking away the sweat from the tips. "Okay, I'll go prepare dinner now..."

As the eldest here, Yelena had naturally taken over the work of cooking and taking care of the other two. Louis and Uta had suggested they take turns with these chores, but Yelena had always stopped them. The usually gentle her seemed to enjoy the feeling of taking care of Louis and Uta; it seemed to bring her a special kind of pleasure. Louis didn't understand it, but he eventually, reluctantly, accepted it.

Louis watched the back of her swaying white ponytail, then raised a palm, creating a ball of golden light that he sent into Yelena's back. In an instant, a faint light enveloped her, rapidly washing away her fatigue.

Yelena paused, then turned her head and said to Louis with a smile, "You go wash up first. Get ready for dinner."

Louis nodded. "Okay!"

Then, Uta also stopped her training and flopped onto the Island Cloud without any care for her image. Her clothes were soaked with sweat, her hair was a mess, and her eyes were full of exhaustion.

Louis shook his head, walked over, and gently helped her up. He then slowly transferred a ball of life energy into her body, healing the wear and tear from training and relieving most of her fatigue. Uta felt as if she were soaking in a hot spring, her whole body warm and gradually becoming relaxed.

Fully revived, a charming smile reappeared on her face. "Thanks, Louis!" With that, she skipped away with a light spring in her step, humming an unknown tune as she headed into the cloud cave to wash off the sweat.

As for Louis, after the other two had entered the cloud cave, he slowly walked to the edge of Avant Heim. He quietly watched the island in the distance, which grew larger and larger in his line of sight.

"An ominous aura... it's very thick..." A puzzled look flashed in Louis's eyes. "What in the world is that..." he whispered in the wind.

Within Louis's Observation Haki, deep inside the distant island, something was emitting a crimson light, and faint whispers could be heard.

"Come here..."

"Hold me in your palm... I will give you... endless power..."

"Give me power?" Louis scoffed at this. "It's more like you should be begging me to give you power!" If it had endless power, why would it need Louis to hold it? Couldn't it just go on a killing spree by itself?

Louis figured this kind of feeble temptation could at most lure someone with a weak will, or someone forced into a desperate situation.

Just then, Uta's call came from deep within the cloud cave. "Louis, it's time for dinner!"

Louis took one last deep look at the approaching island, then turned and left.

This series of whispers gave Louis a guess as to what that thing was. In this world, there was only one kind of thing that exuded an ominous aura and could bewitch people's hearts.

"A Cursed Sword!"