The night sky stretched endlessly above, sprinkled with stars. The crackling of the campfire filled the quiet, its warm glow casting soft light across the small group gathered around it.
Elara leaned against a log, gently roasting a piece of bread over the fire. Aria sat beside her, a small plaster on her cheek where a clean cut had been stitched hours ago. Mulan sat across from them, her eyes reflecting the firelight, and Sora slept peacefully nearby, wrapped in clean bandages and thick blankets.
Kira leaned back with a long sigh, stretching his arms above his head. "That was intense."
"But it was worth it," Aria replied, cracking a small smile. "We saved the island. And the animals are safe."
The fire popped and hissed. For a few moments, they sat in silence, letting the peace of victory wash over them.
Then, Mulan finally spoke.
"I want to thank you again," she said, her voice soft, but firm. "And, as I promised… I'll join your crew."
Kira looked at her, then shook his head. "No."
Mulan blinked. "What do you mean?"
"If that's the only reason you want to join—out of obligation—then I don't want you to," Kira said calmly. "There has to be a reason. Your reason. A choice you made. I won't force anyone to sail under my flag."
Mulan lowered her gaze, startled. She opened her mouth to argue—but stopped. She took a slow breath, gathering her thoughts.
"I… told you before, didn't I?" she began, voice tinged with pain. "That I'm Big Mom's daughter."
Everyone except the sleeping Sora turned to her, listening quietly.
"My mother—no, Big Mom—is a cruel, selfish monster. She treats everyone like tools, including her children. I was… soft. Too kind. I didn't fit."
Her eyes darkened.
"One day, she got tired of it. Said I was a waste of a Devil Fruit. Decided she'd kill me to get it back."
There was silence around the fire. The only sound was the wind rustling the jungle behind them.
"I only escaped thanks to one of my brothers," she continued. "He helped me run. But I wasn't ready for the world outside. I'd never left Whole Cake Island. I didn't even know how to survive."
She closed her eyes for a moment, remembering.
"Then I found this island. Peaceful. Quiet. And I met an old man here. He… helped me. Taught me how to live. Treated me like a daughter more than Big Mom ever did."
A soft, nostalgic smile touched her lips. "He passed away a few months ago. After that, I decided to protect this island—his island. It was the least I could do."
Her voice trembled slightly.
"But he always told me… I should live my life. Chase something greater. Still, I stayed. Until today, I thought I was doing the right thing."
She paused. The firelight flickered in her eyes.
"Truth is… what I really want is to stop Big Mom. I can't stand the things she does—the suffering, the terror. But… I'm not strong enough. Not even close. I can't face her—not in a million years."
Tears welled up in her eyes and finally fell, trailing down her cheeks.
"But if I just sit here, silent… how many more lives will she destroy?"
Kira leaned forward, gaze firm but gentle.
"Mulan… you're thinking too much."
She looked up at him, surprised.
"Staying here won't change the world," he continued, voice steady. "But sailing with us? Taking that first step? That can. No one gets to decide what your future holds—except you."
"We are who we choose to be."
Elara leaned toward Aria, whispering, "He definitely stole that line."
Aria smirked. "He does that a lot. Kinda impressive, actually."
Kira ignored them.
Mulan's eyes widened. Her tears kept falling—but now they mixed with something else: hope.
She wiped her face with the back of her hand. "He used to say things like that too…"
She stood up slowly, her voice stronger than before.
"You're right. I can't stay here. I don't want to hide anymore. I'll choose"
She looked Kira straight in the eye.
"Please… let me join your crew."
Kira smiled.
"Welcome aboard."
[Side Quest Completed – "A Mysterious Doctor"]
Rewards:
• +15,000 EXP
• +10,000 Credits
• +5 Random Loot Boxes
[Status Update – Level 44 → 45]
[Crew management – Crew Slot 1]
Name: Veyra D. Aria
Role: Swordswoman
Loyalty: 100%
Devil fruit: None
[Crew management – Crew Slot 2]
Name: Sora
Role: Cook
Loyalty: 100%
Devil fruit: Vari Vari no Mi
[Crew management – Crew Slot 3]
Name: Winslow Elara
Role: Navigator
Loyalty: 100%
Devil fruit: none
[Crew management – Crew Slot 4]
Name: Charlotte Mulan
Role: Doctor
Loyalty: 99%
Devil fruit: Kikan Kikan no mi
The fire crackled as the stars above seemed to shine just a little brighter. Mulan sat down again, this time with the crew. Elara passed her some food, Aria handed her a small flask, and Sora murmured in his sleep, dreaming peacefully.
