Chapter 5
Thunder crashed overhead, shaking the Baratie to its bones. Waves slammed the hull, wind howling through the rigging. Inside, chaos reigned—plates clattered, people screamed, the kitchen roared with sizzling and shouts.
Silas leaned against a post, crimson hair catching the lamplight. His coffee had gone cold, but his eyes stayed on Luffy—sprawled like he owned the place, straw hat tipped just so, grinning like a fool.
Across the room, Don Krieg stood like a fortress—dented armor, cape flaring.
That red-haired bastard… I know him. The Charismatic Red Fang.
Bounty hunters called his price pathetic. They didn't know the truth. He was the kind who killed you before you saw it coming.
Krieg's gloves creaked as he clenched his fists. My crew's getting stronger. Just wait for the right moment.
Silas caught the stare and met it with ice. Pathetic. His hand twitched toward his sword… then stopped. His gaze slid back to Luffy. Show me, Straw Hat. Fool or something more?
---
BOOM! The Baratie shook again as Krieg's fed crew stirred. Luffy sprang up, hat low, grin blazing.
"Zoro! Don't help!"
Zoro froze mid-draw.
"Huh?! You idiot, why?"
"You'll kill 'em!" Luffy turned to Sanji. "Cool Cook! Fight that guy! This'll be fun!"
Zoro snorted, crossing his arms.
"Fine. Show me what you've got."
Silas blinked. He leads by trusting them? Brilliant… or insane.
Sanji lit a cigarette, cracked his knuckles.
"Time to dance." He faced Gin as someone tossed him his weapons.
CLANG! Sanji's kick met Gin's steel clubs, sparks flying. Luffy charged Krieg.
"Gum-Gum Pistol!"
His fist slammed into diamond-plated armor. Nothing.
Krieg laughed, spikes shooting from his gauntlets.
"GEHAHAHAHA! You think you're tough, Straw Hat? You'll die here!"
Luffy dodged, grin unshaken.
"SHUT UP, UGLY! I HAVEN'T MADE TWO PEOPLE MY NAKAMA YET! I'M GONNA BE PIRATE KING!"
The word—nakama—hit Silas like lightning.
---
Nakama… family.
A memory broke loose.
"Mother, where's my father?"
Her warm laugh.
"He's protecting the sun, my dear."
"Protecting the sun? Father can't fly!"
"You'll understand someday."
The scene twisted—storm, a massive sea beast, scales like black steel. His father's voice over the roar:
"Silas! Protect the sun, even if we die! Go!"
Claws. Blood. His father falling. Silas running.
---
WHAM! Luffy slammed into a wall, bounced back laughing, and blasted Krieg with a "Gum-Gum Bazooka!" Krieg staggered.
Krieg snarled, flinging spinning blades. Luffy twisted through them.
"I'M GONNA WIN, METAL GUY!"
Usopp's voice cut in:
"OI! WHERE'S NAMI?!"
Johnny and Yosaku burst in.
"Nami—she stole the ship!"
Zoro's eyes narrowed.
"That woman—"
"I REFUSE!" Luffy's voice boomed.
"NAMI IS NAMI! SHE'S OUR NAVIGATOR!"
Silas muttered, "Fool…" but his chest tightened. That faith burned like the sun.
---
Sanji and Gin clashed. Luffy dodged poison darts and cannonballs, rubber body bending like it was made for this.
"Gum-Gum Gatling!"
Fists hammered Krieg's armor until he staggered. Desperation crept into his sneer.
Krieg fired a cannonball. Luffy inflated, sent it flying back.
Silas's pulse pounded. Is this the fire I'm meant to follow?
His father's voice echoed: "Protect the sun, even if we die!"
The tattoos on his arms burned. The sun… Luffy… it all clicked.
---
"Gum-Gum Battle Axe!"
Luffy's foot came down like a hammer. CRASH! Krieg smashed through the deck. Silence.
Silas rose.
"You really are a fool, Straw Hat… but thank you."
He looked at Luffy's back—sweaty, battered, unbroken. That straw hat glowed like a tiny sun.
I want to protect the sun.
The truth hit hard. This was why he couldn't leave. Why his mother spoke of the Warrior. Why his father died. It was in his blood.
---
The Baratie erupted in cheers. Krieg's crew groaned. Luffy grinned like he'd just had the best day of his life.
Silas stepped forward, boots echoing.
"Strawhat."
The room stilled.
"I'm Daytime Silas. You want to be Pirate King? Then you need a loyal fang."
Luffy's grin lit the room.
"YOU'RE JOINING?!"
Silas's mouth twitched into a rare smile.
"That's right. This Red Fang is your blade and gun."
His hand gripped his sabre; the tattoos glowed. Father… Mother… I'll protect the sun.
"YESSS! A NEW NAKAMA!" Luffy roared, leaping onto a table.
The crew reacted in their own ways—Usopp panicking, Zoro smirking, Sanji muttering about lunatics, Zeff grunting approval.
Outside, the storm raged. Inside, Luffy's laughter rang like a bell strong enough to chase away any darkness.
Silas watched his back.
This is my promise—sword and gun for the sun. I'll follow this impossible fool to the ends of the world.
And the flame inside him would never go out.