8. Baterilla
On the ship where Anos and the others were sailing, everyone still looked confused as they watched the Marine warship move away.
Daiki walked up to Anos and asked, "Your Majesty, do you know that old man?"
"Of course I do. He can be considered the pinnacle of strength in this world. More importantly, he's currently the most powerful person in the Marine." Anos slightly raised the corner of his mouth, praising him without hesitation.
"Really? But judging by his subordinates, he didn't seem that impressive," Daiki said, a look of surprise on his face.
"You're mistaken, Daiki. That old man is quite fierce, and his perception of his opponents is extremely sharp."
Upon hearing this, Daiki's expression darkened. He wanted to ask more but hesitated.
Seeing that Anos didn't seem concerned, Daiki paused before asking, "Your Majesty, is the method you used to train us related to the Marine?"
Anos smiled and patted Daiki's shoulder. Without any reservations, he said, "You're right. The training method I used for you is a system the Marine has never shared with outsiders. It's also their most powerful set of techniques Rokushiki"
"I see…"
Only then did Daiki understand why Anos hadn't allowed them to display their full strength. If the results of their training, just a group of a hundred, had reached this level, he couldn't even imagine the strength of those still in the Marines.
He wasn't surprised but had lingering questions. How did His Majesty, at just ten years old, come across such secret techniques?
But now wasn't the time to ask. What mattered was his loyalty to his kingdom and his king.
"Stop thinking and get ready to move. We're only halfway, and we need to reach our destination before nightfall," Anos said directly.
"Yes, Your Majesty…"
Anos, having regained his calm, looked at the slowly departing warship, deep in thought about why Garp had come to the South Blue.
This place was far from the Marine's headquarters, quite a journey for him. There had to be a reason for his presence here.
The South Blue was relatively weak and didn't have many pirates. It didn't seem like a place that would warrant the strongest in the Marine's attention.
Moreover, with few Kingdoms here allied with the World Government, there was little reason for a visit.
"It seems Garp's purpose for being here is related to Baterilla."
After all, it was the birthplace of the Pirate King's son and the final resting place of the Pirate King's wife.
Most people didn't know about the connection between Garp and Pirate King Roger, but Anos, with his broader understanding of the one-piece world, was well aware.
The treasure indicated by the map was also in Baterilla, where the Pirate King's wife had remained. If there wasn't a connection between the two, how could it all be a coincidence?
Anos had always believed there was more to the story. As the king, he had at least some knowledge of the situation in Baterilla.
The island's population hovered around 20,000, with most of it surrounded by mountains. Though connected to the sea, it wasn't a particularly hospitable place for human settlement.
As they sailed on, Anos wasn't in the mood to enjoy the scenery. Instead, he walked along the coastline of his kingdom.
The entire Kingdom wasn't large. It took just a day to sail across it, and with their current slow pace, the land seemed even smaller.
As night fell, a maid who had been by Anos's side reminded him, "Your Majesty, we should reach Baterilla Island in about ten minutes. Master Daiki asked me to inform you."
"We're almost there?" Anos asked with a sigh.
"Yes, Your Majesty, but it's already dark. Should we spend the night on the island?"
"Yes, inform them to anchor five miles off the island. We don't want to disturb the residents," Anos ordered.
"Understood, Your Majesty…"
Anos wanted to avoid causing alarm among the islanders. A ship arriving at night could easily be mistaken for pirates, creating unnecessary panic.
Since it was already dark, the ship had enough space for everyone to rest, and there was no need to rush.
The next morning, Anos led the group toward the location marked on the treasure map.
Baterilla Island was not small, though much of it was covered by mountains and forests. They chose to land in a secluded area to avoid disturbing the locals.
Walking through the dense forest, Anos asked curiously, "Daiki, are you sure we're heading in the right direction?"
"Don't worry, Your Majesty. If the map is accurate, we should be close," Daiki assured him.
They had been walking for hours, leaving around 20 people to guard the ship. The treasure map didn't seem like much to go on, especially given the size of the island.
As they trudged through the dense forest, the sweltering heat began to take its toll.
"Daiki, didn't you say we were almost there? What's going on?" Anos shouted in frustration.
"Your Majesty, this forest is strange. I feel like we've been going in circles. I'm not sure what's happening," Daiki replied, looking helpless.
The sweat on everyone's faces was proof of the oppressive environment. Anos noticed something odd, too. There were no sounds of birds or any signs of life around them.
"Your Majesty, please rest here. I'll climb a tree to get a better view," Daiki suggested respectfully.
"No, don't split up. This place feels dangerous," Anos commanded.
Anos walked toward a massive tree, its top hidden in the canopy. It was at least ten meters wide, and he realized they had passed it multiple times. It felt like they were stuck in a loop.
"System, can you analyze this?"
[ Apologies, host. This system is the universal Mall system and does not provide support in such situations ]
Anos was frustrated. The system wouldn't help, but he sensed there was something they were missing.
"Daiki, has no one ever mentioned anything strange about this part of Tru?" Anos asked.
"I'm sorry, Your Majesty. This area has never been fully explored," Daiki said, lowering his head.
"Forget it. Let's focus on finding a way out," Anos said, sighing.
"Your Majesty, should we try cutting down these trees?" a soldier suggested, swallowing nervously.
"No, they're too large. It would take too long," Daiki responded.
"There's some truth to that," Anos interjected. "But given our limited options, let's try it."
"But, Your Majesty, we didn't bring tools. Relying on manpower might not be enough," Daiki cautioned.
"It doesn't matter…"
Anos suddenly drew a sword, his demeanour becoming fierce.
"Muramasa, it's up to you to help us now," Anos said to the demon sword in his hand.
He pulled out the sword, and his eyes turned red. Although he hadn't mastered swordsmanship, his raw strength combined with the power of the demon sword Muramasa was enough to cut the massive trees.
The soldiers, including Daiki, looked on in awe and fear as Anos unleashed the power of the demon sword. Muramasa's evil aura made even the most seasoned soldiers uneasy.
"What kind of weapon is that?" one soldier asked nervously.
"I think we'd better keep our distance," another soldier replied.
"Your Majesty is incredible," someone else murmured, both in fear and admiration.
But Anos was focused solely on controlling the bloodthirsty energy of Muramasa. The sword trembled in his hand, almost as if it wanted to break free, but Anos gripped it tightly.
The forest around them filled with The sword's dark aura. Anos held on, trying not to let the sword's power overwhelm him.
After nearly half an hour, Muramasa's wild energy began to subside. The sword's evil aura dissipated, and it became calm in Anos's hand. The blade gleamed, reflecting its extraordinary nature.
"Muramasa, since you've accepted me as your master, you'll follow my commands…" Anos whispered a cold smile on his lips.
The blade trembled slightly in response.
With Muramasa in hand, Anos slashed at the enormous tree in front of him. The tree, nearly ten meters thick, was cleaved in half by the sword's energy.
As the tree fell, a sound like shattering glass echoed through the forest, and the oppressive heat vanished.
A cool breeze swept through, and they were finally able to see the road.
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Thank you for reading!