The raft soon slipped out of the turbulent currents of the Grand Line, entering a zone where the air grew eerily still. The waves flattened, the ocean taking on a smooth, unsettling sheen, like a mirror reflecting the morning sky. The Calm Belt stretched before them, a silent, oppressive expanse where no breeze stirred the sail. Mihawk, impassive, sat at the front, his gaze scanning the water.
Léo, in his mind, was thrilled.
So this is the Calm Belt?!
The silence was shattered by a low rumble beneath the water. The raft's planks trembled slightly, and a massive shadow passed underneath, rippling the glassy surface. Korran sat up, dagger in hand, a fierce grin on his lips. "Finally, some action," he murmured, his dark eyes gleaming with anticipation. Perona, on the other hand, shrieked, floating backward in exaggerated panic. "Heehee! I told you so!" she cried, her ghosts scattering in all directions.
A colossal head broke the surface just meters from the raft—a Sea King, a titanic sea serpent with glistening blue scales, its red eyes blazing like infernos. Its maw opened, revealing fangs larger than the raft itself, and a guttural roar shook the still air. Then a second emerged, smaller but no less menacing, its green scales glinting under the rising sun. Both monsters fixed on the raft, their hungry gazes promising a swift, brutal end.
Korran grinned savagely, ignoring the pain in his leg, a black aura cloaking his dagger as he activated his Armament Haki. "Come on, you bastard!" he growled, ready to leap onto the first monster and repeat his earlier feat. He could already picture the battle—a bloody clash to prove his worth again, blade against scale in a brutal dance of survival.
But before he could act, Mihawk rose slowly. He didn't draw Yoru. Instead, he turned his head toward the Sea Kings, his golden eyes narrowing with such intensity that the air seemed to solidify around him.
An invisible wave—Conqueror's Haki—surged through the space, striking the monsters like a silent storm.
The Sea Kings froze, their roars dying in their throats. Their red eyes flickered, fear replacing savagery, and their massive bodies quivered as if they'd hit an intangible wall. The larger one let out a muffled whimper, its head lowering in instinctive submission, while the smaller one dove beneath the surface without hesitation, its tail thrashing frantically in retreat. Within seconds, both monsters vanished, leaving only a wake of foam and a deafening silence.
Korran, poised mid-combat stance, blinked, his dagger still raised. His grin faded, replaced by pure astonishment. He slowly lowered his weapon, turning to Mihawk with a mix of disbelief and raw respect. "Damn…" he muttered, his hoarse voice trembling slightly. "You didn't even move… and they bolted like rabbits." He stabbed his dagger into a plank, leaning on it for balance, his dark eyes studying Mihawk as if seeing him for the first time.
Perona, who had been hiding behind her umbrella, peeked out cautiously. "Heehee… They… they're gone?" she stammered, floating timidly forward. "Just with a look?! Mihawk, you're seriously creepy, you know that?!"
Léo, in Mihawk's mind, was ecstatic.
Nothing beats Haki!
Mihawk sat back down calmly, saying nothing more.
Korran slumped against his plank, a bitter smile on his lips. "Captain…" he murmured, almost to himself. "There's a hell of a gap between you and me." He ran a hand over his face, chuckling softly—a hoarse laugh tinged with brutal realization. He'd survived battles, killed to live, but facing Mihawk, he finally grasped what it meant to stand at the pinnacle. The World's Greatest Swordsman, a pirate worth 4 billion Berries, didn't need to raise a blade to dominate—his presence alone was enough.
Perona floated to the back, crossing her arms with an exaggerated sigh. "Heehee! I say we should've stayed on our island!" she grumbled, her umbrella twirling in her hands. "But fine, if you can scare those things off without ruining my dresses, I guess it's not so bad…" She shot Korran a sidelong glance, adding in a mocking tone, "You, though, looked like an idiot waving your dagger for nothing!"
Korran grunted, but a smile lingered on his lips. "Yeah, maybe," he replied, his hoarse voice carrying an odd satisfaction. "But I'll train. One day, I'll make those bastards run myself." He gripped his dagger tighter, his eyes burning with renewed determination.
