During the time it took to finish recoating the ship, Kanata and Junxi spent every spare moment forging the new recruits and Jinbe into shape. Two weeks was a pitifully short window for training, but it was far better than sending them into the unknown with nothing.
While most of the newcomers spent the days collapsed in exhaustion, a few showed genuine promise. Inspired by the intensity, even George and Scotch had begun training on their own time; they were now on the cusp of awakening their Haki. Growth was a marathon, not a sprint, and Kanata knew she had to be patient.
"Those two weeks went by in a flash," Kanata remarked.
"Time tends to fly when you're busy having fun or getting your teeth kicked in," George replied.
"I wanted to raise the baseline more than this," Kanata sighed, glancing at the recruits and Jinbe sprawled on the ground. "But two weeks is just not enough."
Kanata, George, and Junxi stood together, reviewing the progress of the crew. To truly master Haki, one usually needed years of dedicated discipline. Since they didn't have that luxury, the recruits would have to learn through the harsh reality of the New World.
In these waters, the choice was simple: adapt or die. Kanata wasn't omnipotent; she couldn't shield everyone from every threat. Those who didn't sharpen their skills would simply be culled by the sea.
"The waters ahead are treacherous," Kanata said. "If anyone wants to jump ship now, I won't stop them."
"Most of them have nowhere else to go anyway," George noted. "That fish-man we saved back at the Sabaody Archipelago? He vanished the moment he got a chance to run. The rest are staying."
"A treacherous sea, eh?" Junxi let out a low, predatory chuckle. "Good. My blood is already boiling."
Junxi was practically vibrating with the urge to find a worthy opponent. In contrast, George—who was cautious to a fault—seemed significantly less enthusiastic. Meanwhile, Zen and Feiyun were finishing the final supply run, and Scotch was busy learning the intricacies of surfacing the ship.
Everything was ready. They would depart Fish-Man Island the following morning.
"It's time to say goodbye to Tiger, then," Kanata said.
"The sea is vast," Junxi replied, "but if you travel long enough, paths tend to cross again."
"I... I really thought Tiger would go with you," Jinbe said, pushing himself up from the ground. He had been holding that question in for days. After all they had been through, he couldn't understand why they were parting ways now.
"The agreement was always that we'd give him a lift as far as Fish-Man Island," Kanata explained. "He's a man who values his freedom. He'll be able to do more on his own than he could under my command."
With the World Government and the Navy constantly breathing down her neck, anyone associated with Kanata became a target. If Tiger stayed, he wouldn't be an adventurer anymore; he'd be a fugitive.
"I see..." Jinbe muttered. "I still think he'd want to go."
"I don't force people to stay, and I don't turn away those who want to join," Kanata said. "I'm letting him choose his own path."
Kanata had been thinking about her position lately. With her subordinates and influence growing, she could no longer pretend she wasn't a pirate. In the eyes of the law, sailing the seas without government permission made you a criminal regardless of your intent.
"We can worry about labels later," George said. "But we're going to need a base of operations eventually."
"We'll find a suitable country as we go," Kanata replied.
"A country that welcomes a crew that murdered a Celestial Dragon? Good luck with that," George joked nervously.
If necessary, she would simply seize a territory by force. As long as it wasn't a World Government member nation, they would be relatively safe. The real problem was that most of the prime territories in the New World were already claimed by Big Mom or Shiki.
Recently, a new group called the Beast Pirates had also begun to make a name for themselves. George suggested they could simply avoid making enemies, but Kanata knew better. Shiki and Big Mom already had eyes on her. If a clash was inevitable, she preferred to be in the same sea as her enemies.
She planned to expand her influence by systematically dismantling Shiki's Golden Lion Grand Fleet, one island at a time.
"The Golden Lion... he's bound to have some strong officers," Junxi said, his eyes gleaming. "I look forward to it."
"I'd prefer to avoid them," George grumbled.
"His subordinates likely have useful Devil Fruit abilities," Kanata added. "I want to capture them alive if possible."
If they could hunt down powerful ability users and redistribute those powers to their own crew, their military strength would skyrocket. Junxi had no interest in eating a Devil Fruit, which was fine—she needed people who could still swim. But George and Scotch were prime candidates.
