The ship sliced through the waves, its flag whipping in the wind, sails full and steady.
They'd been at sea for two days when they caught the signal—a plume of black smoke rising over the horizon, coming from a small island port.
Kira narrowed his eyes as he stood at the bow, hands resting on the railing.
"Looks like trouble," Aria said, stepping beside him, both blades sheathed but ready.
"Trouble with a price," Kira replied with a smirk.
⸻
The port town was in chaos.
Barrels were burning. Locals ran for shelter. A group of pirates—around a dozen, maybe more—were tearing through stalls and shops, drunk on power and booze. At their center stood a large man, easily seven feet tall, shirtless with a metal jaw and a wide scar across his chest.
A bounty poster fluttered against the wall nearby:
"Crusher Kull – 12,000,000 Berries."
"Amateurs," Aria muttered.
"Agreed," Kira said.
——
[ Side Quest Triggered- "Crush the Crushers" ]
Objective: Defeat the Kull Pirates
Reward: 2,500 EXP ,Reputation Increase ,
Bonus: Defeat Kull without taking a single hit
⸻
Kira and Aria didn't sneak in.
They walked straight through the town's main road.
The first pirate who tried to stop them had his face slammed into the dirt with a single punch.
The second didn't even scream—just dropped after Lyra swept past him, slicing clean through his sword arm with Hoshigami's edge.
By the time the third fell, the rest had noticed.
"Hey!" one of them shouted. "Who the hell are you?!"
Kira cracked his knuckles. "Your wake-up call."
It was a slaughter.
Kira moved like a shadow, the Leviathan Axe gripped tight in his hand, its weight singing with potential. Every swing cleaved through air and armor alike, trailing frost in its wake. With each strike, pirates were sent flying, some frozen mid-motion, others slammed into walls with spine-snapping force. The System chimed in his head like a symphony of dominance.
Aria flowed beside him like a blade given life. Her dual swords shimmered in the chaos, carving arcs through the enemy with terrifying precision. Not a drop of motion wasted. Tendons severed. Legs collapsed. She moved with cold grace—calm, brutal, beautiful.
Within two minutes, ten pirates were down. Some groaning. Some not moving at all.
Only Crusher Kull remained.
The man was a mountain, wielding a steel club thick as a ship's mast. He stomped forward, blood on his teeth and madness in his eyes.
"You little freaks think that toy scares me?! I've crushed skulls with this club!"
Kira didn't flinch. He spun the axe once and planted his feet.
"This isn't a toy."
Kull roared and charged.
Kira stepped into it.
The axe pulsed cold blue.
"RimeBreaker."
He swung low, clean, and fast—ice trailing behind the arc like a comet.
The blade struck Kull mid-charge.
The massive pirate froze in place—literally. Ice spread from the impact, locking his torso in a jagged tomb of frost. His eyes widened. Then the pressure built—
CRACK.
The ice exploded outward, sending Kull flying backwards in a hail of shards. His body hit the ground and slid twenty feet, unmoving.
Silence fell.
Even the wind held its breath.
Aria exhaled, blades lowering. "That was… excessive."
Kira rested the axe on his shoulder, calm and composed. "He talked too much."
She smirked. "And here I thought I was the sharp one."
Kira chuckled, frost still clinging to his knuckles. "Next time, you get the boss."
——
[Quest Complete – "Crush the Crushers"]
EXP Gained: 2,500
Bonus Achieved: +500 EXP
World Reaction: +Small Notoriety Gained in East Blue
——
The town was alive with activity. Lively market stalls offered fruits, fresh fish, and trinkets. The sun hung low in the sky, casting a warm golden light across the busy streets. The sound of laughter and chatter filled the air, blending with the occasional clink of cutlery from nearby cafés.
Kira and Aria wandered through the town, eventually stopping in front of a two-story wooden building with wide windows and a sign hanging above the door that read:
"Sora's restaurant – Home of East Blue's Favorite Meals!"
Aria raised an eyebrow. "Sounds like a bold claim."
Kira chuckled. "Let's see if it lives up to the name."
As they entered, the door swung open with a creak, revealing a small restaurant bustling with the soft sounds of cooking. However, the scene before them was anything but peaceful. A pirate lay unconscious on the floor near the counter, and a young, slim chef stood with a sheepish grin, rubbing the back of his neck. Sparks flickered around his fingertips.
"Sorry about that," the chef said, his voice apologetic. "This guy tried to skip out on his bill. I just… gave him a little shock to get him to reconsider."
Aria smirked from beside him. "You sure you're not in the wrong line of work? This is some serious talent."
The chef's grin returned, though it was a little bashful. "I've been cooking here since I was young. This place gave me a chance, you know? I'm just trying to keep it running."
——
The restaurant was calm again, the only noise coming from the kitchen where the young chef worked with lightning speed—quite literally. Sparks flickered now and then as he moved from grill to pot to cutting board.
Kira took a bite, then looked up.
"Better than half the taverns I've been to."
