The sun had long since dipped behind the mountains of Elegia, casting golden streaks across the land of music. The once-broken symphony of the island now played softly in the background, a sign that harmony had returned. Uta's song floated through the air like a warm breeze, filled with life and hope.
And amidst the recovering land, Jessie stood quietly, gazing at the starry sky.
He smiled—half-lost in thought.
"My first crew member… and she's not just strong, but carries the voice that once touched the world. An Emperor's strength… and a melody of dreams."
He chuckled softly to himself, still wearing his black suit and worn-out cowboy hat. The wind gently swayed the long coat behind him.
Uta, who sat nearby tuning her guitar, glanced at him.
"Why's he grinning like that? Is he… thinking weird stuff?"
She narrowed her eyes suspiciously, her inner thoughts swirling.
Jessie, of course, heard every bit of it with his MAX Observation Haki, but chose not to respond—just letting the misunderstanding slide with a slight smirk.
Just then, Shanks approached, his crimson cape fluttering in the breeze.
"Thank you… for saving my daughter," he said sincerely.
Jessie turned to him with a light nod.
Shanks grinned widely.
"Let's have a banquet!" he shouted, raising his mug high.
His crew responded with deafening cheer.
"YEAAAAHH!!"
The Red-Haired Pirates burst into celebration. Barrels of sake cracked open, food roasted over open flames, laughter echoed across Elegia. Jessie watched it all quietly. He wasn't used to this warmth yet, but it felt… nice.
Across the fire, Uta sang again, her voice like silver threads dancing through the air. Her smile had returned, and with it, the spirit of Elegia was rekindled.
For that moment… everything was peaceful.
---
Morning arrived with a gentle mist and the smell of burnt coals from the celebration. Jessie stood at the edge of the dock, staring out at the sea.
"It's time to sail," he whispered.
His journey had just begun, but his mind was already planning.
"I've got a singer… now I need a chef… a shipwright… maybe even a sniper. The Voidreign Pirates… we'll be unstoppable."
Just as he turned to leave, a familiar voice called out.
"Going somewhere?"
Jessie looked over his shoulder. It was Shanks, hands in his pockets, smiling.
"I just came to thank you again," Shanks said casually. "Uta… she means everything to me."
Jessie nodded with a soft smile.
Then his next words changed everything.
"Shanks… before I go…"
He looked the Emperor of the Sea dead in the eye.
"I want to duel you."
There was a pause—a heavy silence.
Then—laughter.
Shanks tilted his head back and laughed heartily.
"You've got guts, kid. I like it."
But his eyes narrowed with curiosity.
"You want to fight me? Why?"
"To test myself," Jessie replied simply. "To see where I stand… and what path I need to take."
---
Later that morning, the Red-Haired Pirates set sail to a small isolated island nearby—untouched and flat, the perfect place for a duel of this magnitude.
Uta stood by the sidelines, frowning.
"Jessie… are you insane? He's… he's a Yonko…"
She was nervous. Her heart beat fast. Her mind wandered to thoughts of Jessie being beaten bloody, his hat shattered, coat torn—humiliated. She didn't know the full extent of his power.
"You're going to get hurt," she mumbled under her breath.
Jessie didn't hear her. Or rather, he chose not to. His eyes were locked onto Shanks. Calm. Focused.
He stood barefoot now, jacket off, sleeves rolled. He held a plain borrowed sword—nothing like a named blade, just a well-crafted standard katana.
Shanks unsheathed Gryphon, his signature sword, the steel glimmering in the sunlight.
"Ready when you are, traveler," Shanks said.
A breeze blew between them. Time stood still.
Then—
BOOM!
Shanks released a wave of Conqueror's Haki, splitting the sky above them. The trees behind Jessie shook violently. Uta fell to her knees, holding her head. The sheer pressure was monstrous.
But Jessie didn't flinch.
His borrowed sword remained steady, and his eyes glowed faintly.
"Not bad," he said.
And in an instant, Jessie moved.
His speed was shocking—even Benn Beckman, watching from afar, raised an eyebrow.
"Did he just… dodge Shanks' god-avoid slash…?"
Shanks attacked, swift and deadly. Every swing carried years of battle experience. The air cracked with each blow.
But Jessie—weaved between the strikes, almost dancing.
"He's calm… focused…" Shanks muttered.
Jessie's sword glowed faintly—a technique from the Sword God Inheritance. With a single step, he closed the gap.
"Dragon Fang—Moonlight Severance!"
A powerful arc of energy slashed through the air, colliding with Shanks' blade. The explosion sent shockwaves across the island, creating a deep crater beneath their feet.
They clashed again.
Shanks used God-Avoid—his signature instinctive defense, dodging attacks milliseconds before they land. But Jessie countered with Prediction Break, a technique gained from his MAX Observation Haki—nullifying even future sight.
Their blades clashed again and again, sparks flying.
Then, in a flash—
CRASH!
Shanks' sword flew from his hand, embedding itself into the ground far behind him.
A silence fell.
Jessie stood with his blade at Shanks' shoulder—not cutting, just resting it there.
"You're strong," Shanks said, breathing hard. "Far stronger than I expected."
He chuckled, wiping blood from his lip.
"Guess the sea's getting more interesting."
Jessie lowered his blade.
And then—DING!
[Would you like to check-in on "Unnamed Isolated Island"?]
"Oh, right! The system!" Jessie laughed.
"Check-In!" he shouted mentally.
DING!
[Congratulations! You've received the following rewards:]
✅ Supreme Knife (Legendary-tier weapon)
✅ Exclusive Voidreign Pirate Ship – "PandaGhost" (Intelligent AI Vessel w/ Offensive & Defensive Barrier Capable of Withstanding Ancient Weapon Attacks)
✅ 5x Super Soldier Serum (Instant Vice-Admiral Strength Boost)
Jessie's eyes sparkled like stars.
"Holy… this is insane," he muttered.
He laughed, holding his stomach. "I LOVE THIS SYSTEM!"
Uta ran toward him, nearly tackling him.
"You idiot! I thought you'd get hurt!"
Jessie grinned, rubbing the back of his head.
"Sorry… I just had to know."
She sighed, then smiled softly.
And in the background, the wind carried Jessie's laughter into the sky—his journey just beginning.