One Piece: The Extra-Dimensional Pirate Crew

"What?! Eric and Vincent became wanted criminals just to save me?!"

Having just woken up from her coma, Kuina was in disbelief. Her father, Koushirou, explained everything: how she had been unconscious for over ten days, how every doctor they sought out—even the Revolutionary Army's Ivankov (who was contacted via Den Den Mushi and personally came but failed)—was unable to cure her. Then Eric brought back a doctor who healed her… but in the process, Eric and Vincent had attacked the East Blue Marine Branch, making headlines and becoming wanted criminals.

"Yes… we owe him a great debt," Koushirou sighed.

"I'm going to find Eric!" Unable to accept that Eric was branded a criminal because of her, Kuina immediately ran toward the direction Eric had left.

"Kuina! You're awake!" Zoro, having been told by some dojo kids that Eric had brought back a doctor, came running over.

"Yes, but I'll talk to you later, Zoro! I have to find Eric first!" Kuina shouted, sprinting off without stopping.

Confused but unwilling to be left out, Zoro quickly followed.

"Eric!"

Kuina reached a secluded natural cove, where she saw Eric chopping wood.

"You should be resting! What are you doing running around? Get back and recover properly," Eric scolded.

But Kuina's body was in perfect condition after eating the Senzu Bean. Her complexion wasn't pale like someone bedridden for days. Whether it was because people in this world were naturally robust or because of the bean's effects—along with its ten-day satiety—it didn't matter.

"You're wanted now. Why didn't you tell me? Do you not consider me your friend?" Kuina demanded.

"Eric's wanted?!" Zoro, who had been too absorbed in training to pay attention to anything else, was stunned.

"I only just got my bounty, and you only just woke up. I didn't have time to tell you," Eric explained.

Vincent walked over and patted Kuina on the head. "You're awake, Kuina."

"Akato-neesan, I'm sorry for all the trouble I caused," Kuina said politely, addressing the older and more skilled swordswoman with respect.

"It's nothing. We're fellow disciples and friends," Vincent replied with a smile.

But Kuina wasn't done. She turned back to Eric, still angry: "And why are you leaving the dojo? You became wanted because of me, and now we're just going to cast you out like that? Are we that kind of people?!"

"Yeah! If you leave, how am I supposed to defeat you?!" Zoro chimed in.

A vein popped on Eric's forehead. Really now? I can't even beat Kuina at swordsmanship yet, and you think you can beat me, you little brat? But he didn't argue—instead, he asked, "Do you even know how big this world is?"

"I don't, but I'm sure it's huge! What does that have to do with you leaving?" Kuina countered. She refused to let him change the subject. Kuina was smart, and even Zoro—despite his infamous sense of direction—was among the sharpest in the Straw Hats when it came to logic.

"I want to see the strongest people in this world. Only then can I measure myself against them and see how far I have to go. Your goal is to become the world's greatest swordsman, right? You'll never achieve that if you stay in the East Blue!"

Eric's tone grew passionate. "If you train only in one place, you're just shutting yourself off from the world. I'm an adult now, and it's time to set sail and face other strong opponents! The East Blue may be peaceful, but it's also mocked as the weakest of the seas. I'm going to prove them wrong—when the East Blue produces a strong man, he won't just be strong… he'll lead an era and change the world!"

Kuina and Zoro froze. They were still young, and Eric's words left them speechless.

"And besides…" Eric added, "you two don't even know about Haki, do you? james-sensei, come here for a second!"

james approached, calm as ever. "What is it?"

"Show them Haki. Wrap it around this stick," Eric said, handing him a short wooden staff.

"No problem." james took the stick, channeled Haki into it, and suddenly Kuina and Zoro could feel a strange, powerful aura. Then james swung it at a nearby tree.

BOOM!

The tree split and collapsed with a thunderous crash.

"What?!" Kuina and Zoro's eyes widened in shock. A simple wooden stick—just an ordinary branch—had taken down a tree.

"See that? This is Haki," Eric said gravely. "Hardly anyone in the East Blue knows how to use it. If you stay here, forget about becoming the world's greatest swordsman—you won't even reach the level of the mid-tier pirates on the Grand Line."

Eric then turned to Kuina with a softer tone. "That's why I have to set sail. Even if I hadn't been branded a criminal, I would've left eventually. This isn't because of you, Kuina. Don't blame yourself."

Kuina lowered her head, silent. Then she looked up at Eric with determination. "Then take me with you! I want to sail too!"

"What?" Zoro shouted, stunned.

"No, no, you're way too young!" Eric shook his head. She's only eleven. No way I'm letting her come along.

"You're not just trying to hog james-sensei for yourself, are you? Afraid I'll surpass you if I learn Haki too?" Kuina crossed her arms, taunting him.

"I already lost to you in swordsmanship plenty of times," Eric deadpanned. He wasn't falling for that.

"I mean overall strength!" Kuina yelled. Even if she had better swordsmanship, Eric's height, strength, speed, and mastery of "Soru" gave him the edge in an actual fight.

"Yeah, Eric, don't be stingy," Zoro added, jumping in as usual.

Eric sighed, rubbing his temples. Dealing with stubborn kids was exhausting. "Fine. I promise… in a few years, when you're older, I'll come back and take you with me. Okay?" He held out his pinky.

"Really? You'd better not be lying! If you lie, you're not a real man!" Kuina exclaimed, linking her pinky with his. "How many years? Two? Three? It better not be nine!"

Eric sweatdropped. Where do these kids even learn this stuff?

"Two or three years, tops," Eric promised. Even if I'm lying through my teeth here…

"And me too!" Zoro suddenly piped up.

"Zoro…" Eric crouched down and looked him in the eyes. His face was cast in shadow. "Here's a prophecy: When you're eighteen, you'll set sail. You'll meet the captain destined to lead you, along with crewmates who'll be like family. But it won't be me."

"R-Really?" Zoro stuttered.

"Really. Your captain will wear a straw hat. There'll be a cook with curly eyebrows and a sharpshooter with a long nose," Eric said with absolute certainty. Then he added with a grin, "They'll be worth following. So train hard."

"Got it!" Zoro nodded firmly.

Good. That's two brats settled. Eric smirked inwardly. In two years, Arlong will come to the East Blue. Perfect timing for me to come back and raise Nami's affection score while I'm at it.

After that, Vincent escorted Kuina and Zoro back to the dojo and explained everything to Koushirou. Eric couldn't bring himself to face them again right away—too embarrassing to have a dramatic farewell only to show up again the next day.

Meanwhile, Eric stayed behind, helping james reinforce the ship. The sooner they finished, the sooner they could set sail for the Grand Line.

Later, Vincent returned with a message from Koushirou: "He said he understands and that he'll look after Kuina for you."

The next morning, with Kuina and Zoro waving from the shore—

They set sail.

(End of Chapter)