One Piece: Journey to the New Dawn

[Note:

" * " : Indicates abilities that can be upgraded with practice, experience, or unique opportunities.]

> System inner voice ["speaking"] <

> Ash inner speech "speaking" <

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Meanwhile, at Dadan's Hideout

Dadan and her bandit crew stood outside their hideout, watching Ash dash hurriedly in the direction of the farthest point of Grey Terminal. Suspicion clouded Dadan's face as she wondered what the brat was up to now. Turning to one of her crew, she barked, "Follow him and see what he's up to. Make sure find out what's happening."

The bandit nodded and set off at a brisk pace, trying to keep up. But Ash's speed was something else entirely, and he soon lost sight of the boy. Reaching the trash heap where Ash had disappeared, the bandit could only gather fragmented information from some of the scavengers. After piecing together rumors from those who'd seen Ash passing through, the bandit hurried back to Mt. Colbo to report his findings to Dadan.

"He's been seeing going inside Blue jam's base," the bandit explained, his breath ragged.

Dadan's eyes widened in shock. Blue jam. The name was enough to set her on edge. If Ash had rushed like that, he might have gone for a reason and she asked her crew if they had seen the girls to which they said they haven't returned from hunting for meat.

Dadan deduced that there was a high chance they might be in danger and since Ash had gone to Blue Jam's base they might be captured by Blue Jam. She thinks now even Ash might be in danger trying to save the girls.

Gritting her teeth, Dadan shouted, "Gather everyone! Now!" The urgency in her tone sent the bandits scrambling to arm themselves.

Dadan reached for her long-handled axe, slinging it over her shoulder as she barked orders to her crew. As they began their march toward Blue jam's base, her thoughts were a storm of fear and determination. On one hand, she dreaded what Garp would do if anything happened to those brats. Prison time would be the least of their worries if the Marine Vice Admiral found out they'd failed to protect his precious charges.

But deep down, Dadan knew it wasn't just fear of Garp driving her. Despite her gruff exterior, she had come to care for Ash, Ace, and even the other three brats like they were her own. She would never admit it out loud, but the thought of them being in harm's way was unbearable even though she knew they are strong and can handle themselves.

With fire in her eyes, Dadan led the charge toward Blue jam's territory, her crew following close behind.

Dadan and her gang pushed their legs to the limit, running as fast as they could toward Blue jam's base. Her heart pounded, torn between dread and determination. She braced herself for the worst—a chaotic fight where they'd have to jump in and save the brats.

But when they reached the base and stepped into the large room, what they saw left them utterly stunned.

The scene was like something out of a nightmare. The Blue jam Pirates were sprawled across the room, bloodied and broken. Some lay unconscious, their bodies battered beyond recognition, while others groaned in agony, clutching their wounds. Several were frozen solid in jagged blocks of ice, while others bore charred burns across their skin. Blood streaked from the ears, noses, and eyes of a few pirates, and some had their heads embedded into the walls.

Dadan and her bandits stood frozen, their eyes wide and jaws slack as they struggled to process the carnage before them.

"What in the…?" one of the bandits muttered, his voice trembling.

Dadan's gaze darted across the room until it landed on the brats—Ash, Ace, Lucy, and Uta—standing in a circle around someone on the floor. Ash was squatting with his katana, Kashu, resting against his shoulder, his posture relaxed yet ominous. Ace stood beside him, arms crossed, while Lucy and Uta doing the same.

But there was no sign of Selina.

Dadan swallowed hard, gripping the handle of her axe tighter as her shock turned to bewilderment. Unable to contain herself, she shouted the question on everyone's mind:

"What the hell happened here?!"

Ash and the girls turned toward the source of the loud voice and found Dadan and the rest of her gang standing at the entrance, their expressions a mix of shock and confusion.

Lucy's face lit up as she greeted them cheerfully. "Dadan! What are you doing here? Did you also have some score to settle with Jammy here?"

