West Blue - Hakugan Port - Night
The fires had finally died down, but the air still reeked of smoke and blood. Ren sat cross-legged on a barrel, his red coat tossed over his shoulders, eyes locked on the moonlit sea. The docks were littered with unconscious pirates, some groaning, some silent.
Ryu stood nearby, cleaning the edge of his katana with a ripped cloth, his expression unreadable. He was a tall, lean young man with sharp, angular features and intense amber eyes that seemed to pierce through the night. His black hair was tied back in a messy ponytail, strands falling over his brow. A faint scar ran diagonally across his left cheek, a memento from a battle he refused to speak about.
Ryu's left arm was now bandaged, thanks to Ren's makeshift medical skills. Despite the fight they just had, Ryu couldn't shake the feeling that Ren had dodged his blade in a way that shouldn't have been possible. But Ren had brushed it off as luck, and Ryu didn't question it further.
"So, you always jump into fights that aren't yours?" Ryu asked, his voice as flat as the sea.
Ren smirked, tossing a stone into the water. "Only when it looks fun."
Ryu scoffed, sheathing his blade. "You didn't just dodge that strike. You knew where it was going."
Ren's grin faltered. He leaned back, staring up at the night sky. "Maybe I just guessed right."
Before Ryu could press further, a new voice cut through the silence.
"Oi! You two!"
They both turned to see a girl with striking, dark blue hair cascading over her shoulders like ocean waves and vivid green eyes that sparkled even in the dim moonlight. Her skin was lightly tanned and smooth, with high cheekbones and a sharp jawline softened by a playful smirk. A silver compass dangled from her neck, glinting against her collarbone.
She wore a loose, sleeveless shirt tied at her waist and baggy pants tucked into worn boots. Despite the dirt smudge on her cheek and the confident set of her shoulders, she carried an undeniable allure — the kind that could make heads turn even in a chaotic port.
"Are you two idiots just going to sit around while the rest of the port is burning?" she snapped, hands on her hips.
Ryu frowned. "Who the hell are you?"
"Name's Nadia," she said, jaw clenched. "And if you don't want more of Farren's goons tearing up this place, you might want to follow me."
Ren stood, eyes narrowing. "Why should we trust you?"
Nadia rolled her eyes. "Because I just saved your boat from being torched by those brutes. You're welcome."
Ryu glanced at Ren. Ren grinned. "Looks like we owe you one."
Nadia crossed her arms. "Oh, you owe me more than one. Now hurry up before Farren brings out the big guns."
Behind her, the distant shouts of pirates echoed through the night. Ren and Ryu exchanged a look, then followed Nadia into the shadows. None of them knew it yet, but their paths had just crossed with the navigator who would one day help guide them through the Grand Line — and beyond.
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