One Piece: Who Made him the Pirate King!

Storm was encased in a cute, paw-shaped "Paw Pad Balloon," swiftly leaving the ground behind as he soared into the sky.

The small church where Kuma and Bonney lived, the island of the Sorbet Kingdom—all were left far behind.

Seated inside the "Paw Pad Balloon," Storm turned his head to look back at the South Blue island rapidly shrinking into a tiny black dot.

This trip to Alabasta was a solo mission.

Kid and Killer, the two he had "picked up" on Berufast Island, had been temporarily entrusted to Kuma.

The vast sum of money and supplies obtained from the Marine Headquarters through the "warship deal" had also been handed over to Kuma by Storm.

Since Vegapunk believed that Vinsmoke Judge of Germa 66 possessed the ability to treat "Azure Jade Scale,"

Storm and Kuma had tentatively accepted that Judge could indeed cure Bonney's condition.

And Germa 66 was a mercenary kingdom—everything revolved around money.

The funds and resources Storm had acquired from the warship deal were now earmarked as Bonney's "treatment fees."

"I hope that money is enough. If it isn't… we'll have to think of another way."

Storm withdrew his gaze. The island behind him had completely merged with the sea, vanishing from sight.

"As for this 'Paw Pad Balloon,' its speed is much slower than I expected…"

Kuma's [Paw-Paw Fruit] could transport people to designated locations.

But this teleportation wasn't the "instantaneous movement" or "spatial leap" one might imagine.

Based on Storm's personal experience,

he felt that the speed of Kuma's [Paw-Paw Fruit] was indeed faster than the flight speed of the [Blue-Eyed White Dragon].

But only marginally so.

"From the South Blue, crossing the Calm Belt, traversing the Grand Line, and finally reaching Alabasta…"

Storm pulled out a simplified world map from his pocket—another item he had obtained from the warship deal.

"What a long journey…

"Time to speed things up!"

He tucked the map away and pressed his hand against the "Paw Pad Balloon" surrounding him.

Drawing upon the power of the six-star [More-More Fruit], he channeled it into the balloon.

[More-More Fruit: Hundredfold Speed]!

Whoosh—

The "Paw Pad Balloon" instantly accelerated to a hundred times its original speed.

The surrounding air was violently pushed aside by its tremendous velocity, sending out concentric shockwaves high in the sky.

These were the sonic booms created as the balloon broke the sound barrier!

"Much better!"

...

Sorbet Kingdom, the small church.

Kid and Killer stared at their boss, who had vanished in an instant—or so it seemed to them—before turning to Kuma.

For the first time, the two gained a tangible sense of the towering, soft-spoken man's true strength.

To be honest,

Storm's defeat of Kuma had been too quick.

Kid and Killer had assumed Kuma was only slightly stronger than them.

Now, it seemed this man wasn't just "slightly" stronger…

That terrifying "instant disappearance" alone spoke volumes.

If ordinary people had witnessed this, they might have mistakenly thought the "Tyrant" enjoyed destroying evidence!

Kid and Killer's private thoughts were unknown to Kuma.

After sending Storm to Alabasta.

Kuma turned back to the small chapel, earnestly advising Bonney to take good care of herself, not to forget meals...

Finally, Kuma turned his gaze to Burdog beside them.

"Burdog, I leave this country to you..."

"Yes, Great Bear King."

Burdog tightened his grip on his cane and responded solemnly.

After saying this, the former king hesitated for a moment before awkwardly speaking up.

"That man... the one riding the White Dragon, is trustworthy, Great Bear King."

Though there had been some friction between Burdog and Storm.

Burdog had witnessed all of Storm's actions firsthand.

In Burdog's eyes, Storm's reliability far surpassed that of the Revolutionary Army who had appeared in Sorbet Kingdom over a decade ago! For someone as gentle and pure-hearted as Kuma to follow this man...

Burdog felt completely at ease.

As for that "man riding the dragon."

Burdog's opinion remained unchanged from the beginning—Vongola Storm simply didn't seem like a pirate!

If all the pirates in the world could be like Vongola Storm...

"I know, Burdog."

Kuma smiled gently.

"Storm saved Bonney. I will keep my promise and stay by his side."

Burdog said nothing more, merely raising his hand to pat Kuma's arm lightly.

The old man only hoped Kuma's later years would not be as tragic and bitter as his earlier ones...

After settling the trivial matters, Kuma picked up his belongings and stepped outside.

Kid and Killer had been waiting for some time.

Over the past few days.

Kuma hadn't been idle either.

Using the Revolutionary Army's intelligence network, he had pinpointed the exact location of Germa 66's activities in the East Blue.