The bandits nearly fell over at her casual remark, their faces red with indignation. "BRAT, WE CAME TO SAVE YOU GUYS FROM HIM!" one of them shouted.

Lucy tilted her head, looking genuinely confused before waving her hand dismissively like scolding children. "Save us? Why? You guys are weaker than him, you know? Go away already!"

The bandits erupted in frustration, their voices overlapping as they shouted back, "YOU DON'T HAVE TO POINT OUT THAT WE'RE WEAK EVERY TIME, BRAT!"

Ash and Uta chuckled at the scene, while Ace smirked, crossing her arms.

Dadan, regaining her composure, took a deep breath and pointed her axe at the kids. "Enough jokes! What the hell happened here?"

Before Lucy could blurt out one of her usual nonsensical responses, Ace and Uta stepped in, taking turns explaining what had transpired.

As the story unfolded, Dadan and her crew listened in stunned silence, their eyes widening with every word. By the time Ace and Uta finished, Dadan's mouth hung open, and the bandits looked as if they'd seen ghosts.

One thought ran through all their minds: These kids are monsters.

Lucy burst out laughing, her signature "Shishishi" echoing through the room seeing their reactions.

Dogra, snapping out of his shock, blurted out, "Wait, so Selina is a noble?"

Ace and Uta nodded in unison, confirming the revelation.

Dadan's gaze shifted to Blue jam, who was still conscious despite his injuries. Her expression hardened as she hefted her axe onto her shoulder. "Move aside, brats. Let us take care of him."

Ash, however, raised a hand to stop her. "There's no need. I have something I need to ask him first."

He grabbed Blue jam by the collar, dragging the defeated pirate with ease. Blue jam, too exhausted and battered to resist, could do nothing as Ash hauled him to a nearby wall, forcing him to sit against it.

Ash crouched down to meet Blue jam's gaze, his tone sharp and cold. "Now, tell me—what's this about explosives you were planning to plant?"

Blue jam, despite his injuries, smirked, a glimmer of defiance in his eyes. "Let me go, brat, or you can forget about that information."

Ash's lips curled into a grin, one that sent a shiver down Blue jam's spine. His voice dropped, steady and menacing. "I already told you not to underestimate us. You're the reason Selina got caught and taken by her father. You're also the one who planned to do something vile, dragging Ace, Lucy, and Uta into it. I warned you, didn't I? Yet here you are, paying the price for your choices."

His eyes narrowed, and the air around him grew heavier. "You can do whatever you want to me—I won't let it get to me. But the moment you touch my friends, my family, or anyone I care about..." His voice darkened; the menace palpable. "...that's something I'll never forgive."

A chilling pressure began to emanate from Ash as he spoke. Celeste's voice echoed in his mind.

[Skill Acquired: Bloodlust]

Ash brushed it aside for now, focusing solely on Blue jam.

The intensity of Ash's presence grew, and even the onlookers felt its weight. Ace, Lucy, Uta, Dadan, and the bandits were rooted in place, their legs trembling as the oppressive aura washed over them.

Blue jam, directly facing Ash, froze. His eyes widened; his earlier smugness replaced by raw fear. "You... you monster... Leave me alone!"

Ash leaned in closer, his grin unwavering. "You're the one who wanted to face a monster, idiot. Now, are you going to tell me what you're planning, or do you still need convincing?"

Blue jam began to speak, his voice low and bitter. "The royal family of the Goa Kingdom... they contacted us. They told us to burn down the entire Grey Terminal. Once the job was done, they promised to make me and my crew nobles."

Ace's face twisted with anger, and he stepped forward, shouting, "Why?! Why would they do that? What did the people living here ever do to them?"

Before Blue jam could answer, Ash interjected, his voice dripping with disgust. "Celestial Dragons."

Ace frowned in confusion. "What? What are you talking about?"

