Alright, next Chapter and let's get right into it. I DO NOT own One Piece, RWBY or any other franchise in this story and I never will. Hope you enjoy
"One thousand and one, one thousand and two… one thousand and three…" Jaune called out as he continued his training with sweat dripping from his forehead as Miles looked on with a half-empty bottle of liquor of beer as he saw his student finish up some pushups, a mix of handstands mixed in as he made sure Jaune could handle the basics of his final weeks of training. The kid had come far since he had first met him back around three years or so now.
"One thousand and twenty-eight…" Jaune struggled as he was suddenly called out of his trance by Miles who decided to end it early.
"Hey, Jaune?" he asked with a small grin on his face. "Let's call it a day for now, I think you are good for warm-ups for now" he said as Jaune nodded and rolled to the ground until he landed on his back with a tired sigh. Miles got up from his spot with a hand on his wooden blade as Jaune moaned slightly.
"Ugh… still not used to that kind of training" Jaune admitted as Miles couldn't help but agree. He was coming alone in the newest training exercise but he still needed to work on it a little more. Still it would help him out with using some of the new abilities that the older man essentially beat into him. "Now what, Tekkai training, or are we working on Rankyaku next?" Jaune asked as Miles simply chuckled a little.
"No, not training. A spar" he said as Jaune looked at him and got up, brushing himself off as his shirt lay on the ground next to them until the swordsman retrieved it and placed it back on with a somewhat determined look.
"A spar, huh… sure, I guess I can last a little longer than last time" Jaune said with a bit of humor in it as Miles nodded.
"Hope so, the last time we spared you lasted a little longer, I actually had to use a little bit of my own abilities" Miles said as Jaune nodded as he recalled that spar with a bit of fear.
He developed a good amount of unease when he was nearly killed by leaves of all things as a weapon…
"So, let's see where you stack in comparison to me, first… let's begin with the basics of the basics… the move is yours" Miles said as Jaune nodded while using his semblance to amplify his aura to the max, he was going to need it in order to fight Miles of all people. He was convinced, without any doubt, that if Miles wanted to he could take over a kingdom in Remnant without much hassle. But that being said Jaune narrowed his eyes at his opponent before he lowered himself into a stance.
"Soru!" Jaune shouted as he channeled some of his aura into his body and disappeared in a flash while Miles silently did the same. A few feet away, Jaune and Miles clashed with their wooden blades clashing with Jaune's covered in a white light of aura while Miles had his coated in a black coating to defend himself before knocking back Jaune.
He had gotten faster since last time, clearly having been working on this technique more than any other. Then again he did give the young man some motivation. A certain memory came to the older man despite their current clash.
Alright then, let's begin on Soru, as you know Soru is the principle of high speeds, most people… hell a lot of people tend not to know where they're going at first but think of it as a rush of speed, moving through acceleration that… well you get it by now" Miles said as Jaune nodded. As he did, Miles gave a small laugh as he saw his student frown at that laugh again.
Maybe it was because the last time he did that he wanted to see how well Jaune could hold his own against a War Hog… unarmed that is. After probably around ten minutes of Jaune fighting it off with probably a tree branch of all things, Miles just decided to end it, though mostly he was just getting impatient and hungry but he digressed.
It taught Jaune some skills like running and maneuvering so it was a win-win situation in his book. But back to what this was about…
"So because of my unique and favorable training methods-" he began in self praise while Jaune thought to try to correct him.
"You mean cruel and unusual punishments and torment…" Jaune muttered while Miles either didn't hear him or ignored the jab at his teaching skills. The fact that Miles just had a bigger smile after that remark made Jaune think it was the second.
"-The fact that your teachings should be nothing different is an acceptable means in-it of itself. Much like how we worked on your other training."
"So, it's going to be like the time you kept throwing me into the ocean and calling it morning swimming?" Miles heard his mouthy student reply. Miles nodded, and then again it wasn't like he was in any real danger since he made sure he fished out most of the piranhas in that stream.
If he fished them all out then what kind of training would that be… especially when he made sure Jaune spent a good hour in the small pond trying not to get bitten by the pissed off fish that he had accidently stirred into a frenzy.
"Yep, here you go" he said as he tossed what seemed to be a sack of meat at the Arc who caught it in confusion. Opening it up, he looked at his teacher in confusion while Miles held a piece of meat in his hands before throwing it over the edge where they stood. As soon as the meat landed on the sandy ground however, Jaune saw what looked like a wolf of some kind walk out of its den and sniff around until it made its way towards the free meet.
"What kind of animal is that, Miles?" Jaune asked as Miles kept his smile on his face before explaining.
"A Stalker Wolf" he said as Miles made sure Jaune focused on the animal in question. "You see, those wolves are renown as the ultimate hunter, chasing prey for days without relent and are rather fast at times… only when confronted with a stronger predator do they relent at all, and they are a stubborn lot" he explained to his student who was watching the wolf sniff around to find the source of the meat nearby. As Jaune looked at the wolf in uneasiness and took a step back, Miles began to hold his arms out as if he lined up a ball to kick or adjust a camera.
"…Oh, so what does this have to do with me-Ahh!" Jaune screamed as Miles simply kicked him off the edge and had him land on the ground. Unluckily for Jaune however he landed right on the raw meat, covering himself in the juices of it that if Miles was right about… "Ugh… that asshole…" Jaune growled as he got up and turned to glare at Miles.
