Chapter 15: The Calm and the Unknown

Chapter 15: The Calm and the Unknown

The Grand Line stretched out like a vast, endless sea, the sky a brilliant blue canopy above the Wave Strider. The crew was still catching their breath from the harrowing descent of Reverse Mountain, the adrenaline slowly ebbing away as they sailed forward into unfamiliar waters. The air carried a strange chill, as if the ocean itself was holding its breath, waiting.

Nadia adjusted the sails, her brow creased with concentration. "The current here is nothing like West Blue. We have to stay sharp."

"I can handle the sails," Ryu said, rolling his shoulders to ease the tension from the climb. "You just focus on steering us straight."

Seraphina leaned against the railing, her silver hair catching the sunlight as she gazed out at the endless ocean. "This is it," she murmured. "The Grand Line."

Ren stood at the bow, staring straight ahead. His hand was still tingling from that strange sensation he felt earlier — that fleeting, almost electric warmth that had coursed through his fists during the climb. Was that Armament Haki? He flexed his fingers, trying to summon that feeling again, but nothing happened.

Ryu approached, his hands stuffed into his pockets. "You seemed... different back there."

Ren glanced at him. "Different?"

"Yeah. Like you were ready to punch that mountain in half or something."

Ren chuckled, forcing a casual tone. "Just the adrenaline."

Ryu narrowed his eyes but said nothing more, his gaze drifting back to the sea.

—

The sun dipped lower in the sky, casting long shadows across the deck. Nadia steered the ship with a calm focus, the wind catching the sails just right. Seraphina was in the kitchen, preparing a meal with the supplies they'd managed to keep intact. The scent of spiced meat wafted through the air, making Ryu's stomach growl.

"About time," Ryu said as Seraphina emerged with a tray of food. "I was starting to think we'd starve before our first day in the Grand Line."

Seraphina shot him a glare but handed him a plate anyway. "If you complain, you can cook next time."

Ryu snorted but took the food eagerly. Ren, meanwhile, sat alone at the bow, his eyes distant. His mind was replaying the ascent, that moment when his fist felt... different. Stronger.

"You okay?" Nadia's voice cut through his thoughts. She set her own plate down beside him, sitting cross-legged on the deck.

"Yeah," Ren said, but the uncertainty in his voice betrayed him.

"You sure? You were pretty intense back there," Nadia said, her tone light but her eyes serious. "I've seen you fight before, but this was... different."

Ren hesitated, his fingers tightening around his plate. "I don't know what it was. But it felt like... something was pushing back against the mountain. Like a force in my fists."

Nadia's eyes widened slightly. "A force?"

Ren nodded. "Kai talked about Armament Haki. Maybe... maybe it was that."

Nadia bit her lip, her expression thoughtful. "If that's true, then you're getting stronger."

Ren's jaw tightened. "I have to. If we're going to survive in the Grand Line, I can't be the same as I was back in West Blue."

—

As the night deepened, the air grew colder. The crew gathered below deck, sharing a meal around a wooden crate that served as a makeshift table. Ryu devoured his food with reckless abandon, while Seraphina picked at her meal, her eyes distant.

"So... the Grand Line," Ryu said, breaking the silence. "You think it's really as crazy as everyone says?"

"It's worse," Seraphina said flatly, setting her fork down. "My father used to tell stories about this place. Ships swallowed by sudden storms. Sea Kings the size of islands."

Nadia leaned back, her gaze fixed on the ceiling. "My grandpa said you could sail for days and not see land, or get lost in fog so thick you can't see your own hand."

Ryu grinned, a reckless glint in his eyes. "Sounds like fun."

"You would think that," Seraphina muttered.

Ren remained silent, staring at his clenched fist. That feeling from earlier still lingered, a haunting reminder that he was on the verge of something new. Something powerful.

—

Later that night, as the moon cast its silver glow across the sea, Ren stood alone at the bow. The rest of the crew was below deck, resting after the long day. The wind was cool, the waves lapping gently against the hull.

Ren held out his fist, focusing all his willpower on that lingering sensation — that flicker of power he'd felt back on the mountain. He clenched his fist, his jaw tightening as he tried to call forth that feeling again.

For a split second, his knuckles darkened, a faint black sheen flickering across them before fading. Ren gasped, his heart pounding. That was it. That was Haki.

His eyes narrowed, determination hardening his gaze. "I have to get stronger," he muttered to himself, his fist still trembling from the effort. "For them."

Unbeknownst to him, Nadia stood at the doorway, watching. Her eyes softened, and a small, uncertain smile touched her lips. "You already are, Ren," she whispered, before slipping back below deck.

—

The next morning, the Grand Line greeted them with eerie calm. The sea was as smooth as glass, the sky cloudless. It was as if the storm from Reverse Mountain had never existed.

"It's too quiet," Nadia said, shading her eyes as she scanned the horizon.

"Yeah," Ryu said, his hand resting on the hilt of Kurotsume. "I don't like it."

"Relax," Seraphina said, stretching her arms above her head. "Maybe the Grand Line isn't so bad after all."

Ren's eyes remained fixed on the distance, his senses alert. That faint tingle in his fists returned, and he flexed his fingers, trying to summon it again. Just a little more. Just a little stronger.

The crew continued to sail, the calm sea stretching endlessly before them. Hours passed, and the sky began to darken, the sun dipping below the horizon. The air grew heavy, and a distant rumble echoed across the water.

Nadia's brow furrowed. "A storm? But the sky's clear."

Ryu's grip tightened around his sword. "It's not just a storm..."

A shadow loomed beneath the water, a dark, massive shape that swirled beneath the surface. Ren's eyes narrowed, his fists clenching. "Get ready. Something's coming."

The sea began to churn, the waves rising, and the dark shape beneath the water surged upward, sending a column of water shooting into the sky. The crew braced themselves, their eyes widening as a monstrous sea creature emerged, its eyes gleaming with malevolent intent.

"Brace yourselves!" Ren shouted, his fists blazing with the faintest sheen of black. "This is the Grand Line — and it's not going to be easy!"

—

Timeline Update:

It has been 63 days since Ren set sail.

Luffy has set sail 2 days ago.