The Nirvana at Dawn sailed steadily toward Loguetown.
On the deck of the Blumarine Jackson, Ritter sat atop the dragon-shaped prow, stroking the cannon barrel.
"Hehehehe… This really is way too cool. Who's the handsomest warship on the seas? You are. You are!"
Suddenly, he froze. "Wait a minute! Did we forget something important?"
Perona, floating mid-air while combing her newly acquired doll's hair, was so startled she nearly fell. "Lord Ritter! Don't yell like that all of a sudden!"
"Our crew…" Ritter looked around and pointed at Perona, Gecko Moria, and the surrounding zombies one by one. "We don't even have an official name yet!"
Silence instantly blanketed the deck. Moria's giant scissors paused midair.
"The ship's already built and sailing the seas, and we still don't have a name…" Moria's shark-like teeth gleamed as even his bat-like shadow twisted on the deck. "And you, our captain, just now realized this?"
"Total leadership failure!" Perona puffed out her cheeks, and her teddy bear mimicked a scolding gesture. "Even my Kumashi has a name!"
Ritter scratched his head awkwardly. "Well, it's not too late to decide now! Everyone, gather up we're holding a meeting! Full crew assembly!"
Moria deadpanned, "Captain, there's only three living people here. Isn't this a little overkill?"
Ritter pouted. "You don't get it. We need the full ritual. Without it, it just feels wrong."
Soon, everyone gathered around a wooden barrel at the center of the deck. Moria's towering figure cast a long shadow, while Perona floated above Ritter's head.
"Alright, let's start with name suggestions." Ritter tapped the barrel. "Perona, you go first."
"Ghost Princess! With pink sails, lacey flags, and—"
"Denied," Ritter said firmly. But worried he'd hurt her feelings, he softened his tone.
"Little Perona, that's a wonderful idea, really... it's just not quite the right fit for us, okay?"
Perona immediately looked like she was about to cry, her ghosts forming tearful expressions behind her. "Lord Ritter is bullying me~!"
Moria chuckled darkly. "How about Devil Zombie Legion? Just hearing it would make enemies tremble!"
"Pfft! Lord Moria, that name's totally cringe," Perona burst out laughing.
"What did you say?!" Moria's shadow surged. "Little Perona, you just stabbed me right in the heart. And a completely pink ship would be way weirder than that!"
As he glanced down at the pocket watch Roger had entrusted to him, blood-red mist began to churn behind him. Ritter stood up abruptly, solemn and resolute.
"I'm a man who'll one day stand at the top. We're all chasing freedom. And if anyone dares bare their fangs at us, then…"
Ritter paused. His massive obsidian sword pointed skyward.
"Our pirate crew will be called Bloodstained Dawn. We are our own future. We are our own dawn."
Perona hugged her teddy bear tight. "Lord Ritter, you're so cool!!!"
"And," she added, spinning toward a sketch she'd drawn earlier, "look at this flag I just designed—"
It depicted a skull with a blazing crimson sun rising behind it, tearing through darkness.
Ritter suddenly burst into laughter, genuine and unrestrained.
Damn you, Captain. You said you had no final words, no parting wishes. But of course you knew what kind of person I am. Of course you didn't need to say anything! Hahaha!
"I hereby declare the Bloodstained Dawn Pirates officially formed!"
"Seconded!" Perona cheered.
"Fine, I'll allow it," Moria shrugged, though his shadow couldn't help but give a big thumbs-up.
Perona floated in front of Ritter and fluttered her eyelashes. "Can I paint the crow's nest pink?"
"Of course you can."
"Long live the captain!"
That night, a naming celebration was held on the deck of the Blumarine Jackson. Everyone drank merrily except Perona, who pouted the whole time because Ritter and Moria wouldn't let her drink alcohol. Furious, she guzzled juice instead.
Ritter raised his glass high and shouted,
"Listen up, all of you! From this day forth—"
"The Bloodstained Dawn Pirates!" the crew roared in unison.
"Will carve our name—"
"Into the gates of the new era!"
Ritter looked at them all and laughed heartily.
Even after being part of the most legendary pirate crew, starting a crew of his own still felt so exhilarating.
He tilted his head back, gazing up at the sky, using the motion to mask the stabbing pain in his chest.
This feeling… it's incredible. Roger, if you could see this ship now, I bet you'd be proud.
I know we'll meet again soon.
The day of Roger's execution, Loguetown's harbor was packed with pirates, Marines, reporters, and curious civilians from all over the world.
Tension and anticipation crackled in the air it felt like the entire world was waiting for the end of an era… or perhaps, the birth of a new one.
Shanks had pulled the brim of his straw hat low. Beneath his fiery red hair, his eyes gleamed like blades. He stood on a rooftop at the edge of the crowd, with Buggy restlessly pacing beside him.
"Hey, Shanks! Where the hell is Ritter?! If we don't find him now, the execution's gonna start!" Buggy stomped in frustration.
Shanks didn't respond. He just stared out toward the sea, a quiet certainty in his gaze.
Then, the corner of his mouth lifted.
"He's here."
Far out on the horizon, a streak of crimson light tore across the waves, followed by a deafening engine roar.
"W-What is that?!" someone shrieked, pointing toward the sea.
A blood-red warship ripped through the ocean, its dragon-headed prow glowing with scarlet eyes, arcs of blood-colored lightning crackling along its hull like a beast roaring up from hell itself.
"The Oro Jackson… what a ship…" Shanks muttered, glimpsing the faint silhouette of the legendary vessel. He knew the Captain had entrusted it to Ritter and in his eyes, pride and longing flashed.
Roger sat inside a sea prism stone cell, guarded by the Navy's future three Admirals. Despite the gravity of the moment, his expression remained calm almost amused.
He looked up slightly, past the crowd, toward the harbor.
"Full speed ahead!" Ritter shouted from the prow.
Perona, perched in her pink-decorated crow's nest, waved her teddy bear excitedly. "Lord Ritter! It's Loguetown up ahead! There are so many people!"
Moria's shadow writhed along the deck as he laughed lowly. "Heh heh heh… Quite the stage you've picked, Captain."
Ritter's Observation Haki had long since blanketed the square. He could feel every emotion in the crowd rage, sorrow, excitement, fear… and the presence of several terrifying powers hidden among them.
(So… they came too.)
—————————————————————————————————————————————————
Hooked already? Let me know what grabbed you leave a review and fuel the journey forward! and if we hit every 250 Power Stones, a bonus chapter drops!
Things are just heating up. Read ahead in Unbound Evolutionand stay ahead of the crowd.
[email protected]/_tey
Change @ to a.