[Note:
" * " : Indicates abilities that can be upgraded with practice, experience, or unique opportunities.]
> System inner voice ["speaking"] <
> Ash inner speech "speaking" <
{}
Shiruku jolted awake at the sound of voices above her head. For a split second, she didn't know where she was.
The floor beneath her shifted gently, a slow, steady sway that made the wooden boards creak. The air smelled different—salt and tar and sea—nothing like the soil and smoke of her village.
Slowly her memory returned piece by piece. Pirates. Gyari. The fight. Ash, Lucy and the rest. And then—the decision she'd made. She can't believe she is a pirate now.
She sat up slowly, dragging a hand down her face with a sigh. She swung her legs over the side of the bunk, bare feet touching the wooden floor. The ship creaked again, almost like it was reminding her she was no longer on land.
And the ship is in fact Gyari's ship — Ash had said they'd only be using it temporarily. As they were already behind schedule, he'd told her, because they had promised to meet their navigator at Shells Town. This will be faster than the boat they initially came.
Nami.
The name lingered in her thoughts.
Ash and the rest had spoken about her. According to them, there wasn't a better navigator on the sea. Shiruku didn't know what kind of person she is… and that only made her more anxious to meet her.
Above her, voices drifted down from the deck—laughing, arguing. Lucy's loud voice stood out immediately.
Just yesterday, she'd been a nameless village girl whose whole world ended at the edge of the shore.
Now she was on a pirate ship, sailing toward the unknown, surrounded by people who felt far too calm about things that should've been impossible.
Her thoughts drifted back to the village. To the moment Ash had kept his promise.
He explained how he plan to protect the village to her and village headman. Ash presented - a replica of their crew flag and what it does. She remembered the way everyone had gone quiet when the Straw Hat flag was raised… and the way the air itself seemed to change.
A beautiful, dome like barrier rising over the village covering their small island—before fading from sight, as if it had never been there at all.
Shiruku swallowed taking in the shock and when Ash just said, "This will keep them safe." And somehow… she believed him.
After getting the blessings of her whole village she finally set to the sea.
Once on the ship she was let into much more secrets and only because of she couldn't process they had to stop to let her process.
And of course, she was given the crew tattoo and had to know about the VLI.
When she saw her status and compared to others, she is literally a fly in front of her new crew. And she finally came to accept the words Ash said that they might be the one of the strongest people in the east blue.
She clenched her hands at that thought. She is now more determined to get stronger.
But, one step at a time…
Another burst of laughter came from above deck, snapping her out of her thoughts.
Shiruku took a breath, steadied herself, and stood moving towards the door.
Whatever waited for her out there—whatever secrets her crew carried—she had chosen this path herself. And she wasn't turning back now. She would grow stronger.
With that resolve steadying her, Shiruku pushed the door open and stepped out onto the deck.
She saw Lucy was doing her absolute best to irritate Gyari—and judging by the way he was shouting himself hoarse, she was succeeding.
Selina and Uta stood a little distance away, watching with quiet amusement, while Ace lounged up in the crow's nest, half on lookout duty and half entertained by the chaos below. At the helm, Ash steered calmly, as if none of it concerned him.
Uta noticed Shiruku first and smiled. "You're awake. Did you sleep, okay?"
Shiruku nodded. "Yeah… better than I expected."
"Good," Uta said. "What do you think about starting your training today? Ash will be taking us to Shells Town, so Selina and I will handle it."
Shiruku blinked, surprised—then straightened. "Training? …Sure. I'm ready."
Uta laughed softly. "After you eat."
...…
Sometime later, well away from Gyari and his restrained crew, Selina and Uta stood in front of Shiruku.
"You use a saber, right?" Selina asked.
Shiruku nodded.
"Then we'll leave weapon training to Ash," Selina said. "For now, we'll focus on other things. Before that—"
She tossed Shiruku a small vial. Shiruku caught it on reflex, turning it over in her hand.
"What's this?"
"Something Ash got from Celeste," Uta explained. "It boosts your stats a little. But it's random."
Shiruku frowned. "Isn't that… cheating?"
"Only if you decide it is," Selina replied calmly, "Think of it as a mean or even an advantage to get you step ahead."
Uta added, "Out there, survival matters. If your enemy uses every advantage they can, so why can't you?"
Shiruku looked down at the vial, hesitated.
