"So that's how it is. No wonder they call you the Flame Queen—it truly fits you."
Shura narrowed his eyes, his expression visibly turning grave.
"Indeed, You've got the strength to talk big, I'll admit that. But it's still not enough! Flame Queen—don't tell me you actually think the few ropes you see around you are all there are!"
The Sky Knight raised his hand, and his fingers stirred the dense web of cloud ropes woven throughout the forest canopy.
Threads upon threads of glimmering cords converged toward Nojiko, slicing through the air and leaving deep scars on the surrounding tree trunks.In an instant, the sound of trees being felled echoed through the woods.
"Do you see?" Shura said coldly. "This is the killing formation set with the power of the Mantra. From the moment you stepped into the domain of the Trial of String, you were already in a dead zone! It's true that your flames can burn my cloud ropes—but can your fire keep up with their endless regeneration? If not… I'm afraid your death is inevitable.
Throw away your weapon and surrender now, and maybe I'll spare your life."
He smiled faintly as he leveled his spear at the enemy wrapped in flames. "Playing with fire, little girl… don't you realize you've always been the prey?"
Nojiko sighed softly—but the corners of her lips curved upward. "Oh? Are you surrendering?" Shura tilted his head, amused. "How unexpected. I thought you'd struggle a little longer before—"
He stopped mid-sentence, his expression turning uncertain.
Something felt wrong. In his Mantra, he could sense only one emotion from her—joy. Happiness?That wasn't the emotion of someone about to surrender.
The next second, his unease became reality.
"I wasn't talking to you," Nojiko interrupted, her tone calm and unyielding.
Ah, so that's why Ren had sent her to fight Shura. Of course—she was the most suitable one.
She had told him before that she wanted to help him more. Even if the enemy was powerful, she would win and return to his side.
Yet Ren had still arranged for her to face an opponent who was directly countered by her abilities. But strangely enough, Nojiko didn't feel angry—only… cared for.
After all, she'd always been the one taking care of others. To be looked after, to be protected like this—it was a strange but pleasant feeling.
Nami had been right—a man like Ren was one of a kind on these seas.
Well then, it was time for her to deliver her answer.
As the queen's mood lightened, the flames around her began to dance. The entire forest seemed to glow with a warm radiance.
Clusters of fire erupted across the trees, igniting dry leaves that had lain untouched for years. The gentle flicker turned into a raging inferno in seconds.
Blaze Crown — Ignite!
"Ha ha ha ha~!"
A cheerful laugh rang out as a small doll popped out from the Flame Queen's embrace. With the shattering of five Mana Crystals, a golden-white aura burst outward, expanding to cover a kilometer around.
Blaze Crown — Flame!
Sunny Doll — Clear Skies!
The flickering flames surged skyward, swallowing the forest whole. Within moments, an area of nearly a kilometer transformed into a sea of blazing fire.
All around her, Shura's intricate ropes melted and disintegrated into wisps of black smoke. After all—light materials stood no chance against fire.
"Th-this… impossible!"
Shura leapt to his feet, panic flashing across his face as the flames roared around him. The searing heat pressed against his body, suffocating his breath, filling him with primal fear.
This wasn't an illusion. But how—how could a wildfire spread so fast!?
"Still don't get it?"
The queen, clad in fire armor, rose from the inferno, gazing down coldly. "From the moment you stood before me—you were already dead. Unless you can ignore flames themselves… your death is certain.
But if you drop your weapon and surrender now, maybe I'll spare your life."
She raised her hand, spreading her fingers as countless flames converged into a swelling sphere of fire in her palm. Behind her, the Sunny Doll hugged a small bear and quietly vanished.
She'd been studying Ren's combat tactics—every single one of them.
And now,the Flame Queen pronounced judgment.
"Scruffy bird-riding uncle—don't you understand? You've always been the prey!"
Her mocking words reflected his earlier taunts, returning them like a burning boomerang.
"Go!" With a furious shout, the knight's mount spread its wings and shot into the sky.
He couldn't afford to fight in the middle of that inferno—not when even the air was running out.
"Turn to ash in the sea of fire! The box will be your eternal tomb!"
Nojiko hurled the fireball in her hand. Though it was the size of her fist, its speed was blistering, devouring surrounding flames until it swelled into a miniature sun.
