After everything settled, only a tattered corpse remained at the end of the fissure.
This battle left Hermes feeling unsatisfied; the two sides were not on the same level at all.
“How much was this pirate’s bounty?”
Landing on the ground, Hermes surveyed the devastated surroundings, especially noting his one attack with Rankyaku, which had cleaved the street in half and sliced through two buildings, causing immense destruction.
The combination of the Mini-Mini Fruit with the Six Powers had indeed not disappointed him.
Waving over a nearby onlooker, Hermes inquired.
“Lord Jormungandr, they are the Momos Pirates. Their captain, Momos, had a bounty of fifty-eight million Berries.”
The person called upon was visibly excited, his face full of admiration.
Lord Jormungandr was incredibly powerful, and the battle just now had left him awestruck.
“Fifty-eight million, plus the other pirate leaders and their ship, the loot should be enough to repair the street, right?”
“Yes, it’s more than enough.”
“Alright, then you all can split it. Make sure to give extra to those whose homes were damaged in the fight.”
“Yes, yes, we will!”
With that, Hermes leapt into the air, using Geppo to disappear from everyone’s sight gradually.
This scene elicited another wave of cheers and admiration.
After easily dealing with the Momos Pirates, Hermes made his way to the Yarded Port.
This time, he intended to eliminate the bandits and then leave the Prodence Kingdom.
Three years had passed.
He had mastered all the Six Powers, though he hadn’t fully integrated Life Return, which was his biggest regret.
Aside from that, his Mini-Mini Fruit and his Haki had both evolved significantly.
Especially the Mini-Mini Fruit.
He had now completely left the beginner stage, getting one step closer to the top of the pyramid.
In truth, Hermes had been planning to leave the Prodence Kingdom once he mastered the Six Powers. The kingdom was too small and could no longer contain a dragon like him, eager to make a name for himself. The wider world was his true stage.
So, he had asked Elisabello II to have a ship built for him, which was now at the Yarded military port.
Over the past three years, Hermes had also studied navigation. Though not an expert, he had learned the basics.
Whatever he needed, Elisabello II would provide—be it people or money—always at his beck and call.
“Lord Jormungandr, this ship was built by the best shipwrights and designers from across the kingdom, taking two and a half years to complete. It’s the most advanced ship in the world. It’s twenty meters long, six meters wide, with three levels, featuring the latest drainage system and coal-powered engines. Here’s the manual.”
After identifying himself, the person in charge, visibly excited, led Hermes to the enclosed shipyard. Before Hermes stood a massive ship, twenty meters long and six meters wide, with a large skull at the bow and an overall dark color, exuding an icy and eerie aura.
It looked nothing like a vessel meant to carry the living.
Yet, because of the flowers and fruit trees on the deck and stern, the ship also had a bizarre, mismatched appearance. This peculiar design was entirely based on Hermes’ specifications, reflecting his unusual and eccentric tastes.
“Not bad, not bad at all!”
From its appearance, Hermes was very pleased.
“Lord Jormungandr, all the supplies are ready. You can set sail anytime. But before that, please give the ship a name!”
“Let’s keep it simple—call it Death.”
Hermes approached the side of the ship, touching the hull with his right hand. Activating the Mini-Mini Fruit, a powerful force enveloped the entire vessel. Within a few breaths, the entire ship shrank to the size of a baby’s fist.
The person in charge was stunned.
What kind of mysterious power was this?
No wonder he was the strongest man in the Prodence Kingdom, invincible!
“It’s just within the range of my Mini-Mini Fruit.”
Looking at the miniaturized Death, Hermes was very satisfied.
Over the past three years, the Mini-Mini Fruit has made significant breakthroughs. He could now enlarge and shrink external objects, provided they were within a certain range. The original size of the Death was just within this range.
Initially, Hermes thought he would need to awaken the Devil Fruit to affect external objects, but the Mini-Mini Fruit proved otherwise.
This was indeed a pleasant surprise.
The Mini-Mini Fruit not only applied to objects but also enhanced Hermes’ attacks. For example, the Rankyaku that took down Momos was particularly effective.
Bending down, Hermes tried to pick up the miniaturized Death.
He planned to enlarge it when sailing and carry it with him when not, making it convenient to transport and even use as a weapon if necessary. It was perfect.
“Huh?”
Hermes was slightly puzzled—he couldn’t lift it.
Using both hands, he managed to make the mini Death tremble slightly. The person in charge looked on curiously, adding to Hermes’ embarrassment.
“How heavy is the Death?”
“Lord Jormungandr, it weighs over fifty tons. It’s made from Treasure Tree Adam, which His Majesty obtained at great expense from the underworld or other factions.”
“Be sure to thank Elisabello for me.”
Damn.
Over fifty tons, no wonder he couldn’t lift it.
While the Mini-Mini Fruit had shrunk the Death, its weight remained unchanged.
With his current strength, Hermes simply couldn’t lift it.
It’s worth noting that while the Mini-Mini Fruit could alter external objects, their weight wouldn’t change. However, when the ability was applied to himself, his weight would adjust with his size—for instance, when Hermes shrunk, his weight decreased, and his speed increased. Conversely, when he enlarged, his weight, attack speed, and movement speed would change accordingly.
If Hermes could one day overcome these limitations, he would become everyone’s nightmare. Imagine a giant the size of a kilometer moving at normal speed—it would be terrifying.
“Well, it is what it is.”
Without further ado, Hermes restored the Death to its original size, leaped aboard, and began familiarizing himself with the vessel. The manual was included, along with navigation charts and a log pose for the surrounding sea.
Everything was ready.
Setting sail.
At the same time, in the royal palace, Elisabello II received a call from the person in charge.
The man had left after all.
The Prodence Kingdom was stable now, his position secure, so the other’s presence was no longer crucial. It was just as well that he left.
The gentle sea breeze brushed against his face.
The weather was perfect.
As the Providence Kingdom slowly disappeared from view, Hermes let the wind and waves carry the Death, exploring the ship’s interior.
Bedrooms, training rooms, kitchen, storage—everything was well-equipped.
After a brief tour, Hermes headed to the training room for his daily practice, hoping to awaken Life Return.
Awakening Life Return would greatly enhance his survival skills, becoming a powerful trump card.
He trained until the sunset, then went to the kitchen to prepare dinner. These days were peaceful.
He enjoyed it.
After leaving the Providence Kingdom’s waters, it was hard to encounter other ships.
The night passed uneventfully.
The next day, Hermes woke up early, went to the bow, and began his morning exercises, lifting weights while fishing.
Before long, the fishing line dipped. Hermes dropped the weights and pulled up a twenty-meter-long eel.
What a sight.
The eel was like a mountain.
The surrounding sea churned as the eel thrashed, but Hermes held the rod steady. His left hand’s weight grew to thirty meters, and he struck the eel on the head.
Soon, the sea calmed.
The eel, head bloodied, floated on the surface, uncertain if dead or alive.
With a firm tug, Hermes pulled half the eel onto the Death. Today, he planned an eel feast.
The entire day passed without encountering another ship.
But Hermes didn’t feel bored. When boredom struck, he trained.
At dusk, a pirate ship finally appeared on the horizon.
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