One Piece: Chopping Ace Back to Foosha Village at the Start

"Sky Island!"

"It really exists!"

Wayne took the cigar Robin handed him, straightened his suit, and adjusted his stance to look as composed and imposing as possible.

"Who said that?" Bellamy suddenly turned, eyes wide, searching for the voice that dared contradict him.

Wayne stepped out from the crowd and walked straight up to him. He blew out a puff of smoke right in Bellamy's face, then said slowly and clearly, "I did. Sky Island exists. Got a problem with that?"

The surrounding pirates erupted into whispers and murmurs. Clearly, they had recognized Wayne.

"That's Wayne the Fool... one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea! And he believes Sky Island is real?!"

"No way... that's a big name!"

"I really wanna join Wayne's crew. I heard they treat their people amazingly!"

"Are you crazy? I heard he's a total monster kills without blinking and treats his subordinates like dirt!"

The chaotic chatter reached Bellamy's ears, and a drop of cold sweat rolled down his forehead.

He let out a strange, forced laugh and jumped back, retreating toward the wall as he said stiffly, "So what if you're a Warlord? I'm a direct subordinate of Donquixote Doflamingo! Of all the Warlords, the one I look down on most is a poser like you!"

Wayne vanished in a blur. The next moment, he was already beside Bellamy. His voice carried a subtle threat.

"Brave, aren't you? Must be new to the Grand Line. Go ahead have Doflamingo tell me that himself. I'll black both his eyes."

Bellamy started trembling. So fast! He hadn't even seen him move. This man... was terrifyingly strong.

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!

Bang!

First came the sound of coiled springs, then the crash of a body hitting a wall. Then the entire tavern fell silent.

Let's rewind thirty seconds.

Bellamy had launched backward, and his legs had transformed into springs. He ricocheted off the floor, the walls, and the ceiling, gaining speed with each bounce. By the final rebound, his fists were aimed straight at Wayne's face.

A twisted grin spread across Bellamy's face as he shouted, "Your head's mine, Warlord!"

Wayne stifled a yawn. He didn't draw his sword. He didn't even coat his fists in Armament Haki. He simply raised his left hand and punched Bellamy mid-air, slamming him into the wall with such force that the entire wall caved in. Bellamy's eyes rolled back, and he passed out cold.

Wayne calmly flicked the ash off his cigar, then turned to the barkeep and said, "Apologies. Got a little carried away. Someone from my crew will compensate you for the wall."

With that, Wayne turned and walked out, leaving a bar full of stunned pirates in his wake.

"One punch... he knocked out the Hyena in one punch?"

"So this is the power of a Warlord? Terrifying..."

Meanwhile, the blond youth Bellamy had stomped into the ground just sat there, stunned, until he suddenly jumped to his feet and ran after Wayne.

"Wait! Please wait, Lord Wayne!"

He caught up, panting heavily, and blocked Wayne just as he was about to return to the inn.

"What is it, kid?" Wayne asked, curious. He hadn't liked Bellamy one bit, but he had to admit he'd been showing off back there. Why else light a cigar before throwing a punch?

"Lord Wayne... is Sky Island really real?" the boy asked, eyes burning.

Wayne blinked. Interesting. After being humiliated like that, the first thing on this kid's mind wasn't revenge, but his dream. Wayne found himself intrigued.

"What's your name, kid?"

"Morgan... Morgan William."

Wayne gave a small nod, memorizing the name. Then he said, "Sky Island is real. People live there. They have more gold than you can imagine."

William's eyes lit up. "Have you been there, sir?"

Wayne shook his head. "No. But I plan to go."

William's eyes burned even brighter. "Then... please take me with you! I'm begging you!"

He clasped his hands together, looking at Wayne with pure, desperate hope.

Wayne thought for a moment, then gently shook his head.

"A real man should have his own adventure. You need to find your own path."

He paused, then rattled off a full string of motivational lines some half-remembered from the self-help books he'd read in his previous life.

William wiped the tears from his face, voice trembling with emotion. "I'll chase that dream with everything I've got. Someday, I'll be as great as you!"

Wayne fell silent. The atmosphere was already so thick he could practically see the spotlights on him. He felt like he had to do something.

So he patted his clothes, fished around in his pocket, and just like a certain red-haired pirate from a certain other story he untied the straw cord from his right wrist and tied it onto William's.

"Remember this people's dreams never die."

Wayne left behind that final, dramatic line and strode off, broad shoulders and long shadow disappearing into the twilight.

William clutched the cord, wiped his tears, and whispered to himself, "I get it now. A person's dream never dies."

Back in his room, Wayne lit another cigarette and took a deep drag.

"Man... that felt good."

He'd only come out looking for some street brawls to watch, but instead he'd stumbled straight into a legendary scene. Unable to resist, he borrowed Luffy's classic one-punch KO, then copied Shanks' straw cord hand-off.

When Robin eventually asked where his bracelet went, he'd just say he gave it to the next generation. So what if the kid was a bit old for that role, and the cord was just a cheap tourist trinket from Alabasta? As long as he kept quiet, no one would know.

Especially that last line "a person's dream never dies" lifted straight from Blackbeard himself. The timing, the mood, the crowd... perfect. The ultimate showoff moment.

"Heh heh..."

Even in his sleep, Wayne had a mysterious grin on his face.

The next day, Wayne and his crew returned to the Apocalypse and sailed around the island to its far side.

"Boss, where are we headed?" Golia asked, curiosity bright in her eyes.

Wayne pointed toward the sky and said, in a low, mysterious voice, "Sky Island. Our destination is up there."

"But first..." he added, "we'll need someone's help to get there."

To be continued…