The first light of dawn spread across the sea.
Gold touched the horizon.
And the Crimson Raiju answered.
Its broad crimson sails caught the morning wind, snapping sharply above the deck as the ship rose and fell with the rhythm of the waves. The obsidian dragon figurehead seemed almost alive beneath the first rays of sunlight, its carved jaws stretched toward the horizon.
On the main deck, Kael stood alone.
Barefoot.
Shirtless.
Sweat ran down his massive frame as Fenrir flashed through the air.
Whoosh.
The sword cut downward.
Kael pivoted.
Whoosh.
A horizontal slash.
Step.
Turn.
Slash.
His movements were powerful rather than elegant. There was no wasted hesitation, but there was nothing graceful about him either.
Kael fought the way he lived.
Headfirst.
Relentlessly.
As if the world itself were an enemy that could be hammered into submission, given enough force behind his blows.
Fenrir's blade screamed through the air with brutal force.
Kael's muscles tightened.
He brought the blade around again.
"One."
Slash.
"Two."
Slash.
"Three."
His breathing remained steady.
"Four."
The sword struck the wooden training post.
CRACK!
The post was sliced down the center, leaving two even halves.
Kael stared at it.
"...That was supposed to last another week."
A voice came from behind him.
"Maybe stop hitting it with a sword."
Kael looked over his shoulder.
Yamato stood near the cabin entrance.
Her silver hair was wild from sleep.
Her pajamas were slightly rumpled from sleep.
Takeru rested against one shoulder.
She looked absolutely unimpressed.
Kael grinned.
"Good morning."
"You're loud."
"How long have you been awake?"
"I was sleeping."
"You were snoring when I walked past your room."
"I don't snore."
Kael pointed at the cabin.
"You sounded like a Sea King fighting for its life."
Yamato's eyes widened.
"Shut up, I do not!"
Kael laughed.
"You're adorable when you're pouting."
Yamato froze.
Her cheeks turned red as a tomato.
Kael smiled as he sheathed his blade.
For several seconds, neither moved.
Then Kael cleared his throat.
"...Breakfast."
Yamato nodded faintly.
"Yeah."
She looked away.
"Breakfast."
Kael turned back toward the training post.
A small grin tugged at the corner of his mouth.
Yamato walked away muttering.
"Idiot."
Kael heard her.
His grin widened.
"Love you too!"
"KAEL!"
His laughter rolled across the deck.
By the time Yamato returned, the smell of food had taken over the entire ship.
She stopped halfway down the stairs.
Her eyes widened.
"What..."
Kael stood beside a massive wooden table.
Breakfast covered nearly every inch of it.
Grilled Sea King meat.
Eggs.
Freshly baked bread.
Fruit.
Roasted potatoes.
Rice.
A mountain of bacon.
Three different kinds of fish.
It was enough food to feed a smaller pirate crew for a week.
Yamato stared at him accusingly.
"...How?"
Kael shrugged.
"I woke up early."
"You really cooked all this?"
"Yeah."
"You?"
Kael placed another plate on the table.
"I know how to cook."
Yamato narrowed her eyes.
"You know how to grill meat."
"That's cooking."
"It's one kind of cooking."
"It's the important kind."
She walked closer and examined the food.
"You didn't burn anything."
Kael looked offended.
"Have some faith in your captain."
"I've tasted your cooking."
"That was breakfast."
"That was charcoal."
"It had flavor."
"It had smoke."
"Smoke can have flavor."
Yamato laughed.
Kael pulled out a chair.
"Sit."
She did.
He placed an enormous plate in front of her.
Yamato stared at it.
Then at him.
"What's all this for?"
Kael sat across from her.
"We're welcoming someone."
Yamato's eyes brightened.
"Oh."
She grabbed a piece of meat.
"So, we're summoning them today?"
Kael nodded.
"As soon as we finish breakfast."
Yamato immediately started eating.
