I descended back onto the bridge, wings still heavy from the effort. The salty air whipped my face; the smell of powder and scorched iron lingered over the wreckage. My Heartless had already done most of the work: black silhouettes piled up in the shadows, lifeless or already transformed, and only a small cluster of men remained, frozen in fear. Among them stood out a well-dressed man clutching a sketchbook to his chest, hair disheveled, glasses bent, the look of an architect both spared and terrified. His heart, nearly pure white, contrasted sharply with the sea of gray around him.
When I landed a few meters away, his face crumbled; he collapsed to his knees, as though even below the wood and steel he could feel the authority of the fall. The slaves, gathered to one side, stared at me with a mixture of animal apprehension and a glimmer of hope that made me clench my jaw. The silence was heavy, broken only by the distant crackle of flames and the muffled groans of an emptying camp.
"You. Come here." I pointed at the architect with a sharp gesture. He dragged himself toward me, hands trembling, laying his notebook down like a talisman. "Stand up! You'll wait in that building." I indicated a small house nearby, still intact, sheltered behind a toppled wall. He ran straight there without a word.
Then I addressed the slaves, my voice carrying so all could hear, the tone of liberator and tyrant bound together: "Who speaks for you?"
A stocky man with a weathered face, calloused hands, stepped forward. Fear shook his voice, but something proud burned in his eyes."Me, my lord. What would you have me do?" he answered, staring at me as though I were the reply to a prayer.
"I can take you off this bridge. Goa, Dawn Island. You'll be left to fend for yourselves there, but you'll be free to survive."
The idea rippled through the air: some traded stunned looks, others burst into tears, disbelieving.
I opened the portal, and one man made a round trip to prove there was no danger. The slaves hurled themselves into it as if leaping to shore after a sea of suffering. They filed through, pressed together, crying, laughing, whispering names. When the last had gone, I closed the passage. I kept my face cold through the entire evacuation.
The vast expanse of the bridge still trembled with the silence left behind by the slaves' departure. Only the creak of wood and steel remained, along with the motionless figures of my Heartless patrolling like living statues. I headed toward the small house where I had left the architect. He was still there, seated in a corner, sketchbook clutched to his chest, eyes wide and evasive, as though every beat of my footsteps hammered into his ribcage.
I stopped in front of him. "You're the one in charge of the work?" I asked, my voice neutral, almost icy. He nodded, too terrified to form words. His throat convulsed, a faint breath slipping between his lips.
I laid my hand on the doorframe, tilting my head slightly toward him. "You can command the creatures," I said calmly. Outside, my Heartless lifted their heads as one, attentive to the slightest signal. "They're strong, tireless. They will never hunger, never sleep, never rebel. Your project will advance much faster this way."
The architect swallowed hard, his notebook trembling in his hands. I saw a new glimmer of thought shine in his eyes: no chains, no whips, but an army of tireless workers at his command. His fear remained, but it was tinged now with strange relief.
"After all," I added, straightening up as my shadowed wings folded into my back, "if the noble Celestial Dragons demanded this work, it might as well be done properly." My tone carried an icy irony, but he didn't dare answer.
Without waiting for a reply, I turned away. With a gesture, a dark portal opened before me, its tendrils devouring the light. I stepped through and emerged at the base of one of the bridge's massive foundations, near the churning surface of the sea. The setting sun reflected on the waves, painting blood-red hues across the colossal pillars that plunged down into the abyss.
I returned to my normal form, letting the black wings dissolve into the salty air."Finally… done," I muttered under my breath, fatigue mingling with cold relief. "Best not to have the World Government hunting me in East Blue."
Without further hesitation, I dove into the turbulent waters. The current wrapped around me like an icy caress as I swam toward the place where I had left Eisah's shadow with Usopp. Two hours later, the looming shape of the Going Merry appeared in the distance, bathed in silver moonlight. Beneath its hull, Meumeuh swam peacefully, her massive body moving with a grace that was almost comforting.
I slowed, swimming alongside her for a few minutes, resting a hand on her scaled hide."Thank you, my girl," I whispered before finally hauling myself back onto the ship's deck.
Water dripped from my clothes, splashing onto Nami, who was lying on a deck chair, gazing at the stars."Waaah!" she screamed, leaping to her feet and grabbing an oar to chase me with.
"Stop, Nami!" I laughed, backing away with my hands raised in surrender. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to scare you."
"You could've given a warning instead of showing up like a ghost!" she snapped, swinging at me — but her strikes were more like light smacks, as if venting her earlier worry.
The noise drew Luffy, crouched near the mast, who looked up with a wide grin."Jordan!" he exclaimed, relieved. "Everything go okay?"
I ran a hand through my wet hair, sighing before smiling."Yeah… it's cleaned up. We shouldn't be affected now."
Sanji, who had stood to check the commotion, let out a long sigh of relief."Tch… you could at least warn us before running off to play hero," he muttered, relighting a cigarette — but his eyes betrayed his relief.
Usopp dropped back onto his makeshift mattress."I knew you'd come back!" he said in a flat tone, trying hard to hide the worry he'd felt.
