The blue sky shimmered as a pink dragon soared through the clouds, its massive wings cutting across the endless horizon.
It flew over the vast, boundless sea…
Across the ten-thousand-meter red clay wall…
Until finally, it arrived at the Land of Paradise — the Sabaody Archipelago.
Tree No. 13.
Shakky's Ripped-Off Bar.
Jingle—
"Welcome, light—ah, President Sugisawa Yuuto, you're here already?"
Shakky raised an eyebrow in surprise.
Just half a day ago, she had sent word to him. She didn't expect him to show up this fast.
"Today's work's done for the day," Yuuto said casually, stepping inside.
"By the way, where's old Rayleigh? Not around?"
"That guy?" Shakky sighed, pouting. "He's either out drinking or fooling around with some young girls again. Men—honestly, they're all the same."
As she spoke, she couldn't help but glance teasingly at Yuuto.
"Ahem. Anyway… about that permanent pointer?" Yuuto coughed lightly, steering the conversation back on track.
"It's here. I'll grab it for you," Shakky replied, heading into the small back room.
Moments later—
Jingle—
The bell chimed again as the door swung open.
"Shakky! I saw a dragon land on the island earlier—it looked like it came down around here…"
Rayleigh burst in, his expression unusually tense and anxious, betraying the panic beneath his calm exterior.
But before he could finish his words, he froze.
There, inside the bar, stood Sugisawa Yuuto, Runti, and Yamato.
"Hey, old Rayleigh, what's with the rush?" Yuuto chuckled. "Afraid the dragon was going to eat Shakky?"
Rayleigh blinked, his mind racing. "President Sugisawa Yuuto… could it be—you're the Azure Dragon from before?"
"Wrong," Yuuto said, shaking his head.
"It's not an azure dragon—it's a pink one!" Runti corrected seriously.
Rayleigh: "…"
The color wasn't the issue! The dragon was!
In Rayleigh's understanding, there was only one person in the world with the power to become a dragon—the Four Emperor Kaido of the Beasts.
So when he'd seen a dragon earlier, he'd immediately rushed back to protect Shakky.
But now…
As Rayleigh tried to process the second dragon's appearance—
"Wait, are you the right hand of the Pirate King, Roger? The legendary pirate—Pluton Rayleigh?"
Yamato had been staring, and after a careful look, she finally recognized him.
"Ah—you are…" Rayleigh stammered.
"My name is Yamato! Also known as Kozuki Oden, son of Kaido!"
Yamato raised her chin proudly as she introduced herself.
Rayleigh: "???"
What kind of nonsense was this?!
Kozuki Oden? Of course Rayleigh knew that name—Oden had been his former crewmate!
But Oden had died eighteen years ago.
And even if he hadn't—how could Oden be this beautiful girl?!
And Kaido's son?
Wait—Kaido, as in the Four Emperors Kaido?
No—no matter how you looked at her, Yamato was clearly a daughter, not a son!
Even the experienced Rayleigh, who had seen countless bizarre things, couldn't help but be stunned by Yamato's introduction.
"Mr. Rayleigh," Yamato continued eagerly, pulling out a worn journal from her chest, "I read all about your adventures with Oden in this logbook! It's incredible—truly inspiring!"
"Tch, that idiot Yamato," Runti muttered under her breath. "Always going on and on about Oden—it's so annoying."
Yuuto could only sigh inwardly.
Runti wasn't wrong. He really did need to find an opportunity to fix Yamato's obsession one of these days.
"Hey, old Rayleigh's back already, huh?" Shakky returned just then, holding the permanent pointer. "And you've already made friends with Yamato? Careful—aren't you afraid she might punch you?"
"No, no! Don't misunderstand, Shakky!" Rayleigh waved his hands defensively. "Yamato's just… a big Oden fan!"
When Shakky learned that Yamato was Kaido's daughter, yet worshipped Kozuki Oden—and was now part of Fairy Tail—even she was momentarily speechless.
For a moment, she couldn't make sense of it all.
"Alright, Shakky, I'll take the pointer. I owe you one for this," Yuuto said, taking it from her and turning to leave.
"Come on, stupid Yamato! If you're not staying, let's move!" Runti called impatiently.
"Oh! Right, right! Mr. Rayleigh, it was great meeting you—let's talk again sometime!"
Yamato bowed politely before hurrying after them.
Outside, lightning split the skies—crack!
Runti transformed into a majestic pink dragon, carrying Yuuto and Yamato as they soared into the clouds.
"Tsk, tsk… Fairy Tail's getting crazier by the day," Rayleigh muttered, shaking his head.
"By the way, Shakky," he asked after a pause, "what did Sugisawa Yuuto want from you this time?"
"Nothing major," Shakky replied casually. "Just asked me to help him find someone."
"…Who?"
"Shiki."
"Oh… wait, you mean that Shiki?!"
Rayleigh's eyes widened in shock.
"Are there any other Shikis worth mentioning?" Shakky said with a wry smile.
Rayleigh didn't answer.
He merely pressed his fingers to his temple, then his shoulders, and finally clasped his hands together in thought.
At that same moment—
Far above the first half of the Grand Line, in Paradise—
A massive, golden ship floated among the clouds, defying gravity.
On its wide deck stood an old man with a wild mane of golden hair, like a lion's. His expression was grim.
Because his twenty-year comeback plan was not going smoothly.
He had thought that as the famed Flying Pirate, countless crews would rally under his banner, eager to join his cause.
He would make East Blue the stage for his glorious return and announce to the world that Golden Lion Shiki had come back.
That was how it was supposed to go.
But reality…
The number of pirates in Paradise had dwindled drastically. And those who remained—were timid cowards.
They panicked the moment Shiki mentioned targeting East Blue.
Because everyone knew—
East Blue was his homeland.
The homeland of Four Emperor Sugisawa Yuuto—and Fairy Tail.
In today's world, few pirates dared to provoke Fairy Tail.
"Hmph… those fools in Paradise. It's their loss for not boarding my ship. Fine! I'll show the world the terror of the old era!"
Golden Lion Shiki grinned wickedly.
Two days later.
Somewhere across the Grand Line.
The world itself seemed to shift.
Dark clouds gathered without warning, blotting out the sun.
The sky rumbled, shadows sweeping across the sea.
From within the clouds, a massive pink dragon's head emerged.
And standing proudly upon it—were a Japanese man and a young woman.
"Found it," Yuuto said quietly.