West Blue - Hakugan Port - Midnight
Ren and Ryu followed Nadia through the darkened streets of Hakugan Port, the faint glow of lanterns flickering in the distance. The air was thick with the scent of rain and smoldering wood, remnants of the earlier chaos. Despite the lingering tension, Nadia moved with a calm confidence, her eyes fixed ahead.
"Are you sure it's safe?" Ryu asked, wincing as he adjusted the bandage on his arm.
"Safer than anywhere else right now," Nadia said, her jaw clenched. "We're almost there."
They reached a small cottage at the edge of the port, nestled between dense trees and overlooking the sea. The wooden structure looked weathered but sturdy, with a warm light spilling from the windows. Nadia opened the door without knocking.
Inside, a man sat at a wooden table, a steaming cup of tea in his hand. His silver hair was tied back in a low ponytail, and his muscular build was apparent even beneath the loose shirt he wore. His eyes, sharp and intense, darted to the newcomers the moment they entered.
"Grandpa, these are the guys I was telling you about," Nadia said, closing the door behind them.
The old man's gaze swept over Ren and Ryu, his eyes narrowing slightly. "You've brought trouble."
"Farren's pirates attacked the port," Nadia said. "They helped me fight them off."
"Farren's crew, huh?" The old man's expression darkened. "Persistent bastards."
"You know them?" Ren asked.
"Know them?" The man smirked, taking a slow sip of tea. "I've tangled with worse. Name's Kai. And you two?"
"Monkey D. Ren," Ren said, offering a grin. "This is Ryu."
"Higo," Ryu added, his eyes locked on the old man. There was something about Kai that set his nerves on edge, as if the air around him was denser than normal.
Kai's gaze lingered on Ren, his brow furrowing slightly. "Monkey D., huh? Got family in the East Blue?"
Ren's grin widened. "Maybe."
Before Kai could respond, the door burst open with a crash. Farren stepped inside, his imposing frame blocking the entrance. Standing at nearly seven feet tall, Farren was a hulking figure with a barrel chest, muscular arms, and a savage grin that revealed several gold teeth. His dark hair hung in matted locks, and a jagged scar ran from his left eye down to his jaw. His bounty poster fluttered to the ground, the ink showing 20 million berries.
Behind him stood Kato, a lanky, snake-like pirate with narrow eyes and two curved swords hanging at his waist. His bounty was set at 15 million berries.
"You two really messed up my plans," Farren sneered, cracking his knuckles. "But first, let's soften you up a bit."
Farren snapped his fingers, and a group of pirates poured into the room, surrounding Ren and Ryu. The two exchanged a quick glance and nodded.
"You take left, I take right?" Ren asked.
"Deal," Ryu said, drawing his katana.
Chaos erupted. Ren launched forward, fists flying as he dodged incoming blades and landed punishing strikes to the pirates' jaws and ribs. "Gale Fist!" he shouted, delivering a rapid punch to a pirate's gut, sending him skidding across the floor.
Meanwhile, Ryu moved like a whirlwind, his blade slicing through the air. "Tempest Slash!" he called, spinning with his katana to deflect multiple attacks at once, the air pressure from the strike knocking two pirates off their feet.
Within minutes, the minions lay sprawled across the floor, groaning in pain.
"Not bad," Farren said, stepping forward. "But you're still not ready for me."
"Kato," he growled, jerking his thumb toward Ryu. "He's yours."
Kato licked his lips, drawing both swords. "Been waiting for this."
Ryu gripped his katana tighter. "Bring it."
The two clashed, blades ringing through the room as their duel intensified. Kato moved like a serpent, his twin swords slashing at Ryu from every angle. Ryu grunted as a shallow cut opened across his forearm but gritted his teeth, refusing to back down.
"Dragon's Fang!" Ryu roared, sweeping his blade upward in a powerful arc. The strike connected with Kato's chest, tearing through his coat and sending him crashing into a wall.
Outside, the rain poured as Ren and Farren squared off in the courtyard. Farren rolled his neck, his muscles bulging beneath his tattered coat. "You got guts, kid. But let's see how well they hold up."
Farren charged, his fists swinging like wrecking balls. Ren ducked under the first swing, narrowly avoiding the second as he countered with a quick jab to Farren's ribs. "Cyclone Kick!" Ren shouted, spinning and delivering a fierce roundhouse to Farren's jaw, sending the brute stumbling backward.
Inside, Ryu found his rhythm. Kato's movements grew wilder, his strikes more reckless. Ryu parried a wild swing, then stepped in close, his blade flashing. "Rising Storm!" Ryu shouted, delivering a powerful upward slash that tore through Kato's coat and sent him crashing into a wall.
Outside, Farren swung another massive fist, but Ren's instincts flared, and he moved before the blow could connect. "Tornado Strike!" Ren yelled, leaping and delivering a flurry of rapid punches, each one hammering into Farren's chest. Farren dropped to his knees, gasping for air.
Ren stood over him, fists clenched. "Stay down."
Farren's eyes rolled back, and he collapsed, unconscious.
Inside, Kai watched from the doorway, his eyes locked onto Ren. The way the boy moved, dodging attacks with uncanny precision, reminded him of something he hadn't seen in years.
"That's enough," Kai said, stepping forward. "You two did well."
Ren and Ryu stood, breathing heavily, bruised and battered but victorious. Kato and Farren lay unconscious, their bounty posters still fluttering in the stormy wind.
Kai approached Ren, his expression stern. "Kid, that was some impressive fighting."
Ren shrugged, rubbing his sore knuckles. "Just instincts."
"Instincts, huh?" Kai's eyes gleamed. "Tell me, kid, do you know what Haki is?"
"Haki?" Ren frowned. "Never heard of it."
Kai crossed his arms, his expression thoughtful. "You moved before those attacks even came close. That's not just instinct. That's Observation Haki."
Ren blinked, confusion etched across his face. "Observation... Haki?"
Kai exchanged a glance with Nadia, then back to Ren. "You're strong, kid. But without proper training, that power's gonna waste away."
"Are you saying... you can teach me?" Ren asked, eyes wide.
Kai's grin was sharp, almost feral. "If you're up for it."
Ryu stepped forward, eyes intense. "Teach me too."
Kai looked between them, his jaw set. "Fine. But you're both gonna regret it."
From the corner, Nadia watched, her heart pounding. The storm outside raged on, but within the small cottage, the real storm was just beginning.