With Kaya's silent consent, Kuro was powerless to change his fate. Together with his Black Cat Pirates, he was reduced to ash under Leno's lightning.
Not long after, with a thunderous boom, the entire hill—including Kaya's mansion—lifted off the ground and slowly began to rise into the sky.
The tremendous commotion sent the villagers of Syrup Village into a panic. A large crowd gathered at the foot of the hill, staring in shock at the sight of the mountain slowly ascending.
"Kaya!"
A heart-wrenching scream burst from the crowd.
Usopp, wearing his familiar bandana, stumbled and sprinted toward the hilltop. Thinking Kaya was in danger, he threw himself forward without hesitation.
To Usopp, Kaya was a dear friend. Though she had been avoiding him lately for reasons he didn't understand, she was now clearly in trouble—and a true friend couldn't just stand by.
When he finally reached the edge of the massive crater and looked up, he froze.
High above, Kaya stood on the floating hill, chatting and laughing beside a man, looking perfectly fine.
Usopp pulled down his goggles for a clearer look, and his pupils shrank.
"It's him?!"
His impression of Leno was unforgettable. The last time they met, the man's mocking gaze made him feel like a clown. And one of his companions—the "violent woman"—had beaten him to a pulp. Even Kaya's cold attitude toward him had started right after those people arrived.
To say that Usopp's opinion of them was terrible would be an understatement.
And now they had taken Kaya away? Fury and helplessness welled inside him as he glared bitterly at the figures in the sky.
Kaya, however, was oblivious to everything else. The initial panic in her eyes had vanished, replaced entirely by excitement.
"Mr. Leno, you're amazing! I can't believe it! An entire mountain is flying?"
Butler Merry nodded rapidly, his face full of disbelief.
On either side of Kaya, Nami and Nojiko each held one of her hands and said casually, "Don't be too surprised, Kaya. This big idiot's power comes from his Devil Fruit. You'll get used to it once you've seen it a few times."
"Mhm!" Kaya replied eagerly.
Reaching the edge of the mountain, she looked down at the deep blue sea below, her pale face flushed with excitement.
Humanity had never stopped dreaming of the sky, and Kaya herself had often imagined what it would be like to fly.
Now, gazing upon the drifting sea of clouds and the boundless ocean below, she felt the weight on her heart dissolve completely.
Leno guided the "floating mountain" swiftly across the air, soon returning to Cocoyasi Village.
Having already reached an agreement with the villagers, Leno wasted no time—he raised the island that contained the entire village into the sky as well.
The villagers' panic soon subsided thanks to Genzo and Belle-Mère's calm explanations, and life gradually returned to normal.
Looking down at the massive whirlpools forming in the sea below, Leno couldn't help but sigh. The East Blue would never again have a Cocoyasi Village.
Still, recalling tales from his previous life about world-flooding disasters, he felt oddly at peace. Better to move early than too late, he thought.
Shaking his head to clear his thoughts, he focused on steering the floating island toward the Calm Belt.
The disappearance of an entire island in the East Blue caused an uproar. The news soon reached the Marine branch in Loguetown—into Smoker's hands.
Though he had mentally prepared himself, Smoker was still stunned by the report.
"That man's final weakness… is gone now."
His face grew grim as he rose from his chair and looked out over the sea. His thoughts drifted back to a month earlier.
"What?! Marine Headquarters was destroyed? By that adventurer?"
Hearing the trembling voice of Tashigi reporting before him, Smoker shot up from his chair. The cigar fell from his mouth with a clack.
"Yes, Mr. Smoker," Tashigi said solemnly. "The Headquarters' attempt to threaten that adventurer using his family completely backfired. Now everything there is chaos."
Smoker stared at her in disbelief.
"The damage is catastrophic," Tashigi continued, pushing her glasses nervously. "Admiral Kizaru is still unconscious. Admirals Aokiji and Akainu both sustained serious injuries. Three Vice Admirals were killed, and countless others were wounded. Marineford itself is nearly in ruins."
Smoker slumped back into his chair and lit two cigars at once.
"How could it be… that bad? They only had one ship!"
His voice wavered through the haze of smoke. Marine Headquarters—the gathering place of all top-tier strength—defeated by a handful of adventurers? It sounded absurd.
"Reports say that adventurer, Leno, possesses three Devil Fruit powers," Tashigi said softly. "His combat strength is monstrous—terrifying enough to face three Admirals head-on."
Smoker took a deep drag, his face darkening. "Even so, that much destruction shouldn't be possible."
"After this incident, our Marines have completely lost face," he growled. "What the hell were those idiots at Headquarters thinking?"
Imagining the current chaos, Tashigi shuddered. "The adventurer Leno… he, um, dropped an entire island onto Headquarters. Everyone tried to stop it, but…"
"And there's more," she added hesitantly. "The Warlords Boa Hancock and Jinbe turned against us during the attack."
"…"
Silence filled the office.
After a long pause, Smoker's voice came out hoarse. "His third ability—it's the same as the Golden Lion's Float-Float Fruit?"
"Yes, Mr. Smoker."
"…Why did we ever provoke such a monster…" Smoker muttered, feeling utterly powerless.
"Mr. Smoker? Sir?"
Tashigi's voice pulled him back to the present.
Smoker sat down again and asked, "What is it, Tashigi?"
"I was asking whether we should report this 'island disappearance incident' to Headquarters."
Smoker sighed. The girl still didn't grasp how serious this was.
"Of course report it, you idiot. Tell them the missing island was none other than the adventurer Leno's hometown. And add my note—when a monster like that loses his last concern, who knows what kind of madness he'll unleash. Headquarters had better rethink their strategy toward him—fast."
"Yes, sir!"