The silence that followed the withdrawal of the Haki was deafening. It wasn't a peaceful silence, but the heavy, ringing quiet that follows a thunderclap.
The students didn't move immediately. They stayed frozen, their heads slowly turning toward the source of that power. Their vision was still hazy, the edges of their sight blurred from the mental strain, but as their eyes cleared, they all landed on the same vision: a woman sitting regally upon a throne made of a coiled serpent, idly curling a lock of her hair.
A collective, audible gulp traveled through the crowd like a wave.
At the serving stations, a soft clink was heard. Sanji, who had been mid-motion, had turned into literal stone. His petrified face wore a look of pure, frozen ecstasy. Beside him, the rest of the boys felt a heat rise to their cheeks; a deep blush spread across the room as they took in her unworldly face and alluring silhouette.
Bakugo was the first to break the spell. His shoulders were shaking, not from fear, but from a pride that refused to be quelled. He was stunned for a long moment, his eyes wide, before a little push of adrenaline forced a shout from his throat.
"YOU!" he barked, his voice cracking the silence. "How dare you look down on me!" He wanted to say more—wanted to hurl insults or threats—but the words died in his throat. Even his rage was momentarily muted by her presence.
Boa Hancock didn't even grant him a glance. She continued to toy with her hair, her eyes looking past him as if he were a speck of dust.
"Don't you dare ignore me!" Bakugo snarled, stepping forward until Izuku reached out, gripping his sleeve. "Hey, calm down, Kacchan..." Izuku whispered, his own face pale. "Shut it, Deku! I'll blow her away!"
Nearby, the girls—Momo, Kendo Camie, Yui, Shiozaki, Yanagi, and Nejire—were silent for a different reason. They weren't just intimidated; they were mesmerized. The thought that someone could be that beautiful and that powerful at the same time left them breathless.
Luffy, however, seemed to have already forgotten the pressure. He felt the aura, he acknowledged it, and then he let it go. To him, the stomach was louder than any Haki. He slumped back onto the table, his limbs like rubber. "Hey... where's the delivery guy? Come on, I'm hungry..."
His voice acted like a tether, pulling Ace and Sabo back to reality. They looked at their younger brother and laughed, the sound breaking the last of the tension. "Hahahaha! Yeah, right!
Where's the guy in yellow? We need food!"
Smoker let out a long, weary cloud of smoke, shaking his head at the brothers' antics. Zoro, meanwhile, slowly eased the tension in his arm, letting his hand fall from the hilt of his katana. "Conqueror's Haki, huh?" he muttered to himself, his gaze shifting to his blades as if measuring his own soul against that power.
Shoto, Mirio, and Yoarashi stood in a small pocket of silence. "The power of a king," they each whispered, the words carrying a weight they hadn't understood until this moment. Momo Yaoyorozu clenched her fist so hard her knuckles turned white. "So this is it... Conqueror's Haki." Kendo stood beside her, nodding slowly. "Yes. The real thing."
Sengoku stepped forward, his boots clicking rhythmically as he moved to center stage. He clapped his hands once—a sharp, commanding sound. "Now," he said, his voice dropping into a serious register. "Let us focus on the reason you are truly here."
The room settled. Even Luffy stopped knocking on the petrified Sanji's head to listen.
"You were selected by your academies not for a trophy or a title," Sengoku said, his eyes scanning the room. "This is not a competition. It is about potential. It is about the strength of your will."
The word Potential hung in the air. The students looked at one another, the competitive fire in their eyes being replaced by a deep curiosity.
"Fifteen years ago," Sengoku continued, "a storm birthed a mysterious island. It remains undiscovered, locked away by violent waters and impossible weather. But the climate has shifted. It is stable enough to venture into... but we are not going alone."
He paused, letting the weight of his words sink in. "A legend has been revealed to us."
"A legend?" the students whispered.
Sengoku turned and gestured toward Nico Robin. She stood up gracefully, her blue eyes calm. "Hello, everyone. I am Nico Robin... from Ohara."
The mention of Ohara caused a ripple of murmurs. They knew the reputation of that place—the clan that held the keys to the history of the twin worlds.
"A century ago," Robin began, her voice smooth and melodic, "a petrified scroll was found in our hometown. For a hundred years, it was nothing but a silent stone. But the moment that island emerged, the scroll woke up. It revealed a prophecy—one that could reshape the very foundations of our worlds."
She looked at the young faces, her expression somber. "The scroll tells of a Devil Fruit born in the heart of that island. Not an ordinary fruit. An Origin Devil Fruit—one that has never been claimed since the beginning of time."
The room was so quiet you could hear the flickering of the lights. Shoto Todoroki was the one to break it. "Are you saying... one of us is meant to claim it?"
"Yes," All Might interjected, his voice uncharacteristically soft but firm. "That is why you were gathered. Because of your potential."
Tsuru nodded. "The 'New Borns' mentioned in the scroll are your generation. You are the era the prophecy spoke of."
Smoker leaned forward, his brow furrowed. "Isn't that a death sentence? Two devils in one body... they'll fight until the user explodes."
"Not this fruit," Robin corrected him. "Because it is an Origin, it does not follow the cycle of reincarnation. It belongs to no one yet. But that means the power inside is wild. It will only answer to a will that can dominate it.
A heavy sense of responsibility settled over the students. They weren't just going on a trip; they were going to prevent a catastrophe.
"If our plan fails," Garp said, his usual smile gone, "and evil takes that fruit first... the disaster that follows will be one we cannot fix."
"We leave this afternoon," Sengoku announced, his voice echoing. "Prepare yourselves, youngsters. The world is waiting."
Luffy broke the tension with a sudden leap. "Hahahaha! Let's go! Let's go see it!"
His excitement acted as a spark. Bakugo smirked, sparks popping in his palms. "I'll show you, Straw Hat. My will is second to none." "No, mine is!" Yoarashi boomed. "Please," Monoma laughed, though his eyes were sharp. "Let a real main character show you how it's done."
The competitive spirit returned, but it was different now—it was fueled by a shared mission. Zoro adjusted his swords, his face a mask of iron. Killer rotated his sickles, and Eustass Kid slammed his fist into the table. "I'll be the one to take it!"
Shoto and Tamaki shared a silent nod. Mirio flashed a bright smile at Nejire, who was tilting her head at the sheer energy of the room. Tashigi, Coby, and Hibari stood tall, their faces resolute. "Never let the evil claim it.
In the corner, Hiyori sat beside Shirahoshi and Vivi. "Are you also here for a mission?" "You too?" Vivi asked. "Me too!" Shirahoshi added. "Well," Nico Robin interrupted, noticing Nami and Boa Hancock watching them, "it seems we are all bound for the same goal."
The teachers looked on with pride. "The future," All Might said, and Nighteye gave a nod, "belongs to the one with the strongest will."