The White Sea was quiet that evening.
After the chaotic ordeal in the Waver Gorge, both the Queen's Grace and the Going Merry found safe anchorage at the edge of a dense cloud forest, just beyond the reach of the next trial.
The Trial of Iron loomed ahead—a gauntlet known for its brutal traps and its guardian, Sky Priest Ohm, a man whose iron-cloud sword could sever steel and whose belief in survival of the fittest made him one of Enel's most dangerous enforcers.
But that fight could wait until dawn.
Tonight, the sky was calm.
Tonight, they chose to rest.
And in the small temporary camp they built together, something rare happened—two rival crews simply coexisted.
There were no battles, no urgent missions, no life-or-death chases.
Just the crackling of a modest campfire and the sound of laughter carried by the cool breeze.
The Campfire Gathering
Luffy sat cross-legged by the fire, eagerly devouring grilled sky fish that Carmen had prepared. "This is so good! Better than what Sanji usually makes!"
Sanji's eye twitched violently. "Oi, rubber-brain! Take that back!"
Carmen smirked as she flipped another skewer. "Don't be jealous, curly-brow. Just admit I've got better seasoning."
"I'd rather eat cloud bark," Sanji shot back.
"You're welcome to try it," Carmen said sweetly, holding out a charred stick.
Usopp, sitting near Kaya, proudly recounted their previous battles. "Did you know I single-handedly took out fifty sky beasts? They didn't stand a chance against Captain Usopp's ultimate shot!"
Aisa squinted at him. "Are you lying again?"
Usopp choked. "Of course not!"
"Your heartbeat sounds funny when you lie," Aisa muttered.
Usopp paled. "W-what is this kid?!"
"She's our new sniper," Kaito said, settling beside Nojiko. "Her haki is coming along fast."
Chopper bounced excitedly. "Observation Haki? Can you teach me how to sense people like that?"
Aisa puffed out her chest. "Only if you're ready for super serious training."
Chopper saluted. "Aye, Captain Aisa!"
Kuina, polishing her blades, watched the lively scene quietly. Across the fire, Zoro did the same, both of them sharing a silent understanding that words couldn't touch.
Nami and Nojiko sat together, comparing navigational maps.
"You've improved," Nami admitted, glancing over Nojiko's course charts.
"You're not bad yourself," Nojiko replied, a small smile tugging at her lips.
Khalifa sat a little apart from the main crowd, methodically repairing her gloves, but her gaze often drifted to the others, her usually sharp edges softened by the relaxed atmosphere.
Conis's harp resonated softly in the background, her music weaving between the scattered conversations, tying everyone's rhythms together.
Kaito leaned back, staring at the endless white sky above.
"This is good," he murmured.
"Hmm?" Kuina asked without looking.
"Just this," Kaito said. "These nights. These people. It feels right."
Kuina's hand paused briefly on her sword.
"Even if we're rivals with Luffy's crew?"
Kaito smirked. "That's what makes it better. We don't need to chase the same dream to respect each other."
Kuina's fingers tightened on the hilt, her thoughts drifting toward the storm ahead.
"The next trial… it's my fight."
Kaito's eyes shifted toward her, calm and knowing. "I know."
"I can feel it," Kuina admitted, her voice low. "Something's calling me in that place. It's not just a battle—it's something I have to face."
"You're ready."
"Not yet. But I will be."
Kaito said nothing more.
He simply trusted her.
The two sat in comfortable silence as the campfire crackled and the two crews continued their stories, their games, and their quiet forging of bonds that transcended titles and paths.
Preparing for the Trial of Iron
The next morning, the mood shifted.
The easygoing air of the camp dissipated as they approached the next trial's entrance.
The Trial of Iron.
Dense clouds loomed overhead, laced with heavy iron vines that twisted unnaturally. The entire area radiated pressure.
The Straw Hats and Kaito's crew gathered near the forest edge.
"This is where we split," Luffy said, adjusting his hat. "We'll take the left route. You take the right."
"First one to beat their priest wins," Kaito offered, his grin sharp.
"Deal!" Luffy laughed.
As the crews parted, Nami called out to Nojiko, "Be careful."
"You too," Nojiko replied.
Usopp waved wildly at Kaya. "You better tell me all your stories later!"
"I will!" Kaya promised, smiling brightly.
Carmen and Sanji exchanged one last verbal jab before turning away with faint grins.
Kuina stepped forward, her steps steady, her swords resting confidently on her back.
"This one's mine," she said, her voice resolute.
Kaito nodded. "We'll cover your flank, but you lead this one."
