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Chapter: Why Am I Here?
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In a calm deep sea, a white submarine is floating silently. It is floating a few meters above the seabed, facing rocky structures. Its size is not large, only 20 meters, enough for a six-foot figure, who is sighted through the transparent cockpit's glass. Who seems to mutter and record some details.
"The underwater situation in East Blue is very calm, totally different from the Grand Line," a calm male voice originated from the figure.
"In Grand Line, there is no place where I can relax and test the submarine underwater," the figure lamented.
"So, I can only inspect it after arriving at East Blue," the figure muttered. "But because of some problem, it's postponed," he sighed.
[You were just lazy] an electronic voice interrupted.
"Shut up! You are just a normal AI. What do you know about laziness?" the figure, a teenager, snapped.
"Just test the submarine. The sea here is calm," the teen changed the subject, embarrassed.
[Affirmative!... checking the Dials... inspecting for problems...] the AI diagnosed.
[*Beep* *Beep* Found some anomaly... Analyzing the issue... troubleshooting... regulating the Eisen Clouds to fix the issue...] it continued to operate.
"Hmph! Recently, it is becoming snarky," the teen complained about AI's behavior. He returned to his seat, his long silver-white hair swaying behind.
[Issue solved... Ready for testing...] the AI droned.
"Ok! Test the weapons on those rocks," the teen ordered.
[Affirmative... preparing Impact Dials...] the AI beeped.
[Aiming the target... Fire when you are ready, John] the AI announced.
"Ok! Bag-E, Fire!" John ordered excitedly.
*KRRR* the submarine vibrated before a powerful wave is fired from it. The wave dragged the water around it and hit a rock, destroying it.
"It's a success," John exclaimed. "Rapid Fire," he yelled in excitement.
*KRRR* *KRRR* the submarine vibrated continuously, firing wave after wave at the rocky structures. The rocky structure finally crumbled, pushing the submarine back.
"Test the next weapon," John ordered in anticipation.
[Preparing Torpedoes... Readying Ball Dials... Preparing Pop Green...] Bag-E droned.
"Oh! Sending Pop Green-filled Ball Clouds to attack the ships on the surface," John hummed. "Is this even called torpedo? Bah! Whatever," he muttered.
[John, A whirlpool is forming here] Bag-E informed.
"What!?" John exclaimed, then looked towards the destroyed rocky structures.
"OH! Destroying it has made the flow of water erratic," he muttered.
"Ah! Bag-E, Get out of here. Let's check the speed of this thing," John ordered.
[Ok John, prepare yourself] Bag-E notified, then a seat belt appeared on me.
"Is this necessary?" John looked annoyed at it.
Suddenly he was pushed against the seat as the Submarine rushed away, leaving a stream of jet lines behind, away from the whirlpool.
On the surface of the sea, a tiny boat is sailing directly toward the whirlpool. Its passenger, a teenager wearing a straw hat and red vest, uncaring about the situation, "Ah! The weather is pretty nice today. On a nice day like this, who would have thought I'd get into a such disaster today?" exclaimed happily.
"What a huge whirlpool!? How careless of me?" the straw-hat boy exclaimed, not knowing that someone's carelessness formed the whirlpool.
"There's no one around. It'll be really bad if the boat wreaks," the boy looks around. "On top of that, I can't even swim," he added.
The boat has already gotten caught in the whirlpool. "Ah! Wait a minute! It doesn't really matter if I know how to swim in a situation like this," the boy exclaimed in realization.
"If only I had wings like John," he muttered disappointedly. "Wa! Ahhh," an enormous wave hit him before he could react.
Unknown that he nearly killed the protagonist, John is operating his watch, which he named RECALL. Well, it is mainly used to make him remember things. He suddenly looked up. "Why do I feel like I am abandoned?" he muttered.
[Who abandoned whom? John] Bag-E asked.
"Don't know... Author?" he answered uncertainly.
[Author? What author?] Bag-E asked.
"Sigh... I will explain later," he dismissed. "There was a file named [Secret of the world] stored in Recall. *ugh* I will explain later," he brushed it off.
[Then why did you remember it now? You can REMEMBER!?] Bag-E asked...er- mocked.
John's lips twitched. 'It is getting bold. I need to teach it some lesson later.' he thought.
"I just read it, Sheesh! Are you happy?" he snapped. "Shut up! And navigate to the nearest island," he ordered.
