Giving Up Is Too Early

Just as Yaen thought Sauron could seize this opportunity to successfully take Little Robin to the sea, thus preventing an eight-year-old child like Little Robin from having to wander, flee, and hide alone at sea, facing the darkness of human nature as she did in her original historical trajectory.

A figure, however, blocked Sauron's path. The word "Justice" on his cloak fluttered in the wind.

"This is as far as you go, Sauron."

Vice Admiral Spandine, chewing on a cigar, slowly drew his sword. A layer of dark Armament Haki covered it as he spoke calmly.

"If a traitor like you were to escape the Buster Call, the Marines would lose all face. For the sake of our past camaraderie, surrender yourself."

As Sauron had fled a certain distance, the cherry blossoms that had been surrounding and cutting him off were now retracted by Yaen.

Facing the imposing Vice Admiral Spandine, Sauron, covered in blood, couldn't help but burst into laughter.

"Dereshishishi..."

"What are you laughing at?" Vice Admiral Spandine asked.

"Nothing. I'm just ready to face my final destiny."

Sauron said without a trace of sadness, but with a sense of freedom. He then bent down and placed Little Robin on the ground, saying.

"Little Robin, run. Run towards the back of Ohara. Do whatever it takes to get to the sea. Your life has just begun, don't let it end here."

Little Robin, seeming to understand this was a final farewell, hesitated and called out reluctantly. "Sauron, let's go together."

"That's impossible. My size is too conspicuous," Sauron refused.

"Then... then..."

Before Little Robin could finish, Sauron interrupted.

"Robin, remember what your mother told you. No matter what, you must survive. Head to the sea. You'll surely find your companions there. Dereshishishi..."

"Sauron..."

A deep sadness welled up in Little Robin's heart. With a final grit of her teeth, she turned and fled in the direction Sauron had indicated.

Watching Little Robin gradually run further away from the corner of his eye, Sauron let out a slight sigh of relief and said to Spandine.

"Thank you. You gave me time to say goodbye to Little Robin."

"No need."

Vice Admiral Spandine, still chewing his cigar, shook his head and said.

"We were comrades in the past. And I didn't want to kill the person she respected in front of a little girl."

He paused, then Vice Admiral Spandine continued.

"Besides, that little girl seems to be a target of the World Government, and she can't escape either. The entire Ohara is already blockaded, and there are no ships that can escape. The Buster Call's attack will soon blast the entire island into the sea."

"Little Robin will find a way. She's stronger than anyone."

Sauron said firmly, then leaped fiercely, his massive body pressing down on Spandine like a mountain.

"Boom!"

This battle between Marine Vice Admirals began at the edge of Ohara island.

For a time, as the Buster Call fleet continuously bombarded Ohara, lava and ice clashed on the sea, and on the coastline, Vice Admiral Spandine and Sauron were also fighting.

Meanwhile, Little Robin ran with all her might, her arms pumping, not daring to stop for a moment, heading towards the back of Ohara with all her strength.

Perhaps because Little Robin was ultimately just an eight-year-old girl, most of the Marines, even when witnessing her moving away, had no intention of shooting at her.

Even if, as Marines, they couldn't save such a little girl according to orders, at least... they didn't want to attack her.

Sauron was well aware of the Buster Call's attack pattern. He understood that the current Buster Call Marine fleet was concentrated on one side of the island, bombarding it to avoid stray shells from hitting friendly ships.

Therefore, the only chance to escape was on the back of Ohara, a place where no Marine warships appeared.

However, Sauron's original intention was to take Little Robin into the sea here and swim away from the island that was about to be destroyed by the Marines.

But now, if Little Robin were alone, not to mention whether an eight-year-old could drift at sea by herself, more importantly, Little Robin, as a Devil Fruit user, couldn't swim.

"A way, a way to leave Ohara."

Arriving at the back of Ohara, Little Robin ignored her tears, her eyes constantly scanning her surroundings, trying to find a way out to sea.

"Even a raft, or a small boat..."

However, under the bombardment of the Buster Call, the entire Ohara had erupted in flames, almost turning into a sea of fire.

Let alone rafts or small boats docked by the shore, even every tree had begun to burn.

"Is there really no way?"

Little Robin knelt on the ground powerlessly, her eyes vacant as she looked at the sky gradually covered by smoke and mist, muttering.

"Perhaps this is for the best. This way, I can die with Mother, reunited with Mother..."

Just then, illuminated by the firelight behind her, a shadow covered Little Robin. A handsome face wearing glasses suddenly appeared before her, and said gently.

"It's too early to give up now."

Subconsciously, Little Robin, who was kneeling on the ground, scrambled backward, putting distance between herself and the shadow.

Soon, Little Robin clearly saw the appearance of the person who had arrived and asked with some disbelief. "Huh? Are you that good person named Yaen?"

Good... good person?!

Yaen's mouth, which had been showing a gentle smile, couldn't help but twitch slightly.

'I'm only sixteen, and I've been given a 'good person' card by an eight-year-old child???'

'This Little Robin is really not cute!'

It was only then that Yaen had the chance to properly size up the Little Robin in front of him.

Compared to her future intellectual and beautiful mature older sister type style, Little Robin, who was only eight years old now, had darker skin and a scrawny figure. Apart from her large eyes, which were particularly bright, she looked like an undernourished child.

"Indeed, not cute..." Yaen mumbled again in a low voice.

Seeing Yaen's thoughtful expression, Little Robin couldn't help but ask weakly, "Are... are you here to catch me and hand me over to the World Government?"

Upon hearing this, Yaen took a few steps forward, squatted down in front of Little Robin, patted her little head, and said soothingly.

"No, how could I possibly hand you over to the World Government?"

Little Robin froze. Looking at Yaen's gentle smile, she stammered, "Th... Thank..."