The morning sun shimmered over the East Blue, casting a golden glow across the rolling waves. A sturdy, modest vessel rocked gently atop the waters, carrying Maris and her full crew for their first extended voyage together.
Maris stood at the bow, dark blue eyes scanning the horizon. "Stay alert," she said calmly. "This is our first voyage as a complete crew. Anything could happen, and we face it together."
Selene twirled her dual swords with ease. "Don't worry, Captain. We'll be ready."
Lyra adjusted their small sails, eyes tracking currents and clouds. "Weather's calm… for now."
But calm rarely lasts at sea.
The wind shifted abruptly. Dark clouds rolled in, moving unnaturally fast. The salty air thickened, charged with tension.
Aria, perched atop the mast, narrowed her ice-blue eyes. "Multiple ships approaching fast… heading straight for us!"
Maris' gaze sharpened. "Pirates, or Marines—it doesn't matter. Prepare yourselves."
Namiya gripped the wheel tightly. "I can maneuver us, but coordination is key."
Maris nodded. "Positions! This is our first real test as a crew."
As enemy boarding parties reached the deck, the small vessel became a whirlwind of action:
Selene leapt onto the rail, her dual swords slicing through attackers with deadly precision, reinforced by Armament Haki.
Lyra darted across the deck, Observation Haki guiding every dagger throw and defensive move.
Brina hurled explosive spice bombs, igniting enemy decks and scattering forces.
Maeve combined culinary alchemy with combat, sending shockwaves and fire with unmatched creativity.
Aria fired with flawless accuracy, eliminating threats from above.
Tessa reinforced the hull with hammer strikes, repelling anyone who reached the deck.
Selia darted among the crew and enemies, administering potions to heal allies and incapacitate foes.
Namiya maneuvered the vessel with remarkable skill, weaving through cannon fire and positioning them for tactical advantage.
Lyric Sonnet's harp created harmonized sound waves, syncing the crew's movements like a single organism.
Cadence Chime's percussion produced concussive shockwaves, destabilizing enemy formations.
Armonia Riff's wind instruments disrupted enemy coordination and cloaked the crew's movements with subtle vortices.
The deck became a symphony of chaos—coordinated, deadly, and precise.
Maris danced across the deck with her cutlass, every strike guided by Observation Haki and reinforced by Armament Haki. She moved fluidly, anticipating attacks before they came.
She glanced at the horizon: more enemy vessels were approaching, small yet fast. The East Blue tested them, but fear never touched her.
Focus… precision… the Gale Serpents are more than a crew. We are a force.
She shouted above the storm of battle:"Wind and sea, guide us! Protect the crew! Strike together and we survive!"
The small vessel rocked and surged with the wind, carrying the crew in perfect unison. Every maneuver disrupted the enemy, every coordinated strike pushed them back.
The coordinated assault overwhelmed the enemy. Cannon fire missed, boarding parties were repelled, and the remaining enemy ships broke apart on jagged rocks near the shore. Survivors fled, leaving the Gale Serpents victorious.
The deck was strewn with debris, a few minor scratches on the hull—but the crew was unharmed.
Maris stood at the bow, surveying the aftermath. The sea was calm again, but the echoes of battle lingered.
Selene sheathed her swords with a grin. "Not bad for a first test."
Lyra adjusted the sails. "We worked perfectly as one… better than I imagined."
Cadence tapped a playful rhythm on the deck. "I told you—nothing can stop us with the right beat!"
Lyric's harp softly harmonized with the wind. "And this is only the beginning."
Armonia nodded, stoic but proud. "We've proven ourselves… as a crew."
Maris lowered her cutlass, her eyes sweeping over her eleven-member crew. Each one unique, yet perfectly synchronized. Not a crew of individuals—they were a family.
The East Blue stretched endlessly ahead, full of islands, mysteries, and dangers. But the Gale Serpents were ready. Together, they would face storms, enemies, and the unknown.
And for the first time, Maris allowed herself a small, satisfied smile.
This… is only the beginning.