This was actually the first time the full crew of Rhett's pirate crew had met Rouge. Everyone knew that the captain had a beloved older sister, but this was their first time seeing her in person.
In the middle of this warm atmosphere, Rhett cleared his throat.
"Well, since everyone's here, let me officially introduce the members of the Blood Dawn Pirates."
He pointed at himself. "Captain, 'Mist Lord' Rhett~"
Moria emerged from his shadow. "Combatant, 'Shadow Asura' Moria Kishishishi"
Enel floated cross-legged in the air, looking arrogant. "Sniper, 'Thunder God' Enel."
Lena bowed gracefully. "Navigator, 'Storm Eye' Lena."
Tesoro appeared with a golden glow. "Vice Captain, 'Golden Emperor' Tesoro."
Laboon let out a happy cry. "Woo~"
"And this is our partner, Laboon," Rhett added with a smile. "Our healer, Stella, and..."
His gaze fell on little Rati in Stella's arms. "Our youngest non-crew member, Rati."
As if sensing something, little Rati smiled sweetly in her sleep.
Rouge sighed. "What a warm family."
Roger put his arm around his wife's shoulder. "Kuhahaha! We need to have a huge banquet tonight!"
Ace raised his hand in a cheer. "Yes!"
Sabo pushed up his glasses. "I'll help prepare the ingredients."
Ann silently held up her writing board: [I can handle the grilling.]
And so, under the last rays of the setting sun, the members of the Roger Pirates and the Blood Dawn Pirates gathered together happily. The sea breeze blew gently, carrying the sound of waves in the distance, as if celebrating this rare reunion.
Rhett watched the lively scene. The corners of his mouth curled up without him realizing it. He raised his cup.
"To family. Cheers!"
"Cheers!" Everyone's cheers echoed across the coast of Shimotsuki Village.
......
The next morning, on the training grounds of the dojo, four children were arguing fiercely.
"I'm the one who admires Uncle Rhett the most!" Hizumi had her hands on her hips. Two short swords were tucked into her belt. "I practice the swordsmanship Uncle taught me every single day! I'm planning to combine my father's techniques with Uncle Rhett's."
"No way!" Ace waved his longsword defiantly. "I've even learned Uncle's 'Mist God Style'!"
Sabo pushed up his glasses and countered calmly. "In terms of precision, my style is the closest to Uncle's."
Hiyori smiled gently, but her eyes were firm. "But... Uncle said I have a lot of talent for dual swords."
The argument grew more heated. Finally, they drew their swords.
"Then let the swords do the talking!" Ace grinned. "Whoever wins is the one who admires Uncle the most!"
"Fine by me!" Hizumi drew both her swords.
Sabo sighed but still got into a fighting stance. "How childish... But I'll play along."
Hiyori quietly gripped her twin swords. "Please take care of me..."
"Dual Swords: Butterfly Dance!"
Hizumi's small body spun like a tornado. Her two short swords traced perfect arcs. Ace retreated hastily. His longsword blocked the first strike with a clang, but the second strike cut through his clothes.
"Damn it!" Ace's eyes burned with a refusal to lose. "Dual Blader: Phantom Strike!"
His longsword suddenly became unpredictable. He charged at Hizumi at incredible speed. His flintlock was slung behind his back. Guns were too hard to hold back.
On the other side, Sabo's thin sword stabbed precisely into the gaps in Hiyori's sword paths.
"Your rhythm is too predictable." He pushed up his glasses. "Uncle said the most important thing for dual swords is—"
"Change." Hiyori suddenly changed her technique. Her left sword pressed down while her right sword lifted up, breaking through Sabo's attack. "Uncle just taught me this last week!"
Their fight grew more and more intense. Sparks from the wooden swords flashed in the morning light.
Hizumi spun around and swung both swords at Ace's sides.
"Dual Swords: Double Swallow Return!"
Ace's pupils contracted. He raised his longsword horizontally to block. He never underestimated the sisters. He grinned.
"Not bad! But Uncle taught me more than this!"
Before the words faded, his sword style suddenly changed. His already aggressive style became even more aggressive.
"Dual Blader: Hazy Moon!"
Hizumi was caught off guard and almost hit in the shoulder by the sword. As she retreated quickly, Sabo suddenly appeared where she was about to land. Sabo's thin sword stabbed at the opening she had left exposed!
The one-on-one fight had turned into a two-on-two.
"Too naive, Miss Hizumi. Sorry about this." Sabo's glasses glinted. "Uncle said you need to always be aware of your surroundings in a fight."
"CLANG!"
Hiyori's sword blocked Sabo's blade just in time. Her voice was soft but firm. "Sabo, your opponent is me."
Her twin swords suddenly crossed and slashed at Sabo's thin sword. The children knew this was only a spar, so they aimed at each other's weapons. Even the openings Sabo found were meant to knock their swords away.
"Dual Swords: Cross Cut!"
Sabo was forced to pull his sword back. Hiyori!
"Damn it..." Ace tried to support her, but Hizumi's twin swords were already in front of him again.
"Your opponent is me!" Hizumi's eyes burned with fighting spirit. "We're going to settle this today!"
The fight grew more and more intense. Their techniques evolved from basic swordsmanship to named techniques, and then to attacks coated in Armament Haki.
"Dual Swords: Flying Swallow!"
"Dual Swords: Flower Blizzard!"
"Dual Blader: Mist Slash!"
"Thin Sword: Bee Sting!"
The ground of the dojo was cracked from their footwork. The watching students were already stunned.
"Fourth Sister Kuina, shouldn't we stop them? If Master finds out..." The students looked at the four children fighting fiercely, their faces full of concern.
Kuina shook her head. "It's fine. It hasn't gotten out of control yet."
Just as the four were about to use their full power—
"Enough."
"An-Shin Style: Annihilation."
A calm voice suddenly rang out. Ann was somehow standing in the middle of the four. Her heavy sword blocked all four attacks with a crash. Hizumi's twin swords, Ace's longsword, Sabo's thin sword — all were caught by that massive blade.
"Ann?!" Ace's eyes went wide.
Ann held the heavy sword with one hand. The sword was almost as tall as she was. She didn't move.
"An-Shin Style: Tide."
"THUD! THUD! THUD! THUD!"
The four stared in shock at the usually silent Ann.
Ann slowly looked up. Her calm gaze swept over everyone.
"...Childish."
Her heavy sword suddenly shook. A burst of powerful Haki exploded like a wave.
"BOOM—!"
The four were all thrown back, landing on the ground in a heap.
In terms of raw strength and the quality of her Conqueror's Haki, Ann was far ahead of the others. Physical foundation was the root of everything. It wasn't like those disposable eyeballs in other stories.