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Under the somewhat puzzled gaze of the onlookers, her hands transformed into a soft light.
Hiss
The sudden cool and refreshing sensation from the wound made Magellan involuntarily gasp.
As the light continued to envelop him, the sword wound on his chest began healing and scabbing at a speed visible to the naked eye.
Magellan's breathing gradually steadied.
Akira observed the scene and nodded in approval.
Mansherry, the princess of the Tontatta Tribe in Dressrosa, is a user of the Paramecia-type Heal-Heal Fruit.
Her ability can restore people to health quickly, no matter how severe the injury.
Even in Magellan's current state, where he was on the brink of death, her healing power could pull him back from the edge.
This was precisely why Akira allowed him to fall into danger.
Of course, to make Magellan feel grateful, Akira couldn't do this in a straightforward manner.
During the battle, Akira deliberately risked "danger" several times to save him. As a result, he also found himself in perilous situations, almost being "defeated" by Shiki.
This disregard for his own safety moved Magellan to tears on the spot.
And the outcome was quite rewarding.
Just like now!
When Magellan recovered from his injury and regained his mobility, the first thing he did wasn't to check on himself or his surroundings. Instead, he immediately approached Akira, clasping one hand into a fist and pressing it against his open palm in a gesture of deep respect.
At the same time, he lowered his head and, in a serious and sincere tone, said:
"Fleet Admiral Akira, I will never forget the grace of saving my life. If there's anything I can do to help you in the future, please don't hesitate to ask. If I ever hesitate, I'll surely die."
Living in the isolated environment of Impel Down all year round had shaped Magellan with a strong sense of straightforwardness, unlike the complex schemes often found in human society.
In a place like Blue Star, this kind of honesty wouldn't be seen as a flaw. After all, being straightforward doesn't mean being foolish.
But this is the world of pirates.
Most people here are singular in their motives. Even the clever ones share this quality, though it may not always be obvious.
As for Magellan, who is already one-dimensional by nature, his personality was further shaped by the strict and unique conditions of Impel Down, making him even more so.
To be honest, this level of commitment from him was as good as unwavering loyalty.
Akira was a bit taken aback by the unexpected show of gratitude but quickly masked any surprise on his face.
He hurried forward to help Magellan up, employing the human etiquette and social skills he had learned from his time on Blue Star to handle the situation gracefully.
The process didn't require much explanation.
Back when Akira had decided to take the public exams on Blue Star, he studied all aspects of official conduct, relationships, and diplomacy.
Handling this sort of situation with Magellan, someone straightforward yet powerful, was something Akira was more than capable of managing with ease.
After just a few minutes, Akira and Magellan had become incredibly close—closer even than Akira's bond with Sakazuki.
If there were a system that could track emotional value, Akira would be constantly hearing notifications like, "Magellan favorability +1," "Magellan favorability +1." It was clear that Akira's strategic goal had been accomplished.
Even if Rayleigh and the others weren't captured, it wouldn't affect Impel Down's gratitude towards him.
But Akira wasn't satisfied with just that.
He was more focused on completing the mission perfectly, and since it wouldn't take long, he was ready to make another move.
"Let's go, we still need to capture the rest."
"The next target is..."
"The remnants of the Pirate King, Roger."
"As for Shiki and the others... just send them to Impel Down first."
Akira reached into his coat and pulled out a leaf, tossing it casually.
In the blink of an eye, a copy of Shiki, the Golden Lion, appeared before them.
"Huh? Akira, aren't we using Kuma anymore?" Magellan asked, clearly puzzled.
He knew full well that the speed of the Paw-Paw Fruit's teleportation was far superior to that of the Float-Float Fruit, and he had mentally prepared himself to be flung across the sky once more. But to his surprise, Akira decided to use the Float-Float Fruit ability to transport everyone back to Impel Down instead.
This unexpected move left Magellan a bit confused.
"But won't this take more time?" he asked, concerned.
And time was crucial now.
"We're in the second half of the Grand Line," Akira replied calmly. "Impel Down is in the first half."
"If we use the Paw-Paw Fruit to fly away, we'll be stopped by the Red Line, and it'll draw too much attention," Akira explained to Magellan in a calm, laid-back tone.
As for the change in how Magellan addressed him, Akira had suggested it himself. Their relationship had progressed far beyond that of mere colleagues, and continuing to use the formal "Fleet Admiral Akira" would feel unnecessarily stiff.
The Red Line, which divides the world in two, is both incredibly thick and towering, beyond most people's comprehension. The dangerous, rapid rivers around it leave no room to stop. The only safe passage is the port above Mariejois, which the World Government had built with massive resources and manpower.
In the original story, even Bartholomew Kuma, a Paw-Paw Fruit user, was blocked by this massive divide.
If they tried to fly over and were unlucky, they could easily fall into the deep sea, a disastrous outcome for Akira and Magellan, both being Devil Fruit users. Worse, if they ended up at the port, although it would be safe, the information could easily leak out.
So, using the Float-Float Fruit to help everyone float over the Red Line and head back to Impel Down was the most practical and secure option.
"I see, then I'll leave it to you," Magellan replied after hearing the explanation. His initial confusion faded as he realized the logic behind the plan. Additionally, he thought of another advantage: with the Float-Float ability, he wouldn't have to endure the bumpiness that came with the Paw-Paw Fruit's teleportation. A small smile crept onto his face at the thought.
The Golden Lion clone wasted no time, placing its hands firmly on the small mountain peak beneath them.
"Rise!" it commanded in a low voice.
In an instant, the small mountain began to tremble and then floated up into the sky, heading directly toward the Red Line.