Chapter 2 - Setting Sail
On a remote island in the Grand Line, Monkey D. Ash stood up and stretched lazily after finishing a hearty meal. As if drawn by a deep instinct, he gazed eastward—toward the East Blue.
After a long silence, he made up his mind: it was time to set sail.
Though the Revolutionary Army was undoubtedly the World Government's greatest ideological threat, they were still far from strong enough to face the full might of the Navy or the Celestial Dragons head-on. The gap in military power and top-tier combatants was simply too wide.
Becoming a Warlord of the Sea—a Shichibukai—sounded like the smartest route. On the surface, it meant being acknowledged by the World Government. But in truth, it would give Ash freedom to move, expand his own pirate crew, and secretly support the Revolutionary Army from the shadows.
It was the perfect cover.
And more importantly, it aligned with Ash's larger plan—a plan that extended far beyond the Revolution.
"You two stay here and keep training. I'll come pick you up when the time is right," Ash said softly, turning toward the two massive beasts—Jin and Bai—who stood by his side.
The Grand Line was simply too dangerous for them right now. They needed more strength before they could follow.
As the two beasts watched with visible reluctance, Ash boarded his sleek, state-of-the-art ship—the Smile.
He had won it from a system lottery: it could fly, sail, dive, and came fully equipped with everything needed for adventure.
---
Baltigo, Base of the Revolutionary Army
Ash and Dragon stood together at the cliff's edge.
"You're heading out to sea?" Dragon asked.
"Yeah. I want to see the world with my own eyes," Ash replied calmly.
"Then go," Dragon said, smiling faintly. "If this is your choice, nothing should stop a man from chasing the horizon."
Dragon had long noticed something different about Ash. His son possessed a revolutionary mindset that transcended even his own—a calm conviction, a unique way of thinking, and most alarming of all, his terrifying growth rate.
Even Dragon didn't know how strong Ash had truly become.
"Heh. I'll drop by and visit Luffy for you, father." Ash gave a grin, leapt onto the deck of the Smile, and unfurled the sails into the open sea.
His journey had begun.
"…father?" Dragon blinked, startled.
In more than ten years, this was only the third time Ash had ever called him "father."
The first had been when Dragon brought him back from Foosha Village as a confused child: "Dad?"
The second time had been during a battle at the Revolutionary Army HQ: "Father!"
But this time… this time was different.
There was warmth in his voice. Family. Emotion.
---
Out at sea, the Smile glided across the open waters.
"Whoa, Boss! I can't even see the edge of the ocean!" Tuan Tuan, a small, panda-like creature, bounced around the deck in amazement.
"Enjoy it. You're about to see all kinds of crazy stuff," Ash chuckled.
"Ding!"
> Smile Ship Navigation Interface Activated
📍 Destination: Foosha Village, Goa Kingdom
📏 Distance: *** nautical miles
⏳ Estimated Arrival Time: 15 Days
🚀 Status: Full Speed Ahead
---
Marineford, Navy Headquarters
"Meeeeeh~"
In the Fleet Admiral's office, Sengoku raised a scroll of classified documents to the small lamb eating paper on his desk. The lamb bleated as it chewed it into oblivion.
"Garp, what do you think of the latest proposal from the World Government regarding the Revolutionary Army?" Sengoku asked without looking up.
"Eh?" Garp replied with a mouthful of donuts. "I say we wait and see."
"Don't forget, Dragon is your son! If you weren't a Marine Hero, the Five Elders would have had your head by now!"
"Tsk."
"You idiot," Sengoku muttered and snatched the rest of Garp's donuts, stuffing them into his mouth.
"My donuts!!" Garp cried out in despair, wide-eyed and betrayed.
Still… Sengoku's warning echoed in Garp's mind.
Dragon, the man the World Government branded as the most dangerous criminal in the world, was his son. Worse yet, he had taken Ash, his own grandson, and raised him within the Revolutionary Army.
Now Luffy—his other grandson—was shouting about becoming a pirate and finding the One Piece, all because of Red-Haired Shanks.
Garp let out a heavy sigh.
It's all my fault…
He clenched his fists. Maybe it was time to go home. Make sure that idiot Luffy didn't sneak off and follow the same path…
---
Twelve days later, Ash had seen nothing but open sea. Not a single ship crossed their path, and Tuan Tuan was beyond bored.
"Boss, you said the sea was exciting, but I haven't seen a single soul!" he pouted.
"Be patient. We're almost at my hometown. You'll meet all kinds of characters there."
"Whoa! Look! There's a ship up ahead!" Tuan Tuan suddenly pointed excitedly toward a black pirate ship racing toward them.
On the approaching vessel, a burly, hairy pirate grinned menacingly and raised his spiked mace.
"Heh… Ya Lou, check out that fancy ship. Let's raid it and take everything!"
This was Black Kong Bartlu, an East Blue pirate with a 15 million berries bounty and the powers of a Chimpanzee-type Zoan Devil Fruit.
"Get ready to fight, Fatty," Ash said calmly, his voice suddenly sharp and cold. His eyes gleamed with excitement.
He wasn't one to pick fights—but he had never backed down from one either.
He raised his fists.
> [Skill Activated — Continuous Ordinary Punches!]
In a blur of motion, Ash's fists became a storm. Phantom images followed each strike.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
The pirates were blown away in an instant—brutally flattened without even touching the deck. Ash had held back. If he hadn't… there might've been blood raining from the sky.
---
To be continued…