He was stopped however when he noticed the wolf looking at him in hunger and the swordsman paled. To make matters worse there were three of them in total and Jaune didn't have his sword. The last thing he saw was Miles looking his way with a shit-eating grin on his face before mouthing off one word.
Run
And Jaune didn't need to be told twice as his aura enhanced his natural abilities as the three wolves ran after him, keeping up as Miles looked on with a small laugh as he appreciated the simpler things in life.
Flipping though the air, Jaune landed as he rushed at his mentor again in another burst of speed, Miles doing the same as they both cleared the area and ventured further into the island. Jaune grinned as Miles smiled while both continued to race to the other side as he was happy his student caught up and kept pace. Soon they arrived to the other side as Miles waited for his student as Jaune arrived a few seconds later with a grin. As he caught up with the older man, Miles jumped into the air and seemed to kick himself into a form of flying. Jaune hesitated for a second before he jumped up in the air himself.
At first he fell back to the ground but the second time he managed to make it clumsily to his mentor who seemed to study his apprentice and made his way back to a nearby area on the beach. As he landed, he say Jaune fall a little short as he just ran the rest of the way there, Miles made a note on that and moved on.
"Ok then, kid? Next is Kami-E, you ready?" he asked Jaune who nodded hesitantly as Miles cracked his knuckles. Even if the blonde wasn't ready he was either going to evade or take the hit anyways.
Next I'm going to teach you a very important skill… one that is very important to use Kami-E… relaxing, concentration… find your happy place and then effortlessly dodge." Jaune said nothing as he just nodded, unsure.
"Alright… just give me a minute… I just need a moment to prepare and-"
"Training begins now!" Miles shouted before backhanding Jaune into the ground before looking at him in no clear emotion other than indifference. "…You weren't ready…" he said as Jaune just moaned and got back up
Unlike that time however, Jaune loosened his muscles as he leaned back with his aura pulsing through him as he evaded a swing from the wooden blade. Side-stepping away, he ducked back to avoid another swing as the now normal wooden blade barely passed over him as Jaune stumbled back to avoid a stab before Miles went to punch his student with a sloppy punch. A sloppy punch from the man however was the equivalent of Yang's strongest as Jaune avoided the punch and ignored the force behind the blow that traveled the air and destroyed a nearby rock with pressure alone.
Yeah, he wasn't going to get his with that. After five more minutes of evading, Jaune leaned back as Miles went to flick him on the forehead until he stopped his advance, Jaune seeing this, sighing as he fell to the ground. Kami-E, while not his strongest abilities was one of the one's he was decent with.
His worst was still Gepo but he digressed.
"Ok, next is Tekkai" Miles said as Jaune frowned before sighing before using his semblance to amplify his aura again knowing it might do very little against the man before him. Still he knew he had to take the hit, he was going to hate it. Miles grinned once more and knocked back his fist as Jaune channeled his aura into his body and prepared for the-
"Mori no Ken/ Fist of the Forest!" Miles called out as he delivered the punch into his student who felt the impact from the fist hitting not only his body but his aura. It was a miracle it didn't break his aura or his Tekkai but being sent into a nearby boulder and bouncing off the ground like a thrown bouncing ball wasn't helpful. As Jaune landed on the ground, face-down in the sand, Miles gave a bit of a laugh.
Honestly he thought his student would've flown farther. Just more proof he improved.
"Tch… damn it… I thought you weren't going to use that technique…" Jaune moaned as his aura was probably nearing the red as Miles laughed it off.
"Never said I wouldn't" he said amused as Jaune made his way up. "Still, you managed to handle a bit of a weaker Mori no Ken, not bad even if I held back a bit" he said as Jaune frowned. Held back was an understatement considering it was capable of crushing anything that hit it. That was probably a tenth of Mile's actual strength behind it. And that wasn't taking into account any sense or forms of Busoshoku Haki.
If it was supposedly capable of defeating some kind of wyvern like that monster Grimm back at Beacon then he was sure that it would do much more damage to him if he used it at full strength.
There would be nothing left of him if he tried to take that. It was a mix between a punch and-
"You would rather me use the Rokuogan on you?" Miles asked as Jaune paled at that. No, he wouldn't. The last time he had nearly killed the blond after he had a hole in his torso. He lived but still…
He would rather not bleed out during a training accident.
"Didn't you say that the Mori no Ken was just a more compacted and one-handed Rokuogan?" Jaune asked as Miles nodded. More or less, it was his own little technique that could stand up to that man's Naru Waiban/ Ringing Wyvern attack. Miles looked at the man before him as he was curious if Jaune could learn that technique in time. An unarmed technique like that would do him well if he needed to deliver a strong enough blow.
"Well then, let's move onto Shigan and Rankyaku… with a little bit or swordplay when you're ready, kid" Miles said as he addressed his student with a taunting gesture.
Jaune smiled somewhat as he knew Miles would still be holding back on him but that didn't stop him from wanting to make the older swordsman proud of how far he came. Miles twisted the blade in his hand and cocked his head to the side with a bit of energy he hadn't felt in a few years begin to flow through him. Readying himself, Jaune gripped the blade tightly and then began their duel.
Jumping up he gathered some aura to his blade and brought the blade down as the pressure of the wind shot from it to slice at the former marine agent. Miles merely side-stepped it and delivered one of his own before Jaune avoided it with a Gepo. Still in the air, he raise his leg back and gathered some more aura into it, Miles grinning at the possible opening for him to take.
