Figarland Shanks

A gust of wind swept past, making the trees beside them rustle. A tumbleweed slowly rolled between the two.

Charlos instantly raised his fist and launched a fierce attack at the young man.

The young man spoke softly. "You left yourself open."

A longsword swung straight for Charlos's neck. Charlos dodged the attack, then followed up with a punch.

One of the bandits pulled out a sack and moved to slip it directly over Amira's head.

Amira sharply turned her head, instantly drew Lanque, and slashed out, splitting the sack in two.

Charlos and the young man immediately stopped fighting and looked over together.

Amira fixed the bandits with an icy stare and said flatly, "Looking to die?"

The bandits were horrified. "Ah, no! Run!"

Amira gave them no chance to flee. Pure white wings unfurled from her back, and she shot toward them in a flash.

The young man clicked his tongue as he watched from the side. "Wow, the one in your family is kind of violent. I can see that now."

In moments, all the bandits had fallen to the ground.

Amira took out a handkerchief and carefully wiped the blood from Lanque's blade before casually tossing it to the ground.

"Who sent you?"

A severely injured bandit trembled as he answered, "No one, no one sent us. We just wanted to make some money."

"So you set your sights on me to make money?"

The bandit hurriedly begged for mercy. "I'll never do it again!"

Amira's voice was ice-cold. "Tell that to hell."

Amira slowly turned to look at Charlos and the young man, sheathed Lanque, and returned to her usual gentle expression.

"Um, carry on. Don't mind me."

Charlos spread his hands.

"I don't want to watch either, but I have a feeling you might be stronger than me."

Amira hurriedly waved her hands.

"Not at all."

She clasped her hands behind her back and lightly kicked at a pebble by her feet.

The young man looked at the scene before him, his tone firm.

"I've decided. I'm definitely going to find a group of incredibly strong companions."

Charlos spoke casually.

"Why not have your family choose some for you?"

The young man shook his head.

"The ones I find myself are different from the ones my family picks."

The young man drew his sword again and looked at Amira.

"Amira, right? This time, fight me."

Amira gently shook her head.

The young man quickly said, "Don't worry. This time, I'm the one challenging you, so it doesn't count as a dangerous situation. The people in the shadows won't trouble you."

Charlos nodded slightly. "Go on."

Amira looked helpless and could only slowly step forward.

"Then I'll go easy on you."

The young man immediately raised his sword, his tone serious but unconvinced.

"Don't underestimate me, hey."

Amira drew Lanque again.

"Here I come."

"Come on!"

Jet-black Armament Haki instantly covered Lanque's blade. Amira spread her white wings, shot into the air, and charged straight at the young man opposite her.

"So fast!"

The young man hurriedly raised his sword to block, forcibly receiving Amira's relentless barrage.

Amira spun, sweeping her long blade across.

The young man swiftly ducked beneath the attack, flipped, and landed on the ground, startled inwardly.

"Damn, she's strong!"

He had barely raised his head when Amira's assault bore down on him again.

The young man hastily raised his sword to block.

A thunderous boom erupted.

"Wow, you really are strong!"

The young man's gaze fell on Amira's wings, his eyes full of surprise.

"You're a Devil Fruit user?"

"Yes."

The young man immediately changed his sword technique and steadily deflected Amira's attack before suddenly speaking.

"Do you want to come aboard my ship and be my first companion?"

Charlos snorted from the side.

"Hey, that's going too far! Amira, step back."

Amira obediently nodded, sheathed her blade, and retreated to the side.

The young man hurriedly raised his hands and waved them.

"Hey, hey, hey, don't get mad!"

Charlos ignored him completely and strode forward. His clenched fist became coated in an even denser, heavier layer of jet-black Armament Haki than before.

"Wow, you're serious?"

The young man held his sword and shifted aside, dodging the punch at high speed.

Charlos's heavy fist smashed fiercely into the ground, detonating with a deafening crash.

The earth shook violently, and the ground directly collapsed, leaving behind a massive crater.

The young man gripped his longsword tightly as dense black Armament Haki completely covered the entire blade.

"Then this time, I'll go all out."

As soon as he finished speaking, the young man rushed at Charlos with his sword.

Fist and sword clashed once more. Blinding sparks continuously burst from their fierce collisions, while explosive booms rang out one after another.

At the same time, aboard the luxurious ship in the distance.

Amina looked at Nico Robin beside her and spoke softly.

"Show me that move you used just now again."

Nico Robin raised a hand and lightly placed it over her chest.

"Eight-Flower Bloom."

Several slender arms instantly sprouted across the tabletop, gently turning the scattered pages.

Amina's eyes were full of envy.

"Wow, that's amazing! Unlike me, I only have one pair of wings."

Nico Robin smiled faintly.

"Sister Amina, your wings are wonderful too."

Amina sighed softly, her tone tinged with loneliness.

"Black wings are nice, but..."

"But what, Sister?"

"But he won't have me."

Nico Robin said, "Didn't he say that once he turns eighteen, he'll definitely have you?"

Amina gently shook her head.

"That's different."

Nico Robin looked at Amina's dejected expression and softly asked again.

"How is it different?"

"I'm afraid Sister will be the first to take him away."

As she spoke, she picked up a handkerchief beside her, wiped the thin sheen of sweat from her forehead, and sighed helplessly.

"Your relationships really are a mess."

Amina looked at Nico Robin and spoke seriously.

"Actually, our relationship isn't messy at all."

"Not messy?"

Nico Robin raised an eyebrow, her face full of confusion. "How is this not messy? This is already a love triangle."

Amina gently shook her head, her gaze clear and calm.

"He doesn't love us."

Nico Robin froze, her face full of shock.

"Huh? This..."

Amina gently shook her head, sounding at ease.

"Oh, what does it matter?"

Nico Robin smiled and asked, "Then doesn't it hurt?"

Amina snorted, her expression indifferent.

"Hurt? Who hasn't had painful moments?"

"True."

Just then, Rukia's voice suddenly carried over.

"Huh? What is it, Rukia?" Nico Robin called out.

Rukia's slightly annoyed voice rang out.

"Um, I wanted to grill a fish, but it looks like I burned another one."

Nico Robin and Amina both breathed a sigh of relief.

"Ah, you scared us to death, Rukia."

The battlefield was a complete mess.

The ground was pockmarked with craters punched into it, along with mottled sword marks left by slashes.

Amira stood quietly to one side, watching the two of them.

Both fighters on the field were panting heavily as they sat down side by side on the ground.

Charlos looked at the young man beside him.

"Hey, why are you always trying to poach my people?"

The young man waved a hand, looking helpless.

"I never thought about poaching your people or stealing them. I just thought her wings were special and wanted to invite her onto my ship."

"She'll never board your ship."

"You aren't even planning to form a pirate crew, so why are you saying that?"

"I'm not planning to form a pirate crew for now, but I don't want you to keep such a tight grip on my people either."

The young man shrugged helplessly.

"Fine, fine, fine. I won't interfere, all right? Why are you so hostile?"

Charlos slowly stood up.

"Come on. Rest on my ship for a while."

The young man nodded.

"Sure. By the way, I still haven't asked your name."

Charlos looked at him and spoke casually.

"Rosy Charlos."

"Figarland Shanks."