Khalifa adjusted her glasses. "I'll disable the traps. You keep your focus on the fight."
Aisa twirled her slingshot, her haki already pulsing. "I'll watch the skies."
Conis gave Kuina a soft look. "Come back safe."
Kuina smiled faintly. "Always."
Entering the Trial of Iron
The Queen's Grace crew moved swiftly through the iron-laced jungle, navigating past cloud pits and jagged vines.
Ohm's voice echoed ominously through the trees.
"Survival of the fittest. The weak must fall to the strong. Only those who endure may pass."
They soon encountered the iron cloud wolves—beasts armored in hardened clouds, their jaws snapping with unnatural strength.
Kuina drew her blades.
Her movement was fluid, precise.
The iron wolves lunged, but her swords danced.
Each slash was decisive, each step measured.
She didn't just cut—she carved pathways through the iron vines, shaping the battlefield to her will.
Khalifa moved efficiently behind her, disabling hidden dials and clearing pressure traps with a cold, methodical grace.
Aisa's haki painted incoming ambushes seconds before they struck, allowing the crew to move with perfect coordination.
Kaito held back, watching Kuina's growth unfold.
He knew this fight belonged to her.
Finally, they reached the heart of the trial.
Ohm waited there, his iron-cloud sword resting lightly against his shoulder.
His eyes were sharp, distant, filled with the unwavering belief in his brutal philosophy.
"You've come far," Ohm said, regarding Kuina with mild interest. "But your blade will shatter against mine."
Kuina stepped forward, her gaze unwavering.
"We'll see about that."
The duel began.
Kuina vs. Ohm – Blade vs. Iron
Ohm's swordsmanship was ruthless—each swing a calculated execution, his iron blade bending unnaturally to trap and crush.
Kuina met his strikes head-on, her dual swords intercepting the twisting iron with blinding speed.
But Ohm's reach, bolstered by his iron clouds, forced her into a constant defensive rhythm.
"You are skilled," Ohm said, his strikes relentless. "But you lack the weight of conviction. Your blade trembles."
Kuina's breath came steady, but inside, frustration brewed.
Her strikes were clean—but not enough.
Her footing was sharp—but not enough.
No matter how hard she pushed, Ohm's iron clouds flexed and adapted, closing in like suffocating vines.
"You will fall," Ohm declared. "All who are weak must fall."
Kuina's swords locked against his iron blade, the weight pressing her backward.
For a brief moment, her balance faltered.
But then—
A distant rumble echoed across the sky.
Thunder.
Her pulse surged.
A memory surfaced—the dream she'd carried since childhood.
To surpass Zoro. To find her own strength. To carve her own path.
Not to prove herself to others.
Not to chase the title of the strongest.
But to simply stand tall, on her own terms.
Her system chimed.
[Opportunity Detected: Thunder Seed Resonance]
[Compatible User: Kuina]
[Awakening Path: Thunder Sword Style]
The faint glimmer of a Sky Island's ancient thunder seed, buried in the trial grounds, resonated with her spirit.
Kaito's eyes widened, sensing the shift.
Kuina's blades shimmered.
A soft crackle of lightning danced along the steel.
Ohm's eyes narrowed. "Impossible—!"
Kuina's next step was smoother, sharper.
Her blade cut through Ohm's iron clouds, lightning trailing in her wake.
The iron hissed and split.
Her strikes became unpredictable—each swing charged with a pulse of thunder, her footwork now infused with raw, surging power.
Ohm faltered.
His iron blade splintered under her relentless assault.
In a final, sweeping arc, Kuina's dual blades crossed through his defenses, sending him crashing into the iron-laced ground.
Silence.
Her breathing was steady.
Her stance unshaken.
Ohm lay defeated.
Kaito's system chimed.
[Kuina's Awakening Completed: Thunder Sword Style – Initial Stage Unlocked]
Kaito approached, his grin proud but calm. "Looks like you found your spark."
Kuina sheathed her swords, lightning still crackling faintly along her fingertips.
"I didn't need a title," she said quietly. "I just needed to believe I could forge my own blade."
Khalifa smirked faintly. "Took you long enough."
Aisa beamed. "That was so cool!"
Conis smiled softly, her harp resting against her side. "You've found your sound."
Kuina looked at her crew—her family.
And for the first time, she felt the weight in her hands was exactly what she wanted it to be.
Her own strength.
Her own song.
The trial was over.
But their journey through Skypiea was far from done.
The drums of thunder echoed above, Enel's presence growing sharper.
The final storm was coming.
And the Queen's Grace would be ready.