One Piece: SSS-Rank Haki at Age Seventeen

Inside the dim great hall of the ancient castle, the damp air carried the scent of aged wood and faint wine.

The fire in the fireplace flickered quietly, casting long shadows of the two men across the stone walls.

Dracule Mihawk and Roronoa Zoro sat facing each other across a heavy oak table. Upon it rested only two crystal wine glasses, crimson liquid gently swirling within them.

Perona floated nearby in boredom, ghosts drifting around her. Her pink parasol dress looked utterly out of place within the cold and severe castle.

Puffing her cheeks, she glanced left at the silent, gloomy swordsman calmly drinking wine, then right at the green-haired idiot staring so seriously at his wine glass it looked like he was studying swordsmanship through it.

Her lips curled even further in annoyance.

Yet despite her complaints, the heavy atmosphere lingering in the air—the unmistakable feeling of farewell—made her swallow back her grumbling.

Neither of these men was someone the Ghost Princess could casually throw a tantrum at.

"You've begun to find your own 'path.'"

Mihawk finally broke the silence.

He didn't look at Zoro. His golden hawk-like eyes remained fixed on the swirling red wine in his glass, his voice low and sharp, every word polished like a black blade.

"Demonic aura and Haki. Protection and slaughter. You're attempting to unite contradictory powers."

He paused and slowly took a sip of wine.

"Remember this. True strength does not come from eliminating contradictions."

"It comes from mastering them—and making them serve you."

"Just like the finest swordsmithing. Only by fusing different steels together can one forge a Supreme Grade Blade."

He gently set the glass down with a crisp clink before finally turning his gaze toward Zoro.

That stare felt almost tangible.

"The New World is a nest of monsters. Devil Fruit abilities come in endless varieties. But no matter what kind of enemy stands before you, the foundation of a swordsman never changes."

Mihawk traced a line across the tabletop with one finger.

"Perceive the essence… then cut it down."

"Your eyes, your heart, and your blade must all reach that level."

His tone sharpened with warning.

"Your sword must not only cut steel."

"One day, it must cut through the intangible itself—fire, lightning… even the threads called 'fate' that bind people and nations alike."

Zoro tightened his grip around the hilt at his waist.

The cold touch grounded him.

He raised his head silently and looked at the man before him—the man he had only spent a few months with, yet who had shaped his swordsmanship more deeply than anyone else in his life.

Dracule Mihawk.

Cold as ice upon a solitary peak.

Proud as a hawk overlooking the world below.

Powerful enough to inspire despair.

And yet it was also Mihawk who had spared him when he lay defeated and dying.

Who had trained him relentlessly on this lonely island.

Who had hammered and tempered him like stubborn steel through the harshest, most effective methods imaginable.

Without Mihawk's guidance, there would be no reborn Roronoa Zoro standing here today.

Silence flowed between them once more, broken only by the crackling fireplace.

Zoro's throat moved slightly.

In the end, he said nothing dramatic—no grand declaration, no lengthy thanks.

He simply nodded heavily.

Like a vow.

"I'll remember that."

Mihawk seemed to expect nothing more.

He tilted his head slightly toward Perona, who was floating around trying—and failing—to entertain herself with her Negative Hollows.

"Then, little girl," he said flatly, "see him off."

"Huh?! Me?!"

Perona shot upward like a cat whose tail had been stepped on, hands planted on her hips.

"Why should I?! This moss-head swordsman is boring, insensitive, and he used to be our enemy!"

"He's so dumb he'd probably get lost in the forest and wander into some weird island by accident!"

"I don't need you to escort me," Zoro said indifferently. "I can get there myself."

He didn't even bother reacting to her complaints.

Standing up cleanly, he drained the remaining wine in one gulp and set the glass down with a dull thud.

Then he turned and walked straight toward the castle gates without hesitation.

Seeing this, Mihawk's usually unreadable expression twitched almost imperceptibly.

He pressed two fingers against his forehead.

Over the past few months, he had gone from doubting Zoro's catastrophic sense of direction… to testing it… to finally accepting it in helpless disbelief.

Letting this idiot travel alone to the rendezvous point?

