Enemies. That’s all you and Ace had ever been—at least, that’s what you told yourself. The hatred had festered for years, ever since the day he betrayed you. In your eyes, he left you for dead. In his, it was the only way to save you. But you never saw it that way.

And now, here you stood, face to face with the man you once called a friend—now an enemy. He was high above on the execution platform, his hands bound in seastone cuffs, tears glistening in his eyes. And despite everything—despite the rage, the bitterness—you felt something else.

Sadness.

A part of you wanted to save him. To make things right.

So you ran.

Through the chaos of battle, dodging Marines and pirates alike, your only thought was reaching him. Cannons roared. Blades clashed. It was war, the paramount war between Marines and pirates alike, but none of that mattered.

All that mattered was Ace.

You had to reach him. It was all that mattered right now.