Shadow Island - Outer Plains
Blazing bonfires lit up the night, echoing the brilliance of the full moon high above, dispelling the surrounding darkness.
At the same time, it seemed to dispel the gloom that had hung over Moria and Hancock for the past three years.
With Zyhark's initiation, a grand celebration to welcome new comrades, Darkness and Ishtar, had begun! Uta sang joyously, while Brook and Meowth played music that filled the plains, creating a lively atmosphere as friends and pirate crew members reveled freely.
The only regret was Aqua, who, contrary to her usual boisterous self, refrained from showcasing her skill of crafting a war fortress with her bare hands.
Instead, the clumsy goddess had her right leg propped up on the table, downing cups of fine liquor in a wild drinking bout.
Across from her, the second clumsy goddess, Ishtar, was equally unrelenting, grabbing a bottle and taking long swigs!
Their open competition was abruptly interrupted by Zyhark, shifting the "battlefield" to the table as neither wanted to be the first to collapse in front of the other's drink.
"Can you handle this, 'Goddess of Water'? If not, why don't you head over to the kids' table? Hahaha!"
"You're even worse than I imagined, 'Goddess of Harvest.' You've barely downed two crates and you're already talking nonsense. Should this goddess help steady you?"
"Oh? Quite experienced, aren't you? Surely from all the times you couldn't even walk straight afterward?"
Their heated exchange of taunts could hardly make anyone believe these were the flawless, legendary goddesses...
With an aura more fitting for brutes, even the pirates hoping to cozy up to them hesitated, keeping their distance from the divine realm.
And so, Escanor and the others who knew these fools well avoided them altogether, fearing to catch the so-called "wisdom virus"!
Everyone gathered around in small groups with Hancock, Moria, Perona, and others, sharing tales of their experiences over the last three years, relishing the joy of reuniting after so long.
Zyhark, however, chose not to join in and sat alone in a quieter corner, deep in thought.
According to Ishtar, the pirate world did not belong to her dimension, which limited her divine power's full potential.
Due to the world's restrictions, Ishtar's maximum strength depended on Zyhark, her Master.
In other words, their combat power was interdependent; Ishtar's strength mirrored his.
Of course, this was merely a "power" cap. Considering Zyhark's otherworldly abilities, such as Devour and Time Reversal, Ishtar's performance would naturally be a bit weaker.
Nonetheless, her base level was akin to that of an Emperor's general, not far off from expectations.
In fact, this "world restriction" applied to Aqua, Kanna, and Escanor as well—even King, after surpassing his limiter, was held back by this phenomenon, preventing them from reaching heights beyond the world of pirates.
Zyhark had suspected this for some time, and his recent journey to the world of adventurers in the Konosuba universe confirmed it.
In the lower-dimension world of Konosuba, Kanna and Escanor displayed far less destructive power than in the pirate world.
Additionally, the fact that the entire group could traverse into the Konosuba universe hinted at the broken nature of his cheat ability.
—In theory, they could venture to worlds like One Punch Man, Pokémon, and Fate!
Such a journey, however, would require extensive preparation.
For now, the priority remained the daunting task of overthrowing the World Government.
Without overcoming that, all else was meaningless.
"I wonder what kind of power the World King, Imu, truly wields. And how many hidden weapons does the World Government keep secret?"
"A cautious plan is essential…"
Zyhark downed his beer in one gulp.
The team's strength and the growing number of allies compelled him to exercise even greater caution against unknown threats.
"But fortunately, I am strong enough now."
With that thought, Zyhark activated a surge of energy, and a radiant golden circle appeared beside him.
A unique sword emerged, emanating a sacred aura, as he held it firmly in his hand.
This ability, obtained from summoning Ishtar, was called Gate of Babylon!
As the name implies, it granted him access to a vast treasury of legendary weapons, which he could command at will.
The limitation was that most of these weapons lacked high levels of divinity. Testing it, he found that except for extraordinary items like the Chains of Heaven, most were akin to Great Grade Swords.
Though they lacked world-shattering effects, their capabilities were still quite remarkable!
