Boom!
Shanks and Mihawk were sent flying, crashing heavily onto the deck. With a thunderous bang, the sturdy wooden planks shattered, leaving two massive holes as splinters scattered in every direction.
"Shanks!"
"Captain!"
The crew members gasped in shock and hurriedly rushed over, pulling their battered and bruised captain and Mihawk out of the wreckage.
Their once-pristine outfits were now in tatters, torn apart like ragged cloth strips. Blood seeped through their wounds, staining their clothes a deep red.
"Lesson's over."
Kaguya smiled faintly as she twirled her blade in an elegant arc before sheathing it. Her katana, Liuli, dissipated into shimmering particles, vanishing into the air.
Shanks and Mihawk were stronger than she had expected. Despite their youth, their combat abilities were formidable—not only were their sword skills impressive, but their physical endurance was also beyond ordinary limits. At times, their fierce counterattacks even forced Kaguya to take them more seriously.
After all, it would be embarrassing if she got careless and ended up making a fool of herself.
In Kaguya's mind, with her level of skill, even letting them graze her clothing would be a disgrace.
Of course, neither side had gone all out. They had only tested each other's swordsmanship. If they had used their full strength, no matter how sturdy this ship was, it wouldn't have survived the battle.
And if the ship sank, well… everyone would be swimming with the fishes.
What intrigued Kaguya even more was Shanks' overwhelming presence. His aura was exceptionally strong, condensed to an almost tangible degree. It was as if his very will could exert physical force, subtly influencing everything around him.
Could this be the legendary Conqueror's Haki? Kaguya pondered.
She had a vague understanding of Observation Haki and Armament Haki, even if she had never encountered them firsthand. But Conqueror's Haki was a different matter—it piqued her curiosity.
"Damn it, what did you do to the captain?!"
"We invited you to our feast, and you repay us like this?!"
"Ungrateful wretch!"
"We misjudged you!"
"She looks beautiful, but her heart is pure evil!"
The crew erupted in fury, clenching their fists and glaring at Kaguya as if they wanted to tear her apart.
Kaguya, ever unfazed, smirked and taunted, "Nothing but the pitiful barking of losers. Is this all the Red-Haired Pirates have left—just empty words?"
Her words were like fuel to the fire. The already enraged crew turned crimson with fury, veins bulging in anger. They felt like they were about to explode.
How could someone so stunning be so infuriating?!
"Enough!" Just as they were about to lash out, Shanks pushed past the crowd and stepped forward. "What, are you not humiliated enough?"
The crew immediately fell silent at their captain's words, though they still harbored lingering resentment.
Shanks suddenly chuckled. "Actually, you've all misunderstood. She never intended to kill me."
"She didn't?"
The crew exchanged puzzled looks, completely lost.
"If I had truly wanted to kill him, do you think he'd still be standing?" Kaguya scoffed, stepping forward. "Honestly, what a bunch of brainless, muscle-headed idiots. Being the captain of this ship must be exhausting."
As a seasoned warrior, Kaguya naturally had exceptional swordsmanship, though she rarely had the opportunity to showcase it.
This duel wasn't about mere victory or defeat—it was a lesson, a way to impart her skills to Shanks and Mihawk. In a sense, it was her way of repaying their hospitality.
"What did you just say?!"
"Did she just call us idiots?!"
"That's too much!"
The crew was fuming—this woman was simply too infuriating.
"They've always been like this," Shanks laughed, brushing off the tension. "Anyway, thanks for holding back."
Had Kaguya not shown restraint, Shanks and Mihawk would have been far worse off than just a few wounds.
Kaguya waved dismissively. "No need to thank me. You treated me to a meal, so we're even."
Shanks' expression turned serious. "Your guidance helped me realize my shortcomings. But…" His eyes gleamed with determination. "One day, I'll surpass you."
Mihawk, gripping his black sword tightly, remained silent, but his steely gaze spoke volumes—he had made a similar resolution.
"I'll be waiting for that day," Kaguya stretched lazily. "Ah, looks like it's time for me to go."
Shanks hesitated. "You're leaving already? The nearest island is still a few days away. Without a ship, traveling will be difficult."
"No need to worry," Kaguya shot a glance at the still-grumbling crew and smirked. "Besides, with all the noise these guys make, I'd rather not stick around."
Shanks chuckled. "If you got to know them better, you'd see they're actually quite kind-hearted."
