https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-888-Through-All-Four-Seasons-A-Decade-of-Unyielding-Swordplay/13540066/
https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-890-Why-Can-All-of-You-Use-Haki-/13540069/
Chapter 889: Beast Island
Chapter 889: Beast Island
On the opposite side of the island, a massive Goldwarship had also anchored in the shallow waters nearby, then landed onshore.
This island was divided into two parts—one side consisting of dense forests covering most of the island's area, while the other featured cliffs. Below the cliffs were shallow waters encircling the base like a desert oasis.
"Where are we?"
Lida stepped down and surveyed the island. Her eyes suddenly widened. "Ah! I’ve been here before—it’s ‘Legend Island’!"
"Legend Island?"
Kuro and Klah spoke in unison, their expressions shifting to surprise.
"Is this the island?" Kuro looked upward at the towering forest above. "I’ve heard rumors about it. They say a deity lives here. Anyone who dares approach recklessly will be cursed."
Klah nodded. "It’s famous in the East Blue pirate circles. There are tales of people sprouting wild boar heads overnight, or growing beards so long they strangled themselves. But that was ages ago."
Back in the East Blue, Klah used to attribute such phenomena to curses or legends.
Nowadays, if someone told him about a sudden wild boar head growth, he’d guess Devil Fruit consumption. The same went for those strangling beards.
"Lida, what’s on this island? Devil Fruits? There shouldn’t be any, or you wouldn’t be here", Kuro turned to Lida.
Devil Fruits were definitely absent—if there’d been any, Lida’s habit would’ve ensured they vanished instantly. Two Devil Fruits, and she’d be dead on the spot.
"Just some strange beasts and delicious fruits", Lida replied. She licked her lips. "The fruits here are amazing! I gorged myself last time. Oh, and there’s a Treasure Chest Uncle."
"Treasure Chest Uncle?" Kuro asked.
"Yep! A really nice uncle, though he’s stuck in a chest most of the time. There are lots of great beasts in there too. It’s a great island", Lida nodded.
"Why didn’t you stay then?" Kuro pressed.
"Pfft! I wanted meat", Lida pouted. "This place has beasts, but they’re way too smart—almost like humans. I couldn’t bring myself to eat them. Devouring Devil Fruits gets boring after a while. Plus, there was this uncle around. Super boring! No way I’d stay here."
"I see… beasts, huh?" Kuro glanced upward. "Back in the East Blue, I never got to visit this place. I’m curious to see what these beasts are like."
As Kuro seemed ready to move, Ju Geng stepped forward. "You’re going up? I’d like to join. I want to check for rare ingredients."
"Yeah, sure. Let’s go together", Kuro agreed.
"Ah? You want to pluck chickens—"
"Stop Right There!" Kuro barked, cutting off Ju Geng mid-sentence.
"Huh? Did you say I can’t?" Ju Geng tilted her head, puzzled.
Kuro rolled his eyes. "Lida!"
"Ju Geng sister, Kuro says we’re going together", Lida giggled.
Ju Geng looked bewildered. "Didn’t I just say that? Why repeat me?"
"I—"
Kuro gritted his teeth furiously, raising his hand toward his face as if slapping himself.
Why did he bother being polite?
Klah sensed danger and grabbed Kuro’s wrist. "Easy, easy, Mr. Kuro. Don’t do it."
Kuro shot him a grateful look and lowered his hand.
Smart move. If you’d let me strike, I’d have slapped you instead.
...
They brought Ju Geng along as Kuro selected several Navy members to ascend from the nearby shallow waters toward the forest above.
Despite being daytime, the forest remained dimly lit. Thick canopies blocked most sunlight, with only occasional gaps where beams pierced through.
"Hmm?"
Ju Geng crouched beside a Venus Flytrap-like plant, examining it closely.
"Hisss—"
The plant suddenly snapped its jaws shut.
With lightning reflexes, Ju Geng thrust her hand forward, covering her fingers in Haki.
Crack! A spark erupted from her fingertips as she crushed the plant’s bite.
"Nice power—could snap bones. Carnivorous type?" Ju Geng pried open the plant’s maw, peering inside. "Pity it’s not edible. Maybe useful for medicine. I’ll take it back for Fen Ni to study."
She let go and pinched the plant’s stem, yanking it from the soil before stuffing it into her bag.
Looking up, her eyes caught a banana hanging from a tree, its peel covered in intricate patterns.
She sniffed it, plucked it, peeled back the skin, and revealed smooth, uniformly colored flesh.
"Devil Fruit texture but smells sweet—ordinary fruit", Ju Geng mused before taking a bite. "Tasty."
She turned to nearby Navy members. "Pick any strange plants or fruits you find. I’m collecting specimens."
Kuro twitched his lips—was this a bandit raid? They were Navy, for heaven’s sake!
"Roarrr!"
A deep growl echoed from deeper in the forest.
Everyone turned to see a golden light flash.
A beast burst into view—its golden pelt shimmering, lion-tiger hybrid face crowned with a magnificent golden mane. Two saber-like fangs curved from its upper jaw.
"Roar!" The creature roared, its eyes wild.
"Lion? No, tiger?!"
The Navy personnel recoiled in fear.
The beast tilted its head, eyes narrowing as if savoring their terror. But when no one fled completely, its expression soured. Several humans ahead remained calm, not even glancing its way.
"Hey, hey, Kuro! This looks like a Devil Fruit!"
Lida excitedly held up a round fruit resembling a honeydew melon, its surface marked with patterns though not spiral-shaped.
"But it’s not! It smells sweet—like Ju Geng’s Devil Fruit. Just as tasty!" Lida grinned.
The beast, ignored, snarled and took two aggressive steps forward. "Rooooar!!" This time, the roar shook the air.
Kuro cast it a single glance. "Be quiet."
One look from Kuro made the beast freeze like a deer in headlights. It whimpered, collapsing onto the ground, trembling.
Kuro took the Devil Fruit from Lida, sniffing it. "Damn, it really is. This island’s messed up."
He turned to the strange beast. "What are you—some tiger-lion hybrid? Your fur’s nice, though. Could make a good hooded cloak."
The Golden Lion Tiger shuddered violently, hugging its paws over its head and burying it deeper.
"It has human-level intelligence. You can tell it understands", Lida observed. "Though I don’t remember seeing this species before."
Bang!
A gunshot cracked from deeper in the forest.
"Gunfire?" Klah turned, eyes narrowing as red dots—life signs—flashed in his perception.
"Mr. Kuro, there are many life auras ahead."
"Oh? That’s the Treasure Chest Uncle. He’s got a gun", Lida piped up. "I’ll go find him!"
"No way, Miss Lida!" Sazil stepped forward. "Let me handle this. No need for you to get involved in trivial matters."
With that, he led a dozen Navy members toward the gunshot’s origin.
(End of Chapter)
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