"Rankyaku: Sen" the blond called out as he shot a white Rankyaku at his teacher in the form of a white line, a higher degree of skill needed to use it mimicked with Jaune's enhanced aura boosting his legs. Miles merely disappeared with a Soru before Jaune's eyes widened and he turned around to see the older man above him with his own blade up.
"Keep your head in the game, kid" Miles said with a bit of mocking amusement as Jaune brought his own blade up to block the wooden blade's decent. As Jaune crashed into the sand, he winced in pain as he looked up to see his teacher prepare to continue his assault. Jaune's eyes widened as he rolled on his feet and disappeared in a Soru as a thrown wooden blade landed in the same area the younger fighter was only seconds ago. Appearing away from the hole, Jaune turned to face Miles who had landed to grab his weapon and turn to Jaune with a grin.
"Nice dodge… probably would've impaled you or something if you didn't" he called out happily as Jaune nodded and continued to fight. Miles loved to get under his skin and he knew that acting out of anger or irritation would've led him to be defeated much faster. He learned that method from experience and waking up confused in a bed. "…Guess you caught onto it by now… damn and here I was hoping for a reaction. Anyways let's continue" he said somewhat confirming the blonde's thoughts.
Raising his blade back, Jaune gathered more of his aura into it and brought it down, this time a wave of aura channeled into the blade instead of just the wind pressure as to Miles's interest, a yellow arch of aura and wind combined came out of the blade. Jaune didn't know why it did that since his aura was white. But somehow it came out as yellow.
Ironic as it was…
Side-stepping it, Miles kept his eyes on Jaune to raise his own blade up as Jaune met the older man with his blade coming down. As they fought for dominance, Jaune glared at Miles who seemed carefree before once more Jaune was repelled and landed on the ground. Miles disappeared this time and Jaune felt something behind him. Turning around, his eyes widened as he quickly grabbed the hand that came at him with his own free hand and barely avoided the extended finger.
Jaune glared as he maneuvered away from the finger and dropped his blade, extending his own finger and preparing to counter. "Shigan/Tekkai" both Miles and Jaune said as Jaune's finger met with Miles's body but did nothing other than poke him while Miles grabbed Jaune's wrist, looking into each other's eyes, Miles grinned as Jaune frowned, both holding onto each-other's wrists. As both let go, they each jumped back with Jaune falling into a fighting stance while Miles crossed his arms, both wooden swords now discarded in the middle of them both.
"Not bad, kid. You managed to get the Rokushiki down decently enough" he said before clenching his hand as his skin started to change texture. No longer white but a bit of brown with his eyes turning red and his hair turning a lighter shade of forest green. Jaune said nothing as he prepared himself for what was coming next. As Miles stood about a head or two taller than before his transformation was complete as he entered a stage of his Zoan fruit.
Wooden skin with leaves here and there and grass for what used to be hair, red eyes peering behind the bark on his face as his shirt was thrown on the floor to show several scars on his body. "Druararararara~" he laughed loudly as Jaune, despite the weird way of laughing, prepared for anything while channeling whatever aura he still had left into his body to restore his reserves with his semblance. Soon, Miles reached for his hair as Jaune prepared his aura and semblance to generate a small sense of Busoshoku Haki.
"Gurasusutomu/ Grass Storm" Miles said calmly before throwing the smaller blades of grass at Jaune who held onto his defensive haki, using Tekkai as well while covering his face with his arms. As the hardened blades of grass struck him, Jaune barely withstood the barrage as the grass fell to his feet as Miles threw a second batch of grass blades at him.
…And then a third hand…
…And then a fourth…
As Jaune stumbled back, he saw Miles cross his arms for a second as Jaune just sighed, his arms by this point were littered with small cuts, having both his aura-enhanced into haki and his Tekkai now broken. It was a miracle that he managed to barely sense something behind him as he jumped back to avoid a root of some kind extend from the ground and wiggle itself back to life. Miles grinned. "Rutodansa/ Root Dancer" Miles spoke softly as his feet formed molded and formed roots underneath them that were concealed below ground. Jaune moaned as he was forced to avoid another root popping up. "…Ruto Bodo/ Root Riot" he said calmly as the two extended roots began to now flail madly around the Arc.
'He certainly has improved a lot in these last two years…' Miles thought to himself as he saw Jaune avoid his attack without any aura as several smaller roots rose around him, trapping him in with the two randomly swinging tendrils that tested how well he would be able to evade. He couldn't help but laugh as he recalled the small moments of teaching him the basics of Kenbunshoku Haki.
"Ok, so now let us begin with some basic haki training… more to the point let's start with Kenbunshoku" Miles said as Jaune looked at the man confused.
"Sure… but didn't you say I was better with Busoshoku Haki?" he asked as Miles nodded while he recalled Jaune's question and his own words. Yes, Jaune was more used to using his aura for physical means such as swinging a sword and taking a hit. In fact it was almost somewhat scary how well it all came to him, the kid practically mastered Busoshoku to the most basic of levels.
But Kenbunshoku was still something he needed to iron out the pure basics and what better way than to try and get to the source.
"I did, but I want to start this off a little different than I normally do" he said, making the younger man look at him confused. "You see, from what you told me, aura is the energy of the soul, a semblance is an ability of the soul or something like that. Essentially it is a reflection of your soul" he said while also wondering if a semblance could be used or given to something created by the Soru-Soru no Mi.
The thought of someone like Big Mom making those things capable of using some kind of natural fruit ability from another world…. And then there came the extra thought of how a shadow used to make a zombie via the Kage-Kage no Mi came into being, would the semblance transfer to the zombie of remain in the body… or…
Eh, he'd think about that later.
