I do not own 'One Piece' or 'The Gamer'
The infamous Straw Hat wearing red-head faces off against the newly-minted Warlord in one of their many legendary duels, shaking the heavens itself.
The Enclosure, Mariejois
Stagnation.
Oh, how I loathed that word with every fiber in my bones.
Sadly, it seems the world has caught up with the amount of training I've been doing. The inevitable was apparent, but that's never stuck on until nowadays.
My base stats have totally frozen, incapable of moving no matter the intensity of the workout for months. It's not like I'm purposefully trying to hold myself back.
Saying starvation is a pain in the ass would be an understatement.
My skills are progressing extremely slowly, though at least they are. It's why I'm still pushing forward constantly, not stopping for anything or anyone.
For all that, there's something I've long since noticed ever since the first few days with Regi's guidance. While the gamer power was a blessing against the deplorable circumstances I landed myself in, that's when I started realizing something else.
Outside of those abilities granted to me, there's one thing it can't teach.
Raw battle instincts.
So when coupling that against a suspected Haki user such as Regi, you get a very adequate understanding of where my combat intelligence currently stands.
It's absolutely...shit.
I've been fighting against the same guy who kicks my ass with ease. I'm getting rather suspicious since the so-called New Worlder could possibly be throwing me under the bus on purpose. In fact, Regi's outright and blatantly confirmed as such.
The bastard said he uses beating me down as a form of 'stress relief'.
"The damn asshole," I mumbled, crossing my arms and audibly sighing.
And he's one of a kind, that's for sure.
Is that why the man so readily accepted training someone like myself? Am I simply something akin to a fleshy stress ball?
I've acknowledged that no matter how frequent the bickering could go, it's not as if I'm beyond saying something similar.
In the end, progress is all the same.
Disregarding the prior affairs, I can safely express that I've reached the pinnacle of strength as a slave could in terms of pure base stats. Maybe it's time to stop destroying myself over such trivial thoughts.
"Hey, old man."
The said person glanced over as they leaned against the wall.
"You know, every time I hear ya say 'hey, old man', it makes me think of all the stupid things you've done." He sighed with a deadpan, "What is it this time?"
Ah, he's finally catching on to my little questions. I suppose the expression of 'every day having something unique' has some merit.
"I still remember the story you shared," The peculiar sense of recognition is still there, lingering within the back of my subconscious. Woefully, I couldn't quite understand why that was the case. "So...I gotta ask ya."
This is a question that I've staved off for quite some time.
"Do you have any family somewhere?"
Regi notably widened both eyes before his body relaxed. There weren't any other prominent shifts in the man's posture once he looked directly my way.
I asked the wrong thing, didn't I?
"Why does it matter?" He voiced with a slight frown.
I knew Regi enough that the man was clearly uncomfortable. Hidden underneath the mask of bravado was a hint of distress.
Still, I pushed forward.
"Didn't I answer your question truthfully before, right?" I fiddled with my finger, rather uneasy being so pensive concerning this matter. "That's why I'm asking. If it's alright with you, of course."
The ex-pirate scoffed, regardless of the attempts to ease the supposed tension around the inquiry.
He didn't like being pitied and neither did I.
Even though we constantly squabbled, it's the subject we've agreed on since I merged with Henry.
"You actually care about these things, kid?" His voice didn't come from a position of malice or anger, but genuine puzzlement.
"Sure do," I said truthfully, "If you can tell me another one of those stories, I call it an absolute win!"
Regi began stroking his beard, seemingly attempting to conceal the amusement on his face.
"You're a weirdo."
"Aren't we all?" I swiftly replied, grinning with delight.
You can't be a denizen of the One Piece world without having forfeited some form of sanity.
"Damn kids and wanting history lessons," He shook his head.
And yet, my eyes still caught the slight twitching of the lips as they began to curl upwards. Even with the man's short bickering, I took that as him agreeing to answer questions.
"Fine, I'll play along." Regi straightened his back and eyed me with the typical earnest gaze. "To answer your little question, I was born on Kuraigana Island and the only parent I had was my mother."
The old man's previous story came with the odd feeling of Déjà vu lingered about and just beyond my understanding, unable to fully comprehend what it signified.