I looked up at the crow's nest: Zoro was fast asleep, one arm draped protectively around Kuina. She, however, was awake and staring at me. The moment our eyes met, she flushed crimson and yanked a blanket over her face to hide. I chuckled softly, amused, before lowering my gaze back to the deck.
Kaya stepped out of the cabin, drawn by the noise. Her bright eyes lit up when she saw me. She gently pulled Nami along with her."Come on, let's go to bed," she told the navigator softly. "He's back. Everything's fine now."
Nami nodded, but before disappearing into the girls' cabin, she gave me a tender, relieved smile.
That left me alone on deck with Luffy, Sanji, and Usopp as silence slowly returned. Luffy bit into a piece of dried meat he'd stashed away and, mouth full, asked simply:"So, Jordan… what did you see over there?"
I lifted my eyes to the sky. The night stretched endlessly above, every star shining like a distant promise. Some seemed to pulse, as if reminding me that no matter how hard the path, it was always lit by a goal."…A lot of things better left unsaid," I finally answered, my voice low and rough. My gaze stayed fixed on a constellation I felt I could see more clearly than ever. "But know this: I still have a long way to go to make my dream real… and above all, I have to become stronger."
Silence followed my words. Luffy simply nodded with his eternal, confident smile, as if he understood without needing more. Usopp half-yawned, but I caught the flicker of quiet respect in his eyes. Sanji headed toward the cabins, leaving a trail of smoke that drifted into the night air.
One by one, my companions left the deck to rest, until only the steady lapping of the waves against the hull remained. I beckoned Eisah's shadow, which slipped silently from my steps and took position at the helm. His ethereal figure blended into the night, ready to watch over the ship's course.
I settled into Nami's deck chair, still warm from where she'd been lying, and stretched out. The salty scent of the sea mixed with a gentle breeze that brushed through my hair. Above me, the sky was scattered with thin clouds, never quite enough to hide the brilliance of the stars.
My eyelids grew heavy. My thoughts wandered — to my sleeping companions, to the lands we had yet to tread, and to the trials still waiting for me. At last, lulled by the sea and the breath of the wind, I drifted off beneath the watchful gaze of the constellations.
Mariejois, Hall of the Five Elders
The atmosphere in the hall was suffocating. Heavy crimson velvet curtains stifled the outside light, and only a few massive golden chandeliers lit the room. The air felt icy, weighed down by the presence of the five most influential Celestial Dragons in the world: the Gorosei.
Spandine, former director of CP9 and now a zealous servant, knelt at the center of the hall, sweat beading on his brow. His voice trembled slightly as he read his report."What are you saying, Spandine?" asked Saint Marcus Mars in a glacial tone, his half-closed eyes glinting like blades poised to strike.
"We have lost contact with Commander Hiro at Tequila Wolf. I managed to reestablish contact with Igor, the site's chief architect." His throat tightened, but he pressed on, eyes lowered. "According to him… the bridge was attacked by a man… accompanied by thousands of dark creatures with glowing blue eyes."
A heavy silence followed.
Saint Topman Warcury slowly rested his hands on his cane and tilted his head, his bushy brows furrowing."Those descriptions… Could it be this Sora? The one who already troubles Sengoku?"
Spandine nodded quickly, his hurried breathing betraying his nerves."According to Architect Igor's words, it fits. He claims this individual defeated two CP0 agents. He lured them into the clouds… but Igor didn't see how he finished them."
The faces of the Five remained marble-still, but a fleeting glimmer of interest crossed their eyes.
"And the construction?" asked Saint Sheperd Ju Peter in a falsely sweet, almost honeyed voice. "Were the slaves… freed? Is the bridge compromised?"
Spandine swallowed hard."No, Elder. Igor stated that… Sora drove the slaves away, but left his creatures behind. Those things now obey Igor and continue the construction. According to him, the project is advancing even faster than with slaves."
A short, dry laugh escaped Saint Jaygarcia Saturn, who folded his hands behind his back."Then there is no problem. Raise his bounty as a token, but leave the pursuit to the Navy. As long as he does not harm the World Government, we can forgive him for cutting down a few dogs," declared Saint Jaygarcia Saturn.
Saint Ethanbaron V. Nusjuro chuckled, resting his hand casually on the hilt of his sword."Exactly. Why waste our time on such a minnow? According to Kong, his creatures are nothing but weak shadows, good for frightening fools. Our focus must remain on Dragon and his revolutionaries. That is the true threat."
"You may go, Spandine," Saint Marcus Mars finally decreed, his voice cracking like a sentence. "And carry out Saturn's orders without delay."
"Yes, Your Excellencies!" Spandine stammered before bowing until his forehead touched the floor, then hurrying out of the hall, heart pounding in his chest.
Behind him, the hall sank back into heavy silence. The Five Elders looked at one another without a word, and in their impassive eyes, a shared thought glimmered: Sora was not yet an enemy. But he could become one.
(Author's note: That's it for this week! I'll try to do two next week. Get ready for a very special island ^^)