Desert dusk stained heaven and earth a bleak, vivid blood-red. The dry bed of the Sandora River stretched like a savage scar across the land, winding toward the distant oasis city of Yuba, distorted in the heat haze.
The blood-red setting sun shone on two figures staggering onward.
The Baroque Works uniforms on Zhou Yu and Ma Chao were already in tatters, covered in dust and dark red "bloodstains." Unsteady on his feet, Ma Chao leaned on his cloth-wrapped spear, seeming about to fall with every step. Zhou Yu's face was as pale as paper. One hand supported Ma Chao while the other clutched his chest, faint traces of "blood" seeping between his fingers. His breathing was weak.
Over a thousand feet behind them, a dark mass of people clung to their trail like maggots to bone. At their head were Mr. 7 and Miss Father's Day. Both looked exhausted and bore wounds. Half of Mr. 7's face was charred, clearly injured by lightning, but fierce greed and cruelty burned in his eyes.
"They can't hold out much longer!" Mr. 7 licked his cracked lips, his eyes behind his sunglasses fixed on the two "tottering" figures ahead. "Keep pushing! Lord Crocodile said there'll be a handsome reward if we capture them and get what they're carrying! Devil Fruits, money, status-anything you want!"
"Gagagaga! The brat who plays with lightning is mine! I'll make him my newest collectible!" Miss Father's Day gave a strange laugh like a night owl's. His bulky mascot suit was torn in several places, revealing blood-soaked bandages underneath, but the Poison Flag Spear in his hand still flickered with purple light. Clearly, he had strength to spare.
Behind them were over fifty fierce-looking members of the Billions and nearly a hundred ordinary members of the Millions. This