"What the hell is the captain doing? Why hasn't he come back?"
Burgess paced across the deck for the sixth time, arms folded, muscles twitching with impatience. He kept glaring toward the distant town as if his stare alone could pull Ethan back. Nothing. No silhouettes on the coastline. No echoes of a fight. Not even the faintest ripple of his captain's presence.
Doc Q coughed into his sleeve, leaning heavily on his scythe as if every breath cost him years of life."I'm curious…", he croaked. "Will there be new partners this time?"
Pato, perched on the railing kicking his legs, ignored them completely. His fishing rod—far too big for his tiny frame—wobbled dangerously every time he cast it."Today I'm catching a BIG fish! You'll see!"
A clang—sharp and metallic—cut through the noise.Betty was smacking an iron bar repeatedly, using it as a makeshift dumbbell. Every punch made her bicep pop in a way that drew second glances even from veteran pirates.
"Did Ethan say when he'd be back?" she asked, barely winded.
Baccarat, stretching her legs with dancer-like precision, brushed a strand of crimson hair behind her ear. Even mid-training she radiated elegance.
"Don't worry. He'll be back soon."
As if summoned by her words, a voice rolled across the ship like thunder.
"Set sail."
A gust of wind swept through the deck—Ethan materialized on the railing before anyone noticed.
"Captain's back! Move it!"
The crew erupted into motion. Anchors clanked upward, ropes snapped tight, sails unfurled. The giant ship drifted away from the coast as the waves parted before its hull.
Pato launched himself onto Ethan's shoulder like a delighted squirrel."Boss! You're back!"
Burgess stormed to the railing again."Captain! No newcomers? Really?"
Doc Q sighed with disappointment."A pity… The battle for Captain Fan will have to wait."
Ethan ignored them entirely. He nodded once at Baccarat and walked straight toward the training room.
THE TRAINING ROOM
Inside, the girls were already busy—not lounging, not gossiping, but training seriously.
Hana, the newly renamed girl, swung a weighted whip infused with Toro Toro no Mi density manipulation. With each crack, the tip briefly liquefied them re-solidified, striking with impossible momentum. Her breath came in controlled bursts; sweat glistened across her collarbone.
Betty was deadlifting a metal beam that should've required a crane. Muscles taut, expression unchanging, posture perfect.
Baccarat held a plank variation so hard her entire core trembled, her luck-based footwork designed to force micro-adjustments. Every few seconds the weight shifted in ways only she could anticipate.
Hana lowered her whip, panting."Ethan nodded at you. That always means something. Can you sneak us the details?"
"Yes, Baccarat, tell us~" she added, leaning in with a teasing smirk.
Burgess peeked from the doorway—until Betty threw a dumbbell at him, forcing him to retreat yelping.
Baccarat pushed herself up, dusting off her arms."You're impossible."She gave them a deadly glare."If I say something wrong, do you think Ethan will spare me?"
Doc Q's smile twisted like rusted metal."Ethan is ruthless. Anyone who gets in the way… ends up slaughtered."
"Bullshit!" Pato yelled from atop the lockers. "Boss is the nicest!"
Betty tossed chalk onto her hands."Catch fish. Don't talk."
Hana twirled her whip."Anyway, let's go watch him train. Cooling down is part of training too."
Baccarat grabbed her wrist."Fine. Let's go before someone faints from overthinking."
They headed into the main chamber—
Ethan was upside down, supporting himself by a single finger, doing slow controlled push-ups rhythmically. His breathing was calm. His aura radiated pressure like a compressed storm.
On a nearby table rested:
—A Devil Fruit—A closed book with a thick navy cover
Hana approached it."Let's check what this one is."
Betty leaned in—froze."The… Devil Fruit Illustration Book."
Hana's jaw dropped."No way. THAT book? The one nobody believes exists?"
Baccarat quietly flipped it open.She knew exactly where it came from:Momousagi.
They searched for five minutes.
"STOP!" Hana yelled."Look—this one matches!"
Betty compared stems, swirl patterns, color shading."Yes. Perfect match."