This time I remembered with a few seconds to reminisce. His home island isn't simply a random place in the Grand Line.
I'm uncertain about who currently resides there — if anyone at all — but in the current timeline it belonged to none other than Dracule Mihawk. That is before he's forced to evacuate due to losing his Warlord status. It's also where those insane baboons who replicated people's fighting styles lived.
If he's from there, then what happened to the place before the swordsman's arrival?
"Kuraigana...well...the political climate between the peasants and the royal monarch wasn't exactly on the best of terms." His left eye twitched and I knew what that suggested.
"The whole place was shit, wasn't it?"
He let out a small groan at the assumption, which compelled me to hold in a chuckle. It's good to know that I can still get under his skin.
Thankfully, this did not dissuade him from continuing.
"That's putting it lightly," Regi emphasized that last point as if he's annoyed, "Last thing I've heard about my home is through the other slaves."
The old man's becoming uncomfortable — which is telling something — but inquisitiveness got the best of me.
"And what did they say?" I had a feeling about what the response could be.
"It was on the brink of a civil war." He grimaced.
Considering how I recalled the land being predominantly ruined, I'm beginning to comprehend why it has transformed into such a desolate place.
It's a shame it became deserted, the gothic style of everything was truthfully rather nice.
"So I'm guessing you got out somehow?"
"That's when the Captain saved us...sort of," The last part he muttered, but I could still hear it. "He was aware of the political turmoil ridding the land for decades and sought out to grab a new batch of combatants."
Ah, so there were more people than just him, and Regi's part of the grunts. It makes sense in the grand scheme of what I know.
"After myself and a few others left, he said our next destination was in the New World." The ex-pirate smirked somewhat and his face unwound, "I've been on the crew ever since."
A fine story indeed.
In spite of this, I'm somewhat perplexed regarding something else.
"Hold on a second, didn't you say that you're from the New World?"
Was the old fart lying to me the whole time?!
"Knowing how young I was at the time, it's basically the truth," Regi replied and shrugged. "Although, I still never figured out what happened with my mother..."
Ah, so that's where his regrets lay.
"What was her name?"
He smiled somberly, looking in my direction with a rare soft face before answering.
"Oli."
...
I didn't recognize it, regrettably. I'm not all-knowing, but maybe I should help him somehow, even if it's something so inconsequential.
The future is something that can change or I will force it to do so.
"When we get out of here, I'll find her."
He frowned, the slight twitching indicating that he's rather annoyed.
"Kid, you don't gotta try and–"
"I...will."
There it was again.
The same primal instinct I felt after 'winning' in the Colosseum, wishing to destroy and kill those in my oath towards the goal.
Lamentably, like the tip of the grass tickling someone's feet, it's beyond my reach.
I'm surprised the old man didn't even try reprimanding me for making such a promise or maybe he's given up on attempting.
I'm a stubborn guy after all.
Although, the ex-pirate seemingly had something else to say.
"You're a lot like him, ya know that?" He haphazardly remarked as I looked bewildered at his randomness once again.
"Like who?"
"My captain," Regi stated as if it's the most noticeable thing ever, "You both got that same glint in your eye."
Oh Robin, I fully understand why you're such a glutton for anything that comes with history. Knowledge is not only power, but in many cases, can provide an advantage against others.
I opted to remain silent, an awed front on my face as the tale resumed.
"I never recalled him backing down from a challenge," His soft regard impatiently shifted into one of disdain. "Even in the face of those two…monsters."
Two monsters?
More mystery shit...
If there's one thing that infuriates me more than anything else, it's somebody being deliberately mysterious. I've long since been convinced he is mindful of this, because even in the midst of an impassioned conversation, he's the type of person to pull off a prank.
But alas, I'll hold my tongue about it, just like all those other times before.
"A few others had those same eyes too, now that I think about it." He continued, furrowing his eyebrows in what I assumed to be recollection. "But, there's one big difference between you and them."
I have a bad feeling about this.
"And what might that be?" I questioned, smart enough to comprehend that my fate was already sealed.
"They didn't have a baby face like yours, gihihihihi!"
And there it is.
"Go to hell, old man."
"What'chu talkin' bout?" He gestured around to the entire enclosure, "We're already there! Gihihihihi!"
