Through the use of life return and biofeedback with ki manipulation, I could transform my body. However, it is still far from reaching the ideal, so I'll need to do the same process several more times.
But that alone isn't enough. While the foundation of the body should be the first to be improved, I must also train the combat techniques and weapons that complement this physique.
To achieve this, I need to have a clear direction and strategy in mind. If I waver, it will affect the final outcome.
In the future, assuming I become even stronger, the first thing to consider is the Devil Fruits. When the opportunity arises, whether to consume them or not.
Well, as for Devil Fruits... to be honest, I don't need them. There's variability in their abilities, and in the original story, Lucci mentioned that the drawbacks of the Rokushiki techniques were not significant. But the real issue lies elsewhere.
The problem is the loss of strength when exposed to a certain amount of water and the clear weakness to seastone. These are the "obvious weaknesses" that come with consuming a Devil Fruit.
Moreover, personally, I find Devil Fruits repulsive. I transformed my body through immense pain and suffering. Not to gain special abilities, but purely to make myself physically stronger... and I believe that's how it should be. When you reshape your body like I did, it should come with substantial risks.
However, eating a Devil Fruit only requires enduring a little risk, and in return, it offers unnatural and almost blasphemous transformations... it defies the laws of nature.
Well, I won't deny others from consuming them if they wish to. After all, any ability can be useful, and it's a quick way to become stronger.
But personally, I strongly dislike the idea of letting an external force dictate changes to my body.
So, no Devil Fruits for me.
Next, Haki... I believe it is crucial. It's especially effective against Devil Fruit users.
In Punk Hazard, Doflamingo mentioned that Law's Ope Ope no Mi abilities won't work on Vergo. Then, during the fight with Doflamingo, Law refrained from using his severing powers. I suspect that advanced Haki can protect against Devil Fruit powers.
Furthermore, even without considering Devil Fruit users, honing Haki to the limit is essential. Rayleigh said that Haki improves through battle, so I assume it's most efficient to train it in real combat.
So, while I'll continue basic training, I'll focus on fully developing Haki once I gain real combat experience.
With Devil Fruits and Haki strategy sorted out... the next challenge is my envisioned fighting style. I want to master an overwhelming hand-to-hand combat using my peerless physique.
For that, Rokushiki techniques seem to complement it well. They might be ridiculed as an entry-level Haki, but I see more potential in them.
Telescope Finger – This technique's essence is concentrating force at one point for piercing power. If it can be enhanced to the level of Armament Haki, it would become a powerful weapon.
Shave – This will further improve speed. If I can move almost instantaneously without a sound, like teleporting, it would be great.
Moon Walk – In a world with vast seas, this technique is highly valuable. By moving at high speeds in mid-air, it will give me an overwhelming advantage against non-flying opponents.
Iron Body – Often misunderstood as an inferior version of Armament Haki. But if I think of it as internal hardening compared to external Armament Haki, then perhaps combining them will yield greater strength.
Paper Art – This is more of an offensive defense. I should consider using minimal movements for evasion and setting up counterattacks. If combined with Life Return, like how Fukurou did in the original story, it might allow for seemingly impossible evasions.
Storm Leg – It will undoubtedly be the main weapon for a Rokushiki user like me. However, the power needs to be at the level where it can slash through steel.
Lastly, Rokugan Shot – It's a trump card for Rokushiki users, but the long charging motion and requirement of both hands make it less practical. I want to be able to use it instantly with one hand.
With the upgraded bioengineered body and thoroughly trained Rokushiki, this will be my fighting style. Apart from that, I should observe and incorporate various body movements and basic strikes from various sources. Also, I need to find opportunities to gain real combat experience.
***
Reborn... No, it has been two years since I stepped out of the realm of being a normal human. With the memories from my past life, I have lived a total of eight years and turned fifteen years old. I was cleaning the familiar underground training ground.
Usually, no servants are allowed in this place, including the library. So, I handle the cleaning myself. In fact, our mansion has few servants for its size.
The reason is evident; this is the home of a high-ranking official in the intelligence organization. Being cautious about whom to hire is crucial, and my father, who prioritizes his own safety, won't compromise on that.
I tend to take care of most of my daily affairs myself, and many of the servants are assigned to my father. As a result, I am relatively free to do as I please, which makes things much more convenient for me.
Looking at the cleaned underground training ground, the floor has still turned reddish-black despite my efforts. I can't believe how much blood and vomit I've spilled during these reckless trainings.
In reality, I do think I'm going mad... and since the first body modification, I've been aware of the changes that occurred within me.
