DXD: The Awakening Of Phenex

Going Merry

The afternoon on the Going Merry was serene yet bustling, with each crew member busy with their own tasks or training. The constant sound of waves crashing against the ship's hull provided a relaxing background, while the light blue sky reflected the moment's tranquility. The deck was full of energy, with occasional laughter and voices intertwining in the air.

"Hey, Luffy, stop using Soru to escape from me!" shouted Usopp, trying to catch his breath as he clumsily ran after the captain. "That's not fair! How am I supposed to improve my aim if you just vanish?"

"Ahahahaha! Then you need to be faster, Usopp!" replied Luffy with a huge grin. He disappeared in a blur, reappearing effortlessly at the top of the main mast. From up there, he swung his legs carelessly while Usopp huffed in frustration below.

Nami, positioned at the helm, watched the scene with an exasperated look. "You two, stop messing around on the ship! I need to keep the course steady, and with you causing chaos, that's impossible!" Her attention, however, never strayed for long from her maps and compass.

Meanwhile, on the other side of the deck, Zoro trained intensely. His sword movements were precise, and his body glistened with sweat under the strong sun. "If you need silence, Nami, maybe you should talk to those two idiots," he commented, not stopping his training as his blades cut through the air with a sharp whistle.

"Zoro, you're just as noisy as they are with your endless training," replied Nami, rolling her eyes while adjusting the sails. "And unlike them, you still haven't stopped to help with anything."

In the kitchen, Sanji was in his element, skillfully chopping vegetables while a delicious aroma filled the air. "While you all play at being useful, I'm making sure no one here starves," he declared, stirring a pot of curry. "This dish will be a masterpiece, as always."

On the deck, Alvida sat elegantly near the railing, holding a cup of tea and observing everything with a faintly sarcastic smile. "You all seem so busy," she said mockingly. "It's almost admirable."

"Maybe you should join us instead of just watching," teased Sanji, briefly appearing in the kitchen doorway with a tray of fresh fruits. "Or is work something foreign to you?"

Alvida raised an eyebrow and took another sip of tea, ignoring the comment, while Riser leaned against the railing, gazing at the horizon, lost in thought. "Riser, you're unusually quiet today," Nami remarked, frowning. "Are you scheming something?"

"Always," he replied with an enigmatic smile. "But for now, I'm just enjoying the calm before the storm."

Suddenly, a shadow crossed the deck. A seagull, carrying a bag of newspapers, circled above the ship. "Hey, mail!" shouted Nami, waving at the bird. She quickly grabbed some coins and tossed them up, prompting the bird to drop a newspaper before disappearing into the horizon.

"Finally, news," said Nami, picking up the newspaper. She quickly scanned the headlines. "It looks like the Navy has increased the bounties on some pirates... And guess who's on the list?"

"Me?" asked Luffy excitedly, jumping down from the mast with a leap.

"Of course, Luffy," Nami replied. "But not just you. Riser, your bounty went up too." She handed the newspaper to him as the other crew members gathered around, curious.

Riser calmly examined the paper, his expression remaining neutral. "It seems I'm becoming more popular," he commented, carefully folding the paper. "This only confirms that we need to be more cautious moving forward."

"Caution has never been Luffy's strong suit," said Zoro, wiping off sweat as he sheathed his swords. "I think that's why you're here, Riser. To balance things out."

Sanji appeared with a tray full of steaming dishes, interrupting the conversation. "Time to eat, everyone! You'll need energy for what's ahead." The aroma of the curry quickly drew everyone to the makeshift table on the deck.

Luffy was the first to serve himself, grabbing a plate before Sanji even set it down. "This is amazing, Sanji!" he said with his mouth full. "You're the best cook in the world!"

"Of course, I am," Sanji replied, lighting a cigarette with a satisfied smile. "Now eat up and be ready. We don't know what awaits us at the next port."

BOOM!

Suddenly, the sky began to darken. A heavy cloud quickly formed above the Going Merry, obscuring the last traces of daylight. "This isn't a good sign," said Nami, standing up from her chair. "Quick, everyone! We need to adjust the sails before the storm hits." She ran to the helm, her face filled with urgency.

WHOOSH!

The wind picked up intensity, whipping the sails violently. Lightning tore through the sky, followed by deafening thunder that made the ship shudder. Rain began to fall in thick, heavy drops, drenching everything in seconds. "Luffy, Zoro! Secure the ropes! Sanji, hold the sails!" shouted Nami as she turned the helm forcefully to stabilize the ship.

"This is amazing!" shouted Luffy, laughing as he struggled against the wind to hold a rope. "This storm is awesome!"

