As Luffy and the others stepped away, Apis and Ryu-ji savored a nostalgic moment.
Thanks to the Hiso Hiso no Mi, Ryu-ji's thoughts reached her mind. Yet, even without the fruit, touching him seemed enough to understand his feelings.
Ryu-ji conveyed gratitude to her.
Countless emotions, too vast for one night.
Having lived long, spanning eras and generations, he'd watched over Warship Island. Protecting its people, closely tied to them, every memory vivid.
Among them, Apis was special.
She'd bonded with him more than any child, seeking to understand him, playing, eating, sleeping, and adventuring together. A mere few years in a millennium—brief, joyful, blissful. His heart spoke so.
Apis touched him, smiling gently, accepting his feelings.
Memories flooded in, all precious to her.
She'd always been with him.
Not one memory was missing; they shaped who she was.
Overwhelmed by his gratitude, Apis shook her head.
Meeting Ryu-ji's eyes, she spoke honestly.
"No way. You always helped and protected me. I'm the one who's grateful. I was always clinging to you, causing trouble. Sorry, Ryu-ji."
Ryu-ji narrowed his eyes, signaling no need for apologies.
He shared a few things.
He admitted he'd soon die, asked her to protect the Millennium Dragons' homeland, to thank the islanders, and made her promise not to sleep with her belly exposed.
Apis nodded repeatedly.
Blushing, she agreed to all, saying clearly,
"Okay, I promise. As long as I live, no one will harm Lost Island. But sleeping with my belly out isn't on purpose—can you let that slide?"
Scratching her cheek, her gesture lingered in his memory.
He'd lived long, staying in one place, meeting many, living far from mundane days. Now, it was ending.
He felt it had been fun.
Especially these last years, sensing his end, with Apis by his side.
No regrets. Knowing he could entrust everything to her brought relief.
All his feelings flowed to Apis.
Her expression faltered; she bit her lip, swallowing tears. She wanted to send him off smiling, so he could rest peacefully.
In that moment, a change stirred.
Lost Island's white ground began glowing faintly.
In the dark, cloud-covered sky, only that spot shone, creating a fantastical scene. The warm, gentle light illuminated softly, as if asserting Lost Island's presence.
Kiri, recognizing the light from the cave, muttered,
"So, that's what was in the cave."
"Beautiful…"
"Never seen anything like it."
Nami and Silk, huddled together, murmured, and the others nodded.
The changes didn't stop.
Looking up, they saw a massive flock of creatures approaching—hundreds, identified as Millennium Dragons as they landed.
This was the dragons' nest, their homeland, the place of beginnings and ends.
Watching them land, the humans felt no fear, only awe.
"Amazing! All Millennium Dragons!"
"So many! Too many, right?"
"Haha, incredible. We'll never see this again."
The crew, somber moments ago, regained some ease.
The dragons, landing, gazed at Ryu-ji.
He was the lone guardian who stayed, protecting their home. Their eyes held kindness, even respect, as they prepared to witness his end.
Apis, stunned, returned her gaze to Ryu-ji.
The final moment neared.
With his last strength, Ryu-ji spoke to her.
"…Yeah."
His final words weren't goodbye.
Apis hugged him tightly, as she did as a child.
She met his slowly closing eyes.
"Hey, Ryu-ji."
She tried to smile, but tears fell, unstoppable.
Smiling through tears, she found it achingly nostalgic.
Ryu-ji closed his eyes, her face his last sight.
"Thank you…!"
Her choked voice—did it reach him?
Touching him, she felt his consciousness fade, then vanish.
Realizing it, she couldn't hold back.
Apis wailed, tears flowing, mourning the dragon she loved like a parent, departing surrounded by his kin.
Luffy and the others watched, speechless.
Nami, pained, hugged Silk, pressing her face to her shoulder. Silk, with a complex expression, held her back.
Death was never easy.
They'd met yesterday, but Apis's grief was palpable. Her stories of Ryu-ji felt like their own memories.
They stood, helpless, watching Apis and Ryu-ji's body.
A voice broke the silence.
"Millennium Dragons have a legend."
Turning, they saw Bokuden, followed by the islanders, teary-eyed for Ryu-ji.
Bokuden stopped before the five, gazing at Ryu-ji, speaking quietly.
"When a Millennium Dragon senses its end and returns to the nest, it's not mere nostalgia. It's a unique trait."
"Trait?"
"Details are unclear, but their lifespan is about a thousand years, and this nest is sacred to them."
Ryu-ji's body changed, drying as if fossilizing, turning to ash from the edges, carried by the wind.
Everyone was shocked; Apis stepped back, watching.
A strange silence fell as his body became ash, leaving only bones.
"When they die here, their bodies turn to ash, leaving bones, and with death, new life is born—"
As his body fully turned to ash, a fleshy mass remained where his abdomen was—an egg-like orb, red, with something moving inside.
The membrane broke, revealing a baby Millennium Dragon.
Apis gasped, legs trembling, approaching.
"Reincarnation. A trait unique to Millennium Dragons."
"Ryu-ji…?"
Tentatively calling, the hatchling opened its eyes, spotting Apis.
A chirp, like a small bird.
That alone filled her with joy.
Running, she hugged the newborn tightly, certain it was him.
The crew watched, stunned by the miracle. Ryu-ji, dead, was reborn? Unclear, but Apis's radiant smile was undeniable. Their tension eased, faces softening.
After a turbulent night, calm finally settled.
Watching Apis spin joyfully with the tiny Ryu-ji, they smiled again.
"Wow! Ryu-ji everywhere!"
"No, Luffy, only this one's Ryu-ji. The rest are Millennium Dragons."
"Right? Whatever, they're huge!"