The raft remained still in the Calm Belt.
Léo, in his mind, mulled over the detour.
He's taking us through here to avoid the Marines or negotiate a passage at Sabaody later. Risky, but with my Haki, we're untouchable here. Smart and badass! Also, it's a necessary detour to get a ship…
The black sail hung limp, useless in this windless zone, and the raft seemed frozen, suspended in an oppressive sea.
Perona clutched a makeshift oar—a piece of wood torn from the raft—and paddled clumsily, her face twisted with effort and irritation. "Heehee! This is ridiculous!" she whined, her shrill voice piercing the heavy silence. "Why do I have to row like some lowly slave?! This stupid raft, this dumb detour… Mihawk, you better find me an island with cute stuff after this, or I'll have my ghosts haunt you forever!"
Korran, seated in the center, rowed with a similarly makeshift oar, his movements steadier. His rusty dagger was stabbed into a plank within reach, and a tired smile played on his cracked lips as he listened to Perona's complaints. "Chill, princess," he said, his hoarse voice tinged with amusement. "Look over there—an island. We won't be rowing forever." He nodded toward a green mass emerging on the horizon, its outlines still hazy but promising.
Perona turned her head, her eyes lighting up briefly. "Heehee! An island?! Finally!" she exclaimed, floating higher for a better view. But her excitement faded almost instantly, replaced by a sulky pout. "Wait… another detour?! Mihawk, what's your deal with straight lines?! We'll never get to Sabaody at this rate!" She shot a glare at the Hawk, who ignored her with sovereign indifference.
Léo, in Mihawk's mind, was elated.
Amazon Lily—the island of warrior women!
Meanwhile, on Amazon Lily, the air carried a different kind of tension. In the heart of the lush jungle, near a clearing ringed by steep cliffs, Monkey D. Luffy trained under the stern guidance of Silvers Rayleigh. The old man, glasses perched on his nose and gray hair disheveled, watched his student.
Luffy, shirtless and drenched in sweat, pounded a massive boulder with his fists, an aura of Armament Haki shimmering around his knuckles. "Harder, Rayleigh!" he shouted, a determined grin lighting up his face. "I wanna master this stuff before I see my crew again!"
Rayleigh crossed his arms, a subtle smile on his lips. "You're getting there, kid," he said, his deep voice echoing in the clearing. "But Haki isn't just brute strength—it's will. Focus."
A few meters away, hidden behind a massive tree, Boa Hancock watched the scene, her cheeks faintly pink with every move Luffy made. Her long black hair cascaded over her shoulders, and her almond-shaped eyes gleamed with admiration she tried—and failed—to conceal.
He's so… determined, she thought, a dreamy smile on her lips. A man like him is rare… She sighed softly, lost in her thoughts, when hurried footsteps snapped her out of her reverie.
An Amazon warrior, a lithe young woman with braided hair and a spear, burst into view, breathless. "Empress!" she called, stopping short to salute respectfully. "We've spotted a raft in the Calm Belt… and it's heading straight for us! It's Hawkeye, Dracule Mihawk!"
Boa frowned, her expression shifting from softness to icy sharpness. "Mihawk?" she murmured, her low voice humming with instinctive wariness. "What's he doing here?" She straightened, her regal bearing taking over, her eyes piercing the messenger with keen intensity.
The Amazon swallowed, hesitating for a moment. "Should we inform Rayleigh?" she asked, lowering her voice as if their presence were a secret.
Boa shook her head, a sly smile curling her lips. "No, it'll disrupt Luffy's training," she replied curtly. "I'll handle this myself." She adjusted her red cape, her gaze hardening.
The Amazon nodded and hurried off, while Boa cast one last glance at Luffy, a glint of determination in her eyes.
No one will disturb your training, Luffy… not even him.
TO BE CONTINUED...
Enjoying the story?
☕ You can support me with a one-time tip on Ko-fi: ko-fi.com/hemlet
📚 Want to read 30+ chapters ahead and get exclusive content?Join me on Patreon: patreon.com/Hemlet
Your support means the world — thank you! ❤️