[Cover Story: Heart Pirates 3 - "Breaking Free"]
[Law (Rosinante) finally used the Ope Ope no Mi to teleport himself and Rosinante (Law) from inside the Birdcage to the outside. They had only crossed a few strands of wire, but the feeling of escaping with their lives was overwhelming... Unfortunately, they didn't even get a few minutes to celebrate before spotting Vice Admiral Tsuru's battleship approaching the island. Rosinante (Law) quickly dragged Law (Rosinante) into hiding...]
"Down with the remnants of the Demon Alliance!"
The Dragon Flag soldiers roared like crazed berserkers and charged at the masked man with their blades and guns.
The masked man managed to hold them off for a moment before the frenzied soldiers overwhelmed him. One slash sent him flying, blood spraying into the air, followed by a spear thrust through his shoulder. Gritting his teeth, he grabbed the shaft, spun around, and slashed with a Haki-coated blade, cutting one attacker's throat. But another strike came from the side, sending him flying once more.
Before long, his black clothes were soaked dark red with blood. He staggered forward, leaving a bloody trail beneath his feet, before finally collapsing.
Several bloodshot-eyed Dragon Flag soldiers closed in on him again.
The masked man stared up at them, nothing but fierce unwillingness in his exposed eyes. He was just about to close them…
"Why does everyone always have to solve things by beating each other up?"
The masked man's eyes snapped open. A tall figure had appeared right in front of him.
The Dragon Flag soldiers brought their blades down, but a golden iron rod blocked them all.
Liam twisted his wrist and shoved forward.
'Bang!'
The berserk soldiers were sent flying, tumbling through the air before crashing to the ground.
"Let me ask for directions first. After that, you can kill each other all you want, alright?" Liam turned around to look at the blood-soaked figure, casually resting his golden iron rod on his shoulder with a grin. "This guy looks like he knows the area pretty well..."
"Watch out behind you!" The warning came in a hoarse female voice.
Behind Liam, the soldiers he had just knocked away were already back on their feet. Without a moment's hesitation or rest, they charged at him again with another furious roar.
"Don't force me to defend myself!" Liam turned around.
"Their mental state..." Robin frowned as she watched Liam repeatedly knock the Dragon Flag soldiers back, only for them to keep attacking without the slightest sign of fatigue.
"They won't live much longer even if you leave them alone..." An elderly voice came from behind them.
Robin turned to see the old village chief arriving with the little girl, A'Yu, moving at a speed completely at odds with her age.
The old woman let out a deep sigh. "...These people don't have much time left."
Robin understood immediately. "Is it because of what they ate? Gaining temporary strength at the cost of their life force?"
The old village chief's expression darkened with sorrow, while A'Yu remained completely silent.
Robin noticed that neither of them was looking at the dying Dragon Flag soldiers. They were staring at the blood-soaked masked man.
Not long after, the Dragon Flag soldiers froze right as they prepared to charge Liam again. Their bodies began to convulse. Then, before everyone's eyes, the flesh on their faces rapidly withered away.
"Are you seriously playing dead on me?" Liam was left speechless.
One after another, the Dragon Flag soldiers collapsed with a series of heavy thuds, looking like dried corpses.
The old village chief walked over and sighed. "I thought that after the last half-heir of Flower Burial Valley left thirty years ago, the Humble Bamboo Alliance had already disappeared completely..."
Blood dripped from the hem of the masked figure's clothes. He said nothing, simply staring at A'Yu standing beside the old woman.
The old village chief sighed again. "You shouldn't have shown yourself..."
The masked figure remained silent, his gaze still fixed on A'Yu.
"It has been three hundred years. You should have known long ago that it wouldn't work. Those who stayed behind, those who left... they've all scattered. Just let it go. All I want now is for this child to live a peaceful life..."
"This counts as living?" the masked figure finally spoke. Her voice was hoarse, with barely restrained anger simmering beneath it.
A'Yu's frail body trembled slightly, and she squeezed her eyes shut.
Robin turned her attention to the girl.
Suddenly, a brilliant light burst from A'Yu's body, accompanied by a deep, terrifying roar like that of a colossal beast.
Robin flinched as a mass of black clouds suddenly filled her vision, forcing her to step back until her back bumped against Liam.
"A phantom..." she heard Liam mutter.
'A phantom?!'
Robin looked up.
A gigantic black dragon phantom was circling low above their heads. Its eyes glowed dark gold, its body was covered in thick scales and horns, and its four claws seemed to walk on clouds. Every movement radiated an overwhelming presence.
Then…
'Pop!'
Like a popping bubble, the dragon phantom vanished.
"What was that...?" Robin asked, startled and bewildered.
The old village chief sighed softly, gently stroking A'Yu's back. The little girl slowly opened her eyes, biting her lip, before suddenly looking past Robin and Liam.
Robin turned around.
Only a pool of blood remained on the ground. The wounded masked woman had vanished, along with the bodies of the Dragon Flag soldiers.
Had she taken them all away?
Liam sighed. "Grandma, you really don't need to keep speaking in riddles. I'm not interested. My captain and I are just here to ask for directions!"
"Directions..." The old village chief nodded. Then her expression suddenly shifted. "You aren't going to tell anyone what happened here, are you?"
Robin raised an eyebrow. "You're only realizing that now?"
"Ah, well, I am getting old..." The old village chief sighed. "But I don't think a Warlord of the Sea would stoop to doing something so despicable, disgraceful, and beneath his status..."
"Let me tell you something," Liam said with a straight face. "I'm only nineteen, and I'm in my rebellious phase. So you'd better not try reverse psychology on me."
Robin chuckled softly and reached over to gently pinch Liam's cheek.
The old village chief asked, "Where are you trying to go?"
"We're looking for the Eight Treasures Navy," Liam replied. "I heard they're pretty strong, so I came all this way to spar with them."
The old village chief fell silent for a moment. "I'll draw you a map..."
She reached around for something to draw with, but found nothing. Suddenly, Liam held out his golden iron rod.
The old woman grabbed it, but the rod was so heavy it immediately dropped to the ground.
"You don't have to pretend anymore," Liam said earnestly.
"Ah..." The old village chief sighed. Then, using just one hand, she effortlessly picked up the golden iron rod and began sketching a map on the ground.
Robin crouched down and gently patted the quiet A'Yu on the head as a simple map of Kano Country took shape beneath the tip of the rod.
"Kano Country is roughly divided into five districts. This is Zhuoye District in the east. The Eight Treasures Navy you're looking for is farther north in Flower District, where the Water City is located..."
"Wait," Liam interrupted, staring at the Water City marked on the map. "If this is the royal capital of Kano Country, why is it called Water City instead of the Flower Capital?"
Did they know Wano Country had a Flower Capital too and decide to avoid using the same name?
A'Yu looked up. "Flowers need dew to bloom."
Liam shrugged. "Okay. That makes sense too."
(End of Chapter)
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