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The Strongest Frost Loli (203)
🕑 Added 2025-03-07 17:00:28 +0000 UTCChapter 203 - Footprints of the Past
Among the Straw Hat crew, who had scattered in different directions, only Robin followed the route she had initially planned.
Accustomed to fieldwork, she could determine direction to some extent even without a compass. Pedro, who had relied entirely on Robin for navigation, was wandering aimlessly in the same area, unable to reunite with her.
From time to time, Robin would open her notebook, checking the map she had sketched, and jotting down notes on the vegetation and remnants of buildings she encountered.
She also found several inscriptions left in various places, and, driven by her curiosity, Robin began to decipher them.
"...This is a memorial for the 'city' itself... erected by the descendants after its destruction."
About 800 years ago, the ancient city of "Shandora" was destroyed. Despite having flourished for about 1100 years. The period between 900 and 800 years ago was known as the "Void Century," a time when all information was erased from the world... If this city actually existed during that period, which was only recorded in the "Poneglyphs," perhaps there was a way to learn the history that no one else could speak of.
Robin, quietly excited, took notes in her notebook and, checking the overall map of "Upper Yard," began to consider where the most information might be left.
"...There might be more clues in the city center."
By examining the information she had gathered so far, she could roughly imagine the location of the city center.
There—she might find the information she had been searching for.
As Robin was engrossed in her thoughts, focused on the information before her, someone called out to her from behind.
"Nico Robin?"
"Who's there?!"
Instinctively hiding her notebook in her pocket and turning around, she saw a man standing there, more than twice her height.
Black wings, dark skin, white hair. He matched the description Sanji and Zepo had given of the enemy.
The man, who had walked through the forest, approached Robin, pushing aside branches with a look of annoyance.
"Did I surprise you? Well, it doesn't matter. I have no business with you."
"...I heard you were defeated by Komurasaki yesterday."
"Komurasaki? ...Oh, you mean the one who fired those long-range shots yesterday. Thanks to her, I lost one of my body stocks. It's not like they're free to make."
"Stocks...?"
Robin frowned at the man's words.
She couldn't understand what he was saying. The man before her matched the description Sanji and the others had given, but was he a different person?
"Don't you understand? I hear you're smart, but I guess that field is beyond you... Let me introduce myself. I'm Martin. An associate of Alpha Maraptonoka."
"You're her associate?!"
"Yes. That's why I won't lay a hand on you. It's more profitable to let you swim freely."
The incident in Alabasta, after all, had occurred because Maraptonoka had leaked Robin's location to Kaido and Linlin.
She received a large sum of money for leaking the information, and similarly informed Kanata that she had been exposed, prompting her to move and prevent the objective from being achieved.
For Maraptonoka, it was more convenient for Robin not to be captured by Kaido and the others. As long as she moved freely, a large sum of money would flow in just by leaking information.
That's why Martin wouldn't lay a hand on Robin.
"...What do you intend to do with all that money?"
"? That's a strange question. The more money you have, the better. You need money to do anything, to buy anything. That's how human society works, isn't it?"
"If your only goal is to collect money, I think there are other ways."
"Maybe so."
He didn't intend to attack, but he didn't intend to leave either, it seemed, as Martin sat down on a nearby fallen tree.
Was he hoping to get some information if he stayed near Robin, or did he have another aim?
The merchant Maraptonoka and her follower, Martin. Robin couldn't understand their objectives.
"The collected money is spent, and then more money is collected. It's a cycle. Like a bat, flitting between different factions. Humans are so roundabout."
"...You speak as if you're not human."
"This body is human. Only the body, though."
Martin spoke in a teasing manner.
Perhaps deciding that he wouldn't attack for now, Robin ignored Martin and checked her position and destination.
If Martin intended to follow her to her destination, she wanted to do something about it, but if even Zepo couldn't handle him, Robin had no chance.
She sighed, wondering what to do.
Strength and speed were meaningless against Robin's ability, but if it was true that he could spontaneously combust, Robin's ability would be at a disadvantage. She wouldn't do something as reckless as fighting while injuring herself.
"...Are you not planning to leave here?"
"Not until I find what I'm looking for, at least."
"I see... then be careful. Maraptonoka is on a rampage. The Straw Hats aside, if you die, I can't sell the information."
With that, Martin stood up and began to move towards somewhere else.
Robin watched him go with a puzzled expression, then started walking in the opposite direction from where he had gone.
Her destination was the city center, the place once called the Golden City "Shandora."
***
While Luffy was making contact with Wiper and the others, and a battle was about to ensue...
While Zoro was wandering through the forest and being chased by the giant snake again...
Pedro had a chance encounter with Martin, and a battle had begun.
The flames emanating in the forest were extremely troublesome, and if he fought carelessly, he would be engulfed in fire and inhale smoke. Pedro moved cautiously, striking at Martin whenever he saw an opening.
The slashes, combined with Electro, however, had no effect on Martin, who was emitting flames from his back, and the battle had been going on for a long time.
"Damn it... No matter how much I cut, it doesn't feel like I'm doing any damage...! You're ridiculously tough!!"
"You're annoying. It would be easier if you just got burned."
Martin's physical capabilities were tremendous, but that didn't necessarily mean he was strong.
Pedro's attacks didn't work, but Martin's attacks also couldn't hit Pedro. Of course, there was fatigue, so if they continued to fight, the one who tired first would fall.
(I have no recourse... Does that mean it's impossible to defeat him without a hit on par with Hime-sama's class?)
He should have defeated at least one of them, but he was certain that there were others. Depending on how many there were, their threat level was immeasurable.
If he could defeat them with some recklessness... he thought, when flames suddenly attacked Pedro from behind.