"Yeah… why exactly do you want to know again?" Jaune confirmed somewhat unsure. While Miles held out his hand and coated it in a dark hue of haki.
"Haki is considered the manifestation of the will, it allows one to coat and perceive things one normally couldn't. Essentially kid, it is fueled by one's spirit" he said as Jaune nodded. Soul and spirit, there was a link to it but aura seemed more like a more natural and adaptable but weaker variant of it. "To utilize haki, one must have a strong enough spirit while at the same time have a certain mindset. Haki is based off of a person's will, such as confidence and determination. Often even the greatest of the great can lose this ability if they are shattered or too old to properly use it. While I hardly doubt that aura is the same it probably does deal with some kind of limits to the mind or body that holds it back, right?"
"I'm not too sure on that but I know that some people can still kick a lot of ass, even when they are old as hell" Jaune admitted, seeing one Maria Calavera as one example. She supposedly went one-on-one with someone like Neapolitan. But according to Pyrrha and Ren, one's aura couldn't perform miracles. If you were blinded then you were blinded, if your paralyzed then you're paralyzed.
Yang couldn't regenerate an arm or Maria her eyes, neither could Pedro, Penny's father stand after he lost the ability to walk. It was still rough to determine since Ozpin said aura could make others evolve if they used it properly. Whatever that was supposed to mean…
"In either case, haki uses a particular mindset to fully access. Doubts and fear will often hinder it and as a result you have to remain calm and focused, no thoughts clouding your mind and so on and so forth" Miles said as Jaune nodded.
"So more meditation then…?" Jaune asked as Miles shook his head. Oh no, that was only to get to that power, Jaune needed work on something else. And with a small grin he walked towards a large container and chuckled before pulling out a large fish of some kind. Red scales glistening in the light as the assassin turned back towards his student.
"Jaune Miles D. Arc" he said using the younger man's full name while Jaune was confused. He was confused why he had the same middle name as Miles's own as well as that initial. Apparently it was something from his dad- "Say hello to the Self-Pity Salmon!" Miles said as he held the salmon in his hands as if it was a new weapon Ruby could remake or improve with all of the features.
"…Hello, Self-Pity Salmon?" Jaune more asked then said as if he was a school kid and unsure what else to say. Before he could ask anything else he was suddenly struck to the ground with said large fish. "Ow… why…" Jaune moaned as he was hit with a haki-infused fish of all things. "The hell was that for, Miles?"
"This is the Self-Pity Salmon; behold its scales of motivation. For you see my precious student, whenever you feel any doubt or concern I shall greet you with the scales of motivation to remove the self-pity in your heart!" he declared rather dramatically while Jaune just gave him a deadpanned look.
"…You're really a sadistic drunk, you know that, right?" he asked as Miles shrugged it off. He personally preferred the title of creative and tipsy number one teacher but sadistic drunk was an honest close-second. "And that initial…? What does it mean?" Jaune asked as he wanted to know why he and his family even had it. Apparently Miles had it as well and he said he would tell him about it before he left. Miles however smirked.
"It means Dandelions" he said rather happily.
"I call bullshit" Jaune responded nearly immediately, knowing that his teacher was just messing with him again.
"You're right!" he cheered as Jaune just sighed with his face in his hand at his mentor's sudden attitude change before he suddenly got serious. "Look, Jaune. That initial has a deeper meaning than I even really know. I'm sure anyone who actually knows that are either dead or in hiding and it's something that the World Government hates. Especially when they become pirates" he informed as Jaune looked at him unimpressed.
"…but I'm not a pirate" Jaune pointed out.
"I give you a week before you get into some kind of bullshit and get a bounty, kid" Miles stated bluntly as he voiced clear lack of confidence in his student's luck once he left.
"…Gee, thanks" Jaune said depressed before his eyes suddenly widened. "W-wait!" he said before Miles struck him once more with the Self-Pity Salmon.
"Anyways, we're going to work on that little inferiority complex you developed as well as keep you from developing a superiority complex at the same time. For with the Self-Pity Salmon we also have to Cocky Cod, it's tan scales of humbleness to quell your ego!" he declared as he pulled out a smaller fish while Jaune got up and gave him a flat gaze.
"…This is an excuse to hit me with fish, isn't it?" Jaune asked bluntly as Miles nodded.
"I do enjoy tenderized fish. Makes it taste a little better in my opinion. Now then, let us begin. For I shall beat you with my meat!" he said as Jaune paled at the wording of it.
"D-don't make it weird you damn drunk!" Jaune shouted as Miles just laughed. He then proceeded to hit Jaune with cod in his other hand. "Ow… wait, I thought you were supposed to hit me with that when I was-"
"Yeah-yeah, I know already. But I'm hungry and want my fish tenderized. So for now I'll just use it as a club… oh and next time we do this we're doing it blind-folded" he informed as Jaune frowned. Blindfolded?
"Why…?" Jaune asked again as Miles chuckled. Besides it being how you trained in Kenbunshoku Haki… it was much more fun for him to see his student avoid what he couldn't see coming. He could already taste the tenderized fish-err, see his student soar to new heights…
But mostly he could taste fish.
As Jaune finally found an opening, he leaped out of the walls that surrounded him and looked at his teacher who smirked to address him. "Did you have some fun, Jaune?" he asked mockingly as Jaune grinned himself, he had. With no real plan he ran and quickly grabbed his discarded sword that was on the ground. "Take this!" Jaune shouted as he rose his wooden blade up and brought it down on the older man.
