The sea breeze was soft against Rex's skin.
It carried the scent of salt, morning dew, and freshly sanded wood.
The Going Merry stood proudly at the docks of Syrup Village — her goat-shaped figurehead smiling into the sky. The ship wasn't flashy, but there was something pure about her. Something real. Something full of heart.
"She's beautiful," Nami whispered, hand on the railing.
"Better than that piece of driftwood we had before," Zoro said, adjusting his swords.
Usopp stood proudly at the bow, arms crossed like a hero. "Behold! The mighty ship I bestow upon this brave and glorious crew!"
"THANK YOU, USOPP!!" Luffy cried, arms around him.
Kaya stood near the gangplank, smiling softly, hands folded in front of her.
"You've always talked about going to sea, Usopp," she said. "Now it's time."
Usopp blinked. "Y-Yeah. I guess it is…"
Rex stood beside the mast, gazing at the ship with a quiet expression. The sun hit his black hair, and his blue eyes reflected the sea's glittering waves.
But inside, his thoughts churned.
Because the path forward wasn't just about joining the crew anymore.
It was about what he carried.
[…Clan directive resurfacing. Memory node unlocked. Hidden combat lineage: Confirmed. Michaeler Blood Trace: 100%.]
Rex closed his eyes.
Michaelers.
That name.
That buried word.
It wasn't a code. It wasn't a system.
It was his birthright.
A warrior clan erased from the world's pages long before the Marines began writing their history. Passed down through whispers, flesh, and fists. While others trained in swords, guns, and Haki… the Michaelers trained their bodies to absolute mastery.
Muscle control. Reflex sharpening. Internal focus. Kinetic release. Near-weightless movement. Directional speed manipulation. Nerve-resonant combat rhythm.
And Rex…
Was their last heir.
He had no family now. Not in this world. Not in the past.
Only the name.
And the training.
[…Combat inheritance initiated. Michaeler combat arts reclassified: "Ghost Step", "Aether Pulse", "Heaven Palm", "Phantom Drift", "Veil Form". All stored forms now memory-linked.]
He took a breath and looked up at the ship again.
This wasn't just a crew anymore.
It was his reason to move forward.
His war… had already begun.
Later — Aboard the Going Merry
The wind filled the sails as the Going Merry drifted away from Syrup Village. Usopp stood at the bow, arms raised in celebration, Luffy danced across the deck yelling about meat, and Zoro was already asleep under the shaded edge of the mast.
Nami sat with the map sprawled in front of her, compass in hand, her brows furrowed in focus.
And Rex…
Sat on the upper railing, alone.
He looked out toward the horizon. Calm. Quiet. But never still.
Nami glanced up at him.
"You're thinking again."
"I always am," Rex replied, not looking down.
She stood and walked over, leaning against the rail beside him.
"You were different back there," she said. "In the mansion."
"…How so?"
"Not just strong. You… moved like you weren't human."
He was silent.
"Was it instinct?" she asked. "Or training?"
He finally looked down at her, the breeze sweeping through his black hair.
"Both," he said softly. "I'm the last of a combat clan most of this world forgot existed."
Nami raised an eyebrow. "A clan?"
"The Michaelers."
She blinked. The name meant nothing to her.
But it sounded… old.
And dangerous.
"They trained their bodies to be faster than wind," Rex said. "Lighter than light. Stronger than armor. Everything I do — the speed, the movement, the precision — it isn't a gift. It's a discipline."
"Sounds lonely," Nami said gently.
He didn't answer.
She looked away. "…I'm glad you're here now."
He glanced at her.
She was looking at the sea again, pretending she hadn't said anything.
He smiled faintly.
And closed his eyes.
But peace wouldn't last.
Because [Michael] pulsed again.
[…Alert: Long-range observation confirmed. Visual trail marked. Scout-type presence identified. Unknown source tracking subject: Rex.]
He snapped his eyes open.
"What is it?" Nami asked, sensing his shift.
"Someone's watching me."
Luffy popped his head out of the cabin. "Who?! Already?! Can I punch them?!"
Zoro opened one eye from under his hat. "Where?"
Rex pointed toward the sky.
A bird.
No — not a bird.
Something flying unnaturally high. It vanished almost instantly the moment he locked eyes with it.
"…Someone knows who I am."
"Michaelers?" Zoro asked.
Rex shook his head. "No. This is someone else. But I'll deal with it later."
He stepped down from the railing.
"We have more important things coming."
"Like what?" Luffy asked.
Rex turned toward the horizon, where storm clouds loomed far in the distance.
"Baratie."
Nami's eyes widened.
"Wait, the floating restaurant?"
Zoro smirked. "Food, drinks, and blood. Sounds like my kind of stop."
Usopp gulped. "You guys always walk into chaos, huh?"
Rex's gaze was calm.
But inside, he could feel it.
The next storm.
The next test.
And another powerful name waiting just ahead—
Don Krieg.
But this time…
He wouldn't be the biggest threat.
Because something darker was rising beneath the surface.
And the world was starting to remember the Michaelers.