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Author's Note:
Hey guys, Sky_15, here!
Sorry for the delay in uploading this chapter — I ended up taking my time and re-checking everything twice (maybe even three times…) because of a little surprise I added in there. I really hope you all enjoy it.
This is also the final chapter of this volume!After this, I'll be taking a short two-week break to recharge and prepare things properly.
I don't want to spoil anything, but the next volume is going to bring something new — something I've been excited to try for a while.
I hope you guys enjoy this chapter, and please tell me your opinions!
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[Note:
" * " : Indicates abilities that can be upgraded with practice, experience, or unique opportunities.]
> System inner voice ["speaking"] <
> Ash inner speech "speaking" <
{}
A golden coin spun high, catching the first rays of dawn before landing neatly in Ash's palm. He pressed both hands over it, feeling the strange hum of power between his hands. The moment stretched—just then.
Behind him, Selena's voice cut in. "You're flipping the coin again… is it time already?" She emerged with Ace, who smirked like she'd caught him doing something ridiculous.
Ash side-eyed them, grumbling under his breath.
Ace grinned. "Oh, I can't wait to see what it makes you do this time. Selena, remember when it told him to walk upside-down? Or when he had to carry that chicken on his head for an hour?"
Selena laughed softly. "Or that other time… when it told to pick one of us to solo a pirate crew while you made juice and fanned rest of us with banana leaves for fifteen minutes. Uta nearly scared the Marines to death when she said she took every single one of them single handed. Their faces were priceless!"
"Well, it's the coin's rules, not mine," Ash muttered, blushing as he opened his hands.
Tails.
Ash stiffened. The familiar spectral roulette appeared before him—only visible to his eyes—symbols whirling in a chaotic dance of glowing colors, as if promising fortune, but feels mischief.
Selena tilted her head eagerly, "...Did you get what you have to do?"
Ash shot her a side look, the kind that said, 'Are you really that eager to see me humiliated?'
Selena chuckled nervously. Ace rolled her eyes. "One day, that coin's gonna make you dance naked in the middle of town."
"Are you wishing for it or feeling sorry for me?" Ash retorted dryly while Ace whistled tilting her head aside not looking at him.
The roulette slowed. Ash's brow furrowed. "Oh, crap…"
Selena tilted her head. "Well...?!"
Before Ash could even speak, there was a clink—a ridiculous chicken suit dropped from the sky, landing squarely on his head.
Ace blinked. "...Is that—?"
Selena, too shocked, murmured, "Yeah. It's what you're thinking, alright."
Ash yanked the feathery thing off his head with a long-suffering sigh. "Apparently, I have to wear this for the next thirty minutes. And in return, Uta's live performance gets a twenty percent success boost."
Selena blinked. "That's... actually not bad. I mean, it's not like I don't believe in Uta. She's gonna kill it. But having some extra insurance is smart. Besides, it's only half an hour! Can't you do that much for Uta?"
Ash raised a hand with a sigh. "Oh wait—there's more. I also have to build a makeshift stage for Uta to stand on and help with anything she needs for the performance." He glanced down at the feathery suit, deadpan. "And apparently, if I continue to wear this ridiculous thing the whole performance, Uta's show gets an extra thirty percent bonus on top of the twenty."
Selena immediately covered her mouth, trying not to laugh—because deep down she knew: Ash would do it. No matter how dumb it looked, if it helped Uta—or anyone he cared about—he'd grit his teeth and go.
Meanwhile, Ace? She didn't even try. She bent over laughing, wheezing.
Ash gave them both a long, deadpan stare. And then, with a mischievous glint in his eyes—missed by both—he dropped to one knee without warning.
They both squeaked like startled mice, expecting some silly revenge attack from him.
But instead… he looked up. His eyes softened.
His voice, when he spoke, was low. Steady in the kind of tone you don't use unless you mean it.
**"You laugh now, but hear this clear—
Even in feathers, I'll stand right here.
