"Captain! We've gotten all the civilians aboard!" Ryan's voice came through the Den Den Mushi amid the sound of wind and waves. "But there was an incredibly terrifying tremor underground just now. Are you all right?"
"I'm fine. I've dealt with that hunk of iron," Lorne said calmly.
"That's great! Bakel and Kuina were just getting ready to bring people down to meet you!" Ryan breathed a sigh of relief.
"No need. I'll be right up." With that, Lorne hung up the Den Den Mushi.
Stepping across the rubble, he moved, turning into a streak of azure lightning and flying toward the surface through the passage that had been blasted open.
At Titan Island's harbor, waves crashed against the rocks with dull thuds.
The Fearless lay quietly by the shore, its deck already packed with people.
Besides the Marines of the Independent Suppression Force, there were over a thousand rescued civilians.
Most of these civilians were pale and weak, but their eyes had now regained a spark of life.
"Don't push, everyone! Form a line! Those who are injured, go into the cabins to have your wounds dressed first!" Ryan stood on deck, loudly directing them.
Bakel helped carry stretchers nearby. His heavy shield lay to one side, still bearing marks of battle.
"Bakel, how come the captain hasn't come out yet?" Carrot stood at the bow, anxiously looking toward the center of the island.
"Don't worry. You know how strong the captain is, don't you? A little scuffle like that can't hurt him." Although Bakel said this, his eyes remained fixed on the enormous pit in the island's center.
By now, the very center of Titan Island had completely collapsed, forming a gigantic sinkhole hundreds of meters across. Scalding steam kept billowing out of it.
"Lorne!" Kuina stood nearby,