The rain intensified, thunder roared, and the environment worsened. Running through the town, Luffy and Kiri checked the sky, sensing danger.
"Rain's getting worse," Luffy said.
"Sea's probably wild now. Perfect day to hit the Grand Line, huh?" Kiri replied.
"No big deal. Things are heating up!" Luffy grinned.
"You're so carefree. This could be dangerous," Kiri sighed.
"Shishishi! Dangerous or not, I'm fine. Makes it more fun, right?"
"Guess you wouldn't climb an execution platform otherwise," Kiri smirked.
Luffy's cheerfulness drew a wry smile from Kiri.
No enemies appeared, so their progress was smooth. Kiri's guidance kept them on track toward the Merry, despite her rain-weakened state slowing them slightly. Escape seemed certain.
The shift came just as they relaxed. Ahead, a figure stood waiting, a large motorcycle parked nearby, exuding menace. His attire marked him as a marine.
Spotting Smoker, their expressions hardened. He wasn't an ordinary marine—his brazen demeanor, the massive jitte on his back, and the two cigars in his mouth (extinguished by rain) screamed unique.
Kiri, sensing trouble, whispered, "He looks dangerous. Could be White Hunter Smoker."
"Who's that?" Luffy asked.
"Strongest marine in town. If it's him, we're in trouble…"
Blocked, they stopped, eyeing him from a distance. Smoker's stern gaze confirmed he was waiting for them. Ignoring or casually greeting him wasn't an option.
Smoker spoke first, voice heavy. "You're here, Straw Hat Luffy."
"You're Smoker, huh?" Luffy replied.
"That's right. Remember the name of the man who'll capture you."
"Luffy, this way's no good! Let's detour!" Kiri urged, panic rising.
She urged escape, but Luffy wasn't having it. With Kiri weakened, he felt protective, stepping forward, fists ready to face Smoker.
"Nah, this is fine. If I can't beat him, I can't be Pirate King," Luffy said.
"That's not the point! He's—" Kiri started.
"Gomu Gomu no!" Luffy shouted, swinging his fist back.
He stretched his arm, launching a punch from a distance. "Pistol!"
"No, that won't hit!" Kiri warned.
The fist flew straight, aiming for Smoker's face. He didn't dodge, taking the hit directly. But there was no impact. Luffy's fist passed through, dispersing Smoker's face into smoke.
No flesh scattered, just smoke. Shocked, Luffy yelled, "Whoa! His face blew away?!"
"It didn't hit. He's unharmed," Kiri said, gritting her teeth, confirming the rumors.
Smoker was untouched. "What's that mean?" Luffy asked.
"He's White Hunter Smoker, a Logia-type, Moku Moku no Mi—smoke human," Kiri explained.
Smoker's headless body stood, smoke gathering to reform his face, skin tone unchanged. Unlike Paramecia, his Logia nature was alien.
Logia users, a rare Devil Fruit type, embody natural forces, their bodies becoming energy itself. Attacks pass through unless targeting a weakness, making them the strongest Devil Fruit class.
The Moku Moku no Mi made Smoker's body smoke, impervious to physical blows. Even Luffy's rubber punches only hit smoke, leaving Smoker unfazed, glaring coldly.
"Didn't work, huh?" Luffy muttered.
"Told you. Escaping him's tough," Kiri said.
"No one escapes me," Smoker declared, raising his arms.
He braced, thrusting them forward, unleashing a torrent of smoke. "White Out!"
"Whoa, smoke!" Luffy exclaimed.
"Crap!" Kiri gasped.
They dodged, splitting apart to avoid the wide-ranging attack. Smoker, no fool, capitalized. As smoke lingered, he aimed his right arm, launching a punch at Kiri with smoke-propelled force. "White Blow!"
"Ugh!" Kiri grunted.
Weakened, she couldn't dodge. The fist hit her stomach, sending her crashing into a wall. The impact stole her breath.
Seeing Kiri collapse, Luffy's eyes blazed. "Kiri! What'd you do to my friend?!"
"Got spirit, but you can't beat me," Smoker said.
"Gomu Gomu no!" Luffy roared, kicking swiftly. "Stamp!"
His stretched foot pierced Smoker's stomach, but passed through smoke, ineffective. Too late to react, Smoker grabbed his leg.
Luffy struggled, but Smoker's grip held. With a cold stare, Smoker launched his right arm again, smoke propelling it. Instead of punching, he grabbed Luffy's neck, slamming him face-down to the ground.
"Ugh!" Luffy groaned.
"Thirty million and twenty million? What's with the navy's standards?" Smoker scoffed.
His body turned to smoke, swiftly pinning Luffy under him, sitting cross-legged. "Guh! Get off!" Luffy yelled.
"Luck's run out. It's over," Smoker said, gripping his jitte.
Victory seemed certain. No more upsets. With vague disappointment, Smoker raised his weapon for the final blow.
Then, someone grabbed the jitte's handle from behind. Smoker's face stiffened, sensing something off.
"Not so sure," a voice said.
"What?!" Smoker spun around.
To approach unnoticed required serious skill. Trying to stay calm, Smoker turned, seeing a tall man in a cloak, hood hiding his face. Up close, his features were clear.
Smoker's eyes widened. He'd never met him but recognized the face from photos.