"Then we should eat quickly."
Kael laughed.
"That's the spirit."
For several minutes, the only sounds were chewing, plates moving, and the distant cry of seabirds.
Then Yamato looked up.
"So."
Kael glanced at her.
"So?"
"Have you decided who you're going to summon?"
Kael leaned back.
"That's the problem."
Yamato swallowed.
"Why?"
"Because I still don't know who I should summon."
Her eyebrows rose.
"You don't? What about the list we made last night?"
"The System gave me options."
"And?"
Kael sighed.
"And some of them are insane."
Yamato's grin appeared.
"Now I really want to see them."
After breakfast, they moved to the center of the deck.
The morning sun climbed higher.
The sea stretched endlessly around them.
Kael stood beside the ship's main mast.
Yamato stood at his side.
For a moment, neither spoke.
Then Kael raised his hand.
"System."
The world seemed to hold its breath.
A familiar chime rang through his mind.
Ding.
Translucent crimson letters appeared before him.
[ACTIVE SUMMON INTERFACE INITIALIZED]
[Permanent Summoning Rules Confirmed.]
[Core Summoning Categories:]
1 Soul Summon
1 Great Pirate Era Summon
3 Current Era Summons
[Once a category is filled, it cannot be used again.]
[Cross-Verse Entities may appear as System Anomalies.]
[Cross-Verse entities do not occupy Core Summoning Slots.]
[Temporary physical and spiritual backlash proportional to comparative strength.]
Kael slowly nodded.
"No loopholes."
Yamato looked at him.
"That's good, right?"
"Probably."
"Probably?"
Kael scratched his cheek.
"The System has tried killing me before."
Yamato stared.
"...You really need to stop trusting that thing."
"I don't trust it."
"Then why use it?"
"Because it's useful."
"That's the worst kind of relationship."
Kael laughed.
The System shifted.
[CORE SUMMONS REMAINING:]
[Deceased: 1]
[Great Pirate Era: 1]
[Current Era: 2]
Kael stared at the numbers.
Yamato leaned closer.
"So that's after me?"
"Yeah."
"Which means..."
"You were the first."
Yamato smiled.
Something softened in her eyes.
She had been summoned into a strange world.
Taken from everything she knew.
Given a new captain.
A new ship.
A new life.
And somehow, that first number had become something more meaningful than either of them expected.
Kael opened the Current Era list.
Names appeared.
[Current Era Candidates:]
Trafalgar D. Law
Nojiko
Belo Betty
Yamato looked over the list.
"Those are the choices?"
"For the Current Era slot."
She pointed.
"Who's the serious-looking one?"
"Law."
"Doctor?"
"Surgeon."
"Useful."
"Very."
She pointed at Nojiko.
"Her?"
Kael's expression changed.
"Nojiko."
Yamato noticed immediately.
"You know her."
"Yeah."
He stared at the name.
Images surfaced.
Aetheron.
Sunlight.
Children running through streets.
Nojiko's laugh.
Nami beside her.
A home that had existed before the World Government tore it apart.
Kael closed his fist.
"She deserves peace."
Yamato didn't argue.
Instead, she looked at the final name.
"Belo Betty."
Kael smiled.
"Now that's interesting."
"You know her?"
"Not personally."
"Then why her?"
Kael tapped the screen.
"Her Devil Fruit."
Yamato nodded.
"The Kobu Kobu no Mi."
"Exactly."
He leaned against the mast.
"We're going to be fighting people stronger than us eventually."
Yamato grinned.
"Speak for yourself."
Kael laughed.
"Yeah, yeah. You're terrifying."
"I know."
"But strength isn't everything."
Yamato tilted her head.
Kael's golden eyes became serious.
"I want people who can make others stronger."
He pointed toward the ocean.
"Imagine a crew where every member can raise the people around them."
Yamato smiled.
"That's very Oden-like."
Kael glanced at her.
