[send power stones please]
Romu was in a very good mood.
Golden sunlight.
A calm sea like polished blue copper.
A salty breeze drifting lazily across the water.
A tiny raft floating under the shade of a tree-shaped canopy.
He lay back, sipping sweet coconut juice, savoring rare peace.
Comfortable. Quiet. Perfect.
But that wasn't what pleased him most.
What truly mattered was this:
After his brutal clash with Shiki, he now had the clearest understanding yet of his own power — and he had grown.
All three forms of Haki had advanced. His physique had strengthened another step.
If he faced Lion • Thousand Slice Valley again, his Ryō armor likely wouldn't be cut open this time.
And thanks to that physical leap…
A technique he previously couldn't stabilize — Wood Golem — could now be deployed with manageable strain.
That alone was a massive breakthrough.
In short:
The barrier between vice-admiral class and admiral class…
had been shattered.
Romu had stepped into the world's top combat tier.
If Shiki knew he'd not only lost — but become Romu's stepping stone…
he'd probably shut down even harder.
"…Still," Romu muttered.
He tossed away the empty coconut shell and folded his arms behind his head.
His relaxed expression sharpened slightly.
"Can't get complacent."
He clenched his fists, feeling the power humming through his muscles.
"God Valley's getting closer…"
His voice lowered.
"Admiral level…"
"Enough to survive — not enough to feel safe."
He was absurdly strong…
yet stubbornly cautious.
But his caution wasn't paranoia.
The God Valley incident would eclipse even the Summit War of Luffy's era.
The era's overlord — Rocks — would fall there.
No admiral-tier fighter could afford arrogance.
Romu's eyes hardened.
"No excuses."
"Everything in these waters that isn't Rocks — Marine or pirate — gets swept."
"Build the body."
"No matter what…"
"I'm bringing out True Thousand-Armed Wood before God Valley."
A Different Sea
Not far away, a towering luxury liner cut through the waves.
Twelve decks tall.
Every level glittered with pearls, jade, and gemstones.
The top deck shone pure gold under the sun.
On its mast flew a white flag stamped with a red hoof emblem.
The mark of the Celestial Dragons.
This was a tribute ship transporting Heavenly Gold.
The deck was lined with Marines, muskets ready, sweat dripping.
Transporting tribute was stressful enough.
But today was worse.
A Celestial Dragon had insisted on boarding.
If anything happened to him…
everyone aboard was finished.
Best case?
Branded with the slave mark.
Shipped to labor endlessly on the colossal bridge project.
So the tension was suffocating.
At the center of the deck stood the reason:
Saint Charlos.
Bubble helmet.
Hideous face.
Drool hanging from his nose.
He held chains.
At the other end knelt a dozen naked young girls, treated like pets.
He spat.
The girls scrambled to catch it with desperate eagerness.
A young Marine clenched his teeth.
Veterans stared ahead blankly.
No one dared speak.
Satisfied, Charlos tugged the chains and strutted to the bow, licking gold-flaked ice cream.
Then he saw it.
A black speck on the sea.
He squinted.
A servant handed him a telescope.
A small raft.
A young man lounging, toothpick in his mouth.
"…That smug?" Charlos croaked.
Another spit hit the deck.
"Unacceptable."
"No one's allowed to look that smug."
"Ram him."
The helmsman obeyed instantly.
Speed increased.
The liner charged.
Nearby stood Marine Vice Admiral Moro.
He glanced from the raft…
to the fresh bounty poster in his hand.
His face drained of color.
"Holy—"
"STOP THE SHIP!!!"
Charlos snarled.
"Who the hell do you think you are?!"
"RAM HIM!"
"Talk back again and I'll shoot you!"
The Marines obeyed Charlos.
No hesitation.
Moro felt despair sink into his gut.
The man on that raft…
was the newly re-bountied pirate:
680,000,000 Berries — Romu.
Confirmed future member of the Rocks Pirates.
And everyone knew what Rocks did.
They hunted Celestial Dragons.
Moro spread his hands helplessly.
We're dead…