Clang! Clang! Clang!
For months, this was the sound that woke up Water 7. Ever since Tom's Shipyard took on the massive order, it had become the busiest place in the entire city. The rhythmic hammering, the screeching of saws, and the loud shouts of the shipwrights mixed with the smell of the sea and fresh sawdust to create the perfect symphony for the birth of a legend. The keel of the Oro Jackson had long been laid, and its giant ribs, like the chest of a massive beast, now supported the indestructible Adam Wood hull. It rested quietly in the dock, giving off a powerful and intimidating presence even before it was finished.
Near a quiet canal in the city, Kyle stood with his eyes closed, holding one hand over a discarded iron plate. He wasn't manipulating the water or releasing sound waves, but the air around his hand seemed to shimmer as an invisible heat began to gather.
"Senior… what are you doing? Are you trying to warm up the iron plate?" Nozdon asked as he squatted nearby. A seagull was perched on his pointed head, tilting its head curiously.
"Shh, don't bother me," Kyle said, sweat dripping from his forehead. He was attempting to use his powers in a completely new way. "Heatwave Breath."
As he spoke, a red glow appeared in the air beneath his palm. The center of the half-inch-thick iron plate silently melted and glowed red before a concentrated ray of heat shot through it with a whoosh, leaving a perfectly smooth, round hole.
"Whoa! Amazing!" Nozdon's eyes nearly popped out of his head, and the seagull on his head squawked and flew away in fright.
Kyle let out a long breath and wiped the sweat from his face. Focusing infrared waves into a single, powerful beam required incredible precision and used up far more mental energy than creating wide shockwaves. But the power it generated was definitely worth it.
"Those iron-clad warships won't stand a chance now," Kyle said, looking at his palm with a satisfied smile. He couldn't help but wonder what would happen if he used this move in front of Kizaru. Think you can react to this, old man?
On the other side of the city, the atmosphere in a noisy tavern was much more chaotic.
"Ooh la ooh la ooh la!" A shirtless Miller Pine, his muscles glistening with sweat, was arm-wrestling Jabba. Their arms were bulging with veins as they remained locked in a stalemate. A large circle of pirates and local shipwrights cheered them on loudly.
"Go, Mr. Jabba!"
"Uncle Miller, break his arm!"
Rayleigh sat calmly in a corner, sipping a cup of coffee and reading the newspaper. A chair flew over his head and smashed against the wall, but he didn't even flinch. He simply brushed the sawdust off his paper and kept reading. Nearby, Spencer was trying to discuss the art of high-fashion tailoring with a local designer, but his elegant conversation was constantly interrupted by Jabba's roars, much to his frustration.
Suddenly, Rayleigh's eyes stopped on a small article in the corner of the newspaper. It was a small piece of news reporting that Marine Commodore Garp had recently "rescued" a group of slaves from pirates and confiscated a large sum of Berries, which would be used to help the slaves start new lives. The article didn't mention the Roger Pirates by name, but it was written in a way that made all pirates seem greedy and foolish. A playful smile appeared on Rayleigh's lips. The World Government was as skilled as ever at taking credit for things they didn't do. However, the end of the article mentioned that because of recent pirate activity, the World Government was sending more fleets to patrol the first half of the Grand Line. That wasn't good news.
When Rayleigh returned to the shipyard with the newspaper, Roger was standing with his hands on his hips, excitedly watching the shipwrights install a huge plank onto the hull.
"Tom! Hurry up! My crew can't wait to set sail!"
"Wahahaha! Don't be in such a rush, kid! This is a work of art! DON!" Master Tom shouted as he brought his hammer down, fitting the massive plank perfectly into the hull.
Rayleigh handed the newspaper to Roger. "Take a look, Roger. It looks like we're famous again."
Roger glanced at the article and then laughed without a care in the world. "Kuhahaha! So Garp got some free credit! Good for him! Once our ship is finished, we'll sail it right past him and show it off!"
"The Marines have increased their patrols. We should probably keep a low profile," Rayleigh suggested.
