“What do we do?!
What do we do?!”
Nami desperately shook Norton’s shoulders, her voice trembling with panic.
“We’re all going to get eaten by the Sea King!”
The gigantic shark-like Sea King slowly swayed its tail.
Compared to its enormous body, the cruise ship looked like nothing more than a toy resting on its back.
Its vast shadow blanketed the sea like an approaching dusk.
The deck had already descended into chaos.
Everyone wore expressions of utter despair.
Before a creature this enormous…
Humans were no different from ants.
“We’re not going to survive…”
“My life’s over!”
“First pirates, now a Sea King…
Since when was the East Blue this terrifying?!”
…
Hopeless words spread throughout the crowd.
The atmosphere grew heavier by the second.
Despair hung over everyone.
Everyone…
Except Norton.
He remained as calm as ever.
“Relax.”
“I’m here.”
Even hearing those words, Nami couldn’t calm down.
The situation was beyond terrible.
The hull had a massive hole.
The shipwrights couldn’t repair it.
The Sea King was carrying the shattered ship on its back as though it were an amusing toy.
Each time it moved, the keel groaned under the strain.
Cracking wood echoed like the ticking of a countdown.
Even if the beast suddenly lost interest and dumped them back into the sea…
The ruined ship would never reach another island.
Swim?
No one here was a Fish-Man.
“Damn it!”
“I can’t die here!”
Tears streamed down Nami’s face.
“Don’t worry.”
“If you’re with me…”
“You won’t die.”
Norton gently patted her head before looking toward Sanosuke.
Hidden deep within the ninja’s eyes…
He caught a trace of guilt.
The ship lurched violently once more.
The Sea King had apparently grown bored of balancing the ship on its back.
It suddenly rolled sideways.
The entire world tilted.
The ship instantly broke apart beneath the overwhelming force.
Wood, ropes, and shattered planks exploded into every direction.
Screams were swallowed by roaring wind and crashing waves.
“AHHH!”
“Help!”
“If there’s a next life…”
“I swear I’ll never become a pirate again!”
“I’ll even marry the mayor’s fat daughter!”
Cries erupted everywhere.
Nami fell helplessly through empty space.
She squeezed her eyes shut.
Her heart felt as though it would burst from her chest.
Am I going to die…?
The next instant…
The sensation of falling disappeared.
No impact came.
No icy seawater engulfed her.
Instead…
A strong arm caught her securely.
She slowly opened her eyes.
…He’s so handsome.
The thought slipped into her mind before she could stop it.
“Hold on.”
Before she could react…
Norton effortlessly slung her over his shoulder.
“W-What are you doing?!”
Norton didn’t answer.
Still falling through the air…
He casually threw an ordinary punch.
The pressure from his fist exploded outward.
A visible shockwave tore through the atmosphere before slamming into the Sea King’s massive back.
BOOM!!
The sea erupted.
A gigantic crater dozens of meters wide instantly caved into the Sea King’s back.
Scales shattered.
Flesh twisted.
The enormous creature let out a deafening roar that echoed across the ocean.
Norton calmly raised his fist again.
Preparing to throw another punch.
Before the punch was even released…
The overwhelming pressure had already begun gathering.
But…
The second punch never came.
A mournful cry suddenly echoed across the sea.
It sounded…
Like pleading.
Sea Kings couldn’t communicate with humans.
Yet they possessed intelligence comparable to humanity.
Unlike ordinary sea beasts…
They couldn’t be tamed.
Legend said only the ancient weapon Poseidon could command them.
And yet…
At this very moment…
Everyone could clearly feel it.
The Sea King was surrendering.
It feared Norton’s fist.
Silence fell over the ocean.
The Sea King remained perfectly still.
Only the occasional splash of drifting wreckage…
And everyone’s ragged breathing…
Disturbed the quiet.
Norton slowly lowered his fist.
Then he looked toward Sanosuke and grinned.
“Looks like…”
“My fist is stronger than your bad luck.”
Sanosuke stood rooted to the spot.
The same thought flashed through his mind once again.
Could it be…
Is Norton truly the master I’ve been searching for all this time?
Nami slid off Norton’s shoulder and stared blankly at him.
He’s ridiculously strong…
And…
He’s nothing like any pirate I’ve ever met.
The doubts she had buried began resurfacing.
Perhaps…
Following him wasn’t such a terrible idea after all.
The survivors gathered around Norton, overflowing with gratitude.
“Mr.
Norton!”
“You’re incredible!”
“You knocked down a Sea King with a single punch!”
“Thank goodness you were here!”
“You saved all of us!”
…
After everyone had finished showering him with praise, the Duke stepped forward.
Norton…”
“What should we do now?”
“The ship is completely destroyed.”
Although Norton had defeated the Sea King…
Their ship was beyond saving.
Without the Sea King carrying them…
They wouldn’t even have a place to stand.
“Simple.”
Norton shrugged.
“We’ll have this fish take us to land.”
“…But…”
Nami looked worried.
“The nearest island is still at least a day’s journey away.”
“And humans can’t communicate with Sea Kings.”
Ignoring her concerns, Norton cupped his hands around his mouth and shouted at the enormous creature.
“Hey!”
“Can you understand me?”
“You destroyed my ship.”
“So you’re taking us to land.”
“Otherwise…”
“I’ll turn you into fish soup.”
The Sea King let out a low rumble.
Then…
It actually began swimming.
“It moved!”
“It really moved!”
Nami stared at Norton in astonishment.
“How did you do that?”
“Maybe it’s just talent.”
Norton rubbed his chin.
Truthfully…
He didn’t know either.
Ever since he was little…
He’d been able to communicate with animals.
Sometimes he couldn’t understand their cries.
Yet…
They always seemed to understand him.
A reverse version of the Voice of All Things?
Probably not.
He hadn’t even awakened Haki yet.
After all…
His fists had always been enough to solve every problem.
He’d never encountered an opponent capable of forcing him to awaken it.
Being too strong could be troublesome sometimes.
Invincibility was lonely.
Which was exactly why he’d been so eager to set sail.
“Hey!”
“Big fish!”
“Swim that way!”
Nami copied Norton’s actions and pointed toward the horizon.
The Sea King ignored her completely.
“…What’s wrong with this stupid fish?”
she complained.
Norton burst into laughter.
Nami puffed out her cheeks and glared at him.
“Don’t laugh!”
“Fine…”
“I won’t…”
“…Hahaha!”
Despite his promise, he couldn’t stop laughing.
After a while, he finally pointed in the same direction Nami had indicated.
“Hey!”
“Stupid fish!”
“Go that way!”
The Sea King let out a low cry.
Then obediently turned and swam in the direction Norton had pointed.