NOTE***: Based on my research, Proceus Island might be the Merveille where Shiki conducted an experiment with Dr. Indigo. Please do comment if you know the accurate information for Proceus Island based on this chapter. Thankss
Captain Bearded Man tidied his disheveled uniform, still dusty from his earlier fall. Once composed, he turned solemnly and strode toward Kuina and the others.
He had no choice now but to seek help from these pirates.
The town's ships were nowhere near enough to carry all the island's civilians, not even with the Navy's warship included. Only with the addition of Kouta's ship could they barely fit everyone.
As long as they made it beyond the borders of Proceus Island, they'd be safe, even without food. After all, Loguetown was only about a day's sail away.
Seeing the Navy Captain walking toward them, Ahua and the others immediately tensed up. With Kouta not by their side, they felt notably less secure.
"Hey! What do you want, Marine?"
Captain Bearded Man ignored them. His gaze fixed seriously on Kuina. After a brief pause, his eyes hardened with resolve.
"I know what I'm asking might be a bit much," he began stiffly, "but right now, only you have the ability to help the townsfolk."
Then, with a loud thud, he dropped to his knees.
"Hey! Isn't that a little extreme?"
"You could've just said it straight."
The three looked at him in shock, unable to comprehend what had frightened this Marine so much that he'd kneel before pirates.
Still on his knees, the Captain looked up at Kuina and pleaded.
"Please, use your ship to help evacuate the villagers from this sea!"
"For the villagers, huh?"
"This guy really is a good Marine."
The three couldn't help but feel a hint of admiration for the man.
Kuina quickly stepped forward to help him up. But instead of giving an immediate response to the hope in his eyes, she asked, "You recognize that golden figure?"
After Kouta had shattered the meteorite and stayed floating in the sky, she had sensed something was wrong. The golden figure that appeared afterward and could confront Kouta must be someone incredibly powerful—otherwise Kouta wouldn't treat him so seriously, and this Marine wouldn't be so terrified.
"I do," the Captain said after a pause, his face twisting into fear.
"That old monster is none other than the legendary pirate from twenty years ago—Shiki the Golden Lion."
"He's the captain of the Flying Pirates, the Supreme Commander of the Golden Lion Fleet, and the wielder of the Float-Float Fruit, also known as the 'Flying Pirate.'"
"Float-Float Fruit?"
Though the long list of titles sounded impressive, Kuina was far more intrigued by Shiki's Devil Fruit.
She turned curiously to ask, "Can you explain what the Float-Float Fruit actually does?"
The Captain quickly explained, "Those who eat the Float-Float Fruit are called 'Floaters.' They can make themselves or any non-living object they touch float. Shiki can make entire islands hover in the air—and not just one."
"You're kidding, right?"
Ahua leaned in in disbelief. "You mean there are more islands up in those clouds?"
"Yeah... there are."
Hearing the confirmation, the three couldn't help but feel an intense pressure settle over them.
"No wonder he was panicking so badly."
"To encounter a legendary pirate who treats throwing islands like tossing toys... how could he not be terrified?"
They all turned to Kuina.
She finally made a decision they would leave. Staying would only burden Kouta. This was a battle between titans, a clash at the very top of the sea, and they were in no position to be involved. Even watching from a safe distance could be dangerous.
With villagers gathering quickly at the harbor, they rushed to help them aboard.
Soon, every ship was filled to capacity. With sails hoisted high, a fleet of ten-plus vessels, naval warships and civilian ships alike followed the Freedom and the Marine warship, sailing quickly toward Loguetown.
In the sky.
Shiki the Golden Lion had been calmly smoking ever since arriving, eyes gleaming with amusement as he watched Kouta.
His stare was that of a lion eyeing its prey, cruel, emotionless, tinged with curiosity, mockery, and approval.
He completely ignored the evacuation below. To him, weaklings weren't even worth acknowledging.
Kouta, seeing Shiki had no intention of attacking right away, took the opportunity to quietly recover his strength.
Before long, once Shiki sensed that Kouta's energy had fully returned, he let out a hearty laugh.
"Jihahahaha…"
"Hey, silver-haired brat! How about joining my pirate crew?"
He'd seen Kouta's bounty poster in the latest newspaper and felt it was fate.
Now that his research with the IQ serum had made major progress, his return was imminent. Lately, he'd been drifting above the four seas, looking for ambitious and powerful pirates to join the new Golden Lion Pirates he was assembling.
By chance, he'd floated above the East Blue only to find a young, powerful swordsman just beginning his voyage.
And this kid, Kouta, already had a staggering 70 million bounty on his first outing.
Seeing Kouta's youthful face on the bounty poster, Shiki couldn't help but be reminded of a man from Roger's crew, Silvers Rayleigh.
Rayleigh, also from the East Blue. Also a powerful swordsman. Also the first person Roger invited aboard.
Eventually known as the Right Hand of the Pirate King.
Was it destiny? Had fate sent Kouta to help fulfill his dream of domination?
If he could recruit this silver-haired brat, it would be the equivalent of Roger having Rayleigh.
He needed Kouta's strength. He needed him to fulfill his ambition of ruling the seas from the sky.
As soon as he discovered Kouta's ship was near, he rushed here at full speed and casually dropped an island to test him.
If Kouta couldn't even stop one of his floating islands, then he wasn't worthy of an invitation or the title of a true companion.
What he hadn't expected was for Kouta to stop the island by shattering it entirely.
Slicing an island was one thing. Shattering it into pieces was something else altogether.
Only a swordsman of the highest tier could achieve that.
And from how Kouta stood effortlessly midair, Shiki suspected he was also a Devil Fruit user with floating abilities.
That made him perfect for the Flying Pirates.
After all, Shiki wasn't just any pirate, he was the man who planned to conquer the world from the sky.
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