A gleaming full moon hung high in the night sky, and a massive palace floated above the center of the island.
Lina and the others were fully armed. Riding several fearsome undead beasts they had recently captured, they headed straight for the palace's magnificent towers.
Howling winds swept snow across the land, blanketing it in white. The snow glittered beneath the moonlight.
Inside the palace, Golden Lion flew past pavilions and towers before descending in front of the grandest building at its center.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
Sakura Jū and Kogarashi rang out repeatedly in the ornate corridor.
The wooden doors slid open automatically, revealing dozens of pirate captains who had been waiting on either side of the banquet hall.
They all turned to look at him, their eyes brimming with fervor and reverence.
Golden Lion's mouth curled around his cigar as he passed the seated captains and approached the throne atop the stairs in the center.
"Everyone! Since you're all here, there's no need for me to introduce myself!"
Golden Lion took a bowl of wine from one of his subordinates, then turned with a sneer and looked down over the hall. Spreading his arms, he declared:
"Drink this wine, and you'll be members of the Golden Lion Pirate Fleet! We have only one goal: to overthrow this world!"
"Overthrow the whole world!"
"Yeah!!"
"Admiral!!"
The hall erupted in fervent cheers. The captains raised their bowls and drained them along with Golden Lion!
At that moment, his Flying Pirate Fleet was reborn!
"Gyahahahaha!!" Shiki roared with laughter and slammed his empty bowl onto the table. Then his expression darkened. "But now! On the eve of our plan, a bunch of little mice have snuck in here, trying to stand against us. Indigo!"
At his words, a white-coated man wearing an