Moonfang Isle – Dawn After the Storm
The horizon bled crimson as if the sky itself had been wounded. Ash drifted lazily over Moonfang's black-sand beaches, each flake a ghost of the battle just ended. The air still clung to the tang of charred timber and salt.
Kael stood among the gathered survivors, the wind tugging at the torn Marine banners at his feet. All around him, the newly freed slaves were arguing.
"We can't stay here!" one woman shouted, clutching a child to her chest.
"They'll come back stronger."Then we make Moonfang ours," a tall man countered, his voice hard. "Fortify it. Defend it."
Makino moved between them like a steady current, her hand gentle on the woman's shoulder.
"We're free now. The choice is yours. But don't let fear decide your future."
Kael's voice cut through the murmurs.
"You five step forward."
They came.
A teenage sheep mink with curious grey eyes, mist curling faintly from her hands. Mira, wielder of the Moku Moku no Mi.
An older man built like a fortress, his skin weathered like old iron, his eyes carrying the weight of an era long past. Gorran is a blacksmith and shipwright with the blood of Elbaf's ancient giants.
Rin, a sniper in her twenties, is indispensable for her unshakable calm and razor-sharp precision.
A thick-armed brawler, knuckles like granite, and a grin to match. Dagon.
Kael's gaze froze on the woman's short blue hair. Her eyes were instantly familiar.
"Nojiko?" His voice came out sharper than he intended.
She blinked in surprise. "You… know me?"
Kael took a step closer, frown deepening. "You're Nami's sister. You should be in Cocoyashi Village. After Luffy took down Arlong, your village was free. How the hell are you here in chains?"
Nojiko's eyes darkened, her jaw tightening. "I was. Then the Marines came looking for a cartographer who escaped from a certain research project. I… looked enough like her to be useful."
Kael's expression went cold. "The Navy took you." It wasn't a question.
She gave a small nod. "They sold me to slavers before I even knew where I was."
Kael's teeth clenched. Whoever signed that order was already a dead man in his mind.
"You've all got something," Kael told them. "Skill. Fire. Loyalty, wanting for the right place to take root. I'm offering you more than a crew.
I'm offering family."
Rin simply nodded.
Nojiko looked on with awe.
Makino looked like a proud mother.
Dagon cracked his neck and grinned.
Mira gave a faint smile.
Gorran knelt.
"I'll forge your legend, Captain. One blade at a time."
System Notification: Six New Crew Members Gained.
The Forge of Gods
Kael led Gorran into the heart of Moonfang's old smithy, a place still warm from the island's volcanic veins.
The walls trembled faintly with the distant heartbeat of magma.
Kael laid out his treasures: the broken hilt of a blade that once split the skies, a Supreme Grade blueprint, Star-Iron Obsidian, the tempest core, his shattered Raizan, and metals rare enough to bankrupt nations.
The Meta Meta no Mi sat among them.
"And this," Kael said, holding out a swirling, molten-orange fruit veined in black. "Your gift. The Meta Meta no Mi—Liquid Metal."
Gorran's eyes flared.
"This… this is a blacksmith's dream."
He bit into it without hesitation.
The change was instant as heat shimmered off his skin, and when he flexed his hand, glowing threads of molten steel dripped between his fingers, solidifying into perfect ingots before falling to the floor.
"Make me a blade to make even the Gods jealous," Kael said.
Gorran smiled like a man reborn.
"As you wish."
As the forge roared, a presence stirred. The spirit of Shimotsuki Kozaburo appeared beside Gorran, spirit bound to the craft.
"You carry the heat of creation now," Kozaburo said. "Forge something worthy of it."
Sparks leapt like fireflies as hammer met anvil, the sound echoing through Moonfang like the heartbeat of a god.
Devil Fruit Dowry
Kael called Dorgan and Smoothie to the deck.
"Kachi Kachi no Mi," he said, handing the stone-textured fruit to Dorgan.
"Your fists are already dangerous. Now they're unbreakable."
Then Kael turned to Smoothie, holding out the Inu Inu no Mi, Model: Raiju.
"You've earned this."
For once, Smoothie looked caught off guard. She took the fruit slowly, her lips parting in a stunned breath, then she stepped forward and kissed him, quick and hot, before running off with the giddy grin of someone clutching their first love.