Seeing her hesitation, Selina. "Hey we are not saying you will be taking shortcuts. No believe me when I say we trained hard over years. And we promise we will train you. The things we give are keys to unlock the door. Opening it and walking inside is all on you."
She drank the vial immediately after thinking for a minute.
Warmth spread through her body. When she checked the VLI, her strength had increased slightly. Not much. But enough.
"…It really works," she murmured.
Uta smiled. "Good. There are still few more things which we'll give you in time. It will help you in making you stronger."
Selina nodded. "Now then. Shall we start?"
...…..
Training began immediately, starting with basic movement first. Then simple hand-to-hand drills.
By midday, Shiruku was sprawled on the deck, staring up at the sky, chest rising and falling.
Selina looked down at her with a faint smirk. "Looks like we need to concentrate on your stamina first."
Shiruku groaned. "You think?"
Uta laughed. "Rest while you can. If I'm right, Ash might have already planned a full schedule for you."
Shiruku nodded weakly.
"Don't worry," Selina added. "He'll take it slow. He trained with us too along with few others—he knows what he's doing. And we'll be there if you need help."
Shiruku pushed herself up, still shaky. "Thanks… I won't let you guys down. I'll get strong enough to have your backs."
Uta smiled warmly. "We know."
She grabbed Shiruku's arm. "Now come on. Food, short break—then we start again."
Selina followed, amused, as Uta half-dragged the exhausted Shiruku away.
...
While they were eating inside, a loud crash shook the ship — followed immediately by Gyari's shrill yelp of pain.
Lucy bolted out of the galley first, ramen bowl still in hand. Ash, Ace, Uta, Selina, and Shiruku followed right behind her.
On deck, they found Gyari sprawled face-first against the planks, groaning miserably with something enormous bird sat on top of him.
A massive bundle of feathers and fur blinked up at them — half bird, half panda-looking, very much alive. Its wings twitched weakly, cheeks puffed as if it was more confused than hurt.
Lucy stared. "…Uh. What the heck is that? An ostrich? Or… a panda?"
Gyari didn't move. He couldn't. The creature had him completely pinned.
Then Ash's eyes narrowed, as a much larger ship came into view — taller, broader than Gyari's, cutting through the waves at full speed. It wasn't slowing. From its angle, it was clearly aiming straight for them.
"Tch—" Ash clicked his tongue.
In a blur, he vanished from the deck and reappeared at the wheel, spinning it hard. The ship lurched sharply as he forced it aside.
The larger vessel tore past them, missing by barely a hair's breadth.
Before anyone could breathe again, a loud voice echoed from above, "Balloooon! Run away! Fly far! Goooooool!"
Everyone looked up. Standing at the edge of the approaching ship was a young girl — short light-blue hair held back by a pink clip, bright blue eyes locked onto the strange creature crushing Gyari.
The larger ship slowed just enough to loom beside them, its shadow swallowing the deck.
A tall, lanky man stepped forward at the bow.
His sallow-face twisted into a fake smile, rainbow-colored ponytails tied into six short tails around his head, two poking awkwardly from beneath his tricorne and his head resembles a seahorse or water strider.
He wore a striped shirt, black shorts, with a pirate belt and an open vest. He smiled at them far too calmly for someone who'd almost rammed them.
He spread his arms, "Good day! I am Six-Sided Spiel. A humble traveller of the seas and a man who values—"
SLUUURP.
Lucy took loud pull of noodles from her bowl.
Spiel's smile twitched.
"—order, peace, and fair—"
SLUUURP.
A vein popped near his temple.
Lucy tilted the bowl, chasing the last noodles. "Man, this ramen's gooood—"
Spiel snapped pointing straight at her, "BRAT, CAN YOU STOP EATING AND LISTEN TO ME FOR A SECOND?"
But Lucy deliberately slurping broth this time.
Spiel inhaled slowly gritting his teeth for a second. His smile returned tighter this time.
"As I was saying," he continued stiffly, "I am not your enemy. I merely came to retrieve something that… fell onto your ship."
He gestured sharply toward Balloon, "If you return it, I will leave peacefully."
Ace stepped forward, unimpressed, "You nearly rammed us with your ship, and that's what you open with?"
Lucy nodded. "Yeah. Also—your head looks weird."
Spiel and his whole crew froze, staring at her in disbelief with their jaws dropped wide open. Someone actually made a choking sound.
