Under Akira's masterful control, the massive waves gradually subsided, allowing the Going Merry to drift closer to the burning wreckage of the Black Cat Pirates' ship. The scent of smoke and seawater mingled in the afternoon air as their first real sea battle drew to a close.
Through his enhanced vision, Akira spotted movement among the wreckage, several figures clambering aboard a small lifeboat, desperately trying to escape the carnage their crew had suffered.
A friendly smile spread across his features as he called out to their newest sniper with obvious satisfaction.
"Usopp, it looks like some stragglers made it to that escape boat over there." His tone had the casual authority of someone discussing weekend plans rather than ordering an execution. "Let's be thorough professionals and tie up the loose ends."
"Roger that!" Usopp's response bubbled with enthusiasm as he adjusted his precision goggles and pulled several custom-made rounds from his ammunition pouch.
The sniper's entire demeanor shifted as he entered what could only be described as 'sniper mode'. His breathing steadied, his movements became fluid and economical, and his eyes took on the laser focus of someone who lived for those perfect moments of precision.
"Special attack! Gunpowder Star!"
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
A rapid-fire barrage of black projectiles screamed through the air, their trajectories so perfect they seemed guided by some supernatural force. The ammunition traced elegant arcs across the afternoon sky before converging on the escape boat, already two kilometers away, with a shot that would have challenged even veteran Marine sharpshooters.
"What's that noise?!"
One of the rowing pirates suddenly looked up in growing alarm, his instincts screaming warnings of impending danger. But the realization came far too late to matter.
In the next instant, the first projectile hit him right in the face.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
A symphony of explosions ripped through the small ship as each piece of Usopp's ammunition detonated in perfect sequence. Brilliant orange flames engulfed the entire ship, while concussive waves sent debris flying in all directions. The six pirates aboard, including the hypnotist Jango, found themselves thoroughly baptized by fire and violence, their hair transformed into smoking Afros as their consciousness fled completely.
"Mission accomplished!" Usopp announced with obvious pride, lowering his slingshot and grinning at his handiwork.
"Excellent work," Akira praised without hesitation, genuinely impressed by the precision shooting he had just witnessed.
With a casual snap of his fingers, he summoned another controlled wave that swept toward the smoking lifeboat. The wave claimed five of the unconscious pirates, dragging them to a permanent rest in the ocean's depths. However, after Akira's precise manipulation, the current deposited one particular figure directly onto the deck of the Going Merry, Jango, still breathing but thoroughly defeated.
In less than fifteen minutes, the combined efforts of the Straw Hat Pirates' newest recruits had completely annihilated an entire pirate crew that had terrorized the East Blue for years. The efficiency was almost surgical in its precision.
Shortly thereafter, Nami dragged herself back aboard their ship, dragging several heavy sacks filled with treasure while also dragging the unconscious forms of the two Nyaban brothers. Her expression showed the special frustration that comes from disappointed financial expectations.
"Seriously!" she grumbled as she tossed her loot onto the deck with obvious irritation. "Such a big pirate crew, and their entire treasure is only worth three million berries!"
"What a disgrace to piracy!" Her amber eyes flashed with genuine offense, as if the Black Cat Pirates had personally insulted her professional standards.
The truth was, were it not for the substantial bounties on Jango and the Nyaban brothers, she might have seriously considered diving back into the ocean to pull up the drowned pirates and beat them again out of sheer financial spite.
After helping Nami secure her three valuable prisoners in the ship's hold, Akira made his way to the bow, where Luffy, Zoro, and Usopp systematically stripped the wreckage of the enemy ship of anything useful.
Half an hour later, working on the practical principle of "waste-not-want-not," they'd transferred every salvageable supply from the Black Cat Pirates' ship to their own. The Going Merry's storage capacity had been greatly increased in both material wealth and practical resources.
Though not directly involved in the battle, Luffy's excitement over their first naval victory was contagious. His rubber features practically glowed with satisfaction as he carried the last load of supplies aboard, eagerly anticipating their next adventure.
Once everything was properly secured, Akira addressed the crew with his characteristic strategic smile.
"Well then, with our enemies eliminated and our resources expanded, let us resume our journey!" His tone had the satisfied air of someone whose plans had unfolded exactly as expected.
But then his expression changed slightly as he turned to their captain with obvious intent.
"Oh, one more thing before we sail on."
He gestured to Usopp with renewed purpose. "I need you to construct a large wooden barrel, something large enough to enclose a person from the neck down while still allowing normal movement inside."
"Huh?" Usopp blinked in confusion for a moment before nodding eagerly. "Sure, no problem! Leave it to me!"
Compared to the complex engineering challenge of creating Nami's weather manipulation device, this request seemed almost trivially simple. His technical skills were more than adequate for basic carpentry.
"Do you want to take a bath, Akira?" Luffy asked with his typical curiosity. "But why do you need such a big barrel for that?"
Akira's grin turned mischievous as he gave his answer.
"It's not for me, it's for you, Luffy!"
