One Piece: SSS-Rank Haki at Age Seventeen

Outside Fish-Man Island, within a lightless abyssal trench deep beneath the sea…

A ghost ship drifted silently through the darkness.

Its hull was so rotten it resembled a giant skeleton, tangled with decayed seaweed and cloaked in an ominous aura.

Inside the cabin, Vander Decken IX was spiraling deeper into madness.

"Still nothing… not even a single reply…"

He suddenly raised his head. Bloodshot eyes gleamed beneath his messy hair, overflowing with obsessive fanaticism.

"Ah… Shirahoshi! My Shirahoshi!"

He spread his arms wide and roared into the void, his voice echoing through the empty cabin like the cry of a night owl.

"You are the greatest treasure born from the deep sea! The only light in this world of darkness! We were destined for each other! Can't you feel the resonance between our souls?!"

One moment he clutched his chest dramatically, his tone twisting into a theatrical lament.

"I love you with all my heart, every single day, every single moment! This love is deeper than the abyss and fiercer than the ocean currents!"

But in the next instant, his expression twisted completely.

The tenderness vanished, leaving behind only the madness and paranoia forged through ten years of obsession.

"Ten years! A whole ten years!! Yet you won't even spare me a single word!"

His voice became shrill, overflowing with resentment and possessiveness.

"I won't allow it! I refuse to let any man get close to you! No one is worthy of you!"

"Of course, mutual love would be ideal… but if you continue refusing to come to my side… if you dare leave the Hard-Shell Tower and escape my 'protection'…"

His eyes turned ice-cold.

"Then, my dear… there are only two endings awaiting you."

"You become my bride and remain with me forever in this eternal deep sea…"

"Or you die."

"This is the final… and only… mercy and love I can offer you, Shirahoshi!"

His deranged monologue ended abruptly as he turned toward the shadows in the cabin and barked an order.

"Wadatsumi! Stop standing there like an idiot and move! We're heading to Noah! The time has come!"

"Yes, Captain Decken!!"

A gigantic figure with an absurdly disproportionate head hurriedly answered from the darkness.

Trying to appear enthusiastic, he immediately punched the innocent anglerfish beside him that had been illuminating the cabin with the glowing lure on its head.

"Light the way properly, you useless glowing sack!"

The anglerfish reeled from the hit, stars spinning in its eyes as its tiny lantern shook violently in fear.

Yet it didn't dare protest.

It could only emit a pitiful glow, illuminating the murky seawater ahead.

Deep within Ryugu Palace, inside the enormous chamber of the Hard-Shell Tower…

Shirahoshi leaned slightly forward, her crystal-clear blue eyes moving repeatedly between the treasured bounty poster on the table and the living person standing before her.

"It… it really is Lord Luffy!"

After finally confirming it, excitement overflowed from her voice.

The tip of her pink mermaid tail swayed unconsciously, splashing gentle ripples of water.

"Though… though your hair was white in the picture, so you look a little different now!"

"So why do you know me anyway?"

Luffy scratched the back of his head, still looking puzzled.

"Because Father said Lord Luffy is Fish-Man Island's great hero! The savior who protected everyone!"

Shirahoshi's eyes sparkled with pure admiration.

"And when Megalo went outside, he told me there are pictures and statues of you all over the island!"

The more she spoke, the happier she became.

Her enormous pink tail swayed cheerfully in midair.

Her breathtakingly beautiful face was filled with innocent admiration and childlike wonder toward the "hero" she had dreamed about.

"Oh… I see."

Luffy still looked a little confused, but after thinking about it for a second, he accepted it without much concern.

His attention quickly shifted toward the mountain of luxurious food stacked in the corner of the room.

"Then I'm digging in!"

He dashed over in an instant, grabbing a massive roasted sea beast leg and tearing into it.

"Shaaa~!!"

Megalo, who had been curled up asleep nearby, woke immediately from the smell of food and the noise.

Seeing Luffy, the shark happily swam over and affectionately rubbed against him.

"Yo, big shark!"

Luffy greeted him with cheeks stuffed full of meat, though his arms instinctively wrapped protectively around the food pile.

"I'm happy to see you too, but this food's all mine! Don't steal any!"

"Eh?"

Shirahoshi lightly covered her mouth in surprise.

"Lord Luffy can understand what Megalo is saying too?"

A faint blush appeared on her face, seemingly excited by yet another special trait her idol possessed.

"This is the first time I've ever seen a human talk to sea creatures like this!"

Unable to contain her curiosity, she carefully extended a finger and gently poked Luffy's round, balloon-like belly.

"Bwah—!"

Luffy burped loudly and rolled his eyes.

"Hey! That's rude!"

"S-Sorry!"

Shirahoshi quickly withdrew her hand like a scolded child.

Yet the curiosity and closeness in her eyes only deepened.

Lowering her head slightly, she looked at Luffy with hopeful, watery blue eyes.

"Lord Luffy… would you talk with me for a while?"

"I'm always alone here… and it gets really lonely."

"I heard Lord Luffy is an amazing person from the outside world. You must have experienced so many exciting and dangerous adventures, right?"

Luffy swallowed the last bite of meat and casually wiped the grease from his mouth.

Looking at the giant princess trapped inside the tower, whose eyes still brimmed with longing for the outside world, he patted his chest confidently.

"Sure! Staying cooped up alone too long is bad for you!"

He agreed readily, excitement already rising in his eyes.

When it came to storytelling, aside from Usopp—the king of liars—Luffy was confident he could beat anyone.

"That's wonderful!!!"

Shirahoshi's smile instantly bloomed brighter than sunlight.

The entire chamber seemed to light up.

She gently scooped Luffy up in both hands and held him close to her chest.

