Shiki, the Golden Lion—
Rose into the sky using the Float-Float Fruit.
In the blink of an eye—
He vanished from Akainu and the others' sight.
BOOM!
Akainu slammed his fist into the ground in fury.
A molten crater—
Seven to eight meters deep—
Formed instantly.
Scorching gray smoke billowed upward.
"Damn pirates!!"
Akainu roared toward the sky where Shiki had disappeared.
With Kizaru heavily injured—
There was no way to stop someone who could fly.
"Now's not the time to be angry."
Aokiji stepped forward, calm as ever.
"Before things get even more chaotic…"
"We need to collect all the Magic Eye Crosses."
Kizaru's injury—
And Shiki's sudden appearance—
Had made one thing clear.
This situation—
Was spiraling beyond expectations.
Aokiji turned to Kizaru.
"The fleet has already surrounded Sabaody."
"With your condition, you can still coordinate them, right?"
Kizaru nodded faintly, his face pale.
"…That'll have to do."
He could still move—
But fighting monsters like Shiki or Yuuki again?
Impossible.
Without another word—
His body dissolved into golden light—
And vanished.
Akainu—
Already burning with magma—
Had left first.
Aokiji watched them go.
A breath of cold mist escaped his lips.
What exactly are you trying to do… "Mage" Yuuki?
He frowned.
Memories surfaced—
Of Alabasta.
Of Yuuki's words.
Of everything he had done since.
It felt like—
He was guiding something.
Aokiji suddenly had a realization.
The sea—
Which had seemed stable—
Might soon—
Be thrown into chaos.
More importantly—
This worldwide broadcast—
Had shaken the authority of both the Marines and the World Government.
If they failed to resolve this—
The suppressed forces across the world—
Would stir again.
After all—
This sea—
Never lacked ambition.
And yet—
People often overlooked one thing.
The will—
Of those at the bottom.
Especially in a world—
Ruled by individual strength.
Meanwhile — Area 13
Rayleigh stood with one hand against a tree trunk—
The other in his pocket.
His gaze was steady—
Locked on the figure who had just appeared before him.
Yuuki.
"I didn't expect even an old man like me to be targeted."
Rayleigh said calmly—
Eyes sharp with caution.
"Don't make it sound so hostile."
Yuuki spread his hands lightly.
"If you're going to watch the show…"
"What's the point of hiding in the shadows?"
He traced a finger upward.
From the mangrove tree—
A translucent bubble—
About a person's height—
Formed—
And floated beside Rayleigh.
Through World Tree Magic—
Yuuki could influence the mangroves—
And, by extension—
The entire Sabaody Archipelago.
Though for now—
He chose not to.
Still—
It had given him…
An interesting idea.
Yuuki smiled.
And gestured.
An invitation.
Rayleigh looked at the bubble.
It appeared polite—
But there was no room to refuse.
"…Fine."
A grin spread across his face.
"Since you've staged such a grand play…"
"I might as well see how it ends."
He stepped into the bubble.
Yuuki lifted it—
Rising into the sky.
Within moments—
They reached high above Sabaody.
Countless bubbles—
Filled the sky.
Born from the mangroves—
They floated—
Only able to exist within the island's range.
Beyond that—
They would pop.
Even at high altitude—
They should've burst.
Yet—
Rayleigh's bubble remained intact.
Unshaken.
He sat cross-legged inside—
Observing Yuuki—
And their surroundings.
Trying to understand.
Then—
He noticed something.
Another figure—
Floating nearby.
"Black Robe" Conrad.
Rayleigh's eyes narrowed slightly.
Before the broadcast ended—
He had clearly seen Conrad get taken out by Kizaru.
And yet—
Here he was.
Unharmed.
That alone—
Deepened Rayleigh's wariness.
This crew…
Was far from ordinary.
Surrounded by Marine fleets.
Three Admirals present.
And yet—
The captain and vice-captain—
Showed no urgency to flee.
They hadn't even coated their ship yet.
Before—
Rayleigh might've called it ignorance.
Now?
He knew better.
Then—
They stopped ascending.
