Somewhere along the scorching path to Alubarna.
The desert sun bore down mercilessly on the group as they trudged across the endless sea of sand. Heat shimmered in waves across the dunes, making it hard to distinguish the horizon from the sky. Sanji wiped sweat from his brow as he glanced over the group behind him.
They were making steady progress on foot, choosing to avoid the use of animals or other transports. Most of the group were women, and Sanji had insisted on setting a slower pace. His heart pounded not just from the heat—but from the mere thought of being surrounded by such beauty.
"Kaya-san, Nami-swan, Nojiko-chwaaaan…" he murmured under his breath like a mantra, hearts practically floating from his head. "Ahh, what a paradise of sand and angels…"
Suddenly, blood squirted from his nose.
"No! Focus!" Sanji growled, snapping himself out of the fantasy. He wiped his face quickly, coughing awkwardly. "We're on a mission. This is important. Think like Zino—cool, calm, collected."
Just as he was mentally re-centering, something clicked in his head. His brows furrowed.
"…Wait a second."
He turned around and scanned the group. Nojiko, Mikita, Nami, Kaya, and Ussop were all accounted for. So were Sanji and Alvida. But two people were missing.
"Where are Chloris and Moris?" he asked sharply, now fully alert.
The others looked around in confusion. Heads turned, eyes squinted through the glare, but no sign of the two dryads. The wind howled lightly, shifting the sand beneath their feet.
"Were they behind us just now?" Kaya asked, worried.
"Maybe they stopped for something and fell behind?" Mikita offered, shielding her eyes from the sun, squinting to look further back.
Sanji cursed under his breath, immediately turning on his heel. "I'll go look for them."
But before he could take a step, Alvida stepped forward, raising a hand to stop him.
"Let me go instead."
Sanji blinked. "Huh? But—"
"You're the one Zino left in charge of this team, remember?" Alvida said firmly, her voice calm but serious. "Your job is to get to Alubarna and stop the war from breaking out. I'll handle finding those two."
Sanji hesitated. His instincts screamed at him to protect the ladies, but Alvida wasn't someone easily swayed. There was steel in her eyes.
"I can move faster with Soru," she added. "I'll cover more ground on my own. Besides, if we all wait here, we risk losing precious time."
Sanji sighed, reluctantly nodding. "Alright. But the moment you find them, catch up with us."
Alvida nodded. Without another words, she turned and began walking back the way they came, the wind tugging at her coat. As she disappeared into the distance, Sanji stood in silence for a moment.
"Alright, everyone," he said at last, adjusting his jacket and facing forward. "Let's keep moving. We can't let Zino down."
The group continued toward Alubarna.
...
Somewhere en route to Nanohana.
A group of people were running at a steady and slower pace. These are Orca crew that heading to Nanohana with princess Vivi. Gin led the group, his eyes scanning ahead with calm focus. Behind him were Zoro and the few others, all moving in step.
After sometimes, Vivi was already panting. Seeing her like that, Zoro decided to stop. "Let's stop and rest for a bit."
"I, I can still continue." Vivi said, but her breathing is already rugged.
"No. Just rest for a bit." Zoro insisted.
Everyone then stopped to take some brief rest.
"Hey, Zoro," Gin who looked like have been thinking of something suddenly asked. "You remember those guys in black cloaks back near Yuba?"
Zoro looked at Gin, replying. "Yeah, what about them?"*
"Do you know them?" Gin asked, his voice edged with curiosity.
"Not a clue," Zoro said flatly. "Never seen them before."
Gin's brow furrowed. "Funny. It looked like they knew you."
Zoro's steps slowed for a moment.
They all remembered the moment clearly—just a while ago, as they'd passed through a narrow rocky pass outside Yuba. A group of three cloaked figures had appeared, standing silently by the roadside. Their faces were shadowed by hoods, their presence unsettling.
One of the men, tall with a muscular frame, had locked eyes with Zoro as they passed. The look wasn't casual—it was piercing, almost like recognition.
Stev had instinctively reached for his weapon, expecting a fight.
But before anything could escalate, one of the cloaked figures—possibly the leader—had pulled the taller man back by the arm, then gave a respectful bow toward Zoro and the group.
Without saying a word, the three strangers turned and walked off, disappearing into the desert.
"That was weird," Stev muttered, still thinking about it. "Who bows to strangers in the middle of nowhere?"
"People who know what they're dealing with," Hibari replied.
"They looked strong," Kruz added suddenly, his arms behind his head, as if the weight of the heat didn't bother him.
Stev raised an eyebrow. "You think so? We didn't even see them fight."
Kruz chuckled. "You can just tell. It's in the way they moved—the way they stood. Like wild animals who didn't need to bare their fangs to prove they were dangerous."
Binko Chimed. "Yeah… I got that feeling too."
"Whatever they were," Zoro finally said, breaking the silence, "they didn't come to pick a fight. So, let's ignore them for now."
The group continued their journey.
...
Yuba.
The desert winds howled quietly through the ruins of Yuba, carrying with them grains of sand and silence. The sun beat down mercilessly from above, painting everything in a golden haze. Amidst this quiet desolation, two slender figures moved steadily through the sand.
They were Chloris and Moris—dryads, graceful and inhumanly serene, though their worried expressions said otherwise.
"We've arrived," Chloris said, her green eyes scanning the barren landscape. She pointed toward the distant horizon. "From here, heading north should take us to where Captain Zino went, right?"