"Heh, still have some spunk? Good!" he said eagerly as he raised his arm and grabbed it while holding out his other hand. As the wooden blade struck his wooden body, the former assassin formed a third wooden blade from his hand and gripped it before swinging it lazily at the Arc who ducked to avoided it. Dropping his blade he clenched his hands and planted his feet. Miles looked confused before he recognized the stance and reeled back slightly. No way, did Jaune somehow master-
"…Rokuogan!" Jaune shouted while he planted his two fists on his mentor's chest and tried to push whatever energy he could to pull off a gamble against his teacher. It was something he wouldn't see coming if he could pull it off.
Unfortunately…
"...Nothing happened-oof" Miles grunted as Jaune switched tactics to deliver a sucker punch to the older man instead, even without his aura enhancing his body, he could still hit hard enough to send the older man stumbling somewhat off his feet. Miles however glared slightly, so he wanted to play dirty, okay then.
Moving to deliver a swift blow that sent him stumbling, he merely frowned and ended it, showing him a real Rokuogan. Catching him in a side-hug of sorts, he held him by his shoulder and placed a single fist on his torso. "Rokuogan" he said somewhat emotionlessly as suddenly the younger of the two was in agony with a pressurized burst of energy subtly into his body.
Miles said nothing as Jaune coughed out some blood, nor did he say anything when he reeled his fist back and punched his student into a nearby tree. Seeing his student unmoving for a second, Miles sighed once again before heading to grab his shirt, his body returning back to normal as he didn't bother to see how well Jaune was doing.
Jaune himself groaned out in pain as he made his way to his feet before glaring at Miles who ended the fight with a hand held out. "We're done here, Jaune. It was a nice tactic but if someone called your bluff then you might've died. Still you did well" he said as Jaune smiled another loss but a good fight regardless.
"Anyways, I hope you can walk brat, and I didn't knock you around too badly. Rokuogan isn't something most people can scoff at" Miles asked concerned as Jaune winced in pain. Oh yeah, that was true but then again he wasn't most people. He was hit with a fully powered Rokuogan on Mile's level before, he was out for a day after that, but he survived.
"I'll be fine…" he said as he was somewhat helped by Miles back to his house. "So, how did I do?" he asked as Miles thought it over. Well…
"Your endurance needs work, even with that semblance of yours there is only a limit to how many times you can take a punch or deliver it without charging it up. Not only that but you tend to grow more tired the more you use that semblance" Miles said as Jaune nodded. That was true, the more he amplified his own aura to used some of his Rokushiki the more tired he would get when he had to use it to restore his aura reserves.
"As for your haki, you did well over all but like I said, endurance is a thing to work on" Miles continued as Jaune nodded. "Rokushiki… well your Soru is fine, your Gepo continues to be your worst aspect out of it all and you still have some trouble using it. Rankyaku and Shigan are a bit too stiff still and you need to work on your energy consummation when you use your higher level techniques."
"Y-yeah, I do… but still I think I did decent" Jaune said as Miles nodded. He did do decent for what he had he supposed. After that then was his Tekkai and Kami-E.
"Your Tekkai and Kami-E are decent but I would probably be more aware of your fighting environment. Tekkai can block simply things like bullets and swords but stronger attacks could give you trouble. Overall I'd say you are somewhere around a captain or commodore level with that power… and I mean that with respect, you came a long way."
"And my doriki level…?" Jaune asked as Miles chuckled lightly at the question.
"Well, that last hit you got on me I want to say was around two-hundred or so… that being without your aura enhancing your body. That blow you got on me earlier today… around a good eight-hundred and forty-nine. This going to how you were only a hundred and ninety-one with your aura giving you a total of four-hundred and seven with a normal marine solider giving us a level of ten…" he said while he mentally did the math.
"I'd say you are around eighty-five times stronger physically than a normal marine… physically-wise anyways. That being said one's doriki only measures physical strength and that doesn't always determine a fight. I'd say that overall you're ready for the fight against Scales… maybe in some parts of the Grand Line if you keep training."
"Yeah, but I still have those aces you taught me-"
"You can barely use the Rokuogan… if at all" Miles said bluntly as Jaune flinched under his words. "You also have your two aces as you call it being double-edged swords since like I said enough already, no endurance of stamina. You'd get too tired to fast and using something like that wouldn't be a good thing in the end. That technique I taught you already changes your body and shortens your lifespan just a little if properly used; I don't want you to use it unless you absolutely need to. But I will say that when it comes to your swordsman ship you have gotten more flexible and adaptable with it. "
"Thanks" Jaune said simply as he accepted the critique before realizing something. "So does this mean-"
"I want to train you more, Jaune… but yes I suppose you can leave if you want to. But I still think you should keep training and fighting stronger people as you do" Miles said as Jaune smiled a little at the approval.
"Yeah, by the way. You promised to tell me, back when we first started Kenbunshoku Haki about what that initial means in this world" Jaune said as Miles slowly nodded, he did promise him that. He knew it was going to be a long conversation. Eventually however they managed to reach the house and sit down on the table, Jaune still wincing slightly as Miles joined him soon after.
"So… what did you want to know, kid?" Miles finally asked after a moment of silence as Jaune's expression turned hard.
"What is the Will of D. and if it is from this world, how do me and my family have it?" Jaune asked seriously as Miles shrugged.
