Chapter 3: First Clash with Marines

As the vast expanse of the East Blue stretched out before him, Noct lay splayed across the Striker, his chest heaving with exertion. The sun beat down mercilessly, its rays reflecting off the shimmering surface of the sea and casting a blinding glare that made him squint. Noct's limbs felt heavy, weighed down by the exhaustion that seeped into his very bones.

"Damn," he panted, his voice barely audible above the gentle lapping of the waves against the Striker's hull. "Can't do this... This thing drains too much energy."

He closed his eyes, feeling the heat of the sun on his face and the gentle rocking of the raft beneath him. The realization that his low level and limited stamina were hindering his progress hit him like a physical blow, disabusing him of his hopes of crossing all the way to the Grand Line.

"And since my level is so low, I don't have enough stamina," he muttered, a wry smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. "Need to think of another way to cross the seas."

His thoughts drifted to Ace, the legendary pirate who had inspired him and whose abilities he now possessed. "How the hell did Ace do it?" he wondered aloud. "He's a monster for using his Devil Fruit to cross the seas."

As Noct lay there, adrift on the vast expanse of the East Blue, the sound of distant cannon fire suddenly pierced the tranquil silence. His eyes snapped open, his senses instantly alert. He sat up, scanning the horizon for the source of the commotion.

"Well, well," he mused, a glint of excitement in his eyes. "Sounds like trouble. And trouble usually means a free ride to an island."

With a grin, Noct rose to his feet, his exhaustion momentarily forgotten. He focused his will, channeling the power of the Mera Mera no Mi into the Striker's engine. The raft surged forward, propelled by the force of the flames, as Noct set a course towards the distant sounds of battle.

As he drew closer, the scene unfolded before him: a Marine ship engaged in fierce combat with a pirate vessel. Cannonballs whistled through the air, exploding in plumes of smoke and fire as they struck their targets. The clash of swords and the shouts of the combatants carried across the water, a cacophony of chaos and violence.

Noct couldn't help but smirk as he surveyed the battlefield. "The East Blue really does seem like the weakest sea," he remarked, his tone laced with amusement.

Suddenly, the Marines took notice of his approach. Shouts of "Devil Fruit user!" rang out across the deck, and the cannons swiveled to take aim at the Striker. Cannonballs hurtled through the air, their trajectory aimed squarely at Noct's raft.

A system prompt materialized before Noct's eyes, its text glowing with urgency:

[Quest Issued]

Defeat the Attacking Marines

Objectives:

- Defeat the Marine crew attacking you

Rewards:

- 200 Experience Points

- Increased Reputation with Pirates

- Unlocks New Quests and Opportunities

In the confusion, the pirate ship seized the opportunity to escape, its sails unfurling as it caught the wind and sped away from the battle. Noct barely had time to react as the cannonballs whistled past him, narrowly missing the Striker.

Annoyance flashed across his features, his brow furrowing as he realized the Marines had mistaken him for an enemy. With a burst of speed, Noct leaped from the Striker, his body wreathed in flames as he soared through the air. He landed on the deck of the Marine ship with a resounding thud, the impact sending tremors through the wooden planks.

The Marines charged at him, their swords drawn and their rifles leveled. Bullets and blades passed harmlessly through Noct's logia flame body, his form flickering and dancing like a living inferno. The Marine captain, his face pale with fear, shouted, "It's a logia Devil Fruit user!"

[Battle Log]

Marines attack Noctis D. Stryfe with swords and bullets: 0 damage dealt

Noct's lips curled into a smirk, his eyes gleaming with mischief. "It's my turn," he declared, his voice low and dangerous.

As the Marines closed in around him, Noct's mind raced, searching for a way to end the battle quickly. Suddenly, a memory of Ace's signature move flashed through his mind. With a grin, Noct raised both hands, his fingers forming the shape of a gun.

"Higan!" he shouted, his voice ringing out across the deck.

Flames burst forth from his fingertips, taking the shape of bullets as they streaked towards the Marines. The fiery projectiles struck their targets with unerring accuracy, sending the Marines crumpling to the deck, their bodies wreathed in flames.

[Battle Log]

Noctis D. Stryfe uses Higan: 500 damage dealt to Marines

Marines' Health: 0/500

Marines have been defeated!

