Chapter 473: Phantasm Don Krieg

Honey, Robin, Zala, Alvida, and Kalifa walked deeper into the dense forest. "Honey, is Moonwalk the only technique you're interested in learning?" Zala asked, glancing at her.

Honey nodded. "I want to learn them all eventually, but Moonwalk will definitely be my starting point. It's the one I'm most excited about," she responded.

Alvida smirked, her mace resting casually on her shoulder. "That makes sense. Your abilities already give you plenty of options for ranged and close combat. Adding mobility with Moonwalk would make you even harder to pin down," Alvida said. 

Kalifa adjusted her glasses.. "Shave might also be useful. It can help you escape danger just as easily as it can let you close," Kalifa remarked. 

Honey considered this, her lips curling into a small smile. "You're right. That does sound like a good addition," she replied. 

Zala turned her attention to Robin.. "Robin, what about you? Any techniques catching your interest besides Moonwalk?" she asked.

Robin's lips curved into a playful smile. "Moonwalk is appealing, but I'd miss Ben carrying me like a princess," she commented. 

The group chuckled as Alvida teased, "My love will gladly do it if you ask." 

Robin nodded, her smile softening. "He will do much more than that," she agreed. 

Kalifa tilted her head slightly. "Finger Pistol might be good for you, Robin. With your ability to summon hands or arms anywhere, you could deliver a lethal strike from places no one would expect. You would be the perfect assassin," she said. 

Honey shivered slightly at the thought, though her grin remained. "That sounds terrifying," she responded. 

Robin chuckled. "For Ben, I would do anything," Robin stated. Robin looked at a cluster of bright yellow flowers growing along the path. She approached them and squatted down. She looked at the petals. The rest of the group paused, watching her closely.

"What's so interesting about those flowers?" Zala asked, folding her arms.

"I have a feeling these are more than they seem," she replied. She pulled the flowers free from the earth, their roots breaking apart. To everyone's surprise, a small container of yellow liquid was revealed, hidden within the stems of the plants. Robin held it up.

"You were right. This is something unusual," Honey said. 

Zala smirked, her tone light. "Not every day you see flowers hiding a secret stash. Guess even plants have their tricks," she said. 

"They might be useful, it reminds of honey, the things bees make," Alvida said. 

"It could be," Kalifa said. 

"You seem to be an expert at bees," Zala said. 

"Well, as a child I used to poke the beehive," Alvida said as she laughed. 

"Something never changes," Zala responded. 

"They do," Alvida began. "When I was a child, I was the fat, ugly one—the one everyone looked down on. I hated beautiful things because I thought I'd never be one of them," she added. 

She paused, her grip tightening slightly on her mace as she continued. "Even after I ate my Devil Fruit and gained this new appearance, I was still full of hate. That bitterness didn't just vanish with my looks," she added. "It wasn't until Ben came along that things started to change," Alvida said. 

"I know exactly what you mean," Honey said. "I used to be a coward, someone who ran at every opportunity, too scared to stand up for myself or anyone else," she added. She paused, and a small smile formed on her lips. "And then Ben came into my life. He didn't just inspire me to be brave, he showed me that I already had the strength to face my fears. I just needed someone to believe in me first," she added. 

Kalifa knew all this. She acknowledged Ben`s power was terrifying. Robin smiled. "I know what you are thinking and you are right," Robin said. 

They walked down the path until they saw an altar with a shiny orb. "Looks like we found it," Honey said. 

"Let's be careful and like my love said, if it's anyone of them we leave," Alvida stated. They all nodded 

They walked towards the shiny orb. There were some markings on the floor. The floor around the altar was concrete. 

