The group strolled back into the harbor, spirits high, dusted with victory.
Sora stretched with a grin. "I don't know about you guys, but I'm starving. First thing I'm doing is grilling crab, shrimp, and maybe even a sea cow if we got one left in storage—"
He stopped.
So did Kira.
Aria narrowed her eyes.
The dock was empty.
Not a plank. Not a sail. Just some sad, flapping rope ends and a single seagull perched where their ship used to be.
"…Uh," Sora said, blinking. "Did we… park wrong?"
Kira squinted. "No. I definitely tied it. Triple knot."
"You're telling me someone stole our entire ship?!" Sora shouted, arms flailing. "Not just the food! The whole boat?!"
Aria calmly pointed out toward the horizon. "There."
They all squinted.
In the distance… the familiar shape of their ship, slowly bobbing away like a smug criminal on a casual escape cruise.
"IS THAT OUR SHIP?!" Sora yelled, shaking both fists at the sea like it owed him money. "I WAS GONNA COOK ON THAT!"
Elara blinked. "They really just… took it."
Kira pulled a pair of binoculars from inside his coat—inventory, as always—and pressed them to his eyes.
He scanned the open sea ahead. The ship floated in the distance, its patched sails fluttering weakly.
Kira narrowed his eyes.
"…Is that… Don Krieg?" he muttered under his breath.
He frowned, thinking hard.
"Was this part of the story ?"
"I don't really remember exactly… but what I do know is he was heading toward Baratie."
[Side Quest Triggered- "No one mess with us"]
Objective: Get revenge on Don Krieg for stealing your ship
Reward: 5,000 EXP, Random Loot Drop
Kira let out a slow exhale, rubbing his temples. "Okay. New plan."
He pulled out the steel cube from his coat.
Sora tilted his head. "You gonna throw that at them? 'Cause I'm not sure how good your aim is at boat distance—"
"It's a ship," Kira said simply.
Sora blinked. "How can this tiny cube be a ship?"
Aria crossed her arms. "If it doesn't float, I'm blaming both of you."
Kira stood at the edge of the dock, the cube resting cold and heavy in his palm. Its surface gleamed faintly, etched with glowing lines that pulsed like a heartbeat.
"Well," he muttered, half-smirking. "Let's see this mythical grade."
With a sharp flick, he tossed the cube high into the air. It twirled once, caught the sunlight—and dropped into the sea with a soft plonk.
Sora leaned over, squinting at the ripples. "Uh…now what?"
Then—
BOOM.
The sea detonated in steam and light. Gears clanked. Pistons hissed. Panels unfolded like iron wings. Metal surged upward as if the ocean was giving birth to a god.
What emerged was huge. Towering. Humanoid in shape, plated in gleaming silver and cobalt armor. It stood chest-deep in the water, arms spread wide, light trailing from its core. It had a face—angular, expressive—with glowing eyes that scanned the horizon.
And then it… stretched. Like someone waking up from a long nap.
"Whew," it said, rolling its massive shoulders with a low, very human groan. "That was a long nap. Ocean tastes the same though."
The crew stood speechless.
Kira thought, almost shouting in his head, "What the hell?! Is that a Transformer?!"
Sora's eyes bulged. "IT'S A GIANT ROBOT?!"
Elara stumbled back. "Did that thing just talk?"
Aria, arms crossed, stared hard at the towering figure. "How… is that a ship?"
Kira blinked, still catching up, then called out, "Hey! Are you… actually a ship?"
The robot turned his head toward them, one glowing eye narrowing playfully. "You sound skeptical, Captain. Watch this."
With a heavy stomp, the figure took a step back into the sea. Then—gears shifted. Metal expanded. Plates twisted. The metallic limbs began folding in, rearranging like a complex puzzle solving itself in real time.
Arms collapsed inward. The chest opened wide and expanded. The head sank into the frame. Hull panels spread out like wings on either side. The legs retracted, merging into a single sleek body.
In moments, what once stood like a warrior now hovered across the surface of the water—a sleek, futuristic warship gleaming under the morning sun. Metallic. Massive. Beautiful.
A gangplank extended toward the dock with a smooth hiss.
Aria blinked slowly. "Okay… that's a ship."
Sora practically bounced. "A ROBOT THAT TRANSFORM INTO A SHIP. This is the coolest thing I've ever seen!"
