One Piece: From Ninja To Pirates

On Iceberg's ship, the members of the Straw Hat Pirates stared intently at the distant Golden Merry Go. For the past three hours, none of them had moved a muscle.

Iceberg stood beside them, also gazing into the distance.

When he first heard Franky mention that the Straw Hat Boy's ship had birthed a Ship Spirit, he had been surprised. But recalling the voice he had heard while repairing the ship, it all made sense.

That voice had been the Ship Spirit's!

Upon reflection, it was obvious—what other force could have allowed this condemned ship to traverse the Aqua Laguna?

He just wondered if he would ever get the chance to see the Ship Spirit with his own eyes.

"It's been so long. Why hasn't there been any movement over there?" Sanji frowned.

Could even Meiser be powerless in this situation?

"Sometimes, no news isn't necessarily bad news," Nico Robin interjected.

After all, it meant Merry still had a chance to be saved, didn't it?

At the very least, Robin didn't want to see Meiser walk over and shake his head—that would mean Merry was beyond help.

"Robin's right," Zoro said. "Let's just wait quietly."

Even Luffy, who was usually ravenous, didn't rush off to find food. Instead, he leaned against Zoro, silently watching the horizon.

Then, something changed in the distance.

Poof!

A massive cloud of white smoke suddenly appeared, completely enveloping the Golden Merry Go.

"What's happening?!" Nami exclaimed. "What's going on?"

Where had this white smoke come from? Had someone attacked Meiser and the others?

"I'm not sure, but it doesn't seem like an attack."

"Look! The ship is gone!"

"What?! Where did Merry Go disappear to?!"

The sudden vanishing of the ship stunned everyone.

How could such a massive vessel just disappear like that?

"Could something have gone wrong?" Sanji muttered worriedly.

"Have faith in Meiser," Nico Robin reassured.

...

Meanwhile, standing on the surface of the sea, Meiser looked down at the Summoning Scroll spread open on a wooden plank. On it was a detailed illustration of the Merry Go—clearly the very ship that had just vanished.

Using a Sealing Technique, Meiser had sealed the pirate ship into the scroll. On the left side of the illustration, a name was inscribed:

Sephirah-Merry!

This was the name Merry had carried since her birth.

By signing her name, Merry had formed a direct bond with the Summoning Scroll. Any ninja who signed the scroll could summon her, provided she consented.

"Why did I have to sign this?" Merry asked curiously, standing on the wooden plank.

"I had no other choice," Meiser admitted with a sigh. "This is the only way to keep you alive."

Originally, Meiser had planned to use Yin-Yang Release to sever Merry's connection to the Golden Merry Go. But after attempting it, he realized it was impossible.

So he changed tactics—using the Sealing Technique to lock the ship's current state, preventing further deterioration.

Unexpectedly, this act severed the unique link between the ship and Merry. This unforeseen outcome gave Meiser a glimmer of hope.

But the next change made Meiser's expression shift again, for Merry's body was gradually becoming transparent, as if she were about to disappear.

After a moment's thought, Meiser understood—this transformation was likely because Merry had lost her connection to the Merry Go, the vessel that had sustained her existence!

In his urgency, Meiser attempted to use Yin-Yang Release to stabilize Merry's condition, which briefly granted her a physical form.

Next, he tried to convert her into a state similar to a Summoned beast, turning this scroll into a Summoning scroll to serve as her new vessel.

Meiser's intuition proved correct. Perhaps because Merry was an extraordinarily unique being in the world, she effortlessly inscribed her name onto the scroll.

The moment her name was signed, her condition ceased deteriorating. Instead, with the aid of Meiser's Yang Release Chakra, her vitality rapidly recovered—as though some universal law now permitted her to continue existing!

From that point onward, the little one was completely out of danger, having become an independent spirit.

'Who knows? Maybe this little one will even master summoning techniques someday,' Meiser mused silently.

"So... does this mean I can keep adventuring with everyone?" Merry asked.

As she spoke, she examined her body and noticed all the cracks had vanished, restoring her to the adorable little sprite she once was.

"Yes, the adventure continues," Meiser replied with a smile.

Upon hearing this confirmation, Merry clenched her tiny fists and pressed her lips together.

The brave little one finally couldn't hold back any longer—tears welled up in her eyes.

"It's okay to cry," Meiser said softly, kneeling down despite his own pallor. He gently ruffled her hair. "Let it out."

"Waaah!"

Merry burst into loud sobs, releasing all the emotions she'd bottled up.

Only she knew the true extent of the suffering she'd endured.

To rescue her friends, she had piloted the broken-down Merry Go alone, enduring the agony of her body tearing apart as she forced her way through Aqua Laguna and crossed the sea to Enies Lobby.

That entire journey had been pitch black, with no one to talk to—not even the direction had been certain, painstakingly discerned through sheer will.

She had felt pain. She had felt fear. But to save her crew, she had borne it all in silence.

Only now, knowing she could live on, did she finally allow herself to break down.

After all, she was just a child who had only existed for a few months.

"I was so scared being alone... the ocean was so dark..."

"Being able to live... it's just... it's just so wonderful!" Merry cried uncontrollably. "I didn't want to leave everyone! I wanted to keep adventuring together!!"

Meiser was deeply moved. It was hard to imagine how this tiny being had managed to brave the tsunami alone.

She seemed so small, yet had accomplished a miracle that defied belief.

"It's over now. From today onward, you'll never be alone again," Meiser reassured her. "We'll all keep adventuring together."

"Mm!"

Meanwhile, the Straw Hat Pirates had noticed the commotion.

"What's going on? I think I hear crying," Sanji remarked.

"Hey, let's go check out the situation," Luffy said. "Uncle Iceberg, could you prepare a lifeboat for us?"

"Alright, got it. But don't you want to try talking some sense into that guy first?" Iceberg pointed downward as he spoke.

At his words, everyone immediately noticed Usopp, who had already jumped overboard.

The guy didn't even wait for the lifeboat—he just leaped straight into the water!

"Quick, lower the lifeboat!"

...

After crying for a while, Merry gradually calmed down. Then, with a slightly embarrassed expression, she said, "Sorry, Meiser, I got your clothes all wet."

"No problem, it's nothing," Meiser replied with a smile. "Ready to meet everyone?"

"Mm!" Merry nodded vigorously.

"Great, let me put this away first." As Meiser spoke, the summoning scroll shrank, and he prepared to store it in his ninja tool pouch.

But Merry offered to take it instead, explaining that she had a small personal space where she could keep things.

While explaining, she casually pulled out a hammer to show Meiser—the same tool she had used earlier to repair the ship—leaving him utterly stunned.

"Is this... a free spatial ability?" Meiser gaped.

But after a moment's thought, he realized it made sense. Since this little one was a spirit, having some special abilities was only natural.

"Hey, pretty cool, huh?"

"Amazing!" Meiser praised. "That's our Merry for you!"

After saying this, Meiser glanced back at Usopp, who was dog-paddling toward them through the water, and added, "Come on, let's go meet the others. Someone's getting impatient."

"Okay!"

Meiser instinctively tried to pick Merry up, but the moment he looked down, his vision darkened, and he collapsed.

In that instant, he understood—he had completely exhausted his chakra.

The intense battle, combined with the massive effort to save Merry, had drained him dry.

"Meiser!!"