After staying at Ryugu Palace for a short while, it was time for Sakura and Tiger to bid farewell to Neptune and Otohime.
After all, the number of World Government's agents secretly infiltrating Fish-Man Island had been increasing recently. If the two were exposed, it would likely bring disaster to the island.
At the Fish-Man Island's immigration dock, Sakura stepped onto a speedboat and said goodbye to Tiger.
"I'm off, Uncle Tiger. Let's skip the sentimental stuff. See you on the seas!"
Farewells between those bound for the sea are always this simple and clear. As long as both still draw breath, the vast seas will eventually bring everyone together again.
"Yeah, once I've settled the others from the Fish-Man District, I'll be setting sail soon too."
"Don't get caught by the World Government. And, see you on the seas!"
Fisher Tiger laughed, raising both hands high to wave at Sakura.
The coated ship slowly sailed out of the dock. For the first time, Sakura saw the incredible miracle island in its entirety.
Her Observation Haki enveloped everything, wanting to etch this scene deeply into her heart, when it suddenly touched another gentle will.
Sakura looked up and saw Otohime sitting in the newly opened school on Fish-Man Island, silently waving goodbye to her.
"So wonderful. I wonder how many such encounters are waiting for me on the seas."
Making a fist and a cheering gesture towards the other, Sakura turned and raised the speedboat's sail.
"Set sail!
[Oh~]
"Hahaha, System, you!
The coated ship headed into the deep sea, towards Sakura's first destination on her journey around the four seas… the North Blue.
The sky in the North Blue was clear, but a white line sped across the sea's surface.
Because below the surface, the speedboat built by Fish-Man Island's best shipwright, Dan, was sailing at extremely high speed.
This speedboat, named 'Leviathan' by Sakura, was entirely crafted from the fallen roots of the Sunlight Tree Eve. Its biggest feature was possessing the Sunlight Tree's living characteristics!
Paired with the small coating device Dan installed on it, the ship could generate its own coating without needing a technician's help.
This way, during the voyage, whether diving or floating could be easily done.
"I wonder how many points it would cost to take a ship like this back..."
Sakura, leaning on the speedboat's deck chair, flipped through the Fish-Man Karate's records she obtained from Ryugu Palace.
Her other hand was connected to the ship's power system, converting thermal energy into mechanical energy through her Odo Odo no Mi's ability to propel the ship forward.
[Host request detected. Item valuation in progress...]
[Notice: Transporting this vessel requires 800 Achievement Points!]
[Additionally, Achievement unlocked: Liberator. Achievement Points obtained: 600]
[Current balance: 600]
"Huh? Wrong! System, you bastard, you stole my points?!"
[Please do not slander this System. This System never steals host Achievement Points!]
Then where are the 400 achievement points I had left before?!
[Initiating scene replay!]
A faint light lit up before Sakura's eyes. The image froze on the moment during her fight with Saturn when she roared, "System, activate Heavenly Phenomenon Descent!"
[Explanation: The usage cost of Heavenly Phenomenon Descent is 100 achievement points per minute. The host used it for 4 minutes and 11 seconds. After rounding down, 410 achievement points were deducted.]
"Hey, so I should thank you, right?!"
[You're welcome.]
Just as Sakura was bickering with the system, a large ship suddenly appeared at the end of the sea route.
[Notice...]
"Yeah, I know!"
Sakura's observation Haki abruptly expanded, swelling several kilometers in an instant, capturing the ship far at the edge of her vision.
The distant scene instantly became clear. The ship sailing on the sea surface came into her view.
The most eye-catching thing, of course, was the pattern on its sail.
A skull pattern, with three scars over the left eye, and two crossed blades behind it.
"Oh, an old friend is here!"
Sakura put one foot on the gunwale, looking quite triumphant.
On the distant sea surface, aboard the pirate ship named Red Force.
The Red Hair Pirates' sniper, Yasopp, also sensed the speedboat. He turned his head teasingly and shouted towards the cabin: "Hey, Shanks! There's a young pink-haired girl driving a speedboat approaching underwater!"
Thump, thump, thump!!
Urgent footsteps echoed from the cabin. The man, who had been somewhat hungover, was now completely sober, his face full of surprise and delight.
"Oh~"
The Red Hair Pirates crew let out teasing calls.
"Shut up, all of you!"
