Summoner in One Piece

The unexpected appearance of the talking Exceed and the adorable Teddiursa brought a moment of surreal humor to the serious business of their return. Alex, Erza, Akane, and Kaelen shared a few bewildered chuckles, quickly accepting these new, bizarre additions to their growing family. While the tactical implications of these unique summons would need further exploration, their immediate priority remained clear: to understand this new world and find a way to move through it.

Their primary objective was to seek out a ship and navigational means to leave the island and truly venture into the vast unknown of the One Piece world. Fortunately, an answer was already at hand. They located a sturdy pirate ship, previously abandoned by a crew they had eliminated on their prior visit to the island. It was a well-built vessel, albeit grimy and in need of some attention, but it was seaworthy.

With the aid of a few curious and grateful villagers eager to assist their saviors, Alex's group prepared for their first short voyage. Alex delegated roles: Erza, with her keen instincts and growing understanding of the ship's mechanics, took the helm. Akane, with her sharp mind and ability to quickly process patterns, took on navigation, poring over the rudimentary charts they found on board. Kaelen assumed the role of quartermaster, his imposing presence ensuring the 37 Warriors and the handful of eager villagers working the sails and ropes performed their duties properly.

Their first few excursions were short, tentative trips around the island. They learned the basics of sailing through trial and error, guided by the villagers' rough knowledge of the local currents. The wind filled the sails, the salt spray hit their faces, and with each passing day, they gained a rudimentary understanding of naval maneuvers. Alex, however, quickly realized the limitations of their current knowledge. The Grand Line, a place of unpredictable weather and magnetic anomalies, would require a seasoned navigator, far beyond what they could learn from simple coastal voyages.

"We need a true navigator," Alex mused aloud to his commanders one evening, watching the sunset over the endless sea. "Someone who can chart the Grand Line's whims. These short trips are invaluable for basic competence, but a true journey... that's another matter entirely." He decided that for now, they would continue these short voyages every few days, building their collective experience and allowing everyone to get a firm hang of sea travel.

Weeks passed in this manner, their skills slowly improving, the Warriors adapting to the rhythm of the waves. The Exceed, the chibi white tiger, often perched on Erza's shoulder, observing with startling intelligence, while Teddiursa, Kaelen's cute bear, found surprisingly effective ways to help with various odd jobs around the deck, its small size belying its unexpected utility.

Then, as they were making their return approach to the island one calm afternoon, the tranquil horizon was broken by an unwelcome sight. Three pirate ships, their black flags emblazoned with unfamiliar jolly rogers, swiftly approached. Their intent was clear.

A grim thought flickered through Alex's mind. Could these be them? The great adversary that drove us to 'Kingdom' to gather power? He knew the One Piece world held immense threats.

"Cannons!" Alex barked, his voice sharp. "Fire at will! Aim for their masts! And prepare to turn us towards the shore!"

The Warriors, eager to prove their worth in this new form of combat, sprang into action. But their naval experience was woefully lacking. Cannons roared, plumes of smoke billowed, but the shots flew wide, impacting harmlessly far from the approaching vessels. None hit their targets.

Seeing Alex's ship fire and miss, the enemy pirates let out a jeering cheer, their own confidence bolstered. They accelerated their approach, and their own cannons began to boom, sending cannonballs splashing dangerously close. A few rounds struck Alex's ship, tearing through wood and snapping ropes, though miraculously, no critical damage was dealt to the vital areas.

As the pirates closed in, their grim laughter echoing across the water, a stroke of luck occurred. One of Alex's wildly aimed cannonballs, a desperate, final shot, struck a pirate ship's main mast, sending it splintering and toppling with a loud crack. Another shot, equally unplanned, hit the hull of a second pirate ship, tearing a ragged hole near its waterline, causing it to list visibly.

"Now!" Alex roared, seizing the moment. The tiller was turned hard, and with a final, desperate surge of momentum, their ship careened towards the shore. With a shuddering impact, the vessel slammed against the sand, its journey abruptly halted. "Everyone! Off the ship! Move!" Alex commanded, leaping onto the beach. His Warriors, along with the few terrified villagers who had joined them for the voyage, scrambled off the ship, quickly deboarding onto the familiar sands of their home island, bracing for the inevitable clash.