Boom after boom shook the waters, blasting plumes of spray high into the sky.
"Hm?"
Rakuya frowned, straightening his back as he turned his head.
Out on the once-calm sea, two ships had appeared, both drawing closer to the deserted island.
One was a massive wooden vessel, a black flag with a skull fluttering from its mast a pirate ship.
Behind it, a white-sailed warship cut through the waves, the symbol of a blue seagull emblazoned proudly across its canvas. The Marines.
At this very moment, the two sides were locked in fierce battle. Cannons thundered, bullets zipped through the air, and explosions churned the water into chaos.
Watching them, the corner of Rakuya's lips curled upward.
"Finally… a way out of this forsaken place."
With ships, he could escape the Calm Belt.
BOOM!
Suddenly, another Sea King surged from the depths, its massive body scattering waves like mountains.
Perfect timing.
Rakuya narrowed his eyes and raised a hand.
"Almighty Pull!"
The very air seemed to freeze. Pressure rippled across the sea as the Sea King howled in terror, dragged helplessly toward him.
With a sharp stomp, Rakuya pinned the massive creature beneath his foot.
The Sea King didn't know what he wanted, but the crushing force it had just felt left no doubt. It submitted instantly.
"Obey me, or die."
Rakuya's cold words rang out like a death sentence. The beast's pupils contracted in fear. After a brief struggle, it lowered its head in submission.
"Good."
Rakuya allowed himself a satisfied smile. This one had decent intelligence it could actually understand him.
"Take me to those ships."
Hands behind his back, he pointed toward the battle. The Sea King swam forward silently, carrying him across the rolling waves.
If there was a ship headed out, he wasn't going to miss it. And more importantly… there would be food on board.
Step by step, beast and man drifted closer. The sounds of battle grew clearer.
"Fire! Don't let them escape! First squad, increase your rate of fire!"
On the Marine warship's deck, a tall, stern man with purple hair barked orders with calm authority.
Soon, a Marine soldier came rushing up, panting. "We're at our limit, Zephyr-sensei!"
"If it's the limit, then push harder! Hit them with everything we've got!"
Zephyr's gaze was cold, locked on the pirate crew ahead the Lion Pirates. His eyes burned with disdain.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
The cannons roared, fire and smoke lighting up the sea. A shell slammed into the pirate ship, rocking it violently.
"Damn Marines! Think you can push us around? Karl, is the heavy cannon ready? Show them the bite of the Lion Pirates!"
"Ready, Captain!"
The pirates scrambled, loading ammunition with frantic hands.
"Then fire! Blast their warship apart!"
Cannons thundered again. The Calm Belt, normally silent and still, was drowned in the chaos of battle.
Meanwhile, Rakuya stood calmly upon the Sea King's head, gliding steadily closer, ignoring the explosions around him.
BOOM!
A shell splashed down nearby, spraying seawater high into the air. The waves crashed hard, yet Rakuya remained steady, walking through fire and smoke until he reached the space between the two ships.
"What the… Sea King?!"
"Where? Holy crap, there really is one, Captain!"
"Wait! Look someone's standing on top of it!"
"There's a man?!"
"Impossible! How's he controlling it? Sea Kings are the overlords of the ocean!"
"No way… is he insane? To tread on a Sea King in the middle of a battle like this?"
"What's he planning?"
"Standing right between us… is he not afraid of death?"
"Is he a Devil Fruit user?"
Both Marines and pirates froze, their eyes wide. Even the cannons fell silent as all gazes locked onto the lone youth standing atop the giant Sea King.
What was he going to do?
Under their tense, watchful stares, Rakuya slowly lifted a hand and smiled innocently.
"Hey. Mind if I hitch a ride?"
"Pfft!"
The moment the words left his mouth, Marines and pirates alike nearly spat blood.
They had been bracing for some legendary monster, a hidden overlord of the seas… only for this kid to ask for a lift.
Turns out he wasn't some terrifying god.
He was just a clown.