Leaving the Sorbet Kingdom

After a brief, solemn farewell, Rock left the Sorbet Kingdom with Sakazuki.

Lightning tore through the sky once more. Their figures became a straight streak of electricity, racing above the churning sea of clouds.

They left the wind far behind. The land swiftly shrank into blurred patches of color, towns, forests, and coastlines flashing beneath their feet as though stretched out along with time itself.

Midflight, Rock seemed to remember something and glanced sideways at Sakazuki.

"Oh, right."

"I almost forgot."

Sakazuki paused, instinctively looking at him.

"Bullet is still waiting over there."

Before he had even finished speaking, Rock pulled a Den Den Mushi from inside his clothes and casually dialed.

"Pururu—pururu—"

The Den Den Mushi wriggled twice, its appearance quickly changing into a face with sunglasses and a languid, faintly sleazy expression.

"Vice Admiral Rock!"

Rock couldn't help smiling at the familiar voice.

"Hey, you got there already?"

There was a distinct pause on the other end, followed by a barely concealed note of anxiety.

"I've reached the warship."

"But, uh..."

Borsalino lowered his voice.

"Sakazuki...?"

Clearly, Bullet had already told him the details of that battle—

A head-on clash with World, with Sakazuki truly hovering on the brink of death.

Rock smiled and simply held the Den Den Mushi in front of Sakazuki.

Sakazuki visibly stiffened.

He stared at the Den Den Mushi for several seconds, as though mentally preparing himself.

Only after a brief silence did he speak quietly, deliberately keeping his voice steady.

"...My injuries have healed."

"Don't worry."

The other end fell silent for a moment.

Then—

"Ooh, how scary~"

That familiar, languid drawl returned, sounding noticeably more relaxed.

"The battle I heard about was quite brutal, you know."

"Seems there must have been some~ special reason."

Sakazuki faltered, momentarily at a loss for