The Island of Acrobatics.
Leno's voice echoed across the island, commanding attention.
Infection talent—a psychological weapon that spreads emotions, inciting others to action.
The wind whirled, the sound of clashing swords filled the air, and the fierce aura of a predator awakened in every heart.
"Are you just going to run, or will you stand and fight like warriors?" Leno taunted.
His words cut deep, igniting a fiery defiance in those who heard.
"Fight!"
With a surge of determination, some among the crowd raised their swords, spurred on by Leno's challenge.
The young, brimming with emotion and easily roused, were the first to respond.
"What's going on here?"
"Fight? Ha! You think a bunch of sheep can take down a pack of wolves? Ridiculous!"
Pirates sneered, charging forward with weapons drawn.
"Fight!"
More voices joined the chorus, turning to face the oncoming pirates with fire in their eyes.
It was as though a contagious spirit had infected them all, transforming fear into courage.
"Fight!"
The deafening roars of the crowd unnerved the pirates, who stopped, bewildered.
This wasn't how sheep were supposed to act—they were supposed to flee, not rebel.
"Kill them all! Show them what real pirates are!" barked the pirate leader.
"We are the masters of the Island of Acrobatics! Let's take them down!" Mohji brandished his whip, his heart pounding with newfound courage.
Richie, the lion, roared fiercely, his eyes blazing as if he were the true king of the savanna.
"Kill!"
Mohji, Richie, and the others charged, fueled by Leno's infectious command. Swords clashed, and the battle began in earnest.
"Hey, hey, I don't want to get involved in this!" Buggy yelped, caught up in the fervor. He was tossed into the fray like a rag doll, flailing and cursing.
"Why is this happening to me?" Buggy groaned, his frustration palpable.
Leno stood back, watching with a satisfied grin. "That's it! Let's see some action!"
Buggy's predicament only worsened when a pair of spirited young fighters picked him up and hurled him at the enemy like a human cannonball.
"Cut him down!" shouted the pirate leader, swinging his blade.
Buggy shattered, avoiding the blow just in time. "Hey, watch it! I'm on your side—don't you see I was thrown here?"
"Red nose, why are you barking?" sneered the pirate leader.
"Huh? Red nose?" Buggy's anger flared. "Nobody calls me that!"
Buggy pulled out one of his infamous Buggy Bombs, a small black sphere no bigger than an egg, and launched it at the enemy.
The pirates laughed at the seemingly harmless projectile. "What's that supposed to be?"
Buggy's grin widened. "That's my special Buggy Bomb. The blast is unmatched!"
The bomb exploded, engulfing the area in flames. The sheer force stunned the pirates, boosting the morale of Buggy's reluctant comrades.
"See? No one's going to save you—you've got to save yourselves!" Leno's words struck a chord with the troupe members, reigniting their spirits.
Strength surged through them. For performers accustomed to rigorous training, they were more than a match for the average East Blue pirate.
Richie, transformed into a wild beast under the moonlight, tore through pirates with unrestrained ferocity. The sheer size and power of the lion were overwhelming.
Buggy and Mohji were wreaking havoc in tandem, turning the tables on the once-confident pirates. The tides of battle had shifted; hunters became the hunted.
"Kill!"
The acrobats, emboldened, pressed the attack, cutting down their foes with renewed vigor.
Leno watched, arms crossed, shaking his head slightly. "Most pirate crews crumble when faced with a real challenge—it's always about the captain and his officers."
In Pirate World, not many crews could stand their ground when pushed. The rank-and-file were often little more than fodder, their true value shown only in dire moments.
The chaotic battle continued, with more acrobats joining the counterattack. Kuina, Kuro, and Luwell each took down a pirate cadre, decisively turning the tide.
Defeated, the pirates scrambled back to their ships, desperately trying to flee.
"Get us out of here! These people are insane!"
Victory was intoxicating; the triumphant cheers of the islanders filled the air.
As Leno approached the pier, the crowd parted for him, no longer filled with suspicion or resentment but with admiration and gratitude.
This was the man who had led them to an impossible victory—the president of the Hunter's Guild, the one who had defeated Vice Admiral Kuzan and earned his respect.
Instead of anger for what had happened, they felt only pride.
Leno walked calmly to the water's edge, gazing at the fleeing pirate ships. "Sorry, but I'm going to need those."
With a casual flick of his sword, Leno activated his Freezing talent. A deep blue glow enveloped his blade, emitting a chilling aura.
A visible frost spread from the tip of the sword, forming an icy path that snaked out across the sea like a monstrous blue claw.
"The Frozen Throne: One Sword—Path of the Glacier!"
The sea froze on contact, creating an ice bridge that stretched far into the distance.
Pirate Ship.
The pirates, still reeling from shock, suddenly heard a noise coming from beneath the sea.
"Hiss, why is it so cold all of a sudden?"
"Strange, it's still sunny. How can it be so cold?"
"Hey, have you noticed? The ship isn't moving!"
"What? How is that possible?"
One of the pirates, lying on the side of the ship, peered down, his eyes widening in shock. "It's freezing! The water is frozen solid!"