The next news headline would probably read:

"Mysterious Master Swordsman Appears in the North Blue."

Mihawk sighed quietly.

Then he rose to his feet, black coat falling behind him.

He picked up Yoru and slung the Supreme Grade Blade across his back with practiced ease.

"I happen to be free," he said casually, as though merely taking a stroll.

"I'll come along."

After all, he couldn't allow the disciple he personally trained and acknowledged to become stranded at sea before even stepping onto the stage of the new era.

Swordsmanship could be taught.

Technique could be demonstrated.

But this hopeless lack of direction engraved into Zoro's soul…

Perhaps even that was a kind of "fate" that no blade could sever.

Mihawk stepped forward, following after the green-haired swordsman who had already begun hesitating at the first fork in the corridor.

Off the coast of Kuraigana Island, beneath a gloomy sky—

The small coffin-shaped boat floated silently atop the lead-gray sea.

No sails.

No oars.

It resembled a drifting coffin upon the ocean itself, radiating the same solitude and pride as its owner.

Zoro had already jumped aboard, arms crossed as the sea breeze stirred his green hair.

He glanced toward the pink figure awkwardly floating over and smirked faintly.

"Hm?"

"Aren't you the one who said you weren't coming?"

Perona instantly exploded like a cat with its tail stepped on again.

Her face turned bright red as she pointed accusingly at him.

"T-That's because all of you are leaving!"

"The creepy castle's going to become completely empty!"

"It'll just be me and those stupid baboons left behind!"

"You two cold-hearted sword freaks seriously don't have a shred of sympathy!"

"Do you even know what gentlemanly behavior is?!"

The more she complained, the angrier she became.

Even her Negative Hollows drooped weakly around her.

"If it weren't for—hmph!"

She swallowed the rest of her threat.

After all, neither the moss-head swordsman nor the terrifying man at the bow was someone her ghost pranks could handle.

"Tch."

Zoro snorted dismissively and stopped arguing with her.

His gaze shifted forward.

Mihawk stood at the bow facing the endless sea, unmoving like a figurehead carved into the ship itself.

It was as though he could sense the currents and wind with his entire being.

Zoro frowned and looked around the absurdly bare boat.

Aside from the cramped coffin-like cabin, there was practically nothing aboard.

"Hey, Mihawk."

He asked the obvious question.

"This junk boat has no sail and no oars."

"What, are we just drifting all the way to the Sabaody Archipelago?"

There wasn't much concern in his voice.

Mostly curiosity.

Mihawk slowly opened his sharp golden eyes.

Without turning around, he casually rested one hand on the hilt of Yoru.

"Brace yourselves."

Three calm words.

Yet utterly unquestionable.

The instant they fell—

HUMMMMM—!!!

A deep sword hum erupted from the black blade.

Before Yoru had even fully left its sheath, a concentrated emerald-green aura wrapped around it like a compressed storm.

Mihawk casually swung backward.

The motion was effortless.

Like brushing dust from his shoulder.

BOOOOOOM—!!!!!

A gigantic crescent-shaped slash exploded outward from the blade like a roaring sea dragon awakening from the deep.

The slash skimmed directly across the ocean behind the boat.

The instant it touched the sea—

An unbelievably violent propulsion force erupted.

The coffin boat shot forward as if struck by an invisible giant hand from behind.

Its bow lifted sharply—

Then the vessel blasted across the ocean like a cannon shell.

Towering walls of white water exploded along both sides as hurricane-force winds tore across the deck.

"KYAAAAAAAH—!!!"

Perona screamed instantly.

The terrifying acceleration—faster than ordinary ships and comparable to a high-speed speedboat—nearly hurled her off the vessel.

She scrambled desperately to cling onto the side of the boat, her tiny body fluttering like a pink leaf in the storm.

"S-Slow down!! The ship's gonna fall apart!!"

Mihawk remained standing calmly at the bow.

Even amid the violent turbulence and raging wind, his body did not move an inch.

His black coat streamed behind him in a perfect line while his hair whipped wildly.

The moment the ship accelerated, Zoro rooted himself firmly to the deck like an iron pillar.

The powerful muscles in his core completely neutralized the brutal force.