"But I don't want to take a bath right now!" their captain protested immediately, his nose wrinkling in obvious disgust as he picked at it in a gesture of dismissal.
Akira laughed in genuine amusement at Luffy's predictable reaction.
"You have no choice in the matter! After all, this is a crucial component of your advanced training program."
His tone became more serious as he explained the plan. "Usopp, once the barrel is finished, fill it completely with seawater and then we'll let Luffy take up residence inside."
"Since practicing Armament Haki on the Going Merry could damage our ship, we have to focus on another aspect of your development."
His eyes shone with tactical anticipation as he made the crucial point. "For the foreseeable future, Luffy, you will be working to overcome the fundamental weakness that all Devil Fruit users share!"
The moment Akira had witnessed Luffy's dramatic reaction to mere drops of seawater during their recent battle, he'd begun to formulate this special training strategy. While it was impossible to completely eliminate a Devil Fruit user's susceptibility to the ocean, building up resistance through gradual exposure might improve Luffy's tolerance to the Seastone restraints, a potentially life-saving advantage in future confrontations.
"What?!" Luffy's expression changed to one of pure horror as the implications hit him like a physical blow.
The memory of his unpleasant weakness when seawater had splashed over his skin was still fresh and unpleasant. The thought of being deliberately immersed in that stuff made him freeze like someone who'd just been hit by Admiral Aokiji's ice powers.
His face clearly conveyed the message of desperation: Akira, please reconsider this cruel and unusual punishment!
Despite his internal protests, Luffy understood that his vice captain's suggestions always served his best interests. Even when those interests involved considerable personal discomfort, he couldn't bring himself to refuse outright.
Usopp chuckled with barely concealed glee as he set to work. His fighting skills might not be up to those of his crewmates, but his craftsmanship was truly exceptional. In the original timeline, if Franky hadn't eventually joined their crew, Usopp would have claimed the title of the Straw Hat Pirates' foremost inventor and engineer without serious competition.
In just over ten minutes, he'd completed his task, a large, carefully constructed barrel that he delivered to the deck with obvious pride in his workmanship. Knowing Akira's purpose, he'd even included a comfortable seat and several safety features to prevent their captain from drowning in moments of extreme weakness.
Akira made a casual gesture, and a controlled stream of seawater rose from the ocean, filling the barrel completely. The supernatural display of hydrokinetic control had become so routine that none of his crewmates even blinked at the demonstration.
"Your training chamber awaits, Captain Luffy," he announced with mock formality, extending his hand in a gentlemanly gesture of invitation.
Standing at the edge of the barrel, Luffy gazed down at the seawater with an expression that perfectly captured the sentiment of "the wind grows cold and the river runs deep. His face bore the tragic nobility of someone marching toward inevitable doom.
Slowly, reluctantly, he stepped into the barrel.
The effect was immediate and devastating. His entire body went limp like a deflated balloon, every ounce of his usual strength and energy drained from him until he resembled nothing more than a human-shaped piece of rubber. Only Usopp's carefully designed safety harness prevented him from sliding completely underwater.
Akira gently patted his captain's shoulder in a gesture of encouragement and support.
"Stay strong, future pirate king. This will make you stronger in ways you cannot imagine."
With Luffy's new training regimen in place, the Going Merry settled into a peaceful routine as everyone focused on their individual development goals. The afternoon sun slowly moved across the sky as each crew member followed his or her own path to strength.
As evening approached and the sunset painted the ocean in brilliant shades of orange and gold, Luffy finally emerged from his seawater imprisonment with weak but determined movements. Though he still couldn't function normally while submerged, he had begun to adapt to the feeling of overwhelming weakness, learning to work with his limitations instead of being paralyzed by them.
At the stern of the ship, Zoro had claimed the deck space for his evening workout. Under the faint light of the rising stars, he practiced sword forms with a massive dumbbell, one weight plate removed to create an unbalanced training tool. The asymmetrical resistance forced him to develop perfect technique and core stability while maintaining precise blade control.
Meanwhile, in the privacy of the ship's cabin, Akira led Nami back into the Pokémon world for another intensive training session. Their routine had become so efficient that they wasted no time in preliminary discussions; they immediately set course for Route 5, south of Cerulean City, where new challenges awaited.
Unlike the previous routes they'd explored, Route 5 contained no human trainers waiting to test their skills against passing challengers. Instead, the entire area was dominated by a vast expanse of tall grass that stretched from one end of the route to the other, a natural habitat teeming with wild Pokémon ranging from Levels 12 to 16.
Hidden within these swaying green depths were common species like Pidgey and Meowth, as well as rarer specimens like the evolved Pidgeotto and the extremely elusive Abra, a Psychic-type Pokémon known for its ability to teleport away from any threat.
Two hours later, deep in the virtual wilderness of Route 5, tension crackled through the digital air as predator and prey engaged in a battle of wits and reflexes.
