The Grand Hall of Sky Island
In the grand hall of the Sky Island, Sanders gathered the members of the Thunder God Pirates.
He announced that he would be leaving for a while and instructed Law and the others to continue training diligently.
Sanders and Nami each piloted a flying ship, departing from Sky Island.
After several days of travel, Sanders and Nami finally located a small sky island.
"This is Weatheria?"
"It's always in motion, completely different from the Sky Island of the Kingdom of God." Nami looked at the small floating island drifting in the sky, her face full of amazement.
"Indeed, this island constantly moves, its speed and direction determined by the wind. The weather here changes rapidly."
"That's why it's perfect for meteorological research. The island's residents are all meteorologists, making it the best place for you to learn," Sanders explained, nodding as he led Nami to land on the island.
Once on the small sky island, Nami's curiosity was piqued by everything she saw.
The sudden arrival of visitors quickly drew the attention of the island's residents.
A group of scholars gathered around Sanders and Nami, their expressions wary.
The island's inhabitants mostly looked like scholars, wearing wizard-like robes and pointed hats.
"Travelers from afar, what brings you to our island?" asked an elderly man with snow-white hair.
His long beard, which split into two fishtail-like sections, hung past his waist.
"Greetings.
I am Sanders."
Sanders smiled warmly.
"This is my companion, Nami."
"I've heard that the people here are experts in meteorology, so my companion has come specifically to study with you for a while," Sanders said, gesturing toward Nami.
"So, you've come to study meteorology? Is this young lady the student? You're very welcome here," said the old man, his face softening into a kind smile.
Hearing that they were here to learn, the wary residents visibly relaxed, their expressions turning friendly as they looked at Nami.
Compared to the imposing Sanders, who was over two meters tall and looked tough to deal with, the sight of a charming young girl like Nami made them feel much more at ease.
After all, she was just a pretty girl of around ten.
Nami returned their smiles and greeted the many white-haired elders warmly.
"However, meteorology isn't easy to learn—it'll take a lot of hard work," one of the elderly men said with a chuckle.
"That's fine. I'm not afraid of hard work," Nami replied cheerfully.
She wouldn't mind the effort if it meant learning something she was passionate about.
"Is that so? Then you can stay here and study with us," the elderly man, who introduced himself as Haredas, said with a smile.
It was clear that they had accepted Nami's request to study on the island.
Hearing this, Sanders opened a case he had brought along.
"Thank you for looking after my companion during her time here. This is her tuition fee," Sanders said, revealing the case filled with Berries.
He had brought the money on purpose; after all, it wouldn't feel right for Nami to learn for free.
Of course, Nami had also brought some money of her own, but that was her personal savings.
As the captain, Sanders felt it was his duty to cover the cost of his crew's education.
Although Nami was pained to see so much money being given away, she didn't say anything to stop it.
"There's no need to pay. We're already delighted that someone is interested in learning our knowledge," Haredas said, glancing at the money in the case and waving his hand.
The islanders often earned money by helping others with rainfall, but they weren't overly attached to wealth.
"That won't do—we can't let you go unpaid for your efforts," Sanders said with a smile.
"Grandpa, just accept it. Sanders is very wealthy; this is just a drop in the bucket for him," Nami said with a forced smile.
Even as someone who loved money, she knew when it was appropriate to spend it.
Seeing their insistence, Haredas thought for a moment and said,
"Alright, we'll accept the money. We'll use it to cover young Nami's food and lodging during her stay."
"In that case, I'll leave Nami in your care. I have other matters to attend to, so I'll take my leave," Sanders said with a smile.
He then turned to Nami.
"I'll be going now. Take care of yourself, and if you have free time, you can return to Sky Island. After all, you have your own ship."
"Got it, Sanders," Nami replied.
Nami pursed her lips and said softly,
"Take care of yourself too."
She knew Sanders was planning to challenge the most powerful figures on the seas, so she couldn't help but remind him to be cautious.
"Don't worry. Don't you know my strength by now?"
"Maybe the next time we meet, I'll already be the strongest in the world." Sanders grinned, ruffling Nami's hair.
"By the way, if you work hard in your studies, I'll bring you treasures so vast you could buy the entire world!" he added, skillfully painting a grand picture to motivate her.
"I'm not just talking about meteorology either—there's cooking, leisure, and Devil Fruit development. All of that combined could make you unimaginably wealthy."
Sanders knew there was no better motivation for Nami than the promise of riches.
"Buy the entire world's wealth?!"
Nami's eyes instantly turned into Berries, shining brightly like gold coins.
"That's right. You know me—I never lie," Sanders replied with a smile.
The "wealth to buy the entire world" he mentioned was, of course, pure gold. While it might not literally buy the world, its immense value was undeniable.
This time, after successfully deducing Kaido's physical traits and abilities, Sanders planned to track it down. The "Lantern Master" anglerfish, while difficult for others to locate, would be easy for Sanders with his ability to pinpoint positions.
Nami nodded vigorously, her fists clenched, her face full of determination.
To obtain the wealth to buy the world, she was ready to study hard and train diligently!
Haredas watched Sanders with a look of astonishment.
