The secluded workshop had become the center of Alex Mercer's world. Here, he pushed Luffy's body to its limits, refining his Haki, mastering the Gum-Gum Fruit abilities, and meticulously crafting the ship that would one day carry him to the ends of the world. But Alex knew that to truly gauge his progress, he needed real combat—a test that would push both his skills and his creations to the brink. Theoretical knowledge and practice had taken him far, but the crucible of battle would reveal whether he was truly ready.
Alex decided to build a scaled-down version of his envisioned destroyer—a small, agile craft that would serve as a testbed for his shipbuilding techniques. It would also be his means to seek out and confront the lesser pirates that lurked in the waters around Dawn Island. These low-level threats were perfect for testing his combat skills and the capabilities of his new ship.
Over the course of several days, Alex constructed the vessel. Compact yet sturdy, it featured the same specially crafted alloy hull and reinforced wood that would be used in the full-sized destroyer. The ship was armed with his newly designed cannons, capable of firing both traditional cannonballs and the high-explosive (HE) rounds he had painstakingly developed.
The morning of the test dawned clear and bright. Alex stood on the deck of his completed vessel, the sea stretching out before him. The ship bobbed gently in the water, every inch of it a testament to his hard work and determination. But now, it was time to see if it could withstand the harsh realities of combat.
Setting sail, Alex guided the ship toward the open sea. The vessel cut through the water with surprising speed and agility, the alloy hull gliding smoothly over the waves. It wasn't long before he spotted a pirate ship on the horizon—a small, weathered vessel with a ragtag crew. Alex recognized the flag immediately: a black skull with a scar slashed across its forehead. These were the Scarred Skull Pirates, a minor crew known for preying on merchant ships and terrorizing small coastal villages. They were notorious for their brutality, but they were nothing compared to the foes Alex knew he would one day face on the Grand Line.
As Alex approached, he could see the pirates bustling about on deck. Their ship was in poor condition, sails patched with mismatched fabric and cannons that looked more rusted than functional. The Scarred Skull Pirates, clearly underestimating the lone ship approaching them, laughed and jeered, thinking they had an easy target.
"Looks like we got ourselves a lost little lamb!" one of the pirates shouted, his voice dripping with malice. "Let's make this quick, boys! Take the ship, and let's see what treasure we can find!"
The captain of the crew, a grizzled man with a scar that mirrored the one on his ship's flag, stepped forward. His name was Ripper Darnel, a ruthless pirate who had clawed his way up through blood and betrayal. He eyed Alex's ship with contempt, a sneer twisting his scarred face. "Sink that piece of scrap," he growled to his crew. "And bring me whatever's left of the fool who thought he could challenge us."
The pirates scrambled to man their cannons, but Alex was ready. With a sharp turn of the wheel, he brought his ship around, dodging the first volley of cannonballs with ease. The Scarred Skull Pirates weren't prepared for the speed and maneuverability of Alex's craft. Their shots sailed wide, splashing harmlessly into the sea.
"Missed me!" Alex taunted, a grin spreading across his face as he lined up his own shot. He aimed carefully and fired one of his HE rounds. The shell arced through the air, its fuse igniting just as it slammed into the pirate ship's side. The explosion was deafening, the force of the blast tearing through the wooden hull and sending splinters flying.
The pirates staggered, caught off guard by the sheer power of the attack. "What the hell was that?!" one of them screamed, his voice shrill with panic.
"Get back to the cannons, you worthless dogs!" Ripper Darnel roared, fury flashing in his eyes. "Take him down, or I'll throw you overboard myself!"
But it was too late. Alex had already closed the distance between the ships. He leaped from his own deck onto theirs, landing with a thud that sent the pirates reeling. There was no hesitation, no second thoughts—he was in battle mode, and every part of him was primed for the fight.