Blue jam gave a grim nod. "The World Nobles... the Celestial Dragons... are coming to the Goa Kingdom for an inspection. The royals want to raise their standing. In their words, they're 'cleaning the trash' to pass inspection when the Celestial Dragon arrives."

Hearing this, Ace and Uta's anger boiled over. Their fists clenched tightly, their bodies trembling with rage. Even Ash, who already knew about this from his previous life knowledge, felt his anger flare up hearing it spoken aloud, the reality of it far worse than he had anticipated.

Lucy, however, looked puzzled. "What's happening? What's the big deal?"

Ash sighed heavily, rubbing his temples. "The fishbowl-headed bad guys are coming. To impress them, the royals are planning to kill everyone here in Grey Terminal."

Lucy's eyes widened in shock. "Ohh!? You mean the same ones you told me about?"

Ash nodded grimly.

Dadan, the bandits, and even Blue jam looked at Ash in shock. The audacity of calling the Celestial Dragons "fishbowl-headed" left them stunned. Uta, however, simply wiped her eyes and sighed in exasperation.

Lucy's reaction, as usual, was completely different. "Then I'll go punch those bad guys!" she declared, her determination burning bright.

Dadan and the bandits' jaws dropped, and they shouted in unison, tears and snot running down their faces, "BRAT, DON'T EVEN THINK ABOUT IT!"

Ash sighed again, more deeply this time, and placed a hand on Lucy's shoulder. "Lucy, we're not strong enough to take them on. Just leave it."

Lucy pouted, clearly unhappy, but she saw the seriousness in Ash's eyes and reluctantly nodded in understanding.

Blue jam, watching all this with a mix of disbelief and bitterness, muttered, "Even if you stopped me, the royals will just come up with another plan. They'll know this one failed and try again."

Ash turned to him; his eyes cold. "You idiot. Why do you even think they'd make you nobles, even if their plan with you worked? As a pirate, how could you be stupid enough to believe them?"

Blue jam froze, his mouth opening and closing without a response.

Ash shook his head in disappointment. "I'd bet anything that once the plan succeeded, they'd shut the gates and keep everyone—including you—out of the kingdom. You were nothing but a tool to them."

Blue jam, still not willing to accept the truth, tried to push himself up, a surge of anger in his eyes trying to punch him. "I don't believe you! They wouldn't do that!"

Before he could strike, Ash casually shoved him back, using his katana's scabbard to force him against the wall he had been leaning on. "Shut up and sit down, idiot."

Blue jam grunted in frustration, his eyes narrowing, but he still couldn't quite bring himself to believe Ash's words. His doubts about the royal family were slowly starting to take root, but he was still too prideful to fully admit he had been used.

Ash turned to Dadan and the bandits, his voice commanding. "Gather all the pirates—dead and alive—and tie up the ones who are still breathing. And get a strong rope for Blue jam."

Dadan nodded; her expression serious as she signaled her bandits to get to work. Meanwhile, Ash stood still for a moment, his mind racing recalling plot.

He recalled Blue jam's words, piecing things together. If what Blue jam said was true, then today was the day they had planned to burn the Grey Terminal, and tomorrow, the Celestial Dragon St. Jalmack would arrive for a diplomatic inspection.

Seeing the sun already gone down if his guess is right dragon should be arriving here to save the people of grey terminal, and if Ash could take Blue jam with him and somehow convince the dragon, he might be able to save the people of Grey Terminal and prevent casualties.

He turned back to Blue jam, determination in his eyes. He couldn't afford to waste any time.

A bandit quickly brought over a sturdy rope, to Ash immediately instructed them to tie Blue jam up securely. Once the pirate captain was properly restrained, Ash turned to Dadan with a serious expression.

"Alright, Dadan," Ash began, outlining his plan. "I need you to ask half of your gang to take the remaining pirates, dead and alive, to your hideout. Ask them to stay there and make sure they don't escape. The other half needs to stay here with us."

Dadan gave a sharp nod, ready to follow his orders, but her expression turned questioning as she turned toward Blue jam. "What about him?" she asked, pointing at the pirate captain.

