One Piece: Waves of Destiny

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"My name is Shirahoshi. How did you get in here?"

"It was King Neptune who asked me to come in," Roja replied with a calm demeanor.

As if instinctively, Shirahoshi stretched out her palm, and Roja stepped onto it naturally.

For reasons she couldn't understand, Shirahoshi felt inexplicably drawn to the man before her. Her heart began to race—something she had never experienced before during her lonely years in the Hard-Shell Tower.

"Shirahoshi, your father has already explained everything to me. I won't waste time with unnecessary words. Let me ask you directly—do you long for freedom?"

"Freedom…"

The word stunned Shirahoshi. She instinctively glanced at the small window of her tower.

The sunlight streaming through it carried a warmth that filled her with yearning, yet fear lingered in her heart. She had spent years confined to this tower because stepping outside would bring a barrage of projectiles aimed at her. If not for her quick reflexes, she might have been seriously hurt.

As time passed, her perception of the world outside grew hazy. Tears welled up in Shirahoshi's eyes as she thought about the injustice of it all.

"I didn't do anything wrong," she choked through her tears. "Why must I be imprisoned here, unable to experience the outside world?"

Her emotions finally broke through.

"Roja, I want to leave! I want to walk out of the Hard-Shell Tower and live a life of freedom!" she cried out, her tears—enormous compared to an average person's—falling like cascading waterfalls.

Roja's expression softened. "Do you trust me? If you do, we can step outside this tower together, right now."

For reasons unknown to her, Shirahoshi found herself instinctively trusting Roja. Perhaps it was the unshakable confidence he exuded or the warmth in his voice.

"I trust you, Roja," she said, nodding firmly.

With that, Shirahoshi swam out of the Hard-Shell Tower for the first time in years.

When King Neptune saw her emerge, he had to compose himself to keep from weeping. Decades as a king had taught him restraint, and he forced his voice to remain steady.

"Shirahoshi," Neptune said, "trust Roja. He'll take care of Vander Decken IX. You won't have to live in confinement any longer."

Shirahoshi nodded, hope glimmering in her eyes.

Suddenly, a projectile—a knife with a letter attached—whizzed through the air, arcing toward Shirahoshi.

"Now, Ain!" Roja ordered.

"Yes, Lord Roja!"

Ain drew her saber, leaping gracefully into the air. With a swift horizontal slash, she intercepted the knife effortlessly. The motion was fluid, her skill undeniable.

Ain detached the letter and handed it to Roja, who unfolded it.

The contents of the letter, intended as a love confession, were crude and barely legible—a glaring testament to Vander Decken IX's lack of refinement.

Roja sighed in irritation, then turned to Shirahoshi.

"Shirahoshi," he said, "come with me. I want you to see for yourself as this nightmare finally ends."

His words brought her comfort, and with newfound courage, she nodded. "Yes, Roja."

Neptune hesitated but ultimately agreed to let Roja and his group handle the situation.

With Shirahoshi leading the way, though her freedom brought her a mix of elation and apprehension, they set off toward Vander Decken IX's location.

They didn't need much guidance; the trail of projectiles provided a clear path.

Soon, the group arrived at the Forest of the Sea, where they found Vander Decken IX standing next to the colossal ship, Noah.

Even Ain, who had seen much in her life, was awestruck by the size of the legendary vessel. Meanwhile, Roja's eyes scanned it with calculated interest, silently comparing it to another version of Noah he had seen in his system.

Shirahoshi's attention, however, remained solely on Vander Decken IX. She was determined to reclaim her freedom.

Vander Decken IX, on the other hand, misread the situation entirely. He grinned wickedly as Shirahoshi approached.

"Shirahoshi, so you've finally agreed to marry me!" he exclaimed. "Excellent! Let's hold the wedding immediately!"

Shirahoshi's face twisted in disgust. "Vander Decken, I will never marry you. If I were to choose someone to give myself to, it would be Roja!"

Roja's eyes widened briefly at her words but remained composed.

"Roja?" Vander Decken IX muttered, finally noticing the man beside Shirahoshi. The realization struck him like a lightning bolt.

"You'd rather marry a human than me?!" he roared in fury. "No matter. Once I kill him, you'll have no choice but to be mine!"

Roja barely spared him a glance, turning to Shirahoshi instead.

"Shirahoshi, people like him don't deserve to linger in this world for even a second longer. Don't let him trouble you anymore."

Then, with a calm but commanding tone, Roja gave his next order.

"Ain, finish him."

"Yes, Lord Roja!" Ain responded with determination.

She stepped forward, her eyes sharp as steel. "Your opponent is me."

Vander Decken IX sneered. "A pretty boy hiding behind a woman? After I deal with you, I'll make him pay!"

His ignorance of Roja's true strength was laughable. He had no idea he was standing before the man who had effortlessly defeated Hody Jones.

But in this world, there are no second chances.

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