The pirates charged at him, weapons drawn. The first one swung a rusty cutlass at Alex's head, but he ducked under the blade, his Observation Haki flaring as he anticipated the attack. With a swift motion, he retaliated, his fist coated in Armament Haki. The punch connected with the pirate's chest, the impact shattering bone and sending the man flying into the ship's mast, where he crumpled in a heap.
Another pirate lunged at Alex, a jagged knife in hand. But Alex was faster. His rubbery arm stretched out, snatching the knife from the pirate's grip before he even realized what had happened. Alex grinned, his eyes cold as he slammed the knife back into the pirate's own chest, the blade sinking deep. The man's scream was cut short as blood bubbled from his mouth, his body collapsing lifelessly onto the deck.
"Bastard!" one of the pirates yelled, rushing at Alex with a club. But Alex didn't even flinch. He spun on his heel, his leg extending into a powerful kick that connected with the pirate's skull. The force of the blow cracked the man's head open, blood and brains splattering across the deck as he dropped like a stone.
The sight of their comrades being slaughtered so easily broke the resolve of the remaining pirates. They hesitated, fear and disbelief written on their faces. They had expected an easy fight, a quick kill—but this was a massacre. They were being torn apart by a single man, and it was a nightmare they couldn't escape.
Ripper Darnel watched, fury and fear warring in his eyes as he saw his crew falling apart. "You're dead, you hear me?! Dead!" he screamed, drawing his own sword and charging at Alex with a wild, desperate rage.
But Alex was ready. As Darnel's blade came down, Alex caught it in his Haki-imbued hand. The force of the clash sent a shockwave through the air, but Alex didn't budge. He met Darnel's gaze, his own eyes filled with a cold determination. "You should have picked an easier target," Alex said, his voice low and deadly.
With a twist of his wrist, Alex snapped Darnel's sword in two, the broken blade clattering to the deck. Before Darnel could react, Alex's fist slammed into his gut, the Haki-infused punch driving the air from his lungs and lifting him off his feet. Darnel hit the deck hard, blood spurting from his mouth as he gasped for breath.
But Alex wasn't done. He grabbed Darnel by the collar, hauling him up and slamming him against the ship's rail. "You wanted a fight? Well, here it is," Alex hissed, his grip tightening as he prepared to deliver the final blow.
"W-wait… please…" Darnel wheezed, the fight draining out of him as the reality of his situation set in. "I… I'll give you anything… just spare me…"
Alex's eyes narrowed, the cold fury in his gaze unwavering. "Pathetic," he muttered, before driving his fist into Darnel's chest with enough force to cave it in. Darnel's eyes widened in shock, blood pouring from his mouth as his heart stopped. His body slumped lifelessly in Alex's grip, and with a flick of his wrist, Alex tossed him overboard.
The remaining pirates, witnessing the brutal end of their captain, dropped their weapons and fell to their knees, begging for mercy. But Alex had no interest in their pleas. He quickly disabled the ship's cannons, ensuring they couldn't retaliate, before turning back to his own vessel.
As he boarded his ship, Alex took a moment to assess the damage. His craft had performed admirably—fast, agile, and deadly. The alloy hull had withstood the pirates' attacks with minimal damage, and the HE rounds had proven devastatingly effective. But the fight had also exposed some areas for improvement. The ship's navigational controls needed fine-tuning for tighter maneuvers, and the cannons could benefit from better stabilization.
Returning to the secluded workshop, Alex shared his findings with Kob, who listened intently as Alex detailed the ship's performance and the battle's outcome. Together, they began making the necessary adjustments, refining the design to ensure the final product would be as close to perfect as possible.
The experience had been invaluable. Not only had Alex tested his ship and combat skills, but he had also taken a crucial step in mastering Haki under real combat conditions. The path to becoming the Pirate King was still long and treacherous, but with each battle, Alex grew stronger, more confident, and more prepared for the challenges that lay ahead.
The small ship had served its purpose well, but now it was time to apply the lessons learned to the construction of the ultimate vessel—the destroyer that would carry Alex and his crew to Raftel and beyond. The journey was just beginning, but Alex was more determined than ever to see it through.