[Searching the nearest Island - The designation is set to Mirror Ball Island] Bag-E replied.
'I wonder where 'I' got the Bag-E's chip, installed in the portable vehicle?' he lamented.
'Let me focus on my problem. Why did I get the feeling of abandonment? Did my 'Fourth Wall' power detect something?' he thought.
'Did the Author get powered up and got unshackled from my First-person POV?' he deduced dumbly.
'Gah! Why did I even read that file now?' he rubbed his head in annoyance.
'Forget it. Who cares what happens to the stupid author? I need to find the reason for my return to East Blue,' he thought, opening the 'Reminder Note' in the Recall.
«Year:- 1522 » «Age:- 14 » «Location:- East Blue: ?: ?» «Time:- Early May »
«Main Task: Return to East Blue »
»Instructions:
«Previously: » »
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Next: « Follow your instinct »
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"Damn! Why is it blank? WHY AM I HERE?" John cursed, then opened the Log Book.
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«LOG BOOK»
«Entry -2250 - Year:1512 - January-End» After settling on Dawn Island, I began the next stage of my training. I kept a close eye on Mo as he began his lesson with Naguri... [I finished my regular training and got ready for special training. I brought all kinds of things that can be cut, ranging from easy to hard. Like paper, clothes, cardboard, leaves, leather, sticks, planks, etc. "My claws are getting injured frequently. It's time to strengthen them," I muttered.
I looked at the claws, which have just healed from the injury that happened inside the Eel. "How did that stupid pirates not notice my bleeding claws?" I blamed, obviously forgetting about holding a bleeding arm.
"Hmm! Let's see." I scanned these objects and started with the easiest - paper. I took it, then extended my claws and cut it easily. Followed by leaves and clothes, which are destroyed by my claws, following paper's path.
"These are easy. Let me increase difficulty," I muttered, then picked some fruits and vegetables.
I cut these fruits and vegetables with my claws. It was slightly hard, but manageable. Then I took pieces of thick leaves and leather and continued the process, but it is extremely hard. I get an unpleasant feeling from my claws, like hearing a chalkboard screech.
"I think this is a limit," I decided, then...] ...decided to train regularly. As the saying goes, practice makes perfect.
«Entry -2290 - Year:1512 - Mid-February» Days have gone by as I continue my training while Mo continued his lesson. He surprisingly learned quickly, I think the Devil Fruit increased his intelligence. I also swam around the area, windmill village, Goa Kingdom, the shore of Grey Terminal where Bluejam pirates' ship was anchored, etc. [After I caught, our breakfast in the sea, I spotted a marine ship nearing the Island sailing towards Windmill village.
"Oh! Garp is here. Now, Luffy will be sent to mountain bandits," I muttered. "Next, He will chase Ace for three months and will meet Sabo," I deduced, iris bordering blue.
"Maintain some distance before that shitty geezer spots me," I decided and swam towards the shore where I live.
I climbed the shore, dragging a big fish out of the water as it struggled. "Shut up! Food," I yelled, kicking it to death.
"Hey, Emergency food. Prepare the fire," I yelled at a monkey nearby that was holding a hammer upside down. This monkey is not Mo, but his brother. Mo brought him here after crying adamantly. I named him Dumb because he really is a dumb monkey, and always shivers in fright.
I think after Mo's intelligence increased; he became more spiritual. And by the speed of his learning, his EQ also increased.
"What are you waiting for? Get moving or you will be on your brother's plate, shitty monkey," I snapped at the dazed monkey.
The monkey, frightened by me, picked the woods and branches and prepared for a fire. Since Mo can understand our language, he also taught his brother about some basic things.
I cooked the fish and ate it after giving some food to Dumb. Since Mo is with Naguri at this moment, he is not with us. Now Mo has learned a lot. It is time to provide him with the proper things.
"I need to visit the Goa Kingdom or a library in the Windmill village to get books to learn about this world," I decided.
Then accessed my watch to know what to do. I looked at the training schedule, "Why the hell should I need to train in swords, spears, staff, and halberd? It's not like I can carry all these weapons all the time," I grumbled for the nth time.
I closed the schedule and opened the 'Reminder Note'. "Now I think about it. Why the shitty hell should I join with the oversized onion bastard?" I grimaced and deleted that instruction ruthlessly.