This young man sure knows how to make bold claims, he thought to himself.
Wealth to buy the world? Even the World Government wouldn't dare to say such a thing.
The most puzzling part was that this little girl actually seemed to believe him wholeheartedly.
Is she a fool? Haredas silently mused.
And leaving a young girl on an unfamiliar island, just like that?
Even though the people of Weatheria wouldn't bully a little girl, wasn't this too irresponsible?
After hesitating for a moment, Haredas said,
"Are you sure you don't want to stay on the island for a few days to see if your companion can adapt? At the very least, shouldn't you check out where little Nami will be staying?"
Sanders paused for a moment before laughing.
"No need. Nami can take care of herself."
Not to mention that the people of Weatheria were naturally kind-hearted, but even if they weren't, Nami had the ability to protect herself.
After all, she had the power of the Rumble-Rumble Fruit—far from just for show.
Nami alone could probably defeat everyone on the island if it came down to it.
And having endured and survived under Arlong's tyranny, Nami was no naive child.
"Alright, I'm leaving. Take care of yourself," Sanders said.
"Remember to visit Sky Island often. If I have time, I'll come see you too."
With that, Sanders smiled, leaped into the sky, and disappeared from sight in the blink of an eye.
"Wow, he can fly!" one of the island residents exclaimed in surprise.
"Isn't that obvious?" another replied.
"How else would he have gotten here?"
"Must be a Devil Fruit user, but I wonder what kind of ability it is..."
As the murmurs continued, Nami stared wistfully at Sanders' retreating figure.
When she turned back, she found Haredas' old face close to hers, full of curiosity.
"Little Nami, who exactly is that Sanders to you? He doesn't seem reliable at all. He's not even worried about your safety?"
"Sanders is my captain!" Nami replied with pride.
"Captain? You're pirates?!" Haredas asked, shocked.
The other residents looked equally surprised.
"That's right! We're the Thunder God Pirates, and I'm the navigator. My bounty is over 30 million Berries!"
Speaking of the Thunder God Pirates, Nami's face filled with pride.
Joining the Thunder God Pirates was the best thing that had ever happened to her.
Sanders not only freed her from Arlong's tyranny but also gave her the power of the Rumble-Rumble Fruit.
Adventuring with her companions had been an endless source of joy for Nami.
The exciting events of the past few months had outnumbered those of many prior years combined.
"Three... over thirty million? Then Sanders must be worth billions!" a resident exclaimed in astonishment.
"Not just billions," Nami replied proudly. "Sanders' bounty is three billion Berries!"
"Three billion?!"
"The powerful pirate with a 3-billion-Berry bounty!"
"And he seemed so friendly!"
"Of course," Nami added with a smile, "it's not that Sanders doesn't care about my safety; he knows I can take care of myself. I'm pretty strong too."
Then, with a grin, she concluded,
"He's a very reliable captain!"
As she spoke, sparks of electricity began to dance in her hands.
"Is that lightning?"
"Yes, I'm a Logia-type Rumble-Rumble Fruit user," Nami said openly.
Showing her abilities just enough was a practical move—it would prevent unnecessary trouble.
"Rumble-Rumble Fruit?!"
The crowd of Weatheria's meteorologists all lit up with fascination.
Meteorology and the Rumble-Rumble Fruit? The possibilities were endless!
Upon learning about Nami's Devil Fruit abilities, the scholars eagerly surrounded her, their curiosity piqued. Some of them were already imagining the potential sparks between meteorology and the Rumble-Rumble Fruit.
Meanwhile, Sanders had left the small sky island and was sailing full speed toward Kaido's territory.
After over ten days of continuous travel, he finally arrived at Onigashima, the base of the Beasts Pirates.
Hiding his ship, Sanders ascended into the skies above the island.
As he activated his powers, the once-clear skies turned ominously dark, filled with thunderclouds and streaks of lightning.
The pirates on Onigashima looked up in confusion, baffled by the sudden weather change.
"What's going on? It was fine just a moment ago!"
"Wait... is that a person?"
One sharp-eyed pirate pointed upward, spotting a figure floating in the stormy sky.
"A person? Is it another fool here to challenge Captain Kaido? Guess he'll either get killed or end up as a laborer," one pirate said dismissively.
"Yeah, anyone who comes here to challenge the Four Emperors has to be insane. Most don't even make it to Kaido; they're taken out long before that," another added.
"No... this guy is different," a pirate with a telescope stammered.
"Different? How?"
"He... he looks like Sanders!"
"What? Sanders? The Sanders?!"
"It's Thunder God Sanders! Sound the alarm—Sanders has invaded Onigashima!"
Upon confirming the identity of the intruder, panic spread among the pirates. They scrambled to alert their superiors.
At the same time, Sanders' booming voice rolled across the island like thunder, shaking the air and the ears of everyone present.
"Kaido! Come out and fight me!"
The deep, thunderous voice echoed throughout Onigashima, drawing even more pirates out of their quarters.
In the central hall of the island, Kaido stirred from his drunken stupor, his bleary eyes blinking open.
"Huh? Someone's calling me?" he slurred, still groggy.