"You mean because of his crew?"
"No."
She looked toward the horizon.
"Because Oden didn't just gather strong people."
Her voice softened.
"He made people believe they could go farther than they ever thought possible."
Kael was silent.
Yamato looked at him.
"You do that."
He blinked.
"Do what?"
"Make people believe."
Kael scratched his cheek.
"I'm just loud."
Yamato smiled.
"You're more than that."
For a moment, their eyes met.
The wind moved through Yamato's silver hair.
Kael looked away first.
"...Let's summon Betty."
Yamato's smile became knowing.
"Sure, Captain."
Kael raised his hand.
"Belo Betty."
The System responded immediately.
[SUMMONING TARGET SELECTED.]
[Belo Betty.]
[Revolutionary Army.]
[East Army Commander.]
[Kobu Kobu no Mi.]
[Threat Assessment: High.]
[Spiritual Load: Significant.]
[Host Fatigue Expected.]
Kael cracked his neck.
"I can handle it."
Yamato sighed.
"You always say that."
"Because I can."
"You nearly collapsed after using your Storm Dragon form yesterday."
"I was tired."
"You fell asleep standing."
"I was meditating."
"You were snoring."
Kael pointed at her.
"Traitor."
She laughed.
The summoning token appeared.
It hovered above Kael's palm.
Crimson light pulsed through its surface.
Once.
Twice.
Three times.
Then Kael closed his fingers around it.
"Let's do this."
He crushed the token.
BOOM!
The air exploded.
A crimson shockwave tore across the deck.
Yamato planted Takeru into the floor.
The entire Crimson Raiju groaned beneath the pressure.
The sails snapped violently.
The sea itself seemed to recoil.
Kael's hair whipped around his face.
His boots dug into the deck.
The summoning circle expanded.
Crimson symbols appeared beneath it.
Then the center of the circle opened.
A pillar of scarlet light erupted into the sky.
Kael narrowed his eyes.
"Come on."
The light collapsed.
Someone stood within the summoning circle.
A woman.
Tall.
Confident.
Purple hair flowing wildly around her shoulders.
A revolutionary flag-spear rested in one hand.
Her eyes immediately swept across the deck.
The ocean.
The ship.
Yamato.
Then Kael.
Her grip tightened.
"Where the hell am I?"
Kael raised both hands.
"Easy."
Her spear snapped toward him.
"Who are you?"
"Raen D. Kael."
"Where am I? This isn't Baltigo."
Her eyes narrowed.
"What did you do to me?"
Kael pointed toward the fading summoning runes.
"I summoned you."
Silence.
Betty stared at him.
"…You what?"
She looked down at the glowing symbols beneath her feet.
Then back at Kael.
"Is that some kind of rare Devil Fruit?"
Yamato raised one finger.
"Technically, he's an Oni."
Betty blinked.
"That makes absolutely no difference."
Kael grinned.
"I like her."
Betty's eyes narrowed.
"I didn't say you could."
Yamato burst out laughing.
Kael's grin widened.
"Definitely keeping her."
Betty raised her spear.
"I am an officer of the Revolutionary Army."
"So?"
"So I don't join random pirate crews."
Kael's grin disappeared.
"I'm not asking you to join a pirate crew."
Betty paused.
Kael stepped closer.
"I'm building a family."
The words changed the atmosphere.
Betty's expression hardened.
"Family?"
Kael nodded.
"People who don't abandon each other."
His gaze drifted toward the horizon.
"I lost my home."
His voice became quieter.
"I lost my parents."
His hand tightened at his side.
"The World Government took Aetheron from me."
Betty's expression shifted.
Kael continued.
"They turned my home into a hunting ground."
The memory burned behind his eyes.
"The Holy Knights came."
He swallowed.
"I survived."
A pause.
"But surviving wasn't enough."
Betty said nothing.
"I want to build something they can't take."
Kael looked toward Yamato.
