Side Story 31: Pirates and Denatus

At the calm belt, on a particular island called Amazon Lily. Their ruler, Gloriosa was currently experiencing a high fever. She gritted her teeth as she recalled the illness that claimed a lot of the previous rulers of Amazon Lily.

"Hah, hah... Do I suppress it? Or die as the empress of Amazon Lily?" Gloriosa frowned heavily. Weighing her own life against her pride.

If she escapes Amazon Lily and pursues Beidou's crew for that wretched man. She would be a traitor that cannot uphold their culture and rules.

"Gloriosa-sama, you're experiencing the sickness huh?" A girl with a bob cut sighed as she smoked a cigarette. (pic)

"Shakuyaku... So you've noticed, I tried to hide. But I guess you're a bit too good at learning things." Gloriosa snorted and she furrowed her brows in pain. Her chest tightening up due to the unusual illness that only the empresses of Amazon Lily experiences.

"Go, I will take care of Amazon Lily... Besides, their crew already took a handful of our people. It is only a matter of time before the men there get it on with them and return here to settle down. It will surely bring a change, you might be seen as a traitor. But things will be different after some time." Shakuyaku sighed and thought that it was troublesome.

"Shakky... You're young, you can still enjoy your life, are you sure you want to be the next empress of Amazon Lily?" Gloriosa frowned heavily, she would be putting a huge burden on her shoulders and pursue her own interests.

"It's fine, you've served Amazon Lily well. You don't need to worry about me. And I believe that the crew you'll be going in would achieve something great. They're already famous, but they don't have a substantial feat yet. It would drift off some interest in Amazon Lily when they learn that it's in their protection." Shakky shrugged and thought it was a good exchange.

"Hah. You're too mature, Shakky. Then, I appoint you as the new captain of the Kuja pirates and empress of Amazon Lily as well." Gloriosa bit her lip, feeling bad that she's giving Shakky the responsibility of being empress.

"Then I gratefully accept." Shakky rolled her eyes and smiled. "You cheeky girl! Hah, thank you again Shakky... I, I'm sorry." Gloriosa suddenly gained strength and started packing supplies for her new adventure.

Shakky looked at the now previous empress run around with an unconscious smile on her face. "Damn, what a curse that is. I hope I don't contract it, it's too troublesome." Shakky sighed and a blonde man in a certain crew sneezed.

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Back at Beidou's ship, they were about to sail again and hunt more pirates that are malicious on the grand line. They got information on them regularly from Tsuru, because God knows that Garp is a meathead while Sengoku is too anxious to divulge information that came from the navy.

"Hehe~ boss has gone and done it now. They recruited tons of girls from the island! I don't know about you boys, but I'm gonna have a girlfriend in due time." One of Beidou's crew members announced as he laughed boisterously.

Everybody cheered and they cleaned the large deck of the destroyer with more enthusiasm than ever. Preparing for the arrival of the new lady friends that they will sail with.

"Oi! You maggots, you're really working hard eh?" Beidou appeared and she stared them down. The crew froze and thought they've been caught red-handed.

Beidou went silent for a moment and stared at them. "If you don't get a girlfriend in a month, then I'll kick you out of the ship and you'll be dropped off in Amazon Lily to be their chore boy! Understand!? Kyahahahaha!" Beidou suddenly laughed as she instructed her crew.

The boys then started to tear up. "Captain! You're such an angel!" The crew prostrated and they got motivated even more.

Gloriosa then boarded the ship with a leap and saw Beidou. She awkwardly looked at the captain and hung her head low. "Ahhh, c-can I come with?" Gloriosa got anxious and Beidou smirked.

"Hmmm, it's no biggie. I understand, things are hard for you aren't they?" Beidou laughed and the new crew members from Amazon Lily were surprised.

"Empress-sama!? What are you doing here?" The girls were confused and Gloriosa scratched her cheek awkwardly. "You see, I appointed Shakuyaku as the new empress of Amazon Lily. I will go with you girls so you won't be tricked, yes that's right." Gloriosa lied through her teeth and the amazoness got tears in their eyes.

"Gloriosa-sama worries about us so much that she came with us. Thank you very much!" The amazoness bowed to her and she gave a wry smile.

Beidou then put her arm around her shoulder and gave a smirk. "Yes, she's very worried about you girls. You're lucky you have a wonderful leader." Beidou teased her and Gloriosa pouted at Beidou.

"Captain, isn't she just coming with us so she could pursue Ein-nii? I saw her face yesterday, she was blushing really hard." Linlin whispered to Beidou as she raised a brow.

