Crash!
The sound of something smashing through the deck of a warship echoed as it fled the Navy's encirclement.
"Sauro, we're under attack!"
Robin's panicked voice rang out, and the giant, summoned to her side, warily eyed the dust-filled hole in the deck.
In the haze, everyone's gaze locked onto a pink-haired figure climbing out from under the debris.
"Phew, I still haven't nailed this technique, but I'd say it's half a success!"
Sakura scratched her head, brushing off the dust from her clothes.
Even though her chakra had locked onto the spacetime anchor sealed in her kunai, the preparation took forever, and there was still some deviation when crossing space.
Was it a lack of practice, or…?
"Sakura!"
As Haruno Sakura was lost in thought, Nico Robin rushed forward, tackling her to the ground.
The tear-streaked girl clung tightly to Sakura, nearly suffocating her.
"So flat… wait, no—let go, Robin, I can't breathe!"
Rolling her eyes, Sakura patted Robin's back a few times until she finally loosened her grip.
"Sorry, I didn't mean…" Seeing Sakura's disheveled state, Robin's tears welled up again. "Those Navy jerks were so cruel!"
Nearby, Olvia, who had snapped out of her daze, rummaged through the warship and found a medical kit, tending to Sakura's injuries with quick, practiced hands.
The scholars rescued from Ohara were scattered across the deck, slumped in various spots, stifling their sobs and choking back their grief.
"What a mess," Sakura muttered.
Wrapped in heavy bandages, she stood up and planted a foot on the ship's railing.
Looking down at the despondent scholars, she took a deep breath and let out a booming roar.
"Hey! You Ohara dimwits!"
Her blunt, fiery will jolted them, shaking the scholars out of their spiraling despair.
Hollow eyes lifted, meeting Sakura's figure standing bold against the rising sun.
"So what if the Holy Land was destroyed? Build it again somewhere else. Lost your texts? Write new ones."
"Are you really going to give up everything just because the government hit you once?"
"What about the sacrifices and blood of your comrades? Don't your lives demand something more?"
At that moment, Sakura shone with the spirit inherited from another ancient civilization.
Over countless years, they had rebuilt from ruins time and time again, so the people of that civilization never feared destruction.
If anything, living alongside the destruction humanity created was one of the most precious legacies that civilization had left her.
"If you don't even have the guts to start from scratch, do you really think you're worthy of calling yourselves the guardians of history?!"
"Well said!"
Dr. Clover, arms crossed, stepped out from the ship's cabin, having just ended a call on his Den Den Mushi.
The archaeological authority strode up to Sakura and gave her a deep, respectful bow.
"Miss Haruno Sakura, on behalf of Ohara's thirty-two scholars, I thank you."
"Alright, I'll take it!"
Seeing the old man and the scholars behind him perk up, Sakura's delicate face broke into a bright smile. She crossed her legs and plopped down.
[Notification: Achievement Unlocked — Chronicler of History. Achievement Points Gained: 100]
[Survival Achievement Settled — Two Years. Total Achievement Points: 80]
[Current Achievement Points Remaining: 330]
That night, to celebrate their escape from Ohara, the government's outcasts threw a grand feast aboard the Navy warship.
Sauro and Sakura teamed up to haul two Sea Kings from the ocean—one handled the ice-cold carving, the other the roasting.
The scholars, reinvigorated after surviving their ordeal, desperately needed to let loose. They got roaring drunk, dancing wildly on the deck, cursing the World Government with the courage only liquor could provide.
"Not joining the scholars to blow off some steam?"
Sakura, mouth stuffed with fish, handed a plate of roasted meat to Dr. Clover, who was leaning against the ship's railing, letting the sea breeze cool him.
"Nah, I'm past the age where I need booze to feel better," he replied.
Though the fish was simply prepared, it didn't stop Dr. Clover from digging in with relish.
He swallowed a bite, eyeing Sakura until her pink hair practically bristled. "Olvia mentioned you've got some real talent in certain areas…"
"Nope. Not studying archaeology. Total dead-end field."
Before he could finish, Sakura crossed her arms in a firm rejection.
Let's be real—she came to Ohara for the achievement points. And now Dr. Clover wanted to drag her into his world? Digging up the graves of a kingdom that lost its fight for the world?
No way. Sakura shut it down, even if he offered her a PhD on the spot.
"Hmph!"
The old man turned away, grumbling as he chewed his roasted fish.
"Man, I'm stuffed!"
Sauro, full and satisfied, leaned back and glanced at the two by the railing.
"So, Dr. Clover, what's your next move?"
"I got in touch with an old friend. I'm taking the remaining scholars to lay low with him for a while."
Dr. Clover didn't hide his plans. After all, everyone here had been through life and death together. He openly shared that they were headed to Weatheria, the Sky Island, to take shelter.
"What about you, Sauro?"
Sakura finished her fish, burning the grease off her hands with a quick burst of heat.
"Me? I'm heading to Elbaf, to see the homeland of all giants!"
After this daring escape, Sauro no longer shied away from conflict. He'd realized surviving on these seas required strength, so he planned to head to Elbaf to learn some giant combat techniques.
"And you, Sakura?"
Sauro's question made Dr. Clover pause, his ears perked.
"Me? I'm going home, obviously!"
The girl's crescent-shaped eyes sparkled with a sly grin, giving them a vague, teasing answer.
The warship buzzed with revelry. As the party hit its peak, someone—nobody knew who—suggested a toast, and a bunch of plastered uncles and aunties stumbled over to clink glasses with Sakura.
With no choice, Sakura raised her juice, toasting the scholars aboard.
"The road ahead is long, but here's to smooth sailing!"
"And to our brighter tomorrow—cheers!"
"Cheers!" N
The scholars raised their wooden mugs, clinking them together, spilling liquor everywhere.
Laughter and joy filled the warship once more.
Under the soft glow of the lights, the survivors gathered around the mast, singing and dancing.
A cool, salty sea breeze swept in, gently filling the massive sails.
The soft cries of seabirds and the lapping of waves rose again, blessing these dream-chasers sailing across the vast ocean.
The dust of despair and hardship had settled.
At the end of the delicate, endless horizon, tomorrow still waited.
Leaning against the ship's railing, Sakura watched them, suddenly understanding why Captain Roger had pulled that trick before stepping off the ship.
"System!"
[Here!]
"Return!"
[As you wish!]