"En," Olivia nodded firmly, her eyes alight with determination. Having experienced this level of power, she knew she couldn't be satisfied with just controlling a small patch of weather a few miles wide.
The Cloud-Cloud Fruit was unique among Logia-type abilities. While most natural elements could be used directly for offense, Olivia's abilities demanded mastery over cloud manipulation. To unlock the true power of thunderstorms, hailstorms, heavy snowfall, and torrential rain, she needed to command even more of the sky's clouds. She couldn't always rely on someone like Dragon to set the stage for her.
"Boss, who was that man?" she asked, curiosity mixing with awe.
John's eyes narrowed thoughtfully. "Him? That was Dragon, the leader of the Revolutionary Army. Trust me, you'll run into him again someday."
At that moment, Dragon himself was still fuming slightly in Louge Town. He had sensed the presence of someone manipulating his storm clouds but couldn't figure out who it was. Olivia's impact had been significant, yet her presence was now completely gone.
"If you're thinking of fighting him, forget it for now," John said, noticing the fire in Olivia's eyes. "You'll need to train a lot harder first."
Olivia's determined gaze made John chuckle. She was like a young cub, fearless and ready to take on the world. Most people, upon learning that they faced Dragon, the feared leader of the Revolutionary Army, would lose their will to fight. But Olivia seemed to grow more determined.
Louge Town
With John and his team's departure, Dragon was able to clear the last of the storm clouds hanging over Louge Town. Sunlight finally pierced through the gloom, and the town began to emerge from the shadowy aftermath. Waterlogged streets slowly drained, and townsfolk began cautiously stepping outside to assess the damage.
"Is it finally over?" someone whispered.
"That was terrifying! I've lived here for years and never seen weather like that!"
"I thought we were done for," another resident added.
"Must've been divine punishment! I saw the lightning strike right at the execution platform, and then… all this!"
Everyone had theories, and as usual, some turned to superstition. The scene had been so extraordinary that it felt like the wrath of gods.
Meanwhile, the next wave of players respawned in Louge Town. Many were simply reincarnated versions of the players who had perished moments earlier, having been caught in the chaos of the battle and wiped out immediately after logging in. There were also new arrivals, players sent from other places to investigate.
"Wait… is it over?"
"Holy crap! I missed a god-level fight?!"
"Did that battle really almost wipe out an island?!"
"Who was that guy who crushed Smoker?" one player wondered aloud. "He made Smoker look like a complete rookie."
"Yeah, Smoker got tossed around like a rag doll. It was hilarious!"
At that moment, someone pointed. "Hey, over there! Is that Smoker?"
All eyes turned to see Smoker being carried on a stretcher. The Navy had just emerged from their hiding places to clean up the mess, and Smoker, battered but not broken, stirred awake.
"Cough… cough…" Smoker sputtered, coughing violently as he came to. He looked around at the flooded streets and the drenched town, his face grim.
With a frown, his body shifted into white smoke, allowing him to float down from the stretcher. "Go help the wounded. I don't need it," he ordered.
"Yes, Colonel!" A nearby sailor saluted and hurried off to obey.
But Smoker couldn't relax. His mind raced with unanswered questions. "Why was he here?" he muttered. "And that girl… was she from the Revolutionary Army too?" He could still picture Olivia and Dragon manipulating the elements, and the Straw Hat kid, Luffy, at the center of it all.
"What's their connection?" he wondered aloud. Turning to a sailor, he barked, "Where's the Straw Hat kid?"
"Sir! The pirate ship at the port is gone. He must have escaped while you were fighting!"
"Gone to sea, huh…" Smoker's eyes narrowed with determination. His thoughts were conflicted, but he quickly made a decision. "Prepare the ship. We're going after him. Set course for the Grand Line!"
"But, Colonel, Louge Town is your jurisdiction. The higher-ups will—" the sailor hesitated, worried.
"Don't even think about giving me orders!" Smoker snapped. His voice was firm. "Besides, I'm fine. Now move and get the ship ready!"
Smoker was always a thorn in the side of the higher-ups, which was why he'd been stationed in Louge Town. Still, the Navy knew his potential as a future leader. As he stood there, exuding an aura of renewed determination, players nearby, who had just respawned, lowered their voices.
"Whoa, this guy is tough as nails! I saw him take a lightning strike head-on, and he's still fine."
"Heh, newbie, you clearly don't know how this world works. With enough physical training, anyone can become a superhuman here."
"Yeah, yeah, but who was that badass who took Smoker down? I want to find them and join up!"
Real World
Meanwhile, the One Piece game forums were exploding with activity. The battle in Louge Town had already become a pinned topic, surpassing even the hype around the Devil Fruit auction.
"Breaking news from Louge Town!"
"Unbelievable! That fight was god-tier. An island almost got destroyed!"
"I kept getting respawned just to watch it again and again. It was insane!" one user posted.
"Haha, you're committed, old man! Didn't it get tiring?"
"No way! Watching the floods and lightning was mind-blowing. And that waterspout went straight to the sky!"
"Ahhh! Does anyone have a video? I NEED to see this!" someone else begged.
The legend of the battle in Louge Town had only just begun, and for those who witnessed it, it was an unforgettable spectacle.
A/N: Thanks for reading, donate some power stones for extra chapters.
Also check out my Patreon for advanced chapters: Patreon.com/AncestorX
Enjoy ✌️.