When Siren woke up, she found herself in a cozy, modest cabin shared with Marco and a few other young crew members, around the same age. The cabin was cramped but warm, with the sounds of the sea lapping against the ship's hull. Marco was already up, busy with his own preparations for the day. Siren rubbed her eyes and got up to join him.
As she stretched and began her morning routine, she noticed Marco was already organizing his gear for the day. She smiled slightly. Despite the challenges ahead, she felt oddly comfortable here, surrounded by people her age.
Siren hurriedly dressed and made her way up to the deck, where Trust was waiting for her. His stern expression remained unchanged from the day before.
"Are you ready?" Trust asked, his tone serious but with a hint of patience.
"Yes," Siren replied, her voice steady.
"Good. I have a task for you," Trust said, leading her to the ship's hold, where crates of supplies were stacked. "You'll need to sort through these-small tools, ropes, and crates. They need to be organized by type and purpose. It's essential for maintaining order on the ship."
Siren's brow furrowed. Although the task sounded simple, she had no idea what some of the items were or how to use them. Trust seemed to notice her hesitation.
"You'll be fine. Start with organizing the ropes. Marco will be here to show you the rest," he said before walking off, leaving Siren standing by the crates.
...
As Siren knelt down beside the crates, Marco approached her, carrying a few items.
"Don't worry," he said with a reassuring smile. "I'll show you what everything is for." He held up a thick coil of rope. "This is for tying things down. It's called a mooring rope. We use it to secure the ship when we dock or when we need to secure heavy loads. It's tough, so you'll want to make sure it's tightly coiled and stored properly."
Siren watched him closely as he demonstrated how to coil the rope neatly, his movements practiced and efficient. She copied his motions, trying to make sure the rope was tight and organized.
"Good," Marco said, nodding. "Now, these tools here," he pointed to a pile of hammers and other tools, "are for repairs. You don't need to know all of them right away, but this one," he picked up a hammer, "is used for fixing things that get loose. You'll need this to help with basic repairs."
Siren stared at the hammer, confused. "I've never really used anything like this," she admitted quietly.
Marco smiled, understanding. "That's okay. It's a lot to learn, but you'll get it quickly. For now, focus on the basics, like using these tools to make sure everything on the ship is in place. As we go, I'll show you more."
He picked up a wrench and explained, "This is for tightening or loosening things that need adjustment. A lot of the ship's parts need constant maintenance."
Siren nodded, trying to absorb all the information. Marco patiently helped her identify each tool and its purpose. As she worked, he continued to guide her, explaining how to use each item properly. She was slow at first, but Marco's guidance gave her confidence.
...
Once the task of organizing and sorting the supplies was completed, Trust returned to see how Siren had done. He nodded approvingly, then led her to a more open space on the deck for her next challenge.
"Now that you've got the basics, it's time for some training," Trust said. "I want to see what you can do with your powers. Let's see if you've got the right instincts."
Siren stood across from Trust, taking a deep breath. She had never trained with her powers before, and now was her chance. Trust demonstrated a few stances, showing Siren how to use her body for balance and precision.
"Use your energy," Trust instructed. "Feel the life around you. Let it guide your movements."
Siren closed her eyes for a moment, focusing. She could sense the life force around her, the rhythm of the world pulsing in the air, the ship, and even the crew members nearby. She felt the energy build within her.
As Trust signaled her to move, Siren struck, this time with a more fluid and focused motion, her hand glowing faintly with the life energy she had gathered. The punch felt stronger than before, her power enhancing her speed and strength.
"Not bad," Trust said, observing closely. "But you need to make the connection stronger. Channel that power, don't just feel it."
Siren nodded, taking another stance. This time, she felt the surge of life energy more strongly. With each strike, she could feel the power within her amplifying the blows. Trust smiled in approval.
"You're getting it," he said. "You have the potential. With more practice, you'll be able to use this energy to strengthen your attacks."
...
As Siren trained with Trust, focusing on her movements and powers, a strange sensation began to form deep within her. The pulse of life around her felt suddenly off, like a disturbance in the very fabric of the air. She paused, her senses heightening.
"Something's wrong," Siren muttered under her breath.
Trust raised an eyebrow and the scar on his face stretched uncomfortably. "What do you mean?"
Siren's eyes scanned the horizon, her connection to the world around her growing stronger. "I feel it," she said. "There's a storm coming. It's not just the weather. Something's coming from the depths... a Sea King."
Trust looked at her, his expression skeptical. "A Sea King? You're just imagining things. The weather's fine for now, and there's nothing out there."
