A feast of freedom

The first full moon night after the war ended.

At the boundary between two universes, a newly formed nebula was transformed into the Cosmic Celebration Plaza.

There was no solid floor, only flowing starlight and soft energy clouds. Countless long tables floated in the air, laden with delicacies from two worlds: Earth's barbecue and beer, Wano Country's sushi and sake, Fish-Man Island's deep-sea fruits, Sky Island's cloud desserts, and even the "molecular gastronomy starry sky candy" specially made by the Super Soldier Company laboratory.

Music resounded through the starry sky.

It's not a performance of a single instrument, but a cosmic symphony:

Brook's violin accompanies the Super Soldier Company Symphony Orchestra, the Wind Dial of Sky Island play ethereal harmonies, the conch horns of Fish-Man Island are deep and melodious, and the war drums of the Mink Tribe are stirring and powerful. The melody echoes in the nebula, and even the stars seem to twinkle to the beat.

"Cheers--!!!"

Luffy held aloft a wooden barrel-shaped wine glass larger than himself, filled with Sanji's specially blended "Cosmic Mixed Wine"—said to be a fusion of brewing techniques from 999 different galaxies.

"Cheers--!!!"

Countless wine glasses clinked together.

Earth soldiers and Wano Country samurai, arm in arm, sang off-key battle songs.

Angel warriors and Fish-Man girls danced gracefully, their wings and fish tails intertwining to form wondrous patterns under the starlight.

The little Mink Tribe creatures rolled around on the cloud table, getting Franky's special "star cotton candy" stuck all over them.

Doflamingo and Crocodile were actually sitting together drinking—although they were still mocking each other, they both had smiles on their faces.

"Hey! Torao! Let's see who can eat the most!" Luffy shouted, his mouth full of meat.

Luo sat at a distance, elegantly cutting his steak. "No. I'm a doctor; I need to pay attention to a balanced diet."

"Fuck, fuck, fuck, even Devil Fruit User can get fat?" Doflamingo mocked.

Luo gave him a cold glance. "Healthier than your pink fur coat."

Everyone burst into laughter.

Nami was sitting around a table with Vivi, Shirahoshi, Hancock, and other women. The table was piled high with various jewels—all "rule crystals" salvaged from the wreckage of the formatted fleet during this war—which refracted a dreamlike brilliance under the starlight.

"This can be made into a necklace!" Nami's eyes transformed into the shape of Beli.

"I think this pink crystal suits you better." Hancock rarely showed such a gentle smile.

Shirahoshi held a sea-blue crystal in her hands and said softly, "I want to embed it in the ceiling of the deep-sea palace so that the stars can be seen from the seabed."

Meanwhile, Zoro and Hawk Eyes —yes, Hawk Eyes was also invited—are having a match.

It's not a sword fight, it's a fruit-cutting contest.

" Three-Sword Style: Fruit Carving!" Zoro unleashed three sword strikes simultaneously, instantly transforming a watermelon into a lifelike dragon.

"Hmph." Hawk Eyes raised the Black Blade Night with one hand and lightly sliced through it—all the fruit on the table was peeled and pitted, neatly arranged on a plate, each piece exactly the same size.

"A tie!" Chopper, acting as referee, announced, raising his little flag.

" Chopper, you're being unfair!" Usopp shouted. " Hawk Eyes is clearly more accurate!"

"But Zoro's is more artistic!" Chopper insisted.

Sanji approached carrying a new dish. "My two swordsmen, please try my new dish— 'Xinghai Sashimi,' made with Sky Fish raised using the energy crystals of the Formatters, served with wasabi from Wano Country and soy sauce from Earth."

Zoro and Hawk Eyes both took a bite, then fell silent.

Three seconds later, the two said in unison, "Another one, please."

Franky and Vegapunk are demonstrating their latest invention.

"SUPER--! Look at this!" Franky patted the button on his chest, " General Franky - Celebration Mode!"