"We're heading to the East Blue now."

Kuma raised his right hand, the power of the Paw-Paw Fruit ready to activate.

"Are you prepared?"

Kid and Killer exchanged a glance and stepped forward together.

"We're ready!" X2 The Paw-Paw Fruit's ability activated.

Destination—East Blue, Germa 66!

...Paradise, Alabasta.

Flying all the way from the South Blue, Storm crossed the Calm Belt and finally arrived at this vast desert nation.

As they neared Alabasta's waters.

Storm dispelled the [Hundredfold Speed] effect he had applied to the Paw Pad Balloon.

The balloon's speed slowed dramatically.

Storm and Kuma had already agreed on a "landing spot."

The Paw Pad Balloon passed over Alabasta's Nanohana Harbor, traversed the endless desert, and finally arrived at an oasis brimming with life.

This was the "City of Dreams" in northwestern Alabasta.

Also the headquarters of Crocodile—

Rainbase.

Boom! The massive paw-shaped balloon descended from the sky with a thunderous impact.

Leaving a deep, enormous paw print on the ground of Rainbase.

A deafening roar echoed far and wide.

The residents of Rainbase, startled by the noise, mistook it for an explosion, causing immediate chaos.

"Run for your lives!"

"It's a bomb!"

"The bomb went off!"

As the dust settled, Storm leaped out from the imprint of Kuma's paw.

Surveying the panicked crowd fleeing in all directions, he raised an eyebrow.

"The impact made a bigger splash than I expected! But that suits me just fine!"

Storm had carefully chosen Alabasta as his destination after considering Banaro Island and Kuraigana Island.

His original intention was to meet Crocodile first.

Information about the Sand Crocodile flashed through Storm's mind.

"Years ago, Crocodile somehow obtained intel about Pluton, one of the three Ancient Weapons.

"But his information was inaccurate. Instead of heading to Wano Country, where Pluton was truly hidden, he came to Alabasta!

"Here, as one of the Royal Seven Warlords of the Sea, Crocodile continuously hunted pirates in the surrounding waters, often being hailed as a 'hero' in the newspapers.

"How amusing—a pirate being called a 'hero'!"

There was a time when Storm believed the title of "hero" carried significant weight in these seas.

Until a certain "King of 200% Effort" who wished to remain anonymous also became the "Navy Hero"...

Tch! Storm shook off those unpleasant memories.

He glanced around.

After the recent commotion, the streets of Rainbase were now deserted.

Storm had hoped to see if any high-ranking officers from Baroque Works would arrive to handle the disturbance.

But the empty streets told him...

No one was coming.

"If Baroque Works won't come to me, then I'll just have to go to them!"

With a thought, the ground beneath his feet instantly underwent "Clayification."

A Blue-Eyed White Dragon surged from the earth, carrying him into the sky.

Storm rode the White Dragon, circling high above, but still, the long-admired "King of the Desert" failed to appear.

"Is Crocodile not home right now?"

Storm activated his [Observation Haki], its invisible reach instantly covering the entire oasis.

Every living being in this oasis emitted a "sound," all of which were sensed by Storm's [Observation Haki].

Following his perception, Storm moved toward the "largest" and "strongest" presence in the city.

It was in the central area of Rainbase.

A massive pyramid, adorned in gold and green.

At its pinnacle stood a gleaming golden statue of a banana crocodile.

This was the heart of Rainbase—

The pyramid casino, Rain Dinners.

Storm, riding the [Blue-Eyed White Dragon], charged recklessly toward the Rain Dinners casino.

Giant Dragon Impact!

Another wave of screams erupted from the city below.

"A dragon! A white dragon!"

"That dragon is crashing into Rain Dinners!"

"Where is our 'hero'?!"

"Rain Dinners is going to be destroyed by that White Giant Dragon!"

Before the eyes of the crowd, the [Blue-Eyed White Dragon] slammed violently into the Rain Banquet Pyramid.

But it was like one lump of clay hitting another.

There was no explosion as one might have expected.

Under the influence of a peculiar force, the [Blue-Eyed White Dragon] merged seamlessly with the Rain Dinners casino.

In that critical moment before impact, Storm utilized his ability to "Clayify" the entire Rain Dinners casino!

Even the imposing and majestic Golden Banana Crocodile statue atop the Rain Dinners.

Storm transformed it directly into the shape of the Blue-Eyed White Dragon! Whoa, an hour and a half late.

I am a sinner...

--Support me in Patreon for more chapters 35+ chapters in there 

patreon.com/LegendaryTL

Thanks!