Law stands with Jannali, Atlas, Bō-Zak, and Kaburo, his jaw slack with shock. "What the hell?"
Jannali's voice is strained. "Yeah, nah, mate. She's only done this once before, and then she was out for the count."
Law swallows, his throat tight. "This could kill her."
Bō-Zak smirks, his voice carrying dark amusement. "Guess you're going to have to save her, then."
Law snaps, "That's not the point!"
Atlas's brow furrows, his fists balling at his sides. "We aren't strong enough."
The group falls silent. Atlas turns to them, his eyes blazing with frustration. "She keeps having to push herself to protect us. This keeps happening. It always falls on her."
Kaburo's voice is flat. "She's the captain."
Atlas's head snaps around, his eyes burning. "And what does that say about us? Our journey isn't finished. We're about to take on the Pirate King! How can we—"
The ground quakes, splitting beneath their feet. Law, Jannali, Atlas, Bō-Zak, and Kaburo stumble, fighting for balance.
Atlas looks up.
Marya is falling, limp and unconscious, her body plummeting toward the ice.
"Boss!" Atlas runs, his legs pumping, and catches her just before she hits the ground.
---
Blinding light.
They reappear in the Shikusashi Temple.
Nisshoku clatters to the ground, its obsidian edge ringing against the marble floor. Marya sways on her feet, coughing up blood, her body trembling with exhaustion.
Atlas rushes to her, catching her before she falls. "Boss!"
Law slides to her side, his hand outstretched. "ROOM!"
A small power sphere appears in his palm. He presses it against Marya's chest, and his consciousness flows into her body.
---
Law stands in darkness.
Before him, the shapeless, morphing entity that is Igutoshi writhes and shifts. Its many eyes fix on him, burning with ancient hatred.
"LAW!" Igutoshi screams, its voice echoing through the void.
Law smirks. "Time to go back in your cage." He raises his hand. "ROOM! Scalpel!"
Igutoshi screams in frustration as it's forced back into confinement, compressed into a shape it doesn't want to wear. It squirms, its voice rising with panic. "What are you doing?"
Law glares, his fingers flexing. "Making an adjustment."
Igutoshi yells back, "NO! I will not allow this! You cannot keep me from consuming her spirit!"
Law's jaw flexes. "I can do whatever I want!" He closes his fist, his power locking the entity into place. "No more open buffet!"
Igutoshi's scream is pure rage. "You will pay for this, LAW! I will remember you for an eternity! You will feel my wrath!"
Law smirks. "Can't wait."
Igutoshi screams in frustration as Law's consciousness fades.
---
In the temple, Jannali's eyes are fixed on Law and Marya. She curses under her breath. "Bloody hell."
Bō-Zak asks, "What is it?"
Jannali's eyes shift to Law. "He's a bloody psycho, mate!"
Atlas looks up, his voice sharp. "What's that supposed to mean?"
Before Jannali can reply, Law pulls his hand away from Marya's chest. His brow is beaded with sweat, his breathing ragged.
He pants, "It's done."
Kaburo's voice is flat. "She's still—"
Law nods, his voice weary. "She'll need some rest. Last time, she was out for a few days."
Bō-Zak sighs. "Great. That means we're stuck here until she wakes up."
Law looks up, his eyes questioning.
Bō-Zak explains, "She's the only one who knows how to operate the sub."
Law turns to the group. They all nod in agreement.
Law falls back on his heels, his voice carrying exhaustion. "Great."
---
Rowland Marlbrow comes bounding into the temple, his bare feet slapping against the marble floor. "You're back! You're back!" His grin is so wide it threatens to split his face. "You actually made it!"
Law, Jannali, Atlas, Bō-Zak, and Kaburo look at his beaming face.
"How was it?" Rowland demands, bouncing on his heels. "What was it like?"
A large hand lands on Rowland's shoulder, silencing him.
Theodore Trebonianus steps forward, his massive frame filling the temple entrance. His silver-white beard gleams in the temple's dim light, and his honey-colored eyes are warm with joy.
