At the island's outskirts, the sea fog was swept away by darkness.
The battered, flagless boat gradually vanished behind the waves as well.
Above the ruins, only broken steel frames, a shattered stage, and the lingering aftershocks of Haki remained.
Kizaru stood where he was and slowly raised his head.
His Observation Haki swept across the surroundings.
Within the evacuation zone, civilians had already been guided to safety by Marine soldiers, while the injured received treatment.
The Blackbeard Pirates had already retreated far away, and Red-Hair's group did not continue the pursuit.
The conflict that had nearly dragged the entire island into destruction had finally been suppressed.
Kizaru withdrew his gaze and faintly curled his lips.
"Ah, my~"
"Things didn't turn into the most troublesome outcome after all."
He turned to leave.
After taking a few steps, he seemed to recall something and looked back at Shanks.
Red-Hair still stood at the edge of the ruins.
Griffin had already been sheathed, but his gaze remained fixed on the evacuation camp.
When facing Teach earlier, his eyes had been as cold as blades.
But now, that killing intent had faded.
What remained was a silence that even an Emperor of the Sea could not conceal.
Kizaru looked at him, his tone lazy but carrying a deeper meaning.
"Some things..."
"Can't be solved just by having a fight, you know~"
Shanks said nothing. He knew what Kizaru meant.
Teach could be dealt with by the sword.
The Blackbeard Pirates could be driven back through battle.
But the wound in Uta's heart was not something he could erase with a single Divine Departure.
Kizaru said nothing more.
In a flash of golden light, he vanished.
The evacuation camp.
Inside a temporary medical tent.
Uta leaned against the bed.
The dark marks around