"He is not even appealing. I only covet his ship on which many stunts can be done," I mumbled. I looked around in confusion. "Why do I feel like someone just facepalmed?" I murmured.
"It's time to train," I muttered, then looked at Dumb, whose mouth is watering crazily, as he stuffed the food into his mouth. I shook my head speechlessly and proceeded to my training place.
After some warm-up and some basic training, I reached the place where many logs of wood were placed in unique positions. "Let's see," I glanced at a log and hit the log with my tail *thunk*.
"Hiss." I gritted my teeth and endured my pain. Then I continued to hit the logs around. My plan is first to hit the woods and strengthen the tail until I can destroy the wood with it. Then train it on stones followed by iron plate then iron block.]... It will take many days, months, and even years till I can do it, so train it till then.
«Entry -2315 - Year:1512 - February-End» As I planned, I went to Windmill Village to get some books to learn about this world. I only know this world through anime & manga, so I need to know more about this world.
I reached the village by sea and vigilantly sneaked in. [I hid behind a barrel as my orange-dominant Iris is calculating an ideal path to sneak in.
"Hey, why are looking restless?" I overheard a man ask a pale-looking man.
"*sigh* Why? Because I got a call from Grim Reaper," the man answered, dryly, as if he lost his life.
"Huh!" the other man looked surprised. "You are still sane after receiving a call from him?" the exclaimed.
"Don't ask! I think he was in a better mood. So he let me off simply," the victim replied lifelessly.
"Be strong," the other man encouraged and patted his shoulder grimly.
"Why hasn't the marine caught him yet? There is even a bounty on him," the victim yelled, unable to take it any longer.
I sneaked into the crowd surrounding that man, unnoticed, and ran toward the building that was likely to be a library.
But after I left the area, there were exclamations among the crowd searching for their wallet or purse. I grinned under my mask as I threw the purse and wallet away after taking the money from it.
I looked at the slightly dilapidated building, which is the village library, according to the information I collected. As soon as I entered, "Ah!..." I gaped at the woman in the library. Thanks to the mask, my surprised expression is hidden.
"How are you...?" I blurted but controlled myself from saying 'alive'. I stared at the familiar woman with silver-white hair - Nico Olivia, in confusion.
'How is she alive? Did 'I' change something? No, When Ohara was destroyed, I was not even born. But how is she alive? Is this something hidden in the canon?...' as I was deep in thought, I saw a hand waving in front of me, snapping me out.
"Hey, are you alright?" I heard a woman's voice.
"Eh!? Oh! I just spaced out," I replied awkwardly.
"Hehehe, it's rare to see a kid in the library," she smiled at my reaction.
"I'm not a kid," I blurted subconsciously.
"Yeah, yeah, you are a big man," she replied, looking amused.
"Don't treat me like a kid," I snapped, throwing away my unnecessary thought after being angered.
"Ok, gentleman, welcome to my library. I'm honored by your presence," she mocked with a bow.
'Then don't treat me like a kid,' I complained inwardly, staring speechlessly at her.
"*cough* I'm just kidding," Olivia smiled.
"But what are you doing here, kid? Want to read books?" she asked, looking curious.
"Yeah, I need books," I nodded. "I need books to know about basics like navigation, geography, power structure, kingdoms, lore, etc." I listed, surprising her.
She stared blankly, thinking of something, maybe Robin. "I have money," I called, distracting her.
"Oh! Sorry, I was thinking something," she replied. "Don't talk about money. For a cute kid like you, I will lend it for free," she enthusiastically went to pick various books.
'Free?' my orange-dominated Iris turned into a Belli symbol. 'I should have asked for more books,' I muttered greedily, my orange-dominant Iris scanning the building. I also found that this library also acts as a bookstore.
As she was picking books, I once again thought about how she was alive. Let's ask her some questions.
"Are you new? I haven't seen you before," I asked her.
"Yeah, I just settled here for less than a month," she replied.
"Settled? What were you doing before?" I probed further.
"I was sailing around the world," she answered, placing the books on the table.
"It must have been fun," I commented, knowing well it wasn't.
She paused and placed the book, then sighed sadly. "I didn't travel for fun. In my early years, I traveled for knowledge, and for some years I traveled in search of someone," she muttered.