If looking like a fool is the cost I pay,
To make you smile at the end of the day—
Then dress me up, world, I'll take the hit.
Because for these two? I'd never quit.
Your spark could burn through the pouring rain,
Your fire dances right through my vein.
You drive me mad, yet make me whole,
You're my storm, my anchor... and every goal.
If love's a risk, then let fate decide—
But know this: I'd Walk that line, with you on each side." **
Selena blinked, frozen.
Ace's face went red—then redder—as she turned her head everywhere except at Ash. Silence hung in the air for a beat too long.
Ash stood up immediately, laughing. "Oh—you should've seen your faces! That was hilarious! Oh man—" He clutched his stomach. "Cough—I can't stop— ha-ha! Totally worth the task... oh my god..."
Ace and Selena slowly came out of their stupor, both still blushing, but now a different glint flickered in their eyes.
Selena narrowed hers. "Wait. Task?"
Ash wiped a tear from the corner of his eye and shrugged, already pulling one arm into the chicken suit. "Yeah, yeah. The final task was to recite a romantic poem to the nearest people within two minutes. And well... you two were just standing there. Total coincidence."
He smirked. "So, I did it. And hey, in a way... I even got my revenge for you both laughing at my misery."
As he spoke, he slid fully into the ridiculous feathery costume, tugging it on piece by piece.
Selena and Ace stared at him silently, their expressions shifting from disappointment to mischievous.
Then Ace tilted her head towards him, with tone suddenly cool. "So even if it was a task... that's what you really think of us, huh?"
Selena crossed her arms beside her. "What would Uta say when she hears that?"
Ash, by now fully inside the suit, froze.
His chicken head turned mechanically, slowly, he squeaked as it swivelled toward them. "…No. Don't—"
But the girls were already backing up in sync, slow and ominous.
Ash shuffled forward.
They bolted.
"UTA!" Selena yelled as they ran.
"YOU WON'T BELIEVE WHAT ASH JUST SAID!" Ace added, laughing through her blush.
And behind them, wobbling chicken gave chase, flapping wildly and squawking threats no one took seriously—his feathered body bouncing with every ridiculous step.
///////////////////////////////////////////////////
It was just past sunset.
The last streaks of gold still clung to the clouds like dying embers as the makeshift stage was prepped—not grand, but sturdy enough to hold her.
Ash stood at the center, a ridiculous figure in a full-body chicken suit, his face visible through the comical gap between the beaks. His cheeks were clearly swollen—bruises peeking through like badges of shame.
"So... girls, you ready?" he croaked, his voice barely escaping the fuzzy maw.
Everyone tried not to laugh. They failed instantly. Uta muttered through puffed cheeks, "Idiot."
Ash cleared his throat, forcing them to stifle their giggles. He pointed sharply, shifting back into mission mode.
Ash turned to Uta. "You ready for your debut?"
Uta gave a nod. Then, she took the Mask of Alteration and placed it over her face.
Her silhouette shimmered.
The mask shimmered, reshaping itself into a sleek half-face kitsune mask—white, with subtle golden markings curling around the eyes like musical notes. It settled over the upper half of her face, leaving her mouth and jaw exposed, her expression free to shine through.
Her outfit shifted next, the fabric whispering as it transformed. A fitted jacket with flowing accents took shape, the hood rising to shadow the rest of her features. Her silhouette became sharp and striking, cloaked in mystery.
Ash watched with a lopsided grin. "Let's light it up."
He lifted the special cameko Den Den Mushi—and with one twist, the snail's eyes glowed. It latched onto every local proko snail in range. Then farther.
With a blink, the signal hijacked dozens. Then hundreds. It overrode personal feeds, bar projections, even marine channels. From island villages to marine bases, from family living rooms to dark alleys—every connected visual Den Den Mushi synced.
The world held its breath.
Somewhere in a marine base, a higher marine officer slammed his hand on the table, "What the hell's going on?!"
"Vice-Admiral Ransho! Every den den mushi is being hijacked—the override's piggybacking from outside the secure grid! We can't trace it!"
