June 25, Year 1511 of the Sea Circle Calendar.
Before anyone realized it, the time required to customize the new ship in Water 7 had quietly passed.
During these two months, the four had continued traveling throughout the first half of the Grand Line.
Since their next major destination after Water 7 was Fish-Man Island, located ten thousand meters beneath the sea, they did not head toward the Sabaody Archipelago, the usual endpoint of Paradise. Instead, they relied on Eternal Poses to alter their route and explore other islands along the way.
In those two months, the four visited multiple islands—two of which were among the more than 170 allied nations of the World Government.
At every stop, their arrival caused a massive stir.
After all, this was not the era of the "Worst Generation" in Year 1520.
Before the true Son of Destiny went to sea, the oceans produced only a handful of Supernovas each year. And now—only halfway through the year—there were already two:
El and Kuina.
Their influence in the first half of the Grand Line was comparable to that of Great Pirates in the New World.
Wherever they went, anyone with eyes recognized them instantly.
Two walking bounty posters worth a combined 220 million Belly.
Many bounty-hunter teams chose to gamble on that temptation—and paid for it with their lives.
There were also those who sought fame.
They believed that by killing El or Kuina, they could instantly rise to become the next Supernova—whether through ambushes or direct confrontation.
The outcome was always the same.
Kuina, who had taken over the role of cleaning up the "miscellaneous fish," erased them with a single lightning strike.
As more and more lives fell beneath Kuina's blade, an invisible aura began to condense around her body.
El could sense it clearly.
When Kuina finally grasped this intangible presence, it would be the moment she truly awakened Haki.
With every bounty-hunter squad and pirate crew that collapsed under her sword, Kuina's killing intent and presence grew sharper. At times, to save effort, she even unleashed the lightning version of Hakoku Sovereignty, stunning everyone who witnessed it.
And because these battles took place on populated or prosperous islands, Kuina's overwhelming dominance was captured repeatedly by the ever-present paparazzi.
With the reappearance of the Goro Goro no Mi, Big News Morgans, who already saw Kuina as a future superstar, showed no restraint in using exaggeration and spectacle in the World Economy News Paper.
Just as public attention was beginning to cool, he reignited it once again.
After many years, another high-level elemental user had appeared on the seas.
And not just any Logia—
The Goro Goro no Mi.
The entire world became obsessed with a single question:
Just how powerful would a new user of the legendary Goro Goro no Mi become?
Every round of hype by Morgans was met with explosive success. The people of the world were deeply impressed, and soon, the paparazzi of Paradise discovered the formula for wealth.
From that point on, any reporter who spotted the four reacted as if they had just seen their own parents.
They followed relentlessly—using crude or sophisticated methods alike—taking photos from every conceivable angle.
It was as if they wished they could shove a Den Den Mushi camera directly in front of the four and photograph their faces up close.
With Morgans acting as a master star-maker, El and Kuina, much like Portgas D. Ace in the original era, became constant thorns in the eyes of Mary Geoise and Marine Headquarters.
As a result—
In just two months, their bounties skyrocketed twice.
BOUNTY POSTERS
"Young Swordsman" El
Bounty:199,000,000 Belly
Status: Dead or Alive
"Lightning Sword Sorcerer" Kuina
Bounty:190,000,000 Belly
Status: Dead or Alive
Although Kuina personally eliminated nearly all the enemies they encountered, it did not prevent El's bounty from surpassing hers.
Because unless a crew member leaves independently, no subordinate's bounty can exceed that of the captain.
This, too, was a form of strength.
To subdue such a terrifying crew—
Was itself an enormous threat in the eyes of the World Government.
The stronger Kuina became, the more dangerous El appeared to Mary Geoise and Marine Headquarters.
Of course, this was only because they remained ignorant of Carina's and Nami's true abilities.
If the Navy knew that El commanded:
a Goro Goro no Mi user,
a Mera Mera no Mi user, and
a Baku Baku no Mi user—
Then El's bounty would not be 199 million Belly.
It would have already broken past 300 million.
A crew with two Logia users—
Even compared to the Worst Generation of Year 1520—was completely unmatched.
After nearly two months of travel, guided by an Eternal Pose, the four arrived at an island steeped in ancient history.
This island was called Asuka Island.
Like Jaya, Asuka Island was known for its long-standing legends.
According to local lore, thousands of years ago, the people lived in terror of a crimson full moon.
To dispel that fear, the gods bestowed upon the king a sacred weapon—
The Shichiseiken.
Whether the legend was true or not, El didn't know.
But one thing he was certain of:
The Shichiseiken did exist.
It was the symbol of the royal family of the Asuka Kingdom, revered as both the "Most Beautiful Sword" and the "Holy Sword."
What El didn't know was how many years had passed since the three princes of Asuka fell in love with the same woman—
And drew the Shichiseiken against one another.
Their conflict drenched the land and sea in blood, hatred, and grief.
And as the Shichiseiken absorbed the resentment and blood of countless victims—
It transformed.
The once-holy blade became a cursed sword.
And that sword—
Had become the new weapon favored by El's heart.
◇ BONUS & SUPPORT ◇
◇ 1 bonus chapter for every 10 reviews — drop a comment!
◇ 1 bonus chapter for every 100 Power Stones.
◇ Read 70 chapters ahead on P@treon → patreon.com/Sagamaster789