Moris nodded silently.
Chloris sighed. "Alright then. Let's hurry. I'm worried. He's strong, yes—but going alone into enemy territory? That's never wise."
Just as they turned to set off, Chloris froze. Her gaze locked onto a collapsed figure nearby.
"Wait—look!" she shouted, already rushing forward.
Moris followed quickly behind her, and the two of them dropped to their knees beside the old man lying in the sand.
"Toh Toh!" Chloris cried out. "Uncle Toh Toh, what happened?!"
The old man was barely conscious, his body covered in dust and blood. Multiple wounds marked his arms and torso, the result of violence, not accident.
"He's badly hurt," Chloris whispered, her hand trembling as she hovered it over his chest. "He's dying…"
Moris's expression was grave. "Then let's not waste time."
They looked at each other and nodded.
"Jusei Kigen: Iyate no Inori!" (*Dryad Origin: Cleric Touch!*)
In unison, they placed their palms gently on Toh Toh's chest. Closing their eyes, they summoned their healing power. A soft green glow bloomed around their hands, spreading slowly across the old man's body. The gentle hum of natural energy pulsed in the air like a heartbeat, soothing, warm, alive.
Bit by bit, the bleeding slowed. The bruises faded. Color began to return to the old man's face.
A groan escaped his lips as his eyes fluttered open.
"Ugh…"
Chloris beamed. "Uncle Toh Toh! You're awake! Don't try to move. Just rest—we're healing you."
But the old man's hand feebly reached out, grabbing Chloris by the wrist.
"Wai… wait…" he croaked, his voice raspy but urgent. "I… I need to tell you something…"
Chloris leaned closer, her smile fading. "What is it? What's wrong?"
Toh Toh's eyes were filled with pain—and something more. Fear.
"It's… it's Zino…" he said, each word a struggle. "He's in danger…"
The healing glow faltered for a moment.
"What?!" Chloris and Moris gasped in unison.
Toh Toh's hand trembled. "Cloaked… went to Rainbase. They... Want him… die..."
Chloris's expression hardened, her joy now replaced by dread.
"Captain…" she whispered.
Moris clenched her fists. "We need to move. Fast."
Chloris nodded, her voice resolute. "Uncle Toh Toh, rest here. We've stabilized your wounds—you'll be okay for now. But we have to go. Captain might needs us."
With that, the two dryads rose, determination in their eyes. Without another word, they turned and vanished into the dunes, running toward Rainbase.
...
Outskirts of Rainbase.
The golden sands of the desert shimmered under the blazing Alabastan sun. Three figures cloaked in black moved swiftly across the dunes, barely kicking up dust as they sped toward their destination — Rainbase.
Their movements weren't natural; each of them was utilizing a high-speed technique that let them glide across the desert like shadows. From a distance, they looked like mirages, but they were very real — and very fast.
If Zino had been watching, he would've immediately recognized the footwork. The way they shifted their weight, how their legs barely touched the sand — it was very identical to his own movement skill: Soru. Clearly, these weren't ordinary travelers.
As they neared the great oasis city of Rainbase, the tallest among them slowed to a halt just before the outer walls. The others followed, forming a triangle in the shade of a large rock outcrop.
"He's supposed to be here," said one, pulling down his hood slightly to let the dry breeze cool his face. "According to that old man back in Yuba… Zino made his way to Rainbase alone."
Another one smirked. "Alone? That guy's brave. Similar to his elder brother, Yohan."
"Then the question is," said the third, adjusting his gloves, "how do we find him?"
Before an answer could be given—
*BOOM!*
A thunderous explosion echoed across the city, sending a plume of dust and smoke high into the sky from somewhere near the center. The sound reverberated through the sandstone walls, causing distant citizens to scream and scatter. Even from their location, the shockwave could be faintly felt in the air.
The three figures turned in unison toward the source of the explosion.
"...Think that's him?" asked one, his voice grim.
The tallest one narrowed his eyes. "Maybe. Let's go."
Without another word, the trio darted forward, moving with incredible speed. They weaved through the outskirts of the city, avoiding public roads and slipping through alleys until they reached a large, now-damaged plaza in front of the Rain Dinners casino.
Smoke still hung in the air. Rubble was scattered across the ground. Civilians had already fled, leaving the area eerily quiet.
In the middle of the wreckage stood two figures.
One of them was unmistakable — silver-haired, calm-eyed, and battle-ready. Zino stood tall amidst the chaos, his clothes fluttering lightly in the breeze, a thin line of dust streaked across his cheek.
Across from him, emerging from a pile of crumbled stone and shattered wall, stood none other than Sir Crocodile, one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea. The warlord's face was twisted with annoyance, a small trickle of blood visible at the edge of his mouth. His golden hook gleamed in the light, dusted from the impact.
The three cloaked men halted at the edge of the plaza, staying hidden in the shadows of a half-destroyed archway. They exchanged brief glances.
"There he is." one of them whispered.
Zino hadn't noticed them yet. His focus was entirely on Crocodile, eyes sharp with resolve.
But the cloaked trio didn't move just yet. They watched, silently, waiting for an opportunity to present.
"…Looks like he is quite strong." said the shortest among them.
"Of course he is," replied the tallest. "After all, he is Chief Commander Kong's grandson."
"So, when do we take action?" Asked the shortest guy.
"Let's wait for a bit."
They then waited — ready to step in the moment the tide shifted.