"Find it. Now."
Back to Uta: -
Her smile lit up as the global feed kicked in.
Villages, towns, and ships across the seas now saw the figure on screen—hooded, glowing, and unlike anything they'd seen before.
"Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls…everyone and whoever watching from wherever you are~"
Her voice was warm. Cheerful. A little mischievous.
"It's nice to meet you! I go by V.O.X—short for Voice of X!"
"And of course… X being me—your mysterious Vox herself~" She made a playful spin, and gave a wink.
"I've come with just one wish tonight: to make you smile. with my voice with my song bring joy to your day your life."
She stepped forward, lifting her hand gently. "So please, for my very first debut, let me share something with you. My very first song, and I hope everyone will hear it and love it—no matter where you are."
I called this song—
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✨ Endless Sky ✨
--------------------
Ooh, ahh… oh-ohh…
My voice once lost in shadows deep,
A song unspoken, a dream asleep.
But now I rise, the chains undone,
A new dawn calls— I am the one… ohh yeah…
{
Ash and the rest immediately sprang into action behind the scenes. Lucy shifted the Cameko Den Den Mushi, capturing Uta from dynamic angles just like how Ash and Uta told her to.
Ash, hidden behind the makeshift backstage, quietly tuned and played a few key instruments linked to Uta's setup who parallelly also playing her own notes while singing in harmony with her voice.
}
The winds may roar, the tides may sway,
But I will sing and light the way.
Through every storm, through every night,
My voice will bloom, ahhh, a flame of light.
{
At that cue, from Ace behind the back stage, golden sunlight energy surged into a controlled burst of radiant beams all around her body, flaring out behind Uta like an ethereal bloom perfectly echoing her lyrics.
}
I'll break the silence, I'll reach the skies,
fear, no shadow can close my eyes.
{
Ace gently illuminated herself with her sun energy, her silhouette visible as a glowing figure.
The light cast a surreal shadow of Uta, as if a looming force was holding her back—until Uta belted the line, as if shattering from the shadows as it dissolved. It looked like she'd broken through shadows holding her.
}
Ohhh ohh! Here I stand in the first light,
Forever free, I claim this sky.
For every heart, for every dream,
I'll keep on singing, endlessly!
Whoa-oh-oh-oh, together strong, forever high,
This is our song—our endless sky!
{
Selena, too hidden off-stage, summoned her Nimbus cloud. Slowly and steadily, it rose beneath Uta's feet—lifting her into the open air.
As she ascended with perfect timing on "endless sky,"
Ace mean while quietly swooped in, catching Lucy and lifting her up just high enough to continuing to capture the shots from above.
The full moon and star-filled sky stretched behind Uta like a painting.
}
The hands that held me, the hearts that try,
Their warmth is always near, never dry.
I'm not alone, no fear to hide,
With every note, ohh, they're by my side.
{
Ash's fingers danced across the instruments below, carefully layering support chords. His face—still in the ridiculous chicken suit—was locked in full focus.
Beside him, Nami had already lit the fuse lines. Nojiko stood by, waiting for the signal to fire.
}
And when the world feels far too wide,
I'll shout my soul to the other side! Oh-oh-ohhh!
No chain, no shadow can silence me,
This voice is mine, ohh yeah, it's meant to be!
{
With perfect precision lucy followed the script, capturing her silhouette framed by moonlight.
}
Here I stand in the first light,
Forever free, I claim this sky!
For every heart, for every dream,
I'll keep on singing, endlessly!
Ohh whoa-oh-oh-oh, together strong, forever high,
This is our song—our endless sky!
{
Just as the chorus peaked, Nami and Nojiko ignited the fireworks.
Glimmering bursts of light painted the night sky in arcs and waves behind Uta—timed with her final notes.
}
I'll keep on singing, forever free…
This voice, this song… it carries me.
Oh-oh-ohhh… yeahhh…
{}
Uta gently descended, as Selena lowered the Nimbus with a grace floating back to stage.