"Who dares interrupt my nap?!" he growled, anger surging as his overwhelming aura began to seep out.
Just then, King entered the hall, his face calm behind his mask.
"Oh, it's you, King. Were you the one calling me?" Kaido asked, his irritation fading somewhat.
"Kaido-san," King said evenly, "Sanders is here. He says he's here to fight you."
"Sanders?!" Kaido's eyes lit up, a mixture of surprise and delight crossing his face.
"He recovered that fast?" Kaido muttered, genuinely impressed.
He vividly remembered their previous battle. Even though he himself had been left battered and needed over ten days to recover, Sanders had taken even worse injuries.
To think he'd recovered already—this only further proved why Sanders was a worthy rival.
"Are you going to face him?" King asked. "It doesn't look like he's here to invade; he came alone, clearly intending to challenge you directly."
"Alone?" Kaido raised an eyebrow, his expression one of admiration.
Going alone to a Yonko's territory for a fight? That's exactly the kind of audacity Kaido appreciated.
"Of course I'm going!" Kaido declared, laughing heartily.
"The last fight was thrilling, but it didn't satisfy me. This time, we'll have a proper battle!"
Grabbing his massive kanabo, Kaido strode out of the hall, his laughter booming as he remembered their previous clash.
That time, Sanders had demonstrated future-sight mastery with Observation Haki—a feat Kaido had found exhilarating.
Who knew what new surprises this rematch might bring?
Sanders hovered in the sky, patiently awaiting Kaido's arrival.
It didn't take long for the massive figure of the Yonko to appear, his dragon form cutting through the air as he ascended toward Sanders.
"Oooh-hohoho! Sanders, you're back for more already?" Kaido bellowed with a grin as he looked up at the hovering figure.
"Of course. I promised we'd have a rematch, and I always keep my word," Sanders replied, his tone light but his intent clear.
"Where should we fight?" Sanders asked, glancing at the island below.
Kaido's grin faltered as he surveyed his surroundings. Despite his usual desire to fight wherever and whenever, he spared a glance at his subordinates bustling around Onigashima.
"If we fight here, there's a good chance we'll reduce my base to rubble."
Reluctantly, Kaido decided against battling on Onigashima itself. He knew firsthand how devastating Sanders could be—their last clash had already proven that. This fight had the potential to annihilate his base and take countless weaker subordinates down with it.
"Follow me!" Kaido roared, his massive body shifting into his Azure Dragon form. Flames swirled around his claws as he conjured Flame Clouds, carrying him off toward a remote island.
Without hesitation, Sanders followed closely behind, his body sparking with anticipation.
Back on Onigashima, Jack the Drought approached King.
"Brother King, should we follow them?" he asked, his voice cautious.
King cast a sharp glance in Jack's direction before answering bluntly,
"Why would we? Kaido-san doesn't like anyone interfering with his battles."
His words left no room for argument as he turned and walked away, completely unconcerned about Kaido's safety.
Jack scratched the back of his head awkwardly, glancing toward the horizon where the two figures had disappeared. But knowing better than to disobey, he followed King back inside.
Elsewhere, Kaido and Sanders landed on an uninhabited island.
Kaido reverted to his human-dragon hybrid form, towering over Sanders as he stood on the rocky terrain. His golden eyes burned with battle lust.
Gripping his massive sake gourd, Kaido tilted it back and took a hearty swig. Already drunk, the alcohol only fueled his ferocity, blurring the lines between madness and determination.
"Let's do this, Sanders!" Kaido bellowed, slamming the empty gourd into the ground.
Sanders' eyes gleamed with determination.
Focusing his abilities, Sanders began tapping into his unique skillset.
First, he activated his derivation technique, replicating Kaido's indomitable traits. His body adapted, simulating Kaido's Adamant Physique, granting him a near-unbreakable defense.
Next, he tuned into the Fish-Fish Fruit, Model: Azure Dragon, copying Kaido's Mythical Zoan powers.
"If I succeed here, not only will my endurance and vitality reach unparalleled heights," Sanders thought, his resolve hardening, "but I'll also take Kaido's title as the 'Strongest Creature on Land, Sea, and Air.'"
Unleashing his Devil Fruit power, Sanders declared,
"5 Billion Volts: Thunder God Descent!"
His body transformed, engulfed in a blinding aura of liquid lightning. Droplets of pure electricity fell from his form, scorching the earth and leaving smoking craters wherever they landed.
The air around the island crackled with static energy as Sanders called forth an overwhelming storm of lightning to surround the battlefield.
Kaido, unphased, roared with approval.
"Good! Come at me, Sanders!"
Sanders vanished from sight, reappearing directly in front of Kaido in the blink of an eye.
"Thunder Fist!" he roared, his fist crackling with immense power and cloaked in Armament Haki.
Kaido met him head-on, swinging his massive kanabo with reckless abandon.
"Thunder Bagua!"
The clash of their attacks sent shockwaves rippling through the air, tearing through the island and sending chunks of rock and debris flying in all directions.
The battle between these two titans had begun once more, their devastating powers threatening to reshape the landscape of the small island.
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T/N:
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