With our destination set, we set sail full speed ahead towards Raftel. I had been on this journey for over four years, and I was finally just a short distance away from achieving the goal that me and Yuma set out to accomplish all those years ago in the West Blue.
We had some incredible adventures along the way, just like I hoped we would. On one hand I was excited to reach the end of my journey, but on the other I was almost sad that it was going to end. Still nothing was going to stop me now that I was so close to what I had always dreamed of.
After days at sea, we finally saw the silhouette of an island on the horizon. However, while we were almost in sight of Raftel, there was also another silhouette on the horizon behind us.
"Hey, Captain? I'm picking up a lot of ships behind us. It's easily over one hundred." Rei said nervously.
It was the Navy. The massive armada that they had sent after me had finally caught up to us. It consisted of over 200 battleships, lead by all three admirals and the Fleet Admiral himself.
"Captain, this is a real problem." Jack chimed in.
"We need to get out of here right now!" Rei said in a panic.
"Calm down, there's nothing we can do about it now. We're stuck between them and the island. There's no way out." I said.
"Can't we try to escape onto the island?" Claudia suggested.
"No, there's something way worse on that island." Yuma replied.
"He's right. I'm sorry to put this all on you, but I'll have to ask you to handle this while I deal with the guy on the island." I told them.
"Just one guy is more dangerous than the combined force of the strongest fighters in the Navy? You've got to be kidding me." Rei said hysterically.
"Listen, I just need you guys to hold them off long enough for me to take care of that guy. I'll come back to help as soon as possible."
"Screw that!" Charlemagne said as he came out to where the rest of us were. "You're telling me that I get to fight the strongest men in the Navy and you won't get in my way? It sounds like you're getting the short end of the stick to me." He said with an ear to ear grin.
"Bahaha! I'm glad you'll enjoy yourself if nothing else, Char." I laughed as I gave him a fist bump.
"Um, some of us won't enjoy this." Claudia added.
"Don't worry. I've got a plan I'll pass along to Yuma, just follow his orders. But most importantly, I want you to stay alive guys." I said to the crew.
"Ha! You don't have to worry about us. I've got your back like always, Gai." Yuma told me as he gave me a fist bump.
"Thanks buddy, I'm counting on you."
From there, we all split up. Yuma took the rest of the crew to meet the Navy forces in a battle at sea, while I went ashore to deal with the mysterious enemy that was waiting there for me. I had no idea who the guy could be. The only I could tell was that he was incredibly strong. In fact, I had a strange feeling that there was something unnatural about his strength. Regardless I rushed towards him as I wanted to finish him off as quickly as possible.
I was more concerned about my allies than I was about myself. That being said, I gave Yuma a strategy that was confident would work. I had also made some preparations ahead of time, with two calls to people I thought could help. Though I had no way of knowing if they would make it in time if they even come at all.
I had made landfall onto Raftel, which should have been a big moment. Unfortunately, I didn't have time to take in the moment because I was soon face to face with this mysterious opponent.
"So you must be ******** *******, or I suppose you go by Buster Gaileo or something now don't you?" The man said.
At this point it had been over two decades since I had heard that name. "So, I see you must be with those guys."