The next day, when Creed and Ain left, they didn't see Kizaru again.
At the Marine port…
Their ship slowly pulled away from the dock.
Bunean waved at them, silently wondering just how much stronger Creed would be the next time they met.
In the distance…
Several people watching Creed depart let out sighs of relief.
They were pirates, human traffickers, and bounty hunters from the lawless zones.
Creed's presence on the island had kept them on edge day after day.
Sabaody Archipelago used to be calm all year round.
But in just a few days, he had killed a Supernova, then taken down a pirate worth 500 million—each day's events bigger than the last.
They feared that one day Creed might decide to purge all the pirates on the island.
Kizaru was much easier to deal with—as long as you didn't cause trouble, even walking right past him, he wouldn't bother with small fry like them.
Creed's ship slowly left the shore…
"Where are we going next?" Ain asked.
Creed smiled and handed her something—the Eternal Pose. "We're going here. Sky Island!"
"Sky Island?" Ain blinked. "Isn't that just a fairy tale?"
"Nope. Sky Island is real." Creed grinned.
The tales of the great voyager Mont Blanc Noland, the City of Gold, and Sky Island had circulated for ages.
Apart from some high-ranking figures, who knew it truly existed, most people dismissed it as a children's story.
After all, how could there be an island in the sky?
"Really?" Ain looked surprised.
"When have I ever lied to you? Come on—let's follow the Eternal Pose, and I'll take you to Sky Island!"
And so, they set their course toward the legendary Sky Island.
…
Lying back in a deck chair, Creed suddenly remembered he still had a golden mysterious treasure chest from the Iron-Arm Madman.
He glanced over—Ain was decorating the cabin with items they'd bought on Sabaody.
"Extract the golden mysterious treasure chest…"
The system's voice rang out:
Ding! Congratulations, host, you have obtained [Haoshoku Haki]. Note: This Haki matches the host's highest ability level.
In an instant…
A warm current surged through Creed's body, flowing into his limbs and bones before flooding into his mind. His spirit trembled as a new, overwhelming power took root inside him.
Realizing the change, his eyes widened.
Haoshoku Haki?
He pulled up his status panel:
[Abilities]: SS+ Swordsmanship, SS+ Haoshoku Haki, SS Armament Haki, SS Observation Haki, SS Physical Skills
[Standby Abilities]: S Hand-to-Hand Combat, S Marksmanship…
[Currently Extracting]: None
[Overall Strength]: SS
…
Sure enough, he had gained Haoshoku Haki—at SS+, the same as his swordsmanship.
He could feel the immense spiritual force now residing within him.
Looking at the calm sea, he narrowed his eyes and let the power flow.
BOOM!
The once-placid waters suddenly churned, the sky dimming overhead.
Then—
Gulp… gulp…
Sea Kings began surfacing one after another, floating belly-up with eyes rolled back, completely unconscious.
"What… what happened?!"
Hearing the commotion, Ain came out of the cabin, stunned by the sight of Sea Kings drifting across the water.
"It's fine—just means dinner will be better tonight." Creed smiled, though he thought to himself…
His control over Haoshoku Haki was still rough. He remembered how Rayleigh could wield it with pinpoint precision, striking exactly where he intended.
…
Half a month later.
North Blue.
A small boat sailed across the sea.
A young man stood at the rail, watching two schools of fish—one white, one light blue—swimming leisurely.
His eyes flashed.
In an instant, the white fish floated belly-up, unconscious, while the blue fish scattered in panic.
Creed smiled. After half a month of training, he could now control both the range and intensity of his Haoshoku Haki.
If proficiency had levels, he was at the second:
Level 1—like Luffy during the Marineford War, unaware of possessing Haoshoku, triggering it only through bursts of emotion, unable to control its power or target.
Level 2—able to consciously control its strength and range.
Level 3—manifesting the mental pressure into tangible physical attacks.
…
Looking at the horizon, Creed realized they had reached the North Blue.
In the original story, the Knock Up Stream was near Jaya in the Grand Line.
Yet this Eternal Pose had brought them to the North Blue—perhaps there was another route to Sky Island here.
"Creed, ahead is Tonmachi Island. Our supplies are running low—we should restock." Ain checked the map.
"Sure. After half a month at sea, I'm ready to walk on land again."
Their ship sailed toward Tonmachi Island.
Soon, the outline of the island and its small town came into view.
As they docked and stepped ashore, Creed's eyes narrowed—he had spotted a very unexpected person.
…
(End of Chapter)
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