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The Dove had taken a brutal beating. The hull was in bad shapevmaybe beyond repair.
And luck? It had never really been on Aero's side.
Just recently, they'd stopped at the Baratie for a decent meal and ended up chased by elite Marine forces. Aero barely made it out with his life. The ship suffered massive damage in the escape some of the worst they'd ever seen.
That was the moment the crew realized just how weak they still were. If things didn't change, they'd only end up dragging their captain down.
From that day on, they made a silent vow: get stronger, or get left behind.
Then came the water spout. Another unexpected threat. Another near-death experience. But somehow, they survived. And Eddie their half-baked navigator had finally proven himself. In the eye of the storm, he'd evolved into something more: a real helmsman.
The storm passed. The ship survived. Barely.
"We need a new ship," Aero muttered, standing under the leaning mast. "The Dove's not coming back from this one."
"Yeah," Eddie said, patting the cracked wood. "Next island, we look for something seaworthy."
Aero gave a nod and exhaled deeply.
"Still… it's been a hell of a ride."
"She served us well," Eddie added with a nostalgic grin.
---
July, Year 1519 – The Seventh Month
Seven months.
That's how long it had been since Aero came to this world.
In that time, he'd gone from nameless rookie to infamous pirate captain backed by three elite officers and a crew of over a thousand. In East Blue, he was now a true contender.
And it all started with a Devil Fruit.
But power came with a price.
Logia-type abilities made him strong but also marked him. Devil Fruit users had glaring weaknesses: seawater, and worse, Seastone. And the Marines had learned how to weaponize that weakness.
Seastone bullets. Seastone nets. Shackles. Prison cages. Even blades.
Any Devil Fruit user who wanted to survive on the Grand Line had to learn to fear Seastone.
And Aero knew that where they were headed next Loguetown those weapons were just the beginning.
Worse still, the town was guarded by a Logia-using Marine officer. Not just any Marine Smoker, wielder of the Smoke-Smoke Fruit… and a sword embedded with Seastone.
Against someone like him, Aero's crew didn't stand a chance.
Even without Devil Fruits, their odds were slim.
"We keep a low profile," Aero ordered. "Get in. Get what we need. Get out. Quietly."
That was the plan.
He even considered lowering the Jolly Roger to pose as a merchant ship but the crew immediately shut that idea down.
"Lower the flag? Are you kidding?! The Jolly Roger is our soul!"
Aero backed off. He understood now.
The flag wasn't just cloth. It was identity. Pride. Belief.
And besides, their allied fleet the Reystan Fleet was docked nearby. Hiding now would only damage their image.
---
After days at sea, they finally reached the final checkpoint before the Grand Line.
Loguetown.
The harbor was packed. Pirates of every kind docked nearby, undeterred even by the presence of Smoker.
But Aero's Dove drew particular attention.
The neighboring crews weren't celebrating.
They were scared.
"No way. That's the Hurricane Pirates. What the hell are they doing here?! Are they heading to the Grand Line too?!" one burly pirate stammered, eyes wide with fear.
"We need to leave! Smoker's in town. If a fight breaks out, we'll get caught in the crossfire!" another shouted.
"Wake up the others—NOW!"
Meanwhile, Aero's crew was already exploring the town.
They had donned dark cloaks to hide their faces, but the result was… mixed.
"Captain," Eddie muttered, eyeing the locals. "I think this backfired. We're drawing even more attention dressed like this."
Cloaks had made them mysterious and mysterious people drew stares.
"We stay on mission," Aero said, lowering his voice. "We need to finish before Smoker realizes we're here."
They ducked into a narrow alley, seeking a quieter path through the city.
Aero took center. Eddie and Gin flanked the exits. Dylan stood nearby, pulling out a small Den Den Mushi and handing it to Aero.
A few moments later, a low voice crackled through.
"Captain?"
Aero smiled.
"It's me. Is everything ready?"
"Yes, sir! We're just waiting on your word," came the voice of Ray, crackling with energy on the other end.
"Good. I want your fleet out of Loguetown now. I've got one more thing to handle."
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