The wind was cool and crisp, and the group settled comfortably on Yuji's broad back, enjoying the view as they soared above the endless ocean. The sun cast a warm glow over the waves, and Ulti, with her usual enthusiasm, leaned forward, practically beaming with excitement. Her eyes darted around, taking in the vast expanse of ocean beneath them and the skies that stretched endlessly.
Page One, though more reserved, had a subtle look of wonder as he gazed down. Yuji, observing his young companions through one of his dragon heads, allowed himself a small smile. Turning one of his heads to face them, he spoke in a deep, resonant voice that caught their attention.
"Listen up," he said, his tone carrying a hint of seriousness. "To make sure we remain undetected, I'm going to cover us in a massive storm. No one will see us, and to anyone watching from a distance, we'll look like nothing more than a large, chaotic typhoon."
Ulti's eyes widened, and she looked back at Yuji with her usual enthusiasm. "Whoa! You can do that? You can really make a whole storm around us?"
Yuji nodded, a smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth. "This isn't just any storm, Ulti. This storm is like a veil, a wall of chaos that keeps us hidden. No one will be able to see what's inside."
Page One glanced at Ulti, his expression still calm but his curiosity piqued. "That sounds…dangerous," he murmured, though a small part of him was thrilled at the idea.
"Exactly," Yuji replied. "When we're inside the storm, no one can follow us or track our location. But you need to brace yourselves. It might get rough."
Hancock, who had been quietly listening, couldn't help but glance at Yuji with a newfound respect. The thought of a man capable of conjuring storms strong enough to deter fleets was both awe inspiring and unsettling. Her gaze shifted between him and the brewing skies, her thoughts racing.
"This power… you can summon something that could take thousands of lives," Hancock remarked softly, her voice carrying a hint of admiration and a touch of fear. "It's almost like you wield the wrath of nature itself."
Yuji's other two heads faced forward, focusing on the task ahead, but his third head remained looking back at them, his eyes narrowing slightly.
Slowly, dark clouds began to gather above them, swirling and twisting as if called into existence by Yuji's very presence. The sky started to darken, blotting out the sun's rays as an ominous shadow settled over the ocean. The temperature dropped, and a chill breeze began to pick up, making Ulti and Page One shiver.
Yellow lightning crackled in the distance, roaring like the growl of a beast awakening from a deep slumber. Bolts of lightning snaked through the clouds, and thunder rumbled, each roar growing louder than the last. The storm seemed to feed off Yuji's power, intensifying with each passing moment.
Ulti clutched the fabric of Page One's sleeve, her excitement blending with a hint of nervousness. "Pagey, this is so cool! We're inside a storm! Yuji's storm!"
Page One managed a small smile, keeping his usual composure but clearly impressed by the spectacle. "Yeah, it is… but hold on tight, Ulti. This is going to be intense."
From their position, Hancock watched as tornadoes began to form, spiraling up from the ocean's surface and joining the storm that cloaked them. The sea churned below, waves crashing into one another with a relentless fury. Hancock felt a twinge of admiration, mixed with a touch of humility, as she realized the sheer magnitude of Yuji's power.
"This... this could swallow fleets whole," she murmured to herself, watching in awe.
As the storm continued to intensify around them, Yuji turned his gaze forward, concentrating on controlling the chaos he had summoned. It took all of his focus to keep the storm just powerful enough to shield them without losing control.
---
(On a Pirate Ship Nearby)
A fair distance away, a small pirate crew was sailing peacefully, completely oblivious to the looming danger. The crew laughed and drank as they went about their day, their destination still far off.
One of the lookouts on the ship's mast suddenly froze, his eyes widening as he spotted something in the distance. "Captain!" he yelled, his voice trembling with fear. "There's… there's a storm heading our way! A huge one!"
The captain looked up, his face twisting into an annoyed scowl. "A storm? Out here? Must be a small one. We can sail through it," he scoffed, waving off the warning.
But as he turned his gaze toward the horizon, his confidence wavered. Towering clouds stretched as far as the eye could see, churning and spiraling with an intensity that defied reason. Yellow lightning streaked across the sky, and thunder crashed so loudly that it shook their ship. The water began to turn turbulent, waves rising higher and higher.
The pirates stared in horror as the storm moved toward them with relentless speed, swallowing the sea around it.
"This isn't normal!" one of the crewmates yelled. "This… this is a devil's storm!"
The captain gripped the railing, his knuckles white. "Brace yourselves!" he commanded. "Turn the ship around! We're not getting swallowed by that!"
The crew scrambled to comply, but the sea was no longer theirs to control. Giant waves crashed over the ship's deck, and the wind howled, knocking the men off their feet. One by one, the pirates realized the futility of their efforts as they were slowly drawn into the typhoon.
---
(Back with Yuji and the Group)
Inside the heart of the storm, Yuji's wings flapped rhythmically, creating whirlwinds that spun around them.Ulti leaned over, looking down in awe as the waves smashed into each other, whipped by the winds.
"Yuji," she yelled, barely audible over the roar of the storm, "You're like a walking disaster!"
Yuji couldn't help but chuckle. "I suppose I am. But remember, Ulti, this power is also a shield. No one can reach us in here."
Page One, clutching his sister's arm to keep her steady, chimed in, his voice steady but laced with awe. "You're basically invincible up here… untouchable."
Hancock, holding her own with remarkable grace despite the violent winds, gave Yuji a slight nod. As Yuji continued to concentrate on maintaining the storm, his face took on a calm, contemplative expression.
---
Back on the pirate ship, the men clung desperately to the rails, ropes, and each other, praying for survival as the storm swallowed them whole. Lightning crashed around them, hitting the mast and setting parts of the ship ablaze. The captain, drenched and defeated, looked around in despair.
"Curse that storm!" he shouted into the void. "It's like it has a life of its own!"
But his cries were lost in the roar of the storm as the ship was lifted and tossed, the waves and wind showing no mercy.
---
(Inside the Eye of the Storm)
Hancock, Ulti, and Page One marveled at how calm it was within the eye of Yuji's storm, protected from the chaos raging around them. The sky above was eerily clear, a stark contrast to the havoc outside.
Yuji, still focused on keeping the storm steady, looked back and smiled faintly. "This is the Tempest Veil," he said, pride in his voice. "It's my way of keeping us safe and hidden."
Ulti grinned, leaning close to Page One. "See, Pagey? Yuji can literally make storms to keep us safe. He's amazing!"
Page One only nodded, his admiration clear even though he tried to hide it. Hancock, watching the two siblings, smiled softly, her gaze shifting back to Yuji.