One Piece: The Arm of Fate

  Boom!!!

  A shock wave burst from the tip of the fist, and the sea around the End sank into a huge bowl-like depression!

  Splurt!

  Dark green blood gushed like a waterfall.

  The super-large sea king let out a sharp, ear-splitting wail. Its severed tentacle convulsed and crashed onto the sea, creating pillars of water.

  But it wasn't over yet.

  Shano's figure flickered. He dived downward, following the severed tentacle, his right fist recharged—coated in thick Armament Haki and rippling with power.

  "Get—"

  He plunged into the water, punching straight into the exposed skull of the sea king:

  "LOST!!!"

  Elbaf Spear: Weiguo·Kai!

  BOOM!!!

  The entire sea quaked, the terrifying force smashing through thousands of meters of water.

  The giant octopus-shaped sea king's eyes bulged grotesquely. Its skull cracked with a horrid crunch as its massive body was blown deep into the sea.

  Splash—

  Shano shook off the seawater, moon-stepping gracefully back to the deck.

  The whirlpool currents were gone. Only spreading ripples and floating dark green blood remained.

  "As expected of Boss Shano,"

  Smoker exhaled a smoke ring at the helm. "That kind of beast is rare in the Grand Line. One tentacle was hundreds of meters wide—its body's likely over five or six kilometers long."

  A true island-level behemoth—yet it couldn't even withstand Shano's second punch.

  Using only physical power.

  Even among Navy HQ, few could pull this off.

  "Amazing!"

  Nami clapped hands with Nokigo and cheered, still shaken from the earlier near-death moment.

  Thank goodness… her brother was there.

  "Looks like the hard training lately paid off."

  Shano surveyed the sea of green blood, nodding.

  Back when he fought Akainu at Tor Island, using Weiguo required reverting to his original form and cost nearly half his stamina—it was a last resort move.

  But now, with the Paper Painting God form, he could use its full power with only 20% stamina consumption. Even the enhanced version, Weiguo·Kai, cost less than 30%.

  Which meant… he no longer had to hold back in battle.

  Time to keep training!

  As he turned toward the cabin, the ship rocked violently. A big wave staggered him.

  Oi oi oi—

  Was the sea trying to stop his practice?

  Teeth bared, the black-haired boy glanced at the sky.

  He wouldn't normally interfere with the weather. Sailing, after all, was meant to be an experience.

  But now…

  He was in the zone.

  And the sea dared to interrupt him?

  Ignorant.

  HUM!

  An invisible pressure burst forth!

  Scarlet light blazed in Shano's eyes, and Conqueror's Haki erupted like wildfire from the deck.

  BOOM—!!!

  The dark clouds seemed to be ripped apart by invisible hands. Thunderclouds shattered under the burst of willpower, revealing the blue sky.

  The rain stopped. The winds died instantly.

  The ocean, which moments ago was a chaotic maelstrom, now returned to mirror-still calm.

  Sunlight broke through and shone on Shano, outlining him in golden light.

  "..."

  Robin, just stepping onto the deck, witnessed the scene with wide eyes.

  Change the weather… with will alone?

  Smoker lit two cigars and grinned up at the sky.

  It had happened again.

  Since Rogue Town, Shano's Conqueror's Haki had grown far stronger. It wasn't something that could be trained—the sheer presence of the man was evolving.

  "Bow."

  Shano casually cracked his neck and said:

  "Keep sailing."

  Then walked toward the training room as if nothing had happened.

  On this sea called Paradise,

  he could do whatever he wanted.

  Not even the sea could tell him what to do.

Gaya Island — Magic Valley Town Tavern

  Rain pattered outside. The air was damp, the wooden floors musty.

  Hawkeye Mihawk sat by the window. The tequila glass before him was empty.

  But he didn't ask for more. He just stared at the glass.

  "...克"

  Tashigi glanced at the bar calendar nearby, hesitant to speak.

Back on the End

  Night had fallen.

  It had been a while since their last banquet, so Zeff took charge of organizing one. Barbecue grills and wine barrels lined the deck, and the aroma of food was overwhelming.

  Shano, after a full day of training, emerged satisfied. After a quick shower and change, he stepped onto the deck.

  "Huh?"

  Nojiko, up in the lookout, narrowed her eyes.

  "Hey! Everyone! I think there's someone over there!"

  Everyone turned.

  A wrecked passenger ship was half-sunk near the reefs—masts broken, survivors clinging desperately to planks and hull.

