Why Can't I Be Here?

A blazing fireball roared toward her at high speed, and the raging flames looked as if they were about to swallow Kaguya whole.

But at that moment, Kaguya looked up, sneered coldly, and snapped her fingers.

"Water Style: Water Wall!"

As soon as the words fell, a torrent of water erupted from the ground, soaring into the air and forming a thick wall of water in front of Kaguya.

Boom!

The incendiary shell collided violently with the surging stream, sending water splashing everywhere and creating a mist that filled the air, with scalding steam rising.

The Shandian's eyes narrowed. He had never seen such an ability before—able to block his incendiary shell with such ease.

"With that level of skill, you still dare cause trouble? I don't know how you've survived this long."

A pleasant and melodious voice suddenly rang in his ears.

Behind him.

The Shandian was startled. He hadn't noticed when the silver-haired girl had moved behind him.

Even his Mantra hadn't detected it.

Shocked, he quickly turned to block—but it was already too late.

A delicate hand had already landed on the rocket launcher he held.

Bang!

With a thunderous crash, the launcher was shattered with a single palm strike. The Shandian was sent flying, eyes wide, mouth open as a spurt of blood burst out.

Boom!

He slammed into a tree trunk with immense force. Crack! Wood splinters flew as the massive tree was nearly snapped in half.

Cough, cough!

Leaning against the tree stump, the Shandian coughed painfully, blood spilling from his lips. The earlier palm strike had broken his ribs, and one had even pierced his lung.

Accompanied by crisp footsteps, a pair of skebder legs appeared in his vision. The Shandian looked up, eyes narrowing.

Kaguya looked down at him with scorn and said mockingly, "Trash should know their place. Overestimating yourself only brings misfortune."

"Damn you," the Shandian growled. "Are you one of those so-called 'gods'?"

"Gods?" Kaguya sneered. "To me, those people are nothing but arrogant fools pretending to be divine."

"Then you are...?" The Shandian paused, confused.

At that moment, a group of people suddenly appeared in the distance. Armed with weapons and equipped with jet boosters under their feet, they rushed over quickly.

They wore the same attire as the injured Shandian—clothes woven from leather and fur, similar tattoos and hairstyles. Kaguya figured they must be his comrades.

"Don't worry, we're here to save you!"

"Damn it! How dare you treat our leader like this."

"Bastard! Unforgivable!"

"Die!"

They angrily raised their guns and cannons, aiming at Kaguya, fingers on the triggers.

These people really were cut from the same cloth—attacking without asking questions, just like their leader.

Kaguya's brow furrowed. These guys were really annoying—like a swarm of cockroaches, endlessly persistent. To think they dared challenge her… utterly foolish.

If that's how they wanted it, she'd just send them straight to the afterlife.

Annoyed, Kaguya raised her arm, fingers spread, and aimed at the quickly approaching Shandians.

The severely injured Shandian leader saw Kaguya's movement, and his pupils shrank. Ignoring his injuries, he struggled to his feet and shouted, "Stop!"

The angry Shandians were momentarily stunned, their fingers frozen on the triggers.

Kaguya turned to look at the leader-like Shandian. This guy was at least a bit sensible—if he hadn't shouted, those charging fools would have already been blasted into the sky.

In a flash, the Shandians arrived at the scene and hurried to the leader's side.

"Wyper, are you okay? Are you hurt?"

The remaining Shandians stood guard beside their leader, forming a defensive formation, surrounding Kaguya with hostile glares.

"I'm fine. Don't worry about me," Wyper said as he was helped up. "She's not an enemy. Stand down."

"Are you kidding?" a man with a Mohawk hairstyle said urgently. "Isn't she the one who injured you so badly?"

"Enough, Kamakiri," Wyper snapped, cutting him off. "I said it was just a misunderstanding."

Kamakiri still wanted to protest, but upon seeing Wyper's sharp gaze, the words died in his throat.

Wyper walked over with help and said, "Sorry. I wrongly blamed you earlier."

"Just saying sorry is enough?" Kaguya raised an eyebrow.

"That's going too far!"

"Don't push it!"

"She injured our leader and still acts so arrogant!"

"Exactly. We apologized. What more do you want?"

The Shandians complained angrily, grumbling from all directions.

"Silence," Wyper barked, and the group immediately fell quiet. He turned to Kaguya and said, "What do you want, then? If it's something I can do, just say it. I'll make it up to you."

The Shandians glared at Kaguya with resentment.

Their leader had been seriously injured by her, and now they were the ones apologizing—and even offering compensation. It was humiliating.

"My condition is simple," Kaguya smiled slightly. "Just treat me to a meal."

A meal?

The still-angry Shandians were stunned. Even Wyper was taken aback.

"What, can't even afford to feed me?" Kaguya said playfully.

The Shandians' base was on this small island. The island wasn't large, covered in lush vegetation and trees, though the plants looked a bit odd compared to those on the surface.

Not surprising—after all, they were ten thousand meters up in the sky. That anything could grow here at all was already remarkable.

"Come on, eat more. Don't be shy."

Kaguya took a sip of juice and happily dug into the dishes on the table. Although the food looked strange, it was surprisingly delicious.

The others stared at her speechlessly. This girl really had no shame—she didn't see herself as a guest at all.

