Under the bright moonlight, a hundred kilometers away at sea.
Ayala sat on Lillilu's back, staring at the sea that had finally gone calm. Nervous and worried, she asked, "Lillilu-neesan, did Yemu-nii-san win?"
"Mm. Yemu won."
Lillilu nodded calmly, but the look in her eyes was deeply complicated.
Now that she was a member of the Sky Pirates, of course she had hoped Yemu would win.
But when victory truly lay before her, she still could not help sighing.
Shiki, a man who had already become a legend on the seas, had lost just like that to a young man like Yemu.
To reach that height, Shiki had sacrificed and given up countless things. Compared to him, Yemu had practically been taking shortcuts along his path toward the future.
In a sense, it was terribly unfair. But where in this world was there ever any true fairness?
Ayala did not think as much as Lillilu. The only person she worried about was Yemu.
"Lillilu-neesan, let's hurry over. Yemu-nii-san needs us right now."
"Mm."
The two soared through the sky, and before long, they reached the center of the battlefield.
Sabah Island had completely disappeared. Only small reefs jutted out of the sea here and there, proving that an island had once existed. On one of those reefs, Shiki lay on his back, his body surrounded by blood, while Yemu sat nearby.
"Yemu-nii-san!"
As Lillilu landed, Ayala anxiously jumped down from her back and began carefully checking Yemu's injuries.
Fortunately, the result let Ayala breathe a long sigh of relief. Just like after the battle in Impel Down, Yemu looked badly wounded, but none of his injuries were fatal.
So Ayala began treating and bandaging him.
Meanwhile, Lillilu walked over to Shiki.
It was obvious Shiki was not dead yet, but judging from his dim, defeated eyes, he probably would not last much longer.
Strangely, from the moment Lillilu and Ayala arrived, neither Yemu nor Shiki had spoken. The atmosphere was oddly quiet. It was understandable for Shiki, the loser, to say nothing, but even Yemu, the victor, showed little joy on his face.
Just then, a panicked cry came from not far away.
"Boss Shiki!"
Looking over, they saw a small boat quickly approaching. On it were Shiki's subordinates, DR Indigo and Scarlet.
Seeing Yemu sitting there, DR Indigo was clearly frightened, but in the end, he still gathered his courage and jumped onto the reef.
When he saw that Yemu had no reaction to his arrival, DR Indigo hurried to Shiki's side, full of worry, and was about to treat him.
But Shiki, sounding as if he had aged many years, spoke first.
"No need, DR Indigo. I lost this final battle."
"Boss Shiki... Wuwuwu... I'll definitely save you and get you out of here."
Tears streamed down DR Indigo's face as he looked warily at Yemu and the others. Scarlet also thumped his chest, looking ready to fight.
"There's no need. Even if you could save me from here, I know the state my body is in."
As he said this, Shiki's eyes began to grow hollow.
"Roger, I'm coming to find you in that other world!"
Just then, Yemu, who had been silent while Ayala bandaged him, suddenly spoke.
"No. I may have won this battle, but you're not a loser."
Shiki turned his head with difficulty and looked at Yemu, his tone still defiant.
"Kid, I'm Shiki the Golden Lion. Even if I lose, I don't need your pity!"
"No."
Yemu shook his head.
"I can say I defeated Sengoku, but I can't say I defeated Shiki the Golden Lion. If the old injury on your head hadn't given me a chance, the outcome of this battle would still be uncertain."
At Yemu's words, a trace of light finally appeared in Shiki's lifeless eyes, but it soon faded again.
"So what? As long as the result is victory, the process doesn't matter."
"No. Maybe it doesn't matter to you, but it matters to me."
Yemu's words left Shiki slightly stunned again, but he no longer cared.
"Why haven't you killed me yet? If I die, the Devil Fruit will disappear."
"No rush. Let's wait a little longer."
"!!! What are you waiting for?"
Shiki asked, unable to understand.
Yemu looked toward the dark horizon in the distance.
"For the sun to rise."
This baffling answer stunned everyone, and Shiki looked at Yemu in confusion.
Then Yemu spoke with absolute seriousness.
"I told you before. I want your Devil Fruit not simply for its power, but because this fruit is an indispensable part of how I'll change the world. It's a pity you won't be able to see that future, but at the very least, I hope you can see the sun of a new day. Once the sun rises, I'll take your Fuwa Fuwa no Mi and use that power to change this world."
"!!!"
Shock filled Shiki's face.
Then he suddenly burst into wild laughter.
"Shihahahaha... Cough, cough..."
Because he was too worked up, he coughed up another mouthful of blood. Only then did he look at Yemu and speak with rare seriousness.
"I suddenly understand Roger a little. Maybe the future of this world really does belong to you young ones. Shihahahaha..."
At this point, a hint of regret suddenly appeared on Shiki's face.
"What a shame. If only you weren't a Devil Fruit user. Then maybe my Fuwa Fuwa no Mi would have had a good master... What a shame... Cough, cough..."
At that moment, Yemu looked at Shiki's regretful expression, his own face complicated.
After thinking for a moment, Yemu suddenly asked Shiki, "So, is that your final wish?"
Shiki froze, then chuckled.
"Ah... I suppose it is. Too bad it's only a wish."
"I understand. I'll grant your wish."
"Eh?"
At that moment, not only Shiki was surprised. Ayala and Lillilu beside them were stunned as well.
Because they both knew this Fuwa Fuwa no Mi was the fruit Yemu had promised to give to Galahad Anne.
Yemu understood that too, but he was not too worried.
"I believe she'll understand."
Though he said that, Yemu was already considering whether he should hurry up and find another suitable fruit.
Among the fruits he had obtained from Impel Down, aside from the Moa Moa no Mi, none could compare to the Fuwa Fuwa no Mi.
Just then, as if by fate, the Den Den Mushi in Ayala's pocket began to ring.
"Purupuru... Purupuru..."
"Hello..."
"Captain Yemu, hello. This is Queen from the Beasts Pirates. I wonder if you still remember me."
"Of course I remember. You still owe me two Devil Fruits."
"Hehehehe. This time, I'm calling to deliver those Devil Fruits to you, Captain Yemu. However, as you know, our Beasts Pirates are in Wano Country right now, so we're preparing to replace the Yamata no Orochi Fruit with another Mythical Zoan we just obtained."
"Do you know the fruit's name?"
"Of course. Tori Tori no Mi, Mythical Zoan, Model: Nue."
As his words fell, a ray of light cut through the darkness.
The sun rose.
***
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