Baccarat cleared her throat and read:"Paramecia — Goe Goe no Mi."
She continued:"The user amplifies their voice into destructive sound blasts. The louder the roar, the stronger the force."
Hana lit up."Burgess was BORN for this fruit. His voice alone could kill a sea king."
Ethan's voice came from behind:"Take the fruit to him. Let him decide."
Baccarat nodded."We're on it."
"I want to see!" Hana cheered."Sound powers are always fun!"
Betty rolled her eyes."You assume he'll eat it. Not everyone wants to be a Devil Fruit user."
THE DECK — BURGESS' MOMENT
Burgess lounged like a sun-worshipping bear, soaking up every ray.
Hana walked up, hands on her hips."Burgessss~ Guess who's about to get lucky?"
Doc Q spotted the book. His face paled."The Devil Fruit Illustration Book… it's REAL?"
Pato scrambled over."Does it say anything that suits ME?!"
Burgess shot up like a spring."Show me!"
Baccarat flipped the page."Goe Goe no Mi. Voice-based destructive blast."
Burgess froze—then exploded into joy."WIIHAHAHAHA!! This fruit is MADE for me!"
Doc Q wheezed."Did the captain give approval?"
Burgess blinked."Uh—did he say I'm fit for it?"
Hana snorted."Ethan doesn't waste time saying that. He said YOU decide."
Betty shrugged."His exact words: 'Figure it out yourself.'"
"That's enough for me!" Burgess grabbed the fruit—
Took a massive bite—
And his face collapsed into a purple nightmare.
Hana doubled over laughing."OH GODS—YOUR FACE!"
Betty gagged."Every time I see someone eat one… I remember how horrible mine tasted."
"Test it!!" Pato yelled, vibrating with excitement.
Burgess marched to the railing.
Breath.
"GOEEEEEEEE—!!!"
A blue-white blast gathered in his mouth—
BOOOOOOM!!!
The beam tore across the horizon, exploding on the distant sea. Waves shot sky-high.
Crew members froze—then cheered.
"Captain Burgess is MIGHTY!!"
Hana whispered, stunned:"This fruit… is terrifying."
Betty crossed her arms."If that hits someone, there won't be a body."
Baccarat smiled."Congratulations. Next squad captain? That's you."
"WIIHAHAHAHA!"
Doc Q smirked."Care to challenge the REAL captain?"
Burgess pointed at him like he'd lost his mind."I wanna LIVE, you coffin goblin!"
Pato danced around."Again! Again!"
"No!" Burgess snapped.
Baccarat tugged the girls."Back to training. Ethan's cycle is almost done."
FOUR DAYS LATER — NEAR KELD TOWN
The training room pulsed with movement and heat.
Ethan struck training dummies reinforced with sea stone dust. Each blow cracked the air. Each kick sent shockwaves through the floor.
The girls trained too:
Baccarat practiced luck shifting, stepping into safe zones milliseconds before dummy arms smashed downward.
Betty squatted twice her body weight, then performed explosive sprints.
Hana manipulated her Toro Toro no Mi—turning her whip into liquid metal, then re-solidifying for sonic snap attacks.
She cracked the whip—WHOOM—the sound punched the air like a small explosion.
"Nice," Ethan commented briefly.
Baccarat sat down, stretching."Ethan. Stop training. Our luck has arrived again."
Hana grinned."What is it this time? Another fruit? Another marine? Another treasure?"
Betty shook her head."Every time she says that, she's right. Her fruit is ridiculous."
Ethan grabbed a towel, wiped sweat, threw it aside."Then we go to the island."
No hesitation.
They followed him to the deck.
Wind howled.The waves grew rough.And on the horizon—
A strange island appeared, one none of them had seen on charts.
Hana's eyes gleamed."Oooh… THIS looks fun."
Baccarat's lips curved."Luck never disappoints."
Betty lit a cigarette."Whatever waits there… we handle it."
Ethan stepped forward, aura rising like a storm.
"Prepare to dock."
The next adventure had already begun.