The Black Pearl sailed smoothly across the open waters, its dark sails catching the wind as Logan stood at the helm. The ship felt alive beneath him, a perfect combination of speed and power. It had been a few days since he left Ragnarok Island, and he was eager to begin building his crew.
As he scanned the horizon, his Observation Haki flared faintly, drawing his attention to a ship in the distance. The vessel was smaller than his own but armed to the teeth with cannons. A black flag fluttered above its mast, marking it as a pirate ship.
"Looks like someone's looking for trouble," Logan muttered, a grin tugging at his lips.
The pirates spotted him and altered their course, heading straight for the Black Pearl. Logan's grin widened. This will be a good test for her.
---
The pirate ship fired its cannons, but Logan maneuvered the Black Pearl with ease, dodging the incoming barrage. Drawing close, he leaped onto the enemy deck with a single powerful jump.
The pirates, caught off guard by his audacity, rushed to attack him. Logan extended his claws with a metallic snikt, meeting them head-on.
The fight was quick and brutal. Logan's combat prowess, honed through months of training and bounty hunting, left the pirates overwhelmed. Within minutes, the deck was littered with unconscious bodies, and the few remaining crew members fled below deck, abandoning the fight.
Logan wiped his claws clean and began searching the ship for loot. It was standard pirate fare—gold, weapons, and barrels of rum—but something unusual caught his eye.
At the far end of the lower deck, a large iron cage sat in the shadows. Inside was a young woman, unconscious and bound. Logan frowned, his sharp senses picking up the faint scent of a drug.
"She's been drugged," he muttered, inspecting the cage.
The woman was beautiful, with long, flowing hair and a lithe, athletic figure that spoke of years of training. Her sword rested just outside the cage, a finely crafted weapon that immediately caught Logan's attention.
They were planning to sell her, he realized, his anger bubbling beneath the surface. These pirates weren't just thieves; they were traffickers.
He unlocked the cage and gently shook her awake.
---
Her eyes fluttered open, confusion giving way to sharp clarity as she took in her surroundings. The moment she saw Logan, her instincts kicked in.
"Stay away!" she shouted, grabbing her sword and lunging at him.
Logan barely had time to react. Her movements were precise, her strikes swift and deadly. He dodged, his claws retracting as he raised his hands in surrender.
"Hey, hey! I'm not your enemy!" he said, stepping back.
The woman didn't stop, her blade flashing as she pressed her attack. Logan admired her skill—she was a true swordswoman, her technique flawless. But he had no intention of hurting her.
After a tense exchange, Logan managed to disarm her, pinning her sword to the ground with his claws.
"Will you listen to me now?" he asked, his voice calm but firm.
She glared at him, her breathing heavy. "Who are you? Where are the pirates?"
"They're unconscious. I'm the one who stopped them," Logan explained. "I found you in that cage. Looked like they were planning to sell you."
Her expression softened slightly, but she still kept her guard up. "You're not with them?"
"No," Logan said. "I was passing by when they decided to attack my ship. I took care of them and found you below deck."
She hesitated, then lowered her stance. "I see… I'm sorry for attacking you."
Logan shrugged. "No harm done. You're a damn good swordswoman, by the way."
---
Once the misunderstanding was cleared up, the woman introduced herself as Reina, a swordswoman from a renowned dojo in the North Blue.
"I left my dojo to travel the world and hone my skills," Reina explained. "I stopped at a restaurant a few islands back and was drugged. When I woke up, I was in that cage."
Logan nodded, his anger toward the pirates reigniting. "Bastards. Good thing I ran into them before they got any further."
Reina studied him curiously. "You don't look like an ordinary sailor. What's your story?"
Logan smiled faintly. "I'm putting together a crew. Planning to sail to the Grand Line and see what this world has to offer."
Reina's eyes lit up with interest. "The Grand Line? That's no small ambition. Do you have a crew?"
"Not yet," Logan admitted. "But I've got a ship, a plan, and a lot of determination. You're the first person I've run into who seems capable enough to join me."
Reina raised an eyebrow. "You're inviting me to your crew?"
"Why not?" Logan asked. "You're strong, skilled, and clearly resourceful. I could use someone like you."
Reina considered his offer, her fingers brushing the hilt of her sword. She had planned to travel alone, but Logan's confidence and the gleaming Black Pearl made her pause.
"Alright," she said finally. "I'll join you. But only if you promise we'll face real challenges. I didn't leave my dojo just to sit around and sail."
Logan grinned. "Trust me, Reina. The Grand Line will have all the challenges you could ever want."
---
With Reina aboard, Logan finally had the first member of his crew. She quickly proved her worth, helping him clean up the pirate ship and haul the loot back to the Black Pearl.
As they set sail again, Logan stood at the helm, Reina beside him. The open sea stretched before them, filled with possibilities.
"So, Captain," Reina said with a teasing smile. "What's our next move?"
Logan's grin widened. "We gather more crew. Then we head for the Grand Line."
The Black Pearl cut through the waves, its dark sails billowing in the wind. Logan and Reina stood side by side, ready to face whatever the future held.
---
To Be Continued…