One Piece: SSS-Rank Haki at Age Seventeen

Enies Lobby

The bell of destruction rang across the island.

One cannon shell after another exploded, playing the final requiem of annihilation for Enies Lobby.

Marines and government officials stranded on the island ran around like headless flies.

Some rushed toward the main gate, but the warships were far beyond their reach.

Too late.

Once the Buster Call began, it would not stop.

Not even for them.

They had become sacrifices of war.

Bridge of Hesitation

Robin wove defensive nets.

Nami unleashed lightning.

Usopp sniped incoming shells.

Together they desperately blocked the bombardment—but could only defend a tiny patch of ground.

Then they noticed something alarming.

The warships were getting closer.

"Damn it! Are they really still after me?!"

Franky raised his arm angrily and fired a cannon.

The shot missed the ship entirely and plunged into the sea.

"No… they're probably trying to take Robin too."

Nami tightened her grip on the Clima-Tact.

Luffy… what are you doing?

If you don't come soon, it'll be too late…!

Suddenly—

Robin sensed something with Observation Haki.

She crossed her arms.

Eyes grew from the countless hands forming her web.

Through them, she could see the warships clearly.

And then—

she saw Zoro spreading his arms, preparing to face death.

She saw Sanji falling into the sea after losing the battle.

Robin's face turned pale.

Her legs went weak.

"Robin! What's wrong?" Nami asked anxiously.

"Zoro… Sanji…!"

"What?!"

Usopp and Chopper froze in despair.

Even they had been defeated?

Nami's expression shifted again and again.

Then she suddenly walked to the edge of the bridge.

Facing the warships, she shouted—

"Zoro! Sanji!"

"What are you doing?!"

"Were you really defeated that easily?!"

Tears streamed down her face.

She couldn't accept losing her friends one by one.

"Please…!"

"Can you just hold on a little longer?"

"Luffy… Luffy will definitely come!"

"You won't die… right?!"

Her desperate voice seemed to cross the battlefield—

and reach her comrades.

Beneath the Sea

Sanji suddenly opened his eyes.

That voice… Nami-san!

That's right… I'm not alone anymore!

Memories flooded his mind.

Zeff scolding him at the Baratie, telling him not to catch a cold.

The laughter of his crew.

Luffy.

Nami.

Robin.

Chopper.

Usopp.

And even that marimo-headed swordsman.

One by one, their faces appeared.

So… I'm not alone.

Warmth filled his heart, driving away the cold.

Then Sanji noticed something shocking—

All the wounds across his body had disappeared.

So… the modification finally succeeded.

He understood.

But he didn't care.

All he wanted was the strength to protect his friends.

No matter where it came from.

Sanji began spinning underwater.

Flames ignited.

The temperature kept rising.

Above the sea—

boiling bubbles appeared one after another.

If someone had reached into the water—

they would have discovered something impossible.

The sea itself was boiling.

Sanji burst out of the ocean.

Flames surrounded his entire body.

Yet he felt no heat—

only warmth.

"So this is… what being loved feels like."

He spun in the air.

The flames gathered into a giant fireball.

Momonga's face froze.

The veteran Vice Admiral instantly sensed the danger.

He drew his sword.

Advanced Armament Haki coated the blade.

Flames wrapped around it.

He leapt into the air.

"In the name of justice—"

"Blazing Mountain!"

Sanji moved.

Fast as lightning.

"Diable Jambe — Love Meteor Kick!"

BOOM!

His flaming leg struck the blade.

CRACK!

The sword shattered.

The flames of love kicked Momonga away.

BOOM!

Momonga flew like a meteor and slammed into the warship behind him.

The ship began sinking.

Sanji slowly exhaled.

But the next moment—

a figure dashed across the sea surface.

A sword slash split the water itself.

Sanji slid aside, dodging the slash.

Then he kicked.

CLANG!

Sword and shoe collided like steel.

Sanji frowned.

"Another one?"

Vice Admiral Onigumo stared in shock.

"What powerful Armament Haki…"

It was weaker than his—but clearly within the same tier.

Elsewhere

Zoro lay on the deck.

Through the haze of consciousness—

he heard Nami's voice.

Am I hallucinating?

The world… is so quiet.

Suddenly—

he stood again in Shimotsuki Village.

"We promised… one of us will become the world's greatest swordsman."

"I'll become the greatest! Even heaven will hear my name!"

Then—

Baratie.

"Kid! Tell me your name!"

"Roronoa Zoro!"

"I lost… I was simply weaker."

"So this… is the power of the world's strongest?"

"A wound on the back… is a swordsman's shame!"

Then Mihawk's voice echoed.

"Do not rush toward death, young man."

"My name is Dracule Mihawk."

"Understand the world. Grow stronger."

"I will wait for you at the summit."

"Come challenge me, Roronoa."

"I… can't fall yet!"

Zoro trembled—

then stood.

Doberman turned in disbelief.

"You've got to be kidding!"

Zoro extended his arms.

His two swords began spinning violently.

Memories echoed again—

"Luffy… I'm sorry.

If I can't become the world's greatest swordsman, it'll make things difficult for you, won't it?

I will never lose again.

Until I defeat him… until I become the greatest swordsman…

I will never lose again!

Do you have a problem with that, King of the Pirates?"

"Hehe. Nope."

Zoro's dried-up Armament Haki surged again like a fountain.

