Fated Adventure.

The morning we set sail, the air was crisp, the sea calm, and the sky clear. It was the perfect day for travel, but we all knew this wasn't just a simple voyage. This was Rayleigh's way of testing us—seeing if everything we'd trained for would hold up outside a controlled environment.

As we pulled away from the island, Rayleigh stood at the helm, his usual laid-back smirk in place. "Alright, boys, this won't be a pleasure cruise. You're going to be responsible for handling everything on this ship—navigation, maintenance, and most importantly, dealing with any trouble we run into."

Ace stretched, rolling his shoulders. "Sounds easy enough."

Deuce sighed. "You're going to regret saying that."

Rayleigh chuckled. "We'll see."

For the first few hours, everything was smooth sailing. The ship moved effortlessly through the waves, and Deuce proved himself a capable navigator. Ace and I took turns adjusting the sails and keeping an eye out for anything suspicious.

But of course, the peace didn't last.

"Ship on the horizon!" Ace called out from the crow's nest.

I turned my gaze toward where he was pointing. A vessel was approaching fast, its black sails marking it as a pirate ship. From the size of it, they weren't just a small-time crew.

Rayleigh grinned. "Perfect. Let's see how you handle your first real fight."

I smirked. "You're not going to help?"

He waved a hand lazily. "Not unless I have to. Think of this as your final exam."

Ace leaped down from the mast, cracking his knuckles. "Then let's make it quick."

Deuce, on the other hand, looked less thrilled. "We could try avoiding them…"

But that option was already off the table. The pirate ship was closing in, and before long, their crew was visible on deck—dozens of rough-looking men, armed and ready for battle.

A tall, muscular man with a jagged scar across his face stepped forward, a cutlass resting on his shoulder. "I don't know who you brats are, but that's a mighty fine ship you've got. Hand it over, and we'll let you live."

Ace scoffed. "Yeah, that's not happening."

I took a step forward, rolling my shoulders. "Let's get this over with."

The pirate captain grinned. "Cocky little bastards, aren't you? Fine. Kill them and take the ship!"

With that, the battle began.

The first wave of pirates leaped across the gap between our ships, but I was already moving. With a burst of Soru, I closed the distance before they even landed, my fist slamming into the first attacker's gut and sending him flying back onto his own ship.

Ace was right behind me, dodging a sword swing before driving his fist into another pirate's jaw, knocking him unconscious instantly.

Deuce, though not as physically dominant as us, used his Observation Haki to weave between attacks, countering with quick, precise strikes.

The pirates were strong, but we were faster, stronger, and far better trained. Every move we made was precise, every attack devastating. I weaved through the battlefield like a storm, my blows enhanced by Armament Haki as I tore through the enemy ranks.

Ace, despite not having his Flame-Flame Fruit, was a force to be reckoned with. His Conqueror's Haki sent weaker pirates collapsing to the ground, and those who remained standing were quickly overwhelmed by his sheer speed and strength.

Rayleigh watched from the sidelines, arms crossed, nodding approvingly.

It didn't take long for the battle to turn in our favor. Within minutes, the deck of the enemy ship was littered with unconscious and groaning bodies. The pirate captain, now looking far less confident, stumbled back as I approached him.

"You… you monsters…" he muttered.

I cracked my knuckles. "You picked the wrong ship."

With one final punch, I sent him flying off his own ship, landing with a splash in the ocean.

The remaining crew, seeing their captain defeated, quickly surrendered.

Rayleigh finally stepped forward, clapping his hands. "Not bad. You handled that well."

Ace grinned. "That was fun."

Deuce sighed. "Fun isn't the word I'd use."

But we weren't done yet. Now that we had taken the ship, it was time to loot it.

We split up, searching every inch of the pirate ship for anything valuable.

Ace kicked open a door leading to what looked like the captain's quarters. "Let's see if this guy had anything good."

Inside, we found a stash of gold coins, a few small chests filled with valuables, and some weapons. I grabbed anything useful, sending it into my Gate of Babylon for storage.

Deuce rummaged through some locked cabinets, eventually prying one open. "There's a decent amount of Beli here." He tossed a pouch to Ace, who grinned as he caught it.

"Jackpot."

Below deck, we found barrels of food, gunpowder, and spare weapons—things that would be useful for our journey. I stored everything we could carry, ensuring none of it would go to waste.

When we were finally done, I took one last look at the ship. It was in good condition—too good to just leave floating in the middle of the ocean.

"I'm taking it," I said.

Ace raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean, taking it?"

Without answering, I summoned a clear portal beside me. My Gate of Babylon opened wide, and the entire ship began to tremble. The air warped as the vessel was pulled into the portal, disappearing completely within seconds.

Ace and Deuce just stared.

"…I don't think I'll ever get used to that," Deuce muttered.

Ace laughed. "Yeah, that's still insane."

Rayleigh, watching from a distance, smirked. "That's one way to deal with a stolen ship."

With the enemy vessel safely stored away, we returned to our own ship and set sail once more.

Rayleigh leaned against the railing, glancing at us. "You handled yourselves well today. But don't get cocky—this was just one crew. The real threats are still out there."

I nodded, feeling the weight of his words. This had been a test, and we had passed. But the journey ahead would only get harder.

As the sun set on the horizon, we sailed forward, ready for whatever came next.