Ash glanced at Blue jam, his face hardening. "You guys take him to the square of the Grey Terminal. Dadan you guys gather the people in grey terminal and bring them to the square. I want him to make a confession about what the royals were planning. It's time the people know the truth."

Uta, still concerned, spoke up. "But what if he doesn't tell the truth when we get there?"

Ash grinned, a dangerous glint in his eyes. "Oh, he will. I have a way of making him talk."

Turning to Ace, Uta, and Lucy, Ash gave his final orders. "You three also go with Dadan bring him to the square. Don't let him escape, no matter what. I'll go ahead. There's someone I need to find."

Ace raised an eyebrow, curiosity flashing in his eyes. "Who are you looking for?"

Ash didn't answer directly. "I'll tell you when the time comes. I'll meet you in the square."

The three nodded, understanding Ash's urgency. Without another word, they set off with Blue jam, while Ash took off in a different direction. His mind was already focused on the next steps of his plan.

While Lucy, Uta, Ace, along with Dadan and the rest of the bandits, began walking toward the square with Blue jam securely tied up, Ash took off in the opposite direction, heading toward the Great Gate. While he was running towards outside the base, he found crates of explosives Blue jam stored to implement his plan. He stores all the crates inside his inventory safely and runs outside again. His mind was set—he needed to find Dragon.

As he reached the vicinity of the gate, Ash focused, attempting to sense any nearby presence. His Observation Haki was still not as refined as he wanted it to be, and he couldn't pinpoint anyone immediately. But as luck would have it, he noticed a figure making their way toward the inside of the Grey Terminal. Without wasting any time, Ash sprinted toward them, hoping it was who he thought it might be.

Dragon, sensing someone approach, turned his head to see who was coming.

Ash stopped just a few feet away, a grin spreading across his face as he realized his luck had held out. "Well, well... looks like I got lucky," Ash muttered under his breath.

Standing before him was none other than Monkey D. Dragon—the leader of the Revolutionary Army, the world's most wanted criminal, the son of the Marine Hero Garp, and, as Ash knew firsthand, the father of Monkey D. Lucy.

Dragon's expression was unreadable, as Ash stood there, still grinning.

Dragon turned and spoke, "Who are you, kid? You shouldn't be here. Leave this place. It's not safe here." With that, he turned his back and began walking back toward the inside of the Grey Terminal.

But Ash wasn't about to let him go that easily. He called out, "You're Dragon, right? The leader of the Revolutionary Army, the worst criminal ever."

Dragon froze for a moment, his eyes narrowing in surprise as he turned to face Ash.

Ash grinned; his confidence unwavering. "So, I'm right?"

Dragon's gaze sharpened as he asked, "What do you want, boy?"

Ash stood tall and said calmly, "I need your help."

Ash looked Dragon in the eye and quickly explained, "The royals of the Goa Kingdom want to burn down the Grey Terminal along with its people because of the Celestial Dragon coming for their inspection. They've assigned the task to the local pirates living here—the Blue jam Pirates. I've already stopped them with my friends, and they're at the square in the Grey Terminal. Since you're here, I need your help to save the people and take them to a safe place. If you're lucky, you might even be able to recruit some of them to your cause."

Dragon stood still for a moment, processing Ash's words. His gaze grew sharper, his mind racing. This kid had done all that with just his friends? It was hard to believe, but there was no denying the resolve in Ash's eyes.

Dragon's expression shifted slightly as he revealed, "I already know about this. I've already contacted my comrades, and they're on their way to assist."

Ash's eyes widened as a realization struck him. That means Selina already told Dragon about the royal family's plan and asked him to come help the people here as soon as possible, he thought.

Without hesitation, Ash asked, "Who told you the plan? Was it Selina?"

Dragon furrowed his brow. "Selina? Who's that?"

