Between Two Worlds: Nen and Haki

"The effect is quite good!"

Zane let the lightning version of the three-pointed double-edged glaive in his hand dissipate. Looking at the mess on the ground in front of him, he let out a satisfied chuckle.

Although it was a technique he had just learned and applied on the fly.

However, from his vantage point of high-level mastery, as his strength grew and his experience broadened, the copying ability of his God's Eye was also improving.

Not to mention he had already peered into the secrets of Charlotte Linlin's similar technique, the Ikoku Sovereignty.

The ground shook.

To his left and right, Dorry and Brogy came running with giant strides.

"Gyah gyah gyah gyah! If it weren't for your warning just now, Zane, I might have actually died."

"Gaba baba baba! No kidding. I never expected you to master the Sovereignty as well. I was truly startled."

Reaching him, Dorry and Brogy both burst into laughter.

Then, exchanging a look, they knelt on one knee before Zane in unison, placing their right fists over their hearts.

"I, Dorry!"

"I, Brogy!"

"We two hereby swear upon the honor of the Giant Tribe that from this day forward, we are willing to follow you, Lord Zane, until the day we die in battle!"

Seeing the two giants swear their solemn oaths, Zane laughed happily and gestured for them to rise. "Good! Gaining the loyalty of both Dorry and Brogy today is truly a cause for celebration. Come, let's drink to our hearts' content!"

With that, he retrieved a vast hoard of wine and food from his Munch-Munch Space, and an impromptu banquet began right then and there.

"You really are miraculous, Lord Zane, being able to conjure so much wine and food out of thin air."

Dorry's eyes widened, looking at the suddenly appearing supplies in astonishment.

"Hahaha! Don't be so surprised. I have plenty of tricks up my sleeve; you'll see more in the future," Zane said with a laugh.

"Gaba baba baba! Good wine! It's been a long time since I've had wine this good."

Brogy was equally shocked, but his eyes lit up the moment he saw the wine jars. He picked one up, opened it, took a sniff, and downed it in a joyful gulp.

Zane said with a smile, "Drink as much as you like. I can't promise everything, but as for wine, I'll make sure you can always drink your fill from now on."

"Then we'll be counting on your care, My Lord!" Brogy happily picked up another jar and began to drink.

"No need to call me 'My Lord.' Just call me Captain!" Zane waved his hand dismissively.

At that moment, Nico Robin, seeing the battle had ended, flew down from the sky and landed beside Zane.

"You've come at the right time, Robin. Why don't you introduce the Hunting Team to our two new members?"

"No problem, leave it to me, Captain!"

Upon Zane's request, Nico Robin began introducing them to the team with a smile.

She was also exceptionally happy that the Hunting Team had gained two giants.

After all, when facing the World Government, the stronger their side was, the better their chances of victory.

*

*

*

The next day.

"Let's go. We're continuing our journey to Alabasta!"

Stepping out of a Space Door and seeing Nico Robin waiting for him, Zane walked forward with a smile and opened his arms.

He had officially welcomed Dorry and Brogy into the team during the banquet.

Indeed.

After sobering up the following morning, Zane used his Door-Door Fruit ability to personally transport Dorry and Brogy to Rusukaina.

After introducing the two giants to Manlong and the others and instructing them to participate in the Hunting Team's special training, Zane finally returned to Little Garden.

"Well? Were Baby 5 and the others shocked when you suddenly brought back two giants?"

Seeing Zane's open arms, Nico Robin rolled her eyes, but she still cooperatively leaped into them, allowing her captain to hold her.

Wrapping her arms around Zane's neck, Nico Robin spoke with a hint of amusement.

"You bet!" Zane laughed, unfurling his thunderous wings. He leaped into the air, carrying Robin with him as they soared into the sky.

A Nen aura shield expanded around them.

The rushing wind couldn't affect the two people inside at all.

Amidst their chatter and laughter, Little Garden quickly vanished behind them.

No unexpected incidents occurred during the rest of their journey.

Relying on the speed of his Rumble: Thunder Wing Sky Drive.

They successfully reached Alabasta, which wasn't very far from Little Garden, that same day.

Shortly after...

"Robin, Crocodile must have planted his own people within the Alabasta rebel army, right?"

As they flew over the swirling sands of the desert and across the cities of Alabasta, Zane suddenly looked down and asked the woman in his arms.

"Hmm? Yes, Crocodile did indeed plant many people in the rebel army. After all, his goal wasn't just to find Pluton, but also to overthrow the Alabasta regime and take control of this superpower."

"On the surface, the rebel leader is a man named Kohza, but secretly, many of the middle and high-ranking officers within the rebel army are Crocodile's subordinates."

Though a bit surprised by Zane's sudden inquiry, Nico Robin immediately shared what she knew.

"So it seems Crocodile's death has caused these people to spiral out of control," Zane mused.

He only asked about the Alabasta rebels because his Observation Haki had picked up a great deal of relevant information while they were flying over the cities.

For instance, Alabasta was currently still embroiled in civil war.

That's right.

Although Crocodile and Baroque Works had been dismantled, it hadn't changed the state of war in Alabasta.

In fact, it had plunged Alabasta into even greater chaos.

Summarizing the information he had gathered, two main points could be noted.

One: The rebellion had intensified recently, and their conduct had taken a sharp turn for the worse, with frequent reports of killing, burning, and looting.

Two: The original leader of the rebels, Kohza, and several high-ranking officers close to him had been assassinated. The current rebel leader claimed the hits were ordered by King Cobra.

Combining Nico Robin's words with his own knowledge of the original plot.

Zane easily deduced the actual state of the rebellion.

Crocodile had planted a large number of moles within the Alabasta rebel army to control it from behind the scenes.

Now that Crocodile was dead, these people clearly hadn't disbanded; instead, they had become opportunists.

Human ambition tends to expand.

Regardless of the original reasons for the rebellion, as it grew, the ultimate goal undoubtedly became the overthrow of the old regime to become the new rulers of Alabasta.

The current rebel army had undeniably become a beast named Ambition.

Even now.

The rebels had even fought their way to the capital of Alabasta.

And then there was this...

'Even though so many things have changed, the Straw Hat Pirates still ended up coming to Alabasta in the end...' Zane mused to himself.

Indeed.

Among the various pieces of information he picked up, Zane had captured another situation.

That was the Straw Hat Pirates.

Whether it was the pull of fate or just a coincidence.

At any rate, for some reason, the Straw Hat Pirates were currently in Alabasta, and they had appeared alongside Vivi.