Haki—
In the latter half of the Grand Line, the so-called "New World," it's the very ticket to entry.Without Haki, one is nothing but small fry—barely even cannon fodder.
But in the East Blue, Haki users are practically nonexistent.
In the original world logic, that might be chalked up to "version patching."Yet in reality, there's only one reasonable explanation:
Haki demands tremendous physical strength, innate talent, and a proper training system to nurture it.Without those, no wonder there are so few practitioners across the East Blue and even the early Grand Line.
Fortunately, Zoro fit all the conditions—both in physique and in raw talent.As for structured guidance, the Haki Training Manual Ren had given him earlier finally came into use.
Zoro had studied it for quite some time, and after surviving his recent trial, he entered a period of rapid growth.Under Ren's orders, he poured his full focus into Haki training.
In just three days, he managed to channel Armament Haki into his hands.Though its density and quantity were still weak, he now had the foundation to counter a Logia user.
"Armament Haki…"
Ren gazed with envy from the corner of the deck, watching Zoro slowly coat his blade in pitch-black Haki.It was his thirty-sixth attempt today—by now, Zoro had developed some experience.
He finally succeeded, wrapping the last trace of Armament Haki around Wado Ichimonji.
"Black Blade?"
Zoro stared blankly at the now-darkened sword in his grip.
"Not quite," Ren corrected with a smile. "A true Black Blade is like Mihawk's Yoru. You'll see it one day.What you've done now is called 'Armament Coating.' Once wrapped, your weapon's hardness increases drastically—ordinary blades can't even scratch it.
If you'd had enough Armament Haki back during your duel with Mihawk, your two swords wouldn't have been broken.A real Black Blade is formed when a weapon is permanently imbued and transformed by long-term exposure to its wielder's Haki."
He added casually, "Mihawk forged his own blade that way. He wields all three types of Haki."
"Three types? Observation, Armament, and Conqueror's Haki?"
Zoro recalled the Haki Manual and nodded in thought."I understand. I won't stubbornly cling to swordsmanship alone and ignore Haki."
Ren chuckled. "Strictly speaking, Haki is part of a swordsman's power. It's the path forward for all great swordsmen."
Zoro nodded once more. "Then… am I ready?"
Ren smirked. "To take down Smoker by surprise? That should be enough."
He turned toward the distant sea, where the faint outline of an island emerged."Next stop—Loguetown. We'll sneak in, and I'll help you complete your set of blades."
A true Three-Sword Style Zoro was the strongest version of all.After that, they'd stir up a storm in Loguetown… and somehow slip past Garp's grasp.
Surely, nothing would go wrong.
At the entrance to the Grand Line
—beneath the Twin Cape Lighthouse—
a thunderous rumble shook the seas. Waves surged and crashed against the Red Line as if something below was violently driving them upward.
And indeed, something was.
A massive creature beneath the waves wailed in agony, slamming its scarred head repeatedly against the Red Line.
Its name was Laboon—a whale the size of an island from the West Blue.But here, it had no pod, no kin. Its companions had sailed into the Grand Line decades ago and never returned.
Unwilling to accept endless waiting, Laboon spent nearly fifty years in pain, despair, and longing…until finally, it resolved to abandon everything and force its way through the Red Line—to carve a path to the world's end in search of its friends.
But the Red Line was too vast, too unyielding.Even a whale of Laboon's size could do little but bloody its own head over the years.
"It's starting again… I'll need to prepare more sedatives," sighed Crocus, leaping from the shore into the sea.
Inside Laboon's massive body lay an iron fortress—the internal machinery Crocus had built as both home and life-support for the whale.Activating the system, Crocus pumped a massive dose of sedatives into Laboon's bloodstream, calming the beast once more.
Just then, his eyes narrowed.He looked toward the sea, a trace of confusion in his gaze.
Why is he here…?
The ocean above, hundreds of meters away, slowly stilled.
On the surface, two figures in a small boat exhaled in relief after nearly capsizing.One was a muscular, dark-skinned woman wielding a club—her appearance far more masculine than feminine.The other, however, was a graceful lady with waist-length light-blue wavy hair and an hourglass figure.
"Miss Monday, what was that just now!?"
