As the massive dragon-headed sailboat drew closer, everyone at the dock paused their work, turning to stare.
"That ship's huge!"
"Yeah, it's been ages since we saw one this big."
"Look, there's something like a face on the bow!"
"It's so weird. Is it a kite?"
"Too far to tell what it is."
The morning sea breeze couldn't drown out the crowd's excited whispers as they watched the approaching ship.
Too large and deep-drafted to enter, the dragon-headed sailboat anchored outside the harbor. A small boat was lowered, and the enormous figure at the bow—previously just a vague shape—leaped lightly onto it.
Thud!
The small boat rocked violently, nearly capsizing, but stubbornly steadied itself.
Following the figure, several others in matching black robes descended the ship's ladder.
As the boat drew nearer, the crowd finally saw clearly: it was a person, their face as large as the boat's bow. Clad entirely in a black robe except for their face, they stood over four meters tall.
The exposed face revealed long, thick eyelashes and an exaggeratedly large mouth, adorned with light blue eyeshadow and purple lipstick.
The kids, including Zoro and Kubi, busy hauling fish in the dojo's boat cabin, heard the commotion and dropped their tasks, rushing out to gawk.
Ahua leaned over the railing, pointing excitedly at the approaching boat. "See that huge-faced person?"
"Yeah! First time seeing someone like that," Ata said, eyes wide.
Alo chimed in, "Check out that ship—it's massive!"
"Uh-huh!" the other kids nodded eagerly.
Zoro, hefting a tuna larger than himself, emerged from the cabin with Kubi, who carried two fish baskets. Glancing around and not spotting Sora or Kuina, he shouted to Ahua, "Where's Sora and Kuina?"
"At the stern!" Ahua replied, then pointed at the sea, thrilled. "Zoro, look! A big-faced weirdo!"
Zoro glanced where Ahua pointed, then lost interest.
"Sora!" he called, turning to see Sora and Kuina approaching.
"You've always wanted to see my strength, right? Today's your chance," Sora said, his face alight with excitement.
Zoro, puzzled, studied Sora's expression. In the year he'd known him, Sora had never been this fired up.
"Since my breakthrough, I haven't really fought," Sora explained, turning to Iku with a grin. "Master never goes all out against me. Today, I can finally test my limits. Uncle Iku, please keep them safe." He nodded toward Ahua and the others.
"Hey, Sora, don't underestimate us! We don't need protection!" the kids shouted, waving their arms. Alo even struck a muscle pose.
"Yeah, we're strong too!"
"Quiet, you brats! This isn't someone you can handle," Iku barked, his face suddenly grim.
The moment he saw that face, Iku felt a spark of recognition. Too far to be sure at first, but now, closer, it clicked.
"What's wrong?" Sora asked, feigning ignorance.
"I remembered something."
"What?"
"I know who that big face is."
"Who?"
Everyone stared at Iku, hanging on his words.
Iku took a deep drag from his pipe, his expression serious. "If I'm right, that's a legend from recent years."
"A legend?"
"Yep. Known for miraculous medical skills, saving people and nations deemed beyond hope. The one who left behind the 'Savior Legend'—the greatest Okama King, Emporio Ivankov."
"What? Just a doctor?" the kids muttered.
Ahua, pushing up his glasses, jumped in excitedly. "Wait, Okama King? What's an okama, anyway?" Clearly, he was more curious about that.
"Uh… an okama… maybe half-human, half-demon?" Alo rubbed his chin, nodding sagely.
Thwack! Thwack!
Iku smacked both with his pipe. "Don't interrupt, brats!"
Alo and Ahua straightened, bowing. "Sumimasen!"
Iku paused, squinting, and continued, "Don't think he's just a doctor. The Navy's got a 85.3 million beri bounty on him."
"85.3 million?!"
Silence fell. Everyone froze. Okama or doctor, they didn't care—but 85.3 million beri? In the East Blue, where the highest bounties hovered around 20 million, that number was staggering.