Far away, two figures watched from a rocky cliffside.
Tamago adjusted his monocle. "Looks like the young miss is in love."
Pekoms' ears twitched. "That's one hell of a dowry. But what's she going to do with that mythical devil fruit?"
Tamago's smile thinned. "We should tell Mama immediately."
World Ripples
Kaido slammed his sake cup down. "Send my best hunters. Bring Yamato back and bring me Kael's head."
Big Mom listened in silence to Pekoms and Tamago's report, her smile like a guillotine's shadow.
Shanks sent a covert messenger with orders: "Find him. Speak to him quietly."
Whitebeard read the new bounty and laughed, recalling Ace's stories. "An Oni-Buccaneer hybrid with fire in his blood. This era just got interesting."
Training Grounds – Fists and Thunder
The air rang with the rhythm of labor, Gorran's hammer in the forge, Dagon's punches splitting trees, Rin's rifle cracking at distant gulls. Mira practiced wrapping herself in mist until her outline vanished entirely.
Kael trained bare-chested in the arena, blending Garp's brutal efficiency with the Marine Six Styles Soru, Geppo, Rankyaku, until each strike felt like a thunderclap.
On the sidelines, Makino's quiet authority kept Yamato, Smoothie, and Mihawk from tearing into each other. Kael still didn't know how she did it.
System Notification: Crew Morale Boosted – Maternal Presence Acquired.
Crimson Riju – Private Quarters
With purposeful strides, Kael moved through the dimly lit halls of the ship, the thrum of the Crimson Riju beneath his feet resonating in time with his thoughts. He made his way to his private quarters, the door closing softly behind him as the familiar hum of the system's interface greeted him.
Kael didn't waste time. His fingers hovered over the glowing screen of his system store, his mind focused entirely on the future.
First, he searched for training manuals to further hone the crew's abilities. Keal knew that strength of will meant little without the tools to act. To rise, one needed more than resolve. He found a few highly specialized books:
Mind's Edge – A mental conditioning manual that sharpens focus and strategic thinking.
The Warrior's Path – A guide for learning the basics of multiple fighting styles to increase versatility.
Next, he scrolled to the section for rare metals and resources for Gorran to work with. Kael had already seen what the ancient blacksmith could do with molten metal, but this was about taking it further. He ordered:
Celestial Steel – A metal forged in the heart of fallen stars, durable and light as air.
Mythril Alloy – Light as silver, but harder than the toughest of diamonds, perfect for creating weapons that could stand against even the strongest foes.
Finally, he clicked on the ship upgrades, two items that would strain their available beli, but would give the Crimson Riju the edge it needed to survive the battles ahead.
The first:
Ethereal Sails – Crafted from the ethereal fabric of an ancient sky island, these sails could manipulate wind currents, even in the calmest seas. With them, the Crimson Riju would cut through the waters with an almost ghostly grace, capable of evading incoming attacks with ease and moving faster than any ship with standard sails.
The second:
Sea Kings' Fang Reinforcement – Armor made from the fangs of an ancient Sea King, tough as scales but light enough to allow the ship to remain swift. This upgrade would coat the Crimson Riju in a scale-like hide, making it resistant to physical attacks and granting the Crimson Riju the ability to absorb elemental damage, such as lightning or fire.
He didn't hesitate. With a few clicks, the beli was drained, but Kael felt the weight of the choices settle into place. This was for the future of his crew and his dream.
Kael leaned back in his chair and closed his eyes, allowing himself a moment to appreciate the decisions made, the investments that would pay off when the storm came.
Mihawk's Ascension
Beneath the stormlight, Mihawk held a violet-gray fruit patterned with golden tiger stripes pulsing with dangerous promise. The Neko Neko no Mi, Model: Raijintora. She bit in.
Lightning arcs exploded across Moonfang. The ground cracked under her boots. Gold burned into her eyes, her hair lifting in a phantom gale. Muscles surged, claws gleamed black as obsidian, and the air tasted of storms.
Smoothie gave a slow whistle. "You wear that well, Hawk."
Mihawk's grin was all fangs and thunder. "I'll make it feared."