The blue-haired woman's voice trembled. "We were only supposed to scout the area! How did we end up in a damn tsunami!?"
"Calm down, Miss Wednesday—you're a princess, remember?"The muscular woman forced a laugh to ease the tension. "I didn't expect this either. I've heard there's a giant creature under this sea that sometimes rams the Red Line."
"Giant creature?" Miss Wednesday blinked in confusion, missing her companion's playful mention of "princess."
That "princess" title was just a joke—an imitation of her partner Mr. 9, who called himself "prince."At least, that's what Miss Monday thought.
But in truth—she was a princess.
Nefertari Vivi, princess of the Alabasta Kingdom in the Grand Line, had infiltrated Baroque Works to investigate the mysterious drought plaguing her homeland.
After all that effort, she was sent to the distant Whiskey Peak, practically exiled.She'd barely earned Mr. 9's trust—almost becoming his partner—when Miss Monday insisted on "testing" the newbie with a scouting mission nearby.
That "test" had turned into a nightmare tsunami.
Is this what counts as an entry-level mission?!What kind of monster could shake the entire sea like that!?
"You just haven't seen enough," Miss Monday said, noticing Vivi's bewildered face."You're from Alabasta, a desert kingdom—it's normal you've never seen the creatures of the Grand Line.There are Sea Kings out here, you know? Some stretch over a thousand meters long, hundreds wide—and their eyes alone can be over a hundred meters in diameter.
That's the Grand Line for you. Even ships that can sail underwater aren't—"
Before she could finish, the sea shuddered again.
"Again!?" Vivi clutched the mast, panic flashing in her eyes as the water swelled into a massive bulge.Something enormous was pushing upward beneath it.
The bulge peaked—and burst.Water cascaded down in torrents like a waterfall, hurling their single-mast ship aside.
In its place rose… a two-masted ship.
"…What the…" Miss Monday muttered, dumbstruck as she stared at the large vessel.
On its deck, a group of pirates clung together in tears.At the bow stood a tall, red-haired man with three scars over his left eye and an aura that radiated dominance.
Sensing something, he turned—and their eyes met.
Miss Monday froze, every hair on her body standing upright.A chill shot down her spine as if molten iron had been shoved down her throat.
She knew that face.Every bounty hunter in the world knew that face.
One of the mightiest beings upon the seas—The Yonko: "Red-Haired" Shanks!
What is he doing here!?This is only the Grand Line's entrance!
"W-who is that?" Vivi asked shakily, noticing her companion's terror.What kind of man could frighten someone like Miss Monday?
"That's… a Yonko!" Miss Monday screamed, jerking the rudder to flee."Turn around! Get us out of here!"
Sure, the Four Emperors were pirates—and thus targets for bounty hunters.But ordinary people couldn't hunt dragons.That was the difference in power—divine and unreachable.
Shanks, however, withdrew his gaze and smiled faintly, paying them no mind.He turned toward the trembling pirates behind him.
"Sorry about that," he said cheerfully. "You attacked me, so I just brought you to the Grand Line's entrance.You're free to go now—though you'll have to start your voyage over."
"N-no problem! It's an honor to have you aboard!"The terrified captain nearly knelt.To attack a Yonko and live was already a miracle—starting over was nothing.
"Then take care," Shanks said, glancing toward the towering sea path ahead before vanishing from sight.
The Terracrocodile Pirates exhaled collectively, quickly turning their ship around and ignoring the small boat nearby.
"Men! I recall there's an island ahead—Whiskey Peak, right? We'll raid it for supplies before setting sail again!"
Their captain grinned. Starting fresh might just be a blessing in disguise.After all, he'd eaten a Zoan-type Devil Fruit—the Crocodile Fruit, granting him the power of a half-man, half-crocodile!
A new voyage! This time, I'll seize my destiny!
Ambition flared in his chest… until their ship reached Whiskey Peak.
And there—they found a Marine warship waiting.
The bounty hunters identified themselves quickly, avoiding trouble.But for pirates, the Navy had only one response—eradication.
The Crocodile Captain was shocked to find Marines stationed here, but he roared in defiance, ordering his men to fire.He'd sink both the warship and the town together!
But then—a man with a green headband on his forehead raised his hand from the deck of that Marine ship.
And everything stopped.
(End of Chapter)