Tonight, they had not just won a battle—they had gained a new ally.
And the journey tow…
"Nooo! Don't touch my food!"
Sora bolted upright from his blanket pile, flailing with a jolt that sent a fresh wave of pain through his bandaged body. "Ouch! Crap… I forgot—my ribs!"
The others burst into laughter.
"Finally," Kira said with a grin, arms behind his head. "You've been asleep for hours."
"You almost died," Aria added, tone flat as ever. "It was kinda dramatic."
"She patched you up," Elara said, nodding toward Mulan.
Sora blinked, looking at the woman he barely remembered from before he passed out. "Thank you…"
Mulan held up a hand with a gentle smile. "No need to thank me. We're a crew now, right?"
Sora's eyes lit up. "Really? Welcome then! I'll cook you a proper meal—how do you feel about meat? Or lobster? Maybe both! Wait, do we have any spice left—?"
He tried to stand while rambling, only to double over again with a wince. "Ugh! Right. Broken. I forgot…"
"Just rest," Mulan said with a small laugh. "You can cook later."
Kira chuckled, watching the familiar chaos resume like nothing had happened.
"I'm glad you're alright," Elara said softly.
Mulan's eyes drifted toward the towering figure near the beach—the dark, hulking form of a robotic titan, partially embedded in the sand but unmoving now. "So… what's the deal with the giant mechanical monster?"
Kira looked over his shoulder. "Oh, that's Drift. He's our ship."
"…Ship?" Mulan blinked, baffled.
"Yeah, he transforms," Kira said casually, as though this were the most normal thing in the world.
"He's super cool!" Sora chimed in excitedly, already recovering. "He turns into this massive robot, and he's got a sword the size of a house, and this awesome laser cannon called Ocean Cutter, and he can go invisible sometimes, and—"
"You'll get used to it," Elara said, sipping from a wooden cup. "He's always like this."
Mulan just shook her head, smiling. "You guys really aren't a typical pirate crew, are you?"
Aria smirked and leaned back. "That's our thing."
"Kira, the Log Pose has reset. We can leave in the morning," said Elara.
"Good. No reason to stay here any longer," Kira replied.
Kira looked around the circle—Sora bundled in blankets and ranting about cooking; Aria cleaning her blades by the firelight; Elara humming under her breath; Mulan gazing quietly into the flames.
This was his crew.
They were wild, weird, and maybe just a little insane.
——
The stars sparkled like scattered diamonds in the night sky, casting a gentle silver glow over the camp. The crew lay asleep in scattered positions—Sora snoring like a bear in hibernation, Aria curled up with her swords beside her, and Mulan resting soundly near the dying fire, a faint smile on her lips.
Only one figure remained awake.
Kira stood at the edge of a rocky cliff overlooking the sea, the soft ocean breeze brushing through his black hair. Behind him, the faint glow of the fire flickered, but here, only the crashing waves filled the silence.
He exhaled calmly and muttered, "Alright… system time."
A familiar screen lit up before his eyes.
[Status]
• Name: Raven D. Kira
• Title: Captain
• Race: Human
• Age: 20
• Affiliation: Pirate
• Bounty: 55,000,000
• Level: 45 (EXP: 0 / 15,000)
• Credits: 125,000
• Stat Points Available: 83
Stats:
• Strength: 74
• Agility: 61
• Stamina: 60
• Perception: 53
• Intelligence: 49
• Willpower: 87
Kira scratched his chin thoughtfully. "Let's see…"
[Strength - 74 → 102]
[Agility - 61 → 76]
[Stamina - 60 → 75]
[Perception - 53 → 68]
[Intelligence - 49 → 59]
He clenched his fist, feeling a strange hum in his veins.
"My first hundred…" he murmured, then smirked. Without much thought, he punched a nearby boulder-sized hill.
BOOM!
A thunderous crack echoed through the cliffs as the rocky mound split clean in half, fragments scattering across the shoreline.
Kira blinked. "Now that is strength."
