One Piece: SSS-Rank Haki at Age Seventeen

One Hour Earlier — Sea Train Station

At the Sea Train station, Kaku and Blueno had already boarded the train.

They looked anxiously out the window.

Outside, Marines and World Government officials stood in formation on both sides of the train doors.

Soon, a furious Kalifa arrived at the station and stepped onto the carriage.

Suddenly, commotion erupted outside.

"Agent Lucci?! What happened to Agent Lucci?!"

The three agents looked out.

Rob Lucci—the strongest member of CP9—was kneeling on one knee.

Three terrifying sword wounds carved across his chest, so deep that bone could almost be seen. A sinister aura lingered around the injuries as blood dripped onto the spotless white floor.

"…Lucci?!"

Iceburg's Mansion

The Straw Hat crew had gathered.

"So you couldn't stop them and just let them take Franky?" Zoro said, glancing sideways at Sanji.

"What were you doing, Curly Brows?"

"Tch. Like you're any better," Sanji scoffed.

"Didn't Lucci still escape?"

At that moment, Iceburg bowed deeply before them.

"If possible… please save Franky."

"If you're willing to help, then regardless of success, the Galley-La Company will repair or build ships for you free of charge."

His tone was extremely sincere.

Robin hesitated slightly.

"But… Enies Lobby is the face of the World Government. If we go there…"

Purururur—

Iceburg's Den Den Mushi rang.

"Hello, this is Iceburg—"

"…WHAT?!"

"The Aqua Laguna is arriving early?!"

"Quick! Sound the alarms and open the dockyard gates!"

The Warning

WOOOOOO— WOOOOOO—

Sirens echoed throughout Water 7.

"Attention all citizens!"

"The Aqua Laguna will reach Water 7 in approximately thirty minutes!"

"The dockyard gates have been opened! Please evacuate in an orderly manner!"

"What?! Why is the Aqua Laguna early this year?!"

"Damn it! My laundry isn't even dry yet!"

"Come on! Head to the shipyards!"

Though surprised, the residents still moved in an orderly evacuation toward Shipbuilding Island.

Suddenly, Nami shouted:

"Oh no! Usopp and Chopper are still on the ship!"

The Straw Hats immediately rushed toward the Going Merry.

At the Shore

The wind and waves had already grown violent.

The Going Merry rocked wildly near the coast.

"Usopp! Did you hear the announcement?" Chopper said urgently.

"The Aqua Laguna is coming! Half of Water 7 will be flooded!"

"We have to leave immediately!"

"Leave?" Usopp stared at the raging sea outside.

If we leave… what about Merry?"

"We have to take her with us!"

"But…!"

Chopper looked at the ship.

The Merry was far too large for them.

Suddenly, Chopper's eyes widened.

Usopp had jumped off the ship into the storm.

He placed his hands beneath the hull.

His face turned bright red as he tried to lift the Merry.

"Usopp! Stop!"

"You can't strain yourself like that!"

Chopper ran down and tried to stop him.

"Chopper!" Usopp shouted.

"Merry has sailed with us for so long!"

"Now that we finally have a chance to repair her…"

"I absolutely won't give up!"

Rain streamed down his face.

It was impossible to tell whether they were raindrops or tears.

"Usopp… I'll help you!"

"Rumble Ball!"

Chopper crushed the Rumble Ball and transformed into his Heavy Point form.

Together, the two of them tried to drag the Merry.

And then—

The ship moved.

Just a tiny bit.

But it moved.

'Do I have to take a second one?' Chopper thought.

A second Rumble Ball will destabilize my transformations…

A third will make me lose control entirely…

But I have to gamble!

He pulled out another Rumble Ball.

Just as he was about to eat it—

"Enough!"

Two figures appeared in the rain.

"Everyone has things they can't do," Sanji said calmly.

"When that happens… you leave it to the Marimo."

He grabbed Usopp with one hand and Chopper with the other.

"Hey! Let go of me!" Usopp struggled.

"I can't lose Merry!"

"Calm down," Sanji said.

"Merry doesn't belong to you alone."

"She's our precious crewmate."

Sanji glanced at Zoro.

"You good, Marimo?"

"Of course."

Zoro placed both hands under the Going Merry.

Then—

With a sudden burst of strength—

He lifted the entire ship.

"Man… this thing's heavy."

"But I'll treat it as training."

Crossing Water 7

"Let's go."

Sanji held Usopp and Chopper and stepped into the air.

Using Sky Walk, he began running through the sky.

"GAAAH!"

Zoro stomped the ground.

