So that's how it is?
"I thought you'd insist on handling it personally."
Robin finally understood what Don meant.
"It's just that no one was there to help me, so I had no choice but to step in myself."
"Well, true enough. Other than giving me orders, you really don't have anyone else to rely on right now."
Robin glanced at the small boat beneath their feet, then at the fact that it was just the two of them aboard. She could only nod helplessly.
"That's why we'll need to find more people later. I can't keep doing everything myself—it's far too much trouble."
Don said this, then turned his gaze on Robin.
"Next, we're making a trip back to the East Blue."
"The East Blue? That's where you first came from, isn't it? But what are we going back there for?"
Robin already knew Don had set out from the East Blue, crossed to the West, then moved on to the North Blue. The only sea he hadn't been to was the South.
"To deliver something to an old acquaintance."
Don's reply was simple, his eyes shifting toward a small chest tucked in one corner of the boat.
"And how are we supposed to get there? To return to the East Blue, we'd have to climb Reverse Mountain, wouldn't we?"
Since he mentioned "delivering something," Robin didn't press further, instead raising her eyes to the towering cliff above them, its peak hidden in the clouds.
"Of course—we'll fly over Reverse Mountain."
Robin: …
He said it far too lightly.
"Same as before—pack up everything, then abandon the boat."
Don's words made Robin immediately understand.
The last time, during their battle with Kizaru, their ship had been destroyed. Don had used his ability to carry her through the skies until they reached an inhabited island.
So now… they were going to scale the Red Line with his powers?
"That's not exactly a simple task!"
As Robin gathered their belongings, she gave a quiet reminder.
"It's fine. I'm confident. Though tell me—this side of the Red Line, where it meets the Grand Line, isn't it also where the Celestial Dragons live?"
Don rubbed his chin as he asked.
"Yes. One crossing is at Reverse Mountain—Levis Mountain—and the other is here, at the Holy Land, Mariejois."
Robin's head snapped up at once.
"You're not planning to go there, are you?"
She swallowed hard.
That was the Celestial Dragons' domain. Its defenses would be airtight, and the strong gathered there would be no small number.
"No. Not right now."
Don waved it off.
"That's for the best—otherwise I'd be reconsidering whether to stay on board."
Robin gave him a look of pure exasperation.
"I'll pretend I didn't hear that."
Smack!
Don clapped his hand, only for Robin to quickly block the blow with her palm before it landed on her rear.
"All packed!"
She rolled her eyes at him, clutching their meager belongings in her arms.
"Then let's go!"
Without further warning, Don scooped her up at the waist and leapt skyward.
Flames burst into life beneath his feet, detonating in a roar.
The boat below them exploded in the fire, their silhouettes shooting upward against the sheer Red Line cliffs.
The Germa Kingdom's snail battleships would one day cross this same Red Line from the North Blue, sparking war upon reaching the East.
But for Don and Robin, it took only half an hour under the aid of his ability to see the top.
Boom!
Flames soared sky-high as Don hovered in midair.
In his arms, Robin pressed her flowing hair down, wide-eyed with curiosity as she studied the Red Line.
Very few in this world ever glimpsed what lay above the Red Line. And now, seeing it firsthand, Robin finally understood.
Even at the summit, there was nothing but red rock and jagged peaks.
Not a trace of green.
It was like a barren crimson wasteland.
"Seems nothing can grow here."
Her voice held a note of wonder.
"Not entirely. There must be some places where plants survive, but the altitude is simply too great—even above the clouds!"
Don cast a glance below at the endless sea of clouds they'd already pierced.
The Red Line was like an immense scarlet wall cleaving the world in two.
Looking at it, there was no way this was a natural formation.
Still, Don let the thought pass without digging further.
"Even if there's water, it's too high to sustain life."
Robin nodded. The Red Line might be vast, but it wasn't suitable for human habitation.
"Let's keep moving."
Don shifted direction, flying across the Red Line's summit.
Horizontal flight was far easier than the climb, and the consumption didn't matter to him.
Robin, meanwhile, anchored herself tightly against him with her power, turning her head to study every detail racing by beneath them.
She was clearly fascinated.
Don, however, had no intention of slowing for her. If anything, his speed increased.
As vast as a continent, the Red Line spanned an immense breadth.
Even so, with Don's speed, they crossed it in just a few hours.
Of course, that was only because he held back for Robin's sake.
On his own, he could go much faster.
But Robin's body wouldn't withstand such relentless acceleration.
"In the future, we won't even need a ship!"
On the far side of the Red Line, Robin gazed down at the blue between the clouds.
"You're treating me like your personal transport?"
Don tugged the corner of his mouth.
"But it is really fast this way."
She looped her arms around his neck, her tone deadly serious.
"No way. Though I'll admit—holding you like this is quite pleasant."
"…Fine, but I was actually excited about the idea."
Robin sighed in mock disappointment.
Then, suddenly, Don cut off the flames at his feet.
Their bodies dropped in free fall.
The rush of air tore a scream from Robin before she could stop herself.
When his prank had done its work, flames flared again, and together they descended toward the sea.
World Economic Journal Headquarters
Still in his avian form, Morgans, the company president, flipped through a thick stack of documents.
"President, everything is here. From when he first appeared, to capturing pirates in the East Blue, then spending a year or so in Shimotsuki Village before setting out again. His strength is undeniable, but he doesn't seem intent on becoming a pirate.
We also discovered that Marine Hero Garp has met with him—not just once, but several times. Yet, he never joined the Marines either."
The beautiful secretary in her tailored uniform reported dutifully.
Morgans stroked the curve of his beak with a feathered hand, a shrewd glint in his eyes.
"But President, do we really need to monitor him this closely?"
The sea was full of powerful figures, after all, and headlines erupted every day.
This man was formidable, yes, but not so much as to warrant such fixation… was he?
Morgans said nothing, simply pulling out two more files.
"Because he's fought with two individuals already. True, they weren't battles to the death, but it's proof enough of his strength.
This man… is already among the top figures of the sea."
END OF CHAPTER
patreon.com/MrBehringer
Fireborne Legends
🔹 Rising Bounty – Read up to 15 chapters ahead
🔸 Legendary Bounty – Command up to 35 chapters ahead