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"Yes, Captain!"
Upon hearing Aero's command, the crew of the Dove quickly returned to the ship. They gathered their supplies and stood at attention on the deck, waiting for their captain to board.
Aero lingered at the restaurant's edge a moment longer.
He turned toward Sanji, who stood quietly beside Zeff, and said with a faint smile, "I believe we'll meet again someday, out there on the sea."
"You're wrong," Sanji replied, exhaling a puff of smoke. "I'm not leaving. I'll never become a pirate."
Aero didn't argue.
Instead, he simply turned and walked away, Dylan and Gin following behind. He activated his Devil Fruit powers, wrapping all three of them in a current of wind that lifted them into the air and carried them back to the Dove.
Eddie waved toward Sanji, grinning. "Thanks for the meal. Hope I get to taste your cooking again someday!"
Then he activated [Geppo], kicking off the air itself with a burst of shockwave energy, vanishing into the sky.
Sanji's eyes widened.
No wires. No tricks. The man could fly.
Even Zeff chuckled. "Guess I really am getting old… These rookies hide their fangs well."
Then, raising his voice, he barked at his frozen apprentice, "You dumb brat! Stop staring! Get those unconscious Marines off the dock and back onto their ship!"
The kitchen staff rushed out to help treat the injured. Whatever their enemies had done, no one here wanted dead bodies on Baratie's floor.
---
Back on the Dove, Aero gave one last wave to the restaurant crew below though really, it was a farewell meant for Sanji and Zeff.
He believed it was only a matter of time before Sanji joined Luffy's crew, even if the chain of events in East Blue was already off-script.
After all, the Arlong Pirates were already defeated. And the Don Krieg Pirates, who would've attacked Baratie a year later, were gone too defeated by Aero himself.
Whether the story continued as it was "meant" to… that remained unclear.
But the War at Marineford? That was inevitable. Aero wasn't strong enough to influence that yet.
Still, he had changed a lot and there was no guarantee Luffy's crew would come together the same way anymore.
But for now, his own journey had to go on.
---
Just as Aero refocused on its next plan—
"Captain! We've got a situation!" came the urgent call from a lookout.
Aero leapt to the mast and snatched the telescope.
A Marine warship was closing in fast.
"Persistent bastards," Aero muttered.
His eyes narrowed. The Dove had just fought the Marines; his crew might not be in peak condition. Another battle would be dangerous.
"Full sail! Lose them! Break away!"
He didn't want another clash killing pirates was one thing, but fighting Marines always carried consequences.
---
But the warship didn't give up.
Worse—it was gaining.
The Marine ship was faster than the Dove.
"We're not shaking them," Aero growled. "Eddie!"
"Right here, Captain!" Eddie wheeled a cannon to the stern and aimed it at the warship.
"Can you hit 'em from here?"
Eddie frowned. "They're too far. I'll try, but… can't promise anything."
Aero nodded. "Dylan, Gin! Get over here! Be ready to intercept cannon fire!"
"Aye!"
The two officers took position at the back of the ship, muscles tense, weapons ready.
Aero launched himself back up the mast to get a clearer view.
He wasn't just paranoid. A flying slash had come from the warship minutes ago sharp enough to slice the Dove in half if Aero hadn't blocked it with his Wind powers.
This wasn't some weak Marine detachment.
They had a real threat on that ship.
Aero had hoped they could avoid the fight. Clearly, that was no longer an option.
He'd considered using his ability to supercharge the Dove's speed, but the ship could only handle so much force before breaking apart.
And even if Aero could fly solo how long could he carry his entire crew? He wasn't invincible. His stamina would run out.
---
The Dove's cannon wasn't great it kept falling short.
Meanwhile, the Marines bombarded them with precise, deadly volleys.
A curtain of cannonballs filled the sky like a steel net.
Dylan and Gin deflected what they could.
Eddie fired back, but even when his shots got close, they exploded midair cut down by someone on the warship.
Whoever was onboard had speed and precision far beyond normal Marines.
Aero clenched his fists.
They had to find out who was on that ship… but not now.
Now it was about survival.
---
Eventually, it happened.
CRASH!
The Marine warship rammed the Dove.
Marines poured out with rifles raised and opened fire.
"Counterattack! Now!" Eddie roared, voice hoarse.
The Hurricane Pirates didn't hesitate.
Swords clashed. Blood sprayed. The fight was on.
Dylan and Gin were the first to meet the invading Marines head-on.
They quickly realized something was different.
These weren't your average grunts.
These Marines were strong easily on par with the Fishman Pirates they'd fought before.
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