Rowan laughed.
Not a mocking laugh.
Not the amused chuckle he’d used to provoke Enel.
A genuine laugh.
Light.
Unrestrained.
The kind that came only after a long-awaited victory.
“Relax.”
He raised a hand, and a thread of lightning danced lazily between his fingers.
“My goal was never Skypiea.”
The tiny bolt crackled softly.
“It was Enel’s Lightning Fruit.”
The electricity vanished.
“Now that I have it…”
His gaze drifted across Upper Yard—the ancient trees, the ruins of Shandora, the sacred land that had been soaked in blood for generations.
“The sky islands should be free.”
His voice wasn’t loud.
It didn’t need to be.
“No more gods.”
A brief pause.
“Not here.”
The words struck the Shandians harder than any attack.
Silence settled over the clearing.
Several warriors lowered their heads.
Others clenched their fists so tightly their knuckles turned white.
One man quietly wiped his eyes.
No one mocked him.
No one laughed.
Because they understood.
Years of war.
Years of sacrifice.
Years spent watching friends die for a dream that always seemed just beyond reach.
And now…
It was over.
The nightmare had ended.
Wiper drew a slow breath.
Then, to everyone’s surprise, he bowed.
Deeply.
The other Shandians immediately followed.
“We thank you.”
His voice carried a weight unlike anything he’d shown before.
“On behalf of everyone in Skypiea.”
The gratitude was genuine.
No warrior’s pride.
No reluctance.
Only sincerity.
Rowan accepted it with a small nod.
Then his eyes settled on Wiper.
“So.”
Wiper straightened.
“So?”
Rowan folded his arms.
“What’s next?”
The Shandian blinked.
“What do you mean?”
“Your homeland is free.”
Rowan gestured toward the ancient ruins surrounding them.
“Upper Yard belongs to your people again.”
“What are you planning to do now?”
The question caught Wiper completely off guard.
For the first time since arriving, he looked uncertain.
His entire life had revolved around a single purpose.
Reclaim Shandora.
Defeat Enel.
Restore his people’s pride.
Every battle.
Every scar.
Every sacrifice.
Everything pointed toward that goal.
Now that it had been achieved…
He realized he had no answer.
“I…”
His brow furrowed.
“I’ve never thought that far.”
The admission was quiet.
Honest.
And Rowan had expected exactly that.
Many warriors knew how to chase a destination.
Very few knew what to do once they arrived.
A faint smile appeared on Rowan’s face.
Perfect.
That made things much simpler.
“Then how about this?”
Wiper looked up.
Rowan extended his hand.
“Come with me.”
The world seemed to pause.
The surrounding Shandians exchanged startled glances.
Even Wiper froze.
Rowan continued.
“Below the White Sea.”
“The Blue Sea.”
“The Grand Line.”
“The world beyond these clouds.”
His eyes carried a spark of excitement.
The same excitement he’d felt when leaving his island after five years of isolation.
“And I want you on it.”
Silence followed.
Long enough for the wind to rustle through the trees.
Wiper stared at him.
The other warriors stared too.
For a moment, nobody knew what to say.
Eventually, Wiper spoke.
“The world below…”
His voice was quieter than before.
“I can really go there?”
Rowan shrugged.
“Why not?”
Then he smiled.
“You’re free now, aren’t you?”
Those words hit harder than any lightning strike.
Free.
The word echoed through Wiper’s mind.
Free.
For the first time in his life.
Not fighting.
Not struggling.
Not surviving.
Free.
His gaze drifted toward the ruins of Shandora.
Toward the homeland his ancestors had died defending.
Toward the dream that generations of warriors had chased.
Then he looked back at Rowan.
The man who had accomplished what none of them could.
The man who had killed Enel.
The man who had given them back their future.
The hesitation vanished.
Wiper’s hand slowly clenched into a fist.
Then he nodded.
Firmly.
“I’ll go.”
A smile appeared on his face.
A rare one.
“I’m joining your crew.”
Then, after a brief pause, he added:
“Captain.”
Rowan’s grin widened.
Just like that.
The first crew member had joined.
After five years of preparation, planning, and training, the foundation of his future crew had finally been laid.
The rest of the day passed quickly.
The Shandian warriors departed to spread news of Enel’s death across Skypiea.
Celebrations would undoubtedly erupt before sunset.
Meanwhile, Rowan remained near the Ark Maxim with Wiper.
There was still important work to do.
