Marineford, Grand Line — The Navy Headquarters.
Inside the Fleet Admiral's office, the scent of ink and parchment filled the air. Mountains of reports towered over the massive desk.
A knock came at the door.
"Report! Admiral Sengoku, dispatch from the East Blue base at Loguetown!"
"Leave it there," Sengoku said, rubbing his temple. His voice carried fatigue and irritation. "If that's all, you're dismissed."
"Yes, sir!"
The young marine saluted and left, boots clicking down the corridor.
Sengoku leaned back in his chair and stared at the sealed envelope. "The East Blue again… why does that cursed sea keep giving me headaches?"
He sighed, breaking the wax seal and reading quickly. His eyes narrowed with each line.
"Headed toward Serpent Island?" he muttered. "Don't tell me that bastard plans to face the Serpent himself…"
He set the paper down and rose from his seat, moving to the wide window overlooking the training grounds. Dozens of marines drilled below under the blazing sun.
"The Mercenary King of the East Blue," Sengoku whispered. "Cold Blade Jin… you're not a man who stays quiet for long. If that monster on Serpent Island doesn't kill you, maybe it'll at least humble you."
But even as he said it, the admiral's jaw tightened. A sliver of worry flickered through his gaze.
The East Blue — Aboard the Eternal.
The ship drifted under a wide, cloudless sky. The air smelled of salt and steel.
Jin sat at the center of the lower deck table, his expression calm but resolute. Kuina, Tina, Makino, and Kuma gathered around him, listening closely.
"I've confirmed it," Jin said, his tone even. "The blood we took from that Sea King King is enough to forge the blade I've been envisioning. We don't need to continue toward Serpent Island."
The words struck like a bell in still air. The crew blinked, exchanging quick glances.
Makino was the first to smile. "If that's what you've decided, then that's enough for us."
She looked around the table, her warm green eyes settling on each face. "Right, everyone?"
Kuma scratched his head. "I follow the boss and Miss Makino!"
Kuina nodded once. "No complaints."
"Same here," Tina added, arms crossed.
Jin looked at them—his crew, his family—and smiled faintly.
"I know you're wondering why," he said, pushing himself up and walking to the railing. The horizon stretched endlessly ahead, a mirror of blue and light.
He rested one hand on the rail. "When we set out, I wanted to test something inside me. To see how far I could push my limits. But that Sea King King… it was a warning. A reminder that the world's not as simple as I thought."
He turned, violet eyes sharp. "This ocean is alive. It's cruel, unpredictable. And being strong alone means nothing if I can't protect the people beside me."
The deck went silent.
Makino's smile softened. "You're still you, Jin. We've never doubted that. From the moment we stepped aboard the Eternal, we decided our lives are in your hands. You're not just our captain—you're family."
Kuina nodded. "You carry us forward."
Tina grinned. "And drive me crazy while doing it."
"Boss is boss!" Kuma boomed proudly.
Jin looked at them, pride burning behind his calm expression. "I haven't lost confidence. I've just… filled a gap I didn't know existed. I've realized something."
His tone shifted—deeper, more resolute. "In this world, no one can kill me. Not pirates. Not marines. Not even gods."
A pulse tore through the air.
Red-black lightning burst outward from Jin's body, shattering the silence. The Eternal groaned under the weight of his will. The air itself bent and screamed as his Conqueror's Haki exploded in full force.
Waves erupted outward in concentric circles, sending spray high into the air.
Makino's hair whipped around her face, eyes wide with awe. Kuina gritted her teeth, feeling the crushing gravity of his will. Even Tina—who'd faced Vice Admirals—found her knees trembling slightly.
Kuma, ever the simplest of them all, stared with his jaw open. "Old Boss… just got scarier."
Jin stood unmoving, his coat snapping violently behind him. His aura twisted around him like a storm of red fire. But unlike before, it didn't surge wildly. It flowed. Controlled. Perfectly focused.
The deckboards vibrated beneath their feet, yet none of them looked away.
"This…" Tina whispered, eyes reflecting the red glow. "This is a monster. The kind even the Navy fears."
Makino smiled faintly, her voice warm despite the storm. "A reliable monster."
Kuina's fingers tightened on her sword hilt, her eyes shining with determination. "I'll catch up to you, no matter how long it takes."
Kuma just muttered in awe, "How does he do that? His Haki feels… alive."
Jin closed his eyes, drawing the power inward. The storm collapsed like a wave retreating into the sea. The air calmed. The world fell silent again.
When he finally spoke, his voice carried both exhaustion and quiet pride.
"My Haki's evolved," he murmured. "Before, it was just domination. Force through fear. But now…"
He looked at his hand, faint sparks still dancing over his fingers. "Now it listens to me."
Hours later, twilight painted the deck in orange hues. The Eternal drifted gently, sails lowered.
Makino approached from behind, a soft towel draped over her arm. "Still awake?"
Jin was sitting cross-legged again, focusing his breath, faint ripples of Haki flickering around him like embers.
"Trying to control the new flow," he said without opening his eyes.
She knelt beside him, wringing the towel. "You're shaking."
He exhaled slowly. "Just the backlash. The body's still adjusting."
Makino placed the cool towel over his arm. "You should rest."
"I will," he said quietly. "Just… one more round."
"Always one more round," she murmured, smiling faintly.
When his aura finally faded, Jin opened his eyes and found her watching him with that same gentle warmth that always cut through the noise in his head.
"Thanks," he said simply.
She shook her head. "You don't have to thank me."
He tilted his head. "Then what should I do?"
Makino hesitated—then leaned in, her hand brushing against his. "Just don't die before dinner again."
He laughed softly. "Deal."
The laughter eased the last bit of tension between them. For a moment, there was only the rhythm of the ship and the warmth of two souls sitting beneath a fading sky.
By the next morning, Jin's Haki had stabilized. When he released it again, the air didn't shatter—it resonated. The deck creaked in rhythm, the sails fluttering as though bowing to his will.
Tina watched from afar, her mouth slightly open. "He's syncing it… with nature itself."
Kuina's eyes widened. "He's merging intent with flow."
Makino just smiled knowingly. "That's Jin for you."
Even Kuma could feel the difference. "Feels warm," he muttered, scratching his head. "Like… family."
And maybe that was exactly it.
Before, Jin's Conqueror's Haki was a weapon—born from rage and defiance.
Now, it was something else.
An oath.
A promise carved into the sea itself.
His voice carried across the deck, calm and unwavering.
"This power isn't just mine anymore. It belongs to the ones who sail beside me."
He looked at them one by one, the faintest smile tugging at his lips.
"So no matter what's waiting out there—Serpent, Admiral, or god—" He raised his hand, palm open to the rising sun. "—we'll carve through it together."
The crew nodded, and for the first time since the storm, every heart on the Eternal beat in perfect rhythm.
The sea stretched endlessly ahead, golden under the morning light.
Far away, in the Grand Line's heart, seven pirate banners converged toward Marineford—each carrying the scent of chaos that would soon shake the world.
But for now, aboard the Eternal, there was only calm.
And a man whose will had just broken its limits
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T/N :
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