On the island covered by clouds and mist, Shiki's scorched body lay in a pool of blood within the large crater. Traces of lightning still faintly flickered on the rock walls beneath him.
If not for the slight rise and fall of his chest, an observer might have thought him dead.
Puff puff puff puff-!
Footsteps full of hesitation approached. The clown scientist, Dr. Indigo, ran over, followed by the chimpanzee in the suit.
When the two saw the defeated Shiki, their mouths hung open.
"You've got to be kidding me..." Indigo lost his voice.
That was Shiki, once one of the Three Great Powers of the sea.
A former member of the Rocks Pirates, the great commander of the Golden Lion Pirates who had clashed with Roger and Whitebeard multiple times.
And now he lay in this crater in the posture of a loser.
'Wait... didn't this island depend on his ability to stay afloat?!'
"Hey, you lion bastard! You can't die like this! All my research is in your hands!"
Dr. Indigo was about to rush forward to treat Shiki.
Unfortunately, a figure rapidly closed in from the sky, smashing into the ground and kicking up a large cloud of dust.
"Higanbana, Haruno Sakura!"
The clown's steps halted mid-air, his expression grave as he uttered the girl's name.
"Old lion, I didn't expect your crewmates to be so loyal~"
Teasing Shiki, Sakura slid down the crater's edge.
"Don't joke. That guy only cares about the research in my hands!"
Shiki coughed twice. A blood-stained hand reached for his cigar, but his lighter wouldn't catch in the damp air.
Seeing this, Sakura extended a finger. Manipulating heat, she dried out the excess moisture and lit the cigar for him.
"That's a convenient ability."
Shiki closed his eyes, settling the back of his head into the soil. "Come on, Higanbana brat! Kill me! Make a name for yourself by stepping on my head!"
Victors live, losers die. That was the rule of the pirate world.
If you became a pirate without that resolve, crying and sniveling at death's door, you'd truly be a disgrace.
At least for someone like Shiki, with the presence of a king, doing such a thing was absolutely impossible.
"Old lion, you haven't forgotten you lost the Davy Back Fight, have you?"
Sakura sat down cross-legged beside Shiki, her emerald eyes full of mischief.
'!!!'
The worst-case scenario had occurred. The one Shiki least wanted to see.
Originally, by winning the Davy Back Fight, he could have immediately recruited a powerful combatant who encompassed the roles of doctor, first mate, fighter, navigator, archaeologist, spy...
However, opportunity always coexisted with risk.
Once the Davy Back Fight was lost, the risk of being recruited by the opponent would instantly fall upon him.
And to become a subordinate to a former rival's cabin girl?
At this moment, Shiki glared furiously, an unnatural flush rising on his pale face. "You really want me to serve under you?!!"
"Mmm-hmm~ That is a tempting proposal!"
The girl tapped her chin with a fair finger, revealing a devilish smile.
In the silence, Shiki swallowed several times in succession, gazing at that beautiful face like a prisoner awaiting sentence.
After a long, long while, Sakura's shoulders suddenly began to shake.
"Hahahaha, old lion, oh old lion! To see such an expression on you!"
Hearing the meaning in her tone, Shiki let out a sigh of relief, his head dropping back into the soil.
"Speak. What do you want to take from me?"
Sakura raised a finger, forming the Ram seal.
Roots and plants buried underground rapidly sprouted. Spotless white flowers bloomed. Branches, accelerated by Yang Release Chakra, sprayed over Shiki's wounds.
"That island you seized. Merveille."
While treating him, Sakura pointed into the distance. "Give it to me. As an item plundered by the victor of the Davy Back Fight."
"No! That island has very important research on it, Admiral!"
Dr. Indigo, who had been eavesdropping at the crater's edge for a while, was horrified. He waved his hands, trying to stop it.
"Shut up!" x2
Suddenly, formidable presences cracked sky and earth.