"No idea, but my guess is that you and your family are somehow descendants to those of the Will of D. and before you ask, no I don't know much about them, all I know is that I am a D. on my mom's side of the genetic trail and that for whatever reason the World Government and the Celestial Dragons view anyone with that initial as some kind of monster of sorts. Hell I don't doubt that they would shit bricks if they were attacked by someone with that Will of D. again. It was funny when those assholes did it around thirty years ago."
"Wait, someone attacked the World Nobles?" Jaune asked in shocked as Miles smiled.
"Yeah, some asshole known as The Wyvern and his crew beat the shit out of several of them and busted up their slave-trade deals. Have to wonder if Sengoku is still pissed about getting his ass handed to him. Of course that's when I was in CP0 at the time and had to guard them. Damn Wyvern nearly killed me but in the end he was right when he said that they were worse than shit. Even I can't fault the bastard for that. If it wasn't for him I'd probably still be in the Government. But after he died after fighting that damn Hydra bastard from the Rocks Pirates I doubt that I'd see him again. Shame too, I wanted one last punch in his gut before I left the world."
"…What?" Jaune asked confused as Miles was lost in his reminiscing of the past before shaking his head and elaborating. "Thirty or so years ago there was a crew known as the Wyvern Pirates that made a fairly impressive name for themselves. I think if they were still around they could give even a Yonko like Lin-Lin a run for her money. But they fought off a pirate named Tralis D. Lerns and his crew. Lerns was a part of the Rocks Pirates which is something that is another story I'm not going to get into. But the long and short of it is that the Wyvern Pirates, two other renown crews that were rivals with them plus me and five or six others from CP0 were sent to take care of a threat."
"And at the end of the day we through everything we had at them and the damn Hydra and his crew and he still got away… half dead and missing an arm and several heads but still. The Wyvern disappeared or died, I'm not sure which to be honest and his crew disbanded all over the world after their injuries became too severe to keep going into the New World, another crew lost all but three members with their captain orphaning a son and the last crew called the Omen Pirates nearly lost everyone but seven of them… and these were full crews with at least twenty people of high-tier, haki-using, possibly fruit-awakening people with captains that could be called Yonko contenders in their own right… and we fought for a near four weeks, a full month against one man, his crew of around one hundred cling-on contenders that were supernovas in their respective generations that and his possibly awakened fruit!" Miles shouted as he needed a beer.
Beer was good and made him forget the bullshit he had to endure. "But going on that subject, no I don't know how you got that initial or your name, ok. Next question… please" Miles said, he suddenly felt tired like someone who was reliving a memory or a war that he didn't want to.
Meanwhile Jaune felt nervous at that. He had never seen Miles act that way before. It honestly kind of scared him. But this Wyvern guy died, and the other crews were wiped out. Miles sighed as he chugged down a full bottle of alcohol and slammed it on the table while holding his sides where one of his worse scars was hidden.
"…Sorry about that, kid. It's just after thinking about that day… it's not something I like to think about. If it wasn't for the rest of that bastard's crew helping me out I probably would've died. And since the World Government thought it would be easier to cover up the event and I let them get away to tell the tales to anyone around… safe to say that it was either me going rogue or have a cozy little cell in Impel Down… and that's not saying I would be alive at all."
It was an incident that was nearly on the level of that God Valley incident with Roger and his crew with some of the other Rocks Pirates. If it wasn't for Whitebeard and three others abandoning them when they did he doubts that Roger and Garp would've won. Add that to what he heard about something else that happened around that time… it was a mess to think of now.
"Oh… so you don't know about that Will of D. thing then?" Jaune asked as Miles nodded sadly. No he didn't even in the CP9 and CP0 he was kept out of the loop. But still he was concerned about something.
"When I think about it, it reminds me of a silly story I used to hear back in the Grand Line about some woman from another world" Miles admitted as Jaune looked at him in disbelief. Wait, what?!
"Woman from another… you mean that you knew something like this before and never told me?!" Jaune shouted in some mild anger as he stood up as Miles frowned.
"It's a story, kid. I didn't think of it until thirty or so years ago and only recently have I thought of it now. To be honest if it wasn't for your alien ass falling on my island then I wouldn't have cared at all" he said before the sounds of one Jaune Arc's growling were heard in the room. Miles knew he wanted answers so answers he would give.
"It's called the Sailor and the Witch…" he started as Jaune frowned feeling something similar to this from someone like Ozpin. "Long ago there existed a young man named Shad D. Archer, he was a young up-coming sailor who wanted to see the world and thus hoped on a ship and took to the seas. But alas the voyage ended in disaster and he was marooned alone on an island were the tides prevented his escape and the weather was constantly rough. And this is going by New World standard just to let you know, Jaune" Miles reinforced as Jaune nodded, knowing how badly that the weather was in that part of the world. He didn't know why or how but for whatever reason it was bad.
"Anyways, after some time the young man tried to escape constantly but always failed. That was until he found her…" Miles said as Jaune was curious, her?
"She was a young woman around the young man's age and together they formed a friendship. Though the woman was untrusting at first she eventually bonded with the man. She claimed to have run away from a choice of sorts and claimed she was from a land of magic and monster. She also said she was a witch, much to the young man's disbelief-"
"Whoa-whoa-whoa, hold on… a world of magic… and monsters… like semblances and the Grimm?!" Jaune shouted as Miles shrugged.
"She claimed she could control the weather around her and so together-"
"Control the weather… like a maiden?!" Jaune practically screeched as Miles grabbed the empty bottle of wine and threw it at him annoyed.
