Chapter 11: In the South Blue

It might seem sudden, but Devil Fruit users have a weakness to the sea.

This is common knowledge among pirates. Even the weakest pirates who can't survive in the Grand Line have heard the rumors—eating a Devil Fruit grants strange powers, but in exchange, the sea rejects you, leaving you unable to swim for life.

So what?

For pirates and sailors who’ve never seen a Devil Fruit or its user in person, the value of that power isn’t obvious. To them, the idea of willingly becoming unable to swim—a death sentence for a sailor—makes Devil Fruit eaters seem like lunatics. That kind of thinking is common among backwater pirates.

At the same time, countless sailors die chasing after just one Devil Fruit, proving how many still recognize their worth.

Though, to be honest, most of them aren’t after the power itself—they just want the money. A single Devil Fruit sells for no less than 100 million berries. Personally, I think selling them is a waste. The real value comes from eating one yourself—that’s why they fetch such insane prices.

But I get it. The downside is intimidating.

As someone who’s eaten one, though? It’s not that bad.

The sea, rivers, lakes, pools, baths—any standing water basically saps your strength. That part’s true.

But rain? Showers? No problem. And if only part of your body is submerged, your powers don’t vanish completely. You’ll still feel weak, and yeah, you’ll sink—but a bath? You can manage. It just takes some effort to get out.

So it’s not like Devil Fruit users never enjoy the ocean. Especially not on a summer island like this.

"Mmm~~~!! A private beach? Perfect~♡"

White sand, blue sea, blinding sun—

I lounged under the summer sky, skewered meat in one hand and a tropical drink in the other.

Ahhh, this is the life. With everyone doing their own thing, chores barely reach me. A real vacation. The yelling is a bit rowdy, and the scenery could use some work, but—

"Ugh… Grk…!"

"Hah…! Ugh—! R-Run… or we’re dead—! GYAHH!?"

"GYAHAHA! Hey, hey! You started this war, right!? Don’t go cryin’ about your lives now!!"

"Nothin’ left to steal! Total loss!! GYAHHAHA!!"

"Should’ve joined when you had the chance! Our captain don’t spare anyone who fights back! Dumbasses!!"

The lively voices belonged to my fellow Rocks Pirates, currently occupying this island in the South Blue.

The corpses and near-dead men littering the beach? The local pirates who foolishly refused to submit—even attacked us first. As if pirates of their caliber could ever take down anyone in our crew.

Thanks to them, the white sand was now stained red in places, and bodies floated in the sea. This was the only flaw in an otherwise perfect resort. They ruined the view.

"Pathetic bastards…!! You call yourselves pirates!? A damn joke!! …Hey, Nue! How many you kill!?"

"Hmm~? Uh… twenty, maybe?"

"WORORORO… Then I win!!"

"How many did you kill?"

"Whee… Hic… Who the hell counts!?"

"Then how do you know you won…? I mean, yeah, you probably killed more, but still."

Honestly… Even in the South Blue, Kaido was still Kaido.

Here we were, supposed to be celebrating after the fight, and he was still finishing off survivors with his club. His usual rage was in full swing—probably pissed they were too weak to be fun. Drunk on anger and booze.

"C’mon, Kaido, we’re drinking in paradise. Shouldn’t you be enjoying yourself? Wasting this would be a crime."

"Uuuu~~~… Fhihihihi! Yeah, you’re right!! Ahhh, I’m feelin’ good now!! Whee~… That’s our Nue! Gotta drink happy!!"

Ah. Drunk and laughing now. Good enough. More fun this way.

"Still, Nue~~~ Why the hell’d you take your clothes off…? Finally lost it? Hic."

"Don’t say it like that!! It’s a bikini!! Just a swimsuit!!"

I snapped back—he made it sound like I was naked. Sure, I’d ditched my usual outfit, but in its place was a frilly black bikini. Adorable and perfect for me. Why? Because it sets the mood, obviously. I even stole it from town just for this.

"Swimsuit…? Hic. Who needs that? You can’t even go in the water."