Sora, of course, knew it was Emporio Ivankov from the start. That's why he was so excited. Ivankov wouldn't harm civilians, and his strength was perfect for a no-holds-barred spar. Plus, any fallout could be brushed off as a misunderstanding.
Plan perfect.
A sea breeze swept through, breaking the stillness, and the dock erupted in chatter.
"No way, Sora, you're gonna fight that monster?!"
"Even you can't beat an 85.3 million beri monster!"
"Enough!" Sora said lightly. "It's not a deathmatch, just a spar."
He turned to Kuina. "Kuina, lend me Wado Ichimonji."
Kuina's grip tightened on her sword, worry flickering in her eyes.
Sensing her concern, Sora placed his right hand on her head, his voice gentle. "Kuina, as long as I don't want it, no one can hurt me."
Right. No one could touch Sora. Kuina relaxed, unhooking the sword from her waist and handing it over.
"Sora, go all out. I want to see the gap between us."
"Got it!" His voice rang with confidence.
Sora took the sword, raising it before him with his left hand. His right hand gripped the hilt, slowly drawing it partway. The blade scraped against the scabbard with a crisp zing..
Wado Ichimonji, one of the 21 Great Grade swords. Its white hilt and scabbard were simple, unassuming—a blade that concealed its power. According to Tenguyama Hitetsu, it was forged by Shimotsuki Kozaburo alongside Enma.
"Good sword."
Sora sheathed it with a soft clink.
He removed the ordinary sword from his left waist, tossing it to Kuina. "This one can't handle my full swing."
Hanging Wado Ichimonji at his waist, he glanced at Kuina and Zoro, then leaped off the boat, left hand on the hilt, sprinting across the water.
Zoro dropped his tuna, rushing with Kuina to the railing, watching Sora run over the sea.
Behind Ivankov, a young man with rabbit-ear headgear, rowing the small boat, gaped ahead. "Whoa, look! Someone's running toward us on the water!"
Smack!
A sharp slap hit the back of his head. Another youth behind him grumbled, "Ippu, quit daydreaming! Who the hell runs on water? If someone can, I'll eat this oar!"
Seconds later, he noticed the silence. Following everyone's gaze, he saw a figure sprinting across the sea. His eyes nearly popped out.
"Uh…"
Someone was running on water.
Ippu turned, grinning smugly. "See that? You said what now?"
He shoved the oar at him.
The other youth, flustered, looked around, mumbling, "What? Did I say something?"
"Nope, nothing at all," he said, nodding seriously at Ippu.
Ippu's hand trembled with the oar, stunned. "You're shameless."
"Thanks for the compliment."
"Both of you, shut it!" Ivankov snapped.
"Yes, Lady Ivankov!" they chorused.
Ivankov had noticed Sora long before, her brow furrowing slightly.
"You okay, Lady Ivankov?" asked a figure in a black robe, wearing orange-blue glasses and a clover-shaped hairstyle—orange on the left, white on the right, with a lightning-shaped scar from forehead to right eye. A woman, by her voice.
"No worries, Inazuma. Just spotted an interesting boy," Ivankov replied.
Inazuma gazed calmly ahead, right hand extended palm-down, left hand elegantly swirling a wine glass. "Impressive. He's actually running on water."
She sipped her wine. "Lady Ivankov, he's coming for us."
"What… what do we do?! He's coming for us!" Ivankov wailed, legs buckling dramatically, trembling with an exaggeratedly wide mouth.
"Lady Ivankov, you okay?!" Ippu shouted, concerned.
"I… I… I…" Ivankov's swaying body spun 180 degrees, arms raised high. "I'm not scared at all!"
Ippu and the boat's crew burst into laughter and applause.
"She's not scared!"
"Fooled us again!"
"Haha!"
Inazuma stood aside, smiling warmly at their antics.
As for the approaching Sora, she wasn't worried. This was the East Blue, the weakest sea, after all.
(End of Chapter)