As the enormous dragon-headed ship slowly approached, everyone on the dock paused what they were doing and turned to look.
"That ship's massive!"
"Yeah! Haven't seen one that big in ages."
"Hey, is that... a face on the bow?"
"Looks like it! Weird, maybe it's a giant kite?"
"Too far to tell what it is exactly..."
The soft morning sea breeze didn't silence the dock's murmurs. Everyone stared, curiosity brimming, as the colossal ship drew nearer.
But it was simply too large and deep-keeled to dock, so it anchored just outside the bay. Soon, a smaller boat was lowered from the main vessel. The strange "face" at the front of the large ship lightly leapt down onto it.
Boom!
The whole small boat rocked violently, teetering on the edge of capsizing—but somehow, it stubbornly righted itself.
Following the figure, several more individuals in identical black robes descended one by one down a rope ladder.
Only as they got closer did the onlookers realize—that "face" wasn't a decoration. It was a person.
Her face alone was the size of the boat's prow, and everything except that oversized visage was shrouded in black fabric. She stood over four meters tall. From what was visible, she had long, thick eyelashes, heavily painted light blue eyeshadow, and dramatically purple lipstick.
The kids who were helping Zoro and Kubi load fish into the ship's hold heard the growing commotion outside. Abandoning their work, they dashed up to the deck for a better look.
Leaning over the railing, A-Hua pointed excitedly.
"Look at that person with the gigantic face!"
"Whoa! I've never seen anyone like that before," A-Tao exclaimed, eyes wide.
A-Luo chimed in, "And that ship, huge!"
The others nodded in agreement.
From below deck, Zoro emerged with a tuna nearly twice his size slung over one shoulder, Kubi trailing behind him with a fish basket in each hand.
Glancing around, Zoro noticed someone missing.
"You guys seen Kouta and Kuina?"
"They're at the stern!" someone called back.
A-Hua turned and shouted toward Zoro, eyes sparkling.
"Zoro! Look! Big-face monster person!"
Zoro gave a cursory glance in the direction A-Hua pointed, then immediately lost interest.
"Zoro!"
"What now?" Zoro turned toward the voice it was Kouta approaching with Kuina and the others.
Kouta's face was lit with excitement, something Zoro hadn't seen from him in an entire year.
"You've been curious about my strength, right? Well, today's your lucky day."
Zoro raised an eyebrow. He couldn't recall a time when Kouta had looked so fired up.
"Ever since I advanced, I haven't really had a chance to test myself. My master always holds back in sparring."
Kouta turned to Iku beside him.
"Today, I can finally go all out. Iku-san, I'll leave the kids to you."
He glanced toward the group of wide-eyed children.
"Hey! Don't underestimate us, Kouta!"
"Yeah, we're tough too!"
The kids erupted with wild gestures and shouting, A-Luo even jumping up to strike a muscle pose.
"Quiet down, you brats!" Iku suddenly snapped, his expression darkening.
The shift in his tone silenced them instantly.
He had recognized that face.
Earlier, it was too far away to make out clearly, but now—now he remembered.
"What's wrong?" Kouta asked, feigning ignorance even though he already knew.
"I remember now."
"Remember what?"
"Who that person is."
Everyone turned to Iku, curiosity thick in the air.
Taking a long drag from his pipe, Iku exhaled slowly, his expression grave.
"If I'm right, that's none other than the legendary figure of recent years... the Okama King, Emporio Ivankov."
"Okama King?"
"Yeah. They say he's a medical genius, revived people doctors had given up on, even saved dying nations. They call him a walking miracle, the strongest of all Okama."
"Oh. So he's just a doctor."
A-Hua adjusted his glasses, eyes gleaming.
"Wait, what's an okama, anyway?"
"Hmm... probably like... half-human, half-demon?" A-Luo guessed, stroking his chin with a wise-guy expression.
Bonk! Bonk!
Iku bonked both of them on the head with his pipe.
"Quiet, you punks."
The two immediately straightened up and bowed.
"Sumimasen!"
After a pause, Iku narrowed his eyes and continued.
"Don't just brush him off as some regular doctor. The Navy has a bounty of 85.3 million Berries on his head."