Elara still looked shaken. "It talks. It moves. It… transforms."
Kira grinned, arms crossed. "Didn't see that coming either."
Aria raised an eyebrow. "You have a name?"
"I go by many names — StarScream, Rumble, Hot Rod…"
He paused, and his voice carried a grin.
"But you can call me DriftWave."
Aria tilted her head. "DriftWave? Huh. That actually sounds kind of… peaceful."
"Peaceful?" he repeated, a low chuckle in his voice. "I'm a robot that turns into a warship. I'm anything but peaceful."
"I like Hot Rod better" Said Sora
Kira walked up the ramp, whistling low. "Well… looks like the Ravens just got a serious upgrade."
DriftWave chuckled. "And you're welcome. Speaking of which—I also make smoothies."
Sora screamed. "WHAT?!"
——
The gangplank hissed closed behind them as the crew officially stepped aboard DriftWave. The door sealed with a satisfying thunk, and soft blue lights illuminated the sleek metal hallway ahead.
"Welcome aboard. Please keep arms, legs, and wild sword swings inside the corridors at all times."
Sora practically skipped ahead. "Where's the food?! I'm starving! Show me the kitchen!"
"Right this way," DriftWave replied, and a glowing path lit up on the floor.
The hallway curved smoothly until they reached a set of metal double doors that slid open with a whoosh, revealing the kitchen.
And it was beautiful.
Polished black counters. Chrome appliances. A full-sized grill. Industrial-grade ovens. On one side, a fridge the size of a small closet hummed quietly. On the other—yes, as promised—stood the smoothie machine, already whirring.
Sora gasped, placing both hands dramatically on the counter. "I am home."
DriftWave chimed in. "I also accept suggestions for themed meals. Currently, I can make over 200 kinds of noodles."
Aria gave a small, impressed nod. "You'll be busy with Sora around."
"Good. I run on chaos and culinary praise," DriftWave replied.
Kira smirked and patted the countertop. "Alright, what's next?"
Another path lit up, and they followed it through another corridor until they arrived at a smaller, circular room.
"This is the navigator's station," DriftWave announced. "All current ocean data is synced via onboard sonar, weather satellites, and… vibes."
Elara stepped forward slowly, her fingers grazing the console. The room had a massive holographic globe in the center, floating above a control ring. It shimmered with live updates—cloud patterns, currents, and ship routes.
Her eyes lit up. "This is incredible…"
Maps, charts, and instruments surrounded the walls, all digital, yet somehow simple to use. It felt like it had been built just for her.
DriftWave spoke a little softer this time. "You'll always know where you're going, navigator. No matter the storm."
Kira glanced her way. "Think you can handle it?"
She smiled. "Absolutely."
They moved on—next stop: the training room.
The doors opened into a wide, open chamber lined with retractable weapon racks, padded flooring, moving platforms, and even a suspended ring in the center.
"Combat simulation mode can be toggled here," DriftWave explained. "Pressure plates adjust to strength levels. And yes, there's a practice dummy tough enough to block your strikes."
Aria raised an eyebrow. "We'll see."
Sora whistled, running to the side and poking at a heavy barbell. "Even the weights look cool. Do these glow when you lift 'em?"
Finally, they made their way to the heart of the ship—the main command room.
The doors parted to reveal a circular chamber with a raised central console.
Above them, a massive transparent dome gave them a panoramic view of the sea outside. The stars above flickered faintly, and the water shimmered beneath.
Control panels pulsed with life. The ship felt like it was breathing.
"Welcome to the command bridge," DriftWave said proudly. "From here, you control it all—navigation, defenses, comms, power regulation."
Kira moved to the captain's chair. It molded to him like it had been waiting his whole life.
Sora immediately dropped into his own, flicking buttons at random. "What's this do?"
A disco ball popped down from the ceiling and began to spin.
"Party mode," DriftWave announced proudly.
Elara snorted a laugh. Even Aria cracked a smile.
Kira leaned back in the chair, staring at the open sea through the dome.
"Alright," he said, smiling. "I think we've found our new home."
DriftWave's voice replied with quiet pride.
"Glad you like it, Captain. Now… you should check the deck."
A soft hiss echoed as a side door slid open automatically, revealing a small staircase leading upward.