Ash quickly explained, "She's, our friend. She ran away from her home—she's a noble in the Goa Kingdom, but she hated how nobles live. Her father came here and took her away before I could get to her and help."

Dragon's eyes flickered with recognition. "Ah, now I understand. Yes, it was her. She's the one who told me about this."

Ash's heart skipped a beat. "How is she? Is she okay?" he asked anxiously.

Dragon paused before answering, "When I met her, she was trying to convince me to intervene. She spoke about the injustice here and begged me to come as soon as I could. She seemed determined, but… her situation was complicated. Some men caught up to her shortly after we spoke. She fought back, but she ran from them...…" He trailed off, shaking his head. "I don't know what happened to her since then."

Ash clenched his fists, muttering angrily under his breath and cursing. His frustration was palpable, but he quickly turned his focus back to the matter at hand.

He looked at Dragon with renewed urgency. "We've already disrupted the royals' plan, but they'll definitely come up with something else to burn the Grey Terminal. We have to act fast before they implement another plan."

Dragon smirked, clearly intrigued by Ash's determination. "What's your name, boy?" he asked, his tone carrying a subtle hint of curiosity.

Ash grinned back confidently. "Rafael D. Ash. Future King of the Pirates," he declared with conviction, his eyes shining with unwavering determination.

Dragon's smirk deepened, but he said nothing in response. Instead, he crouched down and, before Ash could react, lifted him up and hoisted him onto his shoulder with ease.

"Hey! What are you doing?!" Ash protested, his legs flailing as he struggled against the sudden elevation.

"You'll slow me down if you're on foot," Dragon replied nonchalantly. "So, I'm giving you a ride."

Ash glared, pouting slightly. "I'm strong for my age, and I can run fast! Put me down!"

Dragon chuckled but ignored his protests. "Hold on tight, kid."

And with that, Dragon launched into a full sprint, moving with speed that defied expectation for a man of his stature. The wind roared in Ash's ears, and his cheeks flapped comically in the strong air current. Despite himself, Ash's protests faded into an incredulous laugh at the absurdity of the situation.

Before long, they arrived at the square, where a large gathering of people had formed. Dragon came to a halt, setting Ash down in front of the crowd. The sight before them was a mixture of chaotic and humorous: Lucy, Uta, and Ace stood together with Blue jam tied up, looking worse for wear. Dadan held the end of the rope with a look of exasperation, her imposing presence commanding attention even amidst the unusual scene.

Dragon stopped beside Ash, his presence alone drawing murmurs from the crowd. Ash looked up at him briefly before shifting his attention back to the group, his usual grin creeping back onto his face.

Lucy, Uta, and Ace, noticing Ash being dropped off from the shoulder of a tall, imposing man, immediately ran toward him. Lucy was the first to point, bursting into laughter. "Ash! You look ridiculous! Your hair is a mess, and your face is all puffed up!" she teased, doubling over in laughter.

Ash chuckled along, running his hand through his hair to fix it. "Yeah, yeah, laugh it up," he said, amused but unbothered. He turned to Dragon, gesturing toward the girls. "Let me introduce you."

Facing the girls, Ash said, "This man is going to help everyone escape from here. Be polite and introduce yourselves."

Ace stepped forward confidently, her arms crossed. "My name is Ace," she said firmly.

Uta followed with a soft smile. "I'm Uta," she introduced herself politely.

Finally, Lucy stepped forward, her trademark grin plastered across her face. "My name is Monkey D. Lucy, Future Queen of the Pirates!" she declared proudly, striking a bold pose.

Dragon's eyes widened at her words, her name sending a shock through him. Recognition dawned on his face, and his stoic demeanor cracked for a moment. Lucy… he thought, his heart clenching. My daughter…

Ash noticed Dragon's reaction and couldn't suppress a laugh. "Yep, you're thinking right about who she is," he said with a knowing grin. "But we'll save that talk for later. We've got more pressing matters to deal with."