Aria nodded. "Definitely better than anything we've made on the ship."
The chef looked up, blinking, then beamed like the sun had just stepped inside.
"I'm Sora! I run the kitchen here—well, I am the kitchen, really." He laughed, a little too fast, like the words were racing to escape him. "You liked the food, right? I've been working on that sea beast glaze for weeks! Some people say it's too sweet, but I think it's all about balance, you know? Gotta hit the tongue and the heart."
Aria raised an eyebrow, amused. Kira smiled slightly. The kid had energy, that was for sure.
"You've got some spark—literally," Kira said, his gaze flicking to the faint arcs of electricity dancing across Sora's fingers. "What kind of power is that? Devil Fruit?"
Sora paused, then held up his hand. A soft bzzzzt buzzed through the air as blue lightning crackled in his palm.
"Yup! Ate the Vari Vari no Mi a while back—Paramecia-type. It lets me generate and control electricity! Pretty cool, right?" He grinned proudly, then rubbed the back of his neck. "I, uh… mostly use it for cooking and frying people who skip the bill."
Kira chuckled. "Not a bad combo. You're the first electrified chef I've met."
Sora leaned forward excitedly. "I can also use it in a fight! Well, I try not to fight much, but y'know, sometimes pirates happen. I've got some moves—zaps and shocks and a mean elbow if I need it!"
The boy sat across from them, arms resting on the counter. "You two from a crew?"
Kira nodded. "We are."
Sora hesitated, then asked, "You travel a lot? Like, beyond the East Blue?"
"Everywhere," Kira replied. "That's the goal."
There was a long pause. Sora looked out the window toward the harbor.
He looked down at his hands, fingers tapping the wood. "I want to do that someday. See more than just this town. All of it—the Grand Line, the different islands, the calm belt. Everything."
Aria leaned forward. "Then why are you still here?"
He didn't answer.
"You're afraid to go alone," Kira answered for him.
He gave a nervous laugh, rubbing his neck. "I know, it's stupid. I've got powers, I can fight, I can cook—but out there? With no one? That's different."
Kira stood, placing a few berry notes on the counter. He looked the boy dead in the eye.
"It's not stupid," he said. "It's honest."
"It's okay to be scared. If you weren't scared, you'd be crazy."
Sora blinked.
"When you're ready to stop watching the world sail by," Kira added, turning to leave, "look for us."
Sora watched them as they left, his fingers twitching slightly, still crackling with the faintest spark of electricity. He wasn't sure what to make of their words, but something inside him stirre
——
As Kira and Aria made their way back toward the harbor, the sun cast a warm amber glow over the town. The streets buzzed with the fading energy of the day.
Aria nudged him with her elbow. "You could've just asked him to join, you know."
Kira smirked. "Where's the drama in that?"
She rolled her eyes with a small smile. "You're ridiculous."
"I gave him the chance," Kira said, his voice calm but sure. "It's up to him to take it. If he's got the guts to chase his dream, he'll find us."
"And if he doesn't?"
Kira glanced over his shoulder. "Then he was never meant to sail."
They disappeared into the crowd, the faint sound of waves calling them back to the sea.
——
Back at Sora's Restaurant , the young chef stood silently in the doorway, watching the street where they vanished. Lightning crackled faintly from his fingertips.
"Didn't even ask…" he muttered. "Tch. I totally would've said yes."
He stood there for another moment, torn between hesitation and longing, before he finally turned and bolted up the stairs.
Inside his small room above the restaurant, he grabbed a worn satchel from under the bed and began throwing things in—his cooking knives, a change of clothes, a notebook filled with recipes, and a small, hand-carved figure of a ship.
He slung the bag over his shoulder and bounded back down.
"Yo, Jin!" he called.
An older man in the kitchen turned from a pot he was stirring. "Huh?"
Sora flashed a wide, electrified grin. "I'm heading out for a while."
Jin blinked. "Out? Where?"
"To see the world."
Sora paused, then looked around the kitchen he'd called home for years. "Take care of the place for me, yeah? I'll be back someday. Maybe with my own stories to trade."
Jin gave a low chuckle, shaking his head. "That fire in your gut finally boiled over, huh?"
"Guess it did."
He turned back toward the doorway, the sea breeze calling louder now.
Sora stepped out, lightning humming at his heels as he looked toward the horizon.
"I'm coming," he said softly. "Wait for me."
——
Kira leaned back against the wooden post at the harbor, the sounds of the bustling town in the distance.
[Sora has joined your crew!]
A smirk tugged at the corner of Kira's mouth as he glanced at the message.
"Took him long enough," he muttered to himself, a small chuckle escaping.
[Crew management – Crew Slot 1]
Name: Veyra D. Aria
Role: Swordswoman
Loyalty: 97%
Devil fruit: None
[Crew management – Crew Slot 2]
Name: Sora
Role: Cook
Loyalty: 92%
Devil fruit: Vari Vari no Mi
We will need a bigger ship soon.