The violent sea wind battered his face, whipping his green hair wildly as his open coat flapped loudly.

Yet instead of discomfort—

Excitement flashed in his eye.

He gripped the hilt of Wado Ichimonji and felt the familiar steadiness of the blade.

As he gazed toward the endless horizon, blazing emotion surged within his chest.

'Wait for me, Luffy.'

The sea breeze carried his silent vow into the distance.

'This time… my swords will never let anyone steal our future again.'

On Karakuri Island, Baldimore—

The island remained buried beneath endless blizzards.

Yet deep within its interior, inside a massive dome-shaped laboratory built from reinforced alloy and special glass, warmth filled the air like spring.

The scent of machine oil, scorched metal, and cola lingered throughout the room.

"Pshhhh—"

Franky leaned back in his chair and drained the final drop of cola from his bottle.

Hydraulic sounds clicked contentedly within his metallic arm.

On the holographic screen before him, the final stream of data finished scrolling.

After three months—

The super project was finally complete.

"SUUUPERRRRR!!!"

Franky leapt to his feet with arms spread wide, his absurd hairstyle nearly scraping the ceiling.

His voice overflowed with mechanical excitement and pride.

"After three nonstop months of ultimate modifications!"

"Combining Dr. Vegapunk's futuristic technology concepts…"

"The inspiration from the Ancient Weapon Pluton blueprints…"

"And the captain's insanely generous funding…"

Franky grinned as he remembered the mountain of Berries Luffy had shoved into his hands with sparkling eyes.

"The all-new ultimate Thousand Sunny Mk. II… is finally complete!"

He pounded his chest proudly.

"I, Franky, guarantee it!"

"With its current performance, any so-called top-tier battleship in this era will suffer—"

He dramatically slammed one hand downward.

"A COMPLETE DIMENSIONAL CURBSTOMP!"

"Luffy's definitely gonna lose his mind when he sees this!"

Franky grinned widely, imitating Luffy's iconic smile.

"Because men stay boys until the day they die! SUUUPERRRR!!!"

Unable to wait any longer, he rushed aboard the dream ship resting within the special dock.

The deck felt warm and sturdy beneath his feet.

Passing through the familiar lawn area, he entered the completely redesigned cockpit.

The old steering wheel and instruments were gone.

In their place stood curved holographic displays, tactile control levers, and glowing blue energy consoles.

Franky inhaled deeply.

Even with his cyborg body, he could feel his heartbeat accelerating.

He extended a thick metallic finger toward the central ignition button glowing with blue energy.

"The storms of the New World…"

"The mystery of the Ancient Weapons…"

"And the final sea itself…"

Determination flashed in his eyes.

Then—

He slammed the button.

VVVVMMMMMM—!!!

The deep roar that followed did not come from an engine.

It came from the entire ship resonating from within.

The deck trembled slightly as special coatings rippled with flowing light.

Every display in the cockpit illuminated at once, data streams cascading endlessly.

Deep within the ship, the heavily upgraded cola-powered energy system activated at full capacity.

Golden cola compressed into massive amounts of high-purity energy, surging through newly redesigned conduits into every corner of the Sunny.

BZTTT—!!

Brilliant blue arcs erupted along the keel like living lightning, rapidly spreading across the ship until the Thousand Sunny was wrapped in a glowing blue-white aura.

The air filled with ozone and humming energy.

The next moment—

The dock ceiling silently opened.

Freezing blizzard winds rushed inward, only to be repelled by the ship's energy field.

Wrapped in crackling blue electricity, the Thousand Sunny transformed into a streak of blue light and blasted skyward from the frozen wastelands of Baldimore.

It tore through the snowstorm.

Pierced the clouds.

And left behind a blazing trail across the pale sky as it sped toward the island of bubbles, mangroves, and dreams—

The Sabaody Archipelago.

At the same time—

Across every corner of the world—

The warriors of the Straw Hat Pirates answered an unseen call.

From every sea and every island, they began moving toward their promised meeting place once again.

New strength.

New resolve.

The same unbreakable bond.

And beneath the brilliant bubbles of Sabaody—

A new voyage was about to begin once more.

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