Chapter 10 : On The Night Of The Full Moon, Asuka Island

"Amazing…"

Wilhelm stared at the proud Kirin Lion, his eyes burning with excitement. A grin spread across his face, completely unfazed by the beast's power.

Just how terrifying is the strength and talent perfectly inherited from Charlotte Linlin?

At only five years old, she defeated Al Buff, an elder of the Titan Clan, all by herself! Sure, her opponent was old and weakened, but the fact that she took down Jorul—known as "Waterfall Beard" and the "World's Oldest Warrior"—was no less astonishing.

Jorul stood over 20 meters tall, yet she not only knocked him down but severely injured him.

Even as a child, Charlotte Linlin could break the bones of a giant, thick-skinned titan with just a mosquito's bite-like effort. Her monstrous strength clearly far exceeded that of ordinary titans.

Wilhelm, who also possesses incredible physical strength and an iron-hard body, is a different story altogether. Though only fifteen, his power defies common logic.

Unlike Linlin, who wasted some of her potential due to her obsession with food, Wilhelm has trained relentlessly for years, pushing his body to the limits without ever slacking off. His strength has become unimaginably terrifying.

"Whoosh!"

With a slight push from his feet, Wilhelm launched himself forward like a rampaging beast breaking free from its cage—lightning-fast.

He didn't even use his Devil Fruit ability.

In an instant, he appeared midair, his right hand clenched into a fist, gathering tremendous force.

"Wham—" His punch tore through the air like a bolt of lightning.

Without even using Armament Haki, he relied purely on his overwhelming physical strength to smash down on the Kirin Lion's head as it tried to take off. The beast had no chance to dodge.

"Boom!"

"Rooaar…"

The Kirin Lion let out a deafening howl as Wilhelm's powerful blow sent its massive body crashing to the ground.

The impact shattered the earth, scattering rocks and dust everywhere.

The Lion's skull was crushed, blood poured out, and it lay trembling, unable to move. The mighty Beast King had lost its will to fight.

"Shing—"

A cold flash appeared as Wilhelm drew his blade.

With a single, precise strike, he drove the blade into the beast's head, extinguishing its life with an icy finality.

"So, this is the golden horn that can make someone a 'king' if they eat it?"

With one hand, Wilhelm yanked the golden horns from the Beast King's bloody head. He tossed them toward Finley, who was getting back on his feet with a wide grin.

"Finley, eat the golden horn!" Wilhelm commanded.

"Roar!"

Finley padded over, his sharp claws clicking against the ground.

Without hesitation, he opened his mouth, his sharp teeth sinking into the bloody golden horn.

"Crunch… Crunch…"

"Arrghh…!"

In an instant…

The golden light was blinding, radiating with incredible intensity.

Finley's already massive body began to grow even larger, cracking the ground beneath him as his size increased.

His snow-white fur became thicker, and his aura turned wild and ferocious.

"Roar—!" Finley growled in pain as golden horns emerged from the top of his head, glowing brightly.

Feeling the immense power coursing through him, he roared again, this time with excitement, his ferocity now unmatched.

The golden horns sparkled brilliantly.

The next moment, he leaped high into the air, his horns gleaming.

With a powerful crash, he slammed into the ground!

"Boom!"

The impact shattered the earth, causing it to split and collapse instantly.

"Crack... Crack…" The destruction spread rapidly, unstoppable in its force.

In the blink of an eye, Wilhelm appeared on Finley's back, smiling as he surveyed the devastation.

"Not bad at all—you didn't disappoint me!" Wilhelm said with a chuckle, watching the ruined land below.

"Crash…"

"Boom…"

Thunder rumbled and lightning flashed across the sky, accompanied by a heavy downpour.

Raindrops the size of thumbs pounded against the turbulent sea, sending up sprays of water with each impact.

"Hey—!" High in the dark sky, a massive eagle with golden horns on its head soared through the storm, flapping its wings powerfully as it pushed forward against the raging wind and rain.

The fierce headwind made it nearly impossible to see clearly, but the eagle moved as if it could teleport.

It was terrifyingly fast, vanishing from sight and reappearing hundreds of meters ahead each time.

Even the relentless rain couldn't slow it down or drench its feathers completely.

"Finley, can you keep going?" Wilhelm asked, his silver hair damp and clinging to his face.

Standing on Finley's back, now transformed into his vulture form, Wilhelm repeatedly activated his Devil Fruit ability to teleport, propelling them forward at incredible speed to escape the harsh weather.

He had already discarded his soaked clothes, revealing a powerful, chiseled physique. His muscles were solid and sharp-edged, exuding raw strength.

For three days, man and beast had been traveling through this treacherous sea.

Wilhelm, having passed through the Sabaody Archipelago earlier, had already secured the permanent pointer to Asuka Island, one of their destinations.

Under normal conditions, it would have taken only two days to reach their destination at Finley's usual flying speed, even with breaks for rest. But constant encounters with blizzards, torrential rain, and other severe weather had delayed their journey.

Wilhelm couldn't help but feel helpless. His luck just wasn't on his side.

It also reminded him that his strength still wasn't enough.

If he were truly powerful, he could simply swing his blade into the sky and scatter the thunderclouds with ease.

Then he wouldn't be in such an awkward situation.

"Craaa!"

Finley, the massive vulture with glowing golden horns, let out a sharp cry.

It was his way of reassuring Wilhelm that he was fine and could keep flying.

This level of rain wasn't enough to wear him out or stop their journey.

Especially now that he had gained the power of the Golden Crown.

His abilities—whether in combat or flight—had been elevated to a whole new level, far beyond what they once were.

"I can already smell it—the scent of people carried by the sea breeze. There are a lot of them…"

Wilhelm sniffed the air lightly, then said with confidence, "We must be close now."

As a hybrid of a Mink and a human, Wilhelm was undeniably unique.

His sense of smell was far sharper than any dog's, capable of picking up faint scents from incredible distances.

Even the smallest changes in the air couldn't escape him.

"Boom!"

Suddenly, a blazing bolt of lightning came crashing down from the sky, sending a chill through the air.

"Clang!"

A flash of cold, bright light filled the sky as Wilhelm's expression turned serious.

Gripping his ornate blade, Natural Fang, he swung it sharply toward the heavens.

"Flying Dragon!"

"Whoosh—"

A bright blue slash shot out from the blade like lightning, transforming into a dragon with claws bared.

The dragon-shaped slash met the incoming bolt of lightning head-on.

"Boom…"

In an instant, the clash sent shockwaves through the sky.

The powerful slash dispersed the thunderbolt, leaving onlookers in awe.

"What a hassle!" Wilhelm muttered.

Not long after, the storm passed, and the skies cleared.

A silver moon hung high, casting its light over the sea.

In the distance, a hazy island came into view, faintly visible in the night.

"Asuka Island… so we've finally arrived," Wilhelm murmured, glancing at the slightly trembling eternal pointer in his hand, its arrow fixed on the island.

Raising an eyebrow, he suddenly turned his gaze toward a certain direction.

There was a strange sensation—a distant calling from the darkness.

"Interesting," he said with a smirk.