"By the Laughing Sun," he booms, "welcome back! And congratulations!" He sweeps a massive hand toward the pedestal. "Claim your prize."
Law, Jannali, Atlas, Bō-Zak, and Kaburo blink at each other, confused.
Theodore notes their hesitation. "Go on. You have proven yourselves worthy."
Bō-Zak smirks at Jannali. "Well, what are you waiting for? You're the one who wanted the thing."
Jannali looks at the Choros-Anemos floating over the pedestal. The nested silver rings hover in perfect stillness, their surfaces etched with the Names of the Wind.
"Bloody hell, mate," she mutters. "Last time I did this, we copped a one-way ticket to a bloody freezing hellhole."
Theodore's chest lifts and falls as he bellows a laugh. "Have a little faith!"
Jannali glares at Theodore.
Atlas grunts as he stands, shifting Marya's limp, unconscious form in his arms. He gestures toward the pedestal. "Just do it. The sooner we're out of this place, the sooner we can go."
Jannali takes a breath, focusing on the Choros-Anemos. Law walks over, picking up Nisshoku. He holds the blade carefully, its edge gleaming the runes dim.
Jannali stands nervously at the edge of the light beaming down on the Choros-Anemos. She pauses, staring at the floating rings.
Bō-Zak strikes a match, lighting his pipe. The flame flares briefly, casting shadows across his scarred face.
Everyone stands in anticipation.
A long, tense moment passes.
Jannali reaches in.
She pauses, waiting for something to happen.
Nothing does.
She grips the Choros-Anemos, taking a firm hold.
Everything becomes deafening still.
Theodore begins to laugh, the sound echoing across the temple, across the island itself.
Rowland looks up, his eyes wide. "What is—"
Jannali's head snaps around as she pulls the Choros-Anemos from the light.
The ground begins to quake.
Law yells, "What the hell!"
Another brilliant flash of light.
They cover their faces.
When the light fades, the first thing they hear is the sound of waves. The gentle crash of water against sand. The cry of seagulls overhead.
Atlas lifts his nose, his ears swiveling. "That's the sea."
Kaburo's voice carries quiet wonder. "And those sound like gulls."
Theodore belts out a laugh that shakes the walls. "The prophecy has come to pass! As it was foretold, we are free to see the New Dawn!"
Rowland stands, slack-jawed, his eyes wide as he processes what he's hearing. "We are—" He sniffs the air, and his eyes go even wider. "That is—"
He's running before he finishes the sentence, his bare feet pounding against the ground. "I have to see it! I have to see the SEA!"
Theodore laughs, his joy infectious. "This calls for a celebration! Come, let us—"
Atlas cuts him off, his voice firm. "We need a bed. And a place to stay for a few days so our friend can recover."
Theodore nods, his expression softening. "Yes, of course. Of course. How could we deny our liberators?"
Law groans at the comment.
Atlas walks out of the temple, leading the way. The others follow.
Jannali lingers for a moment, staring at the Choros-Anemos in her hand.
Bō-Zak leans in, his voice low. "You coming?"
Jannali jolts. "Yeah, mate."
She begins to walk, and Bō-Zak falls into step beside her.
"You alright?" he asks.
Jannali nods, her voice carrying wonder. "Far out. I'm bloody stoked—can't believe it actually happened. I finally got me hands on it."
Bō-Zak's eyes are curious. "What are you going to do with it?"
Jannali smirks, her eyes fixed on the shimmering rings. "I'm gonna find out all the ins and outs of this bloody world."
Bō-Zak asks, "You striking out on your own, or staying with the crew?"
Jannali considers the question, her fingers tracing the rings' surface. "I'll see where the wind takes me."
Bō-Zak smirks.
Jannali slides the Choros-Anemos onto her wrist. The rings settle against her skin, humming with ancient purpose.
They walk toward the coast, toward the sound of waves and the cry of gulls, toward a world that has waited eight centuries for this moment.
Behind them, the temple stands silent.
The test is over.
The New Dawn has begun.
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