Spiel's smile finally cracked, "You left me with no choice." With a twisted grin as he snapped his fingers.
"BURN."
In next instant, flames erupted around Ace. Anne screamed, struggling against the grip of the men holding her.
"NOOOO—!!"
Spiel cruelly laughed, clearly hoping to hear the panic from Ace or across the deck. His crew joined in, confident, already savoring the moment.
Shiruku moved without thinking, "Ace—!" She lunged forward, heart pounding—only to stop dead.
Because Ace wasn't screaming or even flinching. She just stood there completely relaxed, as flames crawled all over her body.
A moment passed. Then she yawned, scratching the back of her head like someone bored by the weather.
"…Huh. It's kinds Warm," Ace muttered lazily.
The laughter died instantly.
Spiel and his crew froze mid-mockery, mouths hanging open. One man's knees visibly buckled. Another's nose started running without him even realizing it. The color drained from their faces as fear replaced smugness.
Even Gyari and his crew—still bound and watching from the side—stared at Ace in open terror.
Ace rolled her neck once, utterly unbothered, and finally looked up at Spiel with half-lidded eyes.
Slowly, she raised one hand, palm facing upward.
The flames covering her body pulled inward, gathering into a dense sphere of fire hovering above her palm. With a casual motion, she closed her fist.
The fire vanished.
Ace blew a thin trail of smoke from her knuckles and looked back at Spiel, bored.
Spiel took an involuntary step back, voice cracking, "H-How… how are you not burning…? What kind of trick is this…?"
Ace cracked her knuckles as she stepped forward, her gaze locked onto Spiel never leaving.
"You had your chance to talk," she said casually. "Weirdo."
She rolled her shoulders once, "Now it's my turn."
Without even glancing back, she added, voice carrying easily across the deck, "I'll handle these idiots. No one interfere."
She paused for half a beat, "…Unless one of them tries to run."
Ash, who had been silent until now, let out a quiet chuckle. He folded his arms, "As the lady wishes."
Lucy puffed out her cheeks, clearly annoyed. "Aww—! I wanted to fight too! Fine! Go, Ace! Finish them off!"
Spiel barely registered the words. His confident grin from moments ago was gone, replaced by a stiff, frozen stare. Before he could even react—
Ace vanished.
One moment she was on Gyari's deck. The next, a sharp pressure hit Spiel's senses and she was there—perched casually on the rail of his own ship, with her Blaze Repeater leveled directly at his forehead.
Spiel's breath hitched.
Ace leaned in close, close enough that he could feel the heat radiating from her breadth. She tilted her head, smirking softly as she whispered, "Wow… your head really is weird."
His knees almost gave out.
"I kinda hated you the moment you started spouting nonsense—"
She stopped mid-sentence.
Several of Spiel's men had raised their weapons, hands shaking, guns and swords aimed straight at her back.
"D-Don't move!"
"Step away from the captain!"
Ace glanced over her shoulder, unimpressed. Then she sighed.
"…Seriously?" She looked back at Spiel, tapping the barrel of her gun lightly against his forehead. "I'm pointing my gun straight at your captain's head, and this is what you go with?"
She straightened slightly, rolling her neck once. "Looks like all of you—including your captain—need a healthy reality check."
Her smile sharpened. "Lucky for you… I'm happy to teach."
Ace vanished using Soru, blasting through the gathered pirates like a cannonball. The impact alone sent more than a couple of them flying, bodies crashing across the deck before they even understood what hit them.
The moment she stopped, her fist drove straight into another man's ribs. The crack was sharp and ugly as he was launched backward, slamming into several of his crewmates and dropping all of them in a tangled heap.
A blade came at her from behind but she caught it barehanded.
Her fingers hardened with Tekkai, metal screeching uselessly against her skin. Before the man could react, she spun, using him as a club—swinging his body into his own crew and hurling him straight through them, taking several more down with him.
She saw one of them ready to air his pistol but before he could fire, Ace pivoted and raised her Blaze Repeater, firing it only once.
The bullet tore through the pirate's gun and straight through his hand. He screamed, clutching the ruined limb as the weapon clattered uselessly to the deck.
Ace was already moving again.
Her heel snapped up into another face, the jaw breaking on impact. With Soru carrying her across the deck in blinding bursts—followed with a punch, kick, elbow—each strike clean, and merciless.
Then they started to fire their pistols in panic.
