After Miguel devoured the Devil Fruit, the entire island of God Valley was suddenly blanketed by thick, dark rain clouds. Thunder cracked in the distance, and a heavy downpour began, soaking the landscape in minutes. The violent fires that had spread across the island were swiftly extinguished, smothered by the relentless rain as more storm clouds continued to roll in. Fierce gusts of wind whipped through the trees, growing stronger by the second. It was all part of the Devil Fruit's passive effects—Miguel hadn't even consciously triggered it.
Then, Miguel transformed into his full beast form. His body morphed and expanded until he stood as a massive white tiger, nearly 20 meters tall. Muscles rippled beneath fur striped in ghostly hues, and his piercing eyes glowed with awakened power. Testing another aspect of his newfound abilities—the levitation from the Cheshire Cat side of his fruit—Miguel concentrated and lifted himself several meters into the air. It wasn't difficult to levitate, but with his limited control, he quickly destabilized and reverted to his human form.
"Are you two planning to escape now?" Miguel asked, turning toward his companions. Ivankov and Kuma immediately snapped to attention, distracted from testing their abilities. Ivankov had transformed into the hybrid form of the Azure Dragon. The sight was more comical than Miguel anticipated—Ivankov's already oversized head became even more exaggerated in the dragon form—but the rest of the transformation closely resembled the hybrid state of Kaido himself.
Kuma, on the other hand, was practicing with his powers by teleporting rocks nearby. He was intently focused, trying to perfect the precise movements he would need to facilitate the group's escape. Many lives were depending on his success.
"Yes. Thank you, Miguel," Ivankov replied with sincerity. Kuma nodded silently beside him, affirming the sentiment.
Miguel then approached with a baby in his arms—the one he had rescued from Sommers and carried all this time. "Can you take care of this little guy for me?" he asked, gently holding the infant out. "It's not that I don't think I can raise a child… but I need to sail for a while. I'll visit every year, like Garp did with Ace and Luffy."
"Who is this?" Ivankov asked, slipping into a nurturing demeanor as he cradled the child carefully. His tone softened, and a subtle grin crossed his face, activating what could only be described as "big brother mode." Kuma leaned in curiously, his usual stoic face breaking into a genuine, heartwarming smile as he looked at the baby.
Before Miguel could reply, his Observation Haki flared. Time slowed for him as he sensed an ambush incoming. Without hesitation, he shifted his sword into a massive kanabo, now covered in sharp thorns from the Iba Iba no Mi and coated in advanced Armament Haki. In a flash—faster than the blink of an eye—he intercepted the incoming attack, swinging his weapon to shield Ivankov and Kuma.
The assailant's blow struck with immense force, slamming into the backs of both Ivankov and Kuma and launching them away. Despite the impact, Ivankov instinctively twisted midair to protect the baby, wrapping his arms and body around the child to absorb the brunt of the fall.
"LEAVE!" Miguel shouted, his voice echoing through the chaos. Ivankov, still dazed, regained focus at Miguel's command. Without hesitation, he grabbed Kuma, and together, with the baby in tow, the two turned and fled, leaving Miguel behind to face the threat alone.
"Mamamamama... looks like they abandoned you to die," a voice cackled through the clearing storm. The smoke dissipated, revealing the attacker: Charlotte Linlin—future Emperor of the Sea and current member of the fearsome Rocks Pirates.
Miguel said nothing. He didn't underestimate her. Though she wore a mocking smile, he could feel her power—it dwarfed that of Sommers, and her presence radiated an overwhelming intensity.
Linlin tilted her head, eyeing him with sudden intrigue. "Mmm... strong and handsome. You'd make an excellent husband. Why don't we have a child together?" she asked bluntly, her gaze sharp, unashamedly appraising him.
Miguel blinked. The directness caught him off guard. This wasn't the monstrous Big Mom of the future—but Linlin in her prime. Powerful, alluring, and deadly. He considered her proposal seriously for a moment, assessing the situation as quickly as possible.
"I'm intrigued," he admitted honestly. "But what's in it for me? I've heard the rumors—you discard your partners once you've given birth. And if I'm not mistaken... You already have a child growing inside you."
Linlin's grin faded slightly. "So many questions," she said, licking her lips, eyes gleaming with hunger. "Just say yes or no."
Miguel met her gaze coolly. "No thanks. I prefer women... not sluts."
The insult hit hard. Before Linlin could react, Miguel's body began to dissolve into vapor—one of the abilities of his Devil Fruit. It was a calculated exit. He wasn't fleeing out of fear, but to ensure that Kuma and Ivankov had enough time to escape unimpeded.
He kept his senses trained on their presence. When both suddenly vanished from his Haki's range, he exhaled in relief. Kuma had finally mastered his Devil Fruit teleportation.
With Miguel gone, Linlin's amusement twisted into sheer rage. She clenched her fists, veins bulging with fury. Not only had he rejected her, but he'd insulted her to her face. She prepared to chase after the escapees, but paused. Something was off.
Looking down, she spotted two Devil Fruits that Miguel had forgotten to pass off. Her mood shifted again as she picked them up carefully.
"Damn it... Too late. The Azure Dragon fruit is already gone," she thought bitterly. Linlin had memorized the Devil Fruit Encyclopedia from cover to cover. She immediately recognized both fruits in her hands—strong, yes, but neither possessed the destructive potential of the Azure Dragon. She tucked the fruits under her hat for safekeeping.
A faint pulse of Haki reached her senses—something unfamiliar—and she turned sharply, vanishing toward it with the storm still rumbling above.
Meanwhile, Ivankov and Kuma arrived at the designated meeting point where Ginny stood waiting with a group of liberated slaves and native islanders. When she saw them approach—baby safely cradled in Ivankov's arms—her face lit up with joy. Their arrival meant the plan had succeeded.
Kuma smiled softly as he stepped forward and began to use his Devil Fruit powers, carefully repelling the others one by one—launching them toward freedom, away from the cursed island of God Valley.
Their escape had only just begun, but the tide had shifted. And for the first time in a long time, hope soared across the storm-ridden skies.