"Hah, Linlin. You are still too young, you will understand later why Gloriosa decided to leave Amazon Lily." Beidou shrugged and Gloriosa sighed at their talk when she was just beside them.

"You know I'm right here, right?" Gloriosa rolled her eyes and Linlin pointed her tomahawk steak at her. "I'm watching you. I'll be wrestling with captain and Ein-nii at the bed before you. I saw it, captain Beidou looked like she really enjoyed it." Linlin squinted her eyes.

Gloriosa and Beidou froze. "Hohhh? Did she now? How was it? Your captain must have been naked, no?" Gloriosa gave a wide grin and Beidou furrowed her brows.

"Umu, she was. I don't know why, but maybe because they would sweat a lot?" Linlin tilted her head and thought of why that was. But Gloriosa snickered at Beidou and she coughed, clearing her throat.

"Okay, let's go! Guys, welcome the new members of the crew alright! We've got tons of space in this ship anyways." Beidou announced and they started their journey once again.

"Beidou, I actually have a little something that came up. I'll be back though, don't worry. Linlin, don't overeat and exercise regularly. Gloriosa, don't worry. Beidou and her crew will take care of you guys like family." Ein said goodbye for a bit and Beidou nodded.

He then disappeared, making Beidou sigh. "He won't take that long I think. Then how about we go visit our little friends, Tsuru, Garp, and Sengoku." Beidou took out a snail and was still quite confused on how it can communicate with others.

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At Orario, while the familia was raiding the dungeon for loot and exp. The gods decided to have a Denatus after Evilus was seemingly wiped out. It was a meeting of all the gods in Orario and they mainly just had fun there. Giving nicknames or monikers to adventurers, bragging, discussing feats and interesting topics. But today was quite different.

Everybody gathered for this particular meeting and they were currently in Babel. It was quiet, a surprising outcome as typically. Gods would be gossiping and telling stories while they waited for the meeting to start.

After a few minutes, Ein and the gang entered the venue with Elysia, Phyllis, Hua, Bianka, Kallen, and Kiana in tow. They walked in like they owned the place and just set up a table of their own.

"Goshujin-sama. Today I have for you a nice cup of Earl grey." Rita appeared with her chief assistant Ragna and their trainee, Tohru. Already having brewed tea on her hands as they poured them a cup.

They then disappeared like the wind and the gods were shocked at their absurdity. "Now, now. How about we start this meeting? I am quite the busy man, Loki. Please do the honors." Ein looked at Loki and the trickster goddess sighed.

"Ein, I'm not your subordinate ya know?" Loki grumbled, but she still stood up and started the meeting. And the topic was of course about Evilus and how they'll repair Orario. Because Alfia got too excited and decided to limit test her new mana circuits.

"Ahhh. That's our familia's fault, te he~ We're going to repair the damage that an adventurer in our ranks caused." Ein explained and everybody who was in the know frowned heavily.

"Astraea, Freya, Loki, good work with exterminating the heinous Evilus members. This will usher a new age of peace in Orario." Ouranos, the god who oversee the guild and have a lot of clout thanked them.

"Now, for your children who has leveled up. We need to give them new monikers no?" Hermes tipped his hat and smiled.

Loki smirked and she would give her familia a good name. While Freya just stared at Ein's entourage and gritted her teeth. She knew she was beautiful, but his wives that were with him clearly eclipsed her. As the gods and a few goddesses looked at the new faces with desire.

"Yesss~ I want to give a nickname for Riveria-chan and the others!" Loki raised her hand and the gods in the meeting thought it would be quite troublesome with Loki's antics.

"Loki, I think we need to give the honor to naming their children first to the honkai familia. They were... The MVP for dealing with Evilus, the sky corridor saved a lot of civilians and they took care of the majority of them as well." Astraea sighed and thought they've been had.

"Hehe~ Thanks for the compliments Astraea-chan~" Elysia winked at her and was quite happy that the children got the MVP status.

"But there seems to be a surprise, ain't that right Ein? I don't know about everyone here. But we were privy to some information that your familia has a level 8 adventurer?" Loki opened her eyes and had a smirk on her face.

The gods almost sputtered at that information. The only familia that has ever achieved having those kinds of things were the Zeus and Hera familia. And an unknown entourage of gods with mysterious pantheons that just arrived has an adventurer that powerful. Bolstering their status immediately to the top.

"Hmmm, glad you told everyone Loki." Ein smiled sweetly at Loki and was a bit annoyed that she was the one that announced it instead of them.

"That's right, we have the bestest adventurer here right now in Orario you plebs." Hua announced with pride as she puffed her chest. Loki then had a glint in her eyes, seeing that one of Ein's wives had a flat chest just like her. Thinking that what he said at the bathhouse was true.