Regi laughed to his heart's content as I grumbled over the stupid jokes.
Ughhh...
The Enclosure's Second Room
Have you ever sat down and started to wonder about what the rest of the planet is doing?
As you've continued on with your life, those thoughts begin to grow more apparent. It's rather straightforward when focusing on what's requiring your attention.
This didn't inhibit me from being at least partially curious.
Outside of knowing I'm fifteen years old, nothing else could indicate what's happening regarding the present world or its past events.
Did Roger find the One Piece?
Are the Emperors the same ones I remember?
What changes has my existence caused?
But perhaps most importantly...where the fuck is Fisher Tiger?
Questions such as those have plagued this head of mine for a while. Perhaps it's time to divert those thoughts onto the more current trifling affairs.
My sights deviated, observing the old man gulping down a bottle of water, sitting comfortably on one of the many benches.
I knew he was concealing secrets from me. There's no doubt about it. The man's past is an enigma that simply doesn't incline on disclosing any of his true origins.
I've known Regi long enough to recognize his stubbornness is a built characteristic, not inherently ingrained. No matter the number of times I subtly requested for the crew or at least their popularity, it's erratically declined almost immediately.
At his core, there's one truth that I do know.
He isn't the type of person to do such things without an exceptionally adequate reason and a very reasonable motive.
The Great Age Of Piracy sired an insurmountable quantity of vile, despicable, and terrible pirates that committed inexpressible crimes against humanity. Despite what Luffy says, he's practically a saint compared to his fellow peers.
Given the clues the old man's given out, Regi was before all of that.
Pirates weren't fully absent during such a time — hence Brook's crew and Laboon — it's just much more particularly uncommon. Oh, people like Charlotte Linlin and Kaido existed, but they're more isolated cases. This also meant they're statistically a lot less monstrous beings compared to their next-generation counterparts because of the sheer number difference.
With all that information, I'm nonetheless confused about one thing.
How bad could Regi's crew possibly be if he's also aware of these things?
'Bahh, if that old fart doesn't want to say anything then who am I to try and force him?' I have my own secrets I'd never tell a soul, we're rather comparable in that way.
I'm still going to attempt and scrounge some things out, hypocrisy or not. It's always fascinating to listen to the numerous stories he's got in his head.
Maybe some other time though.
On the matter of being reserved, the Boa sisters were still maintaining their distance from everyone, though they didn't seem to mind me coming over every once in a while.
Hancock didn't seem to care, though she evidently carried her sister's apprehension to heart. Even with the progress I've made, they're fearful about everything that's not familiar.
Time shall tell how things will truly play out.
"We're here."
Talk about timing.
I glanced at the door to see the siblings enter the room. The eldest of the three moved ahead without any trepidation while the younger pair wavered behind with uncertainty in their eyes.
All in all, a very expected site.
"Ah, so there you three are. I thought maybe something had eaten you up." I said jokingly, giggling somewhat.
Probably not the right time, but I didn't exactly care. It's roughly an hour past the scheduled timeframe we agreed upon.
"What took ya so long?"
"Forgive us, we're still unsure about everything," Hancock explained, looking around the room in wonder.
"That's alright, it's not a big deal." It honestly wasn't, though the younger two sighed in relief at that.
Weren't they stronger than me? Perhaps Regi's weird vibes got to them?
The old man didn't seem to care, but I'm sure he's happy about having more 'meat bags' to fling around. Unfortunately for him, I don't believe they'll be as easy to take down like myself.
"Very well then," The Kuja politely nodded.
I still can't get over how formal she is. It will take a while for me to become accustomed to such manners coming from her.
'Still seeing the puppy-kicker to be completely honest.' It's unfair on my part, but I've been pushing the bias aside for the time being.
"So how exactly shall we proceed with this 'training'?" She requested.
And that's when the old fart starts talking.
"Here's the rundown, I take this shinai and you hope that you're able to defend yourself until I get bored." Regi bluntly replied, making me give him a side glare with a hint of [Bloodlust].
However, I'm not able to say anything before somebody else speaks.
"I see...it's very brutish, and yet, effective," Hancock said with an approving look, leaving me rather dumbfounded.