Bullets ripped through the air, but Ace flowed between them as if she were dancing. Some she slipped past effortlessly; others she blocked outright, her forearm hardened as lead as flattened bullets bounced away uselessly.
When the remaining pirates tried to flee in fear seeing this, it only made things worse.
They didn't make it far.
Some fell to her fists. Others dropped after a single, precise shot. Within moments, there was no one left standing.
.....
Below, on Gyari's ship, Shiruku could only stare standing. She couldn't even see Ace from where she stood. All she could see were bodies of pirates that began raining down.
Some slammed onto the deck. Others splashed into the sea. The sounds followed seconds later—heavy thuds, water breaking, groans of unconscious men.
Ash didn't bother to look up, "Lucy gather them up."
Lucy reacted instantly, her arms stretching across the gap, snapping unconscious pirates out of midair before the rest could hit the water. While Ash collected that had fallen into the sea. Selina and Uta, binded them the moment they landed deck.
Gyari and his remaining men could only watch in horror as their deck filled with Spiel's defeated crew.
.....
Then a laugh echoed through the chaos.
Spiel.
He had escaped into the air on a flying broomstick, one arm locked tightly around a struggling girl. His pistol was pressed against her head, his grin stretched thin with sweat and fear.
"Don't think I'm stupid enough to fight monsters like you!" he shouted. "All I needed was that bird's blood—but now this girl dies instead!"
The girl suddenly stopped struggling.
Spiel laughed. "That's right. Stop fighting. This is all because of you—now accept your and die."
He raised the pistol pointing at her head. But then he paused. Because the girl wasn't looking at him. Her eyes were fixed on something behind him.
Spiel head turned slowly and he froze in fear.
Ace hovered in the air behind him, wings spread wide, her gaze locked onto him with a look that made his blood run cold.
"Did you really think," she said quietly, "I'd let you go so easily?"
He didn't get a chance to answer.
Her fist crashed into his face. Teeth shattered as his blood sprayed. His body folded and dropped like a stone, slamming down toward Gyari's deck as his grip loosened on his broom and the girl.
The girl fell screaming.
Ace dove instantly, catching her midair with ease before landing smoothly on the deck below. The impact sent a rush of wind across the ship as she straightened, holding the shaken girl safely in her arms.
The girl kept screaming even after Ace landed back on the deck, her eyes squeezed shut and her hands clutching desperately Ace's neck as if she were still falling.
Lucy scratched her cheek, amused, "Oi. You're safe already, you know."
The words didn't sink in immediately. The screaming tapered off, turning into shaky breaths. Slowly, the girl cracked one eye open… then the other.
She blinked.
Color rushed to her face all at once after noticing her situation. "O–Oh… I'm… safe?"
Ace gave a faint smirk. "Yeah."
Ash stepped closer, his tone calm and steady. "Well, then all that is left is…... Welcome aboard."
Ace carefully lowered her onto the deck and folded back the wings back inside her. She kept a hand on the girl's shoulder until her legs stopped trembling. Uta moved in right away, crouching beside her and gently loosening the ropes that had dug into her wrists.
Only then did the girl seem to really notice where she was.
Her head snapped to the side.
"Balloon—!"
A few steps away, the strange bird sat on the deck, its wings and legs wrapped in fresh bandages. Its feathers were ruffled and uneven, but its eyes were bright and alert. The moment it saw her, it let out a chirping cry.
She ran to it without hesitation, dropping to her knees and wrapping her arms around its neck. Balloon responded clumsily, folding a wing around her in return.
"I'm so glad you're okay…" she whispered, her voice shaking.
The crew didn't interrupt. They let the moment breathe.
When she finally pulled back, wiping at her eyes, the girl stood and bowed deeply.
"Thank you," she said, her voice sincere. "For saving us. Both of us."
She straightened. "My name is Anne."
Ash introduced himself first, then Ace, Uta, Selina, and Lucy—who puffed out her chest proudly.
"We're the Straw Hat Pirates!"
Anne stiffened at the word pirates, her shoulders tensing instinctively.
Before fear could take hold, Shiruku stepped forward and placed herself beside her.
"It's okay," she said quickly. "They're not like the others."
She glanced back toward the bound Gyari pirates sprawled across the deck. "They too saved me and my village from them."
Ash smiled at her. "Thanks, Shiruku."
He turned his attention back to Anne. "You're hurt. We should get you inside and take care of those injuries."