Ash and Uta both struck the final note together—Ash's last chord ringing out beneath her voice. The final firework flared behind them, casting a shimmering veil across the night.
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Author's Note (Hey guys, Please read this before diving back in!)
Hey hey! Quick lil' break before the story continues — I promise this is worth it!
So… this whole ✨ Endless Sky ✨ performance? Yeah, I didn't come up with it all alone. I actually teamed up with my friend (with some help from ChatGPT too — thanks, digital buddy ✌️) and we really went all even on the scenes. From crafting the lyrics line by line, syncing visuals, to figuring out how the characters would pull it off behind the scenes — it was a whole event.
Funny thing? When my friend first said, "Let's make a full-on original song," I was like, "Bro… who's even gonna listen?" 😅 But he convinced me — and now I'm kinda proud of it.
We even used Suno AI to make an actual version of the song! Wild, right?
🎵 Here's the link to check it out:
🔗 https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1kSiv6StFqQPJe-NlM-24RyllYhRZBGlU?usp=sharing
Please don't post it anywhere else — it was made on a free plan, so I don't have the rights. This is just a treat for you amazing readers who stuck with the story. 💛
Lastly, if you do take a listen, please leave a comment and let me know what you think!
I know it won't be everyone's vibe—everyone's got their own music tastes—but your thoughts will really inspire and help me grow. ❤️
Alright, break's over. Let's get back to the chaos, heart, and madness of our story!
— Sky_15.
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Elsewhere / Everywhere:
As the final note fades into silence, across seas, kingdoms, and islands, Den Den Mushi blink in pause. For a moment, the world holds its breath.
Then it begins—a soft clap, somewhere. A whistle. Cheers break out in a bar where strangers had paused mid-drink just to listen.
In a distant marine outpost, officers who had been frantically scanning for the signal now sit frozen, wide-eyed at what they just heard, forgetting even what they were supposed to be doing.
A mother preparing dinner finds herself humming the tune without realizing. Children under the moonlit streets sing the chorus, not even sure when they picked it up.
From pirates to marines, kings to commoners, young and old—every soul had stayed until the end.
They didn't know why. Something about the song had simply pulled them in.
Back to Uta and the rest:
Uta stands on stage beneath the open sky, chest rising as she catches her breath. The wind tugs gently at her cloak, her fox mask tilted slightly downward.
She speaks in a calm, warm voice: "To everyone who stayed with me until the very end... thank you, truly. Even if just for a moment, I hope my song made your day a little brighter."
She pauses. There's a soft smile behind the mask—prideful, and maybe just a little shy.
"I'll be back with another song, as soon as I can."
Taking a breath, she smirks slightly at the Den Den Mushi and says:
"Until then… this is V.O.X—signing off."
Snap. (Uta clicks her fingers.)
The sound echoes. Right on cue, Lucy cuts the Cameko transmission.
The screen fades to black. Den Den Mushi across the world return to their regular broadcasts, like nothing ever happened.
But for those who listened…
They'll remember.
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After the broadcast ends…...
As soon as the Cameko goes black, Uta lets out a breath of joy, willing away her fox mask and hood. Without hesitation, she leaps into Ash's arms.
He catches her mid-air as she laughs, spinning her around.
"Ash! I did it—I finally did it!" she says, voice trembling with joy.
Ash smiles, steadying her before setting her down. The rest of them to rushed in around them. Ash and Uta share a soft, emotional kiss—just a brief one, tender and proud. Then they step aside, giving Uta space as the girls swarm her in celebration.
Even Lucy, somehow miraculously, pulled off her role without a hitch. Ash could tell—when it comes to dreams, she can be serious.
And it showed. Lucy beamed with pride—not just for nailing her part, but for helping Uta's dream take flight.
But she wasn't the only one. Every girl standing there—Selena, Ace, Nami, Nojiko—they had all backed Uta. Not because they had to, but because they believed in her.
And deep down, they knew Uta would've done the same for any of them.