Huh?
Why is she agreeing?
"It sounds very much like home."
Oh...that made a lot more sense.
Amazon Lily was a place where an entire island is filled with Haki warriors. I should've seen this coming to be totally sincere.
That caused the New Worlder to smirk. A ferocious appetite for battle was engraved onto his face. Still, the man's gaze flickered over my vicinity.
"It's good to know you aren't a baby...unlike a certain someone."
"Fuck you too, Regi." I flipped him off which only caused the guy to chuckle.
He's never going to let that one down just like all the other times. It's best I deal with him about it later, regardless of if that's a losing battle.
"Hey, missy. Why don't you let your sisters train with him?" The ex-pirate looked at Hancock, "He's too weak to be on our level."
Not a bad idea, even if it wounds my pride to hear him say something like that.
"I..." The Kuja paused, indecision was evident on her face as she glimpsed back toward her siblings.
"If they're uncomfortable with that, then I don't mind being on my own." I expressed with a half-hearted shrug. "I'm not trying to impose myself."
Intimidating them away is the last thing anyone should try to do in this position.
She's still nervous, if the biting of her lips was any indication.
"It's alright, elder sister. We'll do it," Sandersonia finally built up the courage to speak up. "We want to be strong enough so you won't have to worry anymore."
Her assertion gave the youngest the resolve to talk next.
"I know I'm scared...but I don't want people to think I'm weak because of it." Marigold stated, straightening her back while doing so.
"Sandersonia...Marigold..." Hancock looked astonished and I didn't blame her.
The Kuja's got some backbone and I'm all for it.
"I think we should give those two some space," I proposed to which they quickly agreed.
"That sounds fine," And with that, the three of us began heading toward our own space, knowing that Regi and Hancock were going to fight akin to wild beasts.
Instead of grabbing the Shinai like usual, I thought it'd be prudent I'd work on hand-to-hand combat since I'm lacking in that department. Even Zoro developed a 'no sword style' to offset the unspoken weak point.
I'm refusing to be just a one-trick pony.
I watched Sandersonia and Marigold get into position as I moved to accomplish the same.
It's not like they're stronger than Regi. This spar should be relatively close because of the seastone handcuffs hampering them..right?
What's the worst that could happen?
I bemoaned, dizzily opening up my eyes as the ringing sensation began to gradually pass.
"Well...that was an interesting experience," I muttered, my back flat against the floor. "Close my ass."
First the old man and now this.
Compared to the monsters of this world right now, I knew how painfully weak and pathetic I currently was. Progress has dulled considerably and it's starting to get on my nerves, impacting how I've been fighting.
Frustration was getting the better of me.
"I really need to stop underestimating people."
Marigold giggled at that, weaving a punch from her sister.
We've decided on a sort of free-for-all between the three of us. Unfortunately for me, I was removed from the contest relatively quickly, and that left the other two to fight it out.
I turned towards the two duos spar as they clashed over and over again. The fight seemed somewhat even, until Sandersonia began gaining the upper hand. She kept dodging her sister's attacks, finally landing a decisive blow to the stomach, ending the match.
This wasn't immediately as I'd been envisioning, but one could convey its swiftness anyhow.
If these siblings could be described as anything it's their ruthlessness, especially Hancock. No mercy and their end whatsoever — the throbbing leg pains can attest to that.
A hand reached out and I paused before taking it. Thankfully, Sandersonia was generous enough to help me up from the floor.
"Thanks for the lift," I said, dusting myself off.
"Think nothing of it," She stated, taking a quick second to assess me. "My sisters and I have been trained since we were very young, so don't put yourself short."
I was not anticipating a little pep-talk from her of all people. Most of the time it's Regi just kicking myself around until all I'm thinking about is pain.
Even so, something else was concerning me.
"Wait a second..." My eyes narrowed. "When did you...?"
The green-haired teen merely smirked.
"While your face is that of someone who conceals themselves, I can tell you're a very strong-willed and prideful individual," Sandersonia noted, her eyes feeling like they were gazing into my soul. "A lot like...elder sister."
"How exactly did you know that?" I asked, freely admitting to the claims. It's not if my pride is on the same standard as someone like Vegeta.