"Eighty-five million?!"
Suddenly, the dock fell silent.
Nobody cared much about the okama part. But 85 million Berries?
That was a different story.
In East Blue, the highest bounty was barely 20 million.
Kouta had known all along. That was why he was so excited. Ivankov wouldn't harm civilians, and he was strong—strong enough to fight at full power without holding back. And if things got out of hand, Kouta could always blame it on a "misunderstanding."
Perfect plan.
A gust of wind swept across the dock, and the world snapped back into motion.
"You're crazy, Kouta! You wanna fight that thing?"
"Yeah, even you can't beat someone worth 85 million!"
"Relax. It's not a death match. I just want a friendly spar," Kouta said lightly.
He turned toward Kuina.
"Kuina, let me borrow the Wado Ichimonji."
She hesitated, gripping the sword at her waist a little tighter, eyes filled with concern.
Kouta noticed.
He gently placed a hand on her head, smiling.
"Kuina, as long as I don't want to get hurt, no one can touch me."
It was true. No one could touch Kouta, not if he didn't let them.
Kuina's shoulders relaxed. She unfastened the sword and handed it to him.
"Go all out, Kouta. I want to see just how far apart we are now."
"I will."
His voice was firm and unwavering.
He accepted the sword, lifted it before him, then slowly began to draw the blade.
Shing!
Wado Ichimonji, one of the twenty-one O Wazamono. Simple and unadorned, white hilt and scabbard. Humble in appearance, but forged by the legendary Shimotsuki Kozaburo, alongside the mighty Enma.
"A fine blade," Kouta whispered, sliding it gently back into its sheath.
Ting!
He then removed the ordinary sword from his waist and tossed it to Kuina.
"That blade wouldn't survive if I went full force."
He strapped Wado Ichimonji to his side, gave one last look to Kuina and Zoro, and then leapt off the ship, hand on the hilt.
Zoro dropped the fish he was carrying and rushed to the railing with Kuina, both watching in awe as Kouta ran across the surface of the sea.
On the smaller boat, a young man wearing a bunny-eared hat suddenly pointed ahead.
"Whoa! Look, someone's running on the ocean!"
Smack!
He got a clean slap to the back of the head.
"What are you babbling about, Ichi?" another youth snapped. "No one runs on water in broad daylight! If anyone could do that, I'd eat my oar!"
He paused as silence fell.
Then slowly, he followed everyone's gaze—and saw it.
A person. Running. On. Water.
His eyes nearly popped out of their sockets.
"Uhhh..."
There really was someone running across the sea.
Ichi turned and grinned.
"You remember what you just said, right?"
He handed over the oar with theatrical glee.
The other youth glanced around awkwardly.
"What? Did I say something? I don't remember saying anything."
"You're shameless."
"Thanks for the compliment."
"Enough!" a voice barked.
"Yes, Lady Ivankov!"
While they bickered, Ivankov had already noticed Kouta. Her brows twitched.
"Everything alright, Ivankov-sama?"
"It's nothing, Inazuma. Just... an interesting boy."
Behind her stood another figure in black robes. She wore orange-and-blue glasses and had a striking hairstyle—half her hair orange, half white, styled like a clover. A lightning-shaped scar ran from her forehead to her right eye.
She observed Kouta calmly, her right hand extended palm-down, her left swirling a glass of red wine.
"Incredible. He really is running on water."
She took a sip.
"Looks like he's headed for us."
"What should we do... what should we do?" Ivankov suddenly cried, legs shaking, whole body quivering in theatrical terror.
"Ivankov-sama! Are you alright?!" Ichi cried out in panic.
"I... I... I..."
Ivankov spun in place with absurd flair, arms raised high.
"I'm not scared at all!"
Everyone on the boat burst into laughter and applause.
"She got us again!"
"Totally fell for it!"
Inazuma stood at the side, smiling gently. She wasn't the least bit nervous.
After all, this was the East Blue, the weakest of all seas.
*********
Hey everyone! I'll be dropping an extra 1 chapter once we hit 100, 200, 300 power stones! If you're enjoying the story, don't forget to spend some power stones. I'd really appreciate the support. Thanks a bunch!