The sun hung lazily in the sky as Luffy and his crew made their way back to the Going Merry, the gentle waves lapping at the shore. Xpovac followed close behind, his team of powerful Pokémon walking alongside him. Luffy was brimming with excitement, eager to share all the details of his adventures so far.
"So, Xpovac!" Luffy exclaimed, practically bouncing with each step. "You wouldn't believe the stuff we've been through!"
Zoro, Nami, Usopp, and Sanji walked just behind him, each lost in their own thoughts but listening to the conversation nonetheless. Xpovac had his hands in his pockets, glancing over at Luffy with a faint smile.
"Well, go on," Xpovac said, amused by Luffy's enthusiasm. "Tell me all about it."
Luffy launched into a detailed recount of their journey from the moment he set sail. He explained how he had met each of his crew members—starting with Zoro, whom he found tied up and left to die by the Marines. He went on to explain how Nami had been part of a pirate crew before freeing her from Arlong's grip, Usopp's bravery despite his tendency to run away, and Sanji's incredible cooking and fighting skills.
Zoro, always calm and cool, simply grunted in acknowledgment as Luffy spoke about him, arms crossed over his chest.
"And you know what? Zoro fought the World's Strongest Swordsman!" Luffy said with wide eyes, as if even now, he couldn't believe what had happened. "His name's Dracule Mihawk!"
Xpovac's brow lifted at that. "The World's Strongest Swordsman, huh?" He glanced over at Zoro, who remained silent, though the mention of Mihawk's name caused his jaw to tighten ever so slightly. "Impressive. How'd that go, Zoro?"
Zoro's grip on his swords tightened as he stared straight ahead. "I lost," he said bluntly, no trace of shame in his voice—only determination. "But I'll fight him again, and I'll win next time."
A grin spread across Xpovac's face. "You've got guts, I'll give you that. Mihawk, you said? Which way did he go after your fight?"
Zoro glanced at Xpovac, intrigued by his interest. "He sailed off. Didn't say much about where he was headed. But I'll find him again."
Xpovac nodded, mentally filing away the information. The World's Strongest Swordsman—someone who could push Zoro, and likely an opponent worth watching, if not facing himself. "Mihawk, huh? Sounds like someone I'd want to meet, too. Maybe we'll cross paths one day."
Luffy nodded enthusiastically. "Yeah, he was crazy strong! But I know Zoro's gonna beat him eventually!"
Zoro's lips curved into a small smirk. "Of course I will. That's a promise."
As they approached the Merry, Xpovac's Pokémon dispersed slightly, curious about the ship and its small size in comparison to their power. Lugia and Articuno remained at a distance, watching the scene unfold from the air while Mew floated lazily above Xpovac's head, clearly entertained by the conversation.
Nami, who had been listening quietly, finally spoke up. "So, Xpovac... where are you headed next? Are you staying with us for a while, or are you off to continue your own journey?"
Xpovac shrugged. "I'm not sure yet. I wanted to check in on Luffy, see how he's been doing. And now that I've seen that, maybe I'll hang around for a little bit longer."
"You're always welcome on the Merry!" Luffy said with a grin, stretching his arms out as if to pull Xpovac toward the ship.
Usopp chimed in, still somewhat nervous around Xpovac's imposing presence and powerful Pokémon. "Y-Yeah, with you and your team around, no pirate crew would dare mess with us!"
Sanji lit a cigarette, blowing out a puff of smoke as he glanced over at Xpovac. "Having someone like you around could be interesting. Especially if you're as strong as Luffy says."
Xpovac chuckled at their comments but remained non-committal. "lelellelelelele. We'll see. But for now, let's just relax and enjoy the ride."