"Haki, of course."
Oh..right.
How could I ever forget about [Observation Haki]?
Didn't Sandersonia have an affinity for it or something?
The bullshit power that enables someone to predict, sense, and get a feel of their opponent. An absolutely broken ability in any setting.
Kaido is correct once again.
Haki truly transcends all.
"I'm a lot better at sensing than my elder sister," She explained, looking down at her cuffed hands. "Even with these on, they only weaken my physical abilities, not mental ones."
Now that I think about it, Luffy was still capable of using future sight in Udon Prison so it backs up the statement.
"What is Haki?" I asked, genuinely wanting to know if the Kuja knew anything outside of my own understanding.
"You people sure are in the dark," Marigold interjected, though her sister seemed to take the query into consideration.
"Just answer it, please." I implored.
"The bare basics are that it works like a sixth sense and an invisible armor," Sandersonia shrugged nonchalantly, "That's what everyone from my home is told."
I frowned at the explanation.
Well...at least this established that they comprehended how to wield Haki this early.
Now perhaps I coul–
"Whatever you're thinking, the answer is no." She stated with a frown, "In these conditions, it'll be impossible to learn it here, outside of extremely rare instances."
I noted her eyes flickering over to Hancock, then back towards me.
Oh? What was that about?
In any case, I've learned nothing substantial from this other than affirming the already known suspicions.
Both eyes stared down at my callous hands, discerning the yearning passion for strength.
"Then I'll make those extreme instances possible," Something I've long stood by ever since I was dropped into this body. "I'll get stronger, even if it kills me in the end..."
The only way I'm going is up, impossible odds can be damned.
Her eyes dilated before softening their gaze. The faint twitching of her lips moved upwards.
"Definitely like elder sister, indeed," Sandersonia lightly giggled.
"He's a very weird man," Marigold remarked. "Like...really weird."
I raised an eyebrow at the youngest Boa sister who was looking at me inquisitively.
"Aren't we all a little weird?"
'The One Piece world is filled with weirdos after all.' I've thought about it before and I'll never forget it again.
"Well...at least you think I'm a man," I grumbled and crossed my arms. "Regi has just been calling me 'baby face' nowadays."
Hearing that, Sandersonia's giggling turned into outright laughter.
"You really are a strange man," She pulled her head back, "And to think we were nervous, sasasasa!"
"That's all you have to say or is there something else I need to know?" I deadpanned, though it merely exacerbated the laughter.
"Nope," The Devil Fruit user held her tongue. Alas, it took quite a lot of effort on their part. "Nothing at all, sasasasa!"
Marigold just sighed at her siblings' antics, followed by me reinforcing it with my blank expression.
And to think that I believed they were unduly skittish. People can really change with the flip of a coin.
That's when the sound of someone slamming into the ground caused my attention to deviate immediately.
The Future Empress had fallen down and was groaning in pain.
"Impossible..." Hancock took a deep breath and coughed, pointing accusingly, "You...you were using Arma—"
"Easy there, missy." Regi cut her off, his eyebrows furrowing. "Making accusations of such a thing can get someone in quite the trouble, don't ya think?"
She scowled, but didn't say anything.
"Now how about you go on and get some rest?" He said, overlooking the future empress sauntering back toward her siblings.
The cracks on the floor and their general attitude really showed how intense the bout might've been.
"Hey, old man!" My confused appearance is still on as I'm looking around the vicinity. "What the hell happened here?"
"She packs a hell of a kick, I'll give her that," The ex-pirate expressed, rubbing his sides. "I'm sure without those cuffs she'd be even more of a menace."
I already knew Hancock was a beast if her HP was anything to go by. Unfortunately for me, the old man was grinning in a manner that I knew all too well.
"I had to try a lot more against her than I ever did against you," The grin grew more pronounced. "She's a bit beaten up now, so why don't you go help her out?"
I didn't like his demeanor, but Regi shoved a bottle into my hands and practically pushed me their way.
"Think of it as your first step," The asshole instructed, chuckling while I groaned in annoyance. "If ya know what I mean~."
That damned bastard always had something idiotic to say, though I didn't mind helping them out. I'm not going to bring up his dull-witted antics or he'd never let it down if he catches wind.
