LIGHTNOVELWORLD Chapter 246: Chapter 246: The Metal-Devouring Ant King
"Set sail!"
Before long, Li Yuan, Yadina, and Yinwa boarded the Hades Underworld, a colossal steel warship. Everything had been meticulously prepared by Yadina, and with a single command, the Hades Underworld sped off across the sea.
Though massive in size, the Hades Underworld boasted unparalleled speed, making it the fastest ship in the world. Its secret lay in the Seastone plating embedded in its hull, which rendered it immune to Sea King attacks as it ventured into the Calm Belt near Wano.
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"Over the years, we've explored numerous islands hidden within the Calm Belt. Most of these islands are rich in untapped resources, making the Calm Belt a veritable treasure trove," Yadina said lazily, drawing circles on Li Yuan's chest with her fingers as she reclined against him.
The Infinity Pirates had a unique advantage: the technology to embed Seastone into ship hulls, allowing safe navigation through the Calm Belt. While other factions had developed ships capable of moving without wind, they still required users with Conqueror's Haki to deter Sea Kings.
The Infinity Pirates, however, monopolized Seastone integration technology, enabling them to safely explore and claim the Calm Belt's resources. Over the years, countless islands had been mapped and marked as part of the Infinity Pirates' ever-growing domain.
"These resources are raw materials. To maximize their value, we need to refine and transform them into products before selling them. Speaking of which, are we preparing to expand into the Four Blues?" Li Yuan asked, stroking Yadina's hair.
"Yes," Yadina replied, nodding. "Shaki's intelligence network already covers three of the Four Blues. We can use the underground market to establish connections and transport goods from the Calm Belt to the Four Blues for sale."
"This will save on shipping costs and help us build our own merchant network, reducing reliance on intermediaries who might exploit us."
Her plan addressed a long-standing challenge. Outside the New World, the World Government and Marines heavily monitored trade, forcing the Infinity Pirates to rely on underground brokers like Umit the Sea King. While Umit had profited greatly from his partnership with the Infinity Pirates, Yadina was wary of placing too much trust in him.
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"Expanding our merchant fleet into the Four Blues won't be easy. The World Government and Marines will target us," Li Yuan mused.
"True, but you're forgetting our spatial scrolls. By combining them with Shaki's Mirror-Mirror World, we can transport goods anywhere in an instant. We'll train a team to handle trade in the Four Blues without revealing our secret, ensuring our operations remain secure," Yadina explained confidently.
"That's a clever approach. Just make sure to keep the Mirror-Mirror World under wraps," Li Yuan agreed. The Mirror-Mirror World, originally developed for intelligence purposes, had now become a versatile asset for the Infinity Pirates.
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"Gravity Island ahead!"
Their conversation was interrupted as the ship approached its destination.
The island was dense with towering trees, each bent and twisted under the immense gravitational forces present.
"Brother! Brother! Smells delicious!" Yinwa exclaimed, its eyes gleaming with excitement. Though Yinwa lacked saliva, it made no secret of its eagerness to explore.
"Let's go together," Yadina said, holding Li Yuan's hand as they stepped off the ship and onto the island.
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Roar!
Barely had they set foot on the island when a massive leopard, three meters tall, burst from the forest. Its sharp claws gleamed as it charged toward Li Yuan.
"Let me handle this!" Yadina exclaimed, darting forward with a Soru technique.
"Explosive Shave!"
Her leg, clad in Armament Haki, struck the leopard with a powerful kick, sending it flying dozens of meters before crashing into the trees.
Rustle!
Moments later, a five-meter-tall tiger emerged from the forest, its eyes locked onto Yadina as it pounced.
"Kneel!"
Yadina's gaze sharpened as a surge of psychic energy from her Mindfruit overwhelmed the tiger's will. With a thud, the once-ferocious beast collapsed to the ground, trembling before her.
"Let's ride this one into the forest!" Yadina said with a triumphant smile, rushing back to Li Yuan like an excited child eager to show off her accomplishment.
Li Yuan chuckled and climbed onto the tiger's back alongside Yadina.
"Let's go, little tiger!" Yadina said playfully, patting the tiger's head.
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The trio ventured deeper into the island, encountering numerous wild beasts along the way. To Li Yuan's amusement, Yadina handled them all effortlessly.
As they approached the island's center, the gravitational pull intensified, making it difficult for the tiger to continue.
"We should walk from here," Li Yuan said, noticing the tiger's struggle.
"Alright," Yadina said reluctantly as they dismounted.
"The gravity here is already at 15 times normal. This island is incredible," Li Yuan remarked, awestruck by the environment's intensity.
Roar!
Before they could proceed further, three towering figures—an eight-meter golden lion, a black gorilla, and a massive python—emerged from the dense forest.
These creatures exuded a faint beast king aura, and to Li Yuan's surprise, they were capable of wielding Armament Haki, albeit rudimentary.
"Let me handle this!" Yadina said, stepping forward, but Li Yuan stopped her.
"I'll take care of it."
Li Yuan didn't move an inch. Instead, his Conqueror's Haki erupted, washing over the entire island like a tidal wave.
The three beasts froze mid-charge before collapsing to the ground, trembling with fear.
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Roar!
Just as the island seemed to fall silent, a surge of feral energy erupted from the depths of the forest. This time, it was a beast's Conqueror's Haki—a rare and terrifying sight.
Whoosh!
A dark golden figure shot out of the forest, hovering just above the ground. It was a five-meter-tall Metal-Devouring Ant King, its body covered in metallic exoskeleton-like armor.
The ant's four metallic wings gleamed as it flew, and its sharp mandibles and blade-like limbs exuded raw power.
"A Metal-Devouring Ant King with wings? Let's see what you're made of!" Li Yuan said, his interest piqued.
The Ant King, clad in Armament Haki, charged at Li Yuan with devastating speed.
Li Yuan met the attack head-on, his bare fist colliding with the Ant King's armored forelimb.
Boom!
The impact sent the Ant King hurtling backward, crashing through trees before skidding to a halt hundreds of meters away.
"This beast's strength is impressive. It's not quite at the level of Dorry from the Giant Warrior Pirates, but it's close—especially under this intense gravity," Li Yuan mused, clearly impressed.
The Ant King struggled to its feet, its injured forelimb secreting a strange substance that began repai
ring the damage.
"Interesting… this might be a worthy challenge after all," Li Yuan said, a grin spreading across his face.
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