It flowed into Yubashiri, Sandai Kitetsu, and Wado Ichimonji.

Black lightning crackled around the spinning blades.

"Nine mountains and eight seas form one world…

Gather a thousand worlds and they become a small cosmos…

Multiply that by three…

There is nothing I cannot cut!"

"Three Sword Style Secret Technique—

Ichidai Sanzen Daisen Sekai!"

(Three Thousand Worlds!)

Doberman's eyes widened.

He could only coat his upper body with advanced Armament Haki—

and watch as Zoro flashed past.

SLASH!

A massive wound nearly cut him in half.

Advanced Armament Haki shattered like paper.

Blood erupted.

Doberman collapsed into the sea.

The entire warship was sliced in half.

Zoro sheathed his swords—

and collapsed onto the broken deck.

Far Out at Sea

Aokiji stood on the raging ocean.

Blood dripped from his arm onto the ice beneath his feet.

In the sky—

Luffy panted heavily.

Frost covered his eyebrows.

Cracks spread across his body like a shattering porcelain statue.

I can't keep dragging this out.

Last burst of strength.

In an instant—

his body, stamina, and spirit returned to their peak.

At the same time—

the destructive lightning inside him began violently rebounding.

His eyes locked onto Aokiji.

Maybe ten minutes left.

Luffy raised his arm to his mouth.

"Gear Fourth—"

"Wait, Straw Hat!"

Aokiji suddenly spoke.

"I can let you leave."

"But you must go…"

"Stop the Buster Call."

For a moment—

Luffy lowered his arm.

Their eyes met.

The air froze.

Ding.

Reminder: 1 minute remaining to complete mission.

Luffy: "…?"

Bridge of Hesitation

Sanji and Vice Admiral Onigumo clashed in the sky.

Neither could gain the upper hand.

Onigumo had mastered the Six Powers, advanced dual Haki, and swordsmanship at the level of a master.

Among Vice Admirals—

he ranked near the top.

Meanwhile—

Zoro lay on the deck, barely breathing.

Then—

another figure landed on the warship.

A Marine with brown hair and a helmet decorated with a two-headed dragon, red feathers attached.

A Vice Admiral.

Onigumo.

"Die, pirate!"

Using Life Return, his hair transformed into six arms.

Six swords stabbed toward Zoro simultaneously.

He was too fast.

Zoro couldn't react.

But someone else—

was even faster.

A streak of black lightning cut across the sky.

A sandal-clad foot slammed into Onigumo's face.

Destructive lightning surged through his body.

A shockwave ring exploded outward.

Onigumo became a black meteor—

and smashed into a warship.

"Luffy! Cough—!"

"You're back!"

Zoro forced himself upright.

"Yeah."

"I'm back."

Seeing the blood and wounds covering Zoro—

Luffy's eyes grew slightly red.

He deactivated his Thunder God form.

Grabbing Zoro with one hand—

he shot toward Sanji's battlefield.

One punch sent Onigumo flying.

His arm stretched—

instantly grabbing Sanji.

"Time to go!"

"Hey—! Damn it!"

Luffy landed on the Bridge of Hesitation.

All his crewmates were there.

He dropped the two half-berserk fighters.

Holding down his straw hat—

Luffy smiled.

"I'm back, everyone."

"LUFFY!"

Nami rushed into his arms.

Tears streamed down her face.

"You came… so late."

"I was… really scared!"

The bombardment of Enies Lobby still continued—

but the tension inside the Straw Hats snapped the moment Luffy returned.

Everyone smiled.

As long as their captain stood there—

everything would work out.

"Hey, hey! I know you two lovebirds are happy, but maybe pick a better time to flirt!"

Franky ruined the moment.

"Flirting?"

Luffy blinked blankly.

Nami's face turned bright red.

Steam practically rose from her head.

"Luffy! The warships are coming!" Robin said with a mysterious smile.

"Leave it to me."

Luffy gently moved Nami aside.

Then—

he removed his straw hat.

And placed it on her orange hair.

Calmly—

he walked toward the warships.

Nami held the brim of the hat, staring.

Every member of the Straw Hat Pirates watched their captain.

The Sea

"Who is that?" Onigumo asked the intelligence officer.

"That is…!"

The officer's words stopped.

Meanwhile—

Luffy stared at the massive fleet.

"Hey… Marines."

Dark red lightning burst outward.

The lightning spread across the sea.

Warships trembled.

The sturdy decks shattered into splinters.

Marines collapsed like wheat being harvested.

Each warship carried over a thousand soldiers.

The entire Buster Call had over ten thousand troops.

Yet fewer than one hundred remained conscious.

The surviving Marines on Enies Lobby dropped instantly as well.

"W-What is this…?!"

Sweat rolled down Onigumo's forehead.

"Hey, Marines…"

"Get lost."

The dark red lightning surged again.

Even the Rear Admirals lowered their heads under the pressure.

Only the remaining two Vice Admirals could barely stand unaffected—

but inside, their hearts were already in turmoil.

A wanted poster fluttered in the wind.

"Straw Hat" Monkey D. Luffy

Bounty: 400,000,000 Berries

System Notification

Ding!

Congratulations — Conqueror's Haki has reached 80.0 (Top Tier).

You have obtained the qualification to rule the seas.

"Sovereign Presence."

The starting point of kings.

From this day forward—

you possess the power to stand above the world.

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