Vanguard Strike
The sea shimmered under the midday sun, a mirror to the calm before the storm. From a distance, the Marine vanguard fleet crept forward, their steel hulls cutting through the water like sharks circling prey. At their head, Rear Admiral Momonga stood tall, a grizzled veteran with cold eyes, giving orders as war drums echoed across the ocean. Cannons were loaded, men shouted their commands, and the tension thickened with each passing moment.
Moonfang loomed ahead as a massive silhouette rising from the sea like a slumbering beast. The ship's black sails billowed in the wind, but Kael knew that this was no ordinary day. This was the reckoning.
Then Kael moved like a blur of lightning.
He struck first, a blur of motion, faster than any human eye could follow. A pulse of Conqueror's Haki crackled in the air as he dashed across the battlefield, leaving a trail of afterimages behind him. The very sea itself seemed to bow before him, recoiling from the force of his presence. His fists were thunder, and each blow that landed sent shockwaves through the enemy ranks.
Mihawk wasn't far behind. Raiju's power crackled across her arms, the air sizzling with static as lightning danced around her, shaping her into a storm itself. Her blades were quick, slashing through enemies like paper, each strike charged with the fury of nature itself.
Yamato was next. Her roar shook the very foundations of the earth. She surged into her hybrid form, her body rippling with power as Conqueror's Haki radiated from her like a volcanic eruption. The sheer force of her will battered the Marines like waves crashing against a cliffside.
The Marines didn't stand a chance. They were outmatched, outclassed, and overwhelmed in the blink of an eye. Kael's relentless onslaught, Mihawk's cutting precision, and Yamato's unyielding fury smothered every attempt to retaliate.
Kael's own Conqueror's Haki exploded mid-fight, wild, crackling like an uncontained storm. His aura split the sea spray, sending violent ripples across the water. His strikes were like thunderclaps, shaking the earth with every blow.
The battle lasted minutes. The Marines fell like ragdolls, scattered across the sand and water. Some struggled to rise; others couldn't move at all. The battlefield was an eerie silence, broken only by the sound of Kael's boots crunching against the broken officers.
He walked among them, calm as a storm before landfall.
"Return to your masters," Kael said, his voice low and deadly. The last remaining officer, gasping and clutching his broken ribs, tried to crawl away.
Kael knelt beside him, lifting the Marine's face with a gloved hand. The man's eyes were wide with terror, blood running from his split lip. Kael's voice dropped to a near whisper.
"Tell them this."
With one smooth motion, Kael raised his bloodstained fist skyward, his voice carrying across the battlefield.
"The age of tyrants ends here."
Rivalry Reignited
The tension in the air was electric, crackling like the storm on the horizon. Yamato and Smoothie stood off once more, their eyes locked, a fierce rivalry simmering between them.
Smoothie's Paramecia Shibo Shibo no Mi aura rippled around her, intensifying with the power of Raijin's Thunder Wolf Inu Inu no Mi, Model: Raiju, her first full use of her new Mythical Zoan. Lightning coiled around her, her body flickering with Raiju's might, a beast that could command storms. Thunder cracked in the air as her aura surged, charging the space between them with electric tension.
"I'm done playing second to anyone," Smoothie snarled, the lightning flashing in her eyes as her body pulsed with power.
Yamato cracked her knuckles, her eyes narrowing with fierce determination. "Good," she responded, her voice low but fiery. "I like it rough."
In an instant, lightning met water, as Yamato unleashed both her Devil Fruits in a wild clash. She activated Inu Inu no Mi, Model: Okuchi no Makami, the White Wolf Goddess, from her body swelling with divine might as her fur shone with sacred light. The furious energy of Okuchi no Makami clashed against the raging storm of Raiju, setting off an explosion of force that split the ground beneath them, the earth itself trembling under the power of their battle.
Haki collided, waves of will crashing in a violent storm, the air thick with the pressure of two Monsters determined to prove themselves. Yamato's hybrid form surged with raw power, while Smoothie's Raiju form was alive with the raw fury of lightning itself, the fight shaking the very foundations of the arena.
From a hidden vantage point, Pekoms and Tamago observed the battle, their gazes fixed on the fierce contest.
"Yamato's using two Devil Fruits," Pekoms murmured. "She's not holding back."
