"Daughter, don't be in such a hurry to leave. You've forgotten, the day after tomorrow is your twentieth birthday."
"…Ah."
Saint Roselith Seraphina paused slightly upon hearing those words. Only then did she realize twenty years had already passed since she arrived in this world. Time had slipped by so quietly that even she, who had always been vigilant, failed to notice its passing.
She did not refuse Victor's request to stay, nor did she have any intention of doing so.
Only a few hours ago, she had accepted Princess Vivi's invitation for a birthday celebration, and now, in the blink of an eye, it was her own turn.
For a brief moment, a thought crossed her mind should she invite Vivi and the others?
But she quickly dismissed it.
Ever since childhood, Victor had always insisted on hosting extravagant birthday banquets for her, using them as an opportunity to flaunt the prestige of the Roselith lineage among the Celestial Dragons. Those gatherings, however, had inevitably led to unpleasant incidents that left a lasting impression on her.
From that point onward, Seraphina had abandoned the idea of grand celebrations.
She no longer invited other Celestial Dragons and instead preferred something simple a quiet meal with Victor and a handful of attendants.
However, while the guest list had become modest, the scale had not.
Victor would never allow that.
Every year, the banquet remained lavish beyond reason rare delicacies from across the seas, jade platters filled with exquisite cuisine, and endless courses prepared with obsessive care.
And yet, only a few people would sit at the table.
If not for the guards and Seraphina's… unusual appetite, most of it would have gone to waste.
A Celestial Dragon with a large appetite?
Naturally.
After all, even in this world, a growing body demanded energy especially one tempered through relentless training and enhanced by Haki.
"I understand," she replied calmly.
Time was too short to arrange anything different.
Her eighteenth birthday had been spent casually at an East Blue Marine base, and this one would not be much different.
She recalled how, during that time, Victor had insisted on leaving Mary Geoise to celebrate with her. She had firmly refused.
A Celestial Dragon traveling across the seas was never a simple matter.
It meant fleets, escorts, disruption, and unnecessary suffering for countless civilians.
And if one attempted to travel quietly, the risks became even greater.
This world was dangerous far more dangerous than most realized.
Without sufficient strength, the sea would swallow anyone whole.
It was a truth Seraphina had learned firsthand during her years in the East Blue.
Yet even knowing that, she would make the same choice again.
Because it was there that she met Kuina.
There that she crossed paths with capable Marines like Tina, Liva, and Fran.
There that she truly understood how dark this world could be beneath its surface.
"Then I will host it, as usual," Victor continued. "Kuina will attend, of course. You should also invite your Marine subordinates. And what about Admiral Kizaru? He's still in Mary Geoise bringing him along would be appropriate."
Victor spoke at length, clearly concerned about her indifference toward social matters.
Despite being a Celestial Dragon, he understood the importance of maintaining relationships.
Kuina, as Seraphina's disciple, would naturally be present.
Inviting Marines could strengthen her standing within the ranks.
Though in truth, Seraphina's reputation among her subordinates had long surpassed anything that required reinforcement.
To them, she was already something beyond comprehension.
As for Admiral Kizaru, Victor's tone carried a hint of emphasis.
An Admiral represented the highest combat power of the Marines someone worthy of respect and caution.
"Father," Seraphina said quietly, "I don't want them to know my identity as a Celestial Dragon."
"…Very well."
"And don't invite Admiral Kizaru either."
Victor sighed but did not object.
Seraphina's instincts were rarely wrong.
Kizaru was… difficult to read.
Not in personality, but in intent.
His actions always carried a layer of ambiguity, and his Observation Haki far surpassed hers in refinement.
Even she could not fully grasp his thoughts.
Conversations with him were always brief, carefully measured.
Victor ultimately relented.
The banquet would proceed as usual.
Simple in attendees.
Lavish in scale.
With only one addition Kuina.
Beep…
✦ [SYSTEM] ✦
Host bone age confirmed: 20 years.
Reward distribution commencing.
Beep…
✦ [SYSTEM] ✦
Obtained: Undying Demon Body
"…?"
Seraphina froze.
That familiar, emotionless voice echoed in her mind once more.
It had been ten years.
Ten full years since the system last responded.
Back then, after granting her ten initial rewards, it had fallen completely silent so silent that she once feared she had lost it entirely.
And without it…
Without Observation Haki, she would have remained blind.
Without the Voice of All Things, she would have been unable to understand the world.
Without its gifts, she would have been nothing more than a powerless Celestial Dragon.
But over time, she had adapted.
Even without the system, she had grown stronger through her own efforts.
Because she understood one thing clearly
Only strength could ensure she would never be abandoned by this world again.
"Teacher?"
Kuina's voice broke her thoughts.
The banquet hall was lively, filled with laughter and celebration.
Kuina cherished moments like this far more vibrant than the quiet birthdays at the Marine base.
But she noticed something was off.
Seraphina was standing still, lost in thought.
"I'm fine," Seraphina replied calmly. "Kuina, go enjoy yourself. I need some air."
Without waiting for further questions, she stepped away from the hall.
The night air greeted her as she entered the garden.
The moment she focused inward
She felt it.
A terrifying force surged through her body.
Violent.
Chaotic.
Almost… demonic.
"Undying Demon Body…"
She whispered the name softly.
This was no ordinary enhancement.
This was something fundamentally different.
A power that defied death itself.
At the same time.
Mary Geoise Marine Base.
Admiral Kizaru lay lazily on a lounge chair, enjoying what he considered a rare moment of peace.
With Seraphina remaining in Mary Geoise, Sengoku had ordered him to stay as well.
To maintain stability.
To remain on standby.
To prepare for potential deployment to the New World.
To Kizaru, however
This was practically a vacation.
"Mm… how relaxing…"
Then
His eyes slowly opened.
A presence.
A terrifying one.
"So… ter… ri… fying…"
The air itself seemed to tremble.
Even with suppression, the power leaking out was overwhelming.
Without hesitation, Kizaru reached for his Den Den Mushi.
"Admiral Kizaru!" a voice urgently called. "Did you feel that just now? Report immediately we require your assistance!"
Kizaru sat upright for the first time.
The light in his eyes sharpened.
"Ah… looks like things just got troublesome."
Author's Note (Polished)
The first volume is nearing its conclusion.
What follows is the beginning of the second volume:
Frost Dawn.
From this point forward, Seraphina's strength will undergo a qualitative transformation.
The path to true dominance begins here.
As for the system's mechanism:
Before age 10 → once per year
After age 10 → once every 10 years
Intervals continue to increase tenfold
Thank you for reading.