"Um... Your Majesty, Higanbana Sovereign... could you perhaps loosen this a little for me?"
Under Punk Hazard's still gloomy sky, inside the dining hall of Research Facility No. 3, Caesar Clown squeezed past a group of fish-men and sat down beside Sakura. He flashed an ingratiating smile while also rattling the Seastone shackles on his wrists.
As a killing weapon Caesar developed based on the characteristics of his own ability, Shinokuni had no effect on him, a Logia Gasu Gasu no Mi user… it even provided him with benefits to enhance his abilities.
Therefore, in that situation, Caesar was merely knocked unconscious by the explosion's shockwave and buried in the research facility's ruins.
Later, he was captured by Sakura during the battlefield cleanup. Now, he was tasked with researching ways to neutralize the poison gas weapon contamination and, incidentally, teaching some knowledge and common sense to Sato Sakura.
Sakura, holding a plate of roast meat, finished her meal unhurriedly and let out a satisfied sigh. She glanced at him. "No. You're a Logia. If I let you loose and you run away, what then?"
'Listen to that! Is that human talk? What else could happen? Get caught by her again and killed, obviously!'
Caesar, shackled, was rolling his eyes so hard they might fall out.
Besides, where could he even run to now?
He certainly couldn't go back to the World Government. His original refuge, the illegal research group MADS, had disbanded. If Caesar set out to sea now, he'd find himself isolated, with no support, and hunted everywhere.
Naturally, he wouldn't abandon the stability he had with Sakura here and foolishly head out to sea to live a life of constant displacement.
"Your Majesty, where else but here could I possibly find shelter now~?" Caesar's smile remained obsequious.
'I'd said it to this extent, she should understand now, right?'
'I, Caesar Clown, was wholly dedicated to the Higanbana Pirates! My heart held only one sun… the Higanbana Sovereign!'
"Alright, alright!"
After enjoying Caesar's performance, Sakura took the key to the Seastone shackles from her chest and tossed it to him.
Coincidentally, in the sky outside the research facility, a gradually lowering shadow brought moisture not native to these waters.
Breaking through the constraints of the thundercloud layer, five enormous islands descended to mid-air.
"Brat! I've brought you a gift! Shihahahahaha!"
Before the man was seen, his voice was heard. He strode through wind and snow, his arms spread wide, letting his clothes flutter wildly in the gale.
"That old lion!"
Sakura in the dining hall cursed with a laugh, then formed a hand seal. Her figure flashed, appearing in mid-air.
"Never thought you'd actually pull it off! Higanbana!"
Shiki laughed heartily. The swords on his feet turned pitch-black. Amidst swirling crimson light, a strand of black lightning was drawn out, lingering along the trajectory of the raised sword.
-Conqueror's Haki Infusion!
"You've already recovered to this extent, Old Lion?!"
Sakura grinned, drawing her Kumotsuna. Dual-colored Haki intertwined along the blade's length. Lightning crackled, resonating with a high-pitched roar.
The surrounding thunder trembled with the rise of the two overwhelming auras. Clouds collapsed, pouring rain upon the earth.
Shiki's body swayed slightly, then he lunged at Sakura like a predatory beast, the Oto in his foot slashing out horizontally.
Unwilling to be outdone, Sakura stepped on air, unleashing her tremendous strength without reserve, and swung her sword defiantly.
"What's going on, Sakura-nee?! Releasing Conqueror's Haki for no reason!"
The reverberating Conqueror's Haki echoed across the entire island. Kuina, who was practicing swordsmanship, shook the sweat from her hair and walked out of the research facility.
Behind her followed a large group of similarly awakened fish-men and giants. Everyone looked up to see two figures rapidly closing in the sky.
Boom!
The two swords collided mid-air, filling the sky above Punk Hazard with black lightning.
A turbulent shockwave radiated in all directions. The leaves on the vines stretching towards the sky in the distance shook incessantly.
Yet, this was only the beginning. Beneath the two beams of light representing the world's utmost sharpness, an even more terrifying shockwave surged towards the ground.
Those whose spirit was insufficient to withstand the presence of conquerors were simply blown away by the storm. Trees and the thorns outside the island stood firm with difficulty, struggling desperately under the gale's onslaught.
"They... didn't even touch?"
Enel, ejected from the thunderclouds and falling to the ground, looked up in astonishment.
And more than that.
When the onlookers' gazes reached the higher sky where the two clashed, they froze in place, speechless.
"The sky... is split!"
Tiger swallowed hard, shielding his brow with his hand.
Aura, killing intent, fighting spirit... the collision of pure wills had torn apart the free and lofty sky. A massive fissure appeared in the center of the clouds, spreading gradually!
"Gehahahaha! Truly exhilarating!"