Anne looked down at herself, then nodded. Supported by Shiruku, she followed Ash toward the cabin. Balloon waddled after them, staying close.
As they moved, Ash glanced over his shoulder. "Uta. Selina. Gather anything useful from Spiel's ship."
Uta raised an eyebrow. "And the ship?"
Ash didn't slow down. "Sink it. We've got enough clutter already."
Uta and Selina exchanged matching smirks before heading off toward the larger vessel while Ash, Ace, and Lucy followed Anne inside.
CRASH!
{}
[1]
Name: Anne
Age: 16
Level: 10
Title: -
Status Effects: None
[Stats]
Strength: 97 (-)
Agility: 85 (-)
Endurance: 80 (-)
Intelligence: 162 (-)
Charisma: 571 (-)
Luck: 79 (-)
[Equipment]
Dagger
[Skills/Abilities]
NONE
[Devil Fruit Ability]
NONE
Affiliation: Straw Hat Pirates (Cabin Hand)
Anne's Relationship Meter: 70% (Grateful; Cautious Trust)
Emotional State: _
Current Thoughts: _
{}
🎖 Position: Cabin Hand (Apprentice Crew Member)
📜 Description:
A starting role given to those new to life at sea. The Cabin Hand assists wherever needed—cleaning, organizing supplies, helping injured crewmates, running errands, and learning the rhythms of a pirate ship firsthand. While not a combat position, it serves as the foundation for growth, allowing the holder to observe, adapt, and discover where their true strengths lie.
This role is temporary by nature. As the Cabin Hand gains experience, confidence, and skills, their position can naturally evolve into a specialized role within the crew.
/////////////////////////////////////
[2]
Name: Shupeal the Hexagon (Six-Sided Spiel)
Title: Captain of the Hexagon Pirates
Age: 38
Bounty: 3,500,000 Berries
Level: 26
Status Effect: Injured; Unconscious
Stats:
Strength: 275
Agility: 210
Endurance: 157
Intelligence: 227
Charisma: 62
Luck: 49
Skills:
- Deceptive Gadget Mastery(Common; Intermediate)
Uses unusual devices, trick mechanisms, and unfamiliar technology that appear "magical" to civilians and inexperienced fighters. Effective at intimidation, misdirection, and crowd control.
- Flintlock Proficiency(Common; Intermediate)
Basic firearms handling with pistols; relies more on threat and surprise than precision.
Special Traits:
- Fear of the Unknown
Excels at exploiting ignorance. Against civilians or inexperienced opponents, his gadgets create panic and hesitation. Effectiveness drops sharply against trained or battle-hardened fighters.
- Showman's Cruelty
Enjoys dramatic entrances, hostage tactics, and psychological pressure. Becomes reckless when his "mystique" is broken.
Emotional State: _
Current Thoughts: _
Weaknesses:
- Overreliance on gadgets and intimidation
- Poor close-quarters combat
- Crumbles mentally once exposed
- Abandons plans when fear tactics fail
{}
AUTHOR'S NOTE
Hey, guys!
I'm really sorry for disappointing you all with the lack of chapter updates. 😭
My laptop is finally working again! The main reason for the delay was that the service center couldn't find the spare part for my laptop series, so it took quite a long time to get the exact part I needed. I finally got it repaired, although the laptop is still not in top condition.
On top of that, my workload has increased quite a lot recently, which has left me with much less free time than before. Because of that, finding enough time to properly sit down and write has become difficult.
I know you guys have been waiting for the next updates, and I'm really sorry for making you wait this long.
I promise I'll try my best to update as regularly as I can whenever I get some free time.
Thank you so much for your patience, understanding, and continued support. It really means a lot to me. ❤️
See you all in the next chapter!
— Sky 15
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To be continued...
Thanks for reading this chapter!
I'd love to hear your thoughts — not just on the plot, but the journey itself. Is the pacing feeling right to you so far? Too fast, too slow, or just, right? Are there any moments, themes, or dynamics you feel are missing or could be explored more — like deeper character bonds, world-building, emotional scenes, or even new twists? Anything.
Also, is there anything you'd love to see added that could make the story even more exciting or satisfying? Whether it's a kind of power, a dramatic reveal, or just a character moment — your feedback really helps shape this story into something better.
Let me know in the comments! I read every one. 💬
And as always, if you're enjoying the ride, feel free to drop a Power Stone — it means a lot. 😊