Chapter 117: Bad To Worse (BONUS)

"Argh! Caelan, I swear I'll kill you!"

Looking at the three remaining floating islands, Golden Lion was filled with grief.

Most of the strength he had spent years building had been destroyed by Caelan's magic spear.

But when he recalled the golden spear that had pierced through two islands and destroyed a third, a look of fear flickered in Golden Lion's eyes.

"Forget it. Caelan must've suffered serious losses too. I'll let it go this time."

Golden Lion quickly convinced himself with a convenient excuse.

In front of him, a golden magic spear was still embedded in the ground, glowing like the sun.

This artifact, capable of destroying an island, was now in his hands.

As long as he could study it, today's loss meant nothing.

"Good baby, good baby…"

Golden Lion stared at the glowing magic spear with obsession.

A superweapon that could wipe out an island, how could he not be excited?

As he continued admiring the locator left behind by Caelan, a clear, melodious singing voice suddenly echoed through the air, catching Golden Lion's attention.

The voice seemed to carry a strange magic, capable of healing the wounds in one's heart.

He even felt a strange soothing sensation around the rudder lodged in his head.

"Who's singing?"

Releasing his Observation Haki, Golden Lion scanned the area and saw only an old man who looked close to death, and a beautiful girl with red and white hair on the island below.

It was obvious—the voice belonged to the girl.

Golden Lion made up his mind. He would recruit the girl with the beautiful voice as part of his crew.

But as he looked down at the ruined island, he frowned, unable to figure out her origins.

"Do any of you know what's going on with this island? Who are those two people?"

Golden Lion turned to the few pirates who remained and demanded answers.

The dozen or so pirates exchanged looks, all equally confused. Thankfully, a few of them had good memories and spoke up.

"Boss, this is the abandoned Island of Music, Elegia. It used to be the music hub of the world!"

"Ten years ago, the Red-Haired Pirates targeted the treasure here and destroyed the entire kingdom. Even the concert-goers were all slaughtered."

"In the end, only the old king and a little girl survived."

One of the pirates' eyes gleamed green, practically drooling at the idea of treasure from an entire kingdom.

The Four Emperors could do whatever they pleased, after all.

"So it was that Red-Haired brat who did it? Isn't he supposed to be noble and honorable? Didn't he destroy an entire country?"

Golden Lion sneered in realization and grew more confident about recruiting Uta.

These two must be the survivors from back then. They would surely hate Shanks to the core.

As long as he used that angle, winning over the girl would be easy.

Golden Lion stopped the floating island above Elegia and jumped down with a dozen of his men.

Seeing the pirates appear, Uta and Gordon grew tense.

They had already recognized Golden Lion—the pirate who had been terrorizing the East Blue for the past few days.

"Golden Lion-sama, this is just a deserted island. There's no treasure here worth your time,"

Gordon said helplessly, his old face showing weariness.

He never imagined that this ruined place could still draw a cruel pirate like Golden Lion.

He only prayed they hadn't come for Uta.

"Treasure? Isn't this singer with the beautiful voice the most precious treasure here?"

"Little girl, join my crew and share in the glory of conquering the world!"

Golden Lion pointed at Uta, openly admiring her.

"Filthy pirate, I will never join you!"

Uta glared at Golden Lion, eyes filled with hatred.

She blamed Shanks for the destruction of Elegia, and she already loathed pirates.

Golden Lion planned to destroy the entire East Blue. Compared to Shanks, his crimes were far worse. How could she ever join such a pirate?

Gordon's heart sank. He immediately stepped in front of Uta to shield her.

He didn't care if he died, but the girl he'd raised since she was little had to be protected.

"Come with me. I'll take you across the world. I'll even help you get revenge on that brat Shanks!"

Golden Lion wasn't angry. He thought he was being generous with his offer.

"I'll never agree! Even if I do want revenge, I would never side with you!"

Uta glared at Golden Lion, her tone stubborn and unyielding.

She hated Shanks for what he'd supposedly done to Elegia. But Golden Lion, who was openly trying to annihilate the East Blue, was another monster entirely.

Golden Lion's expression turned cold. He was never one to take rejection kindly.

"You think you have a choice?"

Golden Lion reached out to grab Uta.

If she wouldn't come willingly, he'd just take her.

What a joke. He was furious now.

Uta responded with a defiant song, trying to pull Golden Lion into her musical world.

"Interesting ability, but shut up!"

Golden Lion noticed something strange about Uta and choked her throat to silence her.

"You can't take her. She's Red-Hair's daughter!"

Gordon stood between them, face resolute. At that moment, nothing else mattered. He only hoped Golden Lion would spare her for Shanks' sake.

"Ha! Shanks destroyed your country, and you still raised his daughter? You're too soft!"

Golden Lion let out a mocking laugh and slapped Gordon aside like a fly.

"Outta the way, old man!"

Gordon crashed into a tree and lost consciousness.

"Gordon!"

Uta cried out, tears streaming down her face as she looked at him lying motionless.

Suddenly, a sheet of parchment music appeared in her hand.

Even with her throat being strangled, she managed to produce a mysterious melody.

In the next moment, the Demon King sealed beneath Elegia stirred.

Thick clouds of black mist surged into the sky, blotting out the sun. The entire island fell into darkness.

"What… what is this?!"

Golden Lion felt a growing dread in his heart and was stunned.

He began to suspect he'd offended the Sea Goddess herself. Why was his luck this bad?

He released his army of beasts into the East Blue and was obliterated by a single strike from Caelan.

He tried to capture a mere singer, and she summoned some kind of demon.

What was going on with this sea?

Were monsters hiding everywhere? Couldn't they give an old pirate like him a break?

At some point, Uta had disappeared from his grasp, merging into the monstrous being now towering before him.

Its arms were made of piano keys, its lower body was a mass of black liquid. Its face resembled a vampire, and its hair looked like tangled seaweed.

Its eerie and grotesque appearance radiated overwhelming menace.

In response to Uta's call, the Demon King of Song, Tot Musica, had been born!

Gulp.

"Boss, do we still want to catch her?!"

Deputy captain Indigo swallowed hard, eyes full of fear as he looked at Golden Lion.

"Catch her? Run!"

Golden Lion cursed and looked up at the monstrous demon.

Without hesitation, he grabbed Indigo and fled into the sky. As for the rest of the crew? They were left behind as decoys. They were just disposable tools anyway.

Now, the once-mighty Flying Pirates had been reduced to two survivors: a captain and his deputy.

(To be continued.)

***

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