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  --xLOVEx--

  Before dawn, the crew was already awake, gathering their gear in preparation for their escape. The early m air was cool and everyone was on edge, knowing they o move quickly.

  Coby ehe room, rubbing the sleep from his eyes. "Where’s Vivi?" Luffy asked, his voice curious but not overly ed.

  Coby shrugged, keeping his tone casual. "She said she would meet us at the eastern port. She hasn’t decided if she’s ing with us yet."

  The crew's energy dipped slightly at the news, but they didn't let it slow them down. They khe situation in Abasta was plicated, and they respected Vivi’s o make her decision on her own terms.

  "Alright," Luffy said, accepting Coby’s words without fuss. "Let’s go, then."

  They moved swiftly, heading toward the Sandora River to retrieve the Going Merry. The streets of Alubarna were quiet, most of the city still asleep after the chaos of the past few days. The only sound was the soft shuffle of their feet on the sandy streets.

  As they reached the riverbank, the Going Merry sat waiting. The crew quickly boarded the ship, their movements were quick as they prepared to set sail. Nami took the helm, guiding the ship away from the shore and down the winding river.

  When they arrived at the eastern port, the crew disembarked, sing the area for any sign of Vivi. The port was bustling with activity, merts loading and unloading goods as ships prepared to set sail. But amidst the noise and otion, there was no sign of the princess.

  "Where is she?" Sanji asked, his eyes sing the crowd.

  "She’ll be here," Coby assured him. "Just give her a bit more time."

  Soon, navy ships filled the sea, enclosing ohe crew was tense as they stood at the ready. Sanji looked out at the ining vessels. "We o move."

  Luffy was still waiting, standing on the upper deck alongside Coby. Last night, Bon Kurei had called them, inf them that he had hidden the Going Merry because the Marines were about to seize it. That was why they had left before dawn. Now, Bon Kurei's ship was suffering the onsught o them, as Marine Captain Hina was closing in fast.

  ons from the navy ships fired special harpoons created by Hina's Devil Fruit ability, eae flying through the air with deadly precision. Coby stood on the deck, his eyes trag as he defehe Merry against the ining projectiles. He used his agility and the water darts of Uchimizu to knock the harpoons areventing them from tg onto the ship.

  Coby’s gaze narrowed as he watched Hina's ship draw closer. He thought about her ability to create metal cages with her limbs, and it intrigued him. He wahat power, but he o see it in a first.

  Another wave of harpoons shot towards the Merry, and oved swiftly, knog them away before they could hit. The crew was on edge, but they all worked together to keep the ship safe.

  Coby calcuted in his mind. 'Her ability is single use, so the price will be over the chart.' He sighed. The gains from his fight with Crocodile wasn't as good as he hoped, as he didn't kill Crocodile. ‘Show me my gains,’ he thought.

  [System Messages:

  30 SP awarded for tactical use of Stealth Foot to evade Crocodile's initial sand-based attacks.

  50 SP awarded for successfully nding a teratta Crocodile by using precise timing and observation.

  80 SP awarded for creatively utilizing Bara Bara Detach Hand to strike from ued angles and force Crocodile to stay on the defensive.

  100 SP awarded for using enviroal awareo avoid Crocodile’s Sandstorm teique and minimize damage.

  120 SP awarded for exploiting Crocodile's momentary weakness during his attack wind-up and delivering a solid hit.

  ...

  Special Rewards:

  Plot ge Bonus: 500 SP awarded for altering the course of events by defeating Crocodile before Luffy's final frontation, allowing for a more favorable oute.

  Strategic Ability Usage Bonus: 400 SP awarded for smart and innovative use of bined abilities, particurly the effective use of water and strategic strikes to ter Crocodile's Logia powers.

  Intelligence Bonus: 300 SP awarded for identifying and exploiting Crocodile's weaknesses and adapting quickly to the fight's ging dynamics.