"Nami, use Buzzy Buzz! Don't let him escape again!" Akira commanded with intense concentration, his eyes following the movements of their target with laser precision.
As he released his surfing technique, a controlled tsunami erupted from his position, completely surrounding the patch of grass where a wild Abra sat in apparent meditation. The massive wall of water cut off every possible escape route, preventing the Psychic-type from using his signature teleportation ability to flee.
"My turn!" Nami shouted with predatory satisfaction, bursting from her hidden position in the tall grass.
Electricity had been building up along her three-sectioned staff for several minutes, waiting for this very moment. The accumulated charge was released in a brilliant flash that struck the trapped Abra with surgical precision.
SIZZLE!
Golden arcs danced across the psychic type's small form as paralysis set in, locking his muscles and preventing any coordinated movement, including the mental focus required for teleportation techniques.
"Finally! This time you won't get away!" Akira declared triumphantly.
He made a sharp gesture, and several rock fragments materialized from the surrounding earth before hurling themselves at the helpless Abra. The Stone Edge attack struck with tremendous force, inflicting considerable damage while leaving the target unable to defend itself.
Nami immediately capitalized on the opening, raising both hands to her forehead in the distinctive coin arc gesture that marked her most reliable finishing move.
"Pay Day!"
A massive phantom coin blazed to life above her head before rocketing toward the paralyzed Abra. The projectile landed dead center, delivering the final blow that left her target unconscious but alive.
"Go, Poké Ball!" Akira shouted, his voice cracking with anticipation as he threw the red and white trap with perfect aim.
This was the sixth Abra they'd successfully cornered and captured during their two-hour hunt. Including the two that had managed to teleport away before they'd perfected their containment strategy, they'd encountered a total of eight of the rare psychic types, a respectable encounter rate that spoke well of their chosen training ground.
However, the first five captured Abra had contributed nothing to Nami's development beyond their modest experience points. No items, no special rewards, just the satisfaction of a successful capture and the growing pile of experience that pushed her steadily toward the next level.
But Akira refused to give up on his ultimate goal.
In his memories of the original games, Abra held a special distinction beyond simply being rare and difficult to capture. They were among the few wild Pokémon capable of carrying Technical Machines, those wondrous devices that allowed for the instant mastery of powerful techniques. The odds remained frustratingly low, but the potential rewards made it worthwhile to persevere.
Since Nami needed combat experience anyway, and since the Pokémon in this area provided challenging opponents for her current level, he'd decided to dedicate their entire session to systematic Abra hunting. Just as the legendary Rare Candy had eventually been revealed through patient exploration, a Technical Machine was worth the investment of time and effort.
As the captured Poké Ball began its characteristic shaking animation, Akira clasped his hands in a desperate prayer.
"Jade Emperor, Queen Mother, Supreme Lord Laozi, Tathagata Buddha, Monkey King, Master Xuanzang, Altar Purifier..." he whispered desperately, invoking every deity he could remember from both Eastern and Western traditions.
"Please bless all the gods and Buddhas and the Machine King himself!"
"Let me have the luck of a legendary European player, just once!"
Click!
The shaking Poké Ball suddenly stopped, its red light fading to indicate a successful capture.
Two system messages flashed before Akira's astonished eyes:
[Congratulations! You have captured the Pokémon Abra and gained 86 experience points!]
[Congratulations! You have captured the Pokémon Abra and obtained the Technical Machine: Think!]
"YES!" Akira's triumphant cry echoed across the virtual grassland as months of patient work finally paid off.
The machine that contained Reflect was far more than just another move; it was a psychic-type barrier technique that could cut the damage of all physical attacks in half for several turns. In the hands of someone who understood tactical applications, such defenses could turn the tide of entire battles.
"What happened?" Nami asked, approaching him with curiosity as she watched his obvious excitement.
"We just hit the jackpot," Akira replied with a grin that threatened to split his face. "This TM contains one of the most valuable support techniques in existence."
His strategic mind was already calculating applications. While none of his current crew members could learn Reflect directly, the technique would become invaluable once they recruited Robin or any other Psychic-type compatible fighter.
More importantly, this success proved that the enhanced virtual world faithfully reproduced the item mechanics of the original games. If rare TMs could be obtained through persistent effort, then other Legendary Items, Evolution Stones, stat-boosting medicines, and even more Rare Candies were all within reach.
As the battery of their game session approached its limit and the virtual world around them began to fade, Akira felt a deep satisfaction at their progress. Nami had gained another level of experience, they'd acquired a valuable technical machine, and his theories about the deeper mechanics of the system had been confirmed.
Returning to consciousness aboard the peaceful Going Merry, with moonlight streaming through the cabin windows and the gentle sound of waves against the hull, Akira allowed himself a moment of quiet satisfaction.
Her crew grew stronger with each passing day. Soon, they would be ready for whatever challenges awaited them in the legendary waters of the Grand Line.
But for now, rest and steady progress would serve them well. Tomorrow would bring new opportunities for advancement, and he intended to be ready for every one of them.