One Piece: The Archangel's Guide

Chapter 17: Destruction and New Life

Late at night, a sudden chill invaded the town. A blizzard enveloped several streets, and household after household was woken by the cold, caught completely off guard.

Cursing, the people of Jacob pushed open their doors to check on the situation outside. However, what met their eyes was a street turned white. Snowflakes radiating a biting chill fell like rain, covering the streets and freezing the flowing water.

In that moment, the many others who had also opened their doors froze on the spot. The cold washed over them, stripping away their body heat in an instant, leaving their faces red and burning. By the time they reacted, the invading chill had already filled their homes, condensing into a bone-white frost.

Everyone was frozen at their doorsteps. Still conscious, they could only watch helplessly as the ice and snow spread deeper into the streets. They lost consciousness without ever knowing what had happened.

Several miles from the Jacob Kingdom's town, on the coast, Shanks stood at the bow of his ship, his expression solemn, not saying a word. He let the salty sea breeze mess up his short red hair, his eyes piercing the several-kilometer distance, watching impassively as the lights of the distant town were extinguished one by one.

Behind him, most of the members of the Red Hair Pirates were scattered across the deck, also quietly watching the distant town descend into ruin.

Just then, the Red Hair Pirates' second-in-command, Benn Beckman, pushed open a cabin door and slowly walked out. As he walked, he took out a cigarette and a match and lit up. He then walked past his crewmates and came to Shanks's side, leaning his arms on the railing and silently smoking.

"Is Uta asleep?" Shanks asked, his gaze fixed on the distance, his eyes deep and profound.

Beckman exhaled a thick cloud of smoke and replied in a low voice, "Yes, she's asleep."

"That's good. It's best not to let her witness this kind of thing."

After a moment, Beckman turned to look at Shanks's profile and asked thoughtfully, "If Yelena hadn't chosen to act, what would you have done?"

Shanks reached up and pressed down on his straw hat, casting half his face in shadow. "Anyone who harms my friends or crewmates," he said, his face devoid of expression, "I will not let them go..." As he spoke, his other hand unconsciously rested on the hilt of his sword.

Just then, Hongo walked up, his face full of worry. He looked at Shanks's back and asked, "Boss, Yelena's illness hasn't been cured yet. Is it really okay to let her do this alone?"

Shanks turned to look at his trusted ship's doctor and smiled. "It's fine. Little Louis is there too."

"Besides..."

"Supporting each other in battle is the best time to build a partnership!" As he spoke, a peculiar smile appeared on Shanks's face.

"A partnership? Will they become partners?" Limejuice, who had long blond hair and sunglasses, stroked his chin and fell into thought.

"Of course! Otherwise, why would little Louis stay here for so long? He barely even wanted to talk to us!"

"I guess that's true... Hahahaha!"

"So that's what Louis was thinking?"

"Nonsense. Does he look like he stayed because of us?"

Hearing his crewmates' conversation behind him, the smile on Shanks's face widened. He took a deep look at the golden holy light rising in the city. Then, he turned and headed for the cabin.

As he neared the cabin door, Shanks paused. Under the gazes of his crew, he turned sideways and said, "Beckman, contact Morgans. Ask him to conceal Yelena's and Louis's appearances."

"If it's impossible to cover it up... then just pin it on us. The Marines already know we're here anyway."

"Alright!" Beckman nodded.

The others had no objections. The infamy of destroying a World Government member nation was a bit too heavy for a teenage boy and girl to bear. But for a great pirate like Shanks, with a bounty over a billion berries, it was just another case of "too many lice to itch."

However, the burly man with the sharp, serrated teeth scratched his head. "But it's so late. The World Economic News Agency won't know what happened, will they?"

He was met not with agreement, but with a fair few looks of disdain.

"You've been at sea this long and you still don't know how incredible those crazy reporters from the World Economic News are?"

"Those lunatics who don't fear death are everywhere in the world! Even if they die, they'll send the news out before they do!"

A golden light bloomed, covering the skies above the city of Jacob like an aurora.

Countless streams of life force, flowing from the dead bodies, felt a summons. They materialized, transforming into wisps of pale golden light that rose into the sky and merged with the aurora. Then, they descended from mid-air like flowing water, connecting directly to the back of the man-eating behemoth that was treading on the frozen sea, chasing down fleeing ships, providing her with a continuous source of stamina.

Louis sat atop the tallest building in the Jacob Kingdom, his four-meter-long, teardrop-bladed spear laid across his lap.

After Yelena's request, Louis had agreed to help her annihilate this kingdom. But he didn't intervene personally; instead, he continuously replenished her stamina from a distance. Louis felt it was more fitting for Yelena, as the last monarch of the Canaan Kingdom, to carry out the final revenge herself. It was precisely because of this that Yelena was able to gradually blanket the entire city in a blizzard, trapping countless people and stripping them of their body heat, turning them into solid ice sculptures.

Before he knew it, the light of dawn rose at the edge of the horizon, dyeing a vast swath of the sky golden.

At the end of a street illuminated by the morning sun, a humanoid beast covered in pale fur, with straight oni horns and terrifying antlers, walked step-by-step in Louis's direction.

It was Yelena, the last monarch, returning after having completely settled a century-long grudge.

Her body was now stained with large patches of blood and the black residue of cannon fire. The blood on her war hammer and sickle-like claws had frozen solid. By the time she returned to Louis's side, she had completely transformed back into her human form. The heavy armor passed down from previous kings was completely shattered, and her black sports vest was soaked with sweat and blood.

She leaped up and sat down beside Louis.

Watching the gradually rising sun in the distance, an inexplicable light shone in Yelena's eyes. She knew that the suffering of the Canaan Kingdom had come to a complete end today.

Louis looked at the blood-soaked Yelena. After a moment's thought, he ignited his own flames to melt the nearby ice, then handed her a bucket of warm water.

"Here..."

Yelena stared blankly at Louis's fluid movements. It wasn't until the hot water was pushed in front of her that she realized what was happening. She raised a hand to tuck a blood-stained strand of white hair behind her ear. Taking the warm water, a gentle smile appeared on her blood-streaked face. "Thank you."

"..."

After a long time, half the sun hung above the horizon, its warm light shining down on the two of them.

Louis stood up to face the sun, then turned to Yelena. He held out a hand to her and, with a smile, extended his invitation.

"Yelena, I'm leaving."

"Do you want to come with me?"

Louis was bathed in the sunlight, his golden hair flying, his pure white wings slightly folded, looking as holy as a true angel.

Yelena stared at Louis's appearance, momentarily dazed. But she quickly came back to her senses. "My remaining subjects are still here..." she said with a smile.

Louis wasn't too disappointed to hear this. Ever since he saw the close bond between the Canaan survivors and Yelena, he had more or less expected this result. This was just one last try.

However, just as Louis was about to say his goodbyes and leave, Yelena reached out and took his hand.

The slightly cool touch made Louis instinctively look down, meeting her red eyes.

Under the warm sunlight, Yelena slowly stood up, a gentle smile on her face.

"Because my subjects are still here, I must first find a place for them to live..."