"I can wade in up to my knees! That counts! Plus, a cutie like me wearing a bikini at the beach is service—a little refreshment in this crew full of men. As the resident adorable girl, it’s practically my duty—"

"WORORORO!! This booze hits good!!"

"LISTEN TO ME!!!"

Ugh… Of course Kaido doesn’t get it. The point of a swimsuit is wearing it at places like this. And with the enemies wiped out and no Marines in sight, we could actually enjoy the sea. Chances like this are rare.

"WORORORORO!! I’m gettin’ fired up!! Hey, Nue!! Let’s fight!!"

"Why’s that your takeaway…? We just finished fighting those guys over there."

"’Cuz… U… WOOOOOO~~N!!"

Ugh. Now he’s drunk-crying. What’s his deal this time?

"Yeah, yeah. I’m listening. What’s wrong?"

"It’s not fair…!! I gotta get stronger…!! Still can’t use Haki… I’m weak!!"

"Ah… That again… But what can you do? If it were that easy, no one would struggle with it."

Watching Kaido bawl his eyes out left me at a loss. Sure, he’d been training Haki in real fights for months now—and still couldn’t use it. Maybe he just lacked talent? But if even Kaido couldn’t get it… Hmm. Maybe his method’s the problem. He’s had plenty of real battles…

"And you’re still weak as shit too…! When the hell are you gonna use Haki!?"

"Shut up, dumbass!! You can’t use it either, and you’re still a scrub!!"

"WOOOOOO…!! Yeah… I’m weak…!! So weak it hurts…!!"

Ah— Crap. Made him cry harder. What do I do…? I could just ignore him and keep drinking.

Sigh.

I do get it, though.

As I reflected on the past six months since joining the Rocks Pirates—

Three months sailing between the Grand Line’s second half, the New World, and the North Blue and West Blue beyond the Calm Belt…

Then Captain Rocks announced we’d shift operations to the Grand Line’s first half and its flanking seas—the South Blue and East Blue. Soon after, we arrived here in the South Blue.

From the New World, we crossed to the North Blue, then entered the Grand Line via Reverse Mountain—the entrance at the base of the Red Line—before crossing the Calm Belt again to reach the South Blue. Along the way, we recruited pirates, sank Marine ships, and raided Marine bases and World Government-affiliated nations.

Same routine, no matter where we went. Naval battles, assaults, plundering, slaughter—as pirates, we’ve stacked up plenty of combat experience.

But somehow…

It doesn’t feel like we’ve gotten noticeably stronger.

I mean, Kaido’s endurance has improved since the start, and he’s definitely stronger. Me too, probably. I’ve gotten used to the trident the captain gave me.

My Devil Fruit powers have also grown. Before becoming a pirate, I could only use Dark Cloud and that weird seed thing. Now, I can summon Red UFOs and even snakes. My combat record’s improved—especially these past three months.

But here’s the thing—

The New World is the strongest sea. The North and West Blues are relatively high-level too.

But the Grand Line’s first half, the South Blue, and especially the East Blue—the weakest of the four seas—are nothing compared to the New World.

The Grand Line’s first half is still tough, but the four blues? Easy. The East Blue in particular is… yeah. I’ll save my thoughts for when we go back, but damn, they’re weak. At first, I was shocked. Wait, am I actually strong? Then I realized—No, they’re just that bad.

So when Kaido says he’s crying because he’s weak…

Well, it’s not that bad, but I get the feeling.

Six months as a pirate. Still a rookie, still a novice—but the desire to grow stronger?

That, we share.

"Damn it... Fine then... NUE!! We're killin' someone!!"

"...Just asking, but who exactly are we killing?"

"Whitebeard or Linlin!! Pick one, Nue!!"

"Both options scream death... Hmm, then I'll take Whitebeard’s head, and you handle Linlin. Deal—

—Just kidding, of course—"

"Got it!! I'm headin' out first!! WOOOOO!!"

"Wait—I was still— Huh...?"

Before I could finish, Kaido nodded eagerly, transformed into a massive dragon, and shot off across the island. I watched him go, then took a sip of my drink to steady myself.