Cracks exploded across the pavement.

A sonic boom erupted as he launched forward, carrying the entire ship.

He leaped across the rooftops of Water 7, each building becoming a stepping stone.

With every jump, he moved closer to Shipbuilding Island.

Sanji arrived first and dropped off his passengers.

"If this continues, the Merry will be safe soon!" Usopp said excitedly as he watched Zoro bounce across the city.

Sanji silently observed the sea.

The water around Water 7 was rapidly receding.

The more the tide withdrew—

The stronger the returning wave would be.

Kokoro stood nearby, holding a bottle of alcohol.

The canals of Water 7 had already run dry.

The ocean had pulled back dozens of kilometers.

Then—

A line appeared on the horizon.

The Aqua Laguna arrived.

A massive wall of water rushed toward Water 7.

"That idiot might not make it in time!" Sanji muttered.

The gigantic wave was closing in on Zoro.

Zoro also sensed it behind him.

With a powerful leap, he jumped toward Shipbuilding Island.

Everyone watched in shock.

One man—

Carrying an entire ship—

Had crossed the entire city of Water 7.

What kind of monster was that?

But it still wasn't enough.

The towering wave had risen to the same height as Shipbuilding Island.

"Tch…!"

Sanji kicked off the ground and shot into the air.

He began spinning rapidly.

Once.

Twice.

Three times.

Violent winds spiraled around him.

A scorching heat burst from his body.

His blond hair whipped wildly as flames ignited around his leg.

Sanji stared directly at the gigantic wave threatening Zoro and the Merry.

"Diable Jambe!"

His right leg lashed out.

A massive explosion of flame erupted.

The tidal wave was blasted open—

A giant hole dozens of meters wide punched through it.

The wave surged past Zoro and Sanji—

But caused no damage at all.

Shipbuilding Island

Zoro landed and gently set the Going Merry down.

Under everyone's stunned gaze, he stepped aboard the ship—

And immediately fell asleep against the railing.

Sanji landed beside them and let out a deep breath.

"The Merry… is safe."

Usopp ran across the deck, touching the ship over and over.

"She's really safe… she's really safe!"

Iceburg looked at Robin in amazement.

"Nico Robin… your crewmates…"

Robin smiled softly.

"They're the best people in the world."

Her eyes shone with light.

Iceburg bowed again.

"Please… I hope you'll consider my request."

Nami sighed helplessly.

"This is something our captain must decide."

"Enies Lobby is extremely dangerous."

"We can't make that decision on our own."

Later — Present Time

"Apparently he's a good shipwright," Luffy said through the Den Den Mushi.

"I've decided to recruit him."

"Hehehe."

The call ended.

"So?" Nami asked.

"If that's the captain's order, we don't have a choice," Zoro said.

"If the World Government obtains Pluton, we'll be in serious trouble," Sanji added.

"Does that mean we're getting a new crewmate?!" Chopper said excitedly.

Nami smiled.

"Then it's settled."

"We're heading to Enies Lobby."

"Luffy will meet us there."

Usopp looked at the violent sea outside Water 7.

"We can't take the Merry."

"She can't handle any more damage."

The crew stepped off the ship.

But Iceburg was nowhere to be seen.

"Where did Iceburg go?" Sanji asked.

Paulie shook his head.

"No idea. He disappeared earlier."

Suddenly—

Kokoro appeared.

"Looking for Iceburg?"

"Follow me."

The Rocketman

They arrived at an old train engine.

Kokoro spoke nostalgically.

"This is Rocketman."

"It was built by Tom."

"But because it couldn't carry many passengers, it was abandoned."

"It's the prototype of the Sea Train."

At that moment, Iceburg stepped out carrying a suitcase.

When he saw the Straw Hats, he froze.

"If you're here… that means…"

Nami nodded firmly.

"Yes."

"Under our captain's orders, we're going to Enies Lobby."

"To bring back our crewmate."

"C-crewmate?" Iceburg asked.

Usopp scratched his head.

"Hey Iceburg… why are you here?"

"I came to repair this train," Iceburg said.

"You might need it."

"As the mayor of Water 7… this is the most I can do."

"Don't worry," Usopp said.

"We'll definitely save Franky."

Iceburg nodded.

"Thank you… truly."

Departure

Soon after—

Rocketman departed.

DesHination:

Enies Lobby.

Not long later, members of the Franky Family arrived.

But they only saw Iceburg.

"Where are the Straw Hats?"

Iceburg sighed.

"You're too late."

"They already left."

"…WHAT?!"

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