Title: One Piece: Gacha Hunter of the Grand Line
Chapter 19 - Static in the Signal
The night air in Eldoradus was unusually still.
Ayman sat cross-legged near a small oil lamp inside the aqueduct base, his eyes fixed on the flickering flame. Around him, the crew lounged in various poses, nursing minor wounds and sharing stories over reheated rations. The energy from the supply raid had not yet faded, but the atmosphere felt different now—more real, more dangerous.
"That comms post," Calla said, tapping her knuckle against the rolled map, "is on the east ridge, built into a hollowed-out lighthouse. It's heavily fortified. But if we don't take it soon, they'll call for reinforcements."
Yoruichi tilted her head. "So what's the plan? Sneak in and cut the wires? Or burn it all to the ground?"
"Preferably the second," Android 18 muttered, cracking her knuckles. "The last thing we need is them tracking our movements."
[New Mission: Disable Pirate Communication Outpost. Reward: 700,000 Berries. Bonus: No Pirate Alarms Triggered. Bonus Reward: 500,000 Berries.]
Ayman nodded grimly. "We go tonight."
They left under the cover of darkness, navigating through narrow gullies and animal trails. Tsunade carried a sealed scroll containing smoke bombs and flash tags. Yoruichi vanished into the trees ahead to scout. Android 18 carried a crate of explosives on her shoulder as if it weighed nothing.
The lighthouse rose like a pale claw against the dark sky. A ring of spotlights swirled from its upper floors, cutting long shadows across the grass.
"Four guards outside," Yoruichi whispered, returning. "Two more on the roof. One operator inside."
"We have to hit fast and quiet," Ayman whispered. "We trigger an alarm, and this island turns into a warzone."
They moved like shadows.
Yoruichi dispatched the two rooftop lookouts in eerie silence. Tsunade darted forward, wrapping the guards at the entrance in a quick paralysis seal. Android 18 kicked the back door in with precision, her body a blur as she surged ahead.
Ayman followed behind her, heart pounding. Inside, the operator barely had time to gasp before Yoruichi appeared behind him, pressing a dagger to his throat.
"Ssshh," she said.
They tore through the wiring, planted explosives on the signal boosters, and copied the communication logs onto scrolls for later decoding.
[Bonus Objective Complete. +500,000 Berries.]
"Let's light it," Android 18 said, tossing the final stick of dynamite into the heart of the tower.
They ran.
The explosion turned the lighthouse into a blooming fireball. Flames licked the clouds as debris scattered across the hills. In the distance, horns blared—but not from reinforcements. From chaos.
Back at base, Calla stood speechless as they returned.
"You… actually did it," she whispered.
Ayman grinned. "Told you we're not tourists."
[Mission Complete. +700,000 Berries. Total Funds: 2,600,000 Berries.]
Later that night, Ayman found a moment of peace by the small river near the aqueduct. Android 18 appeared beside him, arms crossed.
"You're not half-bad at this revolution stuff," she said.
He smirked. "You think?"
"I do. But don't let it get to your head. You're still the guy who tripped over a tree root yesterday."
"That root came out of nowhere!"
She snorted.
Tsunade joined them soon after, handing each a can of cold juice she'd pilfered from the pirate stores.
"Here's to more victories."
They clinked their cans. But in the background, on the wind, the faint sound of marching boots reminded them—this was only the beginning.