Grand Line, G8 Branch.
Jonathan stood at the base gates to welcome Sakazuki's return.
Looking at the pile of stone statues, he shook his head and said to Sakazuki, who was disembarking:
"Sure enough, it failed?"
"That woman…"
Sakazuki gave a short scoff:
"Half a success."
"First, store these statues somewhere safe."
"Once that fellow is remodeled into a weapon, these soldiers will be revived."
Jonathan was puzzled:
"Remodel? Weapon?"
Sakazuki rolled his neck a little:
"That woman died by my hands."
"We'll send her to the Navy's Science Division. Once the Pacifista Project is perfected…"
"We'll turn her into a cyborg. The soldiers will naturally revive then."
Jonathan sucked in a cold breath:
"Hss—"
"So that's possible too."
"But what about the Shichibukai appointment?"
Sakazuki said:
"I granted it to the whole nation."
"Gave them three years to prepare."
"Three years from now, they are to build a defensive line on the edge of the Calm Belt."
"Use it to raid passing pirates. If they fail, they die."
"As simple as that."
A bead of sweat trickled down Jonathan's temple:
"Truly… what a method you have."
Sakazuki let out a low chuckle:
"Enough, hurry and get people to unload these statues."
"We need to depart immediately."
"Without specialized equipment to keep him alive, we must get that fellow to Punk Hazard quickly."
"Better not let him die on the way."
Jonathan dared not delay, since the fate of the petrified soldiers also depended on this:
"Quick! Quick! Quick!"
"Speed it up!!!"
"Move them all now!!!"
One after another, soldiers rushed out of the base to join the hauling effort.
Jonathan sighed:
"So be it then. I even had Jessica prepare a feast."
"Looks like I'll have to invite you next time instead."
Sakazuki chuckled:
"Opportunities will come, no rush."
The statues of more than a thousand people were quickly cleared away under the effort of hundreds of soldiers.
Sakazuki headed toward the warship, raising a hand in farewell without turning back:
"Off I go."
...
Several days later.
Grand Line, first half.
Calm Belt, Amazon Lily.
Six Navy warships sailed into the harbor entrance.
Elder Nyon led a group of young Kuja warriors in welcome.
On the warship.
An officer approached the figure sleeping lazily in a deck chair:
"Vice Admiral Kuzan, we've arrived."
Two seconds later, Kuzan's voice rose groggily:
"Ah— we've arrived, huh."
"Then unload the supplies."
"Hand them over to them."
With difficulty he climbed up from his chair, yawning as he walked to the railing.
Watching the Kuja warriors unloading materials and equipment, his drowsiness faded a little, and he muttered in awe:
"So many beautiful ladies."
"Well, this is the Kuja."
"What a fine place this is."
He leaned on the railing, admiring the view. Then suddenly, he sensed something:
"Hm?"
"What's that?"
Swish!
In an instant, he leapt into the air, gazing into the distance.
Not only could he see them, he could sense the many Sea Kings surging this way:
"Alalala."
"So many Sea Kings—if they all crash into us, that'll be a pain."
"Seriously now…"
He extended both arms forward. Cold air condensed in his palms, spinning rapidly as he aimed far into the distance:
"Ice Age!"
Two streams of freezing air shot outward, forming two endlessly extending ice pillars in the air, reaching all the way across the sea surface.
An iceberg erupted from the ocean, expanding continuously.
Only when it nearly matched Amazon Lily's size did it stop, forcing the Sea Kings to veer away.
Frost clung to Kuzan's body as he exhaled:
"Hu—"
A breath of mist escaped as he looked down at Elder Nyon:
"Tell me, lady…"
"Do Sea King attacks happen this often?"
After all, he had already run into several waves of them on the way here. Naturally, Kuzan was curious.
Elder Nyon was still in awe of a Vice Admiral's strength, but hearing the question, she quickly replied:
"No, Navy-sama."
"It only started at dawn today. I've lived on Amazon Lily for many years, and this is the first time I've seen such continuous waves of Sea Kings."
Kuzan nodded, gazing in the direction they had come:
"I see…"
...
The day before, night.
Grand Line, first half.
At the edge of the Calm Belt stood the Kingdom of Music, Elegia.
A grand banquet was underway.
Musicians from across the world gathered, sharing their compositions.
The palace hall was filled with laughter and song.
Uta felt as though she had stepped into a dream, surrounded everywhere by beautiful voices and music.
Unconsciously, she began to sing along.
But none noticed… deep within the island's ruins, the moment Uta's voice rang out… countless streams of light flared to life.
An ancient, tattered score, under the pull of some unknown force, burst forth from the ruins.
It traveled along the castle's ducts… and somehow ended up lying on a sofa in the banquet hall.
The instant it appeared, Uta felt something tug at her heart.
She walked over, picked up the score:
"Tot Musica?"
Uta was puzzled by the meaning of the name.
But after glancing over it, she thought it seemed like a fine song. Following the notes, she began to sing…
The very instant she opened her mouth, a surge of red light erupted, engulfing the entire island.
King Gordon's face twisted with terror as if he realized something.
Shanks resisted the waves of crimson light, straining to see what was happening inside:
"Uta!!!!"
Rumble—!
Countless people were blasted away. Moments later, the entire palace was ablaze.
The surrounding sea roiled in turmoil as countless fish fled the area.
A colossal demon wearing a mask like a jester's face appeared.
The ancient legend of the Kingdom of Music—the Song Demon King—had come forth.
Its entire body was composed of instruments. Ordinary at a glance, yet carrying boundless power.
Lightning and fire lit up the island in an instant.
Like divine punishment, beams of energy with lightning streaked forth from its maw, sweeping across the land.
In mere seconds, the stunned Red-Haired Pirates were thrown into chaos.
The entire kingdom—save for King Gordon who stood with Shanks' crew— every single resident perished under the Song Demon King's hand. Every building reduced to rubble.
King Gordon cried out with all his might toward the demon:
"Uta!"
"Stop at once!!"
"Don't let it control you!!!!"
But it was useless. The Song Demon King's gaze shifted toward him instead.
Ben Beckman and Lucky Roo burst forth from behind Gordon:
"Move!"
Clang! Clang!
Sparks flew off the Song Demon King's chest—doing no harm, but buying a moment…
Shanks appeared suddenly in midair. The two darted aside.
A wave of overwhelming Conqueror's Haki erupted outward as Shanks swung Gryphon, wrapped in his will, at the demon.
Slash—!!
Boom!!!!
A massive blade of force tore through its body, making it explode and twist uncontrollably.
Just as it was about to vanish, a hideous demonic shadow erupted from within, shrieked, and then dispersed.
Uta's figure appeared, falling to the ground…
...
King Gordon sat in shock, staring at the flames. Shanks walked over:
"Sorry…"
Gordon shook his head:
"Tell the Navy it was my fault."
"It was I, the king…"
Out on the sea, several Navy warships were speeding toward the island.
Shanks shook his head:
"No, it was our fault."
"I wanted to leave Uta here."
"Tell Uta this for me—her song is the best…"
"We'll go and be hunted by the Navy."
"Help raise Uta into the finest singer."
"Don't tell her the truth…"
"In the end… there is no sin in song."
---
read +170 chapters on Patreon tambeerg