Chapter 246: Integrate into the Pirate Group!
As the sky darkened and thunder echoed in the distance, Ryuunosuke immediately understood what Nojiko had been worried about.
"Everyone to the starboard side—now!" he commanded.
The crew responded without hesitation, instincts kicking in as the ocean around them churned with a wild, natural fury.
In these waters, it wasn't just pirates or monsters that posed a threat. The most terrifying enemy of all… was nature itself.
"I'll handle it," Escanor said calmly as he stepped forward, sunlight flaring around him.
Golden armor materialized across his body like divine judgment descending from the heavens. In his hand appeared his sacred weapon—Fall of Heaven.
With a burst of radiant energy, he leapt skyward and slashed.
A deafening roar split the heavens as his blade carved through the dense black clouds overhead. The sheer force of the attack tore the sky apart, allowing sunlight to pierce through the gloom.
But along with that golden light... came rain.
Not just any rain.
Each droplet was colossal—larger than entire ships. One droplet alone dwarfed the Ship of Gods.
Ryuunosuke stared in disbelief. "This can't be called rain anymore… it's a downpour of destruction."
Escanor's slash had unintentionally accelerated the release of these titanic raindrops. The entire Ship of Gods was now within their deadly descent path.
"Everyone, move! Get ready!" Ryuunosuke shouted.
"The force of these raindrops… they're like meteorites!" Chrollo muttered, eyes wide.
Ryuunosuke didn't hesitate. Wings unfurled from his back in a burst of wind and flame, and he soared into the air with his twin blades drawn.
Any raindrop that came within his range was instantly sliced into harmless mist. But there were too many. Far too many.
Even for him, it wasn't enough.
Some drops slipped past him and slammed into the sea, sending waves crashing in all directions. The impact was catastrophic.
Ryuunosuke's expression hardened. "If even one of those hits the deck, it could flatten us."
He wasn't wrong. While he and the stronger crewmates could resist the pressure, the sheer volume of the rain was overwhelming. Even fragments of these drops could crush weaker crew members.
In the distance, shattered remains of pirate ships floated by—a grim reminder of what would happen if they failed.
Chrollo and the others jumped into action, forming a defensive perimeter and shielding the ship with everything they had.
Meanwhile, Uvogin stood frozen for a moment, guilt gnawing at his gut. If only he'd listened to Nojiko earlier and moved the ship out of the danger zone…
Tightening his fists, he shook off his frustration.
"I'm not going to sit here uselessly."
Uvogin unleashed his enhanced telepathic ability, wrapping it around the rudder and key control systems of the ship. With a roar, he poured his strongest mental energy into moving the vessel out of the storm's kill zone.
Under his guidance, the Ship of Gods began to veer off course—away from the heart of the storm.
Thirty exhausting minutes passed before they finally escaped the death zone.
Ryuunosuke looked back at the dissipating storm, sweat beading down his brow. "So that's a Sartre Rainstorm… That was more thrilling than any battle I've had recently."
"But it wasn't against an enemy," he added with a smirk. "It was a battle against the world itself."
Beside him, Najenda approached Nojiko, her expression softened with newfound respect.
"How did you know that was going to happen?" she asked.
Nojiko shifted slightly under the attention. "I'm not entirely sure… I just seem to be able to sense changes in the weather. It's not a strong ability, but it's useful out at sea."
"You call that not strong? That ability might've just saved all our lives!" Uvogin suddenly chimed in.
With a guilty look, he stepped forward and bowed slightly. "Miss Nojiko, I'll follow your lead from now on. You've more than earned it."
Others around them nodded in agreement.
Although Ryuunosuke had laid down rules of mutual respect, true recognition was something different—it had to be earned.
Today, Nojiko had earned it.
"Thanks… I'll do my best," she said, just as her stomach growled loudly.
Ryuunosuke chuckled. "Looks like someone's hungry."
Nojiko blushed, rubbing the back of her head. "That tends to happen after I use that ability…"
"HA! That's the spirit!"
Ryuunosuke clapped his hands. "Alright, everyone—we're throwing a party! Our new crewmate just saved us. Time to celebrate!"
In truth, Ryuunosuke had noticed how Nojiko had been keeping to herself since joining the Dragon Hunter Pirates. She rarely spoke unless spoken to, always seemed on edge.
But today had changed everything.
They soon docked on a nearby island, the remnants of the Sartre Rainstorm still visible in the skies above. But thanks to Nojiko insights, they knew the storm wouldn't follow. Sartre rainstorms were immobile—bound to the same spot until every last drop fell.
With that assurance, the crew began preparations.
They even managed to catch a few wild animals—dinner was sorted.
There was no force in the world more unifying than food, drink, and shared danger. The fire crackled, the scent of roasted meat filled the air, and laughter echoed across the island.
This… was what it meant to be part of the crew.
A few hours later, the stars shimmered in the night sky. The party had drawn to a close, and the crew rested.
By the next morning, the Sartre Rainstorm had ended. With clear skies and renewed spirits, the Dragon Hunter Pirates set sail once again.
"According to Nojiko, we've got three more days until we reach the Valley of the Gods," Ryuunosuke said.
"How does she even figure that out?" Najenda whispered, watching Nojiko squint at a trembling, oscillating Eternal Pointer.
Ryuunosuke shrugged. "Beats me. I looked at it for ten minutes and just got dizzy."
"Same here."
"Maybe it's talent," Ryuunosuke chuckled. "Or maybe she's just built different."
As their ship vanished over the horizon, a shadow loomed above the island they had just left.
A colossal dragon descended from the clouds, wings blocking out the sun.
Kaido landed with a thud, the ground cracking beneath his feet. He sniffed the air.
"A Sartre Rainstorm, huh? Haven't seen one in a while…"
He looked around at the lingering embers of the campfire, still warm.
"Looks like I just missed them."
A grin split his face.
"Dragon Hunter Pirates… I'll be seeing you soon."
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