"Who's there?"
The desperate marines froze at the sound of the commanding voice. Their eyes darted around, their hearts racing with a glimmer of hope.
"Is it reinforcements?"
Edward Weevil, trembling on his knees, glanced at his mother in panic. Bakkin, however, was in an even worse state, pale and shaking.
"It's the Sun and Moon Pirates!!" Ain's voice cracked—whether from shock, excitement, or disbelief was unclear.
"The Sun and Moon Pirates?"
The surviving marines looked up, their eyes catching sight of the flag billowing in the wind—a sun and crescent moon insignia.
This was the symbol of the most powerful pirate crew on the seas, and the one the Navy feared the most.
"This doesn't make sense. Aren't the Sun and Moon Pirates supposed to be in the New World?"
"Why are they here?"
The marine officers were stuck in the past, unaware of the latest developments. As for the recruits like Ain, they didn't even know what had occurred in the New World.
"It's over. We're finished. Even if Marineford sends reinforcements, we're doomed," muttered the marine officers, their despair deepening.
Against Edward Weevil, they had at least mustered some courage to fight. Against the Sun and Moon Pirates, even the arrival of an admiral wouldn't grant them a shred of security.
"We're dead."
The recruits swallowed nervously, fear etched across their faces. To the marines, the Sun and Moon Pirates had been painted as demons, ruthless and merciless.
"But the Sun and Moon Pirates I know aren't brutal," Ain murmured, frowning.
"No matter what, I'll cast aside my pride and beg Kuke to spare you all," declared Ron, the oldest of the instructors and a former vice admiral.
Ron had been a teacher when Kuke was a recruit and now gazed at the man striding toward them across the sky.
Regret filled Ron's heart.
They had been wrong about him—back in the training camp, they had all been wrong.
Kuke landed gracefully at the bow of the battleship.
"Good, you're still alive," he remarked, his eyes settling on Ain.
At least she had survived.
"Zephyr, that useless fool, didn't come?" Kuke swept his gaze over the deck, finding no sign of the former admiral.
Both the teachers and recruits remained silent. Being mocked by a pirate like this should have angered them, but the pain of being abandoned and ignored had left them feeling a twisted sense of satisfaction.
"It's you again!" Edward Weevil roared like a beast, his bloodshot eyes fixed on Kuke. Even his fear couldn't completely suppress his rage and killing intent.
"Still as stupid as ever," Kuke remarked, sparing him a glance.
"Disappear."
With a swift motion, Kuke's hand slashed through the air like a blade.
"Ahhh!!" Weevil screamed, raising his massive naginata in desperation. But before he could strike, a dazzling arc of light cut through the air.
In an instant, everything froze.
Edward Weevil's roar was silenced, his movements halted. From head to toe, even his weapon was split in half.
He was dead.
The monster who had brought the marines to their knees had been defeated, effortlessly and without fanfare.
"He's... dead?"
Ain and the others stared blankly at Weevil's lifeless body. Though they knew he couldn't match Kuke, they had never imagined he would be defeated so easily.
"Weevil? You killed Weevil?!" Bakkin screamed in fury, her grief and rage overriding her fear.
Edward Weevil had been her life's masterpiece, her tool to achieve her ambitions. Now, he was gone.
"Do you know who his father is? Do you know what you've done?!" she screeched, her venomous gaze fixed on Kuke.
"You can try contacting Whitebeard now and see if he dares avenge his so-called son," Kuke said coldly, his words sending chills down Bakkin's spine.
Ignoring her, Kuke walked toward Ain.
The marines, paralyzed with fear, couldn't comprehend his intentions.
"Kuke, spare them! They're just recruits. If you hold any grudge against the training camp, take it out on me. Kill me and let them go," Ron pleaded desperately.
Kuke bypassed him without a second glance, stopping in front of Ain.
"Come with me," he ordered.
Ain's Regression Fruit could reverse a person's age. However, if she were defeated or rendered unconscious, the fruit's effects would wear off. To ensure the results lasted, she needed to be brought onto the crew.
"Me?" Ain looked at him, bewildered.
Why had he chosen her? She knew her limits. Though considered a prodigy in the training camp, she was insignificant within the broader Navy—and even less so compared to Kuke.
"Are you reluctant to give up your Navy identity? Bound by your sense of justice?" Kuke asked, observing her hesitation.
If she joined willingly, it would be ideal. If not, it didn't matter—someone of her strength couldn't stir up trouble on his ship.
"The Navy? Justice?" Ain laughed bitterly, her thoughts consumed by the nightmarish events she had just witnessed.
"Fine. I'll go with you. But can you spare them?" she asked, her voice trembling with hope.
"When did I say I'd kill them?" Kuke replied with a faint smile.
"Let's go."
Without waiting for a response, he scooped Ain into his arms and stepped into the air, heading toward the Radiant Eclipse.
Held tightly, Ain felt warmth and light radiating from Kuke. She glanced up at him, her heart conflicted.
Curious, Kuke looked down at her. Even a fraction of loyalty from her had been unexpected, but she seemed to harbor three or four parts of admiration for him.
"Was my reputation in the training camp really that good?" Kuke asked.
"Uh..." Ain stammered, unsure how to respond.
The remaining marines watched as the Radiant Eclipse disappeared into the distance.
"He came just for Ain?"
No one could fathom why someone like Kuke would value her.
"Regardless, it's a good thing for us," Ron said, turning to the surviving recruits.
At least some had lived.
With grim determination, they picked up their weapons and turned toward Bakkin, who now faced their wrath.
Screams echoed from the battleship as Bakkin realized that death might have been the kinder fate.
On the Radiant Eclipse, the crew gathered, curiously observing Ain.
Her marine uniform stood out starkly among the pirates, making her presence feel out of place. Ain instinctively moved closer to Kuke, her unease palpable.
"Don't scare the newcomer," Gion said, motioning for everyone to disperse. She smiled warmly at Ain.
"You were once a marine like me. Since Kuke has chosen you, as long as you don't harm the crew and are willing to be part of us, we will protect you with our lives."
"I—I won't," Ain stammered, a self-deprecating smile forming.
She lacked the power to harm the infamous Sun and Moon Pirates even if she tried.
"Where's Charlotte Linlin?" Kuke asked, scanning the deck.
"Captain, she went back to her quarters. She's upset," Smoothie replied.
"What's there to be upset about? Tell her to come out. It's time to make her young again."
"What? I can be young again?"
The cabin door slammed open, and Charlotte Linlin's large head peeked out in astonishment.
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DONT FORGET POWER STONE
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