A grin stretched across his face as he brushed the dust from his knuckles. "Man… I really wanna fight someone strong now. Maybe not an Admiral… not yet. But a Shichibukai? Or a top pirate from the New World? That could be a real test…"
He flicked open the next tab. "Alright, loot boxes. Let's see if luck's on my side."
——
15 Minutes Later
He let out a breath, half amused, half disappointed. "Nothing too crazy. But this one's not bad."
[Water Breathing]
Rarity: Rare
Item Type: Ability
Description: Allows the user to breathe underwater.
Duration: 20 min
Cooldown: 10 hour
Level: 1
"Could be useful… if I end up in the sea," Kira muttered, remembering more than one near-drowning experience.
"Didn't Midas Touch level up last time?" Kira muttered, questioning himself.
[Midas Touch]
Rarity: Epic
Type: Ability
Description: Any weapon you touch will be coated in Haki.
Duration: 20 minutes
Cooldown: 15 hours
Level: 2
"Not bad. Leveling up shortened the cooldown and boosted the active time. This'll be clutch in longer battles."
He flipped through the perks page idly, skimming past earlier bonuses. "Most of these are beginner boosts. They helped early on, but now… I need higher-tier stuff. That's what I need next."
Then something unfamiliar caught his eye.
"…Hmm?"
At the bottom of the screen, glowing faintly in gray
[Store – Locked (Unlocks at Level 50)]
Kira's eyes narrowed. "That wasn't there before…"
A whole store?
"Looks like I'll finally have somewhere to spend these credits. Only five levels away… and if the store's as good as I think it is, it might change the game."
He let the system fade, the glow dissolving into the breeze.
The moonlight danced on the ocean as Kira sat down against the rock, arms behind his head, watching the stars.
"Things are getting interesting," he muttered with a tired smile.
And with that, the captain finally closed his eyes and drifted into sleep—ready for whatever the Grand Line had in store next.
——
The sun rose over the tranquil island, casting golden rays across the beach and the Raven Pirates' gleaming metal ship—Drift—now returned to his ship form. The gentle breeze rustled the palm trees as waves lapped softly against the shore.
It was a morning of preparation.
Elara tightened a strap on her pack while Aria checked her weapons. Sora stretched with a groan, his bandages now lighter and his energy slowly returning.
"Where's Mulan?" Sora asked, glancing around the deck.
"She said she went to grab her things before we leave," Kira replied, adjusting his coat and scanning the coastline.
"No need to rush," Elara said, looking up at the clear blue sky. "Weather's perfect today. Calm seas ahead."
"Then I'm gonna go cook breakfast!" Sora declared, suddenly full of energy again. He headed toward the galley, his footsteps light despite his injuries.
——
A short time later, Mulan approached the ship, a travel bag slung over her shoulder. She paused at the edge of the beach, her eyes sweeping over the island
She stood in silence for a moment longer, then she turned, resolve in her eyes, and walked up the ramp.
"I'm ready," she said.
Kira grinned. "Then what are you waiting for? Get in there!"
Mulan took one last look over her shoulder at the island—her sanctuary, her escape, her comfort. Then she muttered softly, "Goodbye."
And she stepped aboard.
—
Her jaw nearly dropped the moment she entered.
"Whoa… I've never seen anything like this," Mulan said, staring wide-eyed at the polished metal corridors, glowing lights, and seamless machinery humming softly throughout the ship. "It feels futuristic… clean… almost too perfect to be real…"
"Thank you," said a calm, mechanical voice from nowhere.
Mulan jumped slightly. "Ah! Who was that?"
"Oh, right." Kira chuckled. "I forgot to mention—Drift can talk."
Aria leaned against the wall and grinned. "You'll get used to it."
"This is insane… but I have to admit—it's really cool," Mulan said, slowly running her fingers along the metal wall in awe.
"You haven't seen anything yet," Kira said with a mischievous smile, gesturing for her to follow. "Come on, we'll show you around. You're part of the crew now."
With a nod, Mulan followed him deeper into the heart of the ship, the metallic halls echoing with her footsteps, the adventure ahead now truly beginning.
Outside, the island remained still—silent under the morning sun—as the crew prepared to sail into the unknown once more.
———————————————————
Quick Update:
Taking a break for about a week , things are a bit busy. I'll be back soon with daily uploads!
Got any cool ideas (powers, characters, weapons)? Drop them here!
Thank you for reading — it really means a lot!