"Don't interrupt me, you loud brat!" Miles shouted annoyed as Jaune fell to the floor and landed on his back, his feet up in the air with one of them twitching while he muttered an apology, albeit a dazed and soft-spoken one. "So, yes I guess a Maiden or something… point is they eventually got off the island, formed a crew, had a family or something and their descendents lived on" Miles said rushing past some of the main parts annoyed.
"Ugh… so wait, what happened next?" Jaune asked as Miles frowned before shrugging.
"According to the story the woman said she felt herself being dragged back to her own world or something like that, as if it called out to her. I'm not sure about the details on that since it is a story two-hundred years old by now but at the end of it the descendents of the two were both skilled with haki to a frightfully degree as if it came naturally to them or something. But that bloodline no longer exists and I doubt there were any survivors of that crew now-a-days so not even I know what to think about it all."
"…So a young woman appears out of nowhere from another world and disappears… that sounds oddly familiar now that I think about it" Jaune admitted as he tried to recall where he heard it from. After a minute of thinking his eyes widened before voicing his thoughts. "It's the girl that fell…" he said in a whisper that Miles looked confused at.
"The Girl who Fell?" Miles asked as Jane recalled the story his mother told him and his sisters when they were kids and what Ozpin had essentially probably clarified to him back in Atlas. "Long ago… there was a young girl who fell through the world and landed in a place of magic and adventure… but by the time she came back she was so sadden… it was like she wasn't the same… or changed too much to be recognized again…"
"…She grew up and met a man she loved, running from one life and losing another that filled her with happiness?" Miles asked with a gaze of his own, his eyes narrowed as he thought about it. That made some sense… other than some of the details out of place…
"You think they're the same… does that mean that-" Jaune started to say as Miles quieted him down before getting up.
"I don't know, but you never know what happened. But there is something that I want to show you. Now" Miles said as he walked to a drawer and pulled something out. It was a small compass of sorts with gems hugging the top and a smooth metal around the base making up that rest of it. There was a button on the side to open it up and it rested on an old piece of string. "Here, take it."
As Jaune caught the thrown item, he opened it up confused. It was a compass but not like a normal one. It was pointing directly south of him and that made Jaune confused even more. "Is it busted?" he asked as Miles shook his head.
"It's an Eternal Pose, kid. According to the story the descendants made that after finding the island and having no luck. They thought that if they managed to get back to that island where their parents met they would find out more about what happened to that woman. I still don't know her name since she didn't have one in the stories but that is your clue to find out more about it" Miles admitted as Jaune looked closer at the compass and stared in disbelief. On the bottom of the compass under the glass globe were three words barely readable to him.
Shad D. Archer
Jaune closed the compass and looked at Miles in disbelief. "Look, I don't know where that island is, no one probably does since it is called a phantom island and is somewhere in the New World at that. More so all I know about it is a name for the island and that's it. Before you ask it's called Nokori Island but that's all I know" Miles sighed.
"How do you… when did you-" Jaune started to say but Miles laughed a bit at the expression of shock the swordsman had on him.
"Believe it or not I just found it one day on the island near a shipwreck by some pirates that stole it. Not only that compass… but~" he practically sang out as he grabbed something that made Jaune's eyes widen.
It was an actual sword, not one of their wooden ones but one made of metal. It was a broad sword like Crocea Mors but had a green bandaged hilt with a yellow colored handle. It seemed in great shape and Miles twisted it around before laying it on the table with a smile. Jaune was confused but picked it up.
"It's called Saints, a sword used by someone I begrudgingly looked up to and a gift from a mentor to a student for good luck" Miles said as Jaune nodded before realization kicked in and he turned towards Miles in disbelief.
"Wait, you're giving me a sword?" Jaune asked as Miles nodded. Of course he would, he doubt Jaune had money for one of his own and he wasn't going to send him out with a simple wooden one. That would be poor planning on his part. Besides he had faith that his apprentice would be happy to use a real weapon for a bit.
"So, how does it feel?" Miles asked as Jaune lifted it up and felt how the comparison was. It felt much heavier than his other swords but at the same time even without his aura amplifying him it seemed to weigh well enough. Seeing Miles place down a sheath for it, Jaune took it to let the blade rest before strapping it on.
"Jaune, I'll lend you that old boat I have as well as a compass, a map and a few supplies, after that though you're going to be on your own. So I hope you know what you're going to do. I'd assume that you would head to Palma Island first since that is the closest place to this island with a village to restock. After that I say probably save up some money and travel as a bounty hunter or something, you seem like a competent fighter… a shitty navigator though…" Miles remarked as Jaune frowned.
"I'm not that bad" Jaune pouted as Miles rolled his eyes in a means of mocking him. No he was, he was a decent cook and could board up holes in a ship with planks of wood. He could use his semblance to restore injuries faster than normal but he wasn't a doctor or a shipwright and he was going to need help to see the world.
Which reminded him…
"You decided then, what you wanted to do?" he asked Jaune as the younger swordsman nodded before looking out the window and smiling.
"Yeah, I know my friends and family probably think I'm dead but if they knew I was alive they'd want me to keep living. And even so I'm not going to give up and end it here any time too soon. I'll see the world a little and maybe when I do I'll settle down somewhere and tell them stories of my travels" Jaune admitted as Miles nodded at that. It sounded nice to him. A young man who wanted to see the world; while making a life of adventure and romance was a decent start.
"Have any places in mind?" he asked the younger swordsman as Jaune smiled. Oh yeah, he did. The City of Water, the Shabody Archepelago, Fishman Island and even places like Alabasta and Dressrosa were all places he wanted to see. Hell he would probably want to visit places in East, West and North Blue if he could but first he would go to the Grand Line and see the world.
