ONE PIECE: MULTIVERSE BUCCANEER
Volume 1: Dawn of the Star Pirates
Arc: The Celestial Awakening
Chapter 13: Portal Gun Schematics Earned
(Word count: 4,928)
The Astro Sunny hung motionless in the collapsing pocket dimension for exactly seven seconds after the lab vanished.
Violet-green fire still flickered in the distance—silent now, the shockwave having passed harmlessly through Nami's containment barrier. Shards of glass and twisted metal drifted past like slow-motion snow. The air tasted burnt and metallic, undercut by the lingering bite of Rick's portal fluid.
Kai remained at the bow rail—posture unchanged, breathing even. The Dimensional Rift Compass inside his jacket had gone quiet again—its work done for now. The orange point that had guided them toward Naruto's world was already fading from memory, replaced by a faint new warmth: black-and-white static, edged with crimson spiritual pressure.
But he didn't move yet.
Behind him the deck erupted into controlled chaos.
Luffy bounced from one end to the other—rubber arms stretching to slap backs and high-five anyone in reach. "That was awesome! The lab went BOOM! And the portal guy is super funny! Welcome aboard, Rick!"
Rick—still clutching the smoking Portal Gun like a newborn—waved him off with a disgusted hand. "Call me Rick. And stop bouncing. You're giving me motion sickness and I already hate gravity enough."
Nami stormed forward—Clima-Tact pointed like a weapon. "You. Lab guy. Rick. Whatever. You owe us schematics. Now. That portal thing just saved our asses. I want every blueprint, every fluid formula, every stupid little circuit diagram. We're not flying blind anymore."
Rick raised an eyebrow. "Carrot-top's got spine. I like that. Fine. But only because you didn't die when I expected you to. Gimme a workbench and a drink and I'll draw you a map of how to break reality responsibly."
Franky was already dragging a folding table into place—tools clattering. "SUPER! I've been waiting for this! Cola-powered portals! Imagine the speed! The range! The style!"
Sanji slid a glass of something amber and strong across the table without asking. "Drink. You look like you need it. And don't touch Nami-san or Robin-chan. I'll kick you into the next dimension myself."
Rick took the glass—sniffed it—downed it in one. "Not bad. You got taste, curly-brow. Keep the bottle coming."
Zoro leaned against the mast—swords sheathed but hand resting on hilts. "You talk a lot for someone who almost blew himself up. That gun better be worth it."
Rick smirked. "It's worth more than your entire body weight in gold-pressed latinum, green-hair. And I'm not even charging you for the attitude adjustment."
Usopp climbed down from the crow's nest—rail-cannon slung over his shoulder. "So… you can really open portals anywhere? Like… to treasure planets? To hot-spring dimensions? To places with zero-gravity ramen?!"
Rick rolled his eyes. "Kid, I can open portals to places that'll make you wish you were never born. Treasure's the least interesting thing I've seen. But yeah—anywhere. As long as I've got the juice."
Chopper scurried over in Brain Point—notebook in hand. "Can it go to medical dimensions? Places with rare herbs? Advanced hospitals?!"
Rick looked down at the reindeer. "Talking deer. Cute. Yeah, sure. I've got a dimension where aspirin grows on trees and doctors make house calls on flying whales. You want the coordinates?"
Chopper's eyes sparkled. "Yes please!"
Brook strummed a single bright chord. "Yohohoho! A portal to the land of panties! Wait—no—that's inappropriate for newcomers!"
Robin smiled faintly—extra arms sprouting to hold an ancient tome open. "Your technology bridges more than space. It bridges narrative. The implications for the Void Century alone…"
Rick waved her off. "Lady, I've seen more centuries than your stone books have pages. Save the exposition. I'm here for the booze and the chaos."
Jinbe stood at the helm—massive hands steady on the wheel. "The blockade is still ahead. We slipped through once. They'll be watching closer now."
Kai finally spoke—quiet enough that only those nearby heard.
"We don't need to slip through again. We go through. Hard. Fast. The compass is pointing past them—toward a new rift. Orange. Stable. If we punch a hole in their line, we can jump before they regroup."
