Red Crocodile Pirates

On the deck of the luxurious ship, Amira slowly descended from the sky and gently folded the white wings on her back.

Amina hurried over, her gaze falling on Amira's palm. "What are you holding, sis?"

"Cherries. Have some, everyone."

The others gathered around, each taking a cherry and popping it into their mouth.

Nico Robin's eyes softened with a smile. "Mm, these cherries are so sweet."

Rukia's eyes lit up. She asked, wanting more, "Wow! Are there any more? Is that all? Where did you pick them?"

Amina's playful mood vanished. "Sis, did you find out anything about the island? We have to figure out how to save Charlos!"

Before Amira could answer, Nico Robin said calmly, "This must be Melbourne Island."

Amira blinked and turned to her. "That's right. How did you know?"

Robin smiled, a hint of mischief in her voice. "Hehe, of course I knew. I've read more books than anyone else here."

Amira clicked her tongue, a little put out.

Meanwhile, out on the boundless sea.

Charlos finished off a second Sea King and collapsed onto its enormous corpse, utterly drained and gasping for breath.

Several massive Sea King carcasses floated nearby, rising and falling with the waves.

"I'm exhausted..."

He groaned where he sat and looked around helplessly.

"What am I supposed to do now? Which way am I even supposed to swim? This is driving me crazy!"

As his frustration mounted, Charlos glanced toward the distant horizon. A blurry black speck was moving slowly closer.

He had just narrowed his eyes to make out its shape when a powerful current surged beneath the surface.

A giant Sea King, more terrifying and far larger than any he had faced before, burst from the water.

Charlos's pupils contracted. "Does it ever end?"

Just one of the Sea King's round eyes was bigger than Charlos. Its dark pupil fixed on him with crushing intensity.

Without hesitating, Charlos coated himself in dense Armament Haki. He gritted his teeth, leaped into the air, and charged straight at the colossal Sea King, throwing himself into battle again.

On Melbourne Island, Amira brought Nico Robin, Amina, and Rukia to the cottage of the woman she had met earlier.

The woman waved them over warmly. "Come on, children, have a seat."

A little boy beside her stared at the group, his eyes sparkling. "Wow, so many cute girls."

The woman promptly rapped him on the head again.

"What are you thinking? Get over here and help me."

Amira quickly waved her hands. "There's no need, ma'am."

The woman smiled and drew them in. "Oh, don't be shy. Come have some cherry pie first."

The little boy chimed in, "Yeah! Try my mom's cherry pie. It's the most famous in the whole village!"

Nico Robin picked up a fork, took a bite of cherry pie, and savored it. "Mm, it's so sweet and fragrant."

Rukia made herself right at home and finished an entire cherry pie in two bites. She looked delighted. "Wow, it's really good!"

The woman smiled. "Have as much as you like."

Just then, a villager came sprinting toward them in a panic.

"Auntie Adona! Bad news!"

Auntie Adona frowned. "What's wrong? Why are you in such a rush?"

"The Red Crocodile Pirates are coming to raid us again!"

Auntie Adona's face changed. She immediately patted the little boy on the back. "Quick, take these girls and hide!"

Amina looked at her in confusion. "What's going on?"

Auntie Adona explained gravely, "The Red Crocodile Pirates are the fiercest pirate crew in these waters. The Marines can't reach us out here, so they often come to extort us, rob us, and collect protection money."

Amina turned to Amira, her voice firm. "Sis, if that's the case, we need to take down the Red Crocodile Pirates."

Amira nodded in agreement.

Auntie Adona hurried to stop them. "Oh, don't joke about that, children. Hurry up and hide."

Amira said earnestly, "No. If the Red Crocodile Pirates have caused you this much trouble, we have to help you get rid of them."

The little boy tried to dissuade them too. "Come on, girls, don't mess around. They have guns. They're really scary."

The Red Crocodile Pirates' ship was in an uproar. Pirates sang, danced, and drank from great bowls of wine.

Their captain wore a rough crocodile skin over his shoulders. He bellowed, "Keep drinking, lads! We'll be at Melbourne Island soon!"

One pirate shouted in agreement, "Yeah! I heard Melbourne Island's had a great cherry harvest lately. We should grab as many as we can!"

The captain glared at him. "Idiot! Why steal cherries? Steal their money!"

But the pirate persisted. "I heard their cherry wine tastes pretty good!"

"Then just steal the wine. Moron," the captain muttered in disgust. This underling wasn't too bright.

Just then, a pirate holding a telescope cried out in alarm, "Captain! Captain! There are Sea Kings over there!"

The captain waved dismissively. "So what? Just steer clear of them."

"No! The whole stretch of sea has turned red!"

"What?!"

The Red Crocodile Pirates' captain rushed to the bow in disbelief and peered into the distance.

Huge Sea Kings were crashing into the water one after another. Blood stained a vast stretch of sea a glaring crimson.

Charlos crouched wearily atop a massive Sea King corpse. Surveying the carnage around him, he groaned, "Oh, come on. No more. I'm so tired."

But his wish went unanswered. Another Sea King burst from the water.

Charlos looked up. It was a giant Sea King shaped like an eel.

"Argh, it never ends!"

He forced himself to his feet. His legs trembled, betraying how thoroughly he had exhausted himself.

"You've got to be kidding me!"

The eel-like Sea King swung its enormous body and charged straight at Charlos.

On the Red Crocodile Pirates' ship, the crew stared dumbfounded at the scene.

"Did I just see that right?"

"Captain, you did. A little boy is fighting a Sea King!"

"Captain, should we go around?"

"Of course we should!"

Charlos caught sight of the black speck in the distance out of the corner of his eye. It was a pirate ship.

He seized his chance. As the eel-like Sea King lunged at him, he grabbed its head, vaulted onto it, clenched his fist, and slammed it down.

"You beast! Take me over there!"

But the eel-like Sea King refused to obey, thrashing its enormous body from side to side.

"You won't listen? Then die!"

After several more heavy punches, the eel-like Sea King finally lost its ferocity. With Charlos on its back, it obediently swam toward the distant pirate ship.

On the Red Crocodile Pirates' deck, everyone who saw the bizarre sight panicked.

"Raise the sails! Get the ship moving! Go! Hurry!"

Lying atop the Sea King's head, Charlos waved desperately at the pirate ship and shouted, "Hey, wait for me! Wait for me!"

Every pirate aboard screamed in terror, "Stay away!"