Now I'm sure this is Nico Olivia and not some look-alike. "*sigh* forgive me for my rambling. Uh! What's your name?" she asked, snapping from her thoughts
"Huh!? My name is... John Doe," I replied.
"John D Oe? ...D?" she asked in surprise.
"Eh? No, John Doe," I corrected as she sighed in relief.
"Ok, John. Here are the books to learn about the world." She patted the books on the table.
"I trust you won't be like other kids and damage the books, right? So return them intact," she smiled kindly, but I got chills from it.
I shivered, "Yes, mam," I saluted as my orange-dominated iris dimmed, as well as discarding the idea of stealing these books.
"I will also provide you with some new books," I promised, packing the books.
"Yeah, I'm looking forward to it," Olivia nodded, thinking that I'm bluffing.
"Goodbye, and I believe that the person you are looking for is doing well," I wished and ran out of the building.]... after that awkward conversation, I reached the dock and realized that I can't take my regular route or the books will get wet. I don't want an angry woman chasing me. What a pain. It's time to put my wilderness survival expertise to use.
«Entry -2330 - Year:1512 - Early March» After a few days of training, teaching, and bickering, everything fell into a routine. [I closed the book which I painstakingly brought here. I looked at Mo, who is teaching something to Dumb using monkey language or his Devil Fruit power, which is convenient for directly showing what he thinks.
"Stupid, because of his monkey brains he can't project things properly," I sneered at Mo, showing off his power.
"Now he has learned the basic things. It's time for him to learn professional things," I decided.
Then I resumed my training after a meal, thinking about what to learn next. I thought of trying to learn Roukishiki, but it needs a strong body to succeed. I don't know if a five-year-old's body can learn it.
Somehow I feel I can learn Geppo or skywalk or moonwalk or whatever its name is. I guess it's probably because of how I can identify the density of air. "It may be because of living on Sky Island," I muttered, remembering reading about it in 'my short history'.
"I should quickly grasp that feeling before I get used to the atmosphere here," I mumble while stretching.
'Somewhere 'I' also mentioned how it is easier to fly here than on Sky Island. It's probably also the reason the people there can't fly, low air density,' I deduced.
"Ha! It's boring to always train like it," I lamented. "Can I meet Luffy & co.?" I wondered.
"But I'm unconsciously avoiding him?" I realized. 'Why Am I avoiding him? To avoid him bugging me to join his pirate crew?' I deduced.
"No, I'm not completely against joining pirates, but only against joining Straw Hats," I realized my feeling.
"My intuition says that I can get all the answers if I can open this folder," I tapped on the watch and stared at the protected folder named [Secret of the World].
"If only I could open it. If I can learn to crack it..." I lamented and spotted Mo nearby.
I was stunned and grinned suddenly. "I know what professional knowledge I should teach him," I muttered.
Mo looked around as if he sensed being stared at by some dangerous being. Soon he spotted me and tried to make a run for it, but I caught him before he could make a move.
But soon I noticed that I'm holding a log rather than Mo. 'Substitution Jutsu?' my mind echoed, then I punched the log which transformed into Mo.
"Trying to use your power on me? And where do you think you can run?" I glared at Mo.
[With how creepy you look, anyone will run] Mo replied indigently, covering his pained nose.
"Fuck! You are quibbling," I glowered. "And what the heck is that half-assed projection? Where is Physics? Where is Chemistry? Where is Maths?... Biology? Langu-*ahem* Computer?" I questioned him, as he looked bewildered by these unknown words.
[Are you pulling these words out of nowhere?] Mo asked suspiciously.
"I think it's time to increase your training intensity," I replied calmly.
[NO! Don't. I'm sorry, you great intelligent being] Mo pleaded to which I turned a deaf ear.
'I need to print the books from my watch. I can't always leave my watch to Mo,' I thought.
'Didn't the Marines have a device to print bounties?' I thought and look at Mo smiling warmly, but Mo became stiff in fear and nearby Dumb ran away sensing danger]...It's time to rob marines, here I come Goa Kingdom.
«Entry -2345 - Year:1512 - Mid-March» Some days later, I sneaked into the Goa Kingdom by sea. After drying myself, I explored the Town Center. [I stared at the clean road with my violet/purple-borderedIris. "Hypocrite Nobles," I scoffed in disdain.
"If the Town Center is this clean, I wonder how clean the High Town will be?" I wondered, eyeing the wall of the elevated High Town with my intelligent purple-bordered Iris.
