Eli Winters dragged the battered Golden Lion Shiki back to Little Garden. When he looked around, the once pristine island, peaceful like a hidden paradise, had been reduced to ruins. Splintered giant trees lay everywhere, mountainsides were cracked open, and several parts of the ground had collapsed into deep pits created by the shockwaves of battle. The sight filled Eli with a faint sense of regret.
Given how fierce the fighting had been, and how overwhelmingly powerful both sides were, the fact that Little Garden had not been completely sunk was already a miracle. Eli shook his head helplessly and let out a quiet sigh.
At that moment, Brogy, Dorry, and Mihawk rushed toward him. When they saw Eli return unharmed, and dragging along an old man who looked like he had been through hell, they finally let out the breath they had been holding.
Eli stepped forward, looked Mihawk in the eyes, and said sincerely, "Thank you."
Mihawk nodded lightly, as if to say it was nothing worth mentioning.
Eli then turned to Dorry and Brogy. Guilt clouded his expression as he said, "Dorry, Brogy, I'm really sorry. Because of me, your home ended up like this."
Dorry burst into hearty laughter. "Hahaha, Eli, you do not need to worry about that. Brogy and I have actually grown tired of living here. This might be a good excuse for us to head back to Elbaf."
Brogy laughed as well. "It has been so many years. We do not know how our people have been doing. It is about time we went home." His eyes softened with nostalgia.
Eli said nothing more. He simply carved their kindness into his heart. Some gratitude did not need words.
Mihawk's sharp gaze swept toward the old man held in Eli's grip. Suspicion rose in his eyes. After a moment of hesitation, he asked, "Eli, is that man really the Golden Lion Shiki from the legends?"
Hearing this, Shiki, who had been looking half-dead moments earlier, immediately perked up. His eyes flashed with pride as he lifted his head. "Heh. So there is still someone in this vast sea who recognizes me."
Eli did not even pretend to be impressed. "You are just my prisoner now. What exactly are you proud of?"
Shiki's face flushed with embarrassment and fury. Before he could retort, Eli waved his hand and tossed him into the Kamui space without another glance.
Eli was in no rush to decide Shiki's fate. He had plenty of time.
He then led Mihawk and the others to a spacious clearing. With a casual motion of his hands, a ripple of light flashed, and everyone who had been stored in his Kamui space reappeared before them.
The Kamui space was divided into several sections, so Felina and the others had not encountered Jack the Drought or anyone else while inside.
Suddenly being transported back, Big Pan and the others froze, confused about what had just happened. When their eyes finally fell on Eli standing nearby, smiles instantly broke across their faces.
They had survived a battle that should have cost them their lives. Seeing Eli safe and sound felt nothing short of miraculous.
Felina rushed toward Eli like a frightened deer. She threw herself into his arms and choked out, "Eli, they almost killed my sister…"
The memory of seeing Fiona engulfed by Glengusen's hellfire pillar still haunted her. The terror had nearly torn her apart. If she had not seen Fiona safely transported away at the last second, she might have collapsed in grief.
Eli's heart softened. He gently patted her head and said, "It is alright. It is over now. As long as I am here, nothing will happen to any of you."
After crying in his arms for a while, Felina finally calmed down. Realizing how many people were watching, her cheeks turned bright red. She scrambled away and hid behind Fiona, refusing to show her face again.
Eli then looked over his crew. Their bodies were covered with cuts and bruises, clothes torn to shreds, and they were clearly exhausted. But despite their miserable appearance, their auras felt sharper and stronger than ever. Their eyes gleamed with determination like stars shining in the night.
The battle had pushed everyone forward. Even Klee, the weakest among them, now radiated a far more solid presence.
"It seems all of you have grown quite a bit," Eli said with a proud smile.
Big Pan puffed out his chest, pounding it like steel. "Boss, I bet even Dorry and Brogy are not my match anymore."
Dorry and Brogy's faces immediately darkened. They looked seconds away from smacking him into the ground.
Eli sighed and tapped Big Pan on the chest. "You brat, getting cocky already. The next time you face that man, you better not let yourself get beaten up like today."
Big Pan straightened instantly. "Do not worry, Boss. Next time I see him, I will crush him completely."
Eli burst into laughter. "Then it is settled. To celebrate our victory, let us feast tonight. A proper one."
Cheers broke out instantly. Although everyone had injuries, Eli's healing medicine had already taken care of most of it. Their bodies were more than ready for a night of drinking and celebration.
Just as they were getting excited, a hearty laugh echoed from a distance.
"Eli Winters, mind if we join your celebration?"
Everyone turned toward the voice. Shanks approached with his usual laid-back smile, his crew following behind him. Beckman carried someone over his shoulder.
When the crew saw who it was, Simon and Doty gasped.
"Tiger!"
During the chaos of battle, they had been overwhelmed and unable to worry about Tiger's fate. They thought he had been killed. Seeing him alive brought overwhelming relief.
Eli approached Shanks. "Why is Tiger with you?"
Shanks grinned. "Found him not far from Little Garden. He was unconscious."
Eli nodded. He had sensed Tiger being swept into the sea earlier. The spatial mark he left on Tiger had not indicated danger, so he had not rushed to rescue him. He had not expected Shanks to pick him up.
"Tiger is our friend. Thank you for saving him," Eli said.
Shanks waved a hand with a laugh. "No need for thanks. Just buy us drinks."
"That is easy," Eli replied with a smile.