"Paramecia, Zoan, or Logia... what's your preference, George?"
"Don't ask me that like you're picking out a snack! Though, Shiki's Float-Float Fruit would be incredibly useful... not that we could ever actually take it from him."
"Regardless, you and Scotch are my top officers. I can't have you being pushovers," Kanata said.
A Devil Fruit would give them the edge they needed to survive. In the New World, there would be situations where Kanata couldn't be everywhere at once. Raising the crew's overall power level was her top priority—especially if they were going up against the likes of the Big Mom Pirates.
"Expanding our forces, claiming territory... purely guerrilla tactics will only get us so far," Kanata mused.
A war without an end goal was exhausting. She considered seeking an alliance. Her primary candidate was the World Pirates, led by Byrnndi World. He had a 200-million-berry bounty and a reputation for being a "mad dog" who attacked everyone indiscriminately, but his strength was undeniable. She'd have to see for herself once they arrived.
"Preparation finishes today. We move out at dawn. Be ready."
"Got it," George said. "I'll tell the rookies to get some sleep."
Jinbe, being exceptionally tough, looked like he could keep going, but Kanata waved him off. Pushing to the point of breaking was counterproductive.
Jinbe bowed deeply, his forehead nearly touching the deck. "Thank you for everything... for the training. I can't express my gratitude enough."
"Don't mention it," Kanata smiled. "I look forward to seeing how strong you've become the next time we meet."
"I won't let you down! I'll train every single day!"
Jinbe was a man of his word; Kanata had no doubt he'd become Tiger's right hand in time. With her business on Fish-Man Island concluded, only one thing remained: the New World.
***
The next morning, as the Sunlight Tree Eve began to glow with the dawn, Kanata's crew stood ready on the deck.
"Leaving already?" Tiger asked, looking a bit somber. "You could've stayed a while longer."
"Life is short," Kanata replied. "I've always felt it's better to live with a bit of haste."
Tiger smiled sadly. "I suppose you're right."
He was staying behind, but the farewell was amicable. They had exchanged routes, tips on surfacing, and log data. They shared one last handshake, a promise between friends.
"See you later, Tiger!"
"Next time we meet, I'm bringing better booze!"
"Take care of yourself, brother!"
"Find yourself a beautiful wife!"
Tiger laughed, shouting back a mock-angry "Shut up! Mind your own business!" as he waved them off. Prince Neptune was also present, likely feeling a sense of relief that such powerful and unpredictable guests were finally departing his kingdom.
The ship passed through the gates, and Kanata deployed the Kouigusu wood to begin their ascent. Ahead lay the sea where the strongest gathered. The sea where Roger waited.
Kanata felt a thrill of anticipation. There were so many places to see, so many things to do. It would be a grueling journey, but the joy of the unknown far outweighed the risk.
***
There are three main islands one can reach first upon entering the New World from Fish-Man Island: Raijin Island, Risky Red Island, and Mistoria Island. The Log Pose can lead to any of the three.
Most pirates choose Mistoria. It is the "safest" of the three, as its magnetic field is the most stable. However, in the New World, "safe" is a relative term. The pirates who survive the first half of the Grand Line are formidable, but by New World standards, they are still just rookies. And where there are rookies, there are predators.
"This island is ruled by Lord Dread, the Ghost Warrior! His bounty is over 300 million!" a man shouted as Kanata's ship docked. "If you want to leave this port alive, pay the toll. If you can't pay, you bow down and join the crew!"
The Ghost Warrior Pirates, a fleet of over five hundred men, used the island as a base to extort or forcibly recruit newcomers. Naturally, Kanata's ship was their latest target.
Kanata glanced at the pirate flag flying over the harbor and then at the man leading the group—a decent-looking fighter.
"Who wants this one?" she asked.
"He looks tough," George said, checking a list. "That's their Vice-Captain, Big Horn. He's got a bounty over 100 million."
"David and Samuel aren't ready for a 100-million-berry man," Junxi said, stepping forward. "I'll handle it."
"What's the matter?" Big Horn sneered as Junxi approached. "Too scared to speak?"