I silently mingled in the crowd, "First, I need the location of the Marine office," I muttered.
'Since this is a kingdom, the marines will not have authoritative power, so they must have low manpower,' I deduced. 'Besides, this area is under Grap's control, so there will be fewer dangerous criminals and fights. And they only used them as a communication tool between Marine and the kingdom,' I muttered.
"I think even Garp did not have more control here because the Bluejam pirates were roaming freely," I muttered calmly.
"To get information, Edge Town is an ideal place," I decided, walking there.
'It's time to use stilts,' I rushed into an alley. After a few minutes, a tall figure emerged from that alley and moved towards a bar.
Edge Town is not clean as other places. I soon found a bar and pushed the door open. I was assaulted with noisy chatter and all kinds of smells belonging to the bar. The customers inside glanced over at me and carried on with their doings.
I scanned the bar for any danger and devised many escape routes. I entered the bar only after I'm confident of escaping from there. I strolled toward the bartender and felt some people looking at me weirdly since I'm covered tightly from head to toe.
"What do you want?" the barkeeper asked vigilantly.
"Coffee and sandwich," I ordered, sitting on the stool stiffly hiding the stilts.
"There is no sandwich, and this is a bar, not a restaurant," the barkeeper grumbled but went to prepare coffee.
"Ara! then prepare something that complements with coffee," I added as he huffed in acknowledgment.
'Poor customer service,' I clicked my tongue and tried to listen to the conversations.
"I heard that Bluejam pirates have rooted in the shore of Grey Terminal," a man asked drunkenly.
"Yeah, a nasty bunch. I heard one of his crewmates would skin a person alive," another man replied.
"Hope I won't get in their sight," the man replied fearfully.
At the table nearby, "You remember the carpenter, Rob? They threw him out of the town because of angering a noble," a man gossiped.
"Yeah, He is prolonging his life in Grey Terminal," another man said.
"I also heard someone threw the money back at the noble's face who paid him to send his wife to sleep with him," another man added.
"Yeah, he is a poor bloke. After they threw him out of town, his wife ran to that noble," the previous man informed.
"Here is your coffee," the barkeeper placed a cup heavily in front of me.
"Thank You," I replied, placing some money, and picking up the coffee.
"Mr. Barkeep, where is the nearby marine office? Not a regular one, One with better equipment," I asked, putting a 100 Belli on the table.
The barkeeper eyed the money for a while, then pocketed it. Then he rummaged through the drawer and handed a note to me. I confirmed the address on it and pocketed it.
I took a sip from the cup and had the urge to spit it on the barkeeper's face, as it taste like piss. Suddenly the bar's door is rudely pushed open and, "You assholes, what if Roger had a kid?" a rude childish voice asked.
I spit the coffee on the barkeeper's face in surprise. 'Why is he here? At this time, he should be chased by Luffy,' I thought, turning toward the voice after replacing my mask.
'Fuck! What timing?' I thought, looking at the familiar freckled kid.
The whole bar burst into laughter. 'What a funny kid.' 'Roger is an evil pirate. Do we need another evil?', 'If he is in front of me, I will hand him to the marines and become famous,' they mocked, and I saw Ace getting angry.
"Gahahaha, that would be a big problem, alright," a man laughed.
"He'd be someone allowed neither to be born nor live. A Demon," another man laughed.
I suddenly got angry, upon hearing this. 'Fuck! I want to hit him too.' I clenched my teeth in anger.
*clonk* A steel pipe hit that man's nose, knocking him out. "Shut up! Asshole," he yelled.
I quickly stood up. "Idiot!" I cursed, looking at the people around me.
"Fuck! Get him," someone shouted, rushing towards Ace as others reacted.
'Oh! he is going to die. Welp! Here goes nothing.' I picked three bottles near me and threw them at the people near Ace while yelling, "Bar Fight," then palmed the person near me.
*bang* *crunch* *Gah* *ugh* *crackle* *Aah*
But the expected Bar fight did not happen as everyone stopped and looked at me. "Uhh! Hello," I waved as the purple in my eyes dimmed.
Ace looked at me in astonishment. "Get him too," yelled a man.
"Oops," I picked the 'piss' coffee and hurled it using a water bullet at the people rushing. I controlled it so they won't get killed and get me in trouble.
