One Piece: SSS-Rank Haki at Age Seventeen

At the entrance of Fish-Man Island's outer bubble membrane, even the ocean currents seemed to stiffen beneath the solemn atmosphere.

Rows upon rows of Ryugu Kingdom soldiers stood in formation behind the rainbow-colored water curtain.

The armored Fish-Man warriors rode massive deep-sea beasts fitted with saddles and armor, while the sharp edges of their tridents gleamed coldly beneath the searchlights.

Behind them, giant seahorses and armored sharks slowly patrolled the waters, releasing streams of heavy bubbles from their gills.

The tides surged.

King Neptune's enormous body stood like an immovable deep-sea cliff. His orange-red curly hair and thick beard drifted through the currents like blazing fire.

The flame tattoos on his arms flexed alongside his muscles, as though they might burst into real flames at any moment.

In his grasp rested an ancient golden trident.

Though its tip pointed slightly downward, it still radiated the overwhelming authority of a weapon capable of splitting apart the crushing pressure of the deep sea.

Floating quietly beside him were the three princes:

Prince Fukaboshi held a heavy trident, his expression cold as reef stone.

Prince Ryuboshi crossed his arms over his chest, blue hair drifting like seaweed.

Prince Manboshi curled himself nervously inside a giant shell, his round eyes darting cautiously around.

But the most eye-catching figure stood just ahead and to Neptune's left—

Jinbe.

The blue whale shark Fish-Man wore a traditional kimono, his hands resting naturally at his sides.

His weathered eyes quietly pierced through the dark seawater as he watched the Thousand Sunny approaching from afar.

"His Majesty came personally… the three princes are here too, and even Boss Jinbe showed up!"

A young guard lowered his voice while the sea beast beneath him flicked its tail nervously.

"With a reception like this… could it be the Celestial Dragons? Or perhaps a fleet from the highest ranks of the World Government?"

"Idiot."

At the front of the formation, a veteran soldier with a captain's insignia engraved into his shell-like armor spoke without turning his head.

His hoarse voice mixed with the bubbling seawater.

"Didn't you notice the flags flying above Ryugu Palace?"

He tilted his chin upward toward the distant palace spires barely visible through the bubble membrane.

Several flags bearing the Straw Hat skull emblem fluttered proudly in the artificial breeze.

Silence instantly spread through the ranks.

Only the distant songs of deep-sea whales echoed through the water.

"Is that person… really coming?"

The young guard's voice trembled uncontrollably—not from fear, but from excitement akin to reverence.

The veteran gave no answer.

He merely brushed his hand slowly across an old scar on his chestplate… a wound earned long ago while driving away slave traders.

His gaze swept across every young and old face in the formation.

Across the peaceful lights glowing within the bubble membrane.

Across the mermaid children laughing and swimming through rainbow bridges.

Across the schools of fish drifting lazily through coral forests.

Everything had changed over the last three months.

Ever since that flag had been raised.

The slave traders who once infested the back alleys had vanished without a trace.

Pirates who extorted protection money no longer dared approach the island.

Cases labeled "Missing Mermaids" had fallen to the lowest number seen in over a century.

Most of them had only seen that smiling face in the headlines of the World Economy News—

The wide grin beneath a straw hat.

The burning eyes of the rubber man.

But throughout every tavern, kitchen, and flag-lined street on Fish-Man Island…

The name "Straw Hat Luffy" had become a promise stronger than Seastone itself.

"Remember this—"

The veteran's voice was soft, yet every guard heard it clearly.

"The one arriving today is not a Celestial Dragon."

"Nor one of the Five Elders."

He paused, staring toward the glowing ship drawing ever closer.

At the bow, the silhouette of a straw hat was already visible.

"He's the man who finally allowed this deep sea… to breathe again."

At the very front of the formation, King Neptune slowly raised his golden trident.

Its tip pointed toward the entrance passage.

The currents shifted immediately.

Rainbow-colored water spread outward like a welcoming carpet.

Jinbe swam half a step forward.

The corners of his usually stern mouth lifted ever so slightly.

They had arrived.

Their Emperor of the Sea.

"JINBE!! LONG TIME NO SEE—!!!"

Luffy's voice echoed through the seawater and bubble membrane, sounding distant yet full of joy.

Jinbe opened his eyes, a warm smile spreading across his face.

"You're still the same as ever, Luffy-boy."

A smile appeared on Neptune's face as well.

"You have traveled a long way, honored guests. Please, join us at Ryugu Palace."

With that, he ordered the guards to open the entrance passage and personally escorted the Straw Hat Pirates into Fish-Man Island.

