Early the next morning, the mist had yet to clear completely from the coastline of the Prodence Kingdom.
Sakazuki stood at the edge of the beach, arms folded across his chest. He had already been waiting for a while.
His red suit stirred gently in the morning breeze, his sharp eyes fixed on the sun rising above the horizon.
He had barely slept the night before-not because of insomnia, but because something inside his body was stirring, like magma flowing slowly through his veins, urging him back to this newborn land.
He turned his head toward a reef rock nearby.
Aramaki leaned against it in a half-tree form, his legs transformed into thick roots sunk into the sand, his upper body tilted slightly back as he breathed slowly and evenly. A few green leaves drooped from his shoulders, swaying gently in the morning breeze. Some had already yellowed and spiraled to the ground.
Sakazuki walked over and nudged the roots lightly with his foot.
"Get up."
Aramaki's leaves quivered, his roots slowly withdrew, and his human form gradually returned. He yawned and rubbed his eyes, his voice hoarse. "Big Brother Akainu... it's not even fully light yet..."
"It is," Sakazuki said curtly, his gaze already turning toward the other end of the beach.
There, Boer leaned against a coconut palm with his arms folded across his chest. His short, silvery-white hair gleamed softly in the morning light.
Hearing them, he nodded to the two men.
"Everyone here?" His voice was languid, but held a trace of amusement. "Looks like neither of you slept well last night."
Aramaki shuffled over, grumbling, his face still sleepy. "Who didn't sleep well? I slept just fine..."
"Then why did you put down roots on the beach before dawn?" Boer asked with a faint smile.