Tamago, arms crossed, nodded gravely. " Lady Smoothie is a monster in her own right. With Raiju on her side… this will be interesting."
The fight raged on as the ground split, and the sky darkened with swirling energies. Their auras were a clash of elemental might, Yamato's divine wolf energy colliding with Smoothie's thunderous wolf power, each blow rocking the air like an explosion.
Then, suddenly, Kael's voice cut through the chaos, sharp and commanding.
"Stop! People are watching the battle from afar. "
He stepped between them, his presence like a weight on the battlefield. Yamato and Smoothie froze instantly, eyes narrowing as they realized they were no longer the ones in control of the situation.
Kael's gaze swept over both of them, his decision clear in his eyes.
"It's time I made a choice." His words were firm, leaving no room for argument.
He turned to Smoothie, his voice carrying authority.
"You will be my Second in command."
Yamato's brows lifted in surprise, her expression unreadable, as Smoothie's lips twitched into a sharp grin. The tension between them didn't dissipate, but the competitive fire was now focused on a new direction.
"You'll regret it," Yamato muttered, a slight smirk pulling at the corners of her lips as she cracked her knuckles again.
"Not yet, though," Smoothie responded, her grin widening.
Banquet & Confession
That night, sake flowed and Carmen's cooking filled the tables. They toasted as one and drank as family.
"To family."
The storm raged above Moonfang, thunder cracking through the sky like a warning. The winds howled as the sea below churned in a frenzy, mirroring the turmoil in Kael's chest. He stood alone beneath the storm-lit sky, the chaos of battle still fresh in his mind, but now replaced by a different kind of tension.
A figure approached, silent but unmistakable. Mihawk. Lightning carved her silhouette into the night while her eyes burned with unshaken will.
Kael didn't need to turn to know she was there. He could feel the storm she carried within her—the same wild energy that had drawn him to her in the first place.
Without a word, she stepped closer, her presence a force of nature.
"You should know my first name is Shira," she said, her voice quiet but full of weight, each syllable a shard of truth. "My parents are pirate legends Shakky and Silvers Rayleigh."
Kael's breath caught, his eyes narrowing in surprise. Shira the daughter of two of the most legendary pirates in the world. Yet, she hadn't chosen the path laid out for her. She had chosen her own destiny.
"I could've been Empress of Amazon Lily, but I chose to forge my own path through the sword. I believe I can do that with you."
Her gaze locked onto his, unwavering and intense. There was no softness in her words, only a promise of strength, a challenge, and a call.
"You're not trying to be a king, Kael," she continued, her voice low and charged with something deeper. "You're a storm, and I'll either ride it… or drown the world chasing it."
Kael felt the words like lightning through his veins. This was no casual statement; it was a challenge to his very essence, a recognition of his power and the chaos it could bring.
Mihawk stepped forward, closing the gap until her presence pressed against his senses, heat radiating from her skin, aura crackling with intensity. Then, with a fluid motion, she leaned in and brushed her lips against his cheek. It was a fleeting moment, soft but with an edge, a claim more powerful than any battle they'd fought.
"Consider this my claim."
Then she was gone like a shadow in the night.
Kael stood there, breathless, the thunder above seeming to echo in his heart. The storm raged on, but it felt like it was now part of him, as if Mihawk had left something behind a storm within his veins.
Cold Approach
Further away, a single warship sailed through waters that grew colder by the second, a layer of frost trailing from its hull as if nature itself had felt the shift. The sea had gone still, the air biting, reflecting the rising tension within.
Admiral Kuzan reclined on the deck, hands behind his head, his gaze fixed lazily on the horizon. The brim of his cap shaded his eyes, but there was no mistaking the undercurrent of calculation in the way he surveyed the waters. Behind him, Cipher Pol agents waited, their silence adding weight to the growing storm that seemed to pulse around them.
"A hybrid of Oni and Buccaneer blood…" Kuzan muttered, his voice low but full of meaning. "Traveling with two Yonko daughters... and now Mihawk?"
His thoughts flickered briefly, a tinge of concern seeping through his usual calm. Kaelwas quickly becoming something much bigger than just another pirate. His name was being whispered across the seas, and wherever he went, the waves were growing larger.
