DXD: The Awakening Of Phenex

Going Merry

The Going Merry advanced through the winding channel of Reverse Mountain, but the scene was far from the grandeur Riser expected. The turbulent waters roared like untamed beasts, hurling waves against the ship's hull with growing ferocity. The sky, tinged with an otherworldly red, seemed like a warning of what was to come.

"Nami! Take control! The ship's spinning!" Zoro shouted, gripping one of the masts as the planks creaked under his feet.

"You think I'm not trying?" Nami retorted, her eyes fixed on the compass, her voice heavy with frustration. She gripped the helm tightly, but the currents seemed to mock her efforts, pushing the Going Merry in every direction.

SPLASH!

A colossal wave struck the ship, sending water cascading across the deck.

Luffy, with a determined smile, stretched out his arms. "Gomu Gomu no Hull!" Using his powers, he grabbed the ship's sides, trying to stabilize it as the Merry rocked violently.

"This isn't like the anime," murmured Riser, leaning against the railing. His eyes were fixed on the chaotic scene, a mix of fascination and concern. "It looked so easy there... but here, it feels like the ship will break apart before we even reach the top."

"You could help us instead of just watching, Riser!" exclaimed Usopp, clinging to the side of the ship as if his life depended on it. His face was pale, reflecting the same sense of despair echoing among the crew.

Alvida, standing near Riser, gripped the edge tightly. "Do you really think this will work? We're about to be crushed by this force!"

WHOOSH!

A strong wind swept across the deck, shaking the sails and making Sanji lose his balance. "Nami-swan, what's happening? You're the best navigator in the world, but this place..."

"It's unlike anything we've ever seen!" Nami replied, frantically checking her instruments. "The currents are moving against us, as if the sea itself is rejecting us."

"Enough of this," Riser finally said, stepping away from the railing. He raised his hands, which began to glow with intense heat. Flames started to envelop his arms and back, and in an instant, enormous fiery wings emerged, illuminating the deck. "If we stay here another second, we're going to sink."

"Riser... What are you doing?" Zoro asked, his eyes wide as he watched the transformation. "Is that..."

"I'm getting us out of here," Riser replied firmly. With a swift motion, he leaped from the ship, beating his wings powerfully. The flames roared, and he shot into the air, disappearing under the waves toward the ship's base.

WHOOM!

An impact resounded as Riser reached the underside of the Going Merry. He pressed his hands against the hull, channeling immense energy. The flames around him intensified, sending a wave of heat surging through the ship's structure.

"What's happening?" Sanji shouted, holding onto the sails as the ship began to sway less.

"He's pushing the ship!" Nami exclaimed, looking at the compass, which now pointed straight to the top. "His power is stabilizing the currents!"

"Go, Riser! Show them what you can do!" Luffy yelled, gripping the mast as the waters around them began to calm.

Riser, engulfed in flames, pushed the ship upward with tremendous force. "These currents may be stubborn, but I'm more so," he murmured, exerting all his power. The flames not only stabilized the Merry but created a wave of heat that made the surrounding waters bubble.

BOOM!

With one final push, the Going Merry shot upward, breaking through the final currents and reaching the top of Reverse Mountain. The crew was slightly thrown back by the momentum, but the ship now sailed smoothly in the calm waters at the start of the Grand Line.

"We did it!" Usopp cheered, throwing his arms up in celebration. "I knew we'd make it! I mean... I think I did."

Riser returned to the deck, his fiery wings slowly dissipating as he landed with a soft impact. "I hope the view was worth it," he said with a sly smile as he walked back to the railing. "Because the Grand Line won't be anything compared to what we just faced."

"You saved the day, Riser," Nami said, adjusting the helm with a relieved sigh. "But let's try not to rely on that too much in the future."

"Ahahaha! That was amazing!" Luffy shouted, running to Riser's side and pointing to the horizon. "Look! The Grand Line! That's where my dream really begins!"

Riser looked at the horizon, his hands still emitting faint sparks from the heat he'd generated. "You guys really wouldn't survive without me, huh?" he said, his tone lightly teasing but filled with almost childlike enthusiasm.

"Riser, that was incredible!" Nami said, her eyes shining as she approached him. "I've never seen anything like it! You literally pushed us to the top of Reverse Mountain!"

"Riser-sama," Alvida began with a near-reverent tone, "what you did back there was... dazzling. I don't think anyone here ever imagined something like that was possible."

"Ahahaha! Riser, you're the best!" Luffy shouted, his grin stretching from ear to ear. "I want to learn that too! Can you teach me?"

"It was nothing," Riser replied, raising a hand casually but unable to hide the glimmer of satisfaction in his eyes. "But I'll admit, it was interesting. Far different from what I imagined when I saw this in the anime."

"Anime? What are you talking about?" Usopp asked, tilting his head in confusion. "Anyway, what you did was sensational. I never would have thought of that!"

"You and all of us, Usopp," Nami said, casting another admiring glance at Riser. "Without him, we'd be at the bottom of the sea right now."

"Sure, sure, praise him more," Sanji muttered, lighting a cigarette as he watched from a distance, his expression tinged with jealousy. "As if it wasn't enough that he's flashy. Now even Nami-swan and Alvida are swooning over him."

Riser turned, casting a quick glance at Sanji. "Relax, cook. I'm not interested in rivalries. I just did what needed to be done." He shrugged, nonchalant, before turning his attention back to the sea.