"You—?!" Smoker gasped.
"Pirate, huh? That works," the man said.
"What?! Who are you?!" Luffy stammered.
In that stunned moment, a gust roared through—a divine wind, unstoppable, sweeping away signs, crates, barrels, even parts of weakened buildings. Humans couldn't withstand it. Smoker's smoke body was blown back, Luffy and the lighter Kiri sent flying.
Amid the chaos, the man stood calm. As Luffy and Kiri tumbled, they were far from Smoker, the wind seemingly aiding their escape.
Strange, but a chance to flee. They scrambled up and ran, too rushed to assess the situation.
"Luffy, let's go! We can't fight him and leave the island!" Kiri urged.
"What was that wind?! Whatever, I wanna keep adventuring!" Luffy replied.
Torn apart from Smoker, he watched them flee, unable to hide his shock. Instead of chasing, he faced the man who stopped him.
The man smiled, watching their backs—perhaps just one. "Why?! Why let them go, Dragon?!" Smoker demanded.
"What reason is there to stop a man's journey?" Dragon replied, ignoring Smoker's glare, extending an arm as if guiding the wind.
"Go. If that's your path," he said.
Luffy and Kiri vanished, carried by the wind, speeding toward their goal.
They passed two cloaked figures, faces hidden, seeming suspicious but ignored. Kiri glanced, deeming them harmless. They paid no attention either.
But Luffy stopped, turning to watch them. Kiri halted too, confused by his odd expression, as if recalling something.
"Luffy, more enemies might come. Hurry!" she urged.
"Yeah… got it," he replied.
"Something up? Know them?"
"Nah… but something…"
Biting his lip, he muttered, "Felt familiar."
"Familiar? But not someone you know?" Kiri asked.
"Dunno. Sorry, let's move, Kiri! The others are waiting!" Luffy said, shaking it off.
Feeling an unusual pang but ignoring it, Luffy ran, Kiri following. She glanced back at the pair. The young man among them briefly looked back, checking something.
What it meant, she couldn't tell. They left, racing on.
Reaching the rocky coast, they spotted the Merry, sails up despite the storm's risk—likely Nami's call. The crew bustled, visible even from afar.
Luffy shouted, waving. "Oi, everyone! All here?!"
"Luffy, Kiri, hurry! You're the last!" Usopp called, waving back.
"Let's leave before the enemy catches up!" Silk added.
"Got it!" Luffy replied.
He stretched, grabbing the Merry's railing, wrapping his left arm around Kiri's waist. Lifting her, he used his retracting arm to vault them onto the deck.
Everyone was aboard. Nami, scanning the crew, announced departure with a shout. The tailwind was perfect—escape was possible before the navy pursued.
The time was ripe. The Grand Line beckoned. They'd ride the storm's wind.
"Set sail! Luffy, we're heading to the Grand Line!" Nami declared.
"Right!" Luffy answered, still sprawled with Kiri.
The Merry moved, joined by the Arlong Pirates' ship, plunging into the raging sea.
Their destination was set, sea charts ready. Despite the storm, fear was absent. Nami gazed at the sea, upbeat.
"Worst weather, but we'll make it. I'll navigate any sea," she said.
"But this storm! You sure? We don't even know the direction…" Usopp fretted.
"Look," Nami pointed.
A lighthouse's beam cut through the storm, guiding them.
"That's the guiding light. Beyond it lies the Grand Line's entrance," she said.
"Got it… it's really happening," Usopp nodded, swallowing hard.
It had felt like a dream until now. As the ship sailed toward the light, reality hit. They were nearing the world's most dangerous sea.
Usopp shivered. "S-Sudden chills…"
"Looking brave, Usopp. Since we're here, how about a ceremony to launch us into the Grand Line?" Luffy suggested.
"Sounds good! Let's do it! Kiri, you up for it?" Sanji asked.
"Barely, but I can manage," Kiri replied, leaning on Silk.
Sanji brought a barrel to the bow, calling everyone. Luffy, excited for the ritual, summoned the crew. Kiri, near her limit, joined with Silk's help.
The seven formed a circle around the barrel, each stating their vow and placing a foot on it.
"To find the All Blue!" Sanji said.
"To be Pirate King!" Luffy declared.
"To be the greatest swordsman!" Zoro vowed.
"To make this crew the Pirate King's!" Kiri added.
"To become the world's greatest peacemaker!" Silk said.
"To draw a world map!" Nami stated.
"T-To become a brave warrior of the sea!" Usopp stammered.
Together, they raised and slammed their feet down. "To the Grand Line!!"
A loud crack rang out, sealing their vows. Luffy's shout echoed above the storm.
With allies in tow, the Going Merry sailed through the tempest, leaving Loguetown and countless gazes behind, heading for the Grand Line—the sea Luffy had longed for.
The place to reunite with Shanks. The path to Pirate King.
Hearts racing with hope and expectation, they aimed for the guiding light.
--+--
T/N: Although I'm an inexperienced Editor, I do have a Patreon account! Although it seems like I don't have many supporters right now, my webnovel will be released in full every day, and the advanced chapters will be uploaded to Patreon.
It may not be worth it now, but who knows, it might be different in the future. Who knows!
patreon.com/Greyhounds
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