"Dragon, Dragon! What's wrong with you, Dragon?"
Watching the Dragon helplessly lying in the puddle, Apisu's previously calmed heart was once again filled with concern, but no matter how much she shook him, the Dragon no longer responded.
"The old one's time has come. This is the Dragon Cave of the Thousand-Year Dragons, and it is also our graveyard."
Ferren transformed back into his dragon humanoid shape and explained beside Apisu.
"The old one got lost accidentally and felt very lonely after being separated from his tribe. The time he spent with you was a joyful memory for him.
Coming back here, his final dream has been fulfilled. Flight is the memory he has left you, so there's no need to be sad.
This is a place of endings, and equally, a place of beginnings."
There were a few other Thousand-Year Dragons similar to the Dragon, and almost simultaneously with their passing, the cry of a newly hatched Thousand-Year Dragon was heard on the island, marking the beginning of their cycle of reincarnation.
The Thousand-Year Dragon tribe didn't stay long here, as the newly born dragon soon began to flap its wings, quickly mastering the ability to fly, and separated again according to their tribal differences.
The rising of Dragon Island caused the ice surface created by Yamato to break apart, and under the influence of the current, the ice quickly dispersed, giving the Merry the ability to sail once again, and the Straw Hat crew resumed their journey.
Apisu returned to her tribe, starting her legacy with the memories of the Dragon.
Meanwhile, Yamato and Ulti were staring at a map.
"This isn't right, the position doesn't match. Based on the Thousand-Year Dragon's speed, it should be nearby."
Yamato, wearing plain glasses she fetched from somewhere, was measuring something on the map with a ruler.
She could do simple drawings and could understand a Nautical Chart, but according to the data Ferren provided, nothing seemed to align.
"Those Thousand-Year Dragons might've gotten it wrong. After all, they're quite old; mistakes are normal."
"Yamato sis, don't you think... you should change the map? The information those Thousand-Year Dragons provided is from hundreds of years ago. Many islands have mysteriously disappeared over time; perhaps a map from hundreds of years ago would have better clues."
In the normal world, the passage of hundreds of years could lead to an island's disappearance due to natural disasters, let alone here.
Islands could be devoured by giant Sea King Types, digested by Island-Eating Monsters, blown away by emperors; there are many reasons for an island's disappearance.
Even a nation allied with the World Government could become an erased target for various reasons, so using a current map may not guarantee finding it.
"Makes sense. I'll go find Robin later; she's probably better at this, and she mentioned wanting to beat someone up. But there's something to do first."
"What?"
"To flip this place; Heracross said the branch's Navy has been mass-catching Heracross, and the branch Colonel is a scoundrel. I'll give them a good lesson."
Ding~
Yamato's Rotom suddenly beeped with a notification sound, and her face turned livid as she looked at the Rotom screen.
"What's wrong with you now? Did you eat something bad?"
"No... Uta forwarded my recent post..."
This was their private small circle, considered a special data group only visible internally within the Hundred Beasts; only those with a dedicated Rotom could post or reply to similar posts, and Uta was one of them.
"So what if she forwarded it? Why do you look so bad?"
"But... Sister Stella also forwarded it. Whatever she forwards, Tesoro forwards... and he never hides anything! If my old man sees it, I'll be in trouble!
No, I need to talk to my foster father and suggest adding a 'no forwarding' feature to the Rotom Phone."
"That should be Queen's job, but whatever, Captain Kaidou doesn't seem like someone who checks posts."
"No, Page One, you don't understand. My old man... you can't measure him by normal standards; what he shows could be entirely fake."
Given her understanding of Kaidou, he would love nothing more than for her to train 25 hours a day. If he saw her living this leisurely, there might be no issue at first, but once Kaidou started drinking, troubles would arise.
Even if improvements were needed, that was a matter for later. At this time, Yamato, along with Ulti and Page One, advanced towards the Navy's Sixteenth Branch, planning to give the Navy there a painful lesson.
...
While Mouse was healing in the branch with bandages all over his body, Yamato descended from the sky; the defenses of the Sixteenth Branch were nonexistent to her, and the three of them effortlessly destroyed the Navy's Sixteenth Branch.
The living quarters of Mouse were also smashed to pieces, salvaging Mouse's reputation by making him a base leader who died in the line of duty.
Despite being ambushed within the branch, the Sixteenth Branch managed to get the message out, but in such a commotion, the reporters scattered across the World Economic News Agency responded even faster.
Coupled with news from the survivors of the Nelson Fleet of the Eighth Branch, a news article was quickly published by Morgans.
[The Ghost Princess rampages in the East Sea, Nelson Fleet of the Eighth Branch annihilated, and the Sixteenth Branch destroyed!]
No exaggerated titles; just stating objective facts and mission names was enough to capture most people's attention. This was the type of big news Morgans loved most.
The newspaper from the World Economic News Agency was delivered worldwide by the News Bird, maintaining its usual influence, prompting Kaidou to take new action.
"Wugorogoro, this girl Yamato did well, though it's the East Sea, it finally looks the part; this is the daughter of mine."
To Kaidou, a proactive Yamato who stirred trouble was a good daughter. Overturning a Navy branch, albeit a weak one in the East Sea, was a significant improvement.
"Where are you going?"
Despite expressing satisfaction, Kaidou was already grabbing a club and heading towards the door of Ghost Island. Seeing Kaidou, Arceus instinctively felt he was about to cause another major commotion.
"Wugorogoro, isn't it obvious? Young people's journeys shouldn't be interrupted like this. I'm going to give the Navy something to do."
If Yamato continued her leisurely travels, Kaidou would have planned a new round of lessons for her, but since she caused quite a stir, he could also help her extend her travel time.
Given her identity, making such a commotion in the East Sea wouldn't leave the Navy indifferent. Although they might not find Yamato, it would affect her travels.
Thus, Kaidou used his own way to help Yamato resolve this hidden danger, which was to create an even bigger stir in the New World, so the Navy wouldn't dare to be distracted.