For someone who had spent years isolated within these walls, simply having someone to talk to and share stories with brought overwhelming joy.

And that person was none other than the hero she had admired for so long—Lord Luffy himself.

Inside the banquet hall of Ryugu Palace, the lively atmosphere of celebration still lingered in the air.

"Hm? Where'd Luffy go?"

Jinbe set down his sake cup and scanned the noisy hall, unable to find the familiar straw hat.

"Luffy said he was feeling a little dizzy, so he went out to get some air."

Uta answered softly, absentmindedly tracing the rim of her cup with her finger.

A faint, unreadable emotion flickered within her purple eyes.

Nearby, Yamato was still battling against a mountain of Sea King barbecue.

Her monstrous appetite had once caused Sanji to privately remark that she possessed "a stomach from another dimension, second only to the captain."

Meanwhile, Zoro had collapsed flat onto the coral carpet, snoring peacefully.

A transparent snot bubble expanded and shrank rhythmically from his nose with each breath.

At that moment, a sudden commotion erupted from the entrance to the hall.

"Let me through!"

A cold female voice rang out, carrying unquestionable authority even through the noise of the banquet.

"L-Lady Shyarly, please wait! A state banquet is currently being held inside with honored guests—"

The guards sounded flustered and helpless.

Their attempts to stop her were clearly futile.

The doors were pushed open by a steady force, revealing a striking figure.

It was a mature and beautiful mermaid woman.

A dark purple hooded outfit wrapped around her graceful figure. The shadow cast by the hood and her short black hair concealed the right side of her face, making the visible left side appear even sharper and more striking.

Her skin possessed the pale tone characteristic of deep-sea dwellers.

Her icy blue eyes were sharp and piercing, while the slight glimpse of fangs gave her an air of mystery.

She radiated the calmness of someone who had weathered countless storms, along with the deep, unfathomable aura unique to a true fortune teller.

"Shyarly?! Why have you suddenly come here?"

King Neptune and Jinbe stood almost simultaneously, shock evident on their faces.

Both knew very well that this mermaid was no ordinary person.

Her importance far exceeded her appearance.

She was Fish-Man Island's most famous fortune teller.

And her prophecies had long surpassed mere "accuracy."

They were absolute.

At the age of three, she foresaw through her crystal ball that Neptune's unborn daughter Shirahoshi would one day become the legendary Ancient Weapon Poseidon, capable of commanding Sea Kings.

At the age of four, she predicted the coming of the Great Age of Pirates.

…

To this day, every single one of her prophecies had come true.

One hundred percent.

Her sudden arrival caused both Neptune and Jinbe's hearts to sink.

An ominous chill spread through them like an icy ocean current.

Madam Shyarly ignored their questions.

Her icy blue gaze swept across the hall before finally settling upon the Straw Hat crew.

Taking a deep breath, as though suppressing intense emotions, she spoke in a cold, clear voice that echoed throughout the suddenly silent hall.

"Just now… my crystal ball showed me a vision."

She paused.

Every word that followed struck the hall like a lead weight.

"In the near future… Straw Hat Luffy will personally destroy Fish-Man Island!!!"

Silence.

The music stopped.

Conversations ceased.

Even Yamato froze mid-chew.

The warmth of the banquet vanished instantly, as though the air itself had frozen solid.

Uta suddenly turned her head, her purple eyes locking onto Madam Shyarly.

A turbulent emotion stirred deep within them.

Yamato slowly lowered the giant bone in her hand, her cheerful expression turning serious.

Even Zoro—who moments ago appeared completely passed out drunk—quietly opened one eye slightly.

"That's impossible!"

Jinbe's deep voice shattered the silence first.

His broad chest rose and fell violently, revealing the turmoil in his heart.

"Luffy would never do such a thing!"

If anyone else had made such a prophecy, Jinbe would have dismissed it outright.

But this was Madam Shyarly.

Her perfect record of fulfilled prophecies weighed upon him like the crushing pressure of the deep sea.

"Y-Your Majesty… this…"

The Minister of the Left leaned toward Neptune, his face pale as he spoke in a trembling voice.

Neptune's massive body had likewise gone stiff from shock.

Unlike Jinbe, whose emotions rejected the prophecy outright, Neptune's reason immediately inclined toward believing it due to his absolute trust in Madam Shyarly's abilities.

Yet his gaze swept across the members of the Straw Hat crew.

Their reactions.

Their strength.

And what they represented.

He slowly closed his eyes.

When he opened them again, determination had appeared within them.

Yet hidden beneath that determination was a fear he himself refused to acknowledge.

A fear born from helplessness.

"Shyarly,"

Neptune's voice regained its kingly resonance, though there was a deliberate steadiness behind it.

"I believe… this time, your crystal ball must be mistaken."

Before Madam Shyarly could recover from her shock, Neptune issued an order in a deep voice.

"Guards. Escort Madam Shyarly back to rest. The banquet will continue!"

Madam Shyarly looked up in disbelief.

Within Neptune's complicated expression, she clearly saw it.

Fear.

This was completely different from Hody Jones' ignorant arrogance.

Neptune was a man who had personally witnessed the overwhelming power of Gol D. Roger and Edward Newgate.

He understood better than anyone just how vast and terrifying the seas truly were.

He knew exactly what kind of monsters stood at the top of the world.

The Straw Hat Pirates were no longer a mere pirate crew that Fish-Man Island could question or "deal with."

Even with a prophecy of destruction hanging over their heads, Neptune neither dared nor possessed the confidence to openly oppose one of the New World's Emperors.

From beginning to end, the initiative had never belonged to Fish-Man Island.

And the helplessness born from that realization chilled the king far more deeply than the prophecy itself.