[New Ability Learned]

Higan (Active): Fire bullet-like projectiles of flame from the user's fingertips. Consumes 20 stamina per use.

As the last of the Marines fell, a system prompt appeared before Noct's eyes, its text flashing with urgency:

[Warning: User stamina has reached dangerous levels.]

Noct staggered, his legs trembling beneath him as the toll of the battle caught up with him. He gritted his teeth, forcing himself to remain standing, unwilling to show any weakness before the defeated Marines.

With a grin that was equal parts exhaustion and triumph, Noct addressed the fallen crew. "Now, I need a ride."

The Marine captain, his face etched with a mixture of fear and resignation, looked up at Noct. "To where?" he asked, his voice trembling.

Noct paused, suddenly realizing that he had no specific destination in mind. His stomach chose that moment to growl loudly, reminding him of the gnawing hunger that had been building within him.

"I'm stumped," Noct admitted, scratching the back of his head. "Is there any place nearby where I can get some food? I'm famished."

The Marine captain's eyes widened, a flicker of hope crossing his features. "Baratie," he said quickly. "The floating restaurant. It's nearby, and we can take you there."

Noct's brow furrowed, the name triggering a flood of memories from his manga knowledge. Baratie, the famous seafaring restaurant, home to the legendary chef Zeff and the aspiring young cook Sanji. A place where dreams were born and destinies were forged.

"Baratie, huh?" Noct mused, a grin spreading across his face. "Alright, take me there. You guys are my Uber now."

The Marine captain looked confused. "Uber? What's that?" he asked, his brow furrowed in puzzlement.

Noct chuckled, shaking his head. "Never mind," he said, waving off the question. "Just focus on getting me to Baratie."

Before the Marines set sail, Noct had one more request. "Oh, and tie up the Striker behind the ship and tow it along," he said, lazily gesturing towards his raft. "I'm too tired to bother putting it back in my inventory."

The Marines, eager to appease their newfound master, hastened to comply. They secured the Striker to the stern of the ship, ensuring that it would be towed safely behind them as they made their way to Baratie.

As the Marine ship set a course for the floating restaurant, Noct couldn't help but chuckle at the irony of the situation. Here he was, a rookie pirate with barely any experience, commanding a Marine vessel to take him to one of the most iconic locations in the East Blue.

He sank to the deck, his back pressed against the railing as he caught his breath. The sun had begun its descent towards the horizon, painting the sky in a breathtaking array of oranges and pinks. The gentle rocking of the ship beneath him was a soothing balm to his aching muscles, a reminder of the trials he had faced and the victories he had won.

As the Marine ship sailed onwards, Noct's thoughts turned to the future. The battle with the Marines had been a stark reminder of his own limitations, of the need to grow stronger and to master his newfound powers. He knew that he would need a weapon to fight with while he worked on increasing his stamina, a tool to help him overcome the challenges that lay ahead.

With a flick of his wrist, Noct accessed the system, his eyes scanning the quest rewards and his current status. A grin spread across his face as he noticed the experience points he had earned from defeating the Marines. Suddenly, a chime sounded, and a new prompt appeared before his eyes:

[Level Up]

Noctis D. Stryfe has reached Level 7!

Health: 200/200

Stamina: 200/200

[New Feature Unlocked]

Talent Tree: Customize and enhance your abilities by allocating talent points earned through leveling up.

Noct's eyes widened as he explored the newly unlocked Talent Tree. The system presented him with a sprawling web of interconnected nodes, each representing a unique enhancement or modification to his existing abilities. Some nodes promised to increase the power and range of his Higan, while others offered passive bonuses to his stamina regeneration and fire resistance.

Excitement bubbled within him as he contemplated the possibilities. With each level gained and each talent point spent, he could shape his powers to suit his playstyle and overcome the challenges that lay ahead. The road to becoming a true master of the Mera Mera no Mi stretched out before him, filled with endless potential and the promise of greatness.

But for now, as the sun dipped below the horizon and the stars began to twinkle in the darkening sky, Noct allowed himself a moment of rest. He closed his eyes, letting the gentle rocking of the ship lull him into a peaceful slumber.