*ugh* *grunt* *ooff* *gah* *crash* the grunts hit by the coffee fell crying in pain. I rushed towards the nearby bar's exit punching a man nearby. 'I can't get enough power while on this stilt,' I grumbled.
While I distracted them, Ace attacked the person near him. 'This idiot,' I angrily punched the man, then dodged a bottle thrown at me.
I picked up the kerosene lamp hanging on the pillar and swung it in a circle while discreetly controlling the fire to shoot from it. 'AAhh! It burns', 'Help! Fire,' the grunts jumped away from me in fear.
I rushed towards Ace, picked him up by the back of his shirt, and ran out of the door. Since I currently have a height advantage, it is easy to carry him.
"Hey! let me go," he yelled, trying to hit me with the pipe.
I caught the pipe in my other hand and created fire. "Shut up! Or I will burn you," I glared at him. 'I'm already frustrated with my involvement with him, and on top of it, I don't want to hear his whining,' I grumbled.
'Damn! Why did I even get into this fight? This idiot can take care of his problem.' I glared at him.
He gulped, looking at the pipe slowly heating, and looked at me in horror. I rushed into the alley nearby. "Oi Idiot, tell me the direction," I shouted at the horror-stricken Ace.
"Who are you calling an idiot... weirdo?" Ace snapped angrily.
"Do you want to die?" I squinted at him. He glanced at his steaming pipe and told the direction honestly.
As I weaved through the maze of alleys, I looked at the Ace, who was surprisingly calm. 'Why is he calm? According to his hothead character, he should at least be yelling at me by now,' I wondered.
When I turned into an alley pointed by Ace, something hit my leg *er* stilt, stumbling me, I fell face first. Using this chance, Ace escaped from my grip. I turned around to see a pipe hurled at me *clang* I blocked it with my stilts and rolled back to avoid another pipe reaching me.
I looked at the assaulter to find that it is a familiar blond kid. "*Tch* Figures," I stood up, annoyed. Well, it looks like I'm kneeling because of my stilts.
"ACE! ARE YOU ALRIGHT? Who is this kidnapper?" the blond kid asked Ace, eyeing me vigilantly. I reached to my feet and removed the stilts.
"Nothing will happen to me. And he is... SHIT," Ace began before I charged toward them. 'Canon character or not, first I will whoop their ass and figure things out later,' I raged.
*clang* I hit Ace with my stilts, who blocked it with his pipe and skidded back. *clunk* I kicked Sabo as he also blocked it and reeled back.
After recovering, their eyes widen at my short size. "YOU ARE A KID!?" they yelled.
"I hate THAT, WORD," I roared, charging at them.
"SHIT," they yelled and readied for my attack.
Ace, as usual, charged head first toward me *clang* meeting me in the middle. I found that our strength is equal. It makes sense even though I have many powerful genes. He is five years older than me, and he is also a D.
I used the stilts in my other hand and stabbed him, which he dodged. When I was about to use it as an opening *clunk* Sabo attacked at the time, as I parried it.
"Ace, what trouble did you bring this time?" Sabo yelled in annoyance, dodging my attack.
I dodged Ace's attack and hit him *clang* which Sabo blocked. I kicked him in the stomach, sending him back *ugh* "Hiss," but I got a hit in the shoulder from Ace.
"Oi! Sabo, are you alright?" Ace called, glaring at me.
'Fuck! Why are YOU angry? I'm the one who should be angry,' my blood pressure rose.
"Yeah *cough* I'm fine," Sabo stood steadily. I attacked Ace, ignoring the pain in my shoulder. *clang* *clonk* *thunk* *thud* *blam* *ugh* *bang* *thump* we continued our fight like this.
As time passed, my anger reduced, and I began to enjoy the long last fight, 'These two became my perfect training partner,' I thought.
Well, I'm the one who got the most hits among us. As time passes by, the teamwork between them is increasing, so the pressure on me increases.
"*huff* Why are we even *huff* fighting this ki-*ah*- guy? *pant*" Sabo questioned, changing the wording after seeing me glaring at him.
"I don't know *huff* Why are you asking me? *pant* ask him," Ace replied, unconcerned.
"YOU BROUGHT HIM HERE/DON'T ACT LIKE I'M NOT HERE," Sabo/I yelled.
