The mighty waters of Reverse Mountain roared beneath the ship as Xpovac and his Pokémon crew stood on deck, ready to face one of the greatest challenges for those entering the Grand Line. Lugia, ever-watchful, soared above the ship, its massive wings creating gusts of wind that cut through the turbulent currents. Mew floated beside Xpovac, its usual playful demeanor calm as it sensed the excitement in the air.
"Everyone ready?" Xpovac called to his team, gripping the edge of the ship as they approached the summit of Reverse Mountain.
His Pokémon responded with determined nods. Tyranitar growled low, Lucario's aura flared brightly, and Articuno hovered close, its icy feathers catching the rising sunlight. Xpovac grinned. This was the start of their adventure into the Grand Line.
With a sudden surge, the ship crested the peak of the mountain and descended rapidly into the waters of the Grand Line. The sea shimmered below them, and in the distance, Xpovac spotted the lighthouse where Crocus, the old man who watched over Laboon, resided.
As they docked near the lighthouse, Xpovac stepped off the ship with his Pokémon, his gaze fixed on the elderly man standing at the entrance.
"You're Crocus, right?" Xpovac asked, approaching him.
Crocus glanced at Xpovac, his eyes filled with curiosity. "And who might you be?"
"Xpovac," he said, extending a hand. "Friend of Shanks. I've heard about you from him."
The mention of Shanks made Crocus raise an eyebrow, and he shook Xpovac's hand firmly. "Ah, Shanks. Good man. What brings you here, then? Not many people who know Shanks pass through here."
"I'm here to talk about a pirate," Xpovac said, his voice filled with purpose. "Someone who will change the world. A pirate who's already begun making waves."
"You're talking about Luffy, aren't you?" Crocus replied, his interest growing.
Xpovac nodded. "He's my little brother. Give or take two years, and he'll flip this world upside down. He'll become the King of the Pirates."
Crocus chuckled at the bold statement. "Shanks thought the same about him. You've got a lot of faith in him."
"I do," Xpovac said confidently. "Luffy's going to do great things."
After exchanging a few more words about Shanks and Luffy, Xpovac's attention turned to the massive whale in the distance—Laboon, crashing against the side of Reverse Mountain.
"Laboon, huh?" Xpovac mused aloud.
"Don't worry about him," Crocus said, waving a hand. "He's harmless—just looking for someone."
"I know," Xpovac said, turning to Lugia. "Lugia, take us into the air."
Without hesitation, Lugia flapped its massive wings and lifted the ship off the water, allowing it to float gracefully in the sky. Xpovac smirked as they rose above Laboon, the whale harmlessly crashing into the water below.
With the ship safely in the air, Xpovac opened the system. "System, buy me a modified log pose that can lead us to a specific island."
The system beeped and quickly completed the request. The modified log pose appeared in Xpovac's hand, its needle pointing towards their next destination. Xpovac smiled as he inputted "Alabasta."
"Looks like we're headed toward Alabasta," Xpovac said to his Pokémon. "But we're not going straight there. Let's find a little island nearby and train for a bit. Luffy will catch up soon enough."
---
A Small Island Near Alabasta
After a day or two of sailing, the ship finally reached a small, uninhabited island just a short distance away from Alabasta. The island was peaceful, with a sandy beach and dense forests that provided plenty of cover. Xpovac and his Pokémon quickly set to work.
"Alright, team, let's set up camp!" Xpovac shouted, and his Pokémon wasted no time.
Tyranitar used its strength to clear a large portion of the forest, while Articuno froze the wood into perfect logs for building. Lucario worked quickly to move the materials, and Mew floated around, providing assistance wherever needed. In just a few hours, a comfortable hut stood in the center of the island.
Xpovac stood back, admiring the work. "Nice job, everyone."
Just as he was about to relax, a large News Coo bird swooped down, dropping off a bundle of newspapers. Xpovac picked one up, and his eyes widened as he saw the headline.
"Unrelenting Force: Clash of the Swords!"
