18. Sword Flight

Sariya rolled her eyes but said nothing.

With a dashing snap of her fingers, she used her telekinesis to refill Shanks’s glass.

A small crescent-moon-shaped ice sculpture was tossed into the beer mug, then another flew toward Shanks’s head.

Shanks barely flinched at the small ice shard, still wearing his usual cheerful smile.

He raised his glass toward Sariya in thanks. “Thanks.”

The tavern owner, Verli, had moved nearly two-thirds of the tavern’s liquor outside because the female guest had given so generously.

A gold bracelet and two pairs of gold earrings—such treasures were a considerable fortune for this humble tavern.

The alcohol was piled outdoors.

Though no pure white snowflakes fell, the biting cold wind of the dead of winter still raged mercilessly.

When they first arrived at Sval Island, Sariya had immediately donned a full set of winter clothing.

Following behind the tavern owner outside, she shivered at the cold blast.

“This is how our weather is here. You should wear more, guest,” Verli said, his breath forming white clouds as he spoke, bundled in thick clothing.

Verli gave Sariya a warm fleece-lined robe for free.

Only after putting on the robe did Sariya feel a little better.

Verli’s face was full of flattering smiles. “The drinks are all out now. There’s so much; should we get someone to help carry them for you?”

“Yoshi! That’s great!” Shanks’s eyes sparkled with excitement as he looked at the neatly arranged barrels of various liquors.

With a wave of his large hand, he generously told the tavern owner, “We’ll carry them ourselves.”

He chuckled twice and patted Mihawk on the shoulder. “Hawk-Eyes, why don’t you call Beckman and the others over to help?”

Mihawk didn’t argue; his voice was as steady as ever.

“On it.”

He donned his black hat, slung the long famous sword Yoru across his back, then turned and strode steadily toward the snowy mountains.

All members of the Red-Haired Pirates, except for the unreliable captain Shanks, were stationed on these snowy peaks.

“No need, I’ll handle it,” Sariya intervened and stopped Mihawk.

With a wave of her hand, she used telekinesis to levitate all the barrels of liquor.

Along with them, Shanks also floated into the air.

“Eh—”

Shanks felt himself gently lifted by some mysterious force, his body rising involuntarily.

He glanced at the woman floating beside him.

No doubt—that had to be Judith’s Devil Fruit power.

Shanks smiled but didn’t use his Haki to counter the Devil Fruit’s effect.

Floating there, his face showed surprise, then he covered his straw hat and laughed heartily, his laughter bright and carefree.

“Haha, I’m flying too! This feels pretty good.”

The ability to levitate objects reminded Shanks of the formidable Flying Admiral “Golden Lion” Shiki, a deadly enemy of the Roger Pirates.

Shanks had witnessed firsthand on Roger’s ship the terrifying power of the Float-Float Fruit.

But the Float-Float Fruit only controls inanimate objects.

Judith’s Devil Fruit allowed living beings to float, which was different.

“What Devil Fruit did you eat?” Shanks asked curiously, eyes shining as he stared at Sariya.

Sariya didn’t answer but was curious about something else.

She couldn’t help but ask, “Shanks, Mihawk, aren’t you two cold?”

Her bright eyes flicked between Shanks and Mihawk.

Shanks wore his signature shirt and floral pants, and Mihawk’s clothing was also thin.

She had noticed long ago that despite the howling wind and cold, these two seemed unaffected by the chill.

Though the snowy scene paired with handsome, muscular chests was certainly a beautiful sight.

Especially since both were strong men, their chest muscles smooth and full of power and grace.

Yet—

“Really not cold?” she pressed.

Mihawk answered calmly, “It’s manageable.”

Shanks smiled confidently. “We’re pirates. Of course, we’re not afraid of a little wind and snow.”

“You guys are impressive.” Sariya gave them both a thumbs-up.

Wearing so little in the dead of winter—must have excellent physiques.

Besides, for a beauty like her, the less clothing on handsome men, the better for her eyes.

She silently stole a couple more glances at their chests.

Using only telekinesis, Sariya applied enough lift to make Shanks float.

He adapted quickly.

With a clever push-off, he gained momentum and shot like an arrow toward Sariya’s position.

Sariya sidestepped just in time to evade his surprise attack.

Her forehead twitched as she scolded, “You damn redhead, what’s wrong with you?”

She surged telekinetic force to push Shanks farther away.

“Ah, don’t be so stingy,” Shanks scratched the back of his head, grinning.

Sariya flipped him the middle finger.