But as it grew, it slowed slightly. The massive bird flapped its wings desperately, managing to gain altitude by mere meters.
Seeing escape within reach, Shura turned his head back, glaring in rage at the fire-clad woman below.
Tricked—humiliated!
His composure shattered, his Mantra flickering with chaos.
But it didn't matter—as long as he lived, he could strike again.
"I'll make you regret this!" he roared. "This forest is my hunting ground—you won't get a second chance!"
'Neither will you,' she thought.
Nojiko lifted her gaze toward the sky, where the Sunny Doll floated faintly among the clouds. Her voice was calm, certain.
"—Tibbers."
ROAR!
A bear's furious bellow split the air. A massive shadow fell over Shura."What—?"
He looked up just in time to see a burning red blur filling his vision. A… meteor?
No time to react. No Mantra. The ten-meter-tall Tibbers came crashing down like a falling star.
The first to feel the impact was Shura's mount. Its beak shattered, its head and neck crushed into its chest—then came Shura himself, skewered mid-motion as his flaming spear dissolved into sparks.
Momentum carried both down to the ground.
BOOM!
The earth quaked. The forest floor shuddered violently.
Tibbers rose with a rumbling growl, scratching its rear absently as it looked around in confusion. Seeing no more enemies, it turned to its master.
"It's done," Nojiko said gently, landing amid the flickering embers.
She smiled at the towering bear, pride gleaming in her eyes. He'd grown again—her efforts in Alabasta hadn't been in vain. By devouring enemies' souls, Tibbers' cursed power had steadily strengthened.
According to Ren's grading system…he was probably around D++ rank now.
Still not his peak. His limit was C++.But that was fine.
"There's still a long road ahead, but at least now… I can be useful."
Nojiko raised her hand, and Tibbers shrank back into a doll, nestling against her chest. The flames around her compressed under the Crimson King's trait, condensing into a massive fireball that enveloped her entirely.
A blazing meteor streaked across the sky—Nojiko's form within, heading straight toward Vivi's location.
In their team—Ren needed no mention. Even Zoro had admitted privately that, while his swordsmanship surpassed Ren's, his overall power fell far behind.
Zoro stood as the second-strongest among them. Nami, with her wits and weather control, could protect herself.
Robin and Karasu needed no help. Urouge was still in probation—a former enemy, his heart not yet steady.
That left Vivi.
Not her sister by blood, but once a princess—and like Nami, someone who needed protection. Brave, kind, dignified—and one of the talents Ren valued most. Nojiko wouldn't allow any harm to come to her.
Flames streamed behind her as she left the domain of the Trial of String.She didn't encounter Enel, which was a relief.
Killing one of his priests already made her tense—but it also deepened her respect for her captain.
Ren had been right—Enel's divine mindset was cold and detached. He cared little for his subordinates' deaths, treating them as entertainment. After Ren's actions on Angel Island, his only target would be Ren himself.
Even if he sensed something amiss, his arrogance wouldn't let him care. He believed his power absolute—enough to reshape reality to his will.
But that arrogance…was the very cornerstone of Ren's trap.
As she advanced, Nojiko spotted several hidden Thunder Needle installations and avoided them deftly along the cloud roads. She was determined to reach Vivi.
But that thought didn't last long.
When her fireball finally burned out and she landed to continue on foot—a group of wild, tribal-looking men ambushed her.
"Fire Cannon!"
A blue beam tore through the forest, punching a hole clean through a giant tree.
Nojiko, standing on a branch in its path, had no time to dodge. The man wielding the long cannon—Wyper—lowered his weapon, frowning in puzzlement.
"When did the Divine Soldiers start using Flame Shells? No… maybe I just hit a priest. But since when did they change their gear?"
To him, the fiery figure before him could only be a priest—or a special divine soldier. He'd attacked on instinct, testing his enemy.
Even if he'd known she was a Blue Sea dweller, he wouldn't have hesitated. Priest, soldier, or outsider—it made no difference. They were all enemies.
After all, in the Sky Warriors' creed—the one who strikes first gains the right to survive.
But he didn't know—that the one he had just attacked… was Nojiko.
(End of Chapter)