Kind-hearted?
That word didn't exactly match a bunch of burly, rough-looking pirates.
"I'll pass," Kaguya replied as she stepped onto the railing. Turning back, she flashed a teasing smile. "Idiocy is contagious."
With that, she ignored the crew's furious outbursts, kicked off the ship, and soared into the sky, disappearing into the vast blue horizon.
Shanks stood there, watching her vanish into the distance, lost in thought.
"She really is just like the rumors," Mihawk muttered as he approached.
"Yeah," Shanks gripped the straw hat Roger had given him. "Or maybe… she's even stronger than the rumors suggest. Unbelievable. She looks younger than us."
Mihawk nodded in agreement.
Shanks sighed, adjusting his hat. "If I had the chance, I'd love to recruit her. But it looks like that won't happen."
"She's not the type to follow others," Mihawk said, glancing at Shanks. "Much like you."
Shanks laughed heartily, slinging an arm over Mihawk's shoulder. "Enough of this serious talk—let's go drink!"
"Didn't you just drink?"
"That was nowhere near enough!"
Just then, a dark speck appeared in the sky. Moments later, a figure dropped down from above—none other than Kaguya.
"You're back?" Shanks blinked in surprise before his face lit up with excitement. "Wait, don't tell me—you changed your mind and want to join my crew?!"
"Absolutely not," Kaguya rejected him outright.
Shanks' hopeful grin instantly collapsed into disappointment. "Then why are you here?"
Kaguya coughed awkwardly. "I forgot to get a Log Pose. So… do you guys sell them here?"
A Log Pose was essentially the Grand Line's version of a compass, guiding sailors to the next island. Without one, navigating the Grand Line was nearly impossible.
Shanks scratched his head. "Hate to break it to you, but we're not exactly a general store."
"Details, details," Kaguya waved off his concerns. "How about this—sell me your Log Pose instead?"
"Oi, I just told you we're not a store!" Shanks protested, but despite his words, he still pulled out a round Log Pose from his coat pocket.
"See? That wasn't so hard." Kaguya snatched the Log Pose without hesitation, then casually dropped a single coin into Shanks' hand. "Here, take it. Keep the change."
Shanks glanced down at the coin—500 Berries.
Staring after the rapidly disappearing Kaguya, he couldn't help but chuckle helplessly. "I was going to say… your money isn't enough."
...
The sky was a brilliant blue, not a single cloud in sight. The ocean stretched endlessly, its shimmering waves reflecting the harsh sunlight. Despite being surrounded by water, the air was stiflingly hot, as if even the sea itself was boiling.
Kaguya lazily sprawled across Cow's back, looking utterly unmotivated.
Drifting on the sea for over ten days would have turned an ordinary person into dried fish by now. Fortunately, Kaguya used Ice Release to lower the surrounding temperature, sparing herself from being sun-dried.
She had considered flying, but the endless ocean was just too uninspiring. After only a day in the air, she gave up.
Lazing on Cow's back was far more comfortable by comparison.
Just as Kaguya was dozing off, Cow suddenly let out a distressed "Moo! Moo!"
Without opening her eyes, Kaguya casually smacked its forehead. "Moo my ass, don't interrupt my nap."
Cow whimpered in protest, eyes brimming with tears. It had tirelessly carried her for days, only to be scolded and smacked at the slightest noise. It was beyond unfair—no, it was outright bullying!
At that moment, Kaguya sensed something and rubbed her sleepy eyes, glancing toward the horizon. Spotting a shadow in the distance, she blinked in surprise.
Finally, land.
Stepping onto solid ground after so long was an immense relief. No matter how resilient a person was, being stranded at sea for days was mentally draining. Compared to the salty sea air, Kaguya much preferred the stability of land.
She gracefully hopped off Cow's back, turned to it with a light smile, and said, "Alright, you're free now. Thanks for the ride."
Cow's eyes glistened with tears. Despite her temper, violence, and habit of bossing it around, it had grown somewhat attached to her. Hearing her say goodbye left it feeling reluctant.
Sensing Cow's hesitation, Kaguya patted its massive head and said gently, "You're a big, strong sea cow—lots of meat on you. You'd probably fetch a good price… and I do need money… Maybe I should—"
Before she could finish, Cow's eyes widened in terror. Without hesitation, it turned tail and fled, disappearing into the ocean in a flurry of splashes.