Riding a large dragon's head, Luffy looked thrilled.
Dragons surrounded them, varying in size but all striking, his eyes sparkling.
Lost Island, the legendary place, teeming with Millennium Dragons.
His adventurous spirit couldn't stay still.
Apis, holding Ryu-ji, looked up, her stern tone belied by her enjoyment.
Luffy called from the dragon's head; she answered, looking up.
"Shouldn't we change Ryu-ji's name? He's not old anymore."
"Yeah, but I've always called him Ryu-ji, so… He's Ryu-ji to me."
"Hmm, fine by me. Really is him, huh?"
"Yup! He says so himself!"
Gazing at Ryu-ji in her arms, Apis nodded. The Hiso Hiso no Mi let her hear his unchanged voice, reassuring her.
Luffy recalled hearing it too but quickly lost interest.
Reincarnation fascinated him—he'd never considered it.
"What's it like to come back? Could I do it?"
"Probably not. You're human."
"Too bad. Oh well, not planning to die soon."
"That'd be bad if you were. Luffy, get down. You're bothering him."
"It's fine!"
"You'll make him mad. Millennium Dragons are strong."
"No worries, I'm strong too—unless I fall in the sea—"
Mid-sentence, the dragon shook its head, tossing Luffy into the air. It headbutted him, sending him crashing to the ground, bouncing with his rubber body.
"Ouch!"
"Haha, told you!"
"Stingy jerk! I was just riding!"
Luffy pouted at the dragon, rubbing his head. Apis laughed, Ryu-ji relaxed.
Their bond formed in minutes, typical of Luffy's knack for drawing people in. Even the dragon softened, indulging him.
No voices were heard now, but they could still connect.
Luffy and Apis began interacting with the dragons.
Elsewhere, Nami and Silk found the ship's wreckage in the sea, miraculously with one intact treasure room. Nami's face lit up, tears forgotten, as she examined the loot.
"Yes! It's still here! A bit less, but way better than nothing. Thank you, Millennium Dragons!"
Her mood soared.
Her love for money was no lie—she seemed a different person.
But Silk was troubled.
That room.
Nami's scream before the ship sank lingered—her raw honesty. Was she still hiding something? Malice or goodwill? Silk's expression darkened, torn.
She knew she shouldn't ask but couldn't stay silent.
Steeling herself, she spoke to Nami's back.
"Nami."
"What? Don't worry, I won't hog it. After all this, the dragons, the scenery—I'm grateful. I'll split it fair."
"That's not it."
"Oh, but food and stuff's on you. I'm not paying—"
"Those words earlier, they were true, right?"
Silk's firm tone cut through, as if Nami was dodging.
She understood Nami was hiding something, likely private. But Silk saw her as a comrade—shared meals, laughs, surviving perilous seas. Time didn't matter; that was enough.
Wanting to sail together, she couldn't ignore it.
She asked, waiting as Nami froze.
After a pause, Nami turned.
"Stupid, of course it was a lie. I just didn't want to lose the treasure. Otherwise, you'd have dragged me out. Though I ended up saving you. That's a debt, by the way."
"…Right."
Nami smiled, carefree, no trace of earlier tension.
Silk smiled sadly, hands clasped behind her, nodding.
"I'll repay you. Money?"
"I'll go easy this time. But I'm not cheap, so don't forget."
"Got it. I'll remember."
Silk turned to leave.
"Moving this'll be tough. Wait, I'll get the others."
"Take your time. I'm tired. Ask the islanders too—more hands, better."
"Okay."
As Silk left, Nami's smile faded.
Gold and jewels lay before her—her lifelong desire. Eight years of chasing, aiming for a hundred million Berries, sailing alone.
A deep sigh.
What it meant, only she knew.
Crouching, hugging her knees, she pressed her face to them, eyes closed in the dark.
A lonely setting, yet she didn't leave.
A sob seemed to echo. Silk, leaning against the wall near the entrance, looked sadly at the glowing earth rising to the sky through the broken ceiling.
Both stayed, alone with their thoughts.
Outside, islanders mingled with the dragons.
All knew the legend, fearless thanks to Ryu-ji, interacting warmly. Language wasn't needed. Some asked Apis to translate, but everyone accepted the dragons.
Two shadows stayed apart.
Kiri and Zoro sat on the glowing ground.
Kiri, silent, seemed eerie, his usual quips absent. Zoro stayed by his side, saying nothing.
Kiri's gaze fixed on the ground, not the dragons, his face blank.
With no sign of him speaking, Zoro broke the silence.
"You okay?"
No specifics, just a guess he'd respond.
Kiri slowly looked up, staring ahead, finally speaking.
His blank expression was worrying.
Zoro didn't look away.
"Zoro."
"Yeah."
"We're… weak."
His faint voice wasn't like him.
Once started, he continued, unguarded.
"Thought we'd gotten stronger, but it's not enough. This won't do… The Grand Line has tougher foes. We're nowhere near ready."
"We'll get stronger. We're alive. There's a chance."
"Yeah. So, I've decided."
A faint smile, but not his usual self.
Zoro sensed a glint of madness.
"To not lose, we need power. Not just strength—organization. This crew needs to grow to reach Pirate King. I'll get that power. Luffy's who he is, so I'll handle what he can't."
Calm yet forceful, quiet yet intense.
Kiri spoke decisively.
"I swore it. I'll make Luffy Pirate King. I'll do anything, no matter what happens to the world… I won't let anyone die again."
Zoro, feeling something new, looked away.
That day, Kiri made a vow without telling the captain. Luffy's charisma drew people; the vice-captain's role was different.
Doing what Luffy couldn't, what no one else could.
A fierce glint in his eyes, Zoro could only stay by his side, unable to speak.
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