Shanks, clenching his fists, turned around and roared at them with shark-like teeth.
But this didn't frighten his crew. The only serious one, Benn Beckman, asked for the plan: "So, what should we do?"
"What do you think? Bring the ship alongside!"
Shanks yelled at the helmsman. The entire pirate ship began to turn, heading straight for the speedboat.
The two vessels drew closer, the distance between them quickly shrinking to less than a hundred meters. Then, the submerged speedboat broke through the sea's surface.
The man, carrying his famed sword, Gryphon and draped in a black cloak, stood at the prow, looking down at the girl below.
"Hey! Former crew member of the Pirate King, Witch of Ohara, Liberator of Slaves… Haruno Sakura-sama! May I ask if you would become my right hand?"
The man, filled with heroic laughter, completely ignored the jeers from his crew behind him and issued his invitation.
Hearing his words, Benn Beckman beside him even covered his forehead, taking deep drags from his cigarette to alleviate his headache.
"Sorry, but I hate having my journey interrupted, Shanks!"
Her spirit not one bit inferior, Sakura crossed her arms and declined the invitation.
"Is that so? What a pity then..."
In both their pupils, a rainbow light of Observation Haki flashed.
"But Sakura! I am a pirate. Treasure placed before a pirate will be plundered!"
Saying this, he drew the named sword Gryphon from his waist. Shanks then leaped down from the ship.
"Got quite arrogant after not seeing you for a few years, haven't you? If you can do it, then come and try!"
Thermal currents wrapped around her hands. A storm greatsword took form, and Sakura leaped high from the speedboat.
Boom!
Two beams of intense light collided abruptly without warning. A torrent wreathed in black lightning scattered the two ships.
On the Red Force, the fat man, Lucky Roux, was pressed against the mast by the gale, one hand firmly holding down his bandana.
"Hey, I thought Captain had a thing for her? What's this situation?!"
Baffled, he raised his voice to ask the vice-captain beside him.
"This might be the reason he can't win her over..."
Leaning against the mast, hand steadying his cigarette, Benn Beckman let out a helpless sigh.
'That guy's head is full of fighting. But who chases girls like this?'
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Deafening roars continuously came from the center of the sea. Then, a chilling cold shot into the sky, turning the entire sea area snow-white.
Shanks and Sakura stood in the center of the snowy plain, swords drawn, facing each other.
"Your strength has improved quite a bit, no wonder you could break in there and retreat unscathed!"
Shanks' empty hand slightly covered a mark on his sword-wielding left arm.
"However, if this is all you've got, then be good and come aboard my ship today!"
Shanks swung his long sword. An extremely fine, long, sharp, and intense sliver of sword light flew from the blade's tip. The path of the slash was virtually impossible to observe, arriving before Sakura as if by magic.
"You've become quite the talker, Shanks. But well~ have it back!"
The storm greatsword in Sakura's hands plunged into the ground. She accelerated the thermal cycle on the blade to its extreme, forming a rapidly spinning vortex.
Shanks' flying slash was swallowed the moment it touched the sword's body. Then, guided by the thermal currents, it was slashed back out from Sakura's long sword.
"Tch!"
Shanks's Observation Haki warned him. His entire body twisted to the side. After the flying slash passed, the iceberg behind him was cleanly cut in two.
"Your ability is heat manipulation, right? What is this?!"
Realizing he couldn't use flying slashes, Shanks could only advance with Gryphon to engage Sakura in close combat.
Countless black lightning bolts erupted from around Shanks. The sharp long sword, carrying a keen edge capable of severing steel, whistled as it came!
"Of course, it's the power of knowledge! Ha ha ha!"
Sakura laughed loudly as she pulled the storm greatsword from the ice. Simultaneously, a cluster of flames ignited within the vortex.
This was her Devil Fruit's development after the battle with Saturn, based on the application of his venomous needle ability.
Instantly, the flow of thermal energy cycled and transformed. The sword body, amidst illusory light, rose with a burning Möbius strip. The blade's edge radiated the purest light and heat.
[High-Temperature Mode: Rising Flame Torch]
The deluge was like a tide. Rampant flames rose, swallowing Shanks in an instant.
The terrifying heat, almost endless, continued to climb. Even the ice surface Sakura herself had created began to emit vapor. The crew on the large ship frozen in the ice in the distance cried out in alarm:
"Captain-!"