On the cover was a picture of him and Mihawk mid-battle, their swords locked in a fierce clash. The article detailed their fight, recounting the epic two-day duel that ended in a standstill. Below the headline, another smaller article caught his eye:
"Straw Hat Luffy's Bounty: 30 Million Berries!"
Xpovac grinned widely, excitement coursing through him. "Looks like the world knows about us now," he said to himself.
He called his Pokémon over, showing them the news. "Luffy's got a bounty of 30 million, and our battle with Mihawk made the headlines! The whole world knows our names now."
His Pokémon cheered in their own way. Tyranitar roared with excitement, Lucario gave a nod of approval, and Mew bounced around happily.
"Now we wait," Xpovac said. "Luffy will be here soon, and when he reaches Alabasta, things are going to get interesting."
---
POV: The Straw Hat Crew
On the Going Merry, the crew gathered around a copy of the newspaper, all staring in shock at the picture of Xpovac and Mihawk.
"Your brother fought Mihawk?!" Nami gasped, her eyes wide with disbelief.
Zoro's expression remained stoic, but his eyes gleamed with admiration. "I knew he was strong, but going toe-to-toe with Mihawk? That's incredible."
Sanji whistled. "Your brother's making a name for himself, Luffy."
Luffy, sitting at the edge of the ship, grinned widely. "Of course, he is! Xpovac is strong! And I'm going to catch up to him!" He pointed at his own bounty proudly. "And look at this! I've got 30 million berries!"
The crew shared in Luffy's excitement, though the weight of the world they were now part of settled over them. The Grand Line was no joke, and their adventures had only just begun.
---
POV: Shanks' Crew
On a distant island, Shanks and his crew sat around a campfire, reading the news with growing excitement.
"30 million for Luffy already?" Shanks said with a laugh, slapping his knee. "That kid's going to go far, I tell ya."
"Not just Luffy," Benn Beckman said, holding up the paper. "Xpovac went head-to-head with Mihawk, and it ended in a draw. He's really something."
Shanks' eyes sparkled with pride. "They're both making waves. Let's throw a party for them!"
The crew cheered, raising their mugs high as they celebrated the success of the two brothers.
---
POV: Ace
On the deck of the Moby Dick, Ace stood alone, staring out at the sea as he read the newspaper. His eyes scanned the headlines with a grin on his face.
"Xpovac and Luffy," he muttered to himself. "You guys are really making waves out there."
Ace clenched his fist, excitement bubbling inside him. "I can't wait to see you both again."Before running off to show his pops the great news and brag to his family about his brothers.
---
POV: Garp
In Marineford, Garp laughed heartily as he read the newspaper. His laugh echoed through the halls, causing nearby marines to look at him in confusion.
"That brat Xpovac," Garp said between fits of laughter. "He's finally making waves in the world. Luffy's no slouch either!"
Garp wiped a tear from his eye, shaking his head. "Those boys… they're going to turn the world upside down."
---
POV: Mysterious Duo
In a distant base, two figures stood over a table, reading the same newspaper. One was a black-haired man with a red tattoo on his face, and the other was a yellow-haired boy with a top hat. A Luxray sat beside them, growling softly as it stared at the paper.
"What's gotten into you, Luxray?" the yellow-haired boy asked, confused.
Luxray barked, its eyes glowing with excitement as it pawed at the picture of Xpovac.
The black-haired man glanced at the photo. "He's your first trainer, isn't he?" he asked Luxray. The Pokémon barked again, its tail wagging.
The two boys shared a look, intrigued by the news of Xpovac.
---
POV: Xpovac
Back on the small island, Xpovac leaned against a tree as the sun set over the horizon. His ship rested peacefully on the shore, and his Pokémon had already begun building another hut.
He smiled, staring up at the sky. "The world's getting interesting."
"System," Xpovac called out. "Let me know when Luffy reaches Alabasta."
As the system acknowledged his request, Xpovac closed his eyes, ready for whatever came next.