The giant robot began to transform, becoming a mobile stage, kitchen, and playground, complete with a carousel, popcorn machine, and even a small ball pit.

Vegapunk adjusted his glasses. "My setup is 'Rule Fireworks'—encoding the rules of different universes into light signals, which, upon explosion, will form a holographic pattern in the starry sky that lasts for an hour."

He pressed the button.

Bang!

Fireworks bloom in the starry sky.

Not just ordinary colors, but a moving historical scroll:

--The first gathering of the Straw Hat Pirates.

--The tragic grandeur of the Paramount War.

--A reunion two years later.

--The encounter of two universes.

--Sacrifices in the fight against Ithaqua.

-- Victory in the final battle.

Each frame is incredibly lifelike, accompanied by live background music played by Brook.

As they watched, many people's eyes welled up with tears.

But no one cried.

Because this is a celebration, a celebration of the heroes who once lived, a celebration of the future they fought for that has arrived.

"Hey, Allen! Stop just watching, come dance!" Luffy dragged Allen out of the corner.

"I... I'm not very good at it..." Allen said awkwardly.

"Jump however you want!" Luffy had already pulled him into a spinning motion amidst the starlight, their movements completely haphazard, but as joyful as a child's.

Soon, everyone joined.

Zoro and Sanji awkwardly danced a ballroom dance while exchanging insults.

Nami pulled Robin around in circles, their skirts swaying like blooming flowers.

Usopp and Chopper are performing some kind of self-created "Sniper and Reindeer Dance".

Franky and Brook work together seamlessly—even though one is a robot and the other a skeleton.

Jinbe moved with surprising elegance, his steps steady and graceful, reminiscent of the Fish-Man Island dance.

Ge Xiaolun was pulled around in circles by Yan, his military uniform and angel wings looking exceptionally good together under the starlight.

Sabo and Koala danced the Revolutionary Army's unique battle dance, every movement brimming with power.

Accompanied by Kozuki Hiyori and Cat Viper, Inuarashi danced a classical dance from Wano Country, the dragon mark on her forehead shimmering with each step.

Princess Shirahoshi sat atop the head of Sea Kings, humming a soft song, while the Fish-Man around her danced in the water.

Even Chaos Dragon Kaos, joined in—it shrunk to the size of a puppy, darting in and out of the crowd, occasionally stealing food from the table.

[This is delicious!] It conveyed the message through its consciousness, [That's delicious too!]

[So... celebrating... is this fun...]

Allen watched all of this as Luffy spun him around.

His clear eyes reflected everyone's smiling faces, the brilliance of the starry sky, and a future where two universes could coexist peacefully.

This is the meaning behind their fight.

This is the fruit of freedom.

It's not about eternal perfection, but about the reality of this moment.

There was laughter, there were tears, there were clumsy dance steps, and there was off-key singing.

There is perfection in imperfection.

" Allen! Look over there!" Luffy suddenly pointed to the depths of the starry sky.

Allen turned his head.

Then, he froze.

Several semi-transparent figures appeared in the starry sky.

Ace, Shanks, Rena, Momonosuke.

And then there was—a woman with a gentle smile Allen had never seen before; she must be his mother.

They are neither resurrected nor ghosts.

It is a projection of Sparks's memories—after Allen broke through to the third level, he was able to briefly materialize the memories of important people.

"Everyone..." Allen's voice choked with emotion.

Ace grinned and made a toasting gesture.

Shanks nodded gently and pointed to the Straw Hat on Luffy's head.

Rena put her hands on her hips and made a "I'm awesome, aren't I?" expression.

Momonosuke waved shyly, then pointed in Hiyori's direction.

The woman— Allen's mother—spoke softly, without making a sound, but Allen understood her lip reading:

I'm proud of you.

The projection lasted for ten seconds, then turned into specks of light and merged into the celebratory fireworks.

But that's enough.

That was enough for Allen to know that they had never truly left.

As long as people remember them, they will live forever in memory, in tradition, and in the free wind.