Recruitment was only the first step.
Strengthening his crew was the next.
After all, the Villainous Crew System wasn’t merely about gathering followers.
It was about creating monsters.
Fortunately, Rowan had prepared in advance.
Two Devil Fruits rested atop a nearby table.
One resembled a large spotted fruit with ancient-looking patterns woven across its surface.
The Cat-Cat Fruit, Model: Bronthe Leopard.
An Ancient Zoan.
Beside it sat another fruit.
Smaller.
Simpler.
The Swift-Swift Fruit.
A Paramecia focused entirely on acceleration.
Rowan’s eyes gleamed.
The combination was excellent.
The Ancient Zoan would provide overwhelming physical enhancement.
Strength.
Speed.
Durability.
Instinct.
Recovery.
Then the Swift-Swift Fruit would amplify mobility even further.
Together, the two abilities would create a terrifying combatant.
A predator built entirely around speed and aggression.
Someone capable of crossing battlefields in an instant and tearing enemies apart before they could react.
And Wiper was the perfect candidate.
Even without Devil Fruits, he’d spent years fighting a hopeless war against Enel.
His combat instincts were exceptional.
His foundation was solid.
His willpower bordered on absurd.
Most importantly—
He seemed trustworthy.
For Rowan, that was enough.
Unfortunately, Wiper immediately shook his head.
“No.”
Rowan blinked.
“No?”
The Shandian pointed at the fruits.
“Captain, I can’t accept these.”
His expression remained serious.
“Devil Fruits are priceless.”
“They’re treasures people would kill for.”
He looked genuinely uncomfortable.
“I haven’t done anything yet.”
A pause.
“The first thing I did after meeting you was attack you.”
His face tightened.
“Even one of these would be too much.”
Rowan stared at him for several seconds.
Then sighed.
“What an honest guy.”
Wiper looked confused.
The next moment, Rowan grabbed the Ancient Zoan and tossed it at him.
Wiper barely caught it.
“Captain—”
“Eat it.”
“No arguments.”
The tone left little room for debate.
Wiper froze.
Rowan folded his arms.
“Listen carefully.”
His voice grew more serious.
“Every crew member I recruit will receive Devil Fruits suited to them.”
“The stronger you become, the stronger this crew becomes.”
His eyes narrowed.
“And that benefits me.”
Wiper hesitated.
Rowan pointed at the fruit.
“So stop treating this like charity.”
“It’s an investment.”
The words hung in the air.
Something shifted behind Wiper’s eyes.
Trust.
Responsibility.
Determination.
Nobody had ever placed this much faith in him before.
Nobody.
Slowly, he nodded.
“…Understood.”
Without another word, he raised the fruit.
Then bit into it.
Instant regret flashed across his face.
His entire expression collapsed.
“That’s horrible!”
Rowan burst out laughing.
“Welcome to the club.”
Wiper looked ready to hunt down whoever invented Devil Fruits and personally challenge them to a duel.
Still, he kept eating.
One bite.
Then another.
Then another.
Until nothing remained.
For a moment, nothing happened.
Silence.
Then—
THUMP.
Wiper’s eyes widened.
His heartbeat thundered in his ears.
Power surged through his body.
Ancient.
Violent.
Primal.
A force unlike anything he’d ever experienced erupted from deep within his flesh.
The Ancient Zoan had awakened.
A growl escaped his throat.
Low.
Deep.
Predatory.
“GRRRRRRR…”
His body began to change.
Muscles swelled beneath his skin.
Bones cracked and shifted.
Brown fur burst across his arms, chest, and back.
Dark prehistoric markings spread over his body like tribal patterns.
His fingers elongated.
Claws emerged.
His teeth sharpened into fangs.
The transformation continued.
Bigger.
Stronger.
More savage.
Within seconds, his body had nearly doubled in size.
Then the change stopped.
A massive beast stood where Wiper had once been.
Its powerful frame radiated raw strength.
Brown fur covered its body.
Dark markings ran across its muscles.
Its claws looked capable of shredding steel.
Its golden eyes burned with predatory intensity.
An apex hunter from a forgotten age.
The Bronthe Leopard had found its owner.
Wiper stared down at his transformed body.
Flexed one claw.
Then another.
A mixture of shock and exhilaration crossed his face.
The power was undeniable.
And Rowan’s smile only widened.
This was merely the beginning.
The Ancient Zoan was the first gift.
The second would change everything.