Benimaru's golden eyes flicked toward the treeline, where the last of the pirates vanished into the brush. His Observation Haki had picked up a distinct flicker — not a heartbeat, not an intent to kill, but a pulse of energy. A message, quiet and desperate, had been sent.
He didn't stop it.
He wanted it.
Let Shiki come.
Benimaru's mind was already moving ahead — past the inevitable confrontation, past the bloodshed, to the moment when the Float-Float Fruit would leave its dying host. To the moment it would reappear in the world. To the moment he would take it.
Behind him, the others hadn't moved.
Camille crossed her arms, brow furrowed, her posture tight with worry. "Are we sure it was the right move… letting them go?" she asked, voice quiet but firm. "What if they come back? What if they hurt someone else?"
Her words weren't hypothetical — she was thinking of the others. Their tribe. The children. Their elders. She wasn't thinking as a soldier. She was thinking as a protector.
Jayce stood beside her, tense and still scowling. "She's right," he said. "They know where we are now. That's a liability."
Even Viktor, always the calmest of them, nodded in agreement. "You sensed something, didn't you?" he asked quietly, eyes sharp. "You knew one of them was communicating. And you let it happen."
They were all looking at Benimaru now. Not accusing. Just… trying to understand.
Benimaru met their gaze. No smile this time — just steady confidence.
"I did," he said. "And it's fine. Let them send whoever they want. I trust your growth. I trust your strength."
He looked toward Camille first. "You protect people not just because you're strong. But because you care. That's what makes you dangerous to anyone who'd hurt your family."
Then Jayce. "You work harder than anyone I've ever seen. You'll push yourself beyond your limits, no matter the odds. That's not pride. That's resolve."
And Viktor. "You think further than the rest. You see patterns, outcomes, risks — and you act accordingly. That's not doubt. That's intelligence."
Benimaru stepped down onto the shore again, the last petals still clinging to the tide around his feet. "If something comes you can't handle, I'll end it myself. But I don't think that day's coming anytime soon."
Jayce let out a sharp breath through his nose. "Tch. We're not going to rely on you forever."
"I know," Benimaru said simply. "That's why I let them go."
The words sank in.
Still, Camille's worry lingered. "And if this… whoever they send… is stronger than us?"
"Then you'll get stronger." Benimaru said it like it was fact — not hope, not encouragement. Just reality.
Jayce finally cracked a small grin. "Well, if they're coming… I'd rather they bring a real fight. These last ones didn't even warm me up."
Viktor didn't smile, but his posture relaxed just slightly. "I still don't like leaving unfinished threats. But… if it was a test, I see the logic."
Benimaru nodded, then looked toward the forest.
"Go gather as many fruits as you can," he said. "Medicinal, edible — anything. We'll need them for the next leg of the journey."
Camille blinked. "You're thinking of nutrition?"
"That's part of it," Benimaru said, turning away.
He didn't mention the real reason — the need for a dense concentration of organic matter nearby. A nutrient-rich field, ready to receive the reawakening of a Devil Fruit. When Shiki dies — when he dies — the Float-Float Fruit would have a place to be reborn.
And Benimaru would be there to claim it.
The three nodded, still processing everything, and set off into the jungle. As they disappeared into the trees, Benimaru stood alone on the beach, the wind tugging at his coat.
Above, the clouds began to shift.
The storm was moving.
And Benimaru welcomed it.
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As Benimaru's crew searched for fruit, Shiki was now traveling at an insane speed, made possible only by the power of the Float-Float Fruit. They had started in the West Blue, but now they were cutting across the Calm Belt, flying toward the location from which the signal had come — somewhere in the North Blue.
"I want to see the faces of those arrogant and stupid enough to provoke me," Shiki said, grinning like a maniac.
Behind him, multiple islands floated in formation — each one levitating unnaturally through the air under his control. Ships, rocky terrain, even small forests hovered behind him like war banners, driven forward by his sheer will. His eyes burned with madness and anticipation as he imagined what he would do to those bold enough to challenge him.
----------------
The three gathered nearly all the fruits on the island, stuffing them into crates and bags for storage. While searching through a thicket near the edge of the forest, they stumbled upon something unexpected — a weathered, brittle scroll tucked inside a half-rotted chest buried under some rubble. Unrolling it carefully, they discovered it was a treasure map.
There was no indication of whether it was authentic, but judging by the worn parchment and faded ink, it seemed ancient, left behind by someone long gone.
"Whoa! A real treasure map!" Jayce exclaimed, his eyes gleaming with excitement. "I wonder what kind of treasures we'd find if we follow it!"
Treasure hunting was one of his main motivations for going out to sea. The idea of discovering hidden gold, relics, or mysterious islands had always thrilled him. His imagination ran wild as he stared at the map, already dreaming of what lay ahead.
Camille and Viktor, however, weren't quite as enthusiastic. Their reasons for sailing were rooted in something else entirely.
For Camille, it was the call of freedom and adventure. She wanted to see what the world had to offer beyond the confines of their sheltered upbringing, much like Oden of Wano, who sought to escape the constraints of his homeland. Every battle, every strange land, every storm at sea was a story she'd someday be proud to tell.
Viktor, on the other hand, had a different motivation — one far more personal.
He wanted to find love.
Beneath his stoic exterior, Viktor was a romantic at heart. His dreams of sailing the sea were colored by the fantasy novel he'd once found in the Whale Island library. It was a story about a young man who ventured into the world to reunite with a childhood love he had been separated from. Viktor had read it countless times, cherishing every page. He had even stolen it from the library and brought it aboard the Nautilus, where it now lay hidden in his quarters — carefully preserved, well-read, and deeply treasured.
As Jayce rambled on about the possible loot and secrets they might uncover, Viktor and Camille exchanged a knowing look. They didn't say anything to dampen Jayce's enthusiasm. After all, every journey had its own meaning — and this map, whether real or not, had just given them another one to follow.
The group decided to sleep for the night, wanting to rest and recharge before continuing their journey the next day. The Nautilus rocked gently on the waves, quiet except for the occasional creak of wood and whisper of the wind.
But deep in the night, Benimaru suddenly jolted awake — his senses going into overdrive. A powerful, hostile presence had just made contact. His Observation Haki screamed danger.
Without hesitation, Benimaru rushed out of his room, which was located at the heart of the ship's control station. He slammed his hand onto the emergency switch, activating the defensive shield he had built into the Nautilus as a contingency measure.
A massive impact rocked the ship violently as something slammed into them — an island.
The crash echoed like thunder, shaking the entire vessel and instantly waking the rest of the crew. Camille, Viktor, and Jayce stumbled out of their rooms, alert and alarmed. Weapons were drawn in seconds as they hurried to the deck.
What they saw above left them stunned.
Floating in the sky were multiple islands, unnaturally suspended midair — a spectacle both awe-inspiring and terrifying. At the center of them stood an old man, hovering on one of the levitating landmasses. He wore a yellow-striped robe, his long blond hair wild in the wind, and a manic grin stretched across his face.
"BRATS!" he roared with unhinged laughter. "PREPARE TO DIE AT THE HANDS OF THE LEGENDARY GOLDEN LION SHIKI!"
The night air rang with his voice, and the sea itself seemed to recoil in response.
Benimaru narrowed his eyes, his rifle slowly lifting in his arms, while the rest of the crew took formation behind him.
The legend had arrived.