Zoro, sitting in a corner while cleaning his swords, glanced briefly at Riser. "Well, you made sure we got here. But don't make such a big deal out of it. Let's see how you handle it when the real danger shows up."

"Zoro, stop being a buzzkill," Nami said, crossing her arms with an irritated look. "He just saved our lives!"

Riser chuckled softly, shaking his head. "Relax, Nami. The swordsman isn't wrong. This was just the beginning, and I'm curious to see what's next. If this was only the first obstacle, the Grand Line must be even more exciting."

"Excited by danger? You really are strange," Alvida commented, observing Riser with a curious look. "But oddly, it suits you."

"Maybe I am strange," Riser said, turning to face the crew. "But if today made one thing clear, it's that surprises happen. And honestly, that excites me. It's good to know not everything follows the script I knew."

"Script? You say weird things sometimes," Usopp commented, still looking at Riser with admiration. "But if you keep saving the day like this, you can say whatever you want."

"Let's see if you can keep up the pace," Zoro teased, adjusting his headband.

"I can. I just hope you all can keep up," Riser replied with an enigmatic smile before turning back to the horizon. The sea was calmer now, but the Going Merry still sped forward, as if carried by an invisible force.

"Get ready, everyone!" Nami said, resuming her position at the helm. "This is just the beginning. The Grand Line is right ahead, and it won't be kind to us!"

"What? Another mountain?!" Usopp shouted, his face turning completely pale. He pointed frantically at the horizon, where a massive formation seemed to block their path. "This is impossible! We just climbed Reverse Mountain!"

"I knew this would happen! We're doomed!" Usopp continued, running back and forth on the deck.

"Stop exaggerating, Usopp," Nami said impatiently. "That's not a mountain. It's... wait..." She squinted, examining the horizon carefully. "It can't be!"

"Ahahaha! Another mountain? Let's climb again!" Luffy exclaimed, clearly thrilled at the idea. He was already gripping the mast as if ready for another epic ascent.

"That's not a mountain, idiot!" Zoro shouted, crossing his arms as he looked suspiciously at the figure on the horizon. "It's moving... it's a whale."

THUD!

The ship's planks groaned as a powerful wave rocked the Merry. The figure ahead began to take shape, revealing itself as a colossal whale emerging from the ocean depths. Its skin was marked by scars, and its giant eye gleamed with curiosity as it gazed at the small ship.

"It's a giant whale!" Sanji shouted, holding his cigarette as he steadied himself. "And it's heading straight for us!"

"Quick, Nami! Change the course!" Usopp yelled, clinging desperately to the mast.

"There's no time!" Nami responded, spinning the helm frantically. "The currents are pushing us straight into it!"

WHOOSH!

The sound of wind and waves grew louder as the Merry accelerated toward the enormous creature. The whale, seemingly oblivious to the panic on the deck, continued calmly forward, completely blocking the path.

"Everyone, hold on!" Zoro shouted, gripping the railing as the impact seemed inevitable.

FLAP!

A deafening sound cut through the chaos as Riser unfolded his fiery wings, illuminating the deck with an intense glow. "I'll handle this," he said, flying swiftly to the front of the ship.

"What are you going to do, Riser?" Nami shouted, looking at him with wide eyes.

Riser, hovering in the air in front of the Merry, extended his hands and created a heat barrier around the ship's hull. "Hold on tight," he said, his tone calm but commanding. "This is going to be... different."

WHOOSH!

Riser's wings beat powerfully, generating a wave of hot air that slowed the Merry just seconds before it hit the whale. The ship came to an abrupt stop, floating inches away from the creature's massive body.

"He did it!" Sanji exclaimed, panting. "We didn't crash!"

"Wait... what's happening now?" Zoro asked, frowning. The whale's enormous eye focused on the Merry, and it slowly opened its mouth, revealing a dark, cavernous abyss.

"It's going to swallow us!" Usopp screamed, panicking once again.

"I know," Riser replied with an enigmatic smile as he hovered above the ship. He relaxed his wings, allowing the Merry to be sucked into the whale's open mouth. "Let's see what's inside."

"You let this happen on purpose?!" Nami shouted in disbelief as the ship was swallowed.

GULP!

The sound of the whale closing its mouth echoed like thunder, plunging everyone into darkness. Inside, the ship came to a gentle stop in what seemed like a cave. Strange lights danced on the walls, reflecting on the water below.

"This... this is amazing," Luffy said, looking around with eyes glowing with excitement. "We're inside a whale! This is so cool!"

"Cool? We're inside a whale, Luffy!" Usopp shouted, still trembling with fear. "This is terrifying! How are we going to get out of here?"

"Riser, you knew this was going to happen, didn't you?" Nami asked, still gripping the helm tightly.

"Maybe," he replied, landing softly on the deck and folding his wings. "But I recognized this whale. At least something here finally makes sense."

"Recognized?" Zoro asked, narrowing his eyes as he looked at him. "What are you hiding now?"

"This is Laboon," Riser said, crossing his arms as he observed the surroundings. "And if I'm right, we're about to meet someone interesting in here."

The soft lights around them began to intensify, as the distant sound of footsteps echoed through the cave. The crew fell silent, their attention focused on the source of the sound. Whatever was there would be the next surprise in their journey through the Grand Line.

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