[Kobayashi]: Welcome, newcomer! Throws confetti~
[Ai Haibara]: Another newcomer so soon? @Wannabe Luo Feng's Thigh Hugger, dumb dog, come recognize them!
[Wannabe Luo Feng's Thigh Hugger]: Damn you, toxic-tongued girl… Xiao Mei? Ah, wait, is this the Xiao Mei I'm thinking of? Battle Through the Heavens? Wutan City? Yan Alliance? Tianfu Alliance? Or Endless Flame Domain?
In the Swallowed Star world, Random had a complicated expression on his face. He wasn't sure what point in time this Xiao Mei had come from.
She was another person who latched onto the protagonist's thigh. But unlike him, she didn't need to do anything. She just had to wait for her cousin to become a Dou God, and her strength would skyrocket to Dou Saint.
Meanwhile, despite constantly calling himself a Luo Feng thigh hugger, he had never even met Luo Feng in person. If Kizaru hadn't been kind enough to loan him a Devil Fruit in advance, he'd still be a complete weakling.
Thinking about it made him want to cry. The gap between people was sometimes larger than the gap between humans and dogs!
Thankfully, Xiao Mei's response allowed him to breathe a slight sigh of relief. They were both still weaklings who hadn't latched onto a protagonist yet—so neither had the right to look down on the other.
[Xiao Mei]: Where is this place? Who are you people? Wutan City… Are you from the Jia Lie Clan or the Ao Ba Clan!?
[Wannabe Luo Feng's Thigh Hugger]: Uh, explaining this is a bit troublesome… If only Xiao Yan had joined instead, I wouldn't have to explain everything since he's also a transmigrator…
[Xiao Mei]: You know my cou— You know Xiao Yan?
[Wannabe Luo Feng's Thigh Hugger]: Oh ho? Girl, how old are you right now? No, wait, I should ask—how old is Xiao Yan right now?
[Ai Haibara]: As expected of a bloodhound, this guy can recognize every newcomer.
[Fubuki]: At least this newcomer seems more normal than the last one. I wonder what kind of world she's from…
[Kizaru]: Hmm? Another newcomer? Welcome, welcome.
[Wannabe Luo Feng's Thigh Hugger]: BOSSS! When are you gonna start livestreaming, boss? I can't wait to see the Marineford War!
[Xiao Mei]: Who are you people!? The Xiao Clan of Wutan City isn't a place you can just bully!
[Wannabe Luo Feng's Thigh Hugger]: Ah, dealing with cultivators is always such a hassle… You can think of us as a loose organization. Each of us comes from a different world…
[Wannabe Luo Feng's Thigh Hugger]: We use this thing called the Dimensional Chat Group to communicate and assist each other.
[Xiao Mei]: …Can you make me stronger? I want better Qi methods and Dou Techniques. Can I find them here?
[Ai Haibara]: Looks like this newbie is pretty smart—she figured things out quickly.
[Fubuki]: She's not another battle maniac like Esdeath, is she?
[Kobayashi]: Newbie-san, if you want to get stronger, you can ask Wannabe Luo Feng's Thigh Hugger. He knows a lot of stuff!
[Wannabe Luo Feng's Thigh Hugger]: Hah? Getting stronger isn't even hard! Someone just has to loaf around for twenty or thirty years, and they'll become a Dou Saint… Ugh, life is so unfair!
[Xiao Mei]: What nonsense are you spouting?
[Tony Stark]: Hey, a new member? Looking to get stronger? Stark Industries is always at your service! You can drive home the latest state-of-the-art tank for just 300 Dimensional Coins—two full payloads of ammo included!
[Tony Stark]: No matter how annoying your enemies are, one blast will erase them without a trace!
[Ai Haibara]: Annoying arms dealer…
[Tony Stark]: Hey, I fund the research lab! No need to be so harsh. You should call me Tony Stark, the most excellent supplier for the Department of Defense, who provides assistance to his dear friends!
[Fubuki]: @Tony Stark, got anything stronger? Regular weapons work against Wolf-level and Tiger-level monsters, but against Demon-level ones, they're almost useless.
[Tony Stark]: Of course! Mind sending me some rough details on those monsters? I can provide weapons with even greater firepower. No matter what kind of enemy it is, as long as the yield is high enough, they can be obliterated!
