In the late summer of Sea Calendar 1486, a sea breeze carrying an even sharper tang of salt swept across the deck of the Golden Dawn.
The pure gold sun totem on the mainsail gleamed under the sun, casting scattered golden reflections upon the waves.
Oro leaned against the Tarrol figurehead at the bow, a Log Pose steady in his hand. Its needle pointed unwaveringly toward an island whose outline was gradually sharpening on the horizon.
"This should be the place."
Oro put away the Pose. The golden vambrace on his arm liquefied and unfolded, transforming into a golden telescope half his height.
The island appeared gray-brown and barren, covered in scrubby weeds without a single tree in sight.
"Just as the old man said. A desolate place."
"Then we can dig up shiny rocks?"
Linlin approached,hefting her giant axe, its blade still damp from her morning exercise of beheading sea monsters.
She leaned in, trying to peer through the telescope, but Oro laughed and gently pressed her head down.
"Not just shiny rocks.There might be metals to make the Golden Dawn stronger. With luck, we could even forge you a better axe."
"Really?!"
Linlin's eyes sparkled instantly, but before she could speak, a steaming piece of roasted meat was thrust into her hands from behind.
"Eat something first.The mushroom stew will need a little longer."
Gerd stood there in a light brown apron,a wooden tray of freshly cut fruit in her other hand.
"Oro-nii,I've checked the hold. All the excavation tools are ready."
Oro took a piece of fruit. He was about to say he didn't need tools to dig when his gaze sharpened through the telescope's lens.
A ship.A ship was slowly emerging from the sea to the left of the island.
A ship that looked exceptionally dilapidated. Its single mast leaned precariously. Its sails were a patchwork of repairs, and several obvious holes rusted through its hull.
"There's a ship. Be on guard." Oro lowered the telescope, his voice tinged with caution.
He snapped his fingers.Dozens of slender golden ropes immediately rose from the deck, spreading out like a net.
"That ship is moving fast.Heading straight for us."
Gerd immediately set the tray aside. "I'll get the medical kit and weapons!"
Linlin tightened her grip on her giant axe;a faint, dark sheen began to creep along its blade.
Soon, the distance closed to less than a hundred meters.
A tall,powerfully built young man stood on the bow of the opposing ship. He was easily over five meters tall. He too had striking blond hair, but the two small, white tufts of a mustache on his upper lip lent him an oddly seasoned air.
The young man wore a simple white vest that revealed brawny arms, and he held a massive ship's anchor as if it were a toy. His eyes were sharp, fixed intently on the Golden Dawn.
"So extravagant? Hah! Must be World Government... or Celestial Dragon scum!"
The young man's voice carried clearly across the water—hoarse,yet penetrating.
"Leave your supplies,and I'll spare your lives!"
No sooner had he spoken than the young man hurled the anchor!
It tore through the air with a whistle,aimed squarely at the mainmast of the Golden Dawn.
"Not a chance!"
Linlin stomped on the deck and launched herself upward,swinging her giant axe down onto the incoming anchor!
CLANG!
The metallic collision sent visible ripples across the sea's surface. The anchor was deflected, and Linlin was knocked back onto the deck, her arm buzzing with numbness.
The blond youth opposite clearly started in surprise, his eyes then lighting up with battle-hungry excitement.
He leaped high to catch the returning anchor,flexed his wrist, and looked at Linlin. "You've got some strength in you, runt."
"You'rethe runt!"
Unwilling to back down, Linlin raised her axe again.
"You dare try to rob our ship?I'll show you what a true 'Overlord' can do!"
"Oh?'Overlord'?" The young man's eyebrow arched. He pushed off with his legs, charging toward the Golden Dawn, his fist driving toward Linlin with a sound like cracking air!
Linlin didn't dodge. She met the punch with one of her own!
Though her fist was smaller,the power behind it was in no way inferior.
BOOM!
Their fists connected. A shockwave exploded outward from the point of impact, making the ropes on the deck snap and whip violently.
After the exchange, Linlin was forced back two steps, her shoes scraping grooves into the deck. Her opponent only shifted back half a step.
Yet the young man seemed more astonished than Linlin. He looked at his own fist, then back at her.
"Interesting kid.To have this much power..."
He swung his arm and threw another punch.
Oro's policy was clear:if a fight was even or in Linlin's favor, he wouldn't interfere. She was immensely talented, but she needed room to grow. However, if she was at a disadvantage, that was another matter.
Oro's figure blurred.
A torrent of gold surged from beneath the deck,instantly encasing him in a suit of full-body golden armor. His gauntlets were sheathed in a dense layer of jet-black Armament Haki, like polished obsidian.
"Linlin, take a breather."
Linlin obediently leaped back as Oro stepped forward to meet the young man's fist.
BOOM!
Another concussive impact!
This time,it was the young man who was forced back.
"Oh? A Devil Fruit user?" Surprise flickered in the other's eyes. He threw another punch—faster, heavier. "Your Armament Haki isn't bad either."
Oro didn't dodge. With his left hand, he conjured a golden round shield; with his right, a spiraling golden longsword, its edge swirling with Armament Haki.
CLANG!
The shield intercepted the fist. In the same motion, Oro pivoted and slashed the golden sword toward the young man's flank!
His opponent reacted with startling speed, twisting aside while driving a Haki-hardened elbow into the shield! He aimed to break through with pure, overwhelming force.
CRACK!
The golden shield shattered under the elbow strike. But the young man sensed something was off—it hadn't been this fragile before.
Sure enough,the golden sword thrust forward from an angle impossible to dodge at that moment!
The young man let out a sharp grunt. An astonishing aura erupted from his body.
It was Conqueror's Haki!
This dominating willpower made even the ropes on the deck shudder.
Oro ceased holding back. He unleashed his own Conqueror's Haki in response.
The two overwhelming forces collided head-on in the space between them,creating an invisible pressure that depressed the very surface of the sea.
The two crewmen on the distant, dilapidated single-masted ship were so overwhelmed they collapsed to the deck, faces pale.
"Conqueror's Haki?!" The young man was genuinely taken aback. He scrutinized Oro, then deliberately reined in his domineering aura. "Who are you?"
Oro, gripping his golden longsword, eased his own pressure slightly. "You attacked first. Who are you?"
In truth,the moment he'd seen the man through the telescope, he'd felt a flicker of recognition. The flowing blond hair and the two distinctive white tufts of mustache sparked a theory, but the man's youth made him hesitate.
The young man paused, then burst into laughter—a hearty, untamed, hero's laugh.
"Fair point!The name's Edward Newgate. And you? You're not with the World Government?"
"Orokam Oro.We are not with the World Government. In fact, we're on rather bad terms with them."
Hearing this, Newgate's expression grew serious. "My apologies. I made a mistake. I've been chasing a pack of pirates. Our supplies ran out long ago. Seeing a ship as fine as yours... I assumed it belonged to the World Government."
He gestured toward the battered single-masted ship."That's my vessel. Only two crew left. We're almost out of fresh water."
Oro nodded, willing the gold armor to recede, though his commanding presence remained.
"Mistakes can be mended.Fight me. You haven't won anything yet, have you? A mere apology is insufficient. Let's settle this with a proper duel."
A bright, challenging glint flashed in Newgate's eyes. He couldn't hold back another booming laugh. This kid suited him just fine.
"Gurarararara! Good!"
"A real man fights! That's how you make true friends!"