"Okay, Let's CALM DOWN *huff*," Sabo yelled, backing from the fight, and surprisingly Ace followed reluctantly.
I also backed slightly, panting hard. For a while, there was only our panting sound in this alley.
"Why are you attacking us? *ha* Why did you kidnap him?" Sabo asked.
I squinted. "Why don't you ask him? *huff*" I retorted, glancing at Ace, who looks clueless.
"I don't know?" Ace scratched his head.
"YOU! I saved him from getting killed in a bar, but you guys attacked me. Who won't get angry?" I roared, pointing at Ace.
"Ace, did you get to the bar and ask those questions again?" Sabo questioned Ace furiously.
"Yeah, those assholes..." Ace retorted, and then they started bickering.
"Oi! We have an issue to discuss," I snapped at them.
"So... What do you want?" Ace asked after a while.
"Hmm! You guys ambushed and severely injured me," I muttered. '…Even though I enjoyed the fight,' I added inwardly.
Sabo's eye twitched, 'Severely injured? I don't see it,' was clearly expressed on his face.
"As for compensation..." I dragged. "You guys just need to help me with something later," I revealed.
Before they could reply, "Don't worry, it won't hurt any innocent people," I assured them. 'Whether or not it is dangerous? Who knows? Is the marine office dangerous?' I thought.
They looked at each other and communicated with their eyes, "Ok! That's our fault. So we will help you one time," Sabo nodded. Smiling evilly under my mask. 'I will let you know how bad it is for agreeing to help someone knowing nothing.' I thought.
I nodded and, "As for saving your life..." began.
"When do you save my life? I would have been fine even if you didn't interfere," Ace interrupted me.
"You don't know that. For all I know, you are about to be killed," I retorted.
"I'm proof because I saw it," I glared at him.
"That's not how it works," Ace raged.
"Tell the compensation first," Sabo interrupted timely.
"Hmm! since it regards a life, let's round it to 100 million... yeah, 100 million," I nodded. "You just need to pay 100 million," I smiled at them.
They paled at hearing that number. "How much did you say?" Sabo stuttered.
"That's bullshit. I would have escaped alive, anyway. Who asked for your help?" Ace fumed hearing the number.
"I don't care whether you pay or... DIE," I challenged him.
"*scoff* You couldn't even defeat me before. How will you kill me now?" Ace scoffed arrogantly.
"ACE! Shut up, don't agitate him," Sabo panicked.
I squinted. 'They already wasted my time, and now he is arrogant. I need to teach him a lesson,' and thought.
I changed my posture to fencing. "Like this," I stabbed the stilt using Brook's move, which is ingrained in my body due to regular practice.
"Shi- *crack* *thunk*" Ace's pipe broke when he tried to block the attack, and I kicked him using the chance.
"I told you not to agitate him," Sabo yelled, swinging the pipe at me. *crackle* I imbued my stilt with a mild electro and blocked the pipe.
*bzzzt* *ugh* Sabo got electrocuted after the clash and became numb, falling to the ground and twitching. Ace looked at me in horror. "What did I tell you earlier? I told you If you annoy me, I will roast you, Didn't I?" I stomped towards him.
"Damn it," he threw one-half of the broken pipe at me, which I avoided. I blocked his punch, but he kicked me, and I dodged it narrowly. Using the momentum of the kick, he rotated his body and swung the other half of the pipe. *BANG* I crossed the stilts, but that hit sent me skidding back.
I narrowed my eyes. 'If I don't finish it fast, it will attract unnecessary attention,' I decided. *whoosh* I sidestepped the pipe that attacked me from behind. I side-eyed the astonished Sabo *clang* I blocked Ace's attack and hit Sabo with my tail, causing him to lose his pipe. 'Well, I need to test what I practiced in the fight,' I thought.
I hit him with the tip of the tail, but he surprisingly dodged. '*Tch* What an annoying adaptability,' I groaned. Both of them distanced themselves from me and looked at me in horror.
"What are you? *huff*" Ace asked warily.
"Me...?" I asked, then grinned. "I'm..." I removed my cloak, "A Devil," I announced, spreading my wings.
They paled at my appearance. "I saved you, so your life belongs to me. Do you agree? Or do you agree?" I asked as I lit my wings on fire to look cool.
