Chapter 312: Asuka Island

Ben stepped into the dining room. The room was abuzz with a lively blend of conversation and laughter. The morning sunlight filtered through the large windows. He thought everyone must have a good night yesterday. 

HQ and Zala were serving everyone breakfast. Near the edge of the room, Alvida and Mikita stood, engaged in a quiet conversation. Alvida leaned casually against the wall talking to Mikita. They both looked like they were enjoying each other's company. 

Around the table, the rest of the crew sat. Nojiko and Vivi were deep in animated discussion, their heads close together as they shared a private joke. Honey`s fingers idly traced the rim of her teacup. Robin, with her dark hair framing her face, watched the room with her usual calm demeanor. At the far end of the table, Saphir and Conis were talking. Their conversation was punctuated by bursts of laughter. Raki sipped from her cup, drinking her tea.

"Hi All," Ben greeted. 

"Morning, Captain!" came the cheerful reply from around the room. They all had bright smiles on their faces.

He sat down between Saphir and Conis. Saphir leaned against Ben`s shoulder and smiled while Conis smiled back. She looked a little flustered. Zala quickly moved to serve him. She poured him a cup of coffee. "Here you go," Zala said. 

"Thank you," Ben replied. "Where is Kaya and Marianne?" Ben asked. 

Alvida smirked. "My love, Marianne said she was tired after spending time with her Captain," Alvida replied. She added, "She needs a bit of rest." 

"The smile on her face was to see," Mikita added. 

"She looked so happy," Honey added. The other girls smiled. 

"And Kaya, she already had her breakfast," Nojiko teased.

"It is always fulfilling," Mikita added. Ben cleared his throat. 

Zala nodded in agreement. "We need to make sure the Captain is well-fed," she added with a playful wink.

They ate their meals. As soon as they finished, HQ approached him, "Master, we are arriving at Asuka Island," she informed. 

"Okay, that was quick," Ben replied. "This is the island with a cursed sword," Ben added.

"Cursed sword?" Vivi asked. Alvida and Robin looked with interest.

"Yes, it was a sword created by the God of Asuka for the king of the land as a holy weapon to protect his people," Ben explained. He continued, "However, the three princes fell in love with the same maiden." He paused. "The princes then engaged in a war to win her heart by gifting her the sword. The sword got consumed by the negative energy. Eventually, the maiden sacrificed her life to stop the warring kingdom and the princes sealed the sword using three orbs," he finished. 

"That sounds tragic," Vivi said.

"No one won in the end," Mikita added. 

"Love can make you do crazy things," Robin said. 

"But an entire nation," Conis remarked. 

"The island does sound like trouble," Raki commented.

"Trouble always finds us," Alvida smirked. 

At that moment, they heard an explosion from outside. "What was that?" Vivi shouted.

"We are under attack," Ben replied. They all rushed to the deck and saw a large marine battleship. On the sails it was written "Hina." Ben smiled. 

"She is back," Nojiko remarked. 

"That must mean Tashigi will be with her my love," Alvida said. She looked enthusiastic. 

"Those two are the women, we want to join us?" Zala asked. 

"Yes, it is," Ben replied. 

The girls just looked at him. They shrugged their shoulders. Another cannon ball hit the ocean, causing an explosion. 

"It looks like they are chasing that ship with the massive drill," Saphir reported. 

"Massive drill?" Nojiko replied. She looked at the other ship.It was a large brown ship with a large circular drill at the front. "Willy," Nojiko added.

"Those evil fishman again," Vivi said. There was anger in her voice. 

They saw the Web Panic turning towards them with Hina`s ship hot on its pursuit. "Master, they are coming towards us," HQ reported. 

Ben looked in front. He saw Asuka Island. It had rugged cliffs and lush greenery blending seamlessly. The island's coastline was a mix of jagged cliffs and beaches. To the left, sheer rock faces plunged directly into the sea. Further along the shore, the cliffs gave way to secluded beaches with white sands. Behind the cliffs was a dense jungle. The jungle was alive with the rustling of leaves and the distant calls of exotic birds. There were huge mountains in the background. Between the mountains and the coast lay fertile valleys. Rivers snaked through these valleys, over waterfalls and carved deep gorges. Just in front of the island were towering rock pillars. They ranged from slender spires to broad, flat-topped columns. They formed like a maze infront of the island. 

"My love, should we fight them?" Alvida asked. Nojiko clenched her fist. Vivi nodded in agreement. Ben saw their reactions, a little too much fire right now. 

"No, there is no need and we are on the sea so we are at a disadvantage," Ben replied.

Saphir cleared her throat. Ben looked at her. "Well, Saphir can easily kick their ass by herself since this is water, I rather allow everyone to help out, and land is where we are the strongest," Ben quickly said.

"Yeah, I can kick their ass," Saphir said. She looked at Nojiko and smiled. Nojiko nodded back.

"But we can make a quick escape where they won't follow us that easily," Ben explained. 

"We will head through those pillars, at the end there is a ramp which we will launch ourself from which I can see," Ben said. Ben could fight them and win however, this being Asuka Island, means the Curse of Holy Sword will start, it is better to get to the village quickly. 

"A daring plan, we could hit those pillars and be crushed into the ocean and get eaten by sharks," Robin said. 

Honey looked at her and thought scary. "I will save everyone," Saphir said. 

"No one is getting crushed. HQ, Nojiko lets go to the Bridge," Ben ordered. "Everyone else hold on tight," Ben added.

"My love, I will go to the rear of the Miss Love Duck, to protect from stray cannon balls," Alvida stated. 

"I can help," Honey added. 

"We all want to," Mikita further added. 

"Stay close and at different points of the Miss Love Duck, make sure you hold something," Ben stated. 

They all nodded and got to their positions. 

HQ, Nojiko and Ben ran to the Bridge. Nojiko got on the helm. "Nojiko go there," Ben pointed. Nojiko navigated the Miss Love Duck around the pillars. The Miss Love Duck moved left at the first pillar, then a sharp right turn. Ben saw the makeshift ramp. "Floor it Nojiko," Ben ordered. 

"Yes Captain," Nojiko replied. 

Nojiko pushed the lever all the way down and accelerated. The Miss Love Duck hit the ramp and launched off. It flew towards the sky. The Miss Love Duck got air and landed in the river. 

Ben smiled. "Perfect according to plan," he whispered. He rushed outside and saw all the girls gathered. "Everyone all right?" Ben asked.

"That was crazy," Raki replied. 

Meanwhile, on the Marine battleship, Hina lit a cigarette. She looked at the two ships which had just ramped over. She puffed her cigarette. "Captain Hina, the Willy's Pirate had just," Tashigi was reporting. 

"Hina knows, Hina also saw the other ship," Hina replied.

Tashigi looked at her and nodded. "Yes, the Love Pirates are here," Tashigi replied. She clenched her fist. She had been humiliated twice by them but her heart kept pounding every time she thought of him.

"The Willy Pirate destroyed a prisoner ship, they are very dangerous and now we have Love Pirates here as well," Hina assessed the situation. 

"I don't think they are working together," Tashigi replied. 

"Hina`s gut feeling says the same, however we will need more help," Hina replied.

"Help?" Tashigi asked.

"Hina knows there is the Marine Dojo here, we can ask them to deal with the Willy Pirates," Hina replied. 

Tashigi nodded. She was looking forward to seeing Ben again. Her heart pounded.