"Tch. That idiot soaked my clothes," Kaguya muttered, shaking off the water. "One day, I will turn you into stew."
The island she had arrived at was unlike any ordinary landmass. The ground wasn't solid earth but rather a strange, sticky grassland. It felt like stepping on soapy water, with bubbles constantly emerging from the surface.
At the heart of the island stood towering trees, their trunks stretching endlessly into the sky. They resembled massive banyans, but their sheer size dwarfed anything Kaguya had ever seen—their diameters alone spanned over a hundred meters, if not more, completely enveloping the island in their canopy. Their scale was comparable to Kaguya's Deep Forest Emergence.
Beneath the colossal trees lay a bustling town. The streets were paved with smooth stone, flanked by tightly packed shops. The roads teemed with merchants, travelers, and carriages, creating a lively, chaotic atmosphere.
Taking in the scenery, Kaguya couldn't help but marvel. "What a strange place. The One Piece world really is full of the impossible."
What intrigued her even more was the bizarre nature of the bubbles rising from the ground. They were unexpectedly sturdy—poke them, and they wouldn't pop. Only with enough pressure would they burst. Many residents had fashioned them into all sorts of transportation, from bubble bikes to bubble motorcycles, adding to the island's unique charm.
By now, with her knowledge of the One Piece world, Kaguya realized exactly where she had ended up.
Sabaody Archipelago.
Walking through the streets, she took in the sights of this island, so different from any other town she had visited. After drifting aimlessly at sea, she hadn't expected to arrive here.
And reaching this place meant one thing—she was close to the New World.
Sabaody Archipelago, also known as the "Island of Failure" and the "Island of New Beginnings," was located at the midpoint of the Grand Line. It bordered Navy Headquarters and served as the final gateway to the New World. The island was built upon the roots of the world's largest tree, the Yarukiman Mangrove, which constantly released bubbles from its submerged roots, forming the island itself.
Kaguya hadn't been in town for long before she realized something—her striking beauty had already drawn attention.
A few shady-looking men on the street, their appearances as crooked as their intentions, whispered among themselves while eyeing Kaguya.
"Hey, check out that woman. She's stunning."
"Yeah, women that beautiful are a rare sight."
"I swear I've seen her somewhere before…"
"Could she be some noble's daughter?"
"No, wait—I remember now! That's her! It has to be her!"
"Who?"
"The one with the five-hundred-million bounty!"
Their eyes lit up instantly. Exchanging greedy glances, they smirked knowingly.
A pirate with a bounty of several hundred million? Even if they couldn't take her down, just tipping off the Marines about her whereabouts would earn them a hefty reward.
Kaguya had noticed these sneaky men long ago, but she paid them no mind. Even if an admiral showed up, she wouldn't be fazed—let alone these small-time thugs.
Suddenly, she caught a whiff of a familiar, sweet aroma. Turning her head, her eyes sparkled with delight.
At the street corner stood a quaint little shop, its display filled with an array of colorful sweets. But what caught her attention was her absolute favorite—dango.
Without hesitation, Kaguya strode toward the shop. It had been far too long since she last indulged.
"Boss, ten sticks of red bean dango!" she called out, her mouth practically watering as she admired the neatly arranged skewers.
"Coming right up!" The shopkeeper swiftly wrapped the dango and handed them over with a warm smile. "Here you go, miss. Enjoy!"
"Thanks!" Kaguya eagerly took the skewers and wasted no time taking a bite.
The moment it touched her tongue, a sense of bliss washed over her—the perfect combination of soft, chewy texture and sweet, rich flavor. It was exactly as she remembered.
Resting her chin on her palm, she closed her eyes in sheer happiness, a contented smile curving her lips like a crescent moon.
The shopkeeper, momentarily entranced by her expression, snapped back to reality with a slight blush. "That'll be one thousand Berries, miss. Thank you for your patronage."
Seeing the stunned expressions of the nearby onlookers, he let out a breath of relief, grateful that no one had noticed his lapse in composure.
"Got it."
Kaguya instinctively reached into her pocket—only to freeze.
She had no money.
The five hundred Berries she previously had were spent on a Log Pose. She was now, quite literally, penniless.
A thought suddenly struck her. Reaching into her pocket again, she pulled out the small, coin-like object she had been carrying and held it up.
"I don't have any cash on me, but can I use this instead? It should be gold, right?"
The moment the shopkeeper laid eyes on the object, his face went pale.
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