Ash turned toward the gathered people of the Grey Terminal, his expression growing serious as he prepared to address them.

Ash faced the gathered crowd, his voice firm as he began. "Everyone, listen up! The royals of the Goa Kingdom have a plan to burn down the entire Grey Terminal and kill everyone here. They hired the Blue jam Pirates to carry it out."

The crowd erupted in disbelief.

"Don't talk nonsense, kid!" someone shouted.

"Is this some kind of prank you kids are playing?" another sneered.

The chatter grew louder as the people argued, dismissing Ash's words as a joke or exaggeration.

Dadan stomped her foot and bellowed, "SHUT UP, YOU IDIOTS, AND LISTEN TO WHAT HE HAS TO SAY!" Her booming voice silenced the crowd, the authority in her tone cutting through the noise.

Ash glanced at her with a nod. "Thanks, Dadan."

He grabbed the rope tied around Blue jam and dragged him forward. "If you won't believe me, then I'll let him tell you the truth." Ash turned to Blue jam, his grin sharp and mocking. "Go on, tell them everything."

Blue jam smirked defiantly, refusing to cooperate. "What makes you think I'll do what you say, brat?"

Ash laughed, his eyes gleaming with amusement. "Because the man I came here with is none other than Monkey D. Dragon, the leader of the Revolutionary Army—the world's most wanted criminal."

Blue jam froze, his smirk fading instantly. He turned his head slowly, his eyes locking on Dragon's face. The realization hit him like a tidal wave, his body trembling as Dragon's piercing glare bore into him. Fear gripped him as he recognized the infamous revolutionary leader.

The crowd gasped, murmurs of shock rippling through them as they stared at Dragon, their fear and curiosity growing.

Blue jam, now visibly shaking, stammered, "I-It's true… The royals hired us… They told us to burn down the Grey Terminal to get rid of everyone here before the Celestial Dragon arrives for inspection. They promised to make us nobles in return…"

The crowd fell into stunned silence, Blue jam's confession confirming Ash's claims. Panic quickly set in as the weight of the situation sank in.

"What do we do now?" someone cried.

"They're going to kill us all!" another wailed.

Before the chaos could escalate further, Dragon raised his voice, his commanding tone cutting through the panic like a blade. "ENOUGH!" The single word echoed across the square, forcing everyone to look at him.

Dragon stepped forward, his presence commanding the attention of every soul in the square. His voice, calm yet powerful, resonated through the air. "Let me introduce myself again. My name is Monkey D. Dragon, leader of the Revolutionary Army. What this kid has told you is true."

Gasps rippled through the crowd, fear and awe painted across their faces.

Dragon continued; his tone steady but laden with conviction. "The world we live in is rotten to its core, ruled by those who sit in gilded palaces, looking down on everyone else as if they were nothing more than insects. Nobles like those of the Goa Kingdom and the so-called Celestial Dragons—they see you as trash, unworthy of life. And for their twisted ideals, they would burn you all alive."

The crowd listened, their fear shifting into anger and confusion.

Dragon's voice grew stronger as he went on, "This is why I founded the Revolutionary Army with some like minded people—to fight against this unjust system, to dismantle the oppression that forces people like you to suffer while those at the top grow fat on their arrogance. You deserve better than this. You deserve to live with dignity, free from fear of being discarded for someone else's ambitions."

His words struck a chord, igniting a spark of defiance in the crowd. Many exchanged looks of uncertainty, while others clenched their fists, anger bubbling to the surface.

Dragon continued, "I will save you from this impending disaster and help you escape this island. But I also extend an invitation: join our cause in fighting the oppression of the world nobles. If you do not wish to join, that is fine. We will escort you to a safe island where you can live without fear. However, for those who choose to stand with us, know this—our path is not easy. It is a life-and-death situation, and once you join, there is no turning back."

Before the crowd could fully process his words, a flamboyant voice broke through the tension. "Fufufu! Everything is ready, Dragon!"