*SPLASH* Suddenly, a pipe in the nearby house broke because of our fight and sprayed all its contents, drenching me. Now I look like a drenched crow looking pitiful. "Hahahaha, That's funny *wheeze*/ Hehehehe, take that asshole *cough*" the only witnesses laughed at me.
"*Grrrr* Fuck YOU, GOD," I roared furiously. "And you can just die." I manipulated the dirty water and shot at them.
"Gah! run/ Shit," they ran in fear.
"Kukukuku, run as far as you can, but your life belongs to me, Keke...," I chased them as if the previous humiliation did not happen.
To avoid getting spotted by anyone, I flew high in the sky. Since I'm small, I slightly look like a big bird. I followed, easily using my 'supervision' as they ran out of the city, then Grey Terminal, and into the forest.
"*huff* *huff* Do you think we lost him?" Sabo asked, leaning against a tree.
"*huff* Don't know *huff* I hope," Ace replied, looking around vigilantly.
"Don't hope~ Don't runn~ You can't escapee~
Because~ I will chase you to the~ end of the worlddd~" I dived and hit them before they could react.
"Anywhere you hide~ I will find youuu~
Whether it's East Bluee~ North Bluee~
Or West Blue~ South Blue~ I will find youuu~
Because your life belongs to meee~" I broke the rock behind which Sabo is hiding. I cut the tree that has a hole in which Ace is hiding.
"Don't hope~ Don't runn~ You can't escapee~
Because~ I will chase you to the~ end of the worlddd~" I dropped them after thrashing them.
"However you hide~ I will find youuu~
Whether you're a kid or an adult~
A peasant or noble~ A marine or pirate~
A yonko or admiral~ I will get you~
Because I'mmmaA DEEVILLLLL~" I sat in front of Ace & Sabo, who was tied to the tree.
Then I reacted, 'Isn't my current personality Robin's? Why did I sing like Brook?' I wondered.
'Let's think about it later. Solve the problem in front first,' I decided and focused on the tied-up kids.
They gulped after seeing me looking at them. "So, what to do with you guys?"
"If you want to take my life? Just take it, but let him go," Ace yelled, angrily/nervously.
"WHAT!? ACE," Sabo yelled angrily.
"Ok," I accepted calmly and extended my claws in front of them.
They gulped nervously. "How do you want to die?" I asked maliciously.
"Cut the throat? Gouge your heart? Pull out your intestine? Fry you?" I asked, gruesomely.
"STOP! STOP! Stop!" Sabo yelled nauseously.
"We will pay the compensation," Sabo yelled hopefully.
"Oh! Ok," I nodded in acceptance.
They stared blankly at this bland acceptance. "That's it? You agree just like that?" Ace yelled indigently.
"Why not?" I asked back calmly.
"You... You did not tell the time limit," Sabo yelled.
"Ah! Yeah..." I patted my head. "You can give it before you die," I revealed the condition.
Both of them stared blankly as if they heard something wrong. "WHAT!?" they yelled.
"Then we can give it even when we grow up?" Sabo asked doubtfully.
"Why didn't you say so earlier?" Sabo asked.
"You didn't ask. Besides, someone was so focused on interrupting me." I shrugged as Ace's face turned red.
"So remember, your life belongs to me now. Don't die before you pay off the debt," I ordered, staring at Ace, whose face became unreadable.
"That's it, see ya," I waved, turning around.
"Oh! Yeah! That question you asked in the bar," I reminded as both of them stiffened.
"What does a father's sin or achievement have to do with his son?" I preached, "The son should create his own achievement and make a name for himself," I finished and left there.
"Be ready. You guys agreed to help me, remember?" I reminded them and finally left.
"Oi! Release us before you leave, asshole," I heard Ace yelling.
I ignored his yelling, 'First scout the Marine building, and then I will call them,' I decided.]... then with the help of Ace and Sabo, I successfully infiltrated and stole the printer.
.
[John, We reached Mirror ball Island] Bang-E reminded. John closed the Log and wore the Recall on my wrist. As the submarine surfaced, he looked out and saw an island with an enormous ball or mountain with the word 'Funky' written on it.
"Bag-E find a safe place to go ashore. Make sure that place is deserted," John ordered.
John packed the things that needed to be taken out of Bag-E when it reverts' to bag form. Then he climbed on top of the submarine as it emerged from the sea. "Let's have some fun," John muttered, picking up his mask and cloak.