Chapter 5 – Ashes and the Future
Icy fog curled around the shattered walls as Kael's spear poised over me. Every muscle ached, each breath dragged like I was drowning in molasses.
Toma knelt at my side, eyes wide with desperate hope, his blade still slick with blood. Behind us, my crew lay frozen—crossbows half‑cocked, cannons unmanned, even the flames from Juno's powder traps wavered in the slowed air.
Kael stood above me, spear gleaming with my blood, ready to finish it.
Then came the thunder.
No—not thunder.
A loud and distant horn shattered the eerie calm. The mist parts as a solitary Marine corvette glides into view, its white hull slicing through waves. Sailors scramble ashore, and at their head stands Vice Admiral.... no it should be Rear admiral Strawberry—both sword drawn, eyes half‑closed in calm focus.
Kael hissed through his teeth. "So, Command actually cared enough to send someone."
Strawberry disembarked before the anchor hit water, leaping onto the scorched stone with practiced grace. His coat billowed, twin sabers at his hips, his expression unreadable.
He didn't speak immediately. He surveyed the battlefield—the ruined base, the frozen soldiers, the blood-soaked ground—and then looked directly at me.
"You held the line, Captain Xavier."
His voice was deep and calm. Not warm, but not cold either.
I tried to speak yet the words escaped me.
He turned to Kael.
"I am Rear Admiral Strawberry of the North Blue Second Division. You are charged with destruction of government property, piracy, and the murder of civilians under Marine protection. Surrender now."
Kael twirled his spear. "You're a little late for heroics, old man. Besides, do you even know what you're walking into?"
Strawberry didn't blink. "A battlefield. One you've already lost."
Kael scoffed—and attacked.
His Slow-Slow Beam fired mid-sprint, cutting the air in a streak of purple. Strawberry moved with crisp precision, unsheathing one saber to deflect the beam with its shiny yet sharp edge.
"Impossible," Kael muttered.
Strawberry moved in.
His footwork was impeccable—each step efficient, each slash deliberate. Where Kael danced and postured, Strawberry advanced like a man turning pages in a book.
One, two, three clashes.
Kael's spear jabbed forward, grazing Strawberry's side. Blood bloomed, but Strawberry didn't flinch. Instead, he ducked under the next strike and twisted his saber upward.
The blade snapped Kael's shoulder guard and sent him stumbling.
"Your fighting style relies on fear," Strawberry said. "Against someone who doesn't fear you and your powers... it's just hollow."
Kael snarled and fired another Slow Beam in a wide arc.
Suddenly Strawberry disappeared and appeared behind Kael.
Feeling the immense sense of danger Kael directly made a wave of slow energy targeting all areas around him but he didn't expect Strawberry to take to the sky and attack him from above.
Kael hastily tried to defend himself but got heavily injured in the process.
This caused my team and his crew to regain mobility.
Unfortunately for the pirates they were already captured by the marines Strawberry brought with him.
While Kael was distracted Strawberry instantly appeared to in front of him and tried to stab him. Kael managed to react just in time and the sword only struck his right shoulder.
Kael tried to create distance between Strawberry and himself , however Strawberry used both of his sword to launch flying strikes to cover all escape routes and appeared again in front of Kael. With no way to escape all Kael could do was one last attempt to stop Strawberry using his fruit. Though this was of no use as Strawberry somehow managed to power through it and decapcitated Kael. ( A.N in case you are confused he used haki to overcome the devil fruit but since Xavier hasn't awakened haki yet he dosen't know. )
' So this is how the Rokushiki works in battle huh ? ' I thought.
The Abyss Pirates surrendered shortly after, their ranks broken and leaders captured. A clean-up team arrived hours later to secure them in handcuffs and prepare their transfer. Some of the crew resisted, but the battle was already lost.
The base was a ruin, but we were alive.
Every one of us.
—
Later, as the medics patched me up in the infirmary, Strawberry stood by the window, watching the smoldering skyline.
"You did well," he said without turning. "For a man in your position."
I didn't respond.
I was bandaged, bruised, and exhausted. My pride had taken more hits than my body.
"Sir," I finally managed. "I was too weak. If you hadn't come—"
"If I hadn't come, you'd be dead," he interrupted flatly. "But that's not the point."
He looked at me then.
"You held your post. You protected your crew. You showed tactical foresight and moral resolve. That's what matters more than strength."
I stared at him, unsure whether it was praise or reprimand.
He raised a finger.
" I have decided." He said.
I blinked. "Sir?"
" You're coming with me."
"I've seen too many officers promoted without proper training. You have instincts. But instincts without discipline get people killed."
I sat up straighter despite the pain.
"You'll accompany me to Base 27. Not as a promotion. As a student. I'll train you myself—for now, in the basics. Formation tactics, navigation, weapon handling. You'll shadow my command unit until I say otherwise."
He paused, then added, "And yes, that includes kitchen duty. I like my eggs throughly cooked, you better not serve me soupy shit."
I laughed. Or winced. Hard to tell.
Then I nodded.
"Yes, sir."
—
Toma visited me that night.
He had a black eye and a bandaged hand from punching a pirate unconscious during the fight.
He noticed me watching and walked over, eyes hesitant. "So… you're going?"
I nodded. "Yeah. Orders are orders."
He stared down at his boots. "Right. Of course."
There was a long silence. The kind that hangs between people who aren't quite sure how to say goodbye.
"I guess this is where we part ways, huh?" he said, trying to smile. "You'll get stronger. And me? I'll just… keep doing what I do. Mopping floors. Tripping over buckets. Probably talking too much."
"Toma," I said.
"Yeah?"
"You're coming with me."
He blinked. "Wait—what?"
"You're not ready for war," I said plainly. "But you've got heart. And guts. And the kind of loyalty most Marines pretend to have. That counts for something."
"But... I mean, I'm just a recruit. I haven't even—"
"I'll handle the paperwork. If Rear admiral Strawberry signs off, you're with me."
Toma's mouth opened. Then closed. Then opened again. "Captain, I—"
"No speeches," I said, suppressing a grin. "Just try not to trip on the ship ramp."
His grin spread like fire through dry grass. "Aye, sir!"
He saluted so hard he nearly knocked himself off balance.
As we turned toward the transport vessel, the wind picked up—salty, sharp, full of possibility.
We were leaving behind the broken walls of Base 107, but we weren't running anymore.
We were moving forward.
Together.
Author's Note - Hello everyone now I know you might think ' if xavier is taking Toma why isn't he taking anyone else?' well the ans..... I don't know. My plan was Xavier would have a fresh start and travel the path of becoming strong but for some reason I couldn't bear leaving Toma behind. So yea I apologise if that decision isn't to your l liking but I just did what My heart said I should. I plan on him being the tashigi to Xavier's Smoker.
Now I would like some input from yall ..... The next segment is going to be mostly training and a brief respite before the next conflict
A few questions I had about this segment.
1) what do you think about the pace of the story , is it too fast paced or was it good.
2) how were the interactions between the characters and was there the correct amount of emotional depth in the story.
3) how is novel so far ? Were there any particular moments you liked or disliked.
These 3 questions are going to be a staple after every segment so yea as always if you like the novel add it to your liabrary and throw some stones at me.
Thank you for reading.