After a prolonged and fierce battle, the final blow landed—and just as expected, the system notification chimed in.
[Harem Expansion +1]
Ren Takashi smirked casually. "Time to collect the reward."
He wasn't surprised in the slightest. Having already mastered Advanced Armament Haki—Ryuo—it made perfect sense that enhanced Observation Haki would now be included in his perks.
This refined form of Observation Haki, known to allow glimpses into the near future, had few true masters. Among them stood Katakuri of the Big Mom Pirates. But now, with both the foresight of Observation and the speed of lightning, Ren Takashi's dominance in battle felt nearly invincible.
As for the rumored "Voice of All Things" ability—useful, but not necessary. He could live without it.
At this point, the only Haki he hadn't fully mastered was Conqueror's Haki. But with the advanced Conqueror Haki training manual already in his possession, it was only a matter of time. Mixing it with visual and auditory pressure would make it unstoppable.
Besides, there were still countless beautiful girls left to recruit in the New World. His journey had just begun.
With a sense of satisfaction, the night passed quietly.
The Next Day.
High above the ocean, the Ark Maxim cruised at an optimal altitude—far from prying eyes, but low enough to feel the sea breeze.
To avoid unnecessary attention, Ren had cloaked the entire ship in a visibility-reducing barrier as they approached the infamous Florian Triangle.
Most of the time, the crew preferred to travel in this flying fortress. It was spacious, fast, and most importantly—unobstructed.
And when the girls wanted to enjoy the wind or the sea, they'd simply lower altitude and enjoy the view from the open deck.
Even at this height, the air carried hints of salt and marine life. To them, it was a refreshing contrast to the sterile upper stratosphere.
"Captain," Nami called out, holding a cold brew coffee handed to her by Sarah. "At this pace, we'll reach Sabaody Archipelago in about... three days."
If she were to inform her father, King Cobra, of this progress—he'd surely be shocked. After all, they were no longer just sailing… They were flying into the New World.
"When I've gathered all the beautiful girls across the seas," Ren said casually, "I'll take you all to explore every corner of the world."
That was the plan, and so he barely stopped while flying. If he passed an inhabited island, he'd simply jot down the name and leave a spatial mark. If news later broke about that island, he could teleport back instantly.
Simple. Efficient.
"Captain, just how many beauties are you planning to recruit?" Robin approached with an elegant stride, her red lips curving playfully.
Ren scratched his cheek. "Uh… not sure. I didn't count."
"Ten… twenty… forty?!" Tashigi teased with a raised eyebrow.
"Captain, do you even have that much free time every day?" Kalifa asked with a sly smile, her eyes lowered flirtatiously.
Ren: "...…."
Still, he confidently nodded. He'd done this dozens of times already. The girls were used to it.
They only truly landed when the island ahead seemed large, vibrant, and worth the adventure.
Today was one of those days.
Moments later, the island appeared below them.
At first glance, it looked ordinary. But then Ren saw her.
A beautiful girl with porcelain skin and a serious expression. She looked up—and her wide eyes met his.
It was Maya.
In the movie version, she was a side character. But here, she was radiant. Another worthy addition to his crew—and beside her lay a legendary relic:
The Seven Star Sword.
"Captain, who's that beauty?" one of the girls asked with growing interest.
As the rest of the crew descended, cheerful and curious, Maya grew visibly flustered.
"I—I'm Maya," she said nervously, introducing herself.
"Nice to meet you. I'm Nami."
"I'm Vivi."
"I'm Tashigi."
One by one, the girls smiled warmly.
Ren smiled too. "We already invited Maya aboard."
It was so sudden that Maya blushed and panicked slightly. "I'm sorry! I can't join your pirate crew. I have… something important to do."
"It's the Seven Star Sword, isn't it?" Ren said plainly.
"Huh?!"
"You know about the Seven Star Sword?!" Maya stared at him in disbelief.
"Captain, what's that?" the other girls asked curiously.
Robin stepped forward, her eyes glowing with intellect. "The Seven Star Sword is part of an old legend—one of terrible power. It's said to awaken during the red full moon, a celestial omen that brings chaos and disaster."
"In the past," Robin continued, "a deity gifted the king of Asuka Island with three gemstones and a spear to protect the people."
"That spear," she said grimly, "was the Seven Star Sword."
It was meant as a blessing. But over time, as wars erupted, the blade absorbed the hatred and blood of countless victims, becoming cursed.
"That's why," Maya added somberly, "no one on this island dares go near it. It's taboo."
"Maya," Ren asked, "where is the sword now?"
Maya's eyes narrowed. She backed away defensively.
"Wait… don't tell me you're here to steal it?!"
"Maya, don't worry," Makino said gently. "We're just curious. No harm intended."
Tashigi looked conflicted. She loved rare swords, but Maya's concern held her back.
Robin, however, had a bad feeling. She knew Ren too well.
He was absolutely going for the sword.
Moments later, Ren was gone—vanished with a flash.
"Ren's going to the sword… Oh no," Maya gasped. "Something terrible is going to happen."
She rushed to find him—only to see him already standing before the cursed blade.
It was long, with a black hilt and a glowing green line down the middle.
"A sword that corrupts the mind…?" he muttered.
"It's… beautiful," one of the girls whispered.
The moment he touched it, a green mist erupted from the blade, swirling toward Ren like sentient fog.
"Ren, drop it!!" Maya screamed.
The chapter ends with tension thick in the air—Ren gripping the Seven Star Sword, and Maya watching in horror as the legendary curse begins to awaken…