Blade at Reina's throat. That was it. Everything ended. Images of Ace engulfed in flames tore through Taiga's mind. The same scene. Over and over. Eyes closed, it wouldn't fade. Another precious person would——the words formed. The moment they did, strength drained from Taiga's hands. The weapon fell to the dock. A dry clang. It echoed across the night harbor. "[angry]Wait!" Zarl's voice. But the body wouldn't move. Both hands spread wide. Surrender. Grizelda Barossa spoke quietly from the stone steps. "[cold]A wise choice." The merchant guild's elite grabbed Taiga's arms. Pulled them back. Rope wound tight. Cutting into skin. Pain. But no resistance. The blade stayed at Reina's throat. Taiga was bound in silence. Zarl stepped forward. One of the elite shifted the blade slightly. Just that. He stopped. Milena bit her lip against the wall. Golden eyes measured the exit. The alley. The outer wall. Quick calculations. Reina watched Taiga. No emotion. Just watching. Dragged. Up the stone steps. To the white-walled Barossa mansion. Reina stayed on the dock. Taiga knew it. Another elite unit pushed the three companions off the dock's edge. The sound of it. A door closed. The night air cut off. --- The basement stairs were narrow. Stone walls sweating moisture. Torchlight only. Soot smell. Mold smell. Footsteps on stone echoed down the tight corridor. Bound to a chair. Rope bit into wrists. The scar on the left arm——old burn from flame runaway——throbbed beneath the rope. Grizelda pulled a chair across. Sat facing Taiga. White coat. White hair tied back. Fifty-eight years old, but no age in those eyes. A quiet face. An emotionless face. A working face. She removed white gloves slowly. "The pirate king's name." Taiga didn't answer. "When is the next great war." Nothing. "The Celestial Dragons' weakness." Nothing. Grizelda lifted Taiga's right hand. Grabbed the pinky. Slowly, she bent it. Crack. A scream reached the throat. Teeth clenched. Swallowed it. Heat behind the eyes. The finger bent the wrong way. Bone grinding sensation lingered. "[cold]Middle finger." It broke. "Ring finger." Broken. Three fingers bent wrong. The whole right hand throbbed with each pulse. But teeth stayed clenched. Only Ace in the mind. Can't give people more reasons to target Ace. That's all. Repeat that. Only that. Grizelda pulled her chair back. Sat directly in front of Taiga. Quiet. For a while, nothing. "[cold]Diall, you see." Her voice dropped. "He knows you well. That man told me——you're trying to save your brother." A pause. "Your brother's name——Portgas D. Ace." The mind went white. Everything was known. Diall knew. About Ace. Why Taiga was here. Every move spreads Ace's information. Beyond this island. The name gets sold. Understanding what that meant, something broke. Why come back to the past. It broke. Tears fell from the eyes. Couldn't stop them. Teeth still clenched, tears from Taiga's eyes fell to the floor. --- The moment it broke, flames came. From deep in the chest. Not controlled. Overflowing. Kagerou flames——the flames Taiga carries, origin unknown——tore through the walls of emotion. Rope burned. The chair burned. Stone walls glowed red. A merchant guard shouted. "[scared]It's hot, run!" Footsteps faded. A door opened. They fled. Grizelda retreated too. But didn't run. Watched the flames calmly from the wall. The flames burned Taiga. From the chest. From the left arm. New heat layered over old scars. Skin burning sensation. The scar spreading again. A scream. This time couldn't swallow it. Sound came out. Echoed off stone walls. The body fell to the floor. The chair collapsed. Flames kept burning. Vision wavered. Ceiling red. Stone beginning to melt. The basement structure groaned. The words came: it's over. Ace's face appeared. Smiling. Stupid. Like always. Luffy's face too. The day the three shared a cup. That warmth. Not dying here. Hands on the floor. Tried to push up. Arms wouldn't obey. Left arm burning. Three fingers on the right hand broken. Still pushed. The ceiling sagged. One stone fell to the floor. --- When pushed outside the dock, Milena didn't stop. Looked at the outer wall. Found the back entrance. Measured the guards' movements. "[serious]Back entrance. Two guards. Less than five minutes since Taiga was taken." Flat voice. But fast. Zarl glanced at Reina. The blade's touch still seemed to linger on her neck. Her fingertips touched the spot. But her eyes watched the mansion door. "[serious]Let's go." Milena moved first. Pointed the escape route with one finger while running. Zarl followed. Reina turned back once toward the dock. When she lost her brother, she couldn't move. She remembered those feet. Now they move. Back entrance. Zarl grabbed one guard's arm. Slammed him into the wall. Sound. The other turned. One more hit before he could react. Both went silent. Basement stairs. Descended. Heat wave hit. "[serious]Bad." Zarl didn't hesitate. Ran down the stairs. Smoke filled everything. Flame light lit the corridor. Zarl's body became a shield. Reina and Milena followed. --- In the collapsing basement, Taiga was there. Cheek on the floor. Couldn't get up. Flames still wavering. Stone from the ceiling fell. Another fell. Vision blurred. Smoke in the eyes. Only the cold stone beneath the cheek was clear. Cold. Stone is cold. That's all that registered. Everything was exposed. Every move makes Ace more vulnerable. The meaning of being here—— A figure entered the edge of vision. A human approaching. Taking the heat head-on. Not stopping. White-silver hair wavering in the heat. Sweat down the face. But the eyes didn't waver. Reina. She knelt. In front of Taiga. Grabbed Taiga's hands with both of hers. Burned hands. Shaking hands. She didn't let go. "[serious]Stand up." Her voice trembled slightly. Not anger. Something else. "If you die, who saves the person you want to save." Only that voice entered the mind. Consciousness fading. Smoke and pain pulling it away. But that voice stayed clear. No strength to grip back. But Taiga's fingers answered slightly. In Reina's hands. Still here. "[angry]Wake up, Taiga!" Zarl's voice flew from the corridor. In the smoke, his body made an exit that wasn't burning. Milena stood beside him, watching the ceiling collapse, calculating the timing before it fell. "[serious]Hurry. Can't hold it." Reina pulled Taiga's arm. The body lifted from the floor. Couldn't stand. Knees shaking. But Reina supported. Couldn't hold the left arm——the burn hurt——so she pressed against the right side. One step. Another step. Four people left the burning basement. --- Night air entered the lungs. Cold. Lungs dirty with smoke. Night's salt wind entered. Taiga's consciousness returned a little. Behind the mansion. Stone pavement. Night sky. A ship's whistle sounded far away. Taiga looked at the sky. Still supported by Reina. Three fingers on the right hand bent wrong. Left arm hot. Chest aching. But breathing. Breathing worked. Reina's hand still gripped Taiga's arm. Wouldn't let go. Zarl checked the surroundings. No sign of pursuit yet. Grizelda must have fled the basement. The mansion was in chaos. Time was short. Milena spoke quietly. "[serious]Grizelda escaped. But by now, the whole merchant guild is moving." "I know." Voice hoarse. But it came out. Reina looked at Taiga's face. Burns. Broken fingers. Soot-covered. She saw it all, then looked ahead. "[serious]Can you move?" "I'll move." "[gentle]Don't push yourself." "Don't tell me that." Reina said nothing. But she released the hand she'd been holding. Instead, she moved to Taiga's left side. Walked beside. Supporting. Not leaving. Four people ran into the night alleys. Porto Neira's fog grew thicker again. Diall was selling Ace's name. Where. To whom. Maybe not just the Barossa guild. How far it spread——still unknown. That was the next question.