"Umu, you must know her. She's quite famous after all, it's Alfia. The incarnation of talent, we fixed her illness and she got to level 8. And they're diving in the dungeon right now so she could level up to 9." Ein shrugged nonchalantly. As with the help of the kids, her excelia gain would soar to new heights. Ein will also fix her stats and level her down to maximize every level to the limits. Giving birth to an adventurer that will be a true monster.

Ein peeked at them and the party was currently killing everything in the 37th floor colosseum. Power leveling the 4 and 5 year olds like crazy. The infinite spawns at the place working to their advantage. It was an insane strat that even the Loki and Freya familia won't dare to do.

"I see, then she could fight to the maximum now?" Hermes asked with curiosity. He put up a front, as the information they gave was quite the shock. Their status as the top familia was set in stone in an instant and nobody would dare complain. Not to mention that they killed the evil gods permanently.

"Yeah, we're also training some new kids nya. A lot of orphans were made because of this whole debacle. Alfia and the executives of our familia are powerleveling them at the colosseum in the 37th floor. The 4 year olds are quickly approaching level 2 nya." Phyllis dropped a bomb on them.

"T-that's insane!" Astraea shouted out immediately as she thought they were slaving away the children they took in.

"Relax your panties Astraea, how about you look at what they're currently doing?" Kiana called out to her and they opened up a surveillance of what they are doing at the dungeon.

Izumi, Haku, and Akira were cutting off the limbs of monsters with their blades. Alfia was defending everyone with her enchantment magic so no magical attacks could breach them. Then the Kaslana sisters would group up the monsters. Laplace set up some turrets and let the kids shoot at the downed monsters for easy excelia.

Vesta and Celeste taught them common sense that was warped of course. Aurum taught them culture and art, Musubi magic, Shenlong combat, Tora finances, and Anahaat about general knowledge.

The gods were gobsmacked at seeing how they were prepping their new members. Gobbling up excelia from high level monsters that could match level 4 adventurers in the deep floors.

"Oh my goodness, they're farming monsters there like wheat." Demeter gave a wry smile as those orphans were just helping in the farm earlier at the sky corridor. And now they are leveling up like it was nothing special.

"They are crazy, I admit. Even crazier than I am, even with an expedition. I won't ever think of sending level 1's there to level them up." Loki gave a complex expression. Can't decide to think if it was genius or plain insanity.

"And those executives of yours, Ein... They're level 2 right? How can they disarm monsters at the colosseum like riffraff?" Freya squinted her eyes. Thinking that the main members of their familia was surely not normal.

"Ahhh, they just leveled up to 3. Tons of excelia to gain upon killing adventurers and gods you know?" Ein smiled and thought they were progressing nicely.

The new skill they received was grimoire of infinity. Every magic that has ever been invented or made was in a mental library. And with mana rule, they can cast any of them with the appropriate amount of mana. Even if it was from different universes like true magic in fate. Making them super busted if they can figure out that they can have infinite amounts of it by using heaven's feel, realizing their true forms through their seals. It was a library after all and they have to flip through the pages.

"Enough of that anyways, let's get them their monikers!" Kallen huffed and everybody sobered up.

"Huhun, with Alfia. How about the angel of destruction?" Ein decided and nobody really thought it was inappropriate. Ein also saw firsthand Alfia's heaven defying talent. She was insane, a battle mage that can fight at the vanguard. And without her illness, she could push her body and magic to the limit.

So Ein was teaching her a specific magic of the Bael clan. The power of destruction, it has been watered down and never realized its true potential throughout the centuries. But at its peak, it is magic that erases anything in a conceptual level.

Meaning, anything hit will be erased completely. It was broken as hell, except if you can overpower the magic or have something like Alfia's Silentium Eden to counter it. The power of destruction is absolute erasure if you tank it without resistances.

Everybody then chatted a bit more with the other gods, gossiping about the new familia that took Orario by storm. And the kids received their new adventurer nicknames too.

Izumi, Haku, and Akira were the dark slayers. As all of them were a practicioner of said style.

Musubi was Surtr. As everything around her evaporates when she starts getting heated.

Alexis, Bellatrix, Argento, and Arcene received the title of Tyrant. As they have monstrous strength that could overpower almost anything.

Laplace was called the Aegis for her skills to fortify Orario and any area within a hot second.

Anahaat's moniker wasn't too nice, but she liked it really much when Ein told her. She was given cruel astute with what she did to Vito. The gods learned that she created new crops for Demeter. But it was also used to execute the Evilus executive with such cruelty that it was voted as the worst way to die.

