Elegia Kingdom.
In a forest consumed by flames.
Screech, screech, screech...!
The Bat Clone, its body riddled with over a dozen bloody holes from spears, split into a huge swarm of bats after completing its command. Carrying Uta's small body, they flew to Sephiroth.
Once he took Uta into his arms, the black bats burrowed back into his body, returning their remaining energy to him.
"My name is Shanks. Thank you very much for your help. May I ask your name...?"
After sheathing Griffin at his left side, Shanks walked toward the silver-haired young man with a smile.
"My name is Sephiroth. I'm a Marine..."
Upon hearing that, Shanks's smile froze, and his steps came to a halt.
Beckman, Yasopp, and the other members of the Red Hair Pirates swiftly loaded their pistols, their muzzles faintly aimed at Sephiroth.
Though the two sides had just worked together, Marines and pirates were natural enemies. And with Uta still in the other man's hands, they had no choice but to remain wary...
Besides, they had all heard, more or less, of Sephiroth's notorious name—Throat-Cutter.
Furthermore, when Shanks had visited Rayleigh before, he had been sternly warned not to cause trouble in the Sabaody Archipelago. If he angered Sephiroth, the consequences would be severe!
Out of curiosity, Shanks had asked Rayleigh about Sephiroth.
Thanks to that, he had inadvertently learned that Sephiroth and the three Boa sisters had once trained under Rayleigh's guidance for some time.
He had never expected them to meet under such circumstances, nor that Sephiroth was the mysterious man who had warned him...
"Red-Hair, I won't hand Uta back to you..."
The moment those words left his mouth, Shanks's gaze turned razor-sharp. Beckman, Yasopp, and the others directly aimed their guns at him.
"I warned you before not to