"What's there to be afraid of!" Master Tom said as he walked over, carrying his hammer. He had overheard their conversation and grinned. "I'm building you a ship so you won't have to fear anyone! Once the Oro Jackson sets sail, those broken-down Marine ships won't even be able to see your dust! DON!"
His bold words filled Roger and the others with excitement. Just then, a problem arose in the shipyard. The shipwrights who were trying to install a crucial curved plank under the bow were struggling. The Adam Wood was too hard, and the curve was very difficult to work with. If they used too much force, they might damage the wood, but if they tried to soften it with steam, they might ruin its special properties.
"Damn it! It's just a little bit off!" a shipwright said, sweating with frustration.
Tom walked over and frowned. This piece was the key to the ship's streamlined design, the part that would allow it to "dance with the waves" as Kyle had described.
"Let me try," Kyle said as he walked over. The shipwrights looked at him, confused, as he gently placed his palm on the large, curved plank. "A reverse application of… Resonance Collapse," Kyle whispered. He released a very subtle, constantly changing frequency of sound waves, carefully searching for the exact resonant frequency of this specific piece of Adam Wood. A few seconds later, he found it.
"Now! Hit it!" Kyle shouted, his eyes snapping open.
Tom didn't hesitate. He completely trusted the young man who had given him so much inspiration. He raised his giant hammer, put all of his strength into the swing, and with a loud "DON!" he slammed it down!
Bang—!
This time, the wood didn't crack, and there was no harsh clanging sound. Under the effect of the resonance wave, the internal structure of the incredibly hard Adam Wood loosened for just a fraction of a second. It became flexible for an instant, and under the immense force of Tom's hammer, it slid perfectly into place, fitting so seamlessly it looked like it had grown there.
The entire shipyard fell completely silent. All the shipwrights stared at the scene in stunned disbelief, as if they had just witnessed a miracle. Master Tom slowly lowered his hammer. He ran his rough palm over the perfectly fitted plank, feeling its smooth curve, and trembled with excitement. He suddenly turned and stared at Kyle, his eyes shining as if he had just discovered a treasure more precious than the Adam Wood itself.
"You little brat… you little brat!" Tom's voice shook. He grabbed Kyle, lifted him up, and shouted, "Wahahahaha! You're a genius born for shipbuilding! You should stay here and be my apprentice! DON!"
"I refuse!" Kyle shouted back, dizzy from being shaken. "I'm going to be a pirate!"
"Kuhahaha! Well said, Kyle! You're one of my crew!" Roger said, snatching Kyle back from Tom and patting him proudly on the shoulder.
From that day on, whenever the shipwrights ran into a technical problem, they would look to Kyle with a mix of awe and hope. Kyle was happy to help, using his Wave-Wave Fruit powers to accurately lift heavy materials to high places with shockwaves or to detect hidden flaws inside the wood with sound waves, which greatly sped up the shipbuilding process.
Finally, under the bright sun of Water 7, the day arrived. The Oro Jackson was complete.
It rested peacefully in the water-filled dock, the golden sunlight reflecting off its Adam Wood hull in a warm, sacred glow. Its elegant, streamlined design seemed to hold the power of the wind and the waves. While it was still, it looked like a sleeping king, but it radiated the powerful aura of a conqueror ready to take on the world.
All the members of the Roger Pirates, Tom and his workers, and even citizens from all over Water 7 gathered on the shore to gaze up at the incredible pirate ship. Everyone's face was filled with shock and awe.
"It… it looks like it's breathing…" Nozdon whispered.
Roger stood at the very front, watching silently. This ship held all of his dreams, the hopes of his crew, the inspiration of a genius, and the masterful work of the world's greatest shipwright. It wasn't just a ship; it was their new partner, the soul that would help them conquer the sea.
He slowly turned around to face the excited and hopeful faces behind him. A brilliant smile, bright enough to light up an entire era, spread across his face.
"Alright, my lads!" His voice echoed across the entire port. "Our partner is waiting!"
"Are you ready… to conquer this sea?!"
"OH OH OH OH OH OH—!"
A thunderous cheer roared through all of Water 7.
----------------
You can read advanced chapters here: patreon.com/GregariousLion