Next Morning – Makino's Bar
The door creaks open as the group steps in. The scent of warm food and chatter fills the air.
Before they can sit down, Makino greets them and pulls them aside. She leans in and asks, almost teasing, "That was Uta last night, wasn't it?"
Lucy blurts, "Wait, how did you know?!" The rest collectively slap their foreheads. Selena groans, "Idiot… she was just guessing!"
Lucy laughs nervously, "Haha… oops?"
Makino just smiles and turns to Uta, pulling her into a warm hug, "That was beautiful. Truly. I'm proud of what you achieved."
Uta hugs her back, her eyes stinging slightly with happy tears.
Makino adds, "You don't even know the impact. Everyone on the island's been talking about it since last night."
Nami blinks. "Wait—already? That fast?!"
Makino nods and leads them to the bar.
Sure enough—every table is buzzing. People talk about V.O.X, the song, the mystery face behind it. Praise, awe, curiosity—Uta hears it all.
Her chest swells with pride. Her confidence soars. She glances at Ash and the girls—all of them smiling.
Sure, it was her spotlight. But they built the stage. From Lucy staying serious the whole time, to all others helping in sync—and even Ash, helping her with music and even going through that ridiculous chicken-suit task just to boost her chances of success.
[Time Skip]
Time passed quickly. They continued to train, grow stronger, and live each day to the fullest.
Uta even released two more songs after that night. Though she kept her identity still hidden, the name V.O.X began to spread like wildfire.
Even during their bounty hunts across the East Blue, they'd occasionally hear her songs playing from cafés, bars, radios, kids playing as V.O.X to be her or even street performers. Her voice had reached far and wide… even if no one knew it was hers.
She never brought it up herself. But the others would notice the subtle smile she wore every time they caught her song out in the world.
And just like that…
The day finally arrived—
Ace's 17th birthday which they went all out.
The food, the chaos, the laughter—everything was bigger, louder, and wilder than usual. But beneath the celebration, a quiet tension lingered.
She was old enough now. If this were the original timeline, she'd be heading out to sea. And deep down, they all wondered—would she?
Before anyone could even ask, Ace cleared it up herself. "I'm not leaving," she said after the party, firm and honest. "I made a promise. I'm going to reach my dream with all of you. I'm not abandoning my family to chase it alone. Besides—aren't I one of the future vice-captain of our crew?"
That was it. Cheers erupted, and the girls pulled each other into a massive hug, the unspoken tension finally breaking. Relief washed over them like a tide.
Ash stood a few steps back, smiling quietly. "So… does it mean no Spade Pirates here? Me being here really did change this also, huh."
Before he could think too much, Lucy jumped on him with a grin. "See?! I told you Ace wasn't going anywhere!"
Ash chuckled. "Yeah, yeah. You did."
The days after flew by. Garp was supposed to visit, but Makino let them know he wouldn't be coming this time.
"The Marines are getting noisy," she said. "Something about that mysterious V.O.X hijacking Den Den Mushi signals three times in a row. Sengoku's fuming. Garp didn't sound happy either."
They had a good laugh at that—since even Garp still had no clue it was Uta.
Instead, they headed out bounty hunting again. This time, Ace got to pick the island. To Ash's surprise, she chose Sixis.
He blinked. Sixis Island? That place didn't have any towns—just ruins and wildlife. But he didn't voice it out thinking maybe fate still had something in store.
On the way, Ash thought about how far they'd come.
Everyone had taken the Soul Elixir now. They'd even gone back to the King of the Coast near Dawn Island to get more Sea King blood. Poor thing didn't even get a chance to fight back—it got beaten down again like last time.
They'd sacrificed unwanted Zoans and Paramecia for it—couple even found by Nami while pulling off one of her classic thefts from pirates and a noble.
Still, no Logia fruits in sight until know. But if the Mera Mera really is on Sixis, Ash could only hope they weren't too late. What if the person from the original story still shows up? Will he take the fruit? Did he already get it? Unanswered doubts and questions rose in his mind.
