Chapter 19: The first enemy
After Tsuru joined his team, Ezio got a lot of information.
The interesting part was that there was a new Shichibukai besides the ones the manga showed. This wasn't too surprising for Ezio because Hancock was supposed to be one of them. Now that she was in his team, they had to fill this position with some other guy.
What surprised Ezio the most was that this guy never showed up in the manga.
„How much information do you have about this guy, Tsuru?"
„Even I don't know much. That guy is really mysterious and he keeps a low profile. After the first time he entered the Grandline, he got a bounty over 200 million. I wouldn't underestimate this guy, he gives me a bad feeling. And my feelings never let me down"
Ezio thought this over. First he wanted to fight Crocodile or Moria. He wasn't really sure how strong he was. He thought that he and Hancock could rival a Shichibukai, but that was only his opinion. In the end he had never fought one of them and to belittle these guys could kill him.
He didn't have any illusions about his position. Maybe he was a celestial dragon, and these little pirates wouldn't dare to even touch him, but there were many people in this world that would attack him even if they knew his background. Pirates who lived for freedom, pirates who did not fear his position. He was sure that Whitebeard wouldn't even glance at him if he did not prove his worth.
To fight against Moria or Crocodile would be safer because he knew these guys. There wouldn't be any surprises and he could test his strength.
The problem was: How long can this go on? He can not rely on his manga knowledge for everything. The manga showed a little part of this world. It showed the perspective of one guy and only a handful of islands. Who knows how many strong guys are alive and could smash him with one fist?
„Do you know where this Shichibukai is at the moment?"
„He is on an island in the Grandline. It isn't too far from here. Maybe in two weeks we would reach this place"
His logic told him that he should fight the guys he knew from the manga, but his heart said otherwise. It was like when you know the end of a novel, why should you even start to read? If he would fight crocodile, he would know the endboss, but if he would fight this mysterious guy, everything could happen. This feeling made him excited, this was the feeling he missed in his previous world.
„Alright guys, it is time to get serious"
Ezio looked at his crew members. He wasn't really sure how strong they were. Hancock was a monster nearly on par with him, but the other members were truly a mystery.
Bonney had this strange fruit. Ezio wasn't sure if she was super strong or super weak. With a touch of her hand she could turn even Whitebeard into a little brat. But what if she met someone she couldn't even touch?
Hachi wasn't really strong in the manga. Now he was trained by his grandfather and maybe he wasn't the same anymore. But who knows?
Reiju wasn't weak but she ate her devil fruit only two weeks ago. Who knows what she can do on a battlefield?
„Our first fight is against this mysterious Shichibukai"
„Hmph, do you think one of these guys could handle us? I alone am enough", said Hancock with disdain.
„Don't belittle our enemies, Hancock. Never do that. We only have one life and if we are careless you have not even time to regret"
Ezio was the best example. He got cancer and after three month he died. Sometimes life is shorter than we think.
„Tsuru-chan will not fight against this guy. She is more like a mentor in this fight. When we do something wrong, she should teach us. Hancock, maybe we had an admiral as our teacher, maybe we have all resources that money can buy, but we don't have one thing that is more important than that. That is a life and death experience"
He looked at his crew members who had a really serious expression.
„These pirates had countless fights and difficulties. Only with this you can truly grow strong. This is the reason why we have to face the same. I don't want that people will respect us because I'm a celestial dragon. I don't want to be feared because of my old man. I want that the people fear me, Blackflame Ezio, and not my position!"
„Let's go, we beat up this Shichibukai bastard and let the whole world know that there is a Blackflame who has more to offer then his noble birth!"
After two weeks the Blackflame crew arrived at their destination. Ezio grinned. Now was time for some true action. His first fight in this world!
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
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