Giving Up Is Still Too Early

Just as Yaen thought Sauron could use this opportunity to successfully take Little Robin out to sea, sparing the eight-year-old girl from having to wander, flee, and hide alone across the ocean while facing the darkness of human nature as in the original course of history,

a figure blocked Sauron's path, the word "Justice" on the cape behind him fluttering in the wind.

"This ends here, Sauron."

Vice Admiral Spandine, the cigar clenched between his teeth, slowly drew the sword in his hand. A layer of dark Armament Haki covered its blade as he spoke calmly.

"If you, a traitor to the Marines, escape the Buster Call's assault, the Marines will lose all face. For the sake of our former camaraderie, surrender."

As Sauron fled a certain distance away, the cherry blossoms that had been constantly slicing at him from all sides were gathered back by Yaen.

Facing the imposing Vice Admiral Spandine, Sauron, covered in blood, could not help bursting into laughter.

"Dereshishishi..."

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

"Nothing. I've merely prepared myself to face my final fate."

Sauron showed no sorrow. Instead, he spoke with carefree resolve before bending down and setting Little Robin on the ground.

"Little Robin, run. Head around to the back of Ohara, then do whatever it takes to get out to sea. Your life has only just begun, so don't let it end here."

Little Robin seemed to understand that this was their final farewell. Hesitant yet unwilling to leave, she called out, "Sauron, let's go together."

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

"Then... then..."

Before Little Robin could finish, Sauron interrupted her.

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

"Sauron..."

A deep sorrow welled up in Little Robin's heart. Finally, she gritted her teeth, turned around, and fled in the direction Sauron had indicated.

Watching Little Robin gradually disappear from the corner of his eye, Sauron finally let out a slight sigh of relief and said to Spandine,

"Thanks for giving me time to say goodbye to Little Robin."

"Don't mention it."

Vice Admiral Spandine shook his head, the cigar still between his teeth, and said,

"We were comrades once, after all. Besides, I didn't want to kill someone she respected in front of a little girl."

After a pause, Vice Admiral Spandine continued,

"Besides, that little girl seems to be the World Government's target. She won't escape either. Ohara has already been completely sealed off. There's no ship she could possibly use to flee, and the Buster Call will soon blast the entire island into the sea."

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

Sauron spoke firmly, then suddenly leaped into the air. His massive body bore down on Spandine like a mountain.

Boom!

This battle between two Vice Admirals began at the edge of Ohara Island.

For a time, as the Buster Call fleet continuously rained cannonballs down upon Ohara, magma and ice collided across the sea, while Vice Admiral Spandine and Sauron battled along the shoreline.

Meanwhile, Little Robin sprinted forward, her arms swinging nonstop. She did not dare pause for even a moment, desperately making her way toward the back of Ohara.

Perhaps because Little Robin was only an eight-year-old girl, most of the Marines, even when they saw her running away, had no intention of shooting at her.

Even though they had to follow orders as Marines and could not save a little girl like her, at the very least... they did not want to attack her.

Sauron knew the Marines' Buster Call tactics well. He understood that the Buster Call fleet was currently concentrated on one side of the island, pouring down cannon fire to prevent any shells from flying too far and accidentally hitting their own ships.

Therefore, the only chance to escape lay at the back of Ohara, where not a single Navy warship had appeared.

Sauron's original plan had been to bring Little Robin here and enter the sea, then swim away from the island that was about to be destroyed by the Marines.

But now that Little Robin was alone, quite apart from whether an eight-year-old girl could drift across the sea by herself, there was an even more important problem: as a Devil Fruit User, Little Robin could not swim.

"A way... a way to leave Ohara."

After reaching the back of Ohara, Little Robin had no time to cry. Her eyes darted around as she tried to find a way out to sea.

"Even a raft would do. Or a small boat..."

However, beneath the Buster Call's bombardment, all of Ohara had already erupted into roaring flames, almost becoming a sea of fire.

Not only were the rafts and small boats by the shore gone—even every tree had begun to burn.

"Could it be... there really is no way?"

Little Robin collapsed helplessly to her knees. Her vacant eyes stared at the sky, gradually shrouded in smoke, as she murmured,

"Maybe this is for the best. At least I'll die together with Mother and be reunited with her..."

Just then, illuminated by the fire behind her, a shadow covered Little Robin. A handsome, bespectacled face suddenly appeared before her, speaking gently.

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

On instinct, Little Robin, kneeling on the ground, hurriedly backed away, putting some distance between herself and the shadow.

Soon, Little Robin could clearly see the newcomer's appearance. Somewhat incredulous, she asked, "Huh? You're that good person named Yaen?"

G...good person?!

The corners of Yaen's mouth, which had originally held a gentle smile, twitched slightly.

I'm only sixteen, and an eight-year-old child has already given me a good-person card?!

Little Robin is seriously too unlovable!

Only then did Yaen have the chance to properly examine the Little Robin before him.

Compared to the intellectual beauty and mature charm she would possess in the future, the eight-year-old Little Robin had somewhat dark skin and a thin, underdeveloped body. Aside from her especially bright eyes, she looked like a malnourished child.

"Just as I thought. Not cute..." Yaen muttered again under his breath.

Seeing Yaen lost in thought, Little Robin asked timidly, "A... are you here to capture me and hand me over to the World Government?"

Hearing this, Yaen walked a few steps forward and crouched in front of Little Robin. He gently patted her head and reassured her,

"No. How could I possibly hand you over to the World Government?"

Little Robin froze for a moment. Looking at Yaen's gentle smile, she stammered, "Th... thank you..."