"...Well... He probably won’t die... Kaido’s tough enough..."

I convinced myself. Yeah, it’s fine. This is just part of his training—pushing himself to the brink to awaken Haki. Fighting your own crew is scarier than any enemy, after all. Growth comes from struggle.

"...Now that I think about it... Maybe I should try that too?"

Not that I could just pick fights like Kaido—I’d actually get killed. But Whitebeard? He wouldn’t kill me. Probably. Still scary, though. Maybe I should drink first...

Since I sent Kaido off, it'd be unfair to just sit around. Chugging the nearest bottle, I floated into the air to find Whitebeard.

Ten minutes later.

Whitebeard was easy to spot.

"Ah... Found him~!"

He was drinking off to the side, separate from the others. The alcohol in my system kept my nerves steady. Alright, let’s do this.

I readied my spear, gliding silently through the air to position myself behind him—

"—Whitebeard, I’m taking your head~!!"

"...The hell’re ya doin', ya brat!!"

"Hweh!?"

I lunged, aiming for his blind spot—

Only to get smacked straight into the ground.

Owwww!! That hurt way more than last time...!!

"Ugh... My head’s spinning... What was that for!?"

"That’s my line!! Who the hell ambushes their own crew!?"

"Uh... A lot of people...?"

Whitebeard’s scowl twitched at my genuine confusion. He let out a sharp exhale, visibly holding back his irritation.

"...So? What’s yer scheme this time? If it’s booze, there’s plenty. No need to steal from me."

"Well, see... I kinda promised Kaido we'd take Linlin and your heads, so he went after Linlin, and I’m here for you...?"

"...What kinda promise is that...? Forget me—Linlin won’t hesitate to kill 'im!"

"...Eh, Kaido’ll be fine! He hasn’t died yet!"

"...Tch. If you're fine with it..."

Whitebeard took a deep swig from the bottle.

Heh. Opening.

"...Now’s my chance!!"

"—Like hell!!"

"Ow!?"

I lunged again from below—

Only to get flicked square in the forehead.

Guh—!! That definitely had Haki in it...!!

"Tch... Brat's got nasty habits... Weren’t ya just relaxin’? Even changed clothes too."

"Huh? ...Ohhh~♡ Staring at my swimsuit? How naughty~♡"

"—Pfft. Not a damn ounce of charm in ya."

"You laughed just now!!?"

"Gurarara... Try seduction again in a hundred years, brat."

"In a hundred years, I’d be a granny... Wait. Huh? You into older women or somethin'? Ew..."

"That ain't what I meant, ya idiot!!"

—Hah! My win.

The seduction failed, but I got him with words. Heh. Too easy.

"Since I won, you owe me a bottle and Haki lessons!"

"The hell kinda one-sided rules are those...? And Haki’s the bonus...?"

"Winner takes what they want. Pirate rules~."

"Not happenin’. Learn it yerself."

"Boo! Stingy!!"

Tch. No dice... I was hoping he’d just go along with it. At this rate, attacking again would just get me swatted away. Maybe I should call it here.

Grabbing another bottle, I took a swig. Tasty. Might as well drink my sorrows away.

"Ahhh~ Booze tastes extra good today!"

"...Yer really not bothered?"

"Hm? By what?"

"...Same crew, same ship—kill or be killed every damn day... Ain’t ya scared?"

Hmm?

Where’d that come from?

Well, it’s not like I’m completely unbothered, but...

"Honestly? I’m used to it... But corpse duty's a pain. Other than that, as long as the people I like don’t die, it’s fine."

"...At yer age, seein’ death daily don’t weigh on ya?"

"—Not really. Death’s everywhere. I’ve been close to dyin’ since forever, and being a pirate just made it clearer—sometimes you gotta kill to live. Plus... I wanted to die before."

"! ...The hell does that mean?"

Whitebeard’s face stiffened. Oh? Did I shock him? A kid saying stuff like this?

But it’s the truth.

"Life was so painful I wanted to die. Now? It’s fun. I’ve got goals... Wanna get stronger, but it’s not easy."