[Wannabe Luo Feng's Sidekick: Yeah, sure. Demon-level monsters can still be nuked. But Dragon-level? That's a different story. And don't even get me started on God-level threats!]
[Wannabe Luo Feng's Sidekick: Take Monster King Orochi and Boros, for example. Even hydrogen bombs might not be enough to take them down. Better just send Kizaru—he'd vaporize everything in an instant!]
[Esdeath: If there's a strong enough opponent, I wouldn't mind going in my master's place.]
[Wannabe Luo Feng's Sidekick: …Wait a minute. Esdeath has a master? Damn it, I'm so jealous!]
[Kizaru: Ahem, @Esdeath, tone it down a little. Use a different term.]
[Esdeath: What, like 'lover'? 'Partner'?]
[Kobayashi: Well, just calling him by name works too. But if she's wearing a maid outfit, 'Master' is totally valid.]
[Haibara Ai: Just how obsessed with maids are you, Kobayashi?]
[Kobayashi: Maids are the best! Whether it's cat-ear maids, dormitory maids, bathhouse maids, café maids, or kitchen maids—I love them all!]
—-—
In the Battle Through the Heavens world, Xiao Mei stared at the ever-changing text in the mirror, unconsciously biting her lip.
As an ordinary person born on the Dou Qi Continent, her desire to become stronger was immense. Unfortunately, the Xiao family was just a mid-tier clan in Wutan City. If she wanted a chance to grow, she'd have to rely on herself.
Now, she had stumbled upon something that might actually help her. These people in the mirror claimed to be from different worlds, but Xiao Mei refused to let go of this opportunity.
"That person mentioned my cousin, Xiao Yan?"
Twisting a strand of her pink hair between her fingers, Xiao Mei frowned. Ever since Xiao Yan lost his title as a genius, she had deliberately distanced herself from him. Looking back now, that might not have been the smartest decision.
After all, his father was still the clan leader, and his brothers, Xiao Ding and Xiao Li, were rising talents.
Watching the unbelievable conversations in the mirror, Xiao Mei hesitated for a long time before making up her mind.
—-—
[Fubuki]: A name is just a code; changing it won't make it any fancier.
[Kizaru]: Hey, newbie, interested in joining the group's Dimensional Currency system? You can get 100 Dimensional Coins every month. Of course, you can also earn more by selling special products or offering services.
[Kizaru]: With Dimensional Coins, you can exchange for specialties from other worlds, trade them with me for gold, or get various supplies from Tony.
[Ai Haibara]: If you're capable enough, you can even issue Dimensional Coins by providing credit guarantees, just like Kizaru and a certain arms dealer.
[Tony Stark]: The arms trade is just one of the many industries Stark Industries is involved in. Besides, Stark Industries donates a significant amount to charity every year. Calling me an arms dealer is a bit rude, don't you think?
[Ai Haibara]: Then how about "a perverted lolicon who's into elementary school girls"?
[Fubuki]: Tch, that's seriously disgusting...
[Tony Stark]: Oh no, your words have inflicted severe emotional damage on poor Mr. Stark! This is just wrong!
[Xiao Mei]: My cousin Xiao Yan wants to ask—does anyone know why his Dou Qi keeps disappearing?
[Random Bystander Trying to Hug Luo Feng's Leg]: I know! But first, let me confirm—what's your cousin's current Dou Qi rank?
[Xiao Mei]: Xiao Yan's Dou Qi is currently at the fourth stage... But he used to be the youngest Dou Practitioner in our family in a hundred years!
[Random Bystander Trying to Hug Luo Feng's Leg]: Fourth stage, huh? That sounds about right. Just wait—when his Dou Qi drops to the third stage, you'll understand why it keeps disappearing.
[Xiao Mei]: So will he be able to recover? Will his Dou Qi return to normal after it drops to the third stage?
[Random Bystander Trying to Hug Luo Feng's Leg]: Yep. Once he hits the third stage, he'll start his journey of defying fate, blazing his way to the top and becoming the legendary Flame Emperor.
[Xiao Mei]: My cousin Xiao Yan will become the emperor of the Jia Ma Empire?!
[Random Bystander Trying to Hug Luo Feng's Leg]: Not an emperor, but a Dou God! Yes, as in Dou King, Dou Emperor, Dou Venerable, Dou Saint, and finally, Dou God!
