Chereads / One Piece: Duel of the Grand Seas / Chapter 14 - The Calm Before the Storm

Chapter 14 - The Calm Before the Storm

Xpovac stood in the clearing of the island's dense forest, surveying the area as his Pokémon wandered nearby. After their intense training and sparring sessions, he decided it was time to build something more permanent—a place they could come back to, a little home away from home. His Pokémon deserved a comfortable place to rest, and the system had plenty of options to help with that.

"Alright, team," Xpovac called out, gathering his Pokémon around him. "Let's build ourselves a nice hut. Something cozy where we can relax whenever we need a break."

Lucario, Swampert, Tyranitar, and Articuno gathered together, ready for the task at hand. Mew floated beside Xpovac, already eager to help in its own mischievous way.

They got to work quickly, clearing the area of trees and brush with Swampert and Tyranitar using their raw strength to uproot trees and shift heavy rocks. Lucario used his precision and speed to break down any large obstacles, while Mew levitated materials into place with telekinetic ease. Articuno, ever graceful, used its icy abilities to cool down the air whenever things got too hot, ensuring a pleasant working environment for the team.

The construction of the hut itself went smoothly. Using some sturdy logs from the nearby forest, Xpovac and his Pokémon built a simple yet solid structure. The hut was spacious enough to house all his companions and included a few rooms for Xpovac to store his gear and treasures. The roof was tightly packed with thick leaves and vines to make it waterproof, and a small stone path led to the door.

It took a few hours at most with everyone helping, and by the end of it, the sun was setting, casting a golden glow over the newly built hut.

Once the hut was complete, Xpovac opened the system interface and browsed through the available decorations. He bought various items to make the hut more comfortable and homely: cushions for the floor, a hammock, and even some wall art to give it a welcoming atmosphere. He also purchased a few shelves to display treasures and items he had gathered on his adventures.

After everything was set up, Xpovac turned to Mew, who was playfully hovering above him. "Mew, can you remember this place for me? Just in case we ever need to teleport back here."

Mew nodded cheerfully and gave a small salute before its eyes glowed for a brief moment. The location was now imprinted in its mind, ready to be recalled whenever they needed it.

"Thanks, Mew," Xpovac said with a smile. He looked around the hut, feeling a sense of satisfaction. It wasn't much, but it was theirs—a sanctuary for whenever they wanted to return.

---

System Notification: Luffy and his crew have reached Arlong Park.

Xpovac's head turned at the sound of the system dinging. He grinned, knowing that a major battle was about to take place. Luffy had finally reached Arlong Park, a pivotal moment in his journey. It was time to go.

"Looks like it's time to move, team," Xpovac said, standing up and stretching his limbs. "Luffy's about to take on Arlong. Let's go see how much he's grown."

The Pokémon gathered around him, and Xpovac quickly packed up the essentials. They boarded the boat he had purchased from the system, and as they set sail, he called upon Lugia to help speed up the journey.

"Lugia, mind giving us a push?" Xpovac asked.

Lugia nodded and flapped its massive wings, generating a gust of wind that propelled the boat forward at incredible speed. The boat sliced through the water like an arrow, cutting the travel time in half as they raced toward Arlong Park.

---

Arrival at Arlong Park

As they neared Arlong Park, the sounds of battle could already be heard from the shore. Xpovac knew that Luffy was likely already deep in his fight with Arlong, but he had arrived just in time.

"Articuno," Xpovac said with a grin, "let's make a cold entrance, shall we? Send a nice breeze toward them."

Articuno soared into the air, its wings glowing faintly as it summoned a chilling breeze. The cold wind swept across Arlong Park, sending a shiver through everyone on the battlefield. Luffy and his crew, as well as Arlong and his men, paused and looked in the direction the breeze came from.

Luffy's eyes widened with excitement as he spotted Xpovac and his Pokémon standing on the outskirts of the park. "It's Xpovac!" he shouted, momentarily distracted from his fight. But his attention quickly snapped back to Arlong as the Fishman snarled in annoyance.

Arlong sneered at Xpovac, looking him up and down before scoffing. "What's this? Another weakling here to challenge me? You're not worth my time."

Before Xpovac could respond, Tyranitar let out an earth-shaking roar, clearly displeased with Arlong's insult. The ground trembled beneath them, and some of Arlong's men looked ready to flee in terror.

"Easy, Tyranitar," Xpovac said calmly, placing a hand on the Pokémon's side. "He's not worth it. Let Luffy handle him."

Tyranitar grumbled but obeyed, stepping back while keeping a watchful eye on Arlong.

"Focus on your fight, Arlong," Xpovac called out lazily, leaning against a tree. "Luffy's more than enough to take care of you."

The battle resumed, following the same path as in the anime. Luffy, with a fierce determination in his eyes, fought Arlong with everything he had. Blow after blow, he chipped away at the Fishman's strength, his willpower and desire to protect his friends pushing him forward. In the end, Luffy delivered the final strike, smashing through Arlong's tower and defeating him.

---

After the Fight

With the battle over, Luffy ran toward Xpovac, a wide grin on his face. He was exhausted, covered in cuts and bruises, but his excitement overshadowed everything else.

"Xpovac!" Luffy shouted, running up to him. "You saw that, right? I beat him! I beat Arlong!"

Xpovac chuckled, crossing his arms. "I saw. You did good, Luffy. You've gotten a lot stronger."

Luffy beamed proudly before turning to introduce his crew. "Oh, and these are my friends! This is Zoro, Nami, Usopp, and Sanji!"

Each of Luffy's crewmates nodded in greeting, still somewhat in awe of the sight before them. Xpovac, along with his large and powerful Pokémon, made an imposing figure.

Xpovac gave a nod of acknowledgment. "Nice to meet you all. I'm Xpovac, Luffy's older brother." He gestured to his Pokémon. "And this is my team—Lucario, Swampert, Tyranitar, Mew, Articuno, and Lugia."

The crew exchanged glances, clearly impressed. They had just witnessed Luffy's strength firsthand, but seeing Xpovac and his Pokémon was something else entirely.

"We'll catch up later," Xpovac said to Luffy with a smile. "For now, enjoy your victory. You've earned it."

Luffy nodded excitedly, ready to celebrate with his friends. Xpovac watched as the crew gathered together, a sense of pride swelling in his chest. His brother was truly on his way to becoming something great, and Xpovac was glad to be there to witness it.