CHAPTER 25
"Yo-hohoho, Yo-hohoho…"
The warm chorus rolled across the night sea as the Pride Pirates broke into yet another verse of Binks' Sake. Their voices rose and fell with the gentle waves, blending into a harmony that carried across the starlit waters.
"Binkusu no sake wo, todoke ni yuku yo…"
Even Ren—who normally sat with a calm, unreadable expression—sang softly alongside them, memories flickering behind his eyes. On the navigation bridge, Sophia stood over the charts with a half-eaten skewer in hand, glancing at the lively deck below. Her smile was small, but genuine.
Before she could return to her notes, Umi suddenly wrapped an armlo around her waist and dragged her out onto the deck.
"Come dance!" he insisted, swaying like a drunk but happy storm.
The crew didn't hesitate. Soon they were all spinning, hopping, clapping, laughing—completely immersed in the rare moment of freedom. Skewers and roasted meat passed from one hand to the next. Empty sake jars piled up. Feet stomped against the wooden deck in rhythm with their laughter.
Ren watched them for a moment.
"I think… we need a musician," he murmured.
"RAHAHAHAHA! Captain! Come join us already!" Brock roared, his booming voice echoing across the ship.
Before Ren could object, Brocky and Umi hoisted him into the center of the dancing circle. Even he couldn't suppress a faint grin as the crew cheered and clapped.
The banquet eventually settled into a gentle quiet. One by one, the pirates collapsed wherever they happened to fall.
Brock snored loudly beside Ren, a huge bubble inflating and deflating from his nostril.
Ross sat against the railing with both swords in hand, his grip firm even in sleep—always alert, even in rest.
Umi lay flat on his back, an empty sake jar resting on his chest, snoring without shame.
High above, at the mast's peak, Kris leaned against the wooden frame with a new sniper cradled in his arms. A small plate of crumbs and an empty cup sat beside him. His one open eye glimmered faintly before slipping shut.
Ren surveyed them all and sighed.
"Ever since I remembered my sister… the throwbacks won't stop. I guess I never fully let go of my old world," he thought, taking off his eye mask and staring at his sleeping crew. "Still… this world isn't that bad."
Then—a faint sound.
A quiet sniffle.
Ren turned toward the bridge.
Sophia sat alone near the chart table, shoulders trembling as she wiped tears away. She tried to keep quiet, but the night betrayed her.
Ren walked over quietly and held out a cup.
"Here. Water."
Sophia flinched softly, then took it with shaking hands. "Thank you… I'm sorry you had to see me like this."
Ren shook his head. "I don't care about my crew's past. Whatever burdens you have—whether you come from the light or crawl out of darkness—it doesn't change anything." He lit a cigar, the ember glowing orange in the dark. "As long as you're part of my crew, we walk together. Even if the path leads straight into hell."
Sophia's breath hitched, and she looked up at him—eyes soft, filled with something like admiration.
"Thank you… Captain."
"If you ever have a wish," Ren continued, exhaling a thin trail of smoke, "even if it points toward the Gate of Death itself… we'll break it open."
Before he could say more, he noticed her head slump gently to the side.
She had fallen asleep mid-sentence.
Ren sighed, removed his coat, and draped it over her shoulders before heading back toward his quarters.
Inside, the air was quiet. Candlelight flickered against the walls.
"I guess it's time," he murmured. "Time to analyze my strength after fighting Kizaru."
He sat on his bed, folding his arms as he went through it carefully.
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Ren's Self-Assessment
Strength:
"Top tier… comparable to Whitebeard Jr. Almost Yonko level, but definitely beyond most commanders."
Agility:
"High. Similar to Lucci speed on Egghead. Maybe a bit."
Defense:
"Top tier—close to Big Mom's natural durability. Not invincible, but far beyond average."
Devil Fruit:
"Top tier. Comparable to Shiki's fruit in terms of battle potential."
Armament Haki:
"High. Somewhere around Doflamingo's level—not at its peak yet."
Observation Haki:
"Top tier. No Future Sight like Katakur but similar i."
Ren exhaled slowly.
"Yeah… I know where to improve."
He leaned back, eyes narrowing.
"I should probably stop relying on the Devil Fruit for a while. Focus on Haki. Master it fully."
His final thought drifted into the quiet night as he closed his eyes:
"I still have that armament haki inspiration."