On other note, their Sea Stone resistance was improving too. Wearing the accessories daily helped, even if they weren't quite at Lucy or Uta's level. Their Devil Fruit control too was getting better as well—everyone slowly mastering their quirks.
Ash even had to trade in unused potions, tickets, and junk from his inventory to get another Devil Fruit, now safely stored. Celeste's upgraded Exchange System on his last birthday helped a lot with that.
They even used the Memory Transfer Chamber to rewatch each other's trials from Lost Island. That's when Ash finally understood Selena training idea on sharpening their Haki.
Her trial at one instance had her getting struck by lightning… but it clearly worked. Her Haki felt more refined—than the rest of theirs. Ash promised to find a safer way to train next time.
They also kept revisiting NL-1's Sector 3 assessment chamber. Ash and Lucy were neck-and-neck in points. Ace and Selena were tied. Uta trailed a bit behind. Nojiko had even managed to edge past Nami—sparking a fun rivalry between them.
Ash also noticed something odd. As their stats neared 1000, the pace of growth slowed. When he asked, Celeste explained they were approaching the limit of what a normal human can get to. Push past that, means breaking through their natural limits.
Ash didn't have a solution yet—but he knew one thing for sure: if they were heading to the Grand Line, they had a lot more work to do.
And just like that, in a little over a week… they finally reached Sixis Island.
The island was desolate. Cracked stone jutted from the ground like broken teeth, with thick forests wrapping around the ruins of old structures half-swallowed by vines. No signs of life in sight.
Selena glanced around and sighed. "Well... looks like there's nothing here."
Ace folded her arms, pouting. "Hey! How was I supposed to know? I just had a gut feeling when I picked it!"
Ash smirked. "Let's take a look around first. Who knows? Maybe we'll get lucky. If it really is empty, we'll move on to the next island."
Hours passed as they explored, and all they found were rocks, trees, and ruins. Nothing unusual.
Lucy groaned, slumping against Ash. "Ashhh... I'm hungry."
Laughing, Ash pulled out the portable cooking set from his inventory. "Alright, alright."
They gathered for a quick meal, the atmosphere easing up. As they ate together, the mood lightened. But soon, Ash steered the conversation to a more serious tone.
"We've come far," he said. "We're probably among the strongest in East Blue now. But the Grand Line? We'll be facing a whole different beast. If we really want to survive there as pirates… we're gonna need more than what we've got. We're not there yet."
The girls nodded. Ash opened his mouth to continue, "So, I'm planning to—"
Snap.
A twig broke nearby. Everyone froze and got up flaring their Observation Haki at once only to find a single presence.
Selena's voice sharpened as she rose, Nimbus Staff already spinning in her hand. "Come out. We know you're there."
From behind a cracked boulder, a man stepped forward, hands raised in surrender.
He had spiky, shoulder-length light blue hair, and wore a long, weathered coat that fluttered past his knees. A dark mask covered his eyes, he looked worn, starving for food so long.
But what caught Ash's attention… wasn't just the man.
It was the Devil Fruit held plainly in his hand—its familiar swirl pattern glowing softly under the light.
Ash's eyes narrowed. He activated Observe. As he read about the man from the result his doubts confirmed and only one thought sparked in his mind:
"Well... isn't this interesting."
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To be continued...
Thanks for reading this chapter!
I'd love to hear your thoughts — not just on the plot, but the journey itself. Is the pacing feeling right to you so far? Too fast, too slow, or just, right? Are there any moments, themes, or dynamics you feel are missing or could be explored more — like deeper character bonds, world-building, emotional scenes, or even new twists? Anything.
Also, is there anything you'd love to see added that could make the story even more exciting or satisfying? Whether it's a kind of power, a dramatic reveal, or just a character moment — your feedback really helps shape this story into something better.
Let me know in the comments! I read every one. 💬
And as always, if you're enjoying the ride, feel free to drop a Power Stone — it means a lot. 😊