Chapter 14: Rivalry on the High Seas

The next morning, the sea was calm.

A thin mist clung to the water's surface, making the horizon look like a ghost world just out of reach. The ship, newly christened The Stormchaser — named by Riku after my lightning abilities — cut smoothly through the gentle waves.

We were riding high after our success at the ruins.

But in the Grand Line, peace never lasted long.

I was leaning against the mainmast, the Leviathan Spear resting across my lap, when Kaelen shouted from the crow's nest.

"Ship off the starboard bow! Gaining fast!"

I snapped to attention.

Riku was already at my side, hand on the hilts of his swords. "Trouble?"

Vargan lumbered up from the hold, cracking his knuckles. "Ain't no one friendly in these waters, cap."

I climbed up the rigging to get a better view.

Through the mist, a silhouette took shape — sleek and aggressive, with dark crimson sails that looked like torn wings.

At its prow was a figurehead shaped like a roaring dragon, jaws open wide.

Beneath a black flag, a red emblem blazed: a dragon swallowing its own tail.

My stomach sank.

I recognized that flag.

The Crimson Serpents.

A notorious pirate crew known for burning villages and sinking entire fleets for the thrill of it. Their captain — Dace "Red Fang" Morin — had a bounty nearing 80 million berries.

A cruel man. A merciless fighter.

And judging by how quickly their ship was closing the distance, they had no intention of simply waving hello.

"Battle stations!" I roared.

My crew scrambled into motion.

Kaelen took the helm, steering us into the wind.

Riku tightened the cloth strips around his wrists, eyes glittering with excitement.

Vargan grabbed two cannonballs — one in each massive hand — and grinned.

I felt the crackle of lightning race across my skin.

This wasn't going to be an easy fight.

But after everything we'd been through, we weren't about to back down now.

The Crimson Serpents wasted no time.

Their cannons roared, sending black-iron balls hurtling across the water.

Kaelen juked our ship hard to port, narrowly avoiding the first salvo.

Still, the second volley struck home.

The ship shuddered as wood splintered along the port side.

"We can't outrun them," Kaelen shouted over the noise. "They're faster!"

"Then we stand and fight," I said, feeling the Kirin stir within me.

Lightning raced across my fingertips, eager for battle.

The enemy ship pulled alongside, grappling hooks soaring through the mist.

Crimson Serpents swung across on ropes, howling like wolves.

The clash was immediate.

Steel rang against steel. Pistols cracked. Shouts and screams filled the air.

I met the first wave head-on, the Leviathan Spear spinning in my hands.

A pirate lunged at me with a scimitar — I sidestepped, driving the butt of the spear into his gut, then pivoted and sent him flying over the railing with a crackling kick.

Riku was a whirlwind beside me, his twin swords weaving a deadly dance. Two pirates went down before they could even raise their weapons.

Vargan simply grabbed one enemy and hurled him into three others like bowling pins.

Kaelen moved like a shadow, slipping between blows, disabling enemies with precise, surgical strikes.

But the real threat hadn't shown himself yet.

A heavy thud shook the deck.

Dace "Red Fang" Morin landed amidst the carnage, his crimson cloak billowing, a cruel smile on his scarred face.

He was a monster of a man — six and a half feet tall, corded with muscle, twin axes strapped to his hips.

His teeth — filed into sharp points — gleamed in the misty light.

He pointed one axe at me.

"You got somethin' I want, boy," he growled. "That spear. Hand it over, and maybe I'll let your crew live."

I spun the Leviathan Spear once, planting it in the deck with a thunk.

"You can try and take it," I said, letting lightning spark up my arms.

Dace grinned wider. "Good. I like it when they fight."

He moved faster than a man his size had any right to.

Axes flashed, gleaming wetly.

I barely managed to twist aside, the blade grazing my shoulder.

Pain flared, but adrenaline drowned it out.

I retaliated with a thrust of the spear, aiming for his chest.

Dace batted it aside with a clang of his axe and drove forward, forcing me back.

Around us, the battle raged.

But in that moment, it was just him and me.

Dace was strong — monstrously so.

Every blow of his axes sent shockwaves through the deck.

I couldn't match his brute strength.

But I had speed.

And lightning.

I let the Kirin inside me loose, sparks flaring around my body.

Dace swung high — I ducked under it and slammed the butt of the spear into his knee.

He staggered.

I didn't give him a second to recover.

A burst of lightning propelled me forward, the spear flashing.

I jabbed once, twice, three times, driving him back step by step.

Finally, I feinted left, then spun and delivered a thunderous kick to his chest.

Dace flew backward, crashing into the mast with a deafening crack.

He slumped to the deck, stunned.

The Crimson Serpents hesitated.

Their captain — the invincible Red Fang — was down.

"Your call," I said, leveling the spear at the nearest pirate. "Surrender… or swim."

It wasn't a hard choice.

Weapons clattered to the deck.

The battle was over.

We tied up the Serpents, patched the holes in the ship, and sent a message bird to the nearest Marine base.

Let them deal with the prisoners.

As for Dace, he glared daggers at me as we dragged him into the brig.

But I could feel it — a grudging respect simmering beneath the hatred.

He knew he'd been beaten fairly.

And somehow, I suspected this wouldn't be the last time we crossed paths.

As the mist burned away and the sun rose higher, I stood at the bow of the Stormchaser, the Leviathan Spear resting lightly in my hand.

We had survived.

Again.

And with each battle, each island, we grew stronger.

The Grand Line was vast.

Filled with wonders and terrors beyond imagination.

But we weren't afraid.

We were pirates now.

And our legend was only just beginning.