Watching the Marines scatter to rally the villagers, the bearded ex-colonel straightened his disheveled uniform, dirtied from his earlier fall.
With a resolute expression, he turned and strode toward Kuina and her crew.
He had no choice but to seek these pirates' help. The town's boats, even combined with the Navy's warships, couldn't hold all of Prosius Island's residents.
Only with Sora's ship could they evacuate everyone.
Once they left Prosius' waters, they'd be safe, even without food. After all, Loguetown was just a day's sail away.
Ahua, Alo, and Ata eyed the approaching colonel warily, their faces tense. Without Sora nearby, they felt vulnerable.
"Hey, Navy!" Ahua barked. "What do you want with us?"
The colonel ignored them, focusing on Kuina with grave sincerity. After a pause, his gaze hardened with determination.
"I know this is a lot to ask," he said stiffly, "but you're the only ones who can help the townsfolk now."
He hesitated, then dropped to his knees with a heavy thud.
"Whoa, no need for that!" Ahua exclaimed.
"Just tell us what's up!" Alo added, stunned.
The trio couldn't fathom what terrified this Navy officer enough to kneel before pirates.
Raising his head, the colonel pleaded loudly to Kuina, "Please, can you use your ship to ferry the villagers out of these waters?"
"For the villagers?" Ata murmured.
"This guy's a damn good Marine," Ahua said, a trace of admiration in his voice.
Kuina quickly stepped forward, helping the colonel to his feet.
She didn't immediately answer his hopeful gaze, instead asking, "You know that golden figure, don't you?"
When Sora had sliced apart the falling island and lingered in the sky instead of returning, Kuina sensed something was off.
The golden figure that appeared, standing toe-to-toe with Sora, had to be someone extraordinarily powerful.
Otherwise, Sora wouldn't be so cautious, and this bearded Navy officer wouldn't be so petrified.
"I do," the colonel said, his face twisting with fear as memories flooded back.
"That old monster is the legendary pirate from twenty years ago—Golden Lion Shiki."
"Captain of the Flying Pirates, admiral of the Golden Lion Fleet, and wielder of the Float-Float Fruit, known as the 'Flying Pirate.'"
"Float-Float Fruit?" Kuina echoed.
Though Shiki's titles were intimidating, Kuina's curiosity zeroed in on his Devil Fruit.
"What exactly does the Float-Float Fruit do?" she asked.
The colonel explained urgently, "The Float-Float Fruit lets its user—called a 'Floater'—levitate themselves or objects in the air. Shiki can make any non-living thing he touches float, including islands. And not just one."
"No way!" Ahua leaned in, incredulous. "You're saying there are more islands up in those clouds?"
"Yes," the colonel nodded, confirming their fears.
A chill of urgency gripped Ahua, Alo, and Ata.
"No wonder he's freaking out," Alo muttered.
"Facing a legend who tosses islands like toys? Who wouldn't be scared shitless?" Ata added.
They turned to Kuina, awaiting her call.
Kuina made her decision.
They had to leave—staying would only burden Sora. A battle at this level, among the sea's elite, was beyond their ability to join or even watch safely from close by.
Seeing villagers swarming the docks, they rushed to help load them onto ships.
Soon, the entire village was aboard. Sails unfurled, and a flotilla of a dozen boats—fishing vessels, merchant ships, and Navy warships—followed the Freedom and a Marine vessel, racing toward Loguetown.
---
In the sky, Shiki had been puffing his cigar since arriving, smirking at Sora with predatory glee.
His gaze was that of a lion eyeing captured prey—cold, merciless, yet tinged with curiosity, amusement, and approval.
He paid no mind to the villagers and Marines evacuating below. To him, the weak didn't warrant a glance.
Sora, noting Shiki's restraint, welcomed the breather, using the time to recover his stamina.
Moments later, sensing Sora's strength return, Shiki let out a booming laugh.
"Jihahahaha!"
"Silver-Hair, how about joining my pirate crew?"
That morning, Shiki had spotted Sora's wanted poster in the latest newspaper, feeling it was fate.
With his "IQ" serum nearing perfection, his comeback was imminent.
Lately, he'd been scouring the skies above the Four Seas, seeking ambitious, powerful pirates to join his soon-to-be-reformed Golden Lion Pirates.
Drifting over East Blue, he hadn't expected to find a great swordsman so young, just setting sail. Sora's 70-million-Belly bounty on his first voyage was staggering.
The youthful face on the poster reminded Shiki of Silvers Rayleigh, Roger's first mate. Like Sora, Rayleigh hailed from East Blue, was a great swordsman, and became the "Pirate King's Right Hand."
Shiki couldn't help but wonder if destiny had sent Sora to fuel his own world-conquering ambitions.
If he could recruit this silver-haired kid, it'd be like Roger gaining Rayleigh. He needed Sora's strength to realize his dream of ruling the seas.
Learning Sora's route was nearby, Shiki had rushed over, casually dropping an island as a test. If Sora couldn't handle it, he wasn't worthy of Shiki's invitation or partnership.
But Shiki hadn't anticipated Sora shattering the island outright. Any great swordsman could slice an island, but pulverizing it? That was extraordinary.
Sora's ability to hover freely suggested he might also wield a Devil Fruit for flight—perfect for Shiki's vision of a sky-ruling pirate empire.
This kid was tailor-made for his Flying Pirates.
(End of Chapter)