---
In the world of Battle Through the Heavens, Xiao Mei stared at the person in the mirror, her voice suddenly trembling.
"Xiao… Xiao Yan, the person in the mirror just said that you'll become a Dou God in the future!"
Her watery eyes locked onto Xiao Yan, and before she realized it, her cheeks had turned a deep shade of red.
A Dou God!
The strongest person in the Xiao family's history had only reached the Dou Spirit rank, and most of the time, the family was held together by Dou Masters.
The current patriarch, Xiao Zhan, was a five-star Dou Master. Even in Wutan City, he was considered one of the strongest.
But now, the people in the mirror were saying that her cousin Xiao Yan would become a Dou God one day. Xiao Mei, who had admired Xiao Yan as a genius since childhood but had grown distant from him after he lost his talent, instinctively chose to believe the stranger's words.
"Dou God? Me?"
Xiao Yan's face was full of disbelief. Even at his peak as the Xiao family's number-one prodigy, he had never imagined reaching the legendary rank of Dou God.
Unfortunately, from his perspective, there was nothing in that mirror.
Still, he didn't think Xiao Mei was lying—after all, in a way, he had watched her grow up.
"Mm-hmm! That person said you'll become the 'Flame Emperor' in the future!"
Xiao Mei's face was filled with admiration and anticipation, a look she had often given the genius Xiao Yan in the past.
But over the past two years, as Xiao Yan's Dou Qi mysteriously disappeared and even his Dou Qi cyclone began to deteriorate, she had gradually drifted away from him.
"I see… The third stage of Dou Qi, huh? At the rate my Dou Qi is fading, by the time of the next test, it should be about time…"
A new fire of determination ignited in Xiao Yan's eyes. The title of Dou God felt too far away, but for now, he just wanted to know—who or what was behind his vanishing Dou Qi?
"Go for it, Xiao Yan! I know you can rise again!"
Xiao Mei encouraged him seriously, eager to see the day her cousin regained his former brilliance.
"I will!"
Xiao Yan nodded. Over the past two years, he had noticed Xiao Mei distancing herself from him. But now, at the lowest point of his life, even though he knew her motives weren't entirely pure, he was still grateful.
At the very least, Xiao Mei hadn't hidden the existence of the chat group to get closer to him. Instead, she had let him know that his disappearing Dou Qi wasn't a permanent condition—and that in the future, he would become the legendary Dou God!
---
[Kobayashi]: Hmm, more and more newcomers are joining the group…
[Ai Haibara]: It's not that many. There are only eleven of us so far, and not everyone is active. Some people just lurk for days without saying a word.
[Tony Stark]: More people is a good thing. Every new member means another world's specialty goods, which makes Dimensional Coins even more valuable!
[Ai Haibara]: That depends on the world. Take mine, for example—there's nothing special about it. No matter how many people join, it won't make a difference.
[Orochimaru]: Heh, Haibara, your research skills are your biggest asset. If you're interested, I have plenty of projects you could work on…
[Ai Haibara]: Stop right there! I'm still an elementary school student. Child labor is illegal!
[Random Bystander Trying to Hug Luo Feng's Leg]: Ha! Joke's on you, Miss Sharp Tongue. In Orochimaru-sama's ninja world, child labor isn't banned. Kakashi became a Chunin at six. No laws broken there!
[Ai Haibara]: And what does that have to do with me? My world doesn't have child labor!
[Kizaru]: @Random Bystander Trying to Hug Luo Feng's Leg I have something to do later, so make sure to explain the Dimensional Currency system to the newbie. Also, have her list out her world's tradeable specialties.
[Random Bystander Trying to Hug Luo Feng's Leg]: Got it, Kizaru-sama! Actually, I already know most of what Battle Through the Heavens has to offer. There's some good stuff in that world, but the newbie's too weak right now—doubt she can provide anything valuable.
[Kizaru]: That's fine. Every newbie starts out weak and gets stronger over time.
[Ai Haibara]: Some people get stronger by clinging to powerful allies—then turn around and complain about newbies being weak~
[Random Bystander Trying to Hug Luo Feng's Leg]: Damn you!!!
[Ai Haibara]: Heh.
[Kizaru]: Alright, alright, no fighting. We're all group members—try to get along.