"...I see."

Whitebeard nodded shortly, drinking again. What’s he thinking? Pity? Whatever.

I do seem pitiful. My past was awful. Talking about it would probably darken the mood...

Hmm.

Maybe I should show him that mark?

I already revealed it to Kaido. Showing it to someone I trust a bit wouldn’t hurt.

Yeah, let’s do it.

"—Jihahaha! Then I’ll teach ya!"

"Huh?"

"You—! Shiki. The hell’re you here for?"

Just as I was about to turn, a familiar voice cut in.

Looking back, I saw him—standing among the crew, golden mane and weirdly shaped brows framing a face brimming with ambition.

"Golden Lion" Shiki.

Whitebeard eyed him warily, but Shiki just shrugged.

"C’mon, we’re crewmates, ain’t we? What’s wrong with visitin’? Jihahaha!"

"...Piss off. I want some alone time."

"Jihaha, liar. Ya seemed plenty cozy with the rookie. Mind if I join... Nue? You’re fine with it, right?"

"Eh...? Uh, sure..."

I blinked, caught off guard.

Shiki had never spoken to me directly before—let alone used my name.

While I stood frozen, Shiki ignored Whitebeard’s glare and smirked.

"Jihaha, settled then! Let’s drink—celebrate the Rocks Pirates' victory!"

"...Tch."

"...Uh..."

What do I do?

Whitebeard wasn’t helping, leaving me floundering. I’d barely spoken to Shiki before—no clue how to act.

Hmm...

Guess I’ll just rely on my charm?

Heh. Don’t let my looks fool you—I’m great at sweet-talking. Most of the crew doesn’t even see me as a threat.

Men love cute, playful girls like me.

Obviously.

"...You two were amazing today! I mean, the enemies were weak, but still—"

"—So, Nue. Ya wanna get stronger? Learn Haki? Then I’ll teach ya."

"...Huh?"

"—Shiki! The hell’re ya plannin'!?"

Whitebeard’s voice boomed, but Shiki just grinned wider, eyes locked on me.

"Why the anger, Whitebeard? What’s wrong with helpin’ a promising junior? Jihahaha...!"

"Tch..."

"Potential...?"

"Yeah. Of course."

Shiki grinned, swirling his drink lazily.

"I've been watching every single member of the Rocks Pirates these past six months... And you and Kaido? Not bad. More than enough for rookies. Sure, there are plenty stronger than you two right now... but in terms of growth? It's you two. No wonder the Captain took a liking."

He shot a glance at Whitebeard.

"Right, Whitebeard? You see it too."

"............"

Huh? Wait.

Shiki... I always thought you were just that weird-eyebrow uncle, but you're actually kinda nice! Sorry! I totally judged you as "that floaty eyebrow guy" in my head!

But more importantly—Whitebeard's silence...

Do I really have that much potential?

I mean, I have started believing I'm not completely talentless... but I'm nowhere near confident. Not like Kaido, who seems capable of anything.

Shiki, however, continued—more specific now.

"Kaido's got insane durability and strength for a brat. You're not on his level, but close. Fitting for Zoan users. And you, Nue—your Devil Fruit's rare, you're sharp, and your eyes are good. Both of you just need polish... Which is why I think the Captain's been letting you two gain experience."

He smirked, swirling his drink.

"My guess? He's molding you two for five, ten years down the line."

"...Really?"

I had felt like he was keeping an eye on us... but that much?

"Damn right! So—why not let me lend a hand? As a fellow crewmate!"

Shiki spread his arms, grinning wider.

"I'll take you two under my—"

"—What're you scheming, Shiki?"

Whitebeard cut in, voice sharp.

Shiki's grin didn't waver, but his eyes narrowed slightly.

A silent standoff.

Then—

"Jihahaha...! Can't fool you, huh? Fine, yeah—I do have plans."

"...Knew it."

"Hmm... Like, plotting a coup over years?"

"!!"

Shiki blinked, then laughed—genuinely surprised.

"Heh... You're sharper than I thought, brat. Jihahaha!"

