Chapter 12: Wood Style: Nativity of a World of Trees

"A superpower?"

"A princess?"

Carina and Nami were both slightly stunned. The former said in disbelief, "Such a small place is actually hiding a princess from one of the 'Fifty Strong Nations'?"

The so-called Fifty Strong Nations referred to the fifty representative countries selected from over one hundred and seventy member nations that could participate in the World Conference held every four years.

Not all fifty countries were superpowers.

But a superpower was definitely one of the Fifty Strong Nations.

The status of the Fifty Strong Nations was very special; they could modify laws through voting, and even abolish the Seven Warlords of the Sea system.

Superpowers, in particular, had astonishing territory and national strength, existences that even great pirates dared not provoke lightly.

As a princess of a superpower, she should be escorted by a fleet when she travels. How could she be in a hyena's den?

Here, Carina, without waiting for Link to answer, asked again, "Link, how do you know there's a princess of a superpower hiding here?"

Compared to why a superpower's princess was here, Carina was now more curious about where Link, who had just entered the Grand Line a few days ago, got this information.

After all, these past few days, neither she nor Nami had left Link's side.

Whether he had gathered this intelligence in the East Blue or only after entering the Grand Line, it demonstrated that Link's intelligence-gathering capabilities were astonishing, an existence that even Carina, who also specialized in gathering intelligence, couldn't hope to match.

Link seemed to have expected Carina's question and asked with a smile, "You should have learned about my ability from Nami, right?"

"Mhm, mhm..."

Carina nodded repeatedly.

When she had just learned from Nami that Link's ability to create wood was not the Logia-type Woods-Woods Fruit but a bloodline ability, Carina's worldview had been refreshed, and her horizons broadened.

Link asked again, "Then do you know the reason Nami joined me?"

"Mhm, mhm..." Carina nodded again.

These past few days, she and Nami had gotten to know each other, learning about each other's experiences over the years.

So, Link explained, "My ability can create Wood Clones. As long as the energy within these clones isn't depleted, they won't disappear."

"These Wood Clones can transmit what they see to me in real-time."

"Although I've been in the East Blue, I actually sent a large number of Wood Clones into the Grand Line long ago to help me gather intelligence."

"...So that's how it is!"

Carina and Nami had a sudden realization.

Immediately, Carina said with a face full of envy, "Wood Clones... using such an ability for intelligence gathering is simply more perfect than the Clear-Clear Fruit that thieves dream of."

"No wonder Link is so knowledgeable about the Grand Line's climate. So he sent a large number of clones in advance," Nami also said.

"Yes."

Link nodded.

Link deliberately told a white lie.

As a transmigrator, Link knew things others didn't, even some of the world's truths.

But Link didn't want to constantly put on an act in front of Carina and Nami, so he directly credited the Wood Clones.

Knowing about the Wood Clone ability, no matter how much more information Link revealed in the future, Carina and Nami wouldn't find it strange, nor would they question him like they were now.

Amidst their casual chat, the sailboat arrived at Whiskey Peak.

At the same time, the lookouts on the shore had already spotted the sailboat.

When the three of them disembarked, they immediately saw a group of townspeople with wide, enthusiastic smiles swarming towards them.

"These guys must be bounty hunters. They're probably trying to lull us into a false sense of security first."

After whispering, Carina couldn't help but complain, "This trick can only fool greenhorns who just came from the Four Seas. After all, who would believe there's such a peaceful and enthusiastic place on the first island?"

"So, what do we do next?"

Nami asked, looking at Link's profile. "Should we play along with their act?"

"No need for that trouble. It'll be over soon."

Link took a few steps forward, then formed hand seals. A substantial blue aura of Chakra emanated from his body as he shouted softly, "Wood Style... Deep Forest Emergence!"

The next second, a scene that shattered the worldview of Carina, Nami, and even the bounty hunters in front of them, immediately unfolded.

With a 'rumble,' a strong earthquake immediately swept across half of Whiskey Peak.

The sudden tremor stole Carina and Nami's balance, nearly making them fall to the ground.

A large number of the swarming bounty hunters in front of them fell over directly.

Before they could get up, the ground was suddenly torn apart by the tremors, creating cracks of various sizes.

Tree branches of varying sizes extended from the fissures.

Just after emerging from the ground, these branches grew at an extremely fast rate, becoming like giant, Sea King-sized pythons. They grew various branches and leaves, transforming into a sea of trees that instantly submerged the group of bounty hunters.

Also submerged was the town, which was some distance away from Link and the others.

After more than three minutes, the earthquake finally stopped.

When the sound of the advancing sea of trees also disappeared, the island before Carina and Nami's eyes had completely changed.

The entire area, from the docks to the cactus-like mountains, had turned into a sea of green.

Countless towering trees stood on the ground, forming a forest of astonishing size.

On some of the trees, Carina and Nami saw giant cocoons hanging from the branches.

"Gulp..."

Carina was the first to come to her senses. She swallowed hard and said with a trembling voice, "Those enemy countries would never believe that 'The Impaler' was holding back so much."

"Is this Link's true power?" Nami also said, her voice trembling.

Whether it was Nami, Carina, or those who read the newspapers, they all only knew that 'The Impaler' could create a startling area of wooden spikes to skewer all enemies in front of him.

Those hit by the wooden spikes would have branching spikes grow from their bodies; being hit meant certain death.

So everyone thought Link's power was only at that level.

Only Smoker and those who understood the Logia-type Woods-Woods Fruit knew that Link had never revealed his true strength from beginning to end.

The people of the weakest sea could never force a top-tier Logia user to use their full power.

When Link finally got serious, it was a normal thing for Carina and Nami to have such a reaction.

In fact, this was also the first time Link had used Wood Style: Deep Forest Emergence at full power, and the first time he had used it against humans.

After turning half of Whiskey Peak into a forest and hanging everyone on the island from branches like cocoons, Link seemed to confirm something. The corners of his mouth turned up slightly as he thought to himself, "The life-draining ability of Wood Style... it really does work on people without chakra!"