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The Eclipse docked in Loguetown under a brilliant midday sun, the city alive with its usual hustle and bustle. Known as the "Town of the Beginning and the End," it was a place where pirates either found their footing for the Grand Line or met their end at the gallows.
Michael secured the ship at a quieter pier, his sharp eyes scanning the harbor. The energy in the air felt different today—charged with an undercurrent of tension.
"Let's get what we need and move quickly," Michael said, addressing Lia and Amara as they disembarked. "This city is dangerous if you linger too long."
"I'll handle the medical supplies," Amara said, already heading toward a nearby alley.
"I'll look for food and water," Lia added.
Michael nodded, keeping his focus on the city streets ahead. "I'll check the markets for tools and information. Meet back here in two hours."
They split up, blending into the crowded streets. Michael moved with purpose, scanning the stalls for anything useful while keeping an ear open for rumors. But something about the chatter around him caught his attention.
"They're going to execute him!" a merchant whispered.
"Right on the execution platform where Gol D. Roger died," another added.
Michael's curiosity got the better of him, and he followed the flow of people toward the central square. When he arrived, the sight made him pause. The execution platform loomed high above the crowd, and standing at the top was a young man wearing a straw hat, his arms bound behind him.
Michael recognized him instantly—Monkey D. Luffy, the aspiring Pirate King he had heard about back in Foosha Village. His grin was wide and unbothered, even as his captors prepared for his demise.
Beside Luffy stood two infamous figures: Buggy the Clown, brandishing a dagger and reveling in the crowd's attention, and Alvida, her mace resting on her shoulder, exuding smug confidence. Their crews surrounded the platform, keeping the marines at bay.
"Luffy!" Buggy bellowed, holding the dagger high for all to see. "This is the end for you! Any last words?"
Luffy grinned wider. "Yeah! I'm going to be King of the Pirates!"
The crowd erupted into a mix of cheers and laughter. Some admired his bravado, while others mocked him for his foolishness. Michael, standing at the edge of the square, couldn't help but feel a strange respect for the young pirate's unshakable confidence.
Buggy sneered, raising the dagger above Luffy's head. "Then you can tell Gol D. Roger yourself!"
The crowd held its breath, the square falling into a tense silence. Buggy brought the dagger down—but before it could strike, a deafening crack split the air.
A bolt of lightning descended from the clear sky, striking the platform with blinding force. The sudden explosion sent Buggy, Alvida, and their crews scattering in all directions. The crowd screamed and surged backward, chaos erupting as debris rained down.
Michael shielded his eyes from the blinding light, his instincts screaming that this was no ordinary storm. When the dust settled, the platform was charred but still standing. Luffy, untouched, stood in the same spot, grinning as if nothing had happened.
The crowd gawked at the impossible sight, murmurs rippling through them. "He's alive?" someone whispered. "How is that possible?"
Michael smirked faintly. "Rubber doesn't conduct electricity."
Luffy used the confusion to his advantage. He flexed his arms, snapping the weakened ropes binding him, and leapt off the platform with a loud laugh. "Thanks, lightning! You really saved my skin!"
His crew, waiting in the crowd, sprang into action. Zoro, swords drawn, cut down anyone who tried to stop him as he cleared a path for Luffy. Nami called out directions, her sharp eyes scanning for the quickest escape route. Usopp fired his slingshot at pursuing marines, his shots precise despite the chaos.
Buggy, recovering from the shock, screamed after Luffy. "Get back here, Straw Hat! I'll—"
Another crack of lightning silenced him as it struck dangerously close, sending him and his crew scrambling away in fear. Alvida cursed loudly, retreating with her battered mace in tow.
Michael watched as Luffy and his crew made their way to the docks, their movements seamless despite the pandemonium. The marines, still stunned by the events, hesitated to pursue, giving the pirates the time they needed to escape.
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Back at the Eclipse, Michael regrouped with Lia and Amara. The story of what had happened at the square had spread like wildfire, and the city was now on high alert.
"Did you see what happened?" Lia asked, her eyes wide. "The lightning just came out of nowhere!"
"I saw," Michael said. "That wasn't random. Something—or someone—made it happen."
Amara frowned. "Do you think it was a Devil Fruit user?"
"Maybe," Michael said. "But whatever it was, it gave Luffy and his crew the chance they needed. They're on their way out of here by now."
Lia's awe turned to excitement. "Luffy's amazing! He just stood there smiling like he wasn't about to be executed."
Michael nodded, his respect for the young pirate growing. "He's got the spirit of a leader, that's for sure. But luck like that won't save him forever."
Amara crossed her arms. "We shouldn't linger here. The marines will be swarming this place soon."
Michael agreed. "Let's move. We've seen enough."
The Eclipse set sail under the cover of darkness, its black sails blending into the starlit sky. Loguetown faded into the distance, but the events of the day lingered in Michael's mind.
Luffy's unwavering resolve, the chaos caused by the lightning, and the strange intervention that had saved him—it all pointed to a world growing increasingly unpredictable. The Grand Line loomed ahead, promising challenges far greater than anything they had faced so far.
But Michael wasn't afraid. He had his crew, his ship, and his determination. Whatever lay ahead, they would face it together. The seas were vast, but so was their resolve.
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