Everyone turned to see a striking figure stride into the square—Ivankov, with their towering presence and radiant charisma.

Dragon nodded firmly. "Good. Everyone, follow the people who came just now, they are with the revolutionaries and my comrades. They will safely lead you to the ship waiting at the shore. This is your chance to escape. You can decide you want have journey with us or not after you feel safe and in clear mind."

The people hesitated for only a moment before beginning to move, spurred on by the revolutionaries who had arrived with Ivankov. Murmurs of uncertainty, fear, and hope rippled through the crowd as they started filing out of the square.

Ivankov stayed behind, their dramatic flair contrasting twirling with the seriousness of the situation. "I'll stay with you, Dragon. Fufufu, someone's gotta keep you in check!"

Dragon smirked faintly but kept his focus. The square grew quieter as the last of the crowd disappeared toward safety, leaving only Dragon, Ivankov, Ash, and the others behind.

Ash turned to Dadan and said, "Take Blue jam back to your hideout and guard him and his crew until we return. Make sure they don't try anything."

Blue jam, overhearing this, growled, "You brat! You've got what you wanted, right? Let me go already!"

Ash smirked. "There's still your bounty to collect."

Enraged, Blue jam suddenly freed himself from the ropes and lunged at Ash with a furious punch.

Before Ash could react, Ivankov intervened, her voice ringing out dramatically. "You're far too rude! Let me adjust your perspective! Emporio Female Hormone!"

With a flick of her hand, Ivankov unleashed her ability, injecting Blue jam with a dose of her hormone technique. In an instant, Blue jam's masculine frame softened and transformed into a distinctly feminine one.

The scene froze for a moment as everyone processed what had just happened. Lucy was the first to break the silence, pointing at Blue jam and shouting, "NANI?!"

Blue jam, now speaking in a higher-pitched, distinctly feminine voice, looked down at herself in shock. "What did you do to me?!" she shrieked, turning to Ivankov with wide eyes.

Ivankov struck a fabulous pose and explained, "Fufufu! I used my Female Hormone! With just a little injection of love, I can alter the hormones in someone's body and change their gender entirely. Isn't it magnificent?"

Everyone stood dumbfounded, except for Ash, who crossed his arms and grinned. "That's one way to handle it."

Blue jam, trembling with disbelief, could only stammer, "Change me back!"

Ivankov smirked. "Only if Dragon-Sama asks me to. Otherwise, enjoy your new point of view! Fufufu!"

Dadan stood frozen in shock for a moment, her mouth hanging open as she processed what had just happened. Finally, shaking herself out of it, she grumbled, "What kind of nonsense is this...?"

Before Blue jam could react further in her new form, Dadan strode forward and delivered a solid knock to her head. Blue jam crumpled to the ground, unconscious.

With a huff, Dadan grabbed some ropes and tied Blue jam even tighter than before, muttering, "Not taking any chances this time. I don't care if she's a man or a woman now—still the same trouble."

Hoisting the unconscious Blue jam onto her shoulder like a sack of potatoes, Dadan turned to Ash and the girls. "You kids better come back safe; you hear me? I'm trusting you brats to handle things here."

She paused, glancing at Lucy, Uta, and Ace. Her tough demeanor softened just a bit. "Don't do anything too reckless. And Ash..." She pointed a finger at him. "...keep them in line."

Ash smirked. "Don't worry. We've got this."

Dadan gave a firm nod and signaled to her gang. With Blue jam securely in tow, she led her bandits away, heading back to their hideout.

As they disappeared into the distance, Ash turned to the others, determination gleaming in his eyes. "Alright, let's finish this."

As Dadan and her gang vanished into the distance, Ash suddenly heard another familiar chime in his mind.

[Ding! Quest Completed: Prevent the Grey Terminal Massacre!]

Ash clenched his fist in satisfaction but decided to push the notification aside for now. There was no time to celebrate—they still had to rescue Selina.