Then back to Betty.
"A family."
Betty lowered her spear slightly.
"You know what the Revolutionaries are fighting for?"
"Freedom."
"That's a simple answer."
"I know."
Kael stepped forward.
"That's why I want you."
Betty raised an eyebrow.
"Me?"
"You make people stronger."
He pointed toward her flag.
"Your Devil Fruit can turn courage into strength."
A fierce grin returned to his face.
"I want that on my ship."
Betty stared at him for several seconds.
Then laughed.
Not softly.
Not politely.
She threw her head back and laughed.
"You're insane."
Kael grinned.
"Probably."
"You just met me."
"Yep."
"You know nothing about me."
"I know enough."
Betty shook her head.
"That's a terrible recruitment strategy."
"It's worked twice."
Yamato raised a hand.
"Technically, she would be the second."
Kael pointed at her.
"See?"
Betty looked between them.
For the first time, the tension in her shoulders eased.
Then her expression became serious.
"And what about the Revolutionary Army?"
Kael paused.
"What about them?"
"I'm one of Dragon's commanders. I don't simply walk away from the people I've fought beside."
Her grip tightened around her flag.
"If I join you, do I have to cut my ties with the Revolutionaries?"
Kael stared at her.
Then he shook his head.
"No."
Betty blinked.
"No?"
"I didn't summon you to put a collar around your neck."
Kael folded his arms.
"You fought for their cause before you met me. I'm not going to demand you abandon it just because you stepped onto my ship."
Something in Betty's expression shifted.
Kael continued.
"If the Revolutionaries need you, and you want to help them, then help them."
"Even if Dragon gives you orders you don't like?"
Kael's grin turned sharp.
"Then I'll tell him to shove those orders somewhere unpleasant."
Yamato snorted.
Betty stared at him.
For a moment, she looked genuinely speechless.
Then a reluctant smile tugged at her mouth.
"You're reckless."
Kael shrugged.
"I've been called worse."
Betty's smile faded.
Her eyes became serious again.
"What happens when one of your people betrays you?"
Kael's answer came without hesitation.
"Then I'll deal with it."
Betty narrowed her eyes.
"And if they become a burden?"
Kael didn't even blink.
"Then I carry them."
Silence.
The wind moved through the sails.
The Crimson Raiju creaked softly beneath their feet.
Yamato looked at Kael.
Betty met their gaze without flinching, staring up at the two towering Oni.
Kael shrugged.
"That's what family does."
The words hung between them.
They weren't grand.
They weren't dramatic.
Kael hadn't raised his voice.
He hadn't made a speech.
He had simply stated what he believed.
Betty slowly lowered her flag.
She had spent years fighting for freedom.
Yet this man wasn't offering her another chain disguised as loyalty.
He was offering her somewhere to stand.
A place where she could remain a Revolutionary...
and still become part of something new.
Her smile returned.
Fierce.
Certain.
"All right, Captain."
She extended her hand.
"I'm in."
Kael looked down at the offered hand.
For a heartbeat, he said nothing.
Then his massive hand closed around hers.
"Welcome aboard."
The System chimed.
[SUMMON SUCCESSFUL.]
[SECOND SUMMONED CREW MEMBER ACQUIRED.]
[Name: Belo Betty.]
[Position: Chief Morale Officer.]
[Devil Fruit: Kobu Kobu no Mi.]
Kael's eyes flickered toward the final line.
[Core Summoning Update:]
[Deceased: 1]
[Great Pirate Era: 1]
[Current Era: 1]
Kael stared at the numbers.
One.
One.
One.
He had known this day would come.
Every summon was permanent.
Every choice mattered.
Still...
Seeing that final number sitting there made the weight of the decision suddenly feel much heavier.
Yamato stepped beside him.
"Three of us now."
Kael looked at her.
Then at Betty.
Then toward the endless horizon.
A slow grin spread across his face.
"Yeah."