Blades crossed, sparks flying, Shiki stood firm in the air. "The last one who could make me feel this exhilarated was Roger!"
"Cut it out. It's my territory you're wrecking!"
Sakura shot Shiki a disgusted look, extending a demanding hand towards him. "Hand over the island. I want it now!"
"Now? What about your subordinates down there?"
Shiki, lighting a cigar, frowned, pointing towards the people below.
After all, the Merveille Sakura won from him was considered a mega-island. If it dropped now, likely no one below would survive.
"I have my own methods!"
Sakura gave a thumbs-up, then dove downwards.
"Fine then. They're your people anyway!"
Shiki couldn't be bothered to persuade further. With a casual wave, he directed the islands in the sky.
Immediately, islands as tall as mountains began to descend, generating an impact several times more terrifying than the earlier clash between the two.
The fish-men and giants, seeing this, had already turned to flee.
Not just them… even Kuina and the others, who had been with Sakura for a long time, felt the urge to withdraw.
However, out of trust in Sakura and not wanting to lose their reputation in front of outsiders, they forcefully suppressed the impulse and held their ground.
"Wood Release!"
Sakura's shout echoed from the sky.
In that instant, it was as if spring had returned to earth. Infinite trees grew and intertwined on the ground, spiraling and multiplying as they merged with the towering vines at the island's core, making them even thicker.
Then, the spreading vines formed a crisscrossing support structure to receive the islands, gradually dissipating their downward momentum, finally bringing them to a stop just before their tips touched Punk Hazard's soil.
The surrounding thunderclouds began flowing upwards along the framework of Merveille. After discharging their electric charge, the moisture within soaked into the soil, integrating the entire island into Punk Hazard's water cycle.
"Tsk tsk, what a crazy concept!"
Having witnessed Sakura's method of creating a dual-layered island firsthand, Shiki sighed in amazement.
"Done. The lower layer will be medicinal gardens, the upper layer residential areas!" Sakura clapped her hands, making the plan. "Oh, right, hand over the residents of Merveille to me as well?"
"What else? They're useless to me!"
Shiki held his cigar between two fingers, blowing a smoke ring.
"Ahahaha, even better! Let me treat you to a drink!"
Sakura pointed towards the palace atop Merveille, shamelessly appropriating Shiki's own palace without a second thought.
"Hmph, today I'll drink back the cost of that palace!"
Shiki waved a hand grandly and strode without hesitation into another battlefield.
Then, that bold declaration became his last clear memory upon arriving at Punk Hazard.
That night, inside the resplendent, gilded palace, the opulently decorated grand reception hall was littered with pirates who had lost consciousness.
Sakura sat alone on the tiled rooftop, gazing at the bright moon in the sky, drinking fine wine by herself.
"Mother, what are you thinking about?"
A flat voice came from behind her. A girl of enormous stature was crouched in a room completely disproportionate to her size, staring at Sakura with eyes identical to hers.
"Thinking about my home. Thinking about your grandfather and grandmother."
Sakura swirled her wine glass, looking at the reflection in it, unable to help but laugh.
What kind of reaction would her parents have if they knew she now had a twenty-meter-tall daughter?
"Then... can I meet them?"
Sato Sakura inched closer, carefully testing the waters.
Like a cat entering unfamiliar territory, she was confirming her place within Sakura's heart.
"That might be very difficult. They aren't in this world."
Sakura's reply made the expressionless Sato Sakura's eyes widen instantly. She reached out and hugged her.
"Mother still has me! I'll stay with Mother!"
"Uh..."
Knowing she had misunderstood, Sakura wasn't sure how to explain at the moment.
Come to think of it, it had been a full two years since she left. The life of free galloping and settling grudges on the sea was indeed exhilarating.
But her parents back home were always like a guiding light, occasionally illuminating the path back in her heart.
The forces on this side of the sea were now on track, needing a period of latency and development.
She didn't need to invest too much energy here for now. Perhaps it was time to return to the Ninja World for a visit.
Sakura raised her hand, stroking Sato Sakura's head. "It's getting late. You should go rest first."
"Mhm!"
Sato Sakura wriggled backwards, exiting the room, then hunched over as she made her way down the stairs.
Sakura withdrew her gaze, gently tapping the air with her hand.
'System! Activate the traversal function!'
[Informing, special achievement - [Emperor of the Sea] has been attained. 1000 achievement points obtained. Current achievement point balance: 1060.]
[Traversal function activation complete. 10 achievement points deducted.]
'Huh? Why is it so much cheaper now? Wait, Leviathan isn't...'
Whoosh!
After a flash of intense light, the girl's figure and her unfinished exclamation dissolved into the moonlight.
Only the cold wind from the heights continued to howl.