However, it's an odd contradiction. Seeking a moderate level of happiness and contentment, I end up pursuing overwhelming power, spilling blood and seeking destruction and creation.
It's like seeking diligence in idleness, as the saying goes.
Nevertheless, the results have been more than satisfying. After multiple biofeedback-induced body modifications, spilling blood and alternating between destruction and creation until the floor changed color, I finally achieved the ideal physique I had envisioned.
Regarding the Rokushiki techniques, I've mostly achieved my goals. However, the growth of my Haki is still lacking, so that remains a future task.
But the results are more than enough. The Rokushiki masters are called superhumans, but I have already surpassed that realm. My current body can be described as a "Monster."
Well, even Whitebeard, who is a human, has a height of 666 cm, so he can be called a "Monster" in a different sense...
Leaving the training ground and sweating, I return to my room. Standing in front of a large mirror, I change my clothes. I tie my slightly eccentric light purple hair back and put on a dark brown suit.
I could wear a black suit, but I'll probably get tired of it eventually. This one will do for now.
Hmmm... however, despite having a much more defined face than Spandam in the original, the dark circles around my eyes and my dark-ish nose still make me look a bit foolish.
I think I can change the color through biofeedback, but I'm not that concerned about my appearance, and explaining it to my father and the servants seems troublesome, so it's not a big deal...
Reaching that conclusion, I step out of my room, wearing a black tie, and ask one of the servants I come across if my father is around. He tells me my father is in the dining hall, so I head there.
In the dining hall, I find my father eating at an unnecessarily large table. I approach and speak.
"Dad, can I talk to you for a moment?"
"Ah, Spandam, what's up?"
"When am I supposed to become a government official?"
"I was thinking about two years from now. Is it also your wish?"
To my father, I am an existence to solidify his position even further. He must have already laid out a career path and done some groundwork.
Around two years from now, some good positions might become vacant, so he probably wants to place me there.
That's fine by me. I'm grateful to my father for letting me do whatever I want. While I don't feel any deep emotions for him, I owe him for giving me the freedom to do as I please. Whether it's for my advancement or to be used as a tool for his career, I don't mind. It's a mutually beneficial relationship, and it suits us both.
"Well, I'll follow your intentions regarding the timing, but before that, I want to travel the world to broaden my horizons. I'll be back in two years, and I'll carry a Den Den Mushi with me, so you can contact me if necessary."
"Hmm, how much do you need?"
My father doesn't show much interest in my affairs, which makes things smooth. To him, this probably feels like his son asking to go on a wandering journey.
As long as it doesn't cost too much money, I can do as I please. I can sense that feeling.
"As little as possible. I'll make additional arrangements if needed."
"Don't cause any unnecessary trouble."
"I'm aware, no problem."
"Then do as you please."
With that, my father resumes his meal. Confirming that, I leave the dining hall and return to my room, pondering my thoughts.
Now is the best time to gain real combat experience. The reason being, I have learned from the information available that this is about 24 years before the original timeline. Soon, with Roger's execution, the Great Pirate Era will begin. Countless pirates will enter the Grand Line in search of One Piece, and the world will be in chaos... making it the perfect time for gaining combat experience.
With that in mind, I pick up the newspaper on the desk and glance at the front page.
"Pirate King Gold Roger Arrested!"
...Yes, it's 24 years before the original timeline. The start of the Great Pirate Era is just around the corner, along with Roger's execution. It's the ideal time to gain combat experience in the midst of a world that's about to be thrown into chaos by the grand pursuit of One Piece.
――"My treasure? If you want it, I'll give it to you. Search for it! I left everything in that place!"
A few months ago, with these words spoken by the Pirate King, Gold Roger, just before his death, people were driven to the sea, and the era of the Great Pirates began. Many became pirates, and numerous rookies set their sights on the Grand Line.
However, of course, not only new adventurers were inspired by the words of the Pirate King. Those who were already pirates aimed for his legacy as well.
In the chaotic seas of the latter half of the Grand Line, a single pirate ship was sailing. The crew on board was of a considerable size, and the man serving as the captain had a relatively high bounty on his head.
He was neither a particularly great nor a particularly bad pirate – somewhere in the middle. While he was not on the level to challenge figures like Roger or Whitebeard, his pride prevented him from becoming someone's underling.
Amidst such delicate circumstances, the information about the Pirate King's treasure, "One Piece," suddenly appearing in the Grand Line, was enough to spark a surge of enthusiasm among these men. Even though it was an entirely baseless dream that they could become the next Pirate King by obtaining the One Piece, they sailed on with high spirits.
