From the Heavens, a Fist Technique

The inner palace of the royal court was deathly silent and oppressive.

The king sat upright on his throne, listening to Ain's report below.

"You mean the Celestial Dragons have already arrived at our harbor and even killed Earl Baron?"

"Your Majesty, that is indeed the case."

The old king looked at Ain, his voice filled with fury.

"Ain, why didn't you report something like this sooner?"

"I'm sorry, Your Majesty, but I wasn't sure whether these Celestial Dragons were real or fake."

"Whether they're real or fake, we'll go take a look first!" the king said heavily. "I've already sent soldiers to investigate. What happened?"

"Not a single soldier came back."

The old king's expression changed drastically.

"Then they're real! Hurry, let's go!"

As soon as he finished speaking, he immediately rose to his feet.

"No, I'm going too! Quickly, the honor guard! Come with me!"

He turned toward Ain and ordered sternly.

"Contact the pirates near His Majesty immediately and have them move farther away. We absolutely cannot tarnish the image of our Velocia Kingdom!"

At that moment, a pirate ship was slowly sailing out of the harbor.

The dreadlocked pirate captain spotted the luxurious ship in the distance and shouted loudly.

"Boys, quick, quick, quick! Get out of the way of that ship!"

Charlos looked up.

"Hey, isn't there a ship passing over there?"

Amina urged him, "Charlos, um, make your guess first. Hurry up. You've been stalling here for ages."

Charlos looked troubled.

"Um, c-can I save this one for next time?"

"No! Hurry up!"

"There really are pirates over there."

"I won't look. You're definitely lying to me."

"It's true!"

Charlos tried to turn sideways and look toward the pirate ship. But every time he shifted one step to the side, Amina immediately moved in front of him, firmly blocking his view and preventing him from looking over there.

"Then I choose your left hand."

Amina opened her palm.

"See? There's nothing there. You lose."

"Ah, fine, fine, fine. I lose. Now look over there."

Amina turned to look in the other direction and, sure enough, saw a pirate ship slowly sailing across the sea.

"Why didn't you tell me sooner?"

"You were the one stopping me from looking."

"Hmph, I don't care."

"Hey, you little troublemaker, hurry up and take me to that pirate ship."

"You just love ordering me around."

Amina turned around, and the black wings on her back suddenly spread open.

"Get on."

Charlos froze for a moment.

"How do I get on? Do I sit on your head?"

"What are you talking about? Hug me."

Charlos hesitated.

"Men and women shouldn't touch each other. It wouldn't be appropriate, would it?"

"Are you coming or not?"

"Oh, I'm coming, I'm coming, I'm coming."

Charlos reached out and wrapped his arms around Amina's waist.

"Hold on tight."

"Oh, okay, okay, okay. I'll hold on tight, I'll hold on tight."

Amina beat the black wings on her back, carrying Charlos into the air and flying toward the sky.

At that moment, one of the crewmen reported to the dreadlocked captain.

"Yes, Captain. It seems a dark figure is flying toward us."

"What did you say?"

The captain snatched the telescope away, raising it to his eye and looking into the sky.

"What is that? Two children? A little boy is sitting on a little girl's back."

In the sky, Charlos rode astride Amina's waist, his legs spread and clamped tightly around her waist.

"We need to fly faster, or we won't be able to fly back later."

Amina furrowed her brow slightly.

"Can you change your position? Sitting like this makes me feel like a mount."

Charlos replied, "What else can I do? I can't sit cross-legged up here, or I'll fall."

"Why are you afraid of falling? You can swim."

"I can swim, but I don't want to fall."

"Then hold on to me."

"I don't want to hold on to you."

"Hey, Charlos." Amina spoke helplessly. "Since we're in the middle of flying, can you stop fussing over this right now?"

A pirate shouted frantically.

"They're flying over! I can see them, idiot!"

As they drew closer and closer to the pirate ship, Charlos reached out and lightly pressed Amina's back.

"Amina, heh-heh, I'll go over first."

"Wait, don't—"

Before Amina could finish speaking, Charlos pushed off with his strength and suddenly shot forward, leaping straight toward the pirate ship.

The unexpected force made Amina stagger. She hurriedly spread her black wings, steadied herself above the surface of the sea, and flew back into the sky.

"Charlos! That was so dangerous! I almost fell into the sea!"

In midair, Charlos's entire body was covered in thick Armament Haki as he crashed heavily onto the pirate ship's deck.

Boom—

A tremendous crash rang out, and the deck trembled slightly.

Amina dove down quickly and landed steadily on the ship, both angry and helpless.

"Charlos, do you know that I ate a Devil Fruit? If I fell into the sea, I would be completely finished. I could never get out!"

"I believe in you, Amina."

"Ah, you're so infuriating!"

"Are you angry?"

"Yes!"

Charlos's eyes turned cold.

"Then take them all down."

Nearby, the dreadlocked pirate captain watched the two bicker as if no one else were there. His expression darkened, and he immediately drew a musket and aimed it at them.

"Who are you?"

Charlos looked up at the pirate captain and chuckled.

"Sorry, I forgot to introduce myself. Rosy Charlos. Yes, that's my name."

His tone was calm, yet carried immense pressure.

"However, you should be more familiar with my other identity—the Celestial Dragons."

The pirates who had gathered around instantly stiffened, cold sweat running down their foreheads.

"He... He says he's a Celestial Dragon!"

"I heard him, idiot!"

The dreadlocked captain's expression shifted several times before he forced himself to roar angrily.

"So what if you're a Celestial Dragon? This is the open sea! You dared to barge into our territory, so we'll kill you! Boys, fire!"

The pirates exchanged glances, trembling as they raised their muskets. None of them dared to pull the triggers lightly.

"Captain, are we really firing? Attacking a Celestial Dragon will bring a Marine Admiral!"

The pirate captain swallowed hard, his gaze turning vicious.

"A Marine Admiral? This place is far from the emperor's reach. I refuse to believe a Marine Admiral would go out of his way to come here!"

Charlos burst out laughing.

"Hahaha, why do you think I came here alone, if I intended to throw my life away?"

The dreadlocked pirate captain wore an expression of disdain.

"Although I don't know what gives you such confidence, what can you two brats possibly do to us?"

"What can we do? Amina, teach him a lesson."

The wings on Amina's back suddenly spread open.

The captain's eyes lit up, and he grinned maliciously.

"Well, well, a Devil Fruit user. Perfect! We can capture her and sell her for a good price! Boys, take her alive!"

The pirates beside him put away their muskets, drew their swords, and charged forward in a swarm.

"Being too confident isn't good, you know."

Charlos shot forward, instantly appearing in front of the dreadlocked captain.

"Have you ever heard of a fist technique that descends from the heavens?"

"What?"

Charlos giggled. Armament Haki covered his fist as he used the force of his arm to slam it heavily into the captain's face.

The immense force sent the captain flying, smashing him hard into the cabin beside them.

"My turn."

Amina spread her wings, and her body spun rapidly. Countless black feathers shot out from her wings.

The pirates fell to the ground one after another. Some clutched their throats, some pressed their chests as they gasped for breath, and some died on the spot.

Charlos gave her a thumbs-up.

"Amina, not bad! You've improved."

Amina snorted coldly.

"Hmph. I haven't settled accounts with you yet for almost throwing me into the sea."

"Whatever compensation you want later, I'll give it to you."

Amina looked at Charlos.

"You said it. Don't regret it."

"I won't regret it."