Titan

Lightning flashed high in the sky and vanished in an instant.

Rock carried Zephyr above the ten-thousand-meter-high clouds, transforming into lightning as he traveled. The airflow was forcibly torn apart at his sides, and the air gave off deep booming sounds.

Zephyr's entire body was covered in Armament Haki. He forcibly endured this nearly suicidal speed of flight, yet his expression remained calm.

Just as they flew over the North Blue, Rock suddenly seemed to remember something and turned his head toward Zephyr.

"Brother Zephyr."

"You go back first."

Rock's tone was casual, as if he were talking about something trivial. "I have something to take care of here."

Zephyr froze and instinctively responded, "...Huh?"

However, in the next second, he suddenly realized how serious the problem was. He whipped around, his face filled with disbelief and question marks.

"???"

"Wait."

"What do you mean by that?"

"If we separate at this altitude and speed—"

He pointed at the surging Cloud Sea and the bottomless sky beneath them.

"I'm just a Marine. I'm not some monster that can fly."

Rock grinned at that, wearing an expression that said he had planned this long ago.

"Don't worry."

"I've already arranged everything for you."

Zephyr had only just furrowed his brows and had not yet had time to ask—

The lightning was already diving downward.

North Blue, an unremarkable island.

The sea breeze carried a damp chill, gray-white waves pounded against the reef, and gunpowder smoke filled the shoreline.

A pirate crew had been pursued there by the Marines. After the naval cannons ceased fire, the battle quickly turned into close-quarters slaughter.

Marine soldiers advanced in formation. Gunshots, flashes of blades, and furious roars intertwined, while the air was thick with the smell of scorched earth and rust.

The battle, which