On that day, the weather was clear, and the wind was calm – an unusual occurrence for the latter half of the Grand Line.
In the somewhat tranquil atmosphere, both the captain and his subordinates relaxed a bit. It was precisely at this moment that a loud sound, like an explosion, echoed through the air.
"What's going on!?"
The captain shouted, and his subordinates looked around the ship, but they couldn't spot anything unusual. However, as they observed their perplexed crewmates, the captain's eyes fell on a strange scene.
In the center of the confused crew, standing on the deck, was a young man with light purple hair tied back and dressed in a dark brown suit. His eyes and nose were black.
While his facial features still bore a hint of youth as he was transitioning from a boy to a young man, the atmosphere he exuded was distinctly different.
"Who's this brat... and how did he sneak in?"
One of the subordinates muttered suspiciously, and the rest, sensing an ominous aura, began to gather around the young man. They had no idea how he had infiltrated the ship or where he had come from.
Gathering around the young man were dozens of subordinates, each of them seasoned enough to have survived as pirates in the Grand Line.
And these subordinates...
"...Razor."
In an instant, it seemed as though the young man's figure blurred, and then, like marionettes whose strings had been cut, they all collapsed.
"What!?"
Witnessing this shocking scene, the captain quickly raced through his thoughts.
"He knocked them all out at once? Haki... no, I didn't sense any Conqueror's Haki. Besides, my men shouldn't be weak enough to faint from ordinary Conqueror's Haki."
Feeling panic rise in his heart, the captain moved his gaze, and his eyes fell on the face of one of the fallen subordinates. A hole that resembled a gunshot wound was visible on the subordinate's forehead, making it clear that he was not unconscious but dead.
"What is this guy...? Did he kill dozens of my men in an instant...?"
A chilling sensation ran down his spine. In the midst of complete silence, the young man's gaze slowly turned to the captain.
It felt as though a grim reaper had locked onto its prey from the darkness...
"Ugh, aaahhh!"
The captain's reflexive shout was born either from the anger of his subordinates being killed or the fear of facing an overwhelmingly powerful adversary...
Drawing his sword, enveloped in Armament Haki, the captain leaped and swung the sword down at the young man with all his might.
"...Paper Art."
It appeared as though the sword passed right through the young man's body. Simultaneously, the surrounding scenery seemed to slow down, and everything became vividly clear. Without the captain noticing, the young man had somehow moved right beside him.
In the final moments of death, in that compressed instant, the captain saw the young man raise his right index finger.
"...Finger Pistol."
The last thing the captain heard was those words.
***
On the deck of a pirate ship where no one else was alive, a young man flipped through a stack of wanted posters next to the body of a man who appeared to be the captain.
"... The bounty is 78 million berries."
Even though I could use Haki and my power level was over a billion, it seems like this amount is reasonable for now. The era of the Great Pirates has just begun, and bounties are generally lower than they will be later. Mid-level pirates like this are often underestimated by the Marines, as their attention is mostly focused on exceptionally powerful pirates. It will probably change once the era becomes more competitive, but for now, it works in my favor.
Before joining a job that would restrict my actions, I embarked on a journey for my warrior's training about half a year ago. The first two months were spent gaining experience in the first half of the sea, and afterward, I began my activities in the latter half of the Grand Line.
Of course, there was no reason to go through the trouble of taking the underwater route, so I crossed the Red Line by abandoning my ship.
I have engaged in many battles and killed quite a number of opponents. However, to be honest, I don't feel anything. I thought there might be some resistance when I killed someone for the first time, but no emotions arose. It seems that a few screws may have been loose during my body modifications.
As for my warrior's training, it's been going very smoothly. Actual combat significantly accelerates the growth of Haki. By using Haki in battle, I feel my Haki becoming more and more refined.
The most significant growth occurs when facing opponents who are skilled in Haki, but even when facing those without it, my progress is evident compared to regular training.
To my delight, there was an unexpected surprise. I have Conqueror's Haki. Honestly, I never thought someone like Spandam had the qualities of a king, so I assumed I couldn't use it. However, during a battle, something happened that seemed to involve Conqueror's Haki. Upon verification, it became clear that I have the potential for Conqueror's Haki.
This is a significant advantage. With my knowledge from the original work, being able to wield Conqueror's Haki will be a powerful asset. However, maintaining it requires considerable concentration, so I need to train further.
Well, that aside, the bounty of 78