Off the coast of the Patnia Kingdom, a standard G-5 naval vessel cut smoothly through the waves, heading toward the island ahead.
Today was Patnia's annual Festival of Blossoms, the grandest celebration on the island.
Taking advantage of the rare occasion, Ain had granted both herself and Monet a short vacation.
Ever since coming to G-5, Monet, though nominally a "prisoner, had taken on an overwhelming amount of clerical work. Her efficiency even impressed Ain.
To show her appreciation and to give this always-worried woman a chance to truly relax, Ain had specially applied for this outing.
"I heard Patnia's 'Seven-Colored Pansy Fields' are one of the rarest sights in the New World," Ain said on the deck, the sea breeze brushing through her lilac-pink short hair. Her normally stern face carried a touch of gentle anticipation.
Monet, dressed in casual clothing instead of her usual secretary attire, appeared softer and more intellectual. She smiled and nodded.
"Mm. I read about it in books. The flower language of the seven-colored pansy is 'hope.'"
"Hope…"
Ain murmured the word, her gaze drifting unconsciously in the direction of G-5.
Perhaps Renzo was one of the Marines's "hopes" as well, though he himself likely had zero interest in the role.
Just as the two enjoyed this rare moment of peace, a lookout on the watchtower suddenly shouted, his voice cracking with terror.
"F-Front, the island ahead! Th-there's a huge amount of smoke!!"
Ain and Monet stiffened, instantly raising their binoculars.
At the far edge of their vision, what should have been a kingdom overflowing with blossoms and festive cheer… was instead shrouded in massive pillars of black smoke shooting toward the sky.
Even from this distance, they could almost smell the ominous stench of burning.
The once-blue sky was now tainted with a chilling ash-gray hue.
"Ain's expression hardened immediately. She dropped the binoculars and gave a sharp order.
"Full speed ahead!!"
"Yes, ma'am!"
The engine roared violently, and the ship surged forward as an arrow fired from a bow, straight toward the island swallowed in the shadow of death.
As the distance shrank, the truth became horrifyingly clear.
This was not a celebration.
This was a massacre, complete, merciless, inhuman.
The burning harbor.
The overturned merchant ships.
Houses consumed by flames.
And faint in the distance, heart-wretching screams.
It was a painting of hell, unfolding before their eyes.
"H-How…? Patnia is a member nation of the World Government!"
A young marine stuttered, his face as pale as ash.
Ain's fist tightened until her knuckles turned white.
Her beautiful eyes blazed with the fire of justice.
"Prepare for battle! Medical squad on standby!"
"Yes, ma'am!"
The warship forced itself to dock near the port, what remained of it was nothing but an inferno.
Ain leaped down first, leading a unit of elite marines straight into the chaotic ruins.
"Stay alert! Split up and investigate, find any survivors!"
"Yes, ma'am!"
They hadn't even gone far when,
BOOOOOM!!!
A nearby building exploded outward!
A round, heavy figure was blasted out of the smoke like a cannonball, slammed into a wall, then crashed to the ground.
"Guh!!"
Rehn spewed a mouthful of blood.
His once-impenetrable Armament Haki, tough enough to withstand cannon fire, was now cracked all over. His entire body was a tapestry of wounds, many of them bone-deep.
He tried to stand, but relentless fighting and severe injuries had drained him completely.
"Wahahahaha! Fat pig, let's see where you run now!"
With an arrogant, mocking laugh, Burgess, emerged from the smoke like a demon.
He walked forward step by step.
Each step echoed like a stomp on Rehn's heart.
'It's over…'
A flicker of despair passed through Rehn's eyes.
He had done everything he could.
He had lured this monster as far away from his sister as possible.
But he ultimately failed to escape.
His own life didn't matter.
But Lily…
Lily was still waiting for him in the cellar…
Just as his hope was fading…
His blurry vision caught a flicker of Marines blue.
And a flag, fluttering in the wind.
The seagull crest of justice.
'The Marines?!'
In that instant, Rehn's dimming eyes burst with a desperate, blazing light,
Hope.
"THE MARINE! THE MARINES AREHERE!!"
With the last of his strength, he dragged himself toward Ain, half crawling, half stumbling.
Ain was shocked, but quickly regained composure.
"Cover him! Quickly!"
The marines opened fire on Burgess, but the bullets only sparked harmlessly off his Armament-coated body.
"A bunch of annoying flies," Burgess spat.
Taking advantage of the distraction, Rehn collapsed at Ain's feet, and grabbed the hem of her uniform like a drowning man grabbing a lifeline.
"I-I'm Rehn! Commander of the Patnia military…!"
"It's… Blackbeard's remnants! Burgess, Shiryu, all of them are here!!"
"Th-they've completely jammed communications! We couldn't call for help… How, how did you get here?!"
Ain quickly processed the information and answered calmly, "We were just passing by. Stay still, we'll-"
"No time!!"
Rehn cut her off, eyes bloodshot and frantic.
"You're no match for them! Hurry, contact G-5!!"
And then, with everything he had left, he screamed the one name, the only hope he had heard from the kingdom's intelligence reports.
"Call Admiral Haiiroyo."
"Hurry!! Only he- ONLY HE can stop this massacre! I'm begging you!!!"
At that moment, "Hahaha! So you were trying to call for help?"
Burgess had already smashed through the suppression fire and closed the distance in seconds.
His massive figure cast a suffocating shadow over the group.
He looked down at Rehn, crumpled on the ground like discarded trash, and at the nervous marines standing before him.
His grin twisted with cruelty and contempt.
"Admiral Haiiroyo? The signal's completely jammed. No rescue is coming."
"Perfect timing. I'll take your heads, and use them as the Blackbeard Pirates' grand announcement to the world!"
Before anyone could react, his right arm, shot upward, coated instantly in Haki.
"Shockwave Elbow!!"
The oppressive force crashed toward them like a tidal wave of death.