——
Aria adjusted the strap of her sword and approached Kira, who stood at the edge of the dock, staring out at the horizon.
"Everything's ready," she said, nodding toward the ship. "When are we leaving?"
"Soon," Kira replied without turning. "Waiting for someone."
Aria raised a brow. "Who? The kid? You really think he's gonna show?"
Kira gave a small, knowing smirk. "I think he already decided. Just needed the guts to follow through."
Suddenly—
"WAAAAAIT!"
A voice echoed through the harbor, frantic and breathless.
They turned to see Sora sprinting down the dock, a duffel bag slung over one shoulder, sparks flickering off his fingertips from sheer excitement.
"Don't leave yet!" he shouted, skidding to a stop a few feet away. He was panting, hair a mess, cheeks flushed. "I—I wanna come with you!"
Kira raised an eyebrow, arms crossed. "You sure? It's not exactly a vacation."
"I don't care!" Sora grinned, trying to catch his breath. "I wanna see the world. Taste food I've never cooked. Learn stuff I've never even dreamed of. I just… I didn't wanna go alone."
Aria tilted her head slightly, amused. "Well, lucky for you, we're not the type to leave people behind."
Kira extended a hand toward him. "Welcome aboard, Sora."
Sora stared for a second, then beamed and slapped his hand into Kira's.
Electricity sparked gently from his palm, harmless but buzzing with excitement.
"I won't let you down, Captain!"
Kira smirked. "You better not. We've got a long road ahead."
The crew turned toward the ship, the wind picking up as if in celebration.
The Ship was ready to set sail—with three souls now chasing the horizon.
And the sea?
The sea had just become a little more interesting.
——
The ship sliced smoothly through the ocean, the sun casting a golden glow over the shimmering waves. The wind was light, the salty air fragrant with the promise of adventure. On deck, the crew was settling in—well, trying to.
Sora was practically bouncing from one end of the ship to the other, his energy unmatched by anyone else on board. He was still adjusting to life at sea, but it was clear he was in his element, thrilled by the change of pace. His eyes darted from the sails to the rigging, to the endless horizon. Every new thing seemed to fascinate him.
He leaned against the railing, eyes wide with excitement as the ocean stretched endlessly around them. "This is so cool! We're actually sailing! Like—actually sailing!"
He spun around, facing Aria, practically vibrating with energy.
"So, what's your name again? I mean, I know it's Aria—but like, dope name. Are you, like, a super swordmaster or something? You move like one!"
Aria gave him a sidelong glance, lips twitching into a smirk. "You talk a lot."
"Yeah, I get that a lot," Sora admitted, grinning. "But seriously—Dual swords and all? What's your style called? Do you name your attacks? Is there a secret technique? Wait—are you famous?!"
Kira chuckled from the helm. "You're gonna burn through all your questions in one day."
Sora turned, locking eyes with Kira, then suddenly lit up again. "OH—and that axe! Dude, that thing is insane. You gotta tell me where you got it! The way it glows and all—do you know how cool that is?!"
Kira grinned, walking to the edge of the deck. "You think it's cool?"
"It's the coolest thing I've ever seen!"
Without warning, Kira hurled the Leviathan Axe overboard.
"Wha—WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!" Sora shouted, scrambling to the edge in panic.
Then—woooosh.
The axe tore back through the air with a deep hum, slamming into Kira's open hand like it never left.
Sora's jaw hit the floor.
"NO. WAY."
Sora stood frozen, eyes wide, staring at Kira's hand gripping the axe as if it had always been there. His mind was working overtime to process what he had just witnessed.
Kira casually rested the axe over his shoulder, glancing at Sora with an amused smirk. "Told you it's not just any weapon. The Leviathan Axe's got a bit more going on than meets the eye."
Sora, still in shock, slowly turned to face Kira. "That… that was amazing! I can't even believe my eyes. You just threw it into the ocean like it was nothing, and then—boom—it comes back to you like it's on a leash! How does that even work?!"
Kira gave a nonchalant shrug. "It's a bit of a trick, that's all. A little magic, a little finesse. I guess you could say it has a mind of its own."
——
As the crew began to settle into their roles, Sora couldn't contain his excitement for much longer. "Alright, I'm gonna go make something to eat! I've got a ton of ideas already brewing in my head."
Kira and Aria shared a look, both nodding in approval.
"Go for it, kid," Kira said with a smirk. "I'm sure you'll make something good."
Sora was already halfway to the kitchen, bouncing with energy. "You bet I will! Get ready for the best meal you've ever had!"
With that, Sora disappeared into the galley, and Kira and Aria shared a quiet moment, watching as the sun dipped lower on the horizon.
"Looks like we've got ourselves a cook," Aria said, her voice light.
Kira smiled, a hint of satisfaction in his eyes. "Yeah, and he's got a lot of potential."
As the Ship sailed toward the unknown, the bond between the crew strengthened, and new horizons awaited them.
———————————————————
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