In the pirate world, only twenty-one Great Grade Swords were known, a pitifully small number, while Zyhark had an endless supply!
While such swords may not significantly enhance the prowess of top-level Haki users, they would be invaluable in the coming all-out war.
Imagine an army of thousands equipped with Great Grade weapons; the sight alone would be awe-inspiring!
This was Zyhark's primary reason for choosing Gate of Babylon after careful consideration.
Whether for enhancing his own fighting style or for boosting his team's combat power, Gate of Babylon was the perfect choice.
Coupled with the minor boosts from each wish he made, as well as his mastery of advanced Haki techniques gained in the Konosuba world, Zyhark was now a fearsome, well-rounded warrior.
Simply put, he had become incredibly strong!
…
The two clumsy goddesses, unsurprisingly, ended up sprawled across the table, retching.
In their drunken stupor, they even turned it into a contest, competing over who could vomit farther, leaving the bewildered pirates stunned.
No one had expected them to behave this way.
Thankfully, the goddesses' vomit sparkled like rainbows, preventing any unpleasant visuals.
If word got out, their goddess reputations would be ruined for good.
In the end, the two fools collapsed on the floor, bringing the unyielding showdown to a close.
"I must have terrible luck to be stuck with these two idiots…"
With a sigh, Zyhark hoisted Aqua and Ishtar onto his shoulders, stepping over the mess as he carried them back to the base at the Dark Fortress.
Dawn was breaking, with the first light glimmering faintly on the horizon.
After securing the two goddesses in their rooms and marking "I'm a Big Idiot" on their faces, Zyhark quietly left and made his way to the castle terrace.
Most of the crew was fast asleep, with only a few pirates keeping watch along the island's perimeter.
The tense situation made it hard to predict when the World Government or Marines might strike.
Thus, Zyhark had no intention of sleeping yet.
As he leaned against the railing, enjoying the cool sea breeze, he heard the soft clack of high heels on the stone floor.
Flowing black hair swayed in the wind, framing a figure in a tight qipao with a beauty capable of captivating any man.
"Still awake, Hancock? We have endless troubles to handle next."
Zyhark turned, meeting Hancock's gaze.
"I'm too excited to sleep, knowing that I'll soon be marrying Lord Zyhark."
Her face flushed, Hancock shyly lowered her head, avoiding his eyes.
"Sounds like something you'd say, though I'm sure that's not the only reason." Zyhark responded calmly.
Hancock stammered, flustered, "N-No, it's just... I-I'm…"
"Leaving that dark, damp place so suddenly has left you feeling unreal… and uneasy."
Zyhark cut her off, directly pointing out the vulnerability and fear in her heart.
Though she had overcome her fear of the Celestial Dragons, erasing such trauma would take time.
"Don't worry. When we face the World Government, we will emerge victorious—I promise you." Zyhark's voice held a firm conviction.
Looking into his deep, resolute eyes, Hancock's fear seemed to melt like snow, replaced by a newfound calm.
Yes, with Lord Zyhark by her side, anything was possible.
She could achieve anything!
Reinvigorated, Hancock regained her confidence, her uncertainty fading.
"Lord Zyhark, I'll hang posters of you all around my room!"
Zyhark: "…"
Great. Now you've made everything I just said sound ridiculous, you love-struck fool!
One couldn't deny, however, that she was truly a woman driven by romance…
"So, Lord Zyhark, about our wedding…" Hancock's gaze sparkled with hearts once more.
"Let's wait until you master Conqueror's Haki first." Zyhark waved dismissively.
Hancock possessed remarkable talent; her past merely hindered her growth.
Mastering Conqueror's Haki would not only prove invaluable in the final battle but would also allow her to fully overcome her lingering fears, becoming a true Empress!
To say he had no feelings for Hancock, the most beautiful pirate, would be an understatement.
But with the current state of affairs, he had little time for such distractions.
"Understood!" Hancock burst with newfound determination, rushing off to train.
"Rest up first. No need to rush." Zyhark gently pulled her back.
"Yes, Lord Zyhark!" Hancock replied with a bright smile before finally returning to her room.
Once more, silence filled the terrace.
(End of Chapter)
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