The sea surface trembled.
Reith stood at the bow of the small boat he had bought. He'd borrowed money for it—because deep down, he was certain the vessel wouldn't survive what was about to happen.
His hands were wrapped tightly around the hilt of Black Tide, the enormous sword dragging crookedly across the deck, its weight biting into the planks.
"Kid," Rayleigh said calmly from the small boat behind him, "it's not too late to turn back."
Roger and Gaban stood beside Rayleigh, ready to intervene at a moment's notice.
Reith didn't answer.
His fingers trembled not with fear, but with anticipation.
Suddenly
BOOM!
The sea erupted.
A massive, dog-headed Sea King burst from the depths, a torrent of water crashing down like a torrential rainstorm.
Reith moved.
From the outside, his movements looked slow almost clumsy.
There was no flashy leap, no roaring Haki. He simply lifted Black Tide off the deck.
The Sea King opened its enormous jaws. A shadow swallowed the bow of the boat whole.
It meant to devour Reith and his vessel in one bite.
Reith swung.
Black Tide slammed into the Sea King's lower jaw with a dull whistle.
BOOM!
The monster's head snapped backward. Fangs shattered and flew in all directions.
A surge of exhilaration shot through Reith.
Who's going to call me weak now?!
The Sea King roared in pain and lashed out with its massive tail. A colossal wave rose and crashed toward Reith's boat.
"You wrecked my ship—so don't think you're leaving!"
Just as the wave was about to engulf him, Reith gripped his sword with both hands and brought it down in a powerful slash.
The wave split cleanly in two.
Before the water could settle, Reith used the recoil to leap into the air. Black Tide traced a heavy arc and smashed straight into the Sea King's left eye.
PSSHHH!
The Sea King let out a deafening howl and thrashed violently.
Reith was flung aside but he twisted midair, barely regaining control. His blade scraped across the monster's back scales.
Sparks flew. Several scales buckled.
"More!" Reith spat out the blood in his mouth and charged again.
This time, he abandoned the idea of a single decisive blow.
Left.
Right.
Right again.
And again.
Each strike was simple no technique, no flourish every blow carried terrifying force.
The blade of Black Tide grew faintly red from friction, and the Sea King's scales cracked one after another.
On the seventeenth strike, the monster's movements finally slowed.
Reith seized the moment.
With the last of his strength, he raised Black Tide overhead and brought it down with a force that felt capable of splitting mountains.
DON!
The Sea King's skull shattered.
The massive body froze—then slowly sank beneath the waves, sending up towering splashes as it disappeared into the deep.
Reith slung Black Tide over his shoulder and leapt onto Rayleigh's boat. The small craft dipped dangerously under his weight.
"Anytime, anywhere Shipwright Reith is always on call!
— Misty Sea: Floating Platform!
A layer of mist formed beneath the boats, stabilizing them.
Reith exhaled heavily.
His hands shook uncontrollably. His palms were raw and bleeding, and every muscle screamed in protest.
Rayleigh walked over, glanced at the sinking Sea King… then at Reith's hands.
"So...?" Rayleigh asked.
"It feels incredible!" Reith's eyes burned with excitement.
Half a year passed in the blink of an eye.
During that time, Reith's growth was explosive.
Hand-to-hand combat, Haki control, swordsmanship everything advanced rapidly. He'd mastered Tekkai, Soru, and Geppo, and made steady progress in all three types of Haki.
By Marine standards, he'd already reached the level of an elite captain.
At seven years old.
It was absurd.
Morning fog still clung to the air when the rhythmic clang of hammers echoed through Tom's shipyard.
As Reith and the others entered Black Tide dragging behind him ,Tom stood at the dock, cigar in mouth, personally overseeing the final adjustments.
"Boy! Perfect timing!" Tom laughed. "Come see your new home!"
Reith looked up
And froze.
Oro Jackson stood quietly on the slipway, bathed in soft morning light. Her black hull gleamed like polished obsidian, her smooth lines radiating strength and grace. She was even more magnificent than Reith remembered.
They descended into the lower hold.
"The quality of this Adam Wood…" Rayleigh said softly behind Reith, eyes shining behind his glasses. "It's extraordinary."
Roger leapt ahead.
"Ku-ha-ha-ha! Now this is a ship worthy of Roger's pirates!"
"You idiot, Roger!" Tom bellowed. "Don't touch that! The paint's not dry yet!"
Roger jumped back, scratching his head.
"Ah—sorry, Uncle Tom! Ha-ha!"
Tom wasn't done. After scolding him thoroughly, he shoved Roger into a corner and forced him to "draw circles on the floor" as punishment.
Only then did Tom seem satisfied.
"Hey, kid," Tom said, placing a heavy hand on Reith's shoulder. "Want to test Black Tide… and the strength of your new ship?"
Before Reith could respond, Tom grabbed him
or tried to.
Reith barely lifted off the ground before being set back down.
Tom coughed awkwardly.
"Uh… just cut with all your strength."
"Uncle Tom," Reith said nervously, "isn't the keel the most important part of the ship?"
Tom shot him a contemptuous look.
"Don't you trust Adam Wood? Or are you overestimating yourself? The sea throws tsunamis and hurricanes at ships every day. You think those are weaker than your swing?"
Reith considered it.
…Fair point.
He leapt back, drew Black Tide, and swung.
DING!!!
Though the keel looked like wood, the impact rang out like steel.
Black Tide rebounded violently.
Not a single scratch marred the keel.
"Well?" Tom said proudly, stroking his mustache. "After my treatment, plus Adam Wood's strength my craftsmanship isn't..."
He stopped mid-sentence.
Reith had noticed something.
Small letters carved into the keel.
He read them aloud, solemnly, like an old film narrator:
"To the future Pirate King and his crew — Tom."
"HEY! Who told you to read that out loud?!" Tom shouted, red-faced, lunging after him.
Roger stood on the bow, laughing as the sea wind snapped his red cloak.
"Let's set sail, boys! Let the world hear our names!"
Under the gaze of Water Seven's citizens, Oro Jackson slowly left the dock. Sunlight pierced the mist, tracing a golden outline along her hull.
Reith stood at the stern, watching the island shrink into the distance.
Six months ago, he'd been dragging Black Tide along this very shore.
"What're you thinking about?" Gaban asked, clapping him on the shoulder.
Reith smiled faintly.
"I was wondering… next time I meet a Sea King, can I split a wave with one strike?"
Rayleigh appeared behind them without a sound.
"First, repay the debt for that boat you bought."
"Huh?! The Sea King destroyed it—go collect from him!"
"Shut up. Three thousand more sword swings."
"…Yes, sir."