"At least give me two more for Sandersonia and Marigold," I asked, which he obliged and handed them over.
I still don't understand how he's hoarding so many of these. It's another one of his stupid mysteries that's frankly growing more illogical as time continues.
Leaving the man to his devices, I began trekking toward the siblings and it was not long before I'm detected.
"Henry," Hancock called out, noticing my approach.
I didn't say anything, just tossing the bottles to each of them.
"Oh...thank you," She caught it, uncorked the bottle, and began chugging it down like there was no tomorrow.
"Don't mention it," I shrugged, then saw an opportunity. "The old fart was going senile and he wanted me to give it to you three before his time comes."
There's no better method of explaining it. Nothing like some good ol' jokes to stave off the lethargy.
"I told you he's a strange man, elder sister." Marigold snickered.
The person in question hummed at the statement, clearly having something else to add.
"Did you truly get taken out in a simple five hits?" Hancock bluntly questioned, compelling me to grimace. "I was hoping you'd be more of a challenge to them."
Great, just rub the salt in, would ya?
"Laugh it up if you want to," I grumbled. "See if I care."
I did, but I'm not the type of person to say that stuff out loud. If they'll laugh about something so trivial, then I'll take it without a fuss.
"Actually, I thought it was admirable how you're still fighting."
And that comment threw me off.
"Wait...really?" I stood up straight.
Hancock nodded, looking back towards the main section of the enclosure.
"The others don't seem to care about gaining strength," She sighed, then glanced my way. "It's almost as if they're..."
"...robot-like." I finished her sentence, already comprehending how lethargic my fellow slaves were.
This is the outcome of when you're constantly unable to maintain any grip on your own life. Hope has become nothing more than a fleeting thought.
"Well I don't exactly feel like talking about those idiots," I stated, scratching my head. "If they want to be stupid then it's their right to do so."
I'm someone who fully believes in free stupidity as long as you're not harming anyone else.
Marigold mumbled something about 'strange man' again and Sandersonia just laughed at that.
"I suppose you're right," The love-fruit user conceded with some regret. "The time is getting late, if that clocks anything to go by, so it's best we are off now."
"Well...until next time, you three."
"Until next time, Henry." Hancock presented a menial smile, then strolled away with her sisters.
It's good to see the three of them finally come out of their shells. I'm certain with some time we'll be able to have more casual conversations.
With the siblings now back in the primary chamber, I took a look at the most recent notification screen.
oooo
New Skill Gained!
Martial Arts Lv. (1/100)
The user's proficiency and understanding of hand-to-hand combat.
Increases the user's physical stats by 1% when fighting unarmed.
oooo
Its highest level is half as low as [Sword Mastery], though I knew that's going to take me far longer to ultimately max out — definitely never happening.
'Garp and Sengoku have this maxed out, I have no doubt about it.'
Base stats might've become festered, but my skills haven't yet. If ya don't like how you are now there's only one way of changing it.
Grinding.
The Enclosure, Mariejois
I winced, watching Marigold press a water bottle against Hancock's cheek. The damage she received from her fight against Regi remains and is still pronounced, even after some period of rest.
The spar had been 'close', or that's what the Boa sisters were spewing. At the time, I was teetering from consciousness and blacking out, so I'm not sure if their statements are entirely accurate.
Curiously, the old man had some light bruises himself, though it's not discernible enough as the Kujas.
"I'll tell ya this, kid. That woman can kick! Gihihihihi!"
"Now wait a damned second," I glared at him, "How am I still a 'kid' then? She and I are about the same age!"
The more time passes, the siblings begin to correspond with themselves when Hancock describes Fisher Tiger.
"As far as I'm concerned she's a woman because her hits actually hurt," Regi clarified, the faint hints of a smirk on his face, "You are not on that level, kid."
"Seriously?"
"Seriously! I've seen people falling unconscious and foaming at the mouth by an insane pink-haired woman quite some time ago."
I snarled, but held my tongue from saying anything because he was right. I'm not on the Boa sister's caliber, they'd kick me down easily, just like the spar against Sandersonia and Marigold revealed.
I took a deep breath, letting the [Meditation] skill take hold.
There needs to be some level of patience. It's the reason why I started training in the first place.