Still, it made sense. After flying through the sky for several days without eating, it was only natural for her to be starving.

"How much food do we have left, Laki?" Wyper, wrapped in bandages, looked at Kaguya devouring the meal in the distance and asked in a low voice.

The girl named Laki responded with a face full of worry, "This is already our last bit of food. What's left is meant to be saved for winter."

"Bring it all out," Wyper said.

"But what will we do in winter then?" Laki said anxiously. "You know how little food we produce here. It's not enough to feed the whole tribe. If this keeps up—"

"We'll worry about winter when it comes. For now, bring it out, Laki," Wyper said in a firm tone. "When winter comes, I'll figure out a way to hunt some sea beasts."

"But even then, it won't be enough," Laki stepped forward, urging him. "She's just an outsider—and she even injured you. Why are you still treating her like this?"

"If we can't even offer a meal, it would be a disgrace to the Shandians," Wyper waved his hand. "Just do as I say."

"But..."

Laki still wanted to protest, but seeing the look on Wyper's face, she could only sigh and leave to prepare.

Kaguya, sensing something, paused and asked, "Why aren't you all eating?"

The Shandians exchanged glances, their expressions a little uneasy.

Kamakiri let out a dry chuckle and said, "We're already full."

"Really?" Kaguya asked curiously. "I don't remember seeing you eat much."

"We ate earlier, so we're not hungry now," another Shandian named Jebo replied with a forced smile.

"I see. Well, since you're full," Kaguya nodded, "then I won't hold back."

With that, she continued eating.

The Shandians' expressions grew darker. Kaguya had already eaten half a month's worth of their rations. It was hard to believe how her small body could consume so much without her belly even bulging.

Yet seeing her eat so heartily, the Shandians' throats moved, and they couldn't help but swallow.

It had been a long time since they had a proper meal.

Their home, the village in the clouds, wasn't on solid ground. It lacked fertile soil and suitable land for growing crops. On the Island Clouds, food production was extremely difficult—especially in the poor Flowing Cloud layer where even vegetation struggled to grow, let alone crops.

The current meal had come from their own carefully rationed supplies.

Unlike the rich Angel Island, they had always lived on the poverty line. Hunger had become part of their daily life. This was also one of the reasons why the Shandians had, for centuries, sought to reclaim the "Upper Yard," the so-called God's Island.

"Sigh, I can't watch this any longer," Kaguya suddenly stood up, wiped her lips with a napkin, and said, "You guys clearly have nothing to eat, yet you're pretending to be generous. Honestly."

Already resentful, the Shandians immediately grew angry.

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"Isn't it obvious?" Kaguya shrugged. "You're clearly starving, but still putting on a calm front. It's honestly pathetic."

"Hey, that's too much!"

"Yeah! We invited you to eat, and this is how you repay us?"

"That's just despicable!"

"How can someone be so shameless?"

Kaguya taunted them without a care. "What a bunch of self-deceiving fools. No wonder you haven't managed to reclaim Upper Yard after all this time."

It was like she had struck a nerve—the Shandians immediately grew agitated.

"What do you know? You're just an outsider!"

"Exactly! Who are you to lecture us?"

"You've gone too far—we even treated you to a meal!"

"You're not welcome here. Please leave."

The Shandians were riled up. If Kaguya hadn't been a woman, they might have already attacked her.

"Weak people truly are pitiful," Kaguya said, shaking her head. "Fine, seeing how pathetic you are, I'll help you."

"What are you planning to do?" Wyper stepped forward and asked in a low voice.

"Nothing much," Kaguya turned her head, a smirk on her lips. "Come to Upper Yard in ten minutes and see for yourself."

As she spoke, she drew a line in the air with her finger. A pitch-black void appeared in the air, and under the shocked eyes of the Shandians, Kaguya stepped into it. The dark portal closed behind her.

At the same time, in Mary Geoise—

The Five Elders sat together, their expressions serious.

"We can't let her continue like this. If this goes on, it may lead to unpredictable consequences," said the Elder wearing a flat hat.

"Yes, she's clearly getting too full of herself. I doubt she even sees us as a threat anymore," the blond Elder added grimly.

"Did she ever?" scoffed the long-haired Elder. "She stirs up trouble everywhere—unlike Sengoku, she doesn't know how to behave."

"She's secretly hoarding Devil Fruits on a large scale. She may have uncovered their true secrets," the Elder in a kimono and wooden clogs said, casting a glance at the others. "If that's the case, then we have no choice but to eliminate her."

"A pawn that gets out of control must be discarded," said the Elder with the birthmark coldly. "The title of 'strongest in the world' has made her too arrogant. It's time we reminded her who really owns this world."

"Are you planning to get rid of me?"

At that moment, a melodious voice echoed through the hall.

The Five Elders' pupils contracted as they abruptly turned their heads. Sitting leisurely on a nearby sofa, sipping tea, was a breathtaking silver-haired girl—Kaguya.

They hadn't noticed at all when she had entered.

The flat-hatted Elder's gaze sharpened. "How are you here?"

Kaguya crossed her legs and looked at them with amusement, a smirk tugging at her lips. "Why can't I be here?"

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

40 Advanced Chapters Available on Patreon: 

Patreon.com/DaoOfHeaven