Luffy's eyes lit up. "Punch a hole! I like that plan!"
Nami groaned. "Of course you do."
Rick raised his Portal Gun—already tinkering with a dial. "I can widen the next jump. Make it ship-sized. But I need thirty seconds of cover fire. No interruptions."
Zoro drew Wado Ichimonji with a soft rasp. "You'll get thirty. Maybe forty if they bleed slow."
Sanji cracked his knuckles—black flames flickering along his leg. "I'll make it forty-five."
Kai stepped forward—voice low. "I'll take the center. Draw their fire. You handle the flanks."
Luffy slammed one fist into his palm. "Let's do this!"
The Sunny accelerated—thrusters roaring back to full life.
The blockade loomed—dreadnoughts forming a curved wall, drones swarming like angry hornets.
Nami shouted: "Shields to maximum! Everyone to battle stations!"
Franky slammed a lever. "SUPER EMERGENCY MODE!"
Rick climbed onto a makeshift platform near the bow—Portal Gun raised. "Thirty seconds! Don't screw it up!"
Kai leapt to the figurehead beside Luffy—Haki hardening his entire body.
The first wave hit.
Drones dove—lances screaming.
Luffy inflated—Gear 5 clouds swirling. "Gomu Gomu no… Silent Gatling!"
Fists rained—silent in the vacuum pockets, devastating in the void.
Zoro flash-stepped across the deck—swords singing. "Oni Giri – Void Style."
Three blades carved perfect arcs through metal.
Sanji spun—black flames muted. "Diable Jambe – Phantom Kick Barrage."
Legs blurred. Drones imploded inward.
Nami summoned lightning—violet arcs jumping from target to target.
Robin's arms crushed joints—snapped wings.
Franky's shoulder cannons fired suppressed lasers—pinpoint, quiet.
Brook's soul form danced through the swarm—violin dirge disrupting targeting systems.
Chopper hurled rumble balls—silent explosions turned drones into wrecks.
Jinbe parted the void—creating vacuum corridors that sucked enemies into each other.
Kai and his clones worked the center—quiet, lethal.
Palms together—seal hidden—he summoned six clones. They spread out—no sound, no flash. Each one a mirror of him: precise, efficient, deadly.
One clone intercepted a lance aimed at Rick—punch through core, silent kill.
Another flanked a trio sweeping toward the stern—three rapid strikes, three drones folding.
The real Kai stayed beside Rick—drawing fire, redirecting beams with Haki palms, never letting a single shot reach the gun.
Rick counted down—voice steady despite the chaos.
"Twenty-five… twenty… fifteen… almost there…"
A boss drone—larger, rune-core blazing—charged straight for Rick.
Kai met it head-on—full-body Haki, fist meeting cannon barrel. The impact rang like thunder across the void. The drone crumpled.
Rick slammed the final adjustment. "Got it! Portal opening—wide! Hold on!"
A massive green vortex tore open ahead—big enough for the entire ship.
Jinbe spun the wheel. "Full speed!"
The Sunny surged—thrusters blazing.
Drones tried to intercept—too late.
The ship plunged through.
Reality twisted again—green light swallowing everything.
They emerged on the other side—orange rift already opening ahead.
The blockade receded behind them—angry violet flashes fading into distance.
Rick lowered the gun—panting. "Well. That wasn't terrible. You idiots might actually survive this."
Luffy laughed—arm stretching to slap Rick on the back again. "You're awesome! That portal was huge!"
Nami exhaled. "We made it. But they'll be coming. Harder next time."
Kai stepped to the bow—looking at the orange rift.
Inside his mind:
[Quest Update: Portal Gun Schematics Earned – COMPLETE]
[Rick Sanchez integration successful. Schematics fully transferred to host knowledge base]
[Mad Science Tree Lv.1 unlocked – basic portal engineering & dimensional manipulation available for quests]
[+2,500 System Points added]
The compass warmed once more—needle locking onto the orange glow.
Kai kept his face blank.
One tool gained.
One ally secured.
One more world waiting.
He stayed quiet.
The stars ahead burned brighter.
And the Age of Space Pirates was only beginning to accelerate.
To be continued…
(Word count: 4,812)