Kuzan's mind then wandered, briefly returning to the conversation he had with Garp,those words that still echoed in his head like a thunderclap.
"Go find my grandson. Bring him in. Anyone else who goes near him dies."
The weight of those words was not lost on Kuzan. Garp's voice had been stern, full of command. The old man had never shown such intensity unless it was a matter of life and death. And Kael, somehow, was wrapped up in it all.
The sudden shift in the air seemed to match his thoughts, cold and distant. Kuzan's lips curled slightly as he exhaled, a long breath freezing midair before dissipating. His fingers moved in a steady rhythm on the railing, eyes narrowed as he scanned the sea, Moonfang barely a shadow beneath the gathering storm.
"You're making waves, Kael," Kuzan muttered to himself.
The Cipher Pol agent's voice snapped him back to the present. "Orders, Admiral?"
Kuzan shrugged nonchalantly, though his mind was racing.
He knew what Garp wanted. But was Kael truly worth the risk?
"Not yet," he said, his voice calm, but with a certain weight behind it. His eyes drifted to the horizon. "I want to meet the kid... before the killing starts."
The Conversation
The chill of the evening air crept across the clearing, sending a ripple through the tension that hung heavy in the air. Beneath the pale flicker of a stone torch, the war table lay spread before Kael, its map a testament to his planning. His crew watched closely, knowing the calm before the storm was about to break.
From the shadows of the trees, Kuzan arrived, the chill in his wake growing more pronounced as ice formed beneath each of his steps. He came alone, his demeanor as calm and neutral as ever, though the weight of his presence was undeniable.
His gaze briefly flickered toward Mihawk, the stormy figure in the distance. In his usual cool tone, he asked, "Are you giving up your warlord status?" His eyes didn't linger on her, but the question was loaded, as if he was already aware of the shift in allegiances.
Mihawk's expression remained unreadable, but she didn't respond. It wasn't her place to.
Kael, however, stood unmoving, his eyes locking with Kuzan's as he approached. He didn't draw a weapon. There was no need.
"You've made quite the mess, rookie," Kuzan remarked with a neutral air, as though discussing the weather rather than a pirate uprising.
Kael's jaw tightened, but his voice was unwavering. "I made a family," he said, his tone unyielding. "That's what you see."
Kuzan's brow lifted, a silent question hanging in the air. "So what is it you're trying to accomplish? Revenge? Chaos?"
Kael's gaze turned towards the distant ocean, his voice dropping to a quiet, thunderous murmur. "I was never given a choice to become a Marine. Not with my blood." He paused, his eyes narrowing, the weight of his words sinking deep. "All I ever wanted was a family. I'm willing to shake the world to protect them."
He turned back to Kuzan, his eyes fierce, unflinching. "I don't want to be Pirate King. That's my little brother's dream."
The silence between them stretched as Kuzan processed the weight of Kael's words. For a moment, the world felt still, the distant rumble of thunder carrying through the night like an echo of Kael's heart.
Kael took a step forward, unwavering. "If you want to compare me to a pirate, then compare me to Whitebeard. I don't chase power. I protect those I love."
His fists clenched at his sides, a quiet intensity behind his eyes. "This is the Thundering Pirates' goal. That's what I fight for."
Kuzan didn't speak immediately. His eyes softened only for a second, a rare flicker of something beneath the ice, perhaps recognition, perhaps something darker.
Suddenly, the System Alert popped up in Kael's mind.
[Task Generated – Clash with Admiral Kuzan]
Primary Objective: Survive or defeat Admiral Kuzan
Bonus Objective: Force Kuzan to acknowledge you
Rewards: [Hidden]
Kuzan's fingers hovered near his coat pocket, and for a moment, the tension felt as if it could snap. The storm seemed to return, as if it had been waiting for this moment.
The air trembled, and just before the first blow struck, the storm erupted in full force. The heavens split, thunder roaring as the ground beneath them seemed to shudder.
The battle had begun.
AN***
Thank you guys for reading so far and for your comments. I will post a few pages tomorrow: A current crew page and a page with the ship and flag. All with pictures. I will be working on one of my other fanfics. I am currently working on two novels that I plan on posting either later on this month or in September. I was thinking of setting up a Patreon to get a better version of Grammy. If you guys took the time to read my little rant thank you.