The wind howled over the vast ocean, carrying the salty scent of adventure and danger. Kaito stood with Zoro and Hinata on the rocking deck of a small ship—a vessel that had miraculously appeared thanks to the Summoning System after he summoned his second companion. The ship wasn't grand, but it was enough to navigate the endless sea, enough to survive.
Or so he thought.
Because trouble had already found them.
Enemy Alert Detected.
The system screen flashed wildly in front of him, displaying a red warning notification.
Hostile Forces Approaching!
Enemy Type: Pirate Raiders
Threat Level: Moderate
Battle Rewards: EXP, System Upgrade Potential
Kaito's pulse quickened. He had expected combat, but he hadn't expected a real threat so soon.
Through the mist ahead, shadows emerged. Several pirate ships loomed in the distance, sails adorned with a skull insignia unfamiliar to him. The jagged edges of their weapons gleamed under the sun, and their bloodthirsty grins promised only one thing—violence.
Zoro cracked his knuckles, looking utterly unfazed. "They don't look like Marines, but they're stupid enough to attack us."
Hinata stepped forward, eyes sharpening as she activated her Byakugan. "There are at least ten enemies aboard that ship… and they're heading straight for us."
Kaito clenched his fists. His Summoning System hadn't fully leveled up yet, and he wasn't a fighter himself—but his summons were.
The battle was inevitable.
"Prepare for combat!" Kaito commanded.
The Battle Begins
As the pirate ships closed in, a thunderous cannon blast erupted from their front deck. The cannonball tore through the sky, heading straight for Kaito's ship.
His system reacted instantly.
[SYSTEM WARNING]
Incoming Attack Detected!
Activation Option: Summon Defense Protocol
"Zoro, destroy that cannonball!" Kaito shouted.
Zoro didn't hesitate.
With lightning-fast reflexes, he unsheathed his swords—the gleam of steel catching the sunlight. He positioned himself, planting his feet firmly against the ship's deck.
Then—
"Three-Sword Style: Oni Giri!"
With one swift cross-slash, Zoro tore through the incoming cannonball mid-air, splitting it into harmless fragments that plummeted into the sea.
Kaito grinned. That was the power of his summons.
But the pirates weren't done yet.
Several of them swung onto Kaito's ship, weapons drawn. Their leader—a scarred brute with a massive cutlass—sneered at him.
"Heh. Just a bunch of kids. This'll be easy."
Kaito glared. "Hinata!"
She moved before the words even finished.
"Gentle Step: Twin Lion Fists!"
Hinata rushed forward, her chakra-infused fists glowing with immense energy. The pirates had no time to react—she struck with blinding precision, sending two of them flying across the deck.
The battle erupted into chaos.
Steel clashed against steel. Explosions rocked the ship. Waves crashed violently beneath them.
And Kaito?
He wasn't just watching.
The Summoning System activated, unlocking new battle mechanics.
🔹 Command Boost Activated! (Summons receive enhanced strength when following direct orders.)
🔹 Summon Synergy Bonus! (Zoro and Hinata fight more efficiently together.)
🔹 EXP Gain Active!
His power was growing—and so was his crew's dominance.
But then, the pirate leader lunged at Kaito himself, blade slicing through the air.
For the first time, Kaito felt true fear.
The Turning Point
Kaito's heartbeat pounded in his ears. Time slowed, his mind racing. He wasn't a fighter. He didn't have the strength of his summons. If this attack landed—
Zoro appeared in an instant.
Steel flashed as the pirate's blade met unrelenting force—Zoro countered effortlessly, his expression colder than ice.
"You picked the wrong fight."
With a single devastating slash, Zoro cut the pirate down, sending him crashing into the sea.
Hinata finished off the last raider with a palm strike that sent his body skidding across the deck.
Silence fell.
The battle was over.
And just like that—
Kaito had won his first fight.