"!?"
"You dodged well. The surprise attack was perfect, but you weren't focusing your Observation Haki, were you?"
"What's going on...?!"
The same face, the same physique, the same voice.
There was another one of the same opponent he had been fighting. Pedro was confused by the appearance of two Martins.
"Did you split yourself?!"
"As if that's possible."
"...Well, it's understandable that you'd think that, actually experiencing this situation."
Martin was dumbfounded by Pedro's nonsensical idea, but it was understandable that he would be confused in this situation.
He could have assumed there were allies, but if an opponent who could be said to be almost the same person appeared, he would be surprised.
The two Martins, with flames on their backs, began to attack Pedro, manipulating the flames to hit his blind spots.
"Damn it! This is troublesome!!"
He dodged by using the trees as footholds for three-dimensional movement, but the trees he had been using were burned by the flames, reducing his footholds.
As the situation worsened, he concentrated Haki and Electro on his sword, determined to take down at least one of them.
(...I should attack the moment he releases his flames. For that instant, the flames he's wearing will disappear.)
The heat reached Pedro even when the flames were just on his body. He didn't want to be burned, so if he was going to attack his back, that was the only moment.
If they assumed that the same Devil Fruit didn't exist, then since both of the two Martins were using the same ability, it should be considered a racial trait.
If he could inflict a blow on either one, there was a chance.
"Die!"
And so, at the moment when Martin released a massive amount of flames, trying to engulf Pedro...
(Now!!)
Pedro moved through the trees at top speed, circled around to his back, and swung his blackened sword.
Pedro was a jaguar Mink. Moving on top of trees and aiming for the back like an assassin was second nature to him.
The blade, blackened by Haki, was about to strike Martin's back—but Martin, still facing away, dodged the blade at high speed.
"—He dodged it!?"
Until now, no matter how obvious the attack, Martin had not dodged, choosing to take it head-on. But now, he had chosen to dodge.
What did that mean?
Martin, who was trying to capture Pedro immediately, moved away and re-positioned his blade.
(His toughness is abnormal. He's taken my slashes head-on many times and still looks fine. But he dodged that one attack just now.)
Compared to the previous situations, there were two differences in the previous Martin.
The attack point was his back.
He wasn't clad in flames.
It was necessary to test one or both of these again.
Compared to the previous situation where he had no recourse, it could be said that things had improved considerably.
—But.
"You're strong after all, Pedro. A bounty of over 300 million is nothing to scoff at."
"Zepo was strong in his own right, but you seem to have better combat sense."
"But this is where it ends."
"I'm not underestimating you. I've decided that I need to fight you with all my strength."
"It's good that I was thorough. With my full force, I'll defeat you."
One, two, three.
People with the same face appeared one after another, and Pedro watched with his mouth agape.
Comparing all five identical people, Pedro couldn't help but mutter.
"Quintuplets... That's not it, either."
They all had the same face, the same physique. It was too similar.
Faced with a situation beyond his comprehension, Pedro abandoned his thoughts.
First, he needed to get through this. Since Martin said he had his maximum force, there would be no more hidden cards. Knowing that he wouldn't go to his other companions was, in a way, reassuring.
Re-positioning his sword, Pedro focused on the five in front of him.
"At least I've seen a thread of how to conquer you. No matter how many of you there are, I'll defeat you."
"Try it!"
The burning of the forest intensified, and the heat and smoke drained their stamina.
The situation was still unfavorable, even though it had improved. Pedro decided to fight with all his might and stepped forward.
***
"Is this all?"
Maraptonoka wiped her blood-stained hands with a handkerchief as she left the burning village.
The spear that could ignite where it stabbed had been broken, and the handle that emitted blades of iron clouds had been shattered. The other two, who mainly fought barehanded, still had their weapons, but the wounds on their bodies were gruesome.
All four had been torn apart by her sharp claws, cut more cleanly than any blunt sword could have done.
In contrast, Maraptonoka had no injuries, only wasted time.
"It seems there's no one else here, so let's try to lure them out."
Using Observation Haki to search the island, she found two groups moving in clusters to some extent.
One was a familiar "voice". She assumed it was Martin, and judging by the strength of its presence, she understood why he needed to fight with his full force.
The other was a group of unfamiliar "voices", so she assumed they were Shandians.
"Now, which way should I go..."
Pedro was a bounty of at least 300 million. Martin might be a little overwhelmed. She could go help him, but... it wouldn't be good to take too much time.
She knew that "Twilight" had ability users who could move through the sky, so if she took too long, reinforcements might arrive.
It would be best to crush the Shandians and the Straw Hat crew on the way and attack "Ohara".
If she attacked directly, they couldn't ignore it, Maraptonoka thought, and began to move.
On the way.
"Uuu... Luffy~~... Zoro~~... Robin... Pedro~~... Where did everyone go..."
Lost and dejected, a cute creature—no, Chopper—was walking sluggishly along the path.
It was clearly not an existing creature, and even without using Observation Haki, she could feel the purity in his monologue.
In short—it struck Maraptonoka's weak point.
"S-So cute~~~!!!!"
Without a second thought, Maraptonoka rushed over, scooped up Chopper, and held him close.
"W-Whaaaaaa!!? What, what, what!?"
"I've never heard of such a cute creature being in a place like this!! I have no choice but to take you home with me!!!"
"Gyaaaaaaa!!!"
Gone was the bloodthirsty atmosphere from before. There was Maraptonoka, hugging, stroking, and cuddling Chopper to her heart's content.
Comments
Queen Pheromone
202 has been published in the collection.
Arthur Gomes de Almeida
203?