  Resilience Bonus: 250 SP awarded for withstanding Crocodile's powerful attacks and maintaining focus under pressure.

  Final System Message:

  Battle Efficy Bonus: 400 SP awarded for surviving and holding his own against a Warlord of the Sea while minimizing damage and serving energy.

  Tactical Superiority: 500 SP awarded for preventing Crocodile from achieving his objectives and helping turide of the battle in favor of the Straw Hats.

  Total SP Awarded fht with Crocodile: 7,830 SP]

  There was nothing to do. Crocodile was a Shichibukai, but in the grand scheme of things, he wasn’t that strong. The SP gains reflected that. If Coby had killed him, he was sure he’d have gotten over 50,000 SP, but he hadn’t, so there was no point in g over it. Bon Kurei suddenly called out, standing on the Merry's ridge, "What're you all doing!? We've gotta escaaaaaaape! If we aim for that opening to the south, we get outta here with minimal casualties! tio sail like this, and we’ll be done for sure!"

  Luffy responded with his usual carefree grin, "Go if you want, but we’re staying."

  Bon Kurei's dropped in shock, "You are WHAATT?" His crew echoed the se, urging him to hurry onboard. "Mr. Bon Kurei! Please hurry! Let’s escape by ourselves!"

  Nami, remaining calm, added, "We have a promise. We o be at the Eastern port at noon. No time for detours."

  Bon Kurei was bewildered, "This is ridiculous! Is there some treasure worth risking your lives over at that port!? Fine, go ahead and die if you want!"

  Luffy's smile brightened, "Nah, we’re pig up a friend."

  Bon Kurei stood there, dumbfounded, watg the crew. They were risking everything for a friend. "What the hell…," he muttered, realization dawning on him.

  So awed by the Straw Hats' determination, Bon Kurei made up his mind. He turo the crew, his face serious but eyes gleaming with resolve. "I've got a pn!" he decred, already transf into Luffy. His crew quickly began to dress like the Straw Hats, imitating each member down to the smallest detail, well at least from afar.

  "We’ll head in the opposite dire," Bon Kurei expined. "We’ll draw the Marines away, giving you the breathing room you o reach the port. It wouldn’t sit right with me to abandon my friends, especially when you’re risking your lives for yours."

  Coby smiled, a hint of relief in his expression. Though many things had ged, Bon Kurei's loyalty remained unwavering. He could have saved him, of course, but he khat Bon Kurei’s destiny y elsewhere—in Impel Down.

  As Bon Kurei and his crew prepared for their daring sacrifice, he struck a pose, thoughts s as he prepared to lead Hina and the Marines away. "Stray from the path of a man. Stray from the path of a woman. But there is no straying from the path of a human! If we fall, then may we scatter across the true sky. Okama Way!"

  With that, Bon Kurei and his crew set sail, their ship cutting through the water as they headed straight into the west. The Straw Hats watched as Bon Kurei's ship diverted the Navy's attention, the Marines quickly giving chase.

  Soon, Vivi's speech began, although it didn’t make seo many. "I went on a little adve was a trip in search of despair across the dark, gloomy seas. Havi my home try, the sea I saw before me was vast. It was hard to believe just how many strong isnds there were out there. Pnts and animals I had never seen... Sights I'd never imagined, even in my dreams..." She paused, her voice carrying a hint of nostalgia. The citizens of Abasta were fused, trying to grasp the meaning behind her words.

  Vivi tinued, her tone softer now, as if speaking to herself more than the crowd. "There was darkness, though... The ship I was o it. But even in that darkness, there were people who talked about a light that would eventually shine on them."

  Those who knew her well uood the metaphor. The small ship she spoke of was herself, and the people were her tharairates. She smiled slightly, her voice trembling with emotion. "And on that ship, a special Sakura Tree, never letting rain, snow, or sunlight fall on her, alroteg, cherishing, and loving the ship. It is the most special feeling."

