You can read ahead up to 15 chapters on my Patreon https://www.patreon.com/darkshadow6395
At the same moment, far out on the vast waters of the New World, a pirate ship bearing a flag with a skull and crossed swords sliced swiftly through the waves.
Onboard, the pirates exchanged puzzled looks.
"Shanks, where exactly are we headed?" Lucky Roux asked, his cheeks stuffed with a huge chunk of chicken, his voice muffled beneath his pirate bandana.
"A fight like that? Why should we get involved? Doesn't it have nothing to do with us?" he added between bites.
Shanks faced the endless sea, his sleeve hanging empty from a missing arm, a western-style sword resting at his side. His expression was serious, his voice steady but heavy with meaning.
"It's not that simple," he said quietly. "In today's world, just keeping the balance as it is... that might already be the best outcome we can hope for. A war that could shake the entire Grand Line, or no, the whole world, is far too terrifying. Too many lives would be lost. Innocent people caught in the crossfire."
His gaze grew steely as he stared ahead.
"So this time, we sail with only one goal, to stop the war before it can even begin."
He drew in a long breath, his eyes burning brighter as a clear image formed in his mind, the boy, simple-hearted, wearing that unmistakable straw hat.
"The world needs someone to lead it in the right direction, not just another ambitious tyrant."
Before he could say more, a towering wave rose ahead, a monstrous wall of water dozens of meters high, roaring toward them.
"Shanks, the seas are full of dangers... aren't you scared?" Yasopp shouted with a grin.
"Scared? Of course--" Shanks admitted, eyes closing as calm washed over him. "But no matter how scared I am, I won't let it control me."
The giant wave surged closer. The ship rocked violently as it threatened to swallow them whole.
Then, suddenly, Shanks opened his eyes wide--,
"Buzz, !"
A terrifying aura exploded outward, crushing the ocean's might beneath its force. The wave froze mid-air, still and powerless.
The massive swell shattered into countless droplets, losing all momentum as it harmlessly fell back onto the sea.
In moments, the waters were calm again. The dark storm clouds that had shadowed the sky vanished, unveiling a brilliant blue afternoon.
"You see," Shanks said quietly, "even the sea itself feels fear."
He fixed his gaze straight ahead, his presence blazing with fierce determination. Behind him, the Red-Haired Pirates broke into smiles, laughter bubbling through the air.
"That's our captain for you! Hahaha!"
The sun rose and set, night falling quietly over the world.
Nearby, in the waters around Long Ring Island, the massive fleet of Qin's Nation rested at anchor. On the largest flagship, Qin Yi sat alone in deep thought, brows tightly furrowed.
"Madara, Hashirama, the great clans' leaders, the fleet admirals..." He murmured.
"Our armory is stocked. The troops brought here from home, once they get their bearings, will be ready for battle soon."
"All that's left now is to consider the Marines' strategy."
Earlier that day, their sentries had noticed something unsettling, the Marines who had been monitoring their movements suddenly vanished without a trace. Qin Yi understood in an instant what that meant.
"They're preparing for a decisive battle... no, more accurately, they're gathering everything for an all-out fight," Qin Yi said, his voice low but intense.
"They're clenching every finger into a fist, aiming to strike me down with it."
A faint smile tugged at the corner of his mouth, he had already seen through their plans.
The Marines must have pooled their entire army in a single spot ahead of their fleet. Against the vast might of Qin's Nation advancing across the seas, splitting their forces into scattered blockades would only weaken their defense. The only sensible move was to concentrate every ounce of strength in one place, and there, throw everything into a single, decisive clash.
"The Shichibukai, the CP organizations from Enies Lobby, the guards of Impel Down, the Marine Headquarters itself..." Qin Yi listed with quiet gravity.
"To gather all those forces in one swift, devastating blow, there's only one place it could be."
His eyes sharpened as he leaned over the sea chart spread across his knee, pressing a finger against a point on the map.
"Near the waters of Water Seven?"
"What a risky gamble this war has become, Sengoku," Qin Yi muttered thoughtfully.
"As a strategist, do you sometimes rely on fate to tip the balance?" His voice held a cold edge.
With a slow, deliberate sneer, Qin Yi shut his eyes.
"Then let fate decide. Tomorrow, we'll see whose name the sea lanes truly bear."
The waters near Water Seven were notorious for the colossal tsunami known as Aqua Laguna, or the Gods of Water. Sengoku's choice to make this the battlefield was a gamble worthy of legends.
Even if the mighty tsunami barely fazed the highest-level fighters from either side, its sudden wrath on the ordinary soldiers beneath would bring devastation beyond measure.
This alone revealed that Sengoku's confidence in victory was no longer absolute.
He had accounted for the tsunami, intending to wield it as a secret weapon to shift the tides of battle unpredictably, striking Qin's Nation's forces off guard.
But Sengoku hadn't expected one thing: Qin Yi's understanding of this world ran deeper than even his own.
Far ahead, at the helm of the fleet, standing firm on the prow of a massive warship,
Madara, his long black hair flowing to his waist, clad in gleaming armor, stood silently under the watchful gaze of the moonlight.
Suddenly, a tall figure appeared behind him, moving with fierce resolve. Without hesitation, the figure lunged forward.
Madara's pupils snapped wide in surprise. His knees bent ever so slightly, and with a swift, sharp spring, he leapt into the air, evading the sudden attack with perfect timing.
"Madara!" The voice rang out, clear, crisp, melodic, like the call of a songbird in the night.
Bathed in the silver glow of the moonlight, her tall figure came into view, delicate features, porcelain skin, an aura of breathtaking grace that seemed to captivate everything around her. It was Empress Hancock.
"You dodged me again! Am I really so unworthy of your gaze?" She teased, a playful edge in her voice.
Madara landed lightly on the ship's edge, looking down at her with calm, unreadable eyes. His face remained impassive, radiating an unshakable indifference.
"You've shown me great kindness... and I have no way to repay you but to offer myself," He said quietly.
"If you're willing, we could hold our wedding tomorrow."
Hancock's voice softened, a faint blush warming her cheeks.
Madara's eyes shifted briefly. He crouched slowly, studying her closely for a long moment. Then he stretched out a hand, measuring her height against his own frame, and finally shook his head.
"I don't like women who are younger than me... and taller than me."
Those words landed like a double-edged sword. Hancock's body trembled, as if the blow had pierced her heart.
Without missing a beat, Madara leapt gracefully over her, landing firmly on the deck. He strode forward without hesitation.
"Stop right there!" Hancock snapped, her expression darkening instantly. Her waist twisted, and in one swift motion, her slender leg whipped out like lightning.
Madara's gaze sharpened. In the blink of an eye, he vanished from where he stood, effortlessly dodging her kick. The next moment, he was right in front of her, driving his fist forward.
Hancock's whole body shuddered as she bent over, pain flashing across her face.
"Oh, and one more thing, I don't like women who are weaker than me."
At that, Hancock crumpled softly to the ground. That final blow had cut deeper than any wound, and she could not rise again.
Around them, the soldiers watching sighed quietly.
"It sounded like a heart breaking... ahh."
"As expected of Madara-san, men should be men!"
(End of Chapter)