Chapter 43 Big News

Early in the morning, Paul and the others woke up and were out in the open area. Across from them was Wukong with dozens of monkeys standing behind him.

Paul: " Like I said yesterday, if you want to follow us, you will have to prove your strength. Although you have told us your story, we have to know that we can trust your strength and confirm your resolve."

Sera: " My name is Sera, Phim D. Sera. You will be fighting against me. If we feel like you are holding back, then we will not accept you. Come, let's see what makes you king."

Wukong got serious after hearing her words. If he doesn't show his strength then they may leave without him. He doesn't know when he may encounter people again. Wukong pulled out a long staff that had a golden band on both ends. Wukong took a wide stance as he began to lean back. 'swoosh' Wukong kicked his feet hard as he disappeared from the spot and appeared in front of Sera send a vertical strike towards her heads. Sera raised her arms to block that strike. Just as the blow landed and was blocked by Sera, Wukong quickly pulled back his staff and then twisted around and swung his staff as a fast speed. However, this was also blocked easily by Sera with just her arm.

Wukong backed off a few distance as he took time to collect himself. His first thought going into this battle was that he would at least make her use or exert some strength. Since she wasn't Paul, Wukong assumed that she would be drastically weaker. Besides, Sera is a lot smaller than him, how could she have more physical power than him? It was logically impossible.

Paul knew that he was underestimating her. " Wukong, Sera used to be an elite soldier in her country, you shouldn't underestimate her. In terms of brute force she is the strongest one here, besides me of course."

Wukong's eyes narrowed when he heard this. The first two strike was mostly all of his strength... at least in his current form. Wukong started transforming. Into what? It is nonother than a monkey. Wukong grew in size in both height and muscle mass. Wukong's body grew a tail and he had hair coming out of him from everywhere on his body except his face and palms.

Paul smiled when he saw this. This is what he has been hoping for since he heard his name and his title on this island. It must be because of the natural energy on this island that there is a large population of monkeys and since it is the most suitable energy for monkeys to live in, naturally there may be a chance of a devil fruit that would have this kind of form.

With Wukong's change, he got a lot faster and stronger than before. As he launched his attacks on Sera, Sera started taking it a lot more seriously. Furthermore, Wukong started using other fighting tactics that looked similar to the martial arts that the monkeys were using, however, it was clearly more advanced then what they saw beforehand. Wukong showed a lot of feints that moves that seems strong but was soft and looked soft but was strong and caught Sera off guard a few times.

The fight continued for a while as the sun was now fully up high in the sky. Wukong and Sera was still battled in an intense match, however, Sera still had not used her devil fruit powers yet. It seems from the battle that Wukong has not learned armament haki yet and mainly used brute force. However, since he was able to sense their arrival from deep in the island, his observation haki must be high. However, this problem could be properly be taught with time and since he already has a great amount of brute force and physical strength, this shouldn't much trouble in teaching.

Sera: " It's time for me to get serious."

Wukong: "... you mean you weren't going all out this whole time?"

Sera showed him a smile as she didn't answer him. She then used her devil fruit powers as strong bright white wings appeared from behind her. A white halo also appeared above her head.

Wukong: " An... An angel?"

Sera: " With each pair of wings that I summon it it doubles my physical strength. Since you have been fighting against only my base form, I will only use just two pairs of wings instead of my maximum of 6 pairs."

Wukong: " Dou- Double?"

Wukong stepped back a little. The ocean is very vast to be able to meet strong people this early when he wants to go out and settle his revenge against he celestial dragons. He had received his human human: monkey zoan devil fruit near the time where he got his devil fruit. He has been trying to explore more of his devil fruit's strength but has not seen much of it's use besides the increase strength and speed.

Wukong got ready to attack once more and go all out. With a huge roar, he leaped forwards and launch a straight forward attack and swung down no Sera. Sera smiled as she blocked the attack with her one of her wings and then launched a powerful kick at his stomach sending him flying and crashing into the trees and then falling unconscious while his form changed back into his human form.

Sera looked at him and turned back into her human form. She smiled as she looked at Paul and said, " I think he may be suitable to join our crew, Paul. You wanted to recruit him since the beginning right?"

Paul smiled as he heard Sera's words, " Yeah, he has a lot of potential. wake him up, it's time for him to settle his matters on this island so we can leave." Paul looked up in the sky as he felt like something was gonna happen that will shock this world soon, " We may have to do something... or go help someone soon."