Tora's is simple, Deathstroke. Because besides Laplace, she had the most kills. And she always got them with one swift movement of her hands. Destroying hearts and cutting heads as efficiently as possible.

While Shenlong is called Imperial arms. Capable of using any weapon with unmatched elegance and skill except for a select few.

"Yosh, thanks for the nice little meeting~ Though I would like to say that Demeter's familia is now a sub familia of ours. And it isn't quite official, but Loki is in an alliance with us." Ein called out and Demeter went to their side, Loki sighed and followed along.

Freya then stared at them and furrowed her brows, she thought that something was up with Loki. But never imagined she would be in an alliance with them.

She then swallowed her pride and went to their side as well. Raising a lot of eyebrows at her unusual behavior. As well as the impressive line up.

A blonde in then whispered to her good friend Artemis. "Hey, isn't that the guy you were talking about Artemis-chan? He looks handsome and dependable, how about it? You're 2000% missing out on life because you haven't tried dating." The blonde gave a teasing smile and Artemis blushed a bit and hit her on the head. (pic)

"What are you talking about Aphrodite? Ein's a married man with multiple wives. Besides, why do you keep on telling me to date someone? I already told you, I am not going to." Artemis huffed and Aphrodite put her tongue out at her.

"Tche, you're such a prude. Unlike Hestia, if she found someone worthy. Then she will give her all for that person. Unlike you and Athena, you hold on to your chastity because that's what you are known for. While Athena is too invested in magic and knowledge." Aphrodite tried changing her mind.

"What do you mean by that?" Artemis frowned and was confused by her words. "You are being manipulated by your status as a virgin goddess. You are protecting your title for the sake of being one. Unlike Hestia who is still lovable, it is only a matter of when." Aphrodite snorted and Artemis frowned.

"I still do not understand, you're trying to trick me aren't you?" Artemis raised a brow at Aphrodite and she huffed. "How about I teach you if you prostrate yourself and ask for my teachings?" Aphrodite gave a smug smile and Artemis simply left, ignoring her.

"Hey! Artemis, come back!" Aphrodite lost her instantly as she wasn't athletic like Artemis. She then frowned, thinking that her friend would be a complete loner like Athena if she follows her path like that.

"Hmmm the god of the honkai familia eh? How about I test him later and see if you are worthy of Artemis!" Aphrodite looked at Ein and thought that she would use her charm. Her familia might not be as strong as Freya's, but her divinity as a god of beauty and love is stronger than hers.

But she was unsuccessful once again as they quickly left the venue as she thought of when to approach him. "Ahh! They're gone!" Aphrodite did an orz and thought that it was much easier in heaven because she could use her arcanum and teleport.

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Ein took one more look at what the girls were doing in the dungeon. He saw Meteria cheer on her sister. Her job as their level booster was clearly important. And Meteria waved around a flag that says Alfia is the best.

Ein laughed at her antics and thought that Bell should learn a thing or two from his mother. As he was a bit too introverted in normal social settings.

"Ein, we've been a bit too bored lately. Can't we like do something fun or something?" Hua whined and the Kaslanas nodded.

Elysia and Phyllis were much calmer now and just wanted to enjoy the married life as a retiree. "Hmmm, what can you do here... Ahhh, how about you bully this little guy." Ein smirked and opened up a portal to the deepest floor of the dungeon.

Kiana and Hua immediately went inside with a shout while Kallen and Bianka sighed. But they were a bit bored too so they jumped too.

"Woah, this place looks like the inside of a volcano!" Hua said with an excited face as it was a pretty cool place.

"Yeah, it's pretty nice and toasty here too. Makes me want to have a nap after barbecuing some meat and eating it." Kiana took out a skewer from her pouch and roasted it over the lava.

They then saw a black creature move, opening its eyes as the beast's one pupil sharpened and stared at them menacingly.

"Hey, isn't this the one eyed black dragon? It looks pretty impressive." Bianka rated it and nodded in satisfaction at the dragon's appearance. Only missing an eye patch so it would be some kind of villain with a backstory.

Hua cracked her knuckles and smiled viciously at the dragon. "Hey, you look like a pretty tough guy. Heard you beat up Alfia from a few years ago yeah?" Hua taunted the dragon like a delinquent and it squinted its one eye at them.

"Isn't this dragon you know? A bit weak? I'm pretty sure that if Alfia used Genos Angelus on this thing they would have pretty good chances." Kallen was confused and they just shrugged.

"Maybe she couldn't use it? She did use it on the Leviathan and it agitates her illness terribly." Bianka replied and Kallen nodded.

"Well then, you been alone here for a long time? How about..." Kiana shadow boxed the air and disappeared from plain sight.