Meanwhile, Lucy was still wide-eyed and fixated on Ivankov. Her curiosity finally burst out. "Hey! Are you a boy or a girl? How did you do that? That was amazing!"

Ivankov gave a dramatic laugh, striking a flamboyant pose. "Fufufu~! I am an Okama from Kamabakka Kingdom, darling! I used my Devil Fruit power of the Horu Horu no Mi! It allows me to control a person's hormones, transforming their body however I please—whether it's gender, appearance, or even strength!"

Lucy gasped, stars practically shining in her eyes. "Sugoi~! That's so cool!"

Uta and Ace couldn't help but smile at Lucy's enthusiasm, and even Dragon chuckled softly. Ash smirked, shaking his head as he thought to himself, leave it to Lucy to lighten the mood.

Dragon noticing that Ash and the girls hadn't moved to follow Dadan. Ace stepped forward and answered before he could speak up, "We can't leave. We have to save our sister."

Dragon, confused, turned his attention to the group. "Sister? What do you mean?"

Uta added, "She's a noble, and her father took her back forcefully to her home, the one she ran away from. Her name is Selina."

Lucy responded, "We drank sake together and formed a bond. She's our sister now."

Before Dragon could respond, a loud crackle of flames echoed through the air. A fire had started in the Grey Terminal, likely near the Great Gate. The city guards were throwing explosives from the other side of the gate.

Ash sighed deeply in relief, thought to himself in his mind, "It's good that I completed the quest before all this started without failing the objectives."

He looked around at the others, steeling himself for what was about to come. It seemed the there is still task to do seeing the fire starts spreading fast towards them.

Dragon and Ivankov swiftly lifted Ash and the girls, carrying them away from the rapidly spreading fire. Despite the protest of flames licking at the edges of the terminal, they moved with practiced ease, reaching the shore where a Revolutionary ship awaited them.

Once on board, Ace struggled against the firm grip holding her. "Let us go! We need to get to the kingdom!" she shouted.

Lucy joined in, her voice ringing out, "Yeah! We can't just leave Selina!"

Ash and Uta remained silent, their expressions serious. Uta glanced at Ash, who seemed lost in thought. Frustrated, Lucy turned to him. "Ash, say something!"

Ash finally spoke, his voice steady but firm. "That route isn't possible. The gate is closed, I have already checked it and with the fire spreading, it's completely blocked. We need to find another way—only by around the island by sea—to reach the kingdom."

Ace and Lucy paused, the gravity of his words settling in. Reluctantly, they fell silent, though their determination still burned bright in their eyes.

Ash turned to Dragon; his gaze unwavering. "Please, help us one last time to save Selina."

Dragon met his eyes, nodding with a faint smirk. "I was already planning to save her, even before I met you. By sea, it might take around couple of hours to circle around because we need to be discrete so no one can notice us coming. If we stay on course, we should reach there in time."

Ash felt a flicker of hope as the ship adjusted its course, the crew of the Revolutionaries springing into action to make the journey as swift as possible.

After a couple of hours of sailing, the calm sea was suddenly shattered by the booming sound of a massive cannon fire. The shockwave rippled through the air, startling everyone on the ship.

At that exact moment, the Soul Bond Bracelet on the wrists of Ash, Uta, Lucy, and Ace began to blink an ominous red. A chilling sensation coursed through their bodies, as if their very souls were resonating with distress.

Simultaneously, as if driven by instinct, all four shouted, their voices filled with urgency and fear, "Selina!"

To be continued...

Hey everyone! I'm always looking for ways to make this story even better, and I'd love to hear your ideas. What powers do you think should be available in Ash's store? Maybe you have some cool concepts for abilities, weapons, or items that could make the adventure even more exciting!

Feel free to drop your suggestions in the comments, and if there's anything specific, you'd love to see in future chapters, let me know! I might even integrate your ideas into the story.

Also, don't forget to give some Power Stones if you're enjoying the journey! Your support means the world. 😊