Junxi ignored the taunt, stepping onto the docks. Big Horn, a massive man over four meters tall clad in samurai-style armor, drew a heavy greatsword. His subordinates jeered, "Pay up or join up! Pick one!"
"I decline both," Junxi said.
Big Horn narrowed his eyes. "You... I recognize that face."
"Vice-Captain!" one of the lackeys screamed. "That's Junxi of the Six-Point Spear!"
"Which means these people are..."
"The Witch's crew...?" Big Horn's face paled for a moment before twisting into a snarl.
"If you're the best this crew has to offer," Junxi said, looking genuinely disappointed, "then I expected too much."
Big Horn roared, his veins bulging. To a normal person, a four-meter-tall giant would be terrifying, but Junxi had seen far worse.
"They told me the New World was a den of monsters," Junxi sighed. "I'm underwhelmed."
Big Horn swung his massive blade down with a thunderous crash. Junxi dodged by a hair's breadth, stepped inside the giant's reach, and slammed a Haki-hardened fist into the man's armored stomach.
The armor shattered like glass. The shockwave ripped through Big Horn's body, sending the giant flying backward into a stone wall.
"Vice-Captain!!"
"You bastard! Do you have any idea who you're messing with?!"
"If you have a problem, come and get me," Junxi challenged. "You're pirates, aren't you?"
Junxi was unimpressed. A man with a 100-million-berry bounty who couldn't even use Haki properly wouldn't last a week in these waters. Dread was likely trying to bolster his numbers because he knew his crew was too weak for the trials ahead.
Big Horn struggled to his feet, coughing up blood, and raised his sword again.
"At least you're tough," Junxi noted.
"Shut up! I've survived hell to get this far! I won't lose to the likes of you!"
Junxi began to systematically dismantle the giant, parrying the massive blade with his Haki-clad forearms and delivering precise, bone-shattering counters. The gap between them was insurmountable; a Haki user against a non-user was barely a fight.
Within minutes, the Vice-Captain was unconscious. As the subordinates began to scatter, George called out from the ship.
"You want to take their Captain too, Junxi?"
"He's worth 300 million, right? That might actually be a workout. What about the rest of you?"
"Well," George said, "Kanata is staying on the ship to guard, so the rest of us are heading out to clear the town."
With Feiyun and Zen joining the fray, the island would be under their control shortly. David and Samuel were also eager for their first New World battle. Dragon and Gloriosa stayed behind as a reserve force.
"It's almost noon," Kanata called out. "Wrap this up by lunch."
"On it!" Feiyun chirped.
"Consider it done," Zen added with a neigh.
"By lunch? That's less than an hour!" George complained.
"Leave it to me! Hahaha! I've been itching for a real fight!" Scotch yelled.
The harbor was a scene of total chaos. Between the original crew and the newly press-ganged recruits, Dread had nearly seven hundred men, but most were mere fodder who had barely survived the first half of the Grand Line.
Kaye clung to Gloriosa's side, watching nervously, but as she saw Junxi and the others tearing through the enemy ranks like a hot knife through butter, she relaxed. She eventually sat down with a glass of juice to watch the "show."
"I heard Haki was rare in the outside world," Gloriosa remarked, "but it seems the entrance to the New World isn't much different."
"We're still at the doorstep," Kanata explained. "The further we go, the more Haki users we'll find. Anyone with a bounty over 400 million is almost guaranteed to be a master. And you have to watch out for the 'sleepers'—people with no names who can still crush you."
In these waters, the "invincible" Logia users who thought they were gods usually had very short lifespans. If you didn't have the fundamental strength to back up your ability, the New World would eat you alive.
"Most high-bounty pirates rely on Devil Fruits because it's a shortcut to power," Kanata said, turning to Dragon. "Dragon, is there a fruit you're looking for?"
"Me? Not really," Dragon replied. He wasn't in any rush to lose his ability to swim.
"Good. Because once we've secured this island and gathered intel, we're leaving tomorrow morning."
"Tomorrow? What about the Log Pose? We won't have a full charge."
"We don't need it," Kanata said. "We're using an Eternal Pose. There's a place I need to visit as soon as possible."
"Where to?" Gloriosa asked.
Kanata looked toward the horizon. "The island where the Rocks Pirates were born. The Pirate Island... Fullalead."
***
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