CHAPTER 22
"Boys, ready the ship!"
Ren's voice boomed across the deck, carrying the weight of a captain who expected to be obeyed.
"Aye, Captain!!" the crew responded, their voices echoing in excitement as the Marine warship began to move.
"Kris," Ren said, pointing toward the towering Gate of Justice. "Open a portal. Let's leave this place behind."
"Yes, Captain."
A swirling ring of blue and green energy opened in front of the massive gate, cracking like lightning around the edges.
The ship glided into it.
In an instant, they emerged on the other side—outside the Gate of Justice—its colossal structure rising endlessly into the sky.
Kris looked at Ren, both amazed and nervous.
"Captain… if it wasn't for the Gate-Gate Fruit, how would we have escaped?"
Ren placed a hand on his shoulder, a faint smirk crossing his lips.
"We would've fought our way out."
Kris blinked. "I… can't tell if you're joking or not."
Ren turned away, stepping to the front of the ship. The sea breeze tugged at his snow-white hair as he raised his voice so the whole crew could hear.
"I now officially welcome—
Umi, our cook.
Brocky, our shipwright.
Kris, our sniper.
Ross, our swordsman."
He glanced over them with the steady pride of a true captain.
"Welcome to the Pride Pirates.
I am Ren—captain of this crew, and the King of Pride."
Ross threw his arms into the air.
"WAIT—so I'm not a chore boy!? I thought that title was glued to me forever!"
The others laughed.
Brocky folded his arms, towering over everyone.
"Captain, we still don't have a navigator. How do we know where to go?"
Ren chuckled softly, eyes fixed on the horizon.
"We'll handle that later. The real voyage hasn't even begun. A crew doesn't truly start its journey until the captain says so."
He raised a hand.
"For now—let the banquet begin!"
"But Captain," Umi said, looking around the bare deck, "there isn't much food on this ship. This looks like an emergency warship. Barely any supplies."
"Then we fish," Ren replied casually.
He took off his shirt, preparing to dive—
—then froze mid-motion.
"…I ate a Devil Fruit."
He slowly lowered his hands, exhaling.
"That would've been a painfully stupid death."
KRSHHHHHH!!
The sea rumbled.
Waves surged violently as a massive shadow rose beneath them.
A Sea King—larger than Brocky, with jaws wide enough to bite the entire mast—erupted from the ocean, roaring thunderously at the Pride Pirates.
Ren's eyes narrowed.
---
Meanwhile — Marineford
"Buru buru… kacha."
"Borsalino," Sengoku said while flipping through a pile of documents, "are you done with the mission? Another pirate group is attacking on the Grand Line. You're the only one fast enough—"
"You're mistaken, Admiral Sengoku," Kizaru interrupted, voice flat, uncaring. "I can't take any missions for a while."
Sengoku stopped writing.
"What are you talking about?"
"I was defeated by Ren—the one who attacked Impel Down. I'll need… a very long recovery."
Sengoku slowly rose to his feet, disbelief in his eyes.
"…Ren defeated you?"
Kizaru's tone didn't change. "Yes, Admiral."
Sengoku slammed his desk.
"Damn it! That destroys all our plans! I should've suspected something when he left Marineford early without attending his captain's burial…"
"Yes, sir."
"He destroys Marineford… now he wreaks havoc at Impel Down…"
Sengoku dragged a hand down his face.
"Send me his last known location. I'll dispatch someone immediately. The Elders are already demanding I meet them. This may be my last order as Fleet Admiral."
He sighed heavily.
"Borsalino… after you recover, help maintain balance inside the Marines. Akainu and Aokiji are the strongest candidates for Fleet Admiral, and their ideals will clash hard. I need you to keep things from breaking."
"That sounds… troublesome," Kizaru muttered.
"Get well soon," Sengoku said, ending the call.
He leaned back, exhausted.
"The Elders will push for Akainu… Aokiji or Kizaru would have been better choices… even Garp—if that old fool didn't run off."
He rubbed his temples.
"And Ren…"
He closed his eyes.
"That problem belongs to the next Fleet Admiral. Not me."