One Piece: From Ninja To Pirates

Since Yin-Yang Release could physically touch Merry, perhaps it could be used to save her?!

Now, the hope of saving Merry rested entirely on Meiser's shoulders. No matter what, he had to try.

Glancing at the small figure in his arms, Meiser forced himself to remain calm. Whether Merry lived or died depended entirely on him.

"So... you really have a way?!"

"I can't guarantee it'll work, but we have to try." Meiser took a deep breath. "At least we won't have regrets."

"Then go for it," Luffy said.

Though he didn't understand what Meiser planned to do, he chose to trust him.

"Do you need our help?" Sanji asked.

"I have some experience in shipbuilding too," Franky added. "If you need anything, just say the word."

"The method I'm using... you can't help with this." Meiser shook his head.

"He must be planning to use ninja techniques," Kokoro observed.

The crew froze for a moment before reluctantly nodding. If it involved ninja arts, there was truly nothing they could do.

"Merry, stop the ship," Meiser said, looking at her.

His first priority was to sever Merry's connection to the ship so its condition wouldn't affect her. But if she kept maintaining the ship's form, Meiser wouldn't be able to act.

"No."

"No?"

"I won't stop the ship until I've gotten you all to shore," Merry insisted.

As she spoke, new cracks appeared across her body, but the little spirit paid them no mind.

"Merry!!"

Usopp stared at her with aching heart, wishing he could bear her pain instead.

Perhaps sensing his emotions, Merry smiled gently before continuing, "Right now, I'm barely holding the Merry Go together through sheer will. If I withdraw my power, the ship will break apart completely."

"At that point, even if I wanted to do anything, I couldn't. So... I refuse."

As the Ship Spirit of this vessel, Merry understood her condition and the ship's damage perfectly. If she followed Meiser's suggestion and withdrew her power, the keel would snap instantly. The Merry Go would become unable to sail, and her life would end.

But this wasn't what Merry wanted. How could she rest peacefully dying at sea without seeing everyone safely home?

"But if this continues, you'll die."

"It's alright. I'm not afraid."

A warm smile spread across Merry's face as she looked at her crew. "Wasn't the meaning of my existence always to carry everyone safely to their destination?"

"Merry!!"

"Meiser, do what you must," Zoro said calmly. "The longer we wait, the worse it gets."

"Forcing it might hurt her."

"That's still better than letting Merry die!"

Meiser hesitated. The logic was sound, but if Merry refused to cooperate, how could he save her?

At that moment, Franky noticed something in the distance and exclaimed excitedly, "I see a ship!"

"A ship?!"

Everyone's eyes lit up. If they could get another ship, perhaps Merry wouldn't have to endure the pain of maintaining the Merry Go any longer.

"Clang!"

Zoro immediately drew his sword and declared, "Prepare to seize the ship."

Though they might feel a bit guilty toward those people, there was no time to worry about that now. At worst, they could compensate them later. The priority was saving their crewmate.

"Wait a second!" Usopp said, peering through his special goggles. "Those people seem to be... Uncle Iceberg and his crew!"

"Old man Iceberg?" Franky's eyes brightened. "Then we don't need to steal it."

"In that case—"

Before Usopp could finish, an ominous sound reached their ears—like the groaning of wood under strain.

The sudden change made Usopp's face pale.

He immediately turned to inspect the ship's hull and found cracks already forming beneath the railing.

"Oh no, the Merry Go is—"

"Someone's coming to pick us up? That's great..." Merry said weakly. "Then I can finally..."

As she spoke, the cracks on her body multiplied, and she grew visibly weaker.

Without the Ship Spirit sustaining it, the Merry Go began to fracture in places, as if it might collapse completely at any moment!

"Splash~"

Suddenly, the seawater churned, gently enveloping the underside of the Merry Go like an added layer of protection.

This change halted the ship's accelerating deterioration.

"Whew... That should hold it for now," Meiser said with a relieved sigh.

With the seawater wrapped around it, even if the keel snapped, the ship wouldn't shatter—though it wouldn't be able to move anymore.

Seeing that Merry's condition had stabilized, the others relaxed.

"You scared me... I thought Merry was going to—"

Chopper bit his hand as he stared at Merry, fighting back tears.

"You all should head to that ship first," Meiser suggested.

"How?" Sanji said helplessly. "We had a lifeboat, but after what happened earlier, it's gone now."

They couldn't possibly swim there—everyone was running low on stamina.

"Swim!" Zoro declared.

"Swim?"

Chopper blinked, glanced at the sea, and steeled himself... For Merry, he'd do it!!

"Idiot, of course I'll carry you," Zoro said, grabbing Chopper before he could jump.

Was this kid seriously planning to swim on his own?

"I'll take you there."

As Meiser spoke, a Water Dragon emerged from the sea, silently floating beside the Merry Go.

"Hey, we can't walk on water like you," Franky pointed out.

"Stop wasting time and get moving!" Sanji kicked Franky, sending him tumbling onto the Water Dragon's head.

"Splash~"

Franky plunged into the surging currents, bobbing up and down inside the watery construct.

Franky: ???

Dude, I wasn't refusing to go.

But seeing the others jump in without hesitation, even the Devil Fruit users, Franky stopped complaining.

"BOOM!!"

Soon, the massive Water Dragon carried everyone away, charging toward the enormous ship where Iceberg was!

With that, only Meiser and Merry remained on the Golden Merry Go.

After gently placing Merry on the deck, Meiser asked:

"Merry, do you trust me?"

"Yes!"

Though it was her first time meeting Meiser, since he was also a member of the Straw Hat Pirates, that made him her companion. So she was willing to trust him.

"Good. What I'm about to do next concerns your life and death." Meiser's expression grew serious. "Cooperate fully with me. Don't resist, understand?"

"Okay, I understand."

Though she didn't know what Meiser planned to do... if there was truly a way to survive and continue adventuring with her crew, how could she refuse?

She... wanted to live too!

At that moment, Meiser sensed Merry's desperate will to survive.

Taking a scroll from his Ninja Tool Pouch, Meiser placed it on the deck.

"Poof~"

A puff of white smoke appeared, and the small scroll instantly transformed into an enormous one!

"What is this?" Merry asked in confusion.

"It's a special scroll."

"What's it for?"

"Simply put... it can save you," Meiser replied.

Yin-Yang Release, Sealing Technique, Summoning Technique...

Meiser planned to try them one by one until he found a way to save Merry.

"Alright, I understand. I'll cooperate with you."

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