His hand settled over Fenrir.
"And we're just getting started."
Kael stared at the final number.
One.
Only one Current Era summon remained.
Yamato leaned against his shoulder.
"So."
Kael looked down at her.
"So?"
"Only one more."
He nodded.
"Yeah."
"Who?"
Kael smiled.
"That's the fun part."
Betty crossed her arms.
"You're not telling her?"
"No."
Yamato frowned.
"Why?"
"Because I don't know."
The System flickered.
For less than a second, another line appeared.
[████████████████]
[IDENTITY SEALED.]
Kael's eye twitched.
"...Oh, you've got to be kidding me."
Betty looked at the screen.
"What is that?"
Kael stared at it.
"ROB."
Yamato blinked.
"Who?"
"The idiot responsible for all this."
Betty frowned.
"You're talking about your creator?"
Kael pointed accusingly at the System.
"He's messing with me."
The System disappeared.
Kael stared at the empty air.
"...Coward."
Yamato covered her mouth.
Betty laughed.
"You're definitely insane."
Kael crossed his arms.
"Maybe."
He looked toward the horizon.
"But whoever that last summon is..."
His golden eyes narrowed.
"...they're going to change everything."
That evening, the three of them sat around the dining table.
The sun had disappeared hours ago.
Lanterns hung from the mast.
The sea glittered beneath the moon.
Kael spread the sheets of parchment across the table.
Yamato leaned over it.
Betty sat opposite them.
Kael placed a pen beside the parchment.
"Alright."
Yamato blinked.
"What?"
"We need to update our positions."
Betty raised an eyebrow.
"For what?"
"Our crew."
Kael pointed at the paper.
"We now have three people."
CAPTAIN: KAEL
FIRST MATE: YAMATO
CHIEF MORALE OFFICER / INTELLIGENCE OFFICER: BETTY
Then he looked at them.
"We need more."
Yamato grabbed the pen.
"Archaeologist."
Kael nodded.
"Absolutely."
She wrote it down.
"Blacksmith."
"Definitely."
Kael pointed at Fenrir.
"Someone needs to maintain our weapons."
Betty leaned forward.
"You can put me down as the Intelligence Officer. I have contacts in the Revolutionary Army."
Kael looked at her.
"Good."
"Someone needs to gather information before we walk into a trap."
Kael nodded.
"Ship doctor."
Yamato added it.
"Swordsman."
Kael paused.
"Someone dedicated to the blade."
He glanced toward Fenrir.
"Yeah."
The list grew.
Navigator.
Cook.
Sniper.
Helmsman.
Shipwright.
Musician.
Kael stared at the growing list.
"...We're going to need a bigger ship."
Yamato laughed.
"We already have one."
"Not big enough."
Betty smiled.
"Captain, you realize you're planning an entire civilization."
Kael looked at her.
"No."
He tapped the word family at the top of the page.
"I'm planning a home."
Silence settled over the table.
Yamato looked at him.
Something warm appeared in her eyes.
"You really mean it."
Kael looked confused.
"Mean what?"
"All of this."
She gestured toward the ship.
"The crew."
"The dream."
"Family."
Kael smiled.
"Yeah."
Yamato's fingers slowly brushed against his hand.
Neither moved.
The contact lasted only a moment.
But neither pulled away immediately.
Betty noticed.
A small grin appeared on her face.
She wisely said nothing.
Kael cleared his throat.
"Anyway."
Yamato smiled.
"Anyway."
Kael looked down at the parchment.
"We've got work to do."
The Crimson Raiju sailed onward beneath the stars.
Three figures stood upon her deck.
Three voices.
Three dreams.
And somewhere beyond the horizon...
One final Current Era summon waited.
But whether that person would become an ally...
a rival...
or the spark that set the entire world ablaze...
Even Kael didn't know.
For now, the Thundering Dawn had begun to take shape.
And the sea was waiting.