ONE PIECE: BLEACH SYSTEM

In front of the blazing Tree of All-Knowledge, the rising heat distorted the air around them, searing not just their skin but their hearts.

Shells fired from distant Navy warships rumbled incessantly, shaking the ground beneath their feet like thunderclaps from hell.

Now, only a few archaeologists remained, refusing to abandon their life's work. Among them stood Hayden, Robin, and Nico Olivia.

"Hayden!"

Robin, who had just embraced her mother for the first time in years, turned and called out to the boy, snapping him out of his daze.

The sound pulled Hayden violently back into reality. Sight, hearing, and smell all surged back like a crashing wave.

He wasn't dreaming—this was Ohara, moments before its annihilation. The Tree of All-Knowledge burned behind them. Robin was here. Olivia. The story was unfolding, just as in the manga—but this time, he was part of it.

He had no time to hesitate.

They needed to escape to the coast and find Sauro. That was the only way Robin could survive the Buster Call.

"Shit..." he muttered under his breath, then dashed toward Robin and Olivia.

As for Professor Clover, who had been beside him a moment ago…

The blood loss from multiple gunshots told Hayden all he needed to know. Judging from the pallor of the old man's face, there wasn't much time left.

These archaeologists were the last people who could read the Poneglyphs. If the world was ever going to know the truth of the Void Century or the path to Laugh Tale, someone had to survive. Robin had to survive.

But Hayden—trapped in the body of a child—had no strength, no power. All he could do was run.

"Hello… you're Robin's friend, aren't you? Thank you… for staying with her."

Olivia's voice was unexpectedly gentle, even amid chaos. Her eyes, filled with pain yet calm, studied the boy with the monkey mask.

If he had come back for Robin during all this, she thought, then this child must truly care for her.

"Ah—hello, Auntie…"

Hayden faltered. There wasn't much else he could say. He knew this woman wouldn't survive. He didn't have the power to change that. He had a "golden finger" in this world—but without strength, what use was it?

Robin's tear-streaked face. Olivia, battered and bloodied. They had no time.

Professor Clover coughed and raised his voice hoarsely from behind them.

"Stop standing around! Take the kids and run! Find a refugee ship—get off the island!!"

Before anyone could move, a deafening boom echoed—far louder than cannonfire.

BOOM. BOOM. BOOM.

It was him.

"Robin! Hayden! I finally found you!"

Sauro crashed through the burning forest line, his giant form battered but alive. His heavy breaths shook the ground as he supported himself on his knees.

"Sauro!!"

Robin and Olivia called out together.

Hayden exhaled in relief. "Damn... We're not dead yet."

With Sauro here, at least they had a fighting chance. Olivia blinked in disbelief. "Sauro!? Why are you on Ohara!?"

"We don't have time, Olivia! I'll explain later!" he called. "Get up! We're leaving—now!"

But Olivia hesitated. Her voice softened, full of resolve.

"Robin is in your hands… and that boy too." She turned her eyes toward Sauro, silently entrusting her daughter's future.

"Wait—what!?" Robin shouted. "Mom, you're not coming!?"

"I still have something I must do here. Go!"

Robin broke down again, sobbing uncontrollably. This reunion had lasted only minutes. And now her mother was staying behind.

Olivia whispered final words to her daughter, holding back her own tears, and helped Sauro place the two children in his enormous palm.

Robin wept bitterly in the giant's hand. This would be goodbye—forever.

Hayden remained silent. He knew nothing he said could ease this pain. Right now, Robin deserved the space to grieve.

Suddenly, a shell from one of the Navy warships arced through the sky, headed straight for them.

Sauro's eyes widened—he couldn't dodge in time.

"Hold on!"

He slammed his hands shut a moment before the explosion.

BOOM!!!

Darkness.

The world shook, but then—stillness.

Sauro opened his hands.

Hayden could see blood dripping from the giant's face. It was smeared across his cheek, his brow, even in his beard. But there was no time to assess the injury.

"I'm sorry, Robin… I didn't mean to scare you," he said softly, lowering them to the ground. "Wait here."

Then Sauro turned—face grim—and charged toward the warships at the coast.

The navy soldiers aboard the warship grew silent as they watched their familiar Vice Admiral walking steadily toward them—no longer as a commanding officer, but as a traitor. A deep unease settled over them.

"I don't care about justice or injustice anymore…" Sauro's voice boomed as he reached the coastline, "…right now, I just want to protect my friends!!!"

Hayden's breath caught in his throat.

The giant, standing chest-deep in the surf, extended his colossal arms. With a grunt of exertion, he lifted the entire warship from the sea. The vessel, easily capable of housing a full battalion, detention cells, and stockpiles of ammunition and provisions, rose like a toy in his grasp.

Even Hayden—who had read about this in the manga—was stunned.

"...So this is the strength of a Navy Headquarters Vice Admiral…"

Sauro roared and hurled the warship down with such force that it shattered on impact, debris scattering in every direction. The sea frothed and fumed as wooden and metal wreckage splintered across the waves.

But it wasn't over. More warships were advancing, their cannons locking on target.

"GO!" Sauro shouted, positioning himself between the children and the oncoming fleet. "GET TO THE REFUGEE SHIP!"

Hayden turned to run, clutching Robin's hand.

But a Den Den Mushi crackled behind them.

Spandine's cold voice echoed from it:

"Do not—I repeat, do not—allow that little girl or the kid in the monkey mask on board. The girl is an archaeologist. Apprehend or eliminate on sight!"

Hayden froze.

"Damn it…"

Suddenly—

"Ice Time: Twin Spears."

The frigid voice came from behind.

A moment later, two long spears of ice flashed past them, embedding in the sand.

Vice Admiral Kuzan—not yet known as "Aokiji"—stood before them, hands in his pockets, eyes unreadable beneath his sleep mask.

Sauro stepped protectively in front of Hayden and Robin.

Then—

BOOM!!!

An explosion rocked the coast. The four of them—Sauro, Robin, Hayden, and Kuzan—all instinctively turned toward the sea.

Smoke and fire rose from the refugee ship.

"What the hell—!?" Hayden gasped.

Kuzan's brows furrowed as he squinted toward the source.

"…It's Sakazuki. He fired… He destroyed the escape vessel to eliminate any 'potential threats'."

His voice was laced with restrained fury.

"That bastard!" Kuzan hissed, uncharacteristically shaken.

But Hayden had no time to dwell. His gaze darted back to Sauro—whose legs were now slowly being encased in a creeping frost.

"No…" Robin whispered.

"I'm sorry, kids." Sauro looked over his shoulder with a bittersweet smile, even as the ice crawled up to his chest. "I can't protect you anymore…"

He forced a chuckle. "Robin… remember what I told you... When you're in pain… laugh. 'Dereshishishi!'"

"SAURO!!!" Robin cried, reaching out.

Hayden gritted his teeth. His chest burned. The ice had nearly claimed Sauro entirely.

"Hayden… take Robin. Remember the raft we hid near the inlet this morning. Use it. Get out of here."

Hayden clenched his fists. He turned to Robin.

"…We're going. Now."

As the final sheet of ice sealed over Sauro's face—still smiling—Hayden stood in silence, staring into the eyes of his frozen friend.

He stepped forward and positioned himself between Aokiji and Robin.

He knew the plot. He knew what should happen. That Kuzan would let Robin go. But nothing was guaranteed now. His presence might have changed the script.

Still, something deep in Hayden's heart told him—

If he could just talk, if he could just make Kuzan see he was still just a child… maybe Robin would get that chance.

And if not?

Then he would buy her the time she needed.

No matter what happened to him.