The instant the barrier disengaged, Sanji transformed into a spinning cloud of heart-shaped smoke.

"THIS REALLY IS HEAVEN—!!!"

His voice still echoed through the air long after he had already vanished down a coral pathway leading toward Mermaid Cove.

Only a fading sentence drifted back behind him:

"Don't worry about me~~ I'll definitely make it to Ryugu Palace before the banquet~~~"

"That damn perverted kappa…"

Zoro pressed a hand against his sword hilt, a vein bulging on his forehead.

"He's so horny he'd throw away his life for it."

"Well, can you blame him?"

Luffy grinned while stretching his arms lazily.

"This place is basically Sanji's All Blue!"

Suddenly remembering something, he turned toward the other men aboard the ship.

"You guys aren't going too? I heard Mermaid Cove's filled with suuuper pretty and friendly mermaids!"

Usopp's nose twitched slightly.

"Ahem… as the crew's sniper, gathering terrain intel is naturally my responsibility."

He straightened his belt with a serious expression.

"Leave it to me, Luffy! I'll drag that lovestruck cook back myself!"

"Yohohohoho~ In that case, please allow me to accompany you!"

Brook gracefully adjusted the brim of his hat.

The empty sockets of his skull seemed to sparkle.

"After all… this may be the only chance in my life to witness a mermaid lady's panties in person!"

Two suspicious blush marks somehow appeared on his skeletal cheeks.

"Captain, I'll move independently."

Before anyone could respond, Law had already leapt over the railing.

Kikoku's sheath carved a cold arc through the rainbow light.

"We'll regroup before dinner."

"Yeah, yeah, go ahead already."

Luffy waved them off like a farmer shooing chickens.

"Just don't bother the mermaids too much, okay? After all, everyone on this ship's a bunch of hot-blooded…"

He deliberately dragged out the final words while pointing one by one at the flustered Usopp, the humming Brook, and Law pretending not to care.

"—single young men."

The last four words carried an extremely meaningful tone.

All three stumbled simultaneously before disappearing into different directions among the coral pathways while grumbling curses.

"Hey, Zoro."

Luffy elbowed the swordsman beside him.

"You seriously aren't going? We're talking about mermaids here!"

Zoro couldn't even be bothered opening his eyes.

"Already saw Camie once. One look's enough."

He folded his arms and leaned back against a barrel.

"With that kind of free time, I'd rather swing my swords twenty thousand more times."

Luffy froze for a moment before immediately giving him a solemn thumbs-up.

"Amazing! Empty your heart of women and your sword becomes divine!!"

"No wonder you're gonna become the world's greatest swordsman!"

Zoro's mouth twitched.

"…Where the hell did you even learn sayings like that?"

Meanwhile, Robin elegantly adjusted her sunhat.

"Chopper and I are going to the Sea Forest. I heard there are ancient inscriptions from Fish-Man Island preserved there."

"W-Wait for me, Robin!"

Chopper hurried after her.

"I heard the coral here has amazing effects on bone regeneration…"

"SUUUPER— opportunity!"

Franky's mechanical arms transformed loudly with a series of clanks.

"The Sea Forest's where my master Tom's younger brother Den lives! I've gotta go pay him a visit!"

The three left together.

"Then I'll go visit Papagu for a while~"

Nami spun a gold coin around her fingertip, smiling sweetly.

"His fashion store probably needs a stylish consultant, right? And I can check up on Camie too~"

Her departing figure practically radiated Berriessymbols.

The deck suddenly felt empty.

Luffy looked around.

Uta stood beside him happily humming a song while holding his arm.

Yamato leaned against her kanabo, glancing around uncertainly with a "Where am I supposed to go?" expression.

Zoro had already fallen asleep against a barrel, entering standby mode almost instantly.

"Uh…"

The Straw Hat captain scratched his cheek awkwardly.

"So in the end it's just us heading to Ryugu Palace?"

Neptune's royal procession had already reached the palace entrance while Jinbe's hearty laughter echoed through the water.

"Luffy-boy! The banquet's already prepared!!"

Luffy immediately forgot the question entirely as his rubber arm shot forward.

"MEATTTT—!!! JINBE, I'M COMING—!!!"

His excited shouting startled a swarm of glowing jellyfish into the water like scattered stars celebrating the crew's chaotic arrival.

◇ BONUS & SUPPORT ◇

◇ 1 bonus chapter for every 10 reviews — drop a comment!

◇ 1 bonus chapter for every 100 Power Stones.

◇ Read 70 chapters ahead on P@treon → /Chakraflow789