  "At least thirty or forty…"

  Zeff looked at Shano. "Captain, should we check it out?"

  "Of course."

  Shano nodded. "Saving people comes first."

  "Understood!"

  Smoker adjusted course. The End approached the wreck.

  As they neared, the survivors became more visible—dirty, wet, frightened.

  Seeing the End sail toward them, they first stared blankly—then burst into cheers.

  "We're saved!"

  "Hey! Over here! Please help us!"

  But…

  When the sail's logo came into view, their cheers cut off.

  Dead silence.

  "That flag…?!?"

  A man in noble attire trembled.

  "That's the sword master Shano… The one in the headlines!"

  "The billion-Berry pirate?!"

  Panic replaced joy. People began backing away as if facing a greater disaster than the storm.

  "Tch."

  Smoker exhaled smoke.

  "Guess our rep's scarier than the storm."

  Robin sighed.

  "Outside of Rogue Town and Alabasta, yeah..."

  Shano stood at the bow, sweeping his gaze over them—expression calm.

  Nobles, merchants, civilians, sailors… even a few shackled strongmen.

  "Hey."

  His voice made everyone flinch.

  "If you want to live, climb aboard."

  No one moved.

  "What? Want me to invite you down?"

  "NO! I—I'll come up!!"

  One sailor bravely climbed the rope ladder. Smoker helped him aboard.

  Others followed, trembling.

  Soon, over 30 survivors stood on deck—huddled, silent, scared.

  Nami looked at them from the grill.

  "Do we really look that scary?"

  Nokigo shrugged.

  "A billion bounty tends to do that."

  Robin's gaze stopped on the shackled strongmen.

  "Slaves?"

  A merchant wiped sweat nervously:

  "Oh no, no, just gardeners for Lord Jiade's estate. Pretty lady, if you're interested, you can pick two for free—"

  "Shut up."

  Shano's voice turned icy.

  "Keys."

  "Huh?"

  "I said: keys."

  Jiade and the merchant exchanged looks, faces pale. They handed over a set of keys.

  Shano tossed them to Robin.

  "Here."

  Robin smiled, unlocking the slaves.

  The crowd watched with mixed expressions.

  Some looked stunned. Others, especially the nobles, looked furious—but said nothing.

  The freed slaves knelt, weeping.

  "No need to thank me," Robin said, smiling.

  "Thank our captain."

  Shano just waved dismissively.

  "Zeff, give them food too."

  "Got it, Captain."

  Hot stew and bread were served. At first, the survivors hesitated.

  "Can… can we really eat this?"

  "Nonsense," Smoker growled.

  "Eat or starve."

  They devoured the food. Even the nobles eventually joined in.

  "Where are you from?" Shano asked.

  "A-actually… Seven Waters City," a merchant said. "We were headed to Carnival City…"

  "That place makes the best ships. Why's yours so fragile?"

  The merchant fumbled.

  A strongman suddenly stood.

  "He's lying! That was no passenger ship—it was a disguised slave transport!"

  The deck fell quiet.

  "Over 400 slaves were locked in iron cages below deck! When the storm hit, they drowned… we were the only ones brought up for inspection…"

  Tears streamed down his face.

  "..."

  Smoker glared at Jiade.

  "Four hundred people. Gone."

  Robin sighed.

  "Bastards!!"

  Nami burst into flames. "Let me burn them alive!"

  "No one's stopping you," Nokigo said coldly, ice forming on her body.

  "Just leave me half."

  Jiade panicked, signaling his guards—

  —but they ignored him, choosing bread over loyalty.

  Just as Nami approached, a businessman suddenly shouted:

  "Look! A warship! It's the Navy!"

  Everyone turned.

  Sure enough, a Navy warship was speeding toward them.

  "It's Major General Allen's ship!" Jiade shouted. "He'll save us!"

On the warship

  "Major General! It's the End!"

  "WHAT?!"

  Allen shot to his feet, spilling tea everywhere.

  "A billion-Berry pirate?! Shano himself?!"

  His face turned pale.

  "Full retreat! Turn around now!"

  "But sir, there are survivors…"

  "I don't care! You want to DIE?!"

  The warship turned, fleeing in panic.

Back on deck, Jiade and the others watched, dumbfounded, as their "saviors" vanished into the distance.

  The girls sneered.

  "Your heroes aren't so reliable after all."

  Two figures—one cloaked in flame, the other in ice—approached slowly.

  Jiade trembled.

  "Now, it's our turn…"

  "…to settle the score for those poor souls who died in the depths."