Conrad moved—
Appearing behind Yuuki.
Rayleigh lifted his gaze.
Above them—
A floating island hovered in the sky.
"…Impressive."
He said quietly.
"So even that old lion came out to play…"
"Quite an honor," Yuuki replied lightly.
"To attract a legendary pirate like the Golden Lion."
He glanced at Rayleigh.
"Want to take a look up there?"
Rayleigh took a swig from his flask.
"…I'll pass."
"I'm not interested in provoking that mad lion."
"Fair enough."
Yuuki nodded.
The so-called "IQ" Shiki was researching—
Held no appeal for him.
He raised his hand—
And sliced through the air.
Four projections appeared.
Each showed—
A different part of Sabaody.
Kabaji.
Mohji.
Marianne.
Buggy.
"…This is?"
Rayleigh paused mid-drink.
"A small application of magic."
Yuuki replied casually.
Rayleigh said nothing.
His eyes focused on the projections.
Chaos.
Everywhere.
The Magic Eye Crosses—
Had turned the entire island into a battlefield.
Ambushes.
Fights.
Pursuit.
Kabaji and the others—
Were strong.
But Sabaody wasn't filled with weaklings.
Realizing they couldn't be pinned down—
They split up.
Each breaking out on their own.
And among them—
Buggy stood out.
Unlike the others—
Who were desperately protecting the crosses—
Buggy did the opposite.
Whenever danger came—
He threw one away.
Creating chaos—
And escaping.
As a result—
He suffered the least damage.
Rayleigh's expression turned strange.
His gaze shifted toward Yuuki.
"…You're doing this on purpose, aren't you?"
Such treasures—
Thrown away like bait—
And yet—
Yuuki showed no concern.
That meant one thing.
They weren't truly valuable—
To him.
Which led to a deeper question—
Was "resurrection"—
Flawed?
"Caught me."
Yuuki said lightly.
Though his face showed no surprise.
The Magic Eye Cross—
Had multiple purposes.
One of them—
Vegapunk.
Once the World Government obtained one—
They would study it.
And no one—
Surpassed Vegapunk.
Yuuki didn't know the exact location of Egghead—
But it didn't matter.
Once Vegapunk touched the Cross—
He could track it.
And then—
Use Spatial Magic—
To arrive.
His true goal—
Was "Green Blood."
A technology far beyond—
Artificial Devil Fruits.
With it—
Combined with magic—
He could wield Paramecia abilities—
Without eating a Devil Fruit.
"Every gift fate offers…"
Yuuki said softly—
A hint of amusement in his tone—
"Already has its price written on it."
Rayleigh's expression darkened.
As expected,
Resurrection—
Had a cost.
And somehow—
That brought him relief.
Power without limits—
Was terrifying.
Especially something like—
Reviving the dead.
If there were no restrictions—
It would be a disaster.
Yuuki didn't need to look—
To know what Rayleigh was thinking.
But it didn't matter.
Even if word got out—
Nothing would change.
Because—
When faced with death—
How many could truly accept it?
Compared to death—
What was any other price?
In fact—
Knowing the cost—
Might only fuel greater madness.
Rayleigh realized that too.
His gaze deepened.
"…You're playing with fire, kid."
Thirty-plus crosses—
Meant one thing.
They were man-made.
And the creator—
Would become the center of the world's attention.
"That's called lighting yourself on fire."
Yuuki chuckled.
"Funny you mention that."
"Your captain, Roger…"
"He was the real master of that."
"With a single sentence before his death—"
"He ignited the Great Pirate Era."
Rayleigh's eyes sharpened instantly.
"Don't expect to get anything about the final island from me."
"…Laugh Tale?"
Yuuki scoffed.
"That's for people chasing the title of Pirate King."
"I'm not interested in that."
"The Marines, the Seven Warlords, the pirates—"
"They maintain a fragile balance."
"But that balance…"
"…is like walking a tightrope."
Yuuki smiled faintly.
"What I'm doing now—"
"Is just giving Roger's will…"
"…a little push."
(End of Chapter)
Next Bonus Chapter at 5500 powerstones.