One Piece : Rise of Thunder King

You can read the advance chapters here : patreon.com/Vigilante04

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Big Mom's face darkened, and a terrifying aura filled the room, making it feel like she was ready to lash out at anyone.

At that moment, Cracker's expression changed drastically. Everyone in the Big Mom Pirates knew all too well that once their Captain went into a rage, she lost all reason—and even ate people when driven to madness!

Arthur didn't fully understand Big Mom's reaction, but from the exaggerated expressions shown by the Den Den Mushi, he could tell she was extremely upset.

"Think whatever you want!" Arthur said dismissively, unconcerned about Big Mom's fury. He had no interest in provoking her or Kaido—both were crazy and unpredictable—but he wasn't afraid of them either.

What was the deal with calling him an "angel kid"?

These old-timers seemed to enjoy looking down on people and calling them "little devils" to express their disdain.

"Hmph!" Big Mom seethed with anger but had no way to vent her rage.

She slammed her palm down on the chocolate table in front of her, causing it to crack, and snorted coldly. "You're too arrogant, angel kid! Do you think that beating Kaido puts you on my level?"

Arthur sneered. "Hmph, and why not? Big Mom, let me throw your words right back at you! Do you really think being one of the Four Emperors means you can look down on me? Don't act superior around me!" Arthur mocked. If he'd defeated Kaido, someone on par with Big Mom, then surely he deserved to stand as an equal.

"Boy! Just wait until I get my hands on you!" Big Mom roared. She knew better than to push things further. Deep down, she wasn't entirely confident. Arthur had fought Kaido one-on-one six months ago and had actually won, placing him in the same league as her.

"Oh, really? Don't mess with me either, or the New World will be ruled by the Three Emperors instead of four!" Arthur said with a dangerous glint in his eyes, causing Baron Tamago and Pekoms to break out in a cold sweat.

Silence hung in the air until Big Mom's angry laughter broke it. "Ma~ma~ma~! What an arrogant brat! I look forward to meeting you!" With that, she ended the call.

The first conversation between these two powerful figures had ended on a sour note.

Arthur put down the Den Den Mushi and turned his gaze to Baron Tamago and Pekoms, his eyes filled with menace.

'This is bad!' The two felt a chill run down their spines. Their faces turned pale as they spun around to escape.

"Trying to run away?" Arthur's cold voice echoed behind them.

A wave of intense force hit them from behind.

"Armament Haki!" 

"Armored Guard!" 

Both coated their backs in Armament Haki, but it only slightly reduced the damage. With cries of pain, the two were sent flying, coughing up blood. Arthur's blows were fierce but carefully restrained; he didn't intend to kill them, just seriously injure them. 

Killing Big Mom's officers outright would mean declaring war, and Arthur wasn't ready for that yet. He preferred to keep a low profile.

"Tch, such a hassle," Arthur muttered. "That old hag's attitude really pisses me off." He clicked his tongue and turned away.

"You there!" he commanded, pointing at the trembling old butler who had collapsed to the ground. "Take me to the study to get that fruit."

Gulping hard, the old butler struggled to his feet, trembling as he led Arthur to the study.

A minute later, in the castle's study, Arthur yanked open a locked cabinet and pulled out a box. He opened it to reveal a Devil Fruit.

"White, pineapple-like, with a swirling pattern! This is it! The Air Pressure Fruit I've been searching for these past two years!" Arthur examined it closely. After a moment, a smile spread across his face. "Perfect. Now Nami will have a Devil Fruit. If only it were the Logia-type Cloud Fruit... but I'll find that one too someday."

The room still echoed with his voice, but Arthur was already gone.

The old butler looked around, realizing Arthur had vanished, and collapsed in relief, gasping for breath. He had been terrified out of his wits.

High in the sky, Arthur floated alongside the wooden box containing the Devil Fruit. He pulled out a Den Den Mushi as he flew.

Bee-beep... beep...

After a few tones, someone answered. "My lord!" The head of an underground intelligence organization spoke with reverence.

"I've secured the fruit. Excellent work! You'll be rewarded for this," Arthur said, sounding pleased. The intelligence leader was overjoyed and thanked him repeatedly.

"But don't rest yet! I need you to keep searching for more Devil Fruits, especially the Dark-Dark Fruit. Any updates?"

"Lord, the fruits you seek are highly coveted by the World Government and various factions. They're incredibly difficult to locate, and competition is fierce. However, rest assured, we've infiltrated Whitebeard's crew."