Not that hard to guess.

Shiki's always had this... look when watching the Captain. And he did say he'd been observing the crew.

Whitebeard sighed, rubbing his temples.

"...So that's your game."

"Jihaha! Straight to the point—Nue, Whitebeard... Wanna team up?"

"Eh? Team up...?"

Whitebeard looked exasperated. I was just confused.

Me? A rookie?*

Wait—

"...Is this about my body—"

"—No."

"—Hell no."

"Eh!? Then what!? Rude!!"

They answered in unison, deadpan.

Ugh. These guys clearly don't appreciate my charm. Pathetic.

I'll make them see it someday...!

Shiki, oblivious to my silent vow, smirked and pressed on.

"I get what you're thinkin', Whitebeard. That we can't beat the Captain yet, right? Jihaha... Yeah, you're right."

Wait, so he is serious about overthrowing the Captain?

That's... impossible.

The Captain's strength is insane. Even Shiki admits it—

"The Captain's a monster. No openings. Sharp mind. I've been looking for any chance to strike... but there is none. He knows my ambitions too. Lets me try anyway. That man... he might as well be a real demon."

He took a swig, grinning.

"No one—not even the Fleet Admiral—could beat him. His dream of ruling the world? He'll do it."

"...Then why not give up?"

Whitebeard's words mirrored my thoughts.

The Captain is like a demon. I've never seen him injured. Bullets? Cannonfire? He catches them. Bare-handed. Unscathed.

No way you could ambush him.

But Shiki's grin just widened.

"Jihaha... Yeah, we can't win now. But in ten years? Twenty? Thirty?

He leaned in, eyes gleaming.

"With a perfect plan... and your strength, Whitebeard... we could. Even the strongest monster falls to time."

...Oh.

He's not just betting on getting stronger.

He's willing to wait—decades—for the Captain to age.

"So? Whitebeard! Nue! Join me! With your power and my plans, we’ll take down that monster and rule the world!"

"............"

Whitebeard stayed silent, weighing his words.

I did too.

It does sound fun. And Shiki would teach me Haki...

But—

"Uh... I'll pass."

"...!! You're turning me down now? I keep my promises. You'll get stronger. I’ll treat you right. You won’t be a rookie for long."

Shiki's grin faltered, replaced by a sharper edge.

But my answer wouldn't change.

"...Well, agreeing would make me and Kaido your subordinates... and Kaido wants his own crew someday."

"............Heh. Jihaha... Yeah, that does sound like him. Then just you!"

"Still no. I already decided—when we go independent, I'm joining Kaido's crew. He's the captain. I'm the vice-captain. We swore on it."

I smirked.

"Changing sides now? Not very pirate-like."

"Tch...! That's—"

"—Heh. You lose, Shiki."

Whitebeard chuckled as Shiki's eye twitched.

"Damn it, Whitebeard! What about you!? Joining me or not!?"

"Nah. What I want... ain't the same as you. We don’t mix."

"Tch...! Fine! My bad for asking!"

Ooh. He's pissed.

Rare sight. Gotta memorize this.

"The hell you starin’ at!?"

"Eek!? N-Nothing...!"

"Tch... Whatever. But remember this, brat—one day, I'll rule these seas. Anyone in my way? Dead. You’d better remember that."

"—Ah! This booze is sweet! Tasty!"

"Idiot! This isn’t booze—it’s juice!"

"Let me try—whoa, sweet but good—WAIT! LISTEN TO ME!!"

Whoops.

Got distracted and commented on the drink. Shiki snapped back instantly.

...Huh?

He's way more approachable than I thought.

Whitebeard laughed, shaking his head.

"Gurarara... Big talk for a crewmate."

"Says you, Whitebeard... Ugh. Everyone’s a pain..."

Grumbling, Shiki turned to leave—

But I couldn’t resist one last tease.

"If you want strong subordinates... why not ask Linlin?"

"That glutton who rampages for sweets? Hell no. She’d be more trouble than she’s worth."

"Ah... Yeah, everyone thinks that..."

Good.