"Amazing? Are you insane?" yelled Usopp, clinging to a barrel to avoid being swept away by the wind. "This is a nightmare!"

Riser stood motionless near the railing, observing the storm with unsettling calm. Alvida, who had stayed distant until then, approached him, her hair plastered to her face by the rain. "You don't seem worried at all," she said, her voice nearly drowned out by the wind's roar.

"There's no reason to worry," Riser replied serenely. "A storm is just a natural part of the journey. The real danger lies in how we respond to it." He cast a brief glance at Alvida before returning his attention to the raging sea.

CRASH!

A massive wave struck the ship's hull, forcing everyone to hold on tightly. "We're almost off course!" shouted Nami, fighting the helm. "Sanji, we need more force on the sails, or we'll capsize!"

Sanji, with his hair soaked, quickly climbed to adjust the sails. "I'm on it, Nami-Swan! Hold steady!"

"Zoro, hold that rope, or we'll lose the mast!" yelled Luffy, as Zoro, with immense strength, pulled the rope against the wind.

Riser raised his hand calmly, his eyes glowing with cold determination. "Enough of this," he said firmly. A bright light began emanating from his hand, growing rapidly into a vibrant flame. He pointed toward the sky, and a massive burst of fire shot toward the clouds.

WHOOSH!

The flames cut through the darkness like a spear, exploding in a flash that illuminated the sky and dissipated the heavy clouds instantly. The storm stopped as quickly as it had started, leaving only the silence of the sea and the soft glow of the moon emerging above.

Alvida watched the scene, her eyes wide with surprise and admiration. "That... was incredible," she said, almost breathless, as the deck slowly returned to normal.

"Riser, you just saved the ship," said Nami, still holding the helm but visibly relieved. "But what was that? How did you do it?"

"Just a small demonstration of control," Riser replied with an enigmatic smile, lowering his hand as the last sparks faded into the air.

THUD!

Luffy, who had been completely mesmerized by the scene, fell seated on the deck. "Riser, you're amazing! I want to learn that too!" he exclaimed, his eyes shining with excitement.

"Ahahahaha! You, learning this? I'd love to see how you'd handle controlling something as volatile as fire, Luffy," laughed Riser, resting a hand on his hip as he looked at the captain. "But who knows... one day, if you train enough, you might even manage a fire punch."

"Really?! That would be awesome!" exclaimed Luffy, jumping forward with a wide smile, his eyes gleaming with enthusiasm. "I'll train until I get it!"

"Luffy, stop getting excited about everything," said Nami, crossing her arms and casting a serious look at Riser. "And you, Riser, need to stop playing around. That was dangerous! We could've lost the ship!"

"Relax, Nami," Riser replied with a calm smile, waving his hand as if dismissing her concern. "The situation was under control. I would never put you all at risk."

Sanji, wiping his soaked face with a cloth, walked past the two as he headed back to the kitchen. "If you're done saving the world, I'll go back to the kitchen. Someone needs to make sure dinner doesn't burn, unlike what just happened out here." He lit a cigarette before disappearing through the door, muttering something about unnecessary messes.

"I don't trust all this fire," said Zoro, leaning against a barrel while cleaning his swords. "If it gets out of control, I'll cut everything without hesitation."

"You think you can cut fire, Zoro?" Riser teased, raising an eyebrow as he watched him with interest. "Maybe you should try, but I warn you, you might end up getting burned in the process."

"Is that just a technique, or do you have a Devil Fruit?" asked Alvida, approaching Riser with a curious look as water dripped from her wet hair. "I've never seen anything like that."

"No, Alvida, it's not a Devil Fruit," Riser replied, crossing his arms and taking on a more serious tone. "It's just a technique I've developed over the years. I didn't need to eat any Devil Fruit to control fire."

"So you can swim?" asked Luffy, his genuine curiosity lighting up his face. "Because if you can, that's way better than a Devil Fruit!"

"Exactly," Riser confirmed with an enigmatic smile. "While you all remain vulnerable to the sea, I remain as free as the fire I control. And don't underestimate the value of that freedom."

Nami sighed, turning her attention back to the helm. "As long as you don't use it to cause trouble, I guess we can live with it. Now, let's focus on the next destination."

"I'm going back to training," said Zoro, standing up and tying his bandana around his head. "If I need to cut fire, I'll be ready."

Riser chuckled softly, watching Luffy's enthusiasm and Zoro's determination. "You all really make this crew interesting," he murmured to himself, before gazing at the horizon with an intriguing glint in his eyes, as if already anticipating the challenges to come.

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