The agent explained how their spy had gained the trust of Fourth Division Commander Thatch and was ready to act.

"Good work," Arthur said. "Keep it up! Once I get my hands on the Dark-Dark Fruit, you'll be rewarded with a place among the true angels."

"Thank you, my lord! We won't disappoint!" The leader's voice was filled with determination. These agents, once war refugees, had found new purpose serving Arthur, dreaming of a peaceful life on Sky Island.

Arthur ended the call, glanced at the box floating next to him, and decided to deliver it to Nami on the moon.

Since it was daytime and the moon was on the far side of the Red Flower Planet, it took Arthur some time to reach it. When he did, he found that the once-desolate moon was now thriving.

With the arrival of over a hundred scientists and their families, the moon's population had grown to nearly a thousand. Over the past two years, Arthur had brought many college-graduate angels here to aid in various research projects.

The moon was now home to numerous brilliant scientists, many of whom were leaders in their fields. Arthur ensured that these young angels, who were more suited for mental work, assisted these scientists, running errands, observing, and gradually getting involved in research.

In time, some of these students would become top scientists themselves, while others would serve as reliable researchers. Arthur believed in long-term growth—this was a proven path for sustainable development.

In the small town of Weatheria, Nami sat in a chair, deeply immersed in her studies of advanced meteorology. With her exceptional talent, she no longer needed guidance from the island's elderly scientists.

Arthur masked his presence and appeared silently behind Nami, observing her as she focused on the towering stack of books in front of her. Unable to resist, he decided to play a little prank.

"Ah!" Nami shrieked when Arthur startled her. Instinctively, she swung her elbow back, only to feel it collide with what seemed like a solid wall.

"Ow!" Tears welled up in her eyes as she realized she'd hurt herself. She spun around angrily, rubbing her sore elbow.

"You jerk!" she snapped, pouting as she glared at Arthur.

Arthur chuckled. "Hehe, you little Cat Burglar. You attacked me, and now you're complaining because it hurts?" He pulled her into his arms.

Nami let out a small noise of protest but soon melted into his embrace, wrapping her arms around his neck. Her irritation faded as she relaxed against him.

Arthur leaned in and captured her lips in a kiss. When Nami finally pulled back, breathless and with her lips slightly swollen, she scowled at him. "What are you doing here again? Just to tease me?"

Arthur grinned and gently ruffled her orange hair. "Of course! But I also have something important for you this time. Look at this!" He made a box float over to her.

"A Devil Fruit?" Nami's eyes widened in excitement, immediately guessing what it was.

"Smart as always! You deserve a reward," Arthur said, leaning in playfully.

Nami rolled her eyes, clutching the floating box and twisting away from him. She opened it eagerly and gasped when she saw the white fruit inside, covered in swirling patterns.

"This is... the Air Pressure Fruit!" she exclaimed, thrilled. "With this, combined with my meteorology knowledge, I can create incredible weather phenomena!"

"Exactly! Who else could make better use of it than my brilliant Nami?" Arthur praised her, hugging her from behind. "Do you like the gift I picked for you?"

"Yes!" Nami beamed, nodding happily.

"I did want to find the Logia-type Cloud Fruit for you," Arthur admitted, "so you could manipulate clouds and weather directly. But it's incredibly rare."

Nami leaned into him with a smile. "No, this fruit is actually better for me! The Cloud Fruit only creates different types of clouds—thunderclouds, storm clouds, rain clouds—using the fruit's power.

But the Air Pressure Fruit gives me control over all kinds of weather by manipulating air pressure. I can still make those clouds if I want, but I'm not limited to just that!"

Arthur nodded, even if he didn't fully grasp all the science behind it. "Then go ahead and eat it!" he urged.

"Alright!" Nami took a bite, immediately grimacing. "Ugh! It tastes horrible! No wonder Yana complained about Devil Fruits." She quickly grabbed a glass of water and gulped it down, trying to wash away the awful taste.

Arthur laughed. "Try using your powers now!"

Nami closed her eyes, concentrating. A light breeze swept through the room, and the air pressure shifted slightly. Arthur noticed the change, though it felt like nothing to him. Still, for an ordinary person, it would have been uncomfortable. "Not bad! You've got a lot of potential to explore."

He couldn't help but admire Nami's graceful figure. His breathing grew heavier, and a mischievous smile spread across his face. "Alright, enough studying. Let's… focus on something else," he teased, sweeping Nami off her feet and carrying her toward the bathroom.

Soon, the sound of splashing water and playful laughter filled the air.