"–uking brat Lucci, the lucky bastard." A voice murmured from beyond the entryway, "Why does he get all the good missions?"
My eyes widened, locking onto the only path out of the enclosure.
"Someone's coming…" I was about to nudge Regi, but he was already staring in that direction before even myself.
That's when the doors were lazily opened and about a dozen 'housekeepers' started entering. I've never taken the chance to glimpse at the slaves who were cleaning up close, but they seemed to be in better condition than others.
Some of them were extremely old whilst others are on the younger end.
I took the time to quickly assess them individually, paling a bit as my gaze lands on one of the smallest people there.
Koala, [Slave]
(10/10)
There's no moment for contemplation as the faded mumbling eventually reaches our location.
"Stupid... bloodthirsty...leopard," It's the last person who enters that mutters those words and they're clearly more formally dressed than anyone else here by a vast margin.
I didn't hesitate to use [Observe] on them.
Who's-Who, [Cipher Pol 9]
(450/450)
Oh...you've got to be kidding me.
The [Observe] skill gleamed the person once more, reassuring me that I'm not going insane.
'Out of all the damned people who could've shown up.' I frowned, watching the individual saunter inside.
The man's vexed eyes skimmed over us until they stopped on a certain somebody.
"Ah...there you are," He walked and stood above the person. "When I learned you were transferred here and I'd have to walk this far back, I envied that leopard bastard just a little bit."
Hancock didn't move an inch, only her glare indicated that she was listening to him.
"Still got that feisty attitude, huh?" Who's-Who snorted, then attached a chain to the Kuja's collar and yanked on it. "Oh that'll change soon enough, so don't make things harder for me or I'm sure you'll know what will happen if last time didn't make everything clear."
Sandersonia and Marigold weren't saying anything, they were just petrified as their sister was being forced onto her feet.
Not on my watch.
"Hey!" I shouted, catching his attention. "If she's going to the arena, then let me take her place!"
Hancock was stronger than me by a long shot, but she has a family who cares for her. I'm essentially disposable in the grand scheme of things.
"Huh?" He paused, turning my way in pure confusion. "You things can talk?"
"Things?" I regurgitated, feeling the familiar sensation of boiling water beginning to rise from within.
Who's-Who simply waved me off indifferently.
"Sorry, old man Vegapunk needs this one for something. He's been grabbing a lot of Devil Fruit Users lately." The Cipher Pol Agent shrugged and began dragging Hancock away. "Don't blame me, I'm just following orders."
My scowl grew more visible.
"I don't care what your ord—"
"Kid...don't," Regi asserted himself as he gripped my shoulder. "Trust me."
"What?! But he's—" I turned to glare, and yet, all I'm met with is an aggrieved face from the old man.
"I know, Henry...I know." The grip softened a bit. "But doing something insanely stupid now isn't the right move."
He gestured toward the two remaining siblings, who were still motionless for some reason. They hadn't even commented on their sister being taken away and I frankly don't understand why.
We were powerless.
I watched with bated breath as Hancock was taken off by the unsympathetic Cipher Pol Agent, not uttering a single word. The Kuja's only action was staring at her siblings, smiling like she is reassuring them of something.
They disappeared as the doors were left wide open, leaving me perplexed and infuriated.
My Server: QG8WraudFB
Shiro's Discord Code: wd3tUYWVCd
"It's too slow!" "It's getting stale!" "Too much angst! (Angst...What? I'm very confused about this one lol)"
Here's my response:
NO
Anyways, I just love using minor canon characters and background events.
For example, Regi's mother 'Oli' made an appearance not too many chapters ago. Kuraigana Island did have a war 9 years prior to Luffy setting sail, I just thought it'd be neat to expand on why everything unfolded and spiraled out of control before it reached that point.
Random Question: What are you hoping to see in the Final Saga of One Piece?
I'm praying that Dragon does some significant things and actually starts fighting for once in his damn life. In the latest chapter, Garp used a Conqueror's Haki-infused punch that wiped out a town in an instant, we gotta see his son do something noteworthy too.
Also, Kizaru has to do some insane things like showing off Logia awakenings if he even wants to stand an inkling of a chance against Luffy.
