The next morning, Noah stretched and yawned as they made their way back to the docks.
Amy rubbed her eyes.
"I still feel tired…"
Emma smirked.
"Blame the captain. His snoring could wake Sea Kings."
Noah puffed his chest.
"That's because I'm powerful."
"No. Because you're loud." Emma replied instantly.
When they reached the docks, they all stopped.
The Scarlett Horizon was completely loaded with fresh supplies. Meat, fruits and medical supplies, even spare sails. A small letter rested on a crate.
Amy picked it up and read it out loud:
"Safe travel, and remember you are always welcome. —Neptune."
Emma smiled.
"He really went all out for us."
Noah nodded, trying to look serious but clearly touched.
"He knows greatness when he sees it."
Amy elbowed him.
"Just say thank you normally."
Noah jumped aboard.
"Alright! Let's set sail!"
And with that, they drifted into the currents leaving Fishman Island behind.
A few hours later the currents carried them upward until the sea suddenly brightened.
With a loud splash, the Scarlett Horizon🚢 burst out of the water and into open sky.
Noah shouted,
"WE'RE IN THE NEW WOR—🌏"
A giant shark 🦈 lunged from the side.
"AHHHHHH!" Amy screamed.
Noah grabbed the railing.
"WHY IS IT SO BIG?!"
Emma yelled,
"HIT IT BACK!"
Noah swung his sword, smacking the shark, it spiraled away like a rocket.
Amy collapsed to the deck, shaking.
"I… I wasn't ready for that…"
Emma wiped sweat from her forehead.
"Welcome to the New World, I guess."
Things got worse.
The sky darkened.
The waves twisted.
And then.
Ice ❄️began falling from the sky. Giant chunks.
Amy screamed.
"WHY IS ICE RAINING?!"
Emma dodged a falling block.
"NOAH DO SOMETHING!"
Noah raised his hands.
"LIKE WHAT?! I CAN'T FIGHT THE WEATHER!"
A giant chunk smashed into the water beside them, sending the ship rocking violently.
Amy clung to Emma.
"I WANNA GO BACK! I WANT FISHMAN ISLAND!"
Emma yelled,
"SAME! TAKE ME BACK UNDERWATER!"
Noah burst out laughing in the middle of the chaos.
"HAHAHAHA! THIS IS THE NEW WORLD! I LOVE IT!"
Emma glared at him.
"You're insane!"
Amy cried,
"WE'RE GOING TO DIEEEEE."
A final chunk of ice narrowly missed the ship before the storm suddenly stopped as quickly as it started.
The sea went calm.
Noah stretched.
"Well, that was fun."
Emma's eye twitched.
"Fun? FUN?!"
Amy nodded weakly, pale.
"I miss Fishman Island…"
Noah grinned.
"Get used to it. This is where the real adventure begins."
The crew sailed for hours through unstable New World waters until a island appeared in the distance.
Emma squinted.
"Looks abandoned…"
Amy frowned.
"Which means something terrible is probably here."
Noah stretched.
"Perfect. I'm bored. Let's stop."
They dropped anchor near the shoreline and stepped off the ship. A group of rugged men marched towards them, with their weapons drawn.
The leader glared at Noah.
"Turn around. You're not welcome here. This island belongs to one of the Four Emperors-Blackbeard."
Amy and Emma froze instantly.
Amy grabbed Noah's sleeve.
"N-Noah… did you hear him?"
Emma pulled Noah back.
"This is a Yonko's territory! An Emperor! We're not picking a fight today!"
Noah simply walked past the men without looking at them.
"I'm tired of the sea. I wanna have fun."
Emma's jaw dropped.
"FUN?! Look around you! These guys have weapons!"
Amy pointed at the men, trembling.
"And those weapons are pointed at US!"
The leader stepped forward again, voice harder.
"Last warning. Turn back… or you die here."
Amy and Emma screamed at the same time:
"WE'RE GOING TO DIE!"
Noah kept walking.
Emma sighed, drawing a blade.
"Well… looks like we're fighting."
Amy nodded shakily.
"I was hoping you'd say we were turning around but… yeah. Fighting."
The men quickly surrounded Noah and his crew, forming a tight circle.
One of the pirates sneered.
"Tie them up. Blackbeard will want to see them."
Noah cracked his index finger then the middle one.
"Nah."
A pulse of power exploded outward.
Ancient Haki: Will of the First King.
In an instant, every pirate around them collapsed.
Amy blinked.
"…Did he just…"
Emma sighed.
"Yep. He did."
Noah stepped over the fallen men casually.
"Alright! Let's check out this island."
Amy stared at the unconscious bodies.
"Noah… you terrify me sometimes."
Emma sheathed her blade.
"Same."
Noah grinned widely.
"Come on. Adventure time."
Noah walked down the main street.Emma and Amy sticking close behind.
They pushed open the door to a small bar. A bartender looked up nervously, wiping a cup.
Bartender: "You three… you're not from around here, are you?"
Noah sat at the counter.
"Nope. Just exploring."
The bartender swallowed hard.
"Then leave while you can. Things here haven't been easy since Blackbeard claimed this island as his territory."
Emma and Amy exchanged looks.
Noah leaned his elbow on the counter.
"Is that so?"
The bartender nodded quickly.
"Ever since his crew arrived, people can't leave the island and Anyone who speaks up disappears. We're living in fear every day."
Noah sighed dramatically.
"Sounds annoying."
Amy tugged on his sleeve.
"Noah… don't you dare."
Noah stood up, stretching his arms with a lazy grin.
"Then I guess I'll have to make this island my territory."
The bartender choked.
Emma slapped her forehead.
Amy almost fainted.
Emma: "NOAH! Do you know what you're saying?!"
Amy: "Picking a fight with an Emperor is a death wish!"
Noah turned to them casually.
"Are you scared of death?"
Emma threw both hands up.
"YES! I love being alive! I would like to STAY alive!"
Amy nodded frantically.
"Exactly! Let's NOT die today!"
Noah chuckled, patting both of them on the head like kids.
"Don't worry. We'd have to fight him eventually anyway."
Emma blinked.
"Why? Why would we HAVE to?!"
Noah's eyes sharpened, just for a moment.
"You two know my dream."
Amy swallowed.
"…To be King of the World."
Noah nodded.
"And to make that happen, I'll have to take down every Emperor… every Admiral… anything that stands in my way."
Emma sighed.
"You're insane."
Amy looked at Noah, then at the terrified bartender.
"But… we're already here, so…"
Noah smirked.
"Exactly. And if Blackbeard has a problem with it, he can come deal with me himself."
The bartender stared at Noah.
Bartender: "You… you're either the bravest man alive or the stupidest."
Noah grinned.
"Maybe both."
Emma sighed deeply.
"Fine. Let's at least check out the rest of the town."
Amy nodded.
"But if Blackbeard shows up… I'm hiding behind Noah."
Noah laughed.
"Good plan."