"Shaka's Return: Lily's Enigma"

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Time passed.

About half a month later.

Near Ruluka Island.

A massive Sea King let out a miserable wail.

It was charred black by a powerful electric attack and collapsed onto the surface of the sea.

A towering figure rode atop a massive cloud-like creature—Panda White Dragon—soaring towards the shores of Ruluka Island.

What was even more shocking was the enormous golden orb, over ten meters in diameter, gleaming brightly as it accompanied the figure.

"What is that?" A few elderly figures with graying hair, gathered by the shore enjoying the sea breeze, widened their eyes in astonishment. "Lord Shaka?"

"Ah… it's you guys..." Shaka sighed as he recognized them, speaking with a hint of resignation. "I never expected to run into Henzo, Rabani, Bukao… all of you!"

He smiled bitterly. "Looks like I failed… History really can't be changed, huh?"

The moment he saw Henzo and the others, Shaka knew his attempt to return to the past had failed.

Not only did Henzo look the same as when they last met inside the Rainbow Mist, but Rabani and the others—who were once trapped in the mist for fifty years and should have still been kids—had also aged significantly.

To be precise…

Only he had failed.

Iso, Rabani, and Abiki might have succeeded.

Most likely, they had actually spent those fifty years outside, which explained why they had aged so much.

It was fate.

"The past cannot be changed, Lord Shaka…"

"We also tried to make a difference, but fate seems to have already made its decision. Every time, something unexpected happened..."

"In fact, Rabani's overly rigid personality even offended high-ranking Navy officials. Despite having the strength of a Marine Vice Admiral, he was stuck as a mere Major until his retirement just a few days ago!"

The aged Iso, Bukao, and Rabani, long past their youthful days inside the Rainbow Mist, explained with a helpless sigh.

They had once received Shaka's guidance and owed him a debt of gratitude.

After escaping the Rainbow Mist and traveling back fifty years, they had indeed tried to change Ohara's fate.

But they failed.

They couldn't change anything.

"I see…"

Shaka nodded.

With his advanced Observation Haki that could sense people's thoughts, he instantly confirmed they weren't lying.

He had mentally prepared for this outcome, so he wasn't too surprised.

Even if he had successfully returned to the past…

There would have been countless variables, and he might still have been unable to prevent history from unfolding as it did.

Most likely, due to the commotion he had caused back then, the enraged World Government would have ordered a massive force to hunt him down.

Either he would have been overwhelmed and killed...

Or he would have been imprisoned in Impel Down.

"So… I arrived a little late. It's already been half a month?" Shaka frowned slightly.

Because the Rainbow Mist had exploded and caused unpredictable distortions in space-time, he had ended up in this era, but he had arrived about ten days later than the Straw Hats.

"By the way, Rabani…"

Shaka suddenly remembered something and turned to Rabani. "You all spent fifty years outside, so you must know a lot. I need some information… about Amazon Lily."

However, Shaka was disappointed.

Since Rabani and the others had been stationed at a remote Marine base and were never given much importance, their knowledge of the legendary Amazon Lily was limited.

All they knew was that fifty years ago, the then-Empress of Amazon Lily, Fire Blossom, had suddenly abdicated and left to join the Rocks Pirates.

After the disbandment of the Rocks Pirates, Fire Blossom vanished without a trace.

Following her departure, a female pirate named Peony took over as the new Empress of Amazon Lily and frequently led the Kuja Pirates on raids.

She was constantly pursued by "Iron Fist" Garp—who had not yet earned the title of Marine Hero—and her bounty had exceeded 500 million berries.

Before Peony, the previous Kuja Empress was a formidable pirate named Toritoma, whose strength had been a major headache for the Marines.

As for the current Kuja Empress, Boa Hancock—she became the ruler of Amazon Lily and the captain of the Kuja Pirates at just 18 years old. On her very first expedition, she earned a bounty of 80 million berries.

Not long after, she accepted the World Government's invitation and became one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea.

"Shaka, that's all I know about Amazon Lily and the Kuja Pirates…"

Rabani spread his hands apologetically. "As for the transitions between the different Kuja Empresses, whether they voluntarily stepped down or if something else happened, and whether the former Empresses are still alive… that, we don't know."

Iso, Bukao, and the others nodded in agreement.

Amazon Lily was an isolated pirate nation located in the Calm Belt, a natural fortress inhabited by massive Sea Kings.

Because of this natural barrier, almost no outsiders could set foot there.

The Kuja Pirates were also shrouded in mystery.

Even the Marines had very limited information about them.

It was said that Boa Hancock agreed to become a Warlord of the Sea because Dr. Vegapunk and the Marine Science Division developed a new technology—embedding Seastone into the bottoms of Navy warships. This allowed them to emit an energy similar to the sea, preventing Sea Kings from attacking and enabling the Marines to freely enter and exit the Calm Belt, posing a direct threat to Amazon Lily.

"I see…"

Shaka frowned, feeling somewhat helpless. "Well, I guess I'll have to go to Amazon Lily myself and check it out."

He took out several strange pieces of white paper.

Each sheet bore a different name.

These were Life Papers—resistant to water and fire, created by mixing a person's fingernail into the material. They reflected the owner's vitality.

People usually tore them into pieces and gave them to friends or family before parting ways. The torn fragments would always point toward the original owner.

If the owner weakened, the paper would shrink. If they recovered, it would return to normal. If the owner died, the paper would disintegrate completely.

"Shh… shh…"

Previously, in the special space of Epps Consade, these Life Papers had been completely unresponsive and useless.

But now, they began to tremble slightly.

Shaka confirmed that they were still functional.

Moreover, the conditions of the individuals they represented seemed stable.

This gave him some peace of mind.

But he still needed to confirm Amazon Lily's situation as soon as possible.

Without hesitation, he bid farewell to Henzo, Rabani, and the others.

He leaped onto the "Flying Nimbus"-shaped Panda White Dragon…

And soared toward the distant horizon.

"....."