As they stepped onto the concrete, the orb started to glow. Suddenly everyone got a vision of Maya being held by her parents. They both had huge smiles on her face. They saw Maya`s parents taking her to a temple where a female priest blessed her in front of the Goddess statue. The sun had shone on her. Then, it changed to a vision of Maya being a little girl and she was playing with her parents. Maya had a smile on her face. After that the scene changed to Maya crying at a funeral. Her parents died. The vision changed to Maya living with her grandmother adjusting to her new life. She had a small smile on her face. Then it changed to Maya praying to the goddess and the statue glowed. There were 3 birds around her. After that, it changed to Maya and Saga talking. They were clearly friends. Then it changed to a scene where pirates attacked her hometown. There was carnage, people were being hacked to death, women and children were running, homes were being burnt. Maya looked in horror.Then she saw Saga get Shichiseiken. After that, they saw Maya encounter Ben. They saw Maya and Ben talking and making a promise. Finally they saw Maya purifying Shichiseiken. 

The orb started to glow. There was a bright light. From the bright light a figure started to form. They saw a large, muscular man, with purple-gray hair and purple sideburns. He wore golden armour with massive shoulder-plates. He wore purple pants and black shoes. 

"Who is he?" Honey asked. Honey thought they had never encountered each other. 

"His name is Don Krieg," Alvida responded. "A pirate from the East Blue. He had a big ego," she added. 

"Ben said that Luffy had encountered him," Robin added. 

"Does he have a devil fruit?" Zala asked.

"No, but he has lots of weapons and he uses underhand tactics." Alvida responded. She had heard of him during her days as a pirate. 

"So, a typical pirate," Kalifa said, adjusting her glasses.

"Not Ben, though," Zala interjected, crossing her arms with a knowing smirk.

"Exactly. My love is different," Alvida added proudly.

Robin chuckled softly. "He's different, his underhanded tactics are just different," she remarked. 

The group paused for a moment, then exchanged amused glances as they all silently agreed:

"Gatling Gun," Phantasm Don Krieg said as his large golden shoulders opened to reveal a large barrel. The sides of his armour near his stomach opened up. There were several barrels of a gun which could be seen. He then fired numerous guns at them all. The bullets went through the air towards the girls who were talking. 

They all saw the bullets coming towards them. "Paper Art," Kalifa said as she relaxed her body. She moved to the right like a piece of paper and dodged the bullets.

Alvida got in front of Zala and Robin. The bullets came and slipped off her body. She felt nothing as the bullets went left and right. 

Honey stood there. She turned into a liquid and let the bullets go through her. 

Phantasm Don Krieg stopped firing. At that moment, Zala darted out from behind Alvida. She closed the distance between herself and Phantasm Don Krieg in a flash. "Stinger Kick," Zala said as her leg transformed into a deadly, elongated spike. She lunged forward, delivering a strike with her spiked leg. The attack hit its mark, slashing across Phantasm Don Krieg's golden armour with a sharp, metallic screech. Sparks flew from the point of impact. 

Phantasm Don Kreig quickly moved his arm and grabbed her leg. Zala eyes widened. "Damn," Zala remarked. 

"Storm Leg!" Kalifa said as she sent a powerful kick. She unleashed a compressed blade of wind that tore through the air. The razor-sharp wind blade streaked towards Phantasm Don Krieg, striking his arm with a forceful impact. The collision sent his arm jerking backward, the sheer force momentarily broke his grip on Zala. 

Freed from his grasp, Zala quickly seized the opportunity and jumped out of the way. Phantasm Don Kreig was about to go after when he was hit with a torrent of purple liquid. It hit his armour and he slid back. ""Liquid Air Blast," Honey said. 

"Slip on Slide," Alvida said as she leaned forward, letting her feet slide across the ground. She went towards Phantasm Don Krieg. "Kanabo Crusher," Alvida added as she lifted Seraphina high and swung it down in a crushing blow. She aimed at his chest. The hit connected and Phantasm Don Kreig went flying back. He was in the air about to crash down when suddenly he straightened himself up and landed on his feet. 

Phantasm Don Krieg looked at the girls. He raised his fist. His knuckles opened up and they saw a shiny metal coating his fist. He held his fist high ready to fight. 

"He seems a little serious," Robin remarked. 

"Then let's show we are as well," Alvida stated. They all nodded.