Chapter 42: Into the Unknown

The ship sailed smoothly away from Marineford, the towering structures of the fortress shrinking into the distance. The crew, though excited, couldn't shake the quiet tension that hung in the air. They were heading toward the Grand Line, a place known for its unpredictability and danger, and most of them had never ventured into waters like this before.

On deck, Vulcan stood near the ship's railing, gazing out at the sea. His mind was sharp, focused, and filled with excitement. He was finally on an adventure, leading a crew of capable Marines—Smoker, Hina, and the seven recruits—into unknown territory.

Smoker approached him, a cloud of smoke drifting lazily from his cigarette. He took a long drag, his eyes narrowing as he sized up Vulcan. "So, Vulcan… I gotta ask. Did you get permission from the higher-ups for this little 'adventure'?"

Vulcan turned, his expression one of genuine confusion. "Permission?" he asked, tilting his head like he didn't quite understand the question. "Why would I need permission? We're just going on a quick adventure."

Smoker's eyes widened in disbelief, and he pulled the cigarette from his mouth slowly. He exchanged a glance with Hina, who had just walked up, her arms crossed as she stared at Vulcan with a raised eyebrow.

"You… didn't think to ask the higher-ups? Like, at all?" Smoker said, his tone flat with shock.

"Why would I?" Vulcan replied, his face the picture of innocence. "We're just going to have some fun, hunt some pirates, maybe check out that creepy Florian Triangle place, and come back. No big deal."

The entire deck fell into a sudden silence. Even the recruits, who had been chatting excitedly moments before, stopped what they were doing and turned to stare at Vulcan, their faces showing a mix of awe and disbelief.

"You're… joking, right?" Hina finally asked, her tone calm but laced with disbelief. "You mean to tell Hina that you're leading a group of Marines into one of the most dangerous areas of the Grand Line without informing any of the higher-ups?"

Vulcan blinked, still looking completely unbothered. "Well… yeah. I mean, we're capable, right? It's not like we need a whole squad of Vice Admirals for this. We can handle it ourselves."

Smoker rubbed the bridge of his nose, a groan escaping him. "You're insane. Absolutely insane."

The recruits huddled together, whispering amongst themselves.

"Did he really just say that?" one of them asked, eyes wide.

"How are we still going along with this?" another whispered.

"Hey," Vulcan said, snapping them out of their conversation. "We're all in this together, right? We've got Smoker, we've got Hina, and we've got you guys. What's the worst that could happen?"

Smoker raised an eyebrow, placing the cigarette back between his lips. "You know, usually when people say that, they end up getting into serious trouble."

Hina sighed, though a small, amused smile tugged at her lips. "Hina thinks we'll be lucky if we even make it halfway before someone sends a message back to HQ."

Vulcan crossed his arms, grinning confidently. "Well, we'll just have to get there before anyone notices we're gone, won't we?"

Smoker and Hina exchanged glances again, both of them shaking their heads slightly, but neither of them said anything more. Despite the obvious recklessness of Vulcan's approach, they had to admit—he had an infectious confidence that made you want to follow him.

As the day went on, the crew continued their journey, each member settling into their roles aboard the ship. The recruits were clearly eager, though their inexperience showed in their clumsy movements around the deck. Smoker spent much of his time at the helm, keeping the ship on course, while Hina kept a watchful eye on everyone, ensuring things ran smoothly.

Vulcan, on the other hand, was everywhere—helping the recruits, chatting with Smoker about navigation, or talking to Hina about the mission. He was a natural leader, despite the unorthodox way he handled things. His excitement was contagious, and soon, even the recruits started feeling more confident about the journey.

As the sun began to dip lower in the sky, the ship sailed deeper into the Grand Line. The waters, once calm, started to churn with an unpredictable energy. The wind picked up, and the sky darkened unnaturally. Something about the atmosphere felt… wrong.

Vulcan stood at the bow, staring ahead, when he noticed it—a thick, eerie fog creeping over the horizon.

"That's it, isn't it?" he muttered to himself, a grin spreading across his face. The Florian Triangle.

Night fell, and the ship was now fully engulfed in the fog. It surrounded them, pressing in from all sides, making it nearly impossible to see more than a few meters ahead. The recruits were on edge, their eyes darting around nervously as they strained to hear anything beyond the ship's creaking hull.

"This place gives me the creeps," one of the recruits muttered.

"You're telling me," another replied. "I can't see anything out there. What if we hit something?"

"Stay focused," Hina said, her voice calm but firm. "We're not in danger yet. Hina thinks we'll be fine if we stay alert."

Vulcan, standing next to Smoker, glanced over at him. "So, this is the Florian Triangle… You think it lives up to the rumors?"

Smoker exhaled a puff of smoke, his expression unreadable. "I guess we'll find out soon enough. Keep your eyes sharp. I don't like how quiet it is."

As if on cue, the silence was broken by a distant creaking sound. It echoed through the fog, faint but unmistakable. The crew tensed, their eyes scanning the mist for any sign of movement.

"What was that?" one of the recruits whispered, gripping his weapon tightly.

Vulcan's grin widened. "Looks like things are about to get interesting."

The eerie creaking continued, growing louder as the minutes passed. Something was out there—something big. But whatever it was, it wasn't making itself known just yet.

"We keep moving," Vulcan ordered, his voice steady despite the growing tension. "No need to panic. If something's out there, we'll handle it. We didn't come all this way to turn back now."

The ship pressed onward, deeper into the Florian Triangle, the fog growing thicker with each passing moment. The crew stayed alert, their weapons at the ready, but the tension was undeniable. Everyone could feel it—the sense that something was watching them from within the fog.

Smoker took another long drag from his cigarette, exhaling the smoke into the mist. "Hope you're ready for whatever's coming, Vulcan. Because it's definitely out there."

Vulcan nodded, gripping the hilt of his naginata tightly. "Oh, I'm ready. Let's see what this place has in store for us."