"Always hitting me on the head..."
Lowering her head in mock indignation, Gerd suddenly brightened up and cheerfully said to El, "Oh, I almost forgot to tell you! The materials you requested earlier have been prepared by Tain!"
"Hell Trading Company spent a significant amount of money and manpower to gather all sorts of rare minerals from around the world through the black market, and everything's ready now!" She added with excitement, "I believe they'll be enough to forge a weapon that'll meet your expectations for a legendary blade!"
Tain was the Longarm Tribe boy from Dreamland, who had since grown into a passionate young man. Not particularly fond of fighting, he discovered a talent for business and had been sent by El two years ago to train in the Hell Trading Company. Half a year ago, he was appointed as the head of operations for the New World region.
"Oh? So, all the materials are ready?" El smiled. Over the past few years, he had devoted considerable time to studying blacksmithing techniques in Elbaf. By reading the memories of various swordsmiths, he deepened his knowledge and mastered the craft. In addition to his rigorous combat training, a significant amount of his time and energy had been poured into mastering the art of forging weapons. Thanks to his natural talent, El had become a renowned swordsmith in his own right.
"Yes... So, when do you plan to start forging?" Gerd asked with a mischievous smile. She knew well that El had spent much of his spare time in Elbaf learning from the experienced swordsmiths of the giant race. Even the famous blacksmith Old Jack from the Giant Pirates had admitted that El had surpassed him in skill.
For years, El had instructed the Hell Trading Company to spare no expense in gathering rare and precious minerals, all in preparation to forge a Supreme Grade Sword or a "Great Grade Weapon." Whether it was Witt's intricately patterned, indestructible giant shield, her own scythe, or Linlin's saber "Napoleon," they were all forged by El's hands.
Since the Hell Trading Company had abundant resources and access to top-quality materials, coupled with El's exceptional craftsmanship, these weapons had far exceeded expectations, rivaling even Great Grade Swords. Even Gerd, despite her humility, couldn't help but anticipate what kind of legendary weapon El would create next.
"No rush... I'll need to visit Wano first," El said, waving his hand. Before he began forging, he wanted to visit Wano. If he recalled correctly, Shimotsuki Kouzaburou of Wano had forged Enma, a sword that could autonomously draw out and amplify the wielder's Haki. Such mystical properties intrigued him.
"Hehe—"
"El! We've got trouble!" At that moment, a large figure resembling an ancient Pelagornis bird swooped down from the sky.
"It's Moss!" El's gaze sharpened. Over the years, his Observation Haki had grown immensely powerful, allowing him to detect Moss from several kilometers away and hear his thoughts: *Hmm? Linlin... she's causing trouble again?*
"Whoo!" Meanwhile, high in the sky, a massive black eagle with a wingspan as wide as the ancient Pelagornis bird screeched and circled menacingly, its sharp talons gleaming like steel, ready to strike.
"Stop, Black! It's a friend!" Lily shouted. The giant black eagle, which El had tamed for her, was ferocious and had even been fed a Devil Fruit to enhance its abilities, allowing it to serve as her combat partner.
"Swish..."
Obeying its master's command, the black eagle retracted its aggressive stance. With a powerful flap of its wings, it shifted direction, landing gracefully on a nearby hill.
"El!" Moss, now in his human form, landed before them, transformed back from his massive Pelagornis bird form. He had grown into an imposing figure, over five meters tall, with a lion's mane of golden hair covering his muscular body. Panting and dripping with sweat, he exclaimed, "Linlin's food cravings have flared up again, and she's causing chaos in Dreamland!"
"What?"
"Again?"
"I'd rather fight the navy or pirates than deal with Linlin during one of her episodes!" Lily, Witt, and Gerd all turned pale. Over the years, Charlotte Linlin's food cravings had flared up multiple times, each episode bringing terror because of her monstrous Mythical Zoan: Vampire form. Every time she lost control, it was horrifying. If not for El being around to subdue her during those instances, the consequences would have been disastrous.
Fortunately, under El's guidance, Linlin had gradually strengthened her willpower, and her control had improved. Though her violent urges and bloodlust in her Vampire form were still intense, she could suppress them for a short time, preventing mass destruction. Otherwise, Dreamland would have been drenched in blood long ago.
"I'll check on her first. You all follow later!" El said, his brow furrowing. Without wasting time, he launched himself like a cannonball, disappearing from sight.
"Whoosh..." He soared through the air, his black wings flaring as he shot toward the horizon in a blur.
"Candy tower... I want my candy tower...!"
"Ahhh... Ahhh!"
Not far from El's training island, a beautiful and picturesque island lay beneath the open sky, home to Dreamland. In its center stood a towering tree so enormous that it seemed to reach the heavens, its thick branches spreading out like a colossal umbrella, providing shelter for the island.
But no one paid attention to the giant tree at that moment. Nearly half of the island was shrouded in a blood-red mist, with hordes of vampiric bats swirling through the air. Here and there, personified Homies screamed as a violent and raspy voice echoed through the chaos: "Take Napoleon away! Everyone, leave the island... Streusen, get me my candy tower, or I won't be able to control myself!"
"Linlin, calm down..."
"Please, Boss Linlin, don't destroy Dreamland!"
"The candy tower is almost ready!"
"Everyone, prepare to board the ships and leave!"
"Moss has gone to fetch El! Let's hope he makes it in time!"
The Fallen Angel Pirates and over a hundred new members of Dreamland, recruits from various races, had already fled to a distance, nervously watching the expanding blood mist. Fear and anxiety filled their faces.
"Streusen! Isn't it ready yet?" shouted Rock, a seventeen-year-old Longleg Tribe member who had joined the Fallen Angel Pirates. Jien, the Fish-men youth, added anxiously, "Linlin can barely hold it together. If she loses control, we're all doomed!"
Despite Linlin's increasing ability to maintain control during her cravings, if too much time passed without her getting the food she craved, things could spiral out of control. Even if everyone escaped by sea, Linlin would catch up quickly. Once her mind was overtaken by the insatiable hunger of her Vampire form, the consequences would be catastrophic.
Though Jien, being a Fish-men, could escape into the sea and take others with him, how many could he save?
~~~
Sleeping right now, Bonus Chapters later.
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