[Random Bystander Trying to Hug Luo Feng's Leg]: Tch, damn sharp-tongued woman! I'll let it slide for Kizaru-sama's sake!
[Ai Haibara]: Heh.
---
As Kizaru sat on the sofa, watching the chat group members bicker with an amused smile, he suddenly felt a fragrant breeze behind him. Two smooth, porcelain-like arms wrapped around his neck from behind.
"Kizaru-sama~"
The moment he felt the soft pressure against his back, his battle-hardened instincts immediately recognized that all-too-familiar sensation.
Hancock, draped in nothing but her Justice cape, clung to Kizaru, nuzzling her cheek against his with a look of pure satisfaction on her breathtakingly beautiful face.
"Quit fooling around. Get some rest—we still have to deal with the Whitebeard Pirates tomorrow."
Kizaru casually wrapped an arm around Hancock's waist and lifted her into a princess carry.
So far, the Navy hadn't located the Whitebeard Pirates, but no one doubted that they would show up for Fire Fist Ace's execution.
Even with Kizaru's influence, Hancock, as a Warlord of the Sea, would undoubtedly be sent to the front lines as cannon fodder.
Fortunately, with her current strength, as long as she didn't recklessly challenge Whitebeard head-on, Kizaru wasn't too worried.
"Mmm… Master?"
Still half-asleep, Baby-5 groggily tried to sit up when she saw Kizaru carrying Hancock into the bedroom, only to find Nami's long, fair legs draped over her.
Nami, utterly exhausted from Kizaru's "attention," was sleeping so soundly that not even the sound of gold coins dropping to the floor would wake her up.
"Go back to sleep."
Kizaru patted Baby-5's head, noting that it felt like stroking a large cat.
Baby-5 squinted her eyes, a contented smile appearing on her face. Being needed by someone made her incredibly happy.
"Kizaru-sama, I want it too!"
Seeing this, Hancock grew jealous and immediately leaned in.
"Shh, keep your voice down, or you'll wake little Nami…"
Without hesitation, Kizaru used his other hand to pat Hancock's head as well. If Baby-5 was like a big cat, then Hancock was a mesmerizingly seductive serpent.
Even the silky smoothness of her long black hair was near perfection. Were it not for Kizaru's iron will, anyone else would have gotten addicted to simply stroking her hair.
---
Offshore of Marineford.
The Revolutionary Army's flagship, along with three naval warships they had seized from Impel Down, drifted silently on the sea.
Standing at the bow, wearing a black hooded cloak, Dragon gazed in the direction of Marineford—and the East Blue.
They had yet to make contact with the Whitebeard Pirates. But just as Fleet Admiral Sengoku was certain that Whitebeard wouldn't miss this battle, Dragon had already prepared his pitch for an alliance.
In truth, even if Whitebeard refused to work with them, it didn't matter. As long as their goals aligned, they wouldn't have to worry about fighting separate battles.
---
"Dragon, aren't you going to rest?"
Belo Betty, cigarette in mouth, slid down a rope from the lookout post. As the most recent addition among the five Revolutionary Army commanders, she regarded Dragon as their greatest and most irreplaceable leader.
Even if every other Revolutionary soldier perished, the loss wouldn't compare to what it would mean if they lost Dragon.
Only veteran members like Ivankov knew that, once upon a time, Dragon had followed in the footsteps of a certain Marine Admiral.
It wasn't until that person inexplicably chose to stop that Dragon had to step forward and take up the Revolutionary banner himself.
---
"…I feel uneasy."
Just as Belo Betty expected Dragon to brush her off, he suddenly spoke while still staring at Marineford.
"Oh? So even the 'World's Most Dangerous Criminal' can feel uneasy?"
She chuckled. The idea of Dragon—the man bold enough to declare war on the World Government—being anxious was almost laughable.
"I'm just an ordinary person, after all… Besides, I've bet too much on this."
Dragon's eyes were filled with reminiscence.
"Someone once told me that the road to revolution is never a straight path. Our success will be a spiral ascent, full of twists and turns. Any attempt to achieve it in one fell swoop is doomed to fail…"
Back then, he had been a completely different person—impulsive, fiery, eager for immediate change.
And when that person chose to stop walking, Dragon nearly severed ties with him altogether.
°°°
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