The moment they stepped outside, the salty breeze hit them—fresh and clean. The deck was massive and polished, designed with a sleek mix of practicality and beauty. Railings lined the sides, and in the middle was a raised platform where you could see everything—the endless horizon, the sparkle of the ocean under the setting sun.
The sea stretched out in every direction, gold and crimson bleeding into the water from the low-hanging sun.
It looked like they were sailing straight into a dream.
Sora threw his arms wide. "THIS. IS. FREEDOM!"
Aria stood near the railing, eyes half-lidded, letting the wind pull at her hair. Even she looked impressed.
Elara leaned against the rail and smiled softly. "It's like something out of a storybook…"
Kira simply stood at the center, soaking it all in. His crew. His ship. His future.
DriftWave's voice rumbled warmly from the speakers above.
"You wanted a home, Captain. You got one. Now… let's carve our story across this ocean."
The crew stood together at the deck's edge, staring into the glowing horizon, the ocean breathing beneath them, the wind at their backs.
Sora hands folded behind his head, still grinning after the full ship tour.
"Alright, Drift," he said, voice dripping with mischief, "serious question—got any weapons? Y'know, something really fancy? Big cannons? Bigger booms?"
DriftWave's voice crackled through the metal walls, calm but unmistakably amused.
"You ask if I have weapons..."
The lights on the command console dimmed slightly, and a soft vibration thrummed under their boots.
"Permission to demonstrate, Captain?" DriftWave asked, more formal now.
Kira gave a small shrug, lips curling into a half-smile. "Alright. But keep it outside the harbor."
"Understood," DriftWave replied, voice dry.
Panels along the starboard side slid open with a smooth mechanical hiss. From within, a sleek, silver cannon emerged—its surface etched with faint, pulsing blue lines. It locked into place with a solid clang, the hum of charging energy building steadily.
"Target: open sea," DirftWave reported. "Initiating demonstration—Vortex Lance."
The cannon charged, light gathering at its tip until it became a piercing point of concentrated energy. With a sound like tearing silk, it fired.
No explosion. No deafening roar.
Just a flash—and then, miles away, the ocean itself split apart.
A line carved through the sea like a blade through cloth, water erupting upward on either side. For a long moment, it held—an impossible canyon of air and mist—before the walls of water finally crashed back together in a thunderous roar.
The crew stared in silence.
Sora's eyes went wide. "Okay, I take it back," he said, grinning. "This is definitely the best day of my entire existence."
Elara gaped openly. "You… you split the ocean."
Aria remained composed, arms folded across her chest, but even she lingered longer on the cannon than usual. Her voice was almost admiring. "No navy's going to touch us now."
Kira leaned forward slightly smirking. "Note to self: never make Drift angry."
The sea rolled and shimmered under the fading light—scarred from DriftWave's shot, but slowly healing.
DriftWave's voice lowered just a fraction, almost conspiratorial.
"Captain… just say the word. We'll leave more than waves behind."
Kira's smirk deepened.
"Trust me, Drift… I'm counting on it."
——
Kira stood, his voice cutting through the lingering excitement.
"Alright, listen up," he said, serious now. "We've got a new ship—better, faster, stronger. Honestly, we don't need the old one anymore."
He paused, letting that sink in, before his eyes sharpened with a dangerous glint.
"But we're pirates. And what kind of pirates would we be if we just let someone steal from us and walk away?"
The crew straightened, the air shifting from awe to simmering heat.
"We're tracking that boat," Kira continued, voice cold and sure, "and when we find 'em—" he cracked his knuckles, "—we're giving them the beating of their lives."
A slow, dangerous grin spread across Sora's face.
"Now that's the captain I signed up for."
Aria's hand casually rested on Hoshigami's hilt, her expression sharp as a blade.
"About time. I was starting to itch for a real fight."
Elara nodded once, her usual calm tinged with a spark of vengeance.
"They picked the wrong crew to steal from."
Drift's voice rumbled smoothly through the ship, almost like a low chuckle.
"Coordinates of your former vessel locked. Engines primed. Weapons charged."
The deck lights shifted to a deeper blue, humming with restrained energy. Outside the glass dome, the horizon beckoned—wide, wild, and about to get a whole lot more dangerous.
"Then," Kira said with quiet satisfaction, "let's go remind them what it means to cross the Ravens."
Drift surged forward, slicing through the waves like a predator unleashed.
———————————————————
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