"Alright!" Luffy patted Allen on the back forcefully. "Don't be sad! They definitely want us to be happy too!"

He raised his glass:

For all who are alive--!

"And for all those who live on in our hearts--!"

"Cheers--!!!"

"Cheers--!!!"

The glasses clinked again.

This time, everyone drank it all in one gulp.

Then, Luffy jumped onto the largest table in the center, adjusted his straw Straw Hat, and shouted at the entire starry sky:

"Banquet--!"

"Continue until dawn--!"

"No--!"

He grinned, a smile that seemed to illuminate the entire universe:

"Lasting forever--!!!"

Cheers resounded throughout the Xinghai.

The music became more exciting, the dancing more wild, and the laughter louder.

Meanwhile, in a corner of the starry sky, in front of the observation screen of the Eternal Council headquarters.

The other two founders—a serious middle-aged man and an elegant woman—were watching the celebration.

"They... are celebrating," the woman said softly, "Celebrating 'being alive' itself."

The middle-aged man remained silent for a long time, then slowly said:

"Perhaps... we were indeed wrong."

"Freedom does not necessarily lead to destruction."

"It can also lead to... this."

He pointed to the screen at the Luffy was pulling Allen and spinning wildly in the starlight, and a slight smile unconsciously appeared on his lips:

"It looks quite interesting."

The woman smiled and asked, "Shall we turn off the observation?"

"No," the middle-aged man said, "Let's continue to observe."

But this time...

He turned and walked deeper into the parliament building:

"Just observing."

"No longer under control."

The celebration is still ongoing.

No one knows what the future holds.

The Eternal Council may return, new enemies may emerge, and there will always be unknown challenges in the universe.

But this moment, this moment is enough.

Starlight, fine wine, music, dance, laughter, and companions.

besides--

free.

True, cherished, responsible, and radiant freedom.

Allen Luffy Eren through the crowd, feeding him, toasting him, and hugging him.

He laughed, joked, and jumped around.

In their clear eyes, the jubilation of the entire universe was reflected.

Then, he looked at Luffy, at the Straw Hat Pirates, and at everyone he loved.

whisper:

"Thanks."

Thank you for letting me see this scenery.

Luffy around and grinned:

"Don't mention it!"

"This is just the beginning!"

"Next--"

He pointed to the more distant starry sky, where countless unexplored galaxies, countless untold legends, and countless adventures yet to begin:

"--There's even more fun waiting for us!"

Allen smiled.

It wasn't a relieved smile, nor was it a moved smile.

Instead, it was an expectant smile.

"Let's go then."

"Captain."

Luffy's eyes lit up. "You called me captain?"

"Yes." Allen nodded. "From today onwards, I am Straw Hat Pirates— "

He thought for a moment:

"A balancer? That sounds a bit strange."

" Sparks Navigator?" Nami protested, "That's my position!"

"A space chef's assistant?" Sanji rolled his eyes. "You can't even fry an egg properly."

"Then it's a special partner!" Luffy declared decisively, " Allen is Allen!"

"Good!"

"Agreed!"

"SUPER--!"

Amid cheers, the New Thousand Sunny slowly rose into the sky.

It's not about leaving the celebration, but about embarking on the first true voyage of freedom within the starry sky of the celebration.

No destination.

There is no time limit.

Only ahead.

The ship slowly sailed into the depths of the starry sky.

Behind us, the celebratory fireworks were still blooming, the music was still echoing, and the laughter was still spreading.

And ahead--

It is an infinite universe, infinite possibilities, and infinite freedom.

Luffy stood at the bow of the ship, his Straw Hat fluttering in the starlight.

He turned around, looked at all his companions, looked at Allen, then turned forward and opened his arms:

"Sail--!!!"

"Let's go on an adventure--!!!"

"Go to freedom--!!!"

The ship sailed into the starlight.

Driving into the future.

Drive into that--

There will always be companions, always laughter, and always a free future.