But Siren's gaze remained fixed, her body tensing as she could feel the impending threat growing closer. The crew around her was still going about their duties, unaware of the looming danger.
But her warning was met with skepticism. The crew went about their tasks, preparing for the storm as usual, dismissing her words as the ramblings of a newcomer.
Marco, standing nearby, gave her a skeptical glance. "You've been through a lot. Maybe you're tired?"
"No," Siren insisted, her voice rising with a sense of growing panic. "This is something else. It's huge. You don't understand. It's coming now."
As if on cue, the water surged violently beneath the ship, and a massive shadow rose from the depths.
Jozu glanced over, seeing the enormous shape below the waves, and his eyes widened. "Damn... it's huge!"
The Sea King's colossal form breached the surface, its massive, scaled body rising like a mountain from the ocean. Its eyes glowed ominously as it snarled, a deafening roar filling the air. The ship rocked violently, the crew scrambling to keep their footing.
Amid the chaos, Siren lost her balance and was thrown overboard, her body tumbling into the churning sea. The icy cold water enveloped her instantly, and the weight of her body dragged her down. She gasped, realizing with a jolt of panic that she was sinking fast. The Devil Fruit powers she had eaten prevented her from swimming - she couldn't stay afloat.
Her arms and legs flailed, but it felt as though the ocean itself was pulling her down, dragging her deeper. In the midst of her struggle, the cold water enveloped her completely, and the sinking feeling intensified.
But then, something enormous shifted beneath her.
A giant, scaled head broke the surface, and Siren was gently lifted, her body resting on the snout of the Sea King. The creature, despite its enormous size and power, did not attack her. Instead, it seemed to be guarding her, its glowing eyes locked onto hers. She could feel its energy, immense and primal, yet there was something protective about its presence.
Siren lay there, her breath shallow but steady, her body gripped by a strange, calming connection to the beast. She tried to focus on what was happening around her, but the Sea King's massive body held her steady above the churning water, giving her just enough air to survive.
Meanwhile, Jozu dove into the water, determined to save her. He swam through the violent waves, his powerful strokes cutting through the turbulent sea. He reached the spot where Siren had fallen, but as he approached, he saw the Sea King. The massive creature rose higher, its enormous form blocking his path.
Jozu stopped short, assessing the situation. The Sea King's eyes locked onto his, a low growl reverberating through the water. The massive creature bared its teeth in a silent warning, making it clear that Jozu could not just take Siren without consequence.
The massive beast's snout nudged Siren higher, lifting her above the water's surface so Jozu could see her clearly. She remained on the creature's snout, alive but vulnerable, her eyes wide with a mix of awe and fear. The Sea King was allowing Jozu to take her-but only on its own terms.
Jozu, understanding the creature's unspoken warning, spoke in a calm, respectful voice. "I'm not here to fight you. I just need to take her back to the ship."
For a moment, the Sea King stared at Jozu, its gaze unyielding. The massive creature then gave a deep, rumbling growl-still a warning, but it allowed Jozu to approach.
Jozu swam closer, his movements slow and measured, carefully reaching for Siren. He gently pulled her from the Sea King's snout, the creature's enormous eyes still watching him, assessing. For a brief moment, Jozu felt as if the Sea King might change its mind, but the creature did not strike. It simply watched as he carefully cradled Siren and began swimming toward the ship.
The massive Sea King watched them leave, its glowing eyes following Jozu and Siren with a powerful, silent presence. As Jozu swam away, the creature gave one final, low growl, like a final warning, before it retreated beneath the surface, vanishing into the depths.
As Jozu reached the ship with Siren in his arms, the crew rushed to help. The ropes were thrown, and the crew quickly hauled both of them back aboard. Siren, shivering and gasping for air, was carefully lifted onto the deck.
Marco, seeing them return, hurried over. "Are you okay?" he asked, concern in his voice.
Siren, still in shock, nodded weakly. "I... I think so... but... the Sea King. It didn't want to hurt me. It saved me. It didn't let me sink."
Jozu helped steady her as she sat up. "It was no ordinary Sea King," he said quietly, his voice serious. "It protected you, but it also made it clear it didn't want anyone messing with you."
The crew, watching from the sidelines, seemed in awe. They had witnessed the enormous Sea King, and the enormity of what had just happened started to sink in.
Siren looked back at the ocean, her mind racing. "It didn't try to kill me. It... It just kept me from sinking." Her voice was soft, and for a moment, it almost seemed as if she were speaking to the sea itself.