"A knuckle sandwich!" She uppercutted the dragon and it flew right at the ceiling as a titanic bullet. Piercing through dozens of floors at once. But Bianka thought it would be a bad idea to let the thing go to the the surface.

"We can't have you go up too much now." Bianka appeared right above it and delivered an axe kick at the middle of its torso, making it plummet down.

Kallen and Hua looked at each other, they had a pretty nice idea. They went to the opposite side of each other and Kallen started the serve with a spike, giving a little bit of spin on the dragon.

"Oooh, spicy serve." Hua chuckled and received it, she then tossed it to Bianka and the blonde slapped it for a spike.

"Oh no you don't!" Kiana smiled and defended, receiving the poor dragon that turned into a volleyball.

And after a few minutes, when they sensed that it was going to die if they continued. The four of them finished up and it was a tie.

"Wait a minute, is that a blonde woman over there? You don't see them pop up in these kinds of places everyday." Kallen pointed out and they saw a blonde woman that looks to be tainted with blight. (pic)

"Eh, whatever. Let's just get her and take her out of here." Hua raised her hand and the woman got coated by a violent shell of honkai energy.

Hua sterilized her of the corruption. It might not look like it, but she has immense control on her honkai energy. Not only because she is a herrscher. But she just cannot accept that the old timer was better than her.

She then picked her up and they teleported back to the sky corridor to discuss what to do with Phyllis and Elysia.

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Ein went back to Beidou's ship and he was currently seeing quite the interesting scene. A pirate ship was nearby and it was quite damaged, but the jolly roger was what interested Ein. It had a stache that looked like overlapping dairy queen ice cream cones.

"Roger, we almost swam with the fishes." A blonde man with a unique goatee said to his apparent captain that has a black moustache. (pic)

"We're alive Rayleigh, that's all that matters. Hahahaha!" Roger laughed boisterously and Rayleigh swept his hair for a slick back as they got drenched from the sea king attacks. (pic)

Ein smiled and thought that they still do not have the Oro Jackson and the apprentices like Buggy and Shanks.

Beidou and the others were about to sail again and meet up with the quickly rising in fame trio of marines. But the crew suddenly saw a ship that was damaged and just floating in the middle of the calm belt. Which was suicide if you didn't have a seastone plated hull.

"Thanks for saving us jou-chan, hahahaha! You really helped our asses there." Roger thanked Beidou and her crew, especially Linlin who was the one who pulled them to safety quickly.

"Don't mention it old man, but you're in the calm belt you know? Isn't it a bad idea to come here if your ship is like that?" Linlin asked

"We were being chased by these upstarts, Garp, Tsuru, and Sengoku. They were relentless I tell you!" Roger smiled widely and Beidou raised a brow.

"Hoh? Is it because you're famous pirates?" Beidou eyed their jolly roger and gestured to Linlin. They were prepared to beat the shit out of them if their crew were nefarious thieves.

"Got that right! We are the Roger pirates, I'm the captain by the way. And this is my vice captain, Rayleigh! We've been sailing in the grand line for quite some time now you see. And pirates gotta loot other pirates ya know." Roger explained and Rayleigh decided to elaborate.

"They've been chasing us because we cause quite the collateral when we fight with other pirate crews. And of course, if your flag is black. The navy will attack you instantly." Rayleigh succinctly added.

"Hmmm, I see. Then that's fine then captain? I thought we needed to beat the crap out of them, but they seem to be just adventurers. I don't know why, but shouldn't a lot of pirate crews be adventurers instead?" Linlin was confused and Beidou nodded.

"Beats me, I am Beidou by the way. The captain of this ship, this is Linlin. One of my crewmates, but don't mess with her or her food. Or she'll kill you, I'm not even joking." Beidou introduced themselves.

The Roger pirates then looked at the destroyer and

was in awe at its size. It was also intimidating as the thing was all metal.

"Hey, Ein by the way. So? What are your plans before your ship is fixed then? Gloriosa, they can dock at the outskirts of Amazon Lily right?" Ein gave them a hand and Gloriosa nodded.

"We obviously party because we survived!" Roger cheered and Rayleigh gave a wry smile at his Captain's antics.

"Not a bad idea then, let's go have a party. This is also your goodbye from Amazon Lily Gloriosa. We should at least have a sendoff rather than you and your girls coming with us." Ein patted her head, making her grateful at his consideration.

"What are we waiting for then!? Men, get out the rum that survived!" Roger ordered and they threw a party at the outskirts of the island.

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Thanks for reading everyone. Next would be their meeting with Garp and the other two. Then a time skip for the god valley debacle.