One Piece: Rising to Power as a Warlord of the Sea

"Noriyuki, join our Smile Pirates! We could really use a storyteller on board, hehehe! And your stories are amazing," Kumo finally exclaimed, unable to hold back his excitement any longer.

"Me? Join you? Really?" Noriyuki asked in surprise.

Noriyuki was taken aback—an invitation from a human pirate crew! He'd set off alone because even other merman adventure groups hadn't wanted him. Growing up as an orphan in the Fish-Man District, he had no family or support, surviving alone in the dark depths of the sea. This solitary upbringing left Noriyuki with a deep longing for excitement and companionship. Now, his dream was to travel the world and write his experiences into a book so that he'd never feel lonely again, and life would have meaning.

Seeing the hope in Noriyuki's eyes, Captain Natsu smiled and nodded. After all, the further they ventured into the New World, the tougher their opponents would be. If Gin, Hiro, and even their panda companion ever fell overboard, someone other than Natsu would need to be on hand to pull them back up.

In Natsu's mind, Noriyuki was already appointed as the head of their "recovery crew."

In the world of pirates, no one could match fish-men and mermaids when it came to retrieving things from the depths of the sea.

"Really? Hahaha, I finally have friends! Hahaha!"

Overcome with joy at Natsu's approval, Noriyuki laughed and cried, confusing Kumo, whose round, chubby face crinkled in puzzlement. Was this guy crazy or something?

To celebrate Noriyuki's joining, the Smile Pirates threw a grand welcoming ceremony on the ship. As was tradition, they held a lively feast.

Since setting out five months ago, the Smile Pirates' journey had brought together six new members: the hefty Kumo, the fearsome Gin, the cunning little fox Karina, the eccentric doctor Hiro, the thunder-wielding Enel, and now Noriyuki, the merman. Including Natsu and two allies from nearby islands—the swordsman monkey and the tiger-fisted martial artist—the crew numbered nine in total.

Natsu's approach was to keep the main crew small and elite, while reserving expansion plans for when they could secure a base of operations. In the pirate world, a strong captain attracted plenty of loyal followers.

After the feast, stood at the bow, gazing out at the endless ocean, feeling a happiness like never before.

Meanwhile, across the New World, the Red-Haired Pirates were in the heat of battle. Thanks to the formidable strength of its officers, the Red-Haired Pirates were rapidly expanding their territory, leaving countless other pirate crews defeated in their wake. Gradually, they began to rival the power of the Whitebeard Pirates, Kaido's Beasts Pirates, and Big Mom's crew, forming an uneasy four-way stalemate. It was the year 1515 of the Sea Calendar, and according to legend, Shanks would officially become one of the Four Emperors tomorrow, establishing the crew as a top force overlooking the New World.

The New World - Onboard the Moby Dick

"Pops, here's the latest news. The Red-Haired Pirates are taking territory like crazy. They're gaining followers fast, nearly strong enough to rival us," said a pineapple-haired man, handing Whitebeard a newspaper headlined with Shanks's conquests.

"Gurara! That red-haired brat from Roger's crew has been busy lately, huh?" Whitebeard chuckled, taking a long drink, ignoring his nurses' concerned glances. As he looked out over the vast ocean, he thought back to his battles with the Roger Pirates.

"Roger, is this the age of piracy you were hoping for? Gurararara! Even in death, you're a troublemaker. It seems the New World is about to get a whole lot livelier."

Elsewhere, Big Mom and Kaido had also seen the news and each felt a twinge of something, but after a moment of thought, they discarded the papers and went about their routines. The New World never lacked powerful pirates. Since the era of Rocks, they had seen countless warriors rise to the top.

In Marineford's headquarters, Fleet Admiral Sengoku clenched the newspaper in frustration. "Shanks! After all these years, what are you planning?"

From Sengoku's experience, Shanks wasn't one to act without purpose. As a former member of the Pirate King's crew, Shanks's intentions were rarely random.

"What's your next move, Shanks?"

The Grand Line – Aboard the Smile Pirates' Ship

As the Smile Pirates sailed onward, the skies abruptly darkened. Thunderclouds rolled in, green lightning crackled above, and monstrous waves surged ever higher. The sudden change in weather dampened everyone's spirits.

"What's going on? Wasn't the sky clear just now?"

"This area's air pressure is unusually low. Strange!"

Kumo clung to Natsu's side, his tiny eyes darting around. "Captain…there wouldn't happen to be zombies around here, would there? It's so spooky."

"Wait! I think I know where we are," said Karina, her face paling. "Turn the ship around now. This is the Demonic Sea. No ship has ever come out of here intact!"

"Yahahaha! No ship ever came out? I don't believe that! Captain Natsu, I say we check it out," said Enel, grinning in disdain.

"Don't worry, Enel," said Natsu with a smile. "The Smile Pirates are moving forward. Maybe we'll meet a skeleton that can talk!" He let out a hearty laugh and gestured for the ship to continue into the ominous waters.

This land, Natsu knew, belonged to none other than the Seven Warlords of the Sea Moria, who held the powers of the Shadow-Shadow Fruit. Moria was once a powerful warrior who had even fought Kaido multiple times.

Although he had lost and his crew was massacred, forcing him to join the Seven Warlords of the Sea, Moria was still a powerful opponent, and surely rich with treasure.

And right now, Natsu's crew needed funds badly. Relying on task rewards alone made it hard for Natsu to strengthen himself and his crew quickly.

So, Moria, sorry, but you've caught my eye.

Inside his castle, Moria shivered, a sense of unease washing over him.

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