Sera and the others were astonished by his words. Seeing Paul's face and hearing that Paul wanted to do something means that it must be big.

Sera quickly woke him up and healed his injuries.

Wukong quickly got up and said, " What about it!? Will you accept me?"

Paul reached out his hand and said, " Yes. My name is Paul, Bratley D. Paul."

Daz: " Daz Bonez."

Robin: "Nico Robin"

Vlad: " Vlad Redfield."

Wukong became excited as the crew finally introduced themselves. " Thanks for having me!!" Wukong quickly bowed to the crew as he greeted himself, " My name before the fall of my kingdom was Sun D. Goku. My family was a branch of the celestial dragons long ago, but something happened down the line that caused us to become low rank nobles."

Paul: " Alright, Wukong or Goku which one do you prefer."

Wukong thought for a bit about what to be called. He looked up and said, " Call me... Wukong. Until I avenge my family and rescue my mother do I want to be called Goku again. Right now, I am not a noble's son but am the Monkey King."

Paul and the others smiled as he showed his resolve, " Will then Wukong, settle your matters here, we will wait for you on the ship."

Wukong: " All right. Thanks for giving me time."

Wukong then walked back deeper into the island back to where his home was located at, while Paul and the others were walked back to their ship.

When Paul and others arrived on a ship, a sea gull with a hat came flying down on their ship and dropped a newspaper, giving the sea gull a coin, Robin proceeded to open the newspaper and read it. Her eyes shook as she looked at the news.

She ran towards Paul and said, " Paul... Big News. Ace... Ace has been captured and has an execution date!!"

Paul looked at the sky as he thought that it was finally time. He then asked, " Is that all that has happened so far?"

Robin: " Yes, an upcoming pirate called Monkey D. Luffy has been causing trouble to the World Government lately."

Paul looked at Robin with curious expressions. Since Robin is with him, Luffy should not have fought CP9. Since he had already beaten Crocodile, then Luffy should not have met Vivi and beat his first shichibukai.

Robin: " His crew is Pirate Hunger Roronoa Zoro, Cat Burglar Nami, Sogeking, Black Leg Sanji, Cotton Candy Lover Tony Tony Chopper, Iron Man Franky, Dead Bones Brook. Their captain Monkey D. Luffy was known for beating several figures in East Blue. In the first half of the grand line, he fought and beat a shichibukai Enel. He fought against the CP9 and beat Rob Lucci, he beat Gecko Moria, and finally he punched the celestial dragon and his crew managed to escaped from the clutches of the admiral Kizaru."

Paul: " How did he escape from Kizaru?"

Robin: " From our intelligence, it says that a Shichibukai named Bartholomew Kuma had sent all of their crew members flying elsewhere, still escaping from being captured by the Admiral Kizaru."

Paul: " What about Enel? I remember Enel from the time I stole the devil fruit from him. How was he able to become a Shichibukai?"

Robin: " It seems like he came down from Sky Island after his defeat and ate another devil fruit and started causing havoc on pirates that the World Government took notice of."

Paul: " I see, last question then, why did he fight against CP9?"

Robin: " Hmm, it seems to be because of that 'Iron Man' Franky possessing crucial knowledge of a certain weapon. Monkey D. Luffy and Franky were friends. It had said that their sniper burned the World Government Flag."

Paul: " Interesting okay, I understand. However, with the situation with Ace... He owes me one yet he goes and get captured and now is set for execution?"

Paul looked at his crew as the crew both looked at him with a curious expression. " Although me and Ace weren't that close and only had one encounter, don't you think he should return the favor before dying?"

Daz: " So are we going to go save him then? We shouldn't need to go do that right? I heard that he has joined the Whitebeard Pirates and was a 2nd division captain. Do you believe that Whitebeard would just let him die like that?"

Paul: " Of course not. It will just be more interesting if we go and interfere. Besides, since Wukong's ultimate goal is the celestial dragons, then shouldn't he have first hand about the power that he/we will face in the future. After all, since Whitebeard is going to show up, then the navy would be sending their strongest forces."

Sera: " Haha okay, what do we do then? Go to Impel Down?"

Paul: " No, most likely the navy would execute Ace at one of their main headquarters. We will go there and simply wait for the battle to happen. When it comes down to it, we will go and lend Whitebeard a hand, making him owe us." Paul smiled at the end of his sentence.

Not long after, Wukong had come back from gathering his things and settling matters on the island.

Wukong: " I'm ready."

Paul: " Perfect, let's set off then. Robin catch him up on some things."