"…One lap around the world. I want to see it and then decide what to do with my life. " Jaune said before he looked over to the table where the compass or eternal pose was. Picking it up, he smiled. "And I guess I can see if I can find out more about this island you said this thing leads. If it does wind up back to Remnant than I might as well see for myself."
"Whether or not it does I'm not sure but if you're exploring the world and all but let me let you in on a secret. Many people want to become the King of the Pirates but… actually I doubt you're interested in that" Miles said, changing his mind while Jaune nodded. That was true, he rather not be a pirate, much less the king them all. But he was interested in knowing what the hype about that One Piece thing was.
Oh well maybe he'd go after that if he was interested in it enough. He didn't think it would be too much though since he much preferred just seeing the world.
"Get a crew of people, find people you can truly trust and a good ship. Whatever you decide to do, wherever you decide to travel, never forget what it means to be free" he said as he dusted himself off. "Until then I think you should prepare for when you leave and practice that new sword of yours before you do."
And with that, Miles left the house to leave Jaune with his thoughts. The younger man looked in his hand to see the eternal pose and turned back to see the sword on the table.
So… this was it then. He knew it would come sooner or later, he just hoped that he would be ready.
Three days had passed as Jaune sighed, looking down at the small boat he gave a small smile as he looked back to see Miles sitting on a stump with a bottle of whisky on the beach by his side. "Guess this is finally it then, kid. Go get them" Miles said with a small smile of his own as Jaune nodded.
"Yeah, thanks for everything… though I really should do something about this when I get to the next island" he said, holding his hands out wide as Miles nodded. Now that he looked at the younger swordsman he noticed he looked less like a sailor and more like a bum. "I probably need a shower and some clothes… much less a good shave and haircut" he said as he had a long beard that resembled Ironwoods back in Atlas as well as hair that could give even Ren a run for his money. Three years without a haircut or shave showed itself as Miles chuckled.
"Yeah, not many people will want to have a near-naked person walking around. But those are the only set of clothes that I have. You'll have to make due until the next island" Miles informed as Jaune nodded annoyed. With Saints strapped to his side he looked over his supplied before smiling at the older man one last time.
"Miles… thanks for everything. When we meet up again, I'll be sure to kick your ass and then have a drink with you" Jaune said as Miles smiled at that. Whether it was that Jaune wanted to come back and see him or he successfully converted him into a fellow drinker, he wasn't sure but he felt a bit of nostalgia and nodded.
"See ya, kid…" Miles said as Jaune nodded, sitting down to start rowing away to the next island that was a day away from Dusk Island. With enough food for about a week he should be fine. And with the last inspections of his supplies done as he rowed away, Jaune smiled as he recalled the training he endured there.
He had grown in the last three years… and now it was time to-
Jaune froze as he felt something approach him and jumped to his feet before placing a hand on Saints and narrowing his eyes. Soon enough a large wave that tilted the boat back and caused him to retain his balance with some small effort passed and a loud roar echoed in the area. "…shit, almost forgot about you…" Jaune muttered as he addressed the sea king in a familiar tone.
As the large snake roared, Jaune jumped up and appeared in front of its face. This wasn't like the Grimm but he wasn't like how he was back at Beacon. He didn't need to worry about a landing strategy anymore or needed to rely fully on others for something he could face himself. Placing a hand on Saint's once again, having let go to retain his balance, he smirked.
The giant serpent roared and lunged while Jaune unsheathed his blade.
"…Shīsu nash/ Unsheathed!" Jaune shouted as he drew his blade at fast speeds as a wave of compressed air escaped the blade and struck its target. The giant sea king's roar growing in pitch as it's now severed head landed beside the boat with Jaune landing perfectly safe with the rest of Old Scales falling under the sea.
And with a large smile on his face, Jaune Arc returned the blade to its resting place and shook in an emotion he hadn't felt in a while. For the first time since he landed here, he felt a sense of freedom, no longer contained to an island. It was time for the voyage to begin!
And there we go, I know it was a little short but I think I hit most of what I needed to. now unlike the other versions, this Jaune has an objective of sorts, a reason to explore the world as it is. I kind of want to steer clear from something like the Yonko or Blackbeard or actual important moments so the Strawhats can grow but that won't mean Jaune and his crew won't get a little involved in some places... just don't expect Jaune vs. Lucci, Jaune vs. Crocodile and so on... though there is one event I have planned that will change a bit of the arc but... yeah, I'll leave it at that.
But for now I'm just hyping up what will essentially be the endgame of the story with Jaune's dream of seeing the world. Since we don't have too much information on the other crews around Roger's era or the Rocks Pirates I kind of made some up. But like I said that is more towards the Endgame of it all.
Whether or not Jaune makes it back to Remnant or not and remains in the Grand Line or the One Piece world will remain a mystery for now. As for Jaune's sword I decided to go with Saints since I figured it would be a good name his sword considering it was Saint Joan of Arc as the Maid of Orleans. So since I already have that later part planned for something... yeah.
Also for a good power scaling of sorts, it's hard to determine where exactly Jaune fits on the spectrum. While using swordsmanship, the Rokushiki, haki, his semblance, it's hard to pin-point an exact level but to give a decent comparison... Hard to really say, probably somewhere around Enis Lobby Luffy with Alabasta Zoro swordsmanship or something.
But with that being said Thank you for reading and i hope you all have a good night.