The surrounding clouds were blasted apart by two conflicting, rising streams of dark lightning. The will of conquerors roared incessantly.
Causing this court jester who had intruded upon the meeting of two kings to instantly lose consciousness, falling to the ground with eyes rolled back.
Shiki withdrew his gaze and spoke indifferently, "Fine. That island is yours."
After all, at this stage, with his strength beginning to recover, that Beast Weapon project didn't hold much meaning anyway.
All those beasts combined probably couldn't even beat him alone. So he might as well lose it to Sakura as a Davy Back Fight wager.
"However, asking for an entire island right off the bat... you really have a big appetite!"
He grinned around his cigar, revealing a set of white teeth.
"That island seems quite nice. And I'll need a territory in the future."
Withdrawing the Wood Release, Sakura took bandages from a scroll and began wrapping Shiki's wounds. "Also, I'll leave the island with you for now. I'll come collect it when I head to the New World later."
This attitude of taking and then demanding more made several veins bulge on Shiki's forehead. "Damn it, what do you take me for?"
The girl tilted her head. "Island caretaker?"
An angry Shiki sat straight up, crossed his arms, and turned his head away.
'-Forget it. Can't beat her. Caretaker it is, then.'
After the back-and-forth, Sakura and Shiki exchanged Den Den Mushi numbers, and Sakura prepared to return to Alabasta.
Before leaving, she stood at the edge of the sky island, waving to Shiki. "Bye-bye, old lion! Remember, don't get captured by the Marines. And keep my territory safe for me!"
"I know, now get lost!"
Shiki rolled his eyes. With a twist of his palm, he flung the section of earth at the sky island's edge, along with Sakura, downward.
…
Inside the palace of Alabasta.
Kuina paced anxiously in a side chamber, frequently glancing towards the sky from the window.
"Kuina~"
A blue-haired girl in a long dress, accompanied by her guard, walked over and placed a hand on Kuina's shoulder. The two had met during the kidnapping incident. Being around the same age, they had formed a friendship.
"Alright, stop worrying. Isn't your captain some kind of [Future Emperor]? She'll definitely return victorious!"
"But... but I..."
Kuina bit her lip hard, sniffing.
"Oh? I think I heard someone crying?"
A clear voice descended from above. Both girls looked up to see Sakura slowly descending, propelled by steam.
"Sakura-nee!"
Kuina threw herself into Sakura's embrace, her shoulders trembling continuously. Tears soaked Sakura's shirt. "It's all my fault! I shouldn't have chased after those two, forcing you to fight such a dangerous person."
Sakura raised her hand. A merciless, Haki-clad chop descended.
Thump!
"Oww!"
A large, smoking bump rose on Kuina's head. She held it, leaning against the palace wall.
"Silly. I'm the one who sent you!"
Sakura extended a single arm, pinning Kuina against the wall. She looked down, her shadow completely enveloping the girl.
"Carrying my flag means even if you turn these seas upside down, it's because I allowed it! Understood?!!"
Hearing this domineering declaration, stars sparkled in Vivi's eyes beside them. "So this is what pirates are like? So cool! I want to... mmph!"
Her guard captain, Igaram, promptly covered his princess's mouth. "That is absolutely not allowed!"
The commotion in the chamber attracted others. Cobra, Tiger, Leviathan, and the rest walked over, making the side chamber somewhat crowded.
"You've returned safely, Sakura-san!"
Cobra, with Vivi, stepped forward and bowed deeply to Sakura. "We are deeply grateful for your assistance."
"Let's get practical. I'm hungry. Is there any food?"
Sakura released Kuina, turning to face the royal family.
"Hahaha! Yes, yes! A banquet has been prepared in your honor!"
Cobra laughed heartily, gesturing for Sakura to lead the way.
Hearing this, Sakura's smile instantly brightened. She waved a hand to her gathered crewmates.
"Alright, everyone… let the party begin…!"