Chapter 21: A New Journey.

Chapter 21: A New Journey.

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The beach was serene, its golden sands stretching toward the azure horizon. Gentle waves lapped against the shore, their rhythmic cadence broken only by the cries of distant seagulls. Not far from the tree line of a dense, shadowed forest, the imposing ship of Cipher Pol 6 rested. Its black hull gleamed ominously under the sunlight, a sharp contrast to the idyllic scenery.

From the forest's edge, a figure emerged. Stumbling into the light, a woman with long black hair and piercing black eyes appeared. Her shoulder was marred by a deep, bleeding wound, staining her already tattered blue attire. Each step she took onto the warm sands seemed heavier than the last. Finally, she collapsed to her knees, her voice a rasping whisper.

"Finally... I made it. I can leave this cursed place at last."

She pushed herself up, her eyes locked on the ship that promised her escape. Yet, just as she moved forward, the ground beneath her feet began to tremble. Small birds erupted from the trees behind her, their wings flapping frantically as they fled the unseen disturbance. Alarmed, the woman staggered back, retreating to the cover of the jungle.

"What is happening?" she muttered, her voice tinged with both fear and disbelief.

Crash!

The beach shook violently as the earth split open in a thunderous eruption. Sand and debris filled the air, obscuring the view. The woman shielded her face from the swirling dust, her sharp eyes scanning the chaos. Then, she heard a voice—a voice she wished she could forget.

"Sate, sate, sate... Look at that! We've finally reached the beach."

Her heart sank as the dust cleared, revealing Meliodas, his golden hair gleaming in the sunlight and his green eyes sparkling with mischief. He extended a hand to help Elizabeth climb out of the massive tunnel that now marred the shoreline. Behind them, villagers emerged in single file, their chains clinking softly as they stepped onto the beach.

The woman's expression hardened. "That brat... Did he just tunnel all the way from the underground village to the beach? What kind of power does it take to do something like that? Who is he?"

Meliodas turned his gaze toward the ship, a sly grin spreading across his face. "Oh, there it is. Didn't think we'd pop out right next to it."

Elizabeth smiled, her blue-green hair catching the light, and the villagers cheered. "We can finally escape!" Elizabeth exclaimed.

Their jubilation was short-lived. The woman stepped forward, her movements slow but deliberate. Her voice carried authority despite her wounded state.

"Enough with the nonsense. Do any of you even know how to sail a ship this size? Do you have a navigator among you?"

The villagers froze, fear flashing across their faces. Though injured, the Cipher Pol leader's commanding presence sent shivers through the crowd.

Meliodas's expression shifted, his eyes narrowing as his hand instinctively tightened around the hilt of Lostvayne. The woman noticed and smirked.

"Oh, really? Do you think I'm in any condition to fight you now?"

Meliodas remained silent, his stance unyielding. Finally, she raised her hands slightly, a gesture of reluctant surrender. "You need someone who knows how to sail this thing. Leading a ship like this isn't something amateurs can manage. Let me join you—at least to get off this island."

After a tense pause, Meliodas loosened his grip and replied, "If you betray this trust, the next wound won't just be a scratch."

"Fair enough," she said, nodding before walking toward the ship.

The villagers, however, weren't as forgiving. "You can't let her on the ship!" one man cried. "She's the one who enslaved us! She would've sold us to the Celestial Dragons!"

They turned to Elizabeth, their desperation evident. She met their gazes with calm blue eyes and said, "The sea is vast. Survival out there is impossible without someone who knows what they're doing. And we have Meliodas with us. There's no need to worry."

Meliodas smiled faintly at her words and, with a swift motion, sliced through the chains binding Elizabeth and the villagers. The clinking of broken metal echoed as they rubbed their wrists in relief.

"Let's get moving," Meliodas said. "Sea journeys take time, and we've got a long way ahead."

The group boarded the ship, one by one, their movements tentative as if stepping into the unknown. The Cipher Pol leader unfurled the sails with practiced ease but faltered when she reached the anchor. Her injury made the task impossible.

Meliodas approached her, his sword sheathed on his back. "You can't lift something that heavy with a wound like that. Let me handle it."

For a moment, she simply stared at him, her dark eyes unreadable. Slowly, she stepped aside. As he hoisted the anchor, she crossed her arms and asked, "You… Who are you, really?"

Meliodas, focused on his task, replied casually, "What do you mean?"

"You know exactly what I mean," she pressed. "That kind of power isn't normal—especially not for someone your age."

He paused briefly, then smirked. "Let's just say I used to be part of Whitebeard's crew. That explanation good enough for you?"

Her eyes widened in disbelief. "Whitebeard's crew? You were part of the strongest pirate crew in the world?"

"Not exactly," Meliodas said as he secured the anchor. "Whitebeard wasn't about strength. He saw us all as family—children of the sea, united under his flag. To us, he's Oyaji. That's why we followed him, not because of power."

The woman studied him in silence, her expression softening slightly.

Elizabeth approached them, her voice breaking the moment. "Meliodas-san, everyone's worried. Where are we going now?"

Meliodas scratched his head. "Good question. No clue."

The Cipher Pol leader interjected. "There's an island far from here—one we visited during the Celestial Dragon's hunt for slaves. It's uninhabited, save for wildlife. You could survive there."

Meliodas grinned. "Sounds like a plan."

Elizabeth frowned. "Can we really trust her?"

"Not much of a choice," Meliodas replied. "We'll take the risk."

With the sails catching the wind, the ship set course for the unknown. Behind them, deep in the forest, the remaining members of Cipher Pol 6 began to stir. Groaning and battered, they rose one by one, their faces grim as they realized their predicament.

For the villagers and their unlikely saviors, the journey into the vast, unpredictable sea had only just begun.

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