  Coby, listening from the ship, smiled knowingly. The Sakura Tree—he knew she was referring to him. The crew realized that Vivi was giving her spee the capital and uood what it meant. It ast noon, and they had to leave.

  "Let's go, she’s not ing," Zoro said bluntly, his gaze shifting towards the open sea.

  Luffy, however, was stubborn, his usual resolve showing. "She will. She said she will."

  As they prepared to set sail, Vivi's voice suddenly boomed from the speakers, eg across the port and reag the ship. "Everyohe crew immediately turheir eyes sing the coast. There she was, standing with Carue, waving at them from a distance.

  "She’s here!" Usopp shouted, his voice filled with excitement. "Turn the ship. She came to sail with us."

  Luffy and Chopper were eted, thinking that Vivi had e to join them again. Nami was about to turn the ship when Vivi’s voice rang out, stopping them iracks. "I have e to say goodbye."

  The words shocked the crew. Nami froze, her hand on the wheel, while Usopp and Sanji exged fused gnces. Zoro, leaning against the railing, looked over at Vivi with a frown, and even Luffy’s grin faltered. But Coby wasn’t surprised; he k already.

  Vivi’s voice cracked as she tinued, "I ’t e with you. I really, really want to go on another adveh you, but I ’t. Because I love this try too much." Tears welled up in her eyes as she spoke, her emotions id bare for them to see. "Thank you for everything you have done. I’m thankful to all of you."

  Luffy, who had been staring at her, suddenly broke into a smile. It wasn’t his usual goofy grin but something softer, more uanding. He respected her decision, and his smile reflected that.

  Vivi wiped away a tear and then asked, her voice trembling, "Although I will remain behind, if we meet again sometime, will you call me your friend one more time?"

  The crew was silent for a moment, abs her words. Usopp and Luffy were about to shout back to her, ready to reassure her, when Coby quickly stepped in, pg a hand on their shoulders. "Marines are here. If we answer, we’ll put her on the spot."

  Luffy’s mouth snapped shut, frustration clear on his face as he struggled with not being able to shout his reply. But then, his eyes lit up with an idea. A grin spread across his face, and he Coby before looking toward the others. They all knew what to do.

  Vivi, standing on the shore, felt her ay grow. She wondered if the crew had already moved on, if they no longer sidered her a friend because she had chosen to stay behind. But then she saw something amazing.

  Lined up on the deck of the Going Merry, Luffy, Coby, Nami, Zoro, Usopp, Sanji, and Chopper all turheir backs to her. They raised their left arms high, each arm marked with the X they had drawn on the day of arriving Abasta. It was their silent promise, their way of saying they would always be her friends, no matter what.

  The X marks, simple but powerful, veyed everything words couldn’t. They didn’t o shout or make graures. The marks were enough.

  Vivi’s tears flowed freely now, but her smile was wide. She raised her left arm in respohe same X mark visible on her skin. Beside her, Carue did the same with his wing, proudly dispying his own mark.

  The day they had drawn those marks on their arms, Luffy had shouted with his usual excitement, "FROM NOW ON, NO MATTER WHAT HAPPENS, THIS MARK ON OUR LEFT ARM... WILL BE THE MARK OF OUR FRIENDSHIP!" The memory lingered in Coby's mind as he held his arm high, X mark clear for Vivi to see. He could feel the energy of that moment, even now, as they silently unicated their bond.

  Coby felt so emotional. This se was so impactful when he first watched it, and even ihousands of times following, he felt proud to be part of it now in real life. He stood on the deck with the Straw Hats ahe moment. He felt lucky to die and be in that moment.

  Seriously gals and guys, this might be my one favorite se. I just love that little stahat sileion and promise. Even re-reading this chapter, I ot help but get my eyes wet. I am a bit of a cry-baby, but well, I just love it. Hopefully you guys like it too. So I raise my left arm for all you guys. (I do have tattoo)

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