"Don't joke around. It's summer—where would ice come from? Ah, it's really frozen! What's going on?"
On the shore.
Buggy, Mohji, and the rest of the circus troupe were left speechless.
At this moment, the pirate ship had sailed a few hundred meters, but its sides were now coated with frost, drifting on the ice and entirely immobilized.
Leno raised his sword, shattering the ice clinging to its blade. He returned the sword to its sheath.
The combination of his [Freezing] talent and swordsmanship was remarkably powerful, though the moves would need to be developed gradually by Leno. He was already contemplating how to fuse the talents of [Wind's Blessing] and [Freezing] to craft even more devastating techniques. With these abilities, he was nearly on par with Logia users, the only difference being their elemental nature.
While the flames of war continued to burn on other sub-islands, Leno strategized his next steps. He assigned Kuina and Luwell to lead a team to rescue the western island, while Kuro, Buggy, and Mohji headed east to rescue another.
As for Leno? He jumped between pirate ships, freezing the sea with each slash of his sword. In the blink of an eye, all the enemy ships were trapped in ice, rendering them helpless.
Upon realizing their ships were immobilized, the pirates on land began to panic, although they still numbered in the hundreds. Compared to the island's defenders, however, they were vastly outnumbered, setting the stage for a battle of attrition.
Leno stepped back, leaving the fight to the islanders unless someone displayed a talent that piqued his interest.
Half an hour later, Kuina and her team had each secured their victories, capturing the One-Eyed Pirate, the captain of the enemy crew.
"We've won, we've won!"
"Long live!"
"Long live the Hunter Guild!"
The acrobatic island echoed with cheers. The islanders, using their own strength, had managed to protect their home. Leno and Kuina were hailed as heroes, saviors of the acrobatic island. Despite the challenges, the spirit of the islanders remained unbroken, and they quickly returned to their festivities.
In the island's central acrobatic square, a performance stage was set up. Leno, Kuina, and the others were invited to the most honored seats, receiving warm applause from the crowd.
As the acrobatic contest kicked off, the battlefield's earlier chaos was quickly replaced by joyous singing and dancing. The performances were spectacular, showcasing the skills and daring feats of the acrobats.
By the time the contest concluded, night had fallen. Buggy was crowned the "King of Acrobatics" to much fanfare.
"100 million Belly! My 100 million Belly!" Buggy sobbed, clutching his trophy. He finally had enough money to buy a ship.
However, his joy was short-lived. "According to the island's regulations, in light of the recent pirate incident, this year's 'King of Acrobatics' prize money will be used for the island's reconstruction!"
"What?!" Buggy shouted, holding the trophy as his face fell. "Wait, that's my prize money! What kind of rule is this?"
"It's an ancient rule, written on the harbor stones," someone explained. "The prize pool is funded by the entry fees of the contestants. As a consolation, half of next year's prize money will go to you."
Hearing about a future bonus, Buggy calmed down. He already planned to stay on the island for a while—he loved the atmosphere and the cheering crowd.
"So, finally, let's pay tribute to President Leno!"
"Cheers!"
"Cheers!"
The spotlight focused on Leno as he stood and waved, accepting the cheers of the audience.
"And let's salute Kuro!"
"Cheers!"
"Cheers!"
"Let us pay tribute to the lovely Miss Luwell!"
"Oh, Miss Luwell!"
The crowd's shouts grew wild with admiration for the beautiful and charming Luwell.
"And lastly, let's salute Buggy the Clown!"
At the crowd's request, Buggy joyfully took the stage, soaking in the applause. "Buggy! Buggy! Buggy!"
Under the spotlight, performers showcased their skills, from unicycles to animal acts, magic tricks, and more. The celebration continued late into the night with a grand carnival atmosphere, as people indulged in food, drink, and entertainment.
"Come on, the Big Eater finals are about to start! Contestants: Buggy, Richie, and Leno!"
The three competitors faced a mountain of food. "This is meat from the island's bitter sheep, the most bitter meat in the world!" Buggy scoffed, "Hah, this title is mine!"
But after one bite, Buggy spat it out. "What is this?!" Richie fared no better, struggling with each bite. Meanwhile, Leno quickly finished his portion, claiming victory as the first ever to conquer the bitter sheep challenge.
"What?!" Buggy and Richie looked at Leno in disbelief, his plate already empty. "He really ate it?!"
Leno laughed heartily, embracing his [King of Gluttony] talent. No matter how awful the taste, the energy it provided was worth it.
[Ding! You defeated your opponents. Scanning talents: Swinging Strong Luck (SS), Gunpowder Grandmaster (A), Fission (B), Funny (B), Flying Knife (C). Please select a talent!]
Leno's eyes lit up—Buggy had an SS-ranked talent? Without hesitation, he chose [Swinging Strong Luck], feeling the surge of fortune within him.
[Ding! Talent copied: Swinging Fortune! 50% chance to bring you good luck, 50% chance to bring you misfortune.]
With a smirk, Leno knew sometimes you just had to roll the dice.
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+30 chapters on p@treon/tambeerg
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