Then she floated over to Mihawk and eagerly asked, “Mihawk, want to try flying? Want me to take you up?”

Shanks was easygoing; she could lift him without asking, and he wouldn’t mind.

Mihawk was also independent, but he was a serious man.

If she tried to make him fly without permission, he’d probably get angry and slash her with a single stroke.

She’d already made Shanks fly, but she hesitated about making Mihawk fly—not wanting to get cut.

Watching the playful exchange between the two floating figures, Mihawk didn’t want to join their antics.

“No need.”

Sariya’s eyes twinkled as she quickly added, “Swordsmen can fly too. Back home, we have a technique called ‘Sword Riding Flight.’”

Just a swordsman—today she’d definitely get him to fly.

Mihawk regarded the sword as his lifelong vocation and pursuit.

Hearing this, he became somewhat interested.

“Oh? Sword Riding Flight?” His hawk-like eyes slowly fixed on Sariya, awaiting her explanation.

He sensed her playful intent to make him fly, but if it involved swords, he was willing to try.

After chatting with Judith in the tavern, Mihawk had grown curious about her homeland’s swordsmanship culture.

Sariya smiled confidently. “Then let me show you.”

She carefully placed the levitated drinks and Shanks back on the ground.

Shanks, back on solid ground, looked a little disappointed; he hadn’t had enough flying yet.

Sariya raised her hand, and an ordinary sword flew out from the tavern.

“Uncle Verli, may I have this sword?”

The owner nodded eagerly. “Sure, sure.”

Sariya had paid handsomely and possessed extraordinary powers, so Verli both liked and feared her.

She levitated the sword with telekinesis, bent her knees slightly, leaned forward, and stepped onto the blade.

The next moment—

With precise control and powerful propulsion from her telekinesis, the gleaming sword suddenly burst forward with astonishing speed.

Like a silver lightning bolt, it streaked across the sky, rushing toward the distant horizon.

The figure atop the sword swiftly vanished into the far sky, disappearing from the two men’s sight.

“Impressive…” Shanks watched in awe, his eyes filled with admiration.

He slowly reached out, gripping the hilt of Griffin’s sword, a surge of eager energy stirring within him.

Mihawk’s sharp pupils narrowed as he fixed his gaze on the soaring figure.

Though his face remained impassive, he was deeply shaken inside.

Clearly, Mihawk was moved by Sariya’s proposal of “Sword Riding Flight.”

“Hey, Mihawk, you don’t think Judith ran off, do you?” Suddenly realizing something, Shanks looked at Mihawk.

Sariya hadn’t returned after flying off for quite some time, and Shanks felt a twinge of unease.

Mihawk’s expression darkened, a chill creeping into his voice. “Could be.”

After all, the woman’s thoughts were inscrutable.

But if she really ran off, a cold glint flashed in Mihawk’s eyes—if they met again, he’d cut her down without hesitation.

At that moment, Sariya was soaring through the sky astride the flying sword, filled with indescribable excitement.

Since first developing her Devil Fruit’s flight ability, she had already tried sword riding.

Each time she stepped onto the sword and took flight, the freedom and exhilaration of soaring across the sky thrilled her anew.

The posture of “Sword Riding Flight” was striking—stylish, cool, the pinnacle of romance and freedom. Who could resist?

“Woohoo!” After two loops in under a minute, Sariya landed gracefully back on Sval Island.

“So? Isn’t Sword Riding Flight super cool?” She jumped down steadily, firmly planting her feet in the snow.

The cold wind tossed her hair wildly, her eyes burning with vibrant life and warmth.

Amid the snow and chill, she radiated passion and freedom.

Proudly, she boasted, “Back home, Sword Riding Flight means chasing the wind, pursuing the moon, a life of passion, freedom, and romance. Isn’t it romantic?”

Shanks blinked, smiling at her.

He thought, it really was cool.

If only she’d just keep her mouth shut, it would be even cooler.

Mihawk’s eyes revealed deep admiration as he spoke slowly, his voice tinged with emotion, “Is this the romance that swordsmen from your homeland pursue?”

Rare and awe-inspiring.

Recalling Sariya’s earlier tale of her homeland’s tragic destruction by the Celestial Dragons, Mihawk felt sympathy and sorrow for her lost home.

Otherwise, he’d certainly want to visit it someday.

“Huh?” Sariya tilted her head, cleared her throat, and said, “Well, not really.”

She was just saying whatever came to mind.

Had Mihawk really fallen for her tall tales?