Even Shiki agrees.

...Not that it helps now, since Kaido's probably charging at her because of me.

Oops.

"He’s gone..."

"So he just wanted more pawns... Aww, and I almost got Haki training..."

I pouted, watching Shiki disappear into the crowd.

Then—

"............Tch. Fine. I’ll teach you the basics."

"Eh? ...EH!? REALLY!? YAY! THANK YOU!! What do you want as thanks? A kiss on the cheek—?"

"—In six months."

"...Huh? What?"

Whitebeard's sudden offer—after months of refusing—left me stunned.

But before I could celebrate, he dropped the condition.

Six months?

Whitebeard's expression was dead serious as he—

"If you can survive another six months, I'll teach you Haki. Right now, I don’t know if you’d even withstand the training."

"Ehh?! I can handle it! I’m pretty tough, y’know? Kaido and I beat each other up all the time! (Though I dodge most of his hits!)"

"Don’t care. Six months. Try not to die until then."

"Muuu... stingy."

"Stingy’s fine."

Ugh. No flexibility at all. I puffed out my cheeks in exaggerated frustration, but Whitebeard had already turned back to his drink, signaling the conversation was over.

"Hmph! Six months is nothing! You better start planning my training!"

"If the time comes."

"Grr—fine! I’m gonna go check on Kaido!"

With no room left to argue, I took off.

Six months. That was all.

Heheh.

I was fired up.

Until then, I’d just keep moving forward.

Before long, I found Kaido collapsed on the beach—again. Sighing, I threw him over my shoulder and carried him back.

On a certain island in the South Blue, a man with a crescent mustache watched the peculiar rookie girl fly off.

"...Tch. What’s she in such a damn hurry for...? And calling that idiot Kaido her brother..."

Edward Newgate—Whitebeard of the Rocks Pirates—took a swig of liquor, grumbling to himself.

Something about that girl left a complicated feeling in his chest.

"...Nah, she’s just as crazy as him. What a mess."

He couldn’t help but pity her.

Her circumstances, her upbringing, the twisted path she’d walked—not just as a pirate, but as a person. He knew how easy it was for a child to warp under harsh conditions, to adapt and distort. She was no exception.

And yet...

When she acted her age, it was almost easy to forget.

"...Is this really okay?"

It wasn’t about saving her. It was too late for that. Once you chose the pirate’s path, it was your own. Nothing he said would change that.

But the future—

It was only natural to want to spare others from misfortune. And treating even the worst brats with basic decency... well, that was just what adults should do.

He had no grand ambitions like the Captain. But he wasn’t so heartless as to do nothing.

That’s why he’d joined this crew—to lessen suffering, even if it meant putting up with the monsters around him.

(Then again, he was still a pirate. He had boarded this ship for his own reasons, his own answers.)

"What is the right way... for a family to be?"

He still didn’t know. But he knew one thing—this wasn’t it. Neither was the blood family some of his comrades clung to.

Even so...

For him, being a pirate meant caring for his crew, no matter how foolish or lost they were.

That’s why—

When the girl turned down Shiki’s offer, choosing instead to stand beside that idiot brother of hers...

For just a moment, he’d wanted to cheer her on.

"You won’t regret this...? Damn it..."

Maybe he’d regret this later. By all logic, those two were destined to be infamous outlaws.

But he couldn’t bring himself to scorn someone fighting for their family.

That was his conviction.

Sighing, he rubbed his temples. Aware of the contradiction, he convinced himself it was fine. They were crewmates, after all.

Then he downed another drink.

---

Meanwhile, on the seas of the East Blue...

"Vice Admiral Garp! Are you sure about this? Shouldn’t we focus on the Grand Line—?"

"This is fine!! My gut says they’re coming here next!! Trust the instincts of a man who’s been chasing pirates for years!!"

"Uh... ‘Years’ is barely a decade..."

"Plenty long enough!! Now then—!! Come at me, Rocks Pirates!!"

In the weakest of the four seas, surrounded by Marine warships...

A certain reckless Marine waited for the world’s strongest pirate crew.