Gold-Tier Support, Flying Over God Valley

"Lin Nuo, that guy Rocks... I'll leave him to you."

"B-Bye..."

Bang!

Accompanied by the strange popping sound of paw pads launching, Alice and Teach became streaks of light and vanished beyond the horizon.

Lin Nuo watched the direction in which the two had disappeared, and the weight in his heart finally lifted. He could not help sighing.

If Alice and Rocks could stay by Teach's side as he grew up, then in the future... would Blackbeard, the man who stirred up monstrous waves, still appear?

He withdrew his gaze and looked at the slightly chubby yet incomparably dependable figure before him, thanking him sincerely.

"Sorry, Kuma. I've troubled you again."

Kuma turned around, gently lowering his palms with their pink paw pads. He shook his head, his eyes warm, indicating that it was nothing at all.

BOOM!!!

At that moment, a dull, thunderous crash came from the center of the island.

Even from so far away, Lin Nuo and Kuma could clearly see that enormous, twisted, pillar-like creature.

As well as the terrifying Haki it radiated, blanketing the entire island!

The pressure was like being deep beneath the sea. Even the two on the outer edge of the island struggled to breathe, their hearts heavy.

"Lin Nuo."

Kuma raised his head, without the slightest trace of fear in his eyes.

"I want to join your plan! I want to save them with you!"

Lin Nuo looked at him, deeply gratified.

This was Big Bear. No matter when it was, that pure kindness and courage of his had never changed.

Even knowing that this rescue plan was nearly insane, he agreed without the slightest hesitation.

"Kuma," Lin Nuo said, suppressing the surge of emotion in his heart as he asked seriously.

"Your ability can send people flying, but can you precisely control where they land?"

Kuma thought for a moment before answering honestly, "I can control the direction, but the landing point... isn't precise enough yet."

"If I had time to practice..."

"So right now, you can only guarantee a general area, correct?" Lin Nuo confirmed.

"Yes."

"That's enough!" Lin Nuo clapped his hands hard, a sharp gleam flashing through his eyes.

"My wings will make up for whatever distance is left!"

"Alright!"

Kuma nodded, then gave a light leap and landed steadily on Lin Nuo's broad shoulder.

"Ready?" Lin Nuo took a deep breath.

"Ready!" Kuma raised the paw-pad palms that held such miraculous power.

Lin Nuo's plan was simple, yet extremely bold.

They would rely on Kuma's Paw Shock for ultra-high-speed movement and approach the central battlefield.

Then, using Kuma's ability, they would send Rocks and the others, who were fighting Imu, flying away to retreat!

But the problem was that if Kuma relied on his own speed, by the time he ran to the center of the battlefield, it would be far too late.

So, Kuma needed to launch him like a cannonball, after which Lin Nuo would use the Lunarians' ultimate speed when their flames were extinguished to correct the direction and landing point.

However, Imu's early arrival had disrupted everything.

Lin Nuo could clearly feel that the closer he got to that terrifying being, the thicker and more viscous the air around him became.

Devil Fruit powers were being suppressed and repelled by that boundless Haki.

Not only his Flame of Regeneration—even the effects of Kuma's Paw-Paw Fruit would likely be greatly weakened.

He had to create an opportunity, a gap in which Imu's Haki interference would temporarily fail!

"Now, Kuma!"

Bang!

A strange sensation of weightlessness washed over him as Lin Nuo became a cannonball shot from its barrel.

So this was what it felt like to be launched.

Compared to flying, it felt more like making bizarre leaps through space. The Paw-Paw Fruit's power had "pushed away" even the resistance of the air.

Of course, just the "gold-tier support" combination of Kuma and himself was nowhere near enough to save people right under Imu's nose.

He needed reinforcements.

With the extreme speed granted by the Paw-Paw Fruit, the coastline before him rapidly grew larger.

What delighted Lin Nuo even more was that he saw the familiar ship moored by the shore—the Oro Jackson!

As the distance rapidly closed, he could see a group of people quickly boarding the ship.

It was Rayleigh and the others! The Roger Pirates!

"Hey, Gaban, what's that thing in the sky?"

Rayleigh and the others, who were organizing the crew's retreat, also noticed the black shadow rapidly approaching from the sky.

"Is it a pursuer? Let me handle him!"

A burly man wearing sunglasses and wielding two axes—Spencem Gaban—immediately took up a fighting stance.

"Wait." Rayleigh reached out and pressed a hand on Gaban's shoulder, his eyes watchful.

"I have a feeling... he looks familiar."

As the black shadow became clearer, Rayleigh immediately recognized him when the distinctive brown skin, short white hair, and black wings came into view.

"It's that Lunarian!"

"Is that Lin Nuo?"

Upon hearing Rayleigh's words, Shakky, who had just boarded the ship, immediately ran to the rail. A delighted smile appeared on her face as she waved vigorously toward the sky.

Then she noticed that Rayleigh's expression seemed... less than pleased?

"What's wrong?" Shakky blinked mischievously and covered her mouth as she chuckled. "Are you jealous?"

"No, you're imagining things," Rayleigh denied at once.

After learning that the newcomer was Shakky's savior, Gaban immediately put on an enthusiastic expression as well.

"Oh! So it's Lin Nuo! Come on, let's welcome him!"

Rayleigh and Gaban walked forward side by side.

"Huh? Is he shouting something at us?"

Gaban cupped a hand to his ear, faintly hearing that the fast-approaching Lin Nuo seemed to be yelling something.

"Can't hear him clearly." Rayleigh frowned.

Lin Nuo's figure rapidly enlarged in their vision.

They could even make out the anxious expression on his face, but there was no sign that he was slowing down.

Only then did the two finally hear his shout, torn apart by the wind.

"Move—out—of—the—way—!!"

"I can't—stop—!!!"

"What?!"

"Hey! Wait!!"

BANG—!!! BOOM!

Dust billowed up alongside the deafening crash of a heavy object hitting the ground.

The Roger Pirates' crew were startled and rushed over. "Are you guys alright?!"

The dust slowly cleared, revealing the scene inside.

Rayleigh had grabbed Lin Nuo, who had just climbed out of the crater, by the collar and was shaking him violently, veins bulging at his temple.

"You little bastard! Are you trying to kill me?!"

"Sorry, sorry..."

Lin Nuo was so dizzy from being shaken that his vision spun, yet he still summarized the situation seriously.

"It's my first time using this move. There was a slight mistake in our coordination, so the angle probably needs to be corrected earlier..."

"You still dare say that?!" Rayleigh shook him even harder.

"Alright, alright!"

Shakky hurried over and separated them, not knowing whether to laugh or cry. Then she asked Lin Nuo with concern.

"Lin Nuo, did you want to board the ship and leave with us?"

Lin Nuo shook his head, his expression turning serious again. "Where's Roger?"

Rayleigh adjusted his rumpled collar and irritably pointed toward the center of the island.

"That guy went to cause 'trouble' for that big bug so he could cover our retreat."

Lin Nuo's heart sank.

Sure enough, Roger had still faced Imu... but I warned Rocks in advance. He shouldn't fall for it as easily as he did in the original fate.

There might still be a chance to turn things around!

"There's no time, and the task is urgent!" Lin Nuo immediately said. "Rayleigh, Gaban, I'll take you to pick up Roger!"

"Hmph!" Rayleigh snorted. "Even if you hadn't come, we were already planning to charge back in!"

He turned and shouted to his companions aboard the ship.

"You stay on the ship and wait! If we don't return before the deadline, don't worry about us. Take the ship and leave first!"

"What are you talking about?!"

"If you don't come back, we're not setting sail!"

"You have to come back, Mr. Rayleigh! Mr. Gaban!"

The cries of the crew and Shakky came from behind them, filled with unquestionable resolve.

"You guys..." Rayleigh and Gaban exchanged smiles, warmth flowing through their hearts.

"Alright, stop wasting time!" Lin Nuo held out both hands. "Hold on tight!"

Rayleigh and Gaban each grabbed one side, hanging from Lin Nuo's arms like koalas.

"We're leaving. Are you ready?" Lin Nuo asked.

Seeing that Lin Nuo had no intention of spreading his wings, Rayleigh could not help asking.

"Hey, aren't you flying over there?"

"Flying?" Lin Nuo tilted his head. "Who said we were flying?"

"Then... then how are we getting there?"

Rayleigh and Gaban looked at the smile on Lin Nuo's face, and an extremely ominous premonition rose in both their hearts.

"Of course—" Lin Nuo grinned, revealing his white teeth. "We're going back the same way I came!"

"Kuma! Let's go!"

"Paw Shock!"

Bang!

"Lin Nuo—!!!" Rayleigh and Gaban screamed in unison!

"Woohoo—!"

"Waaaaah—!"

"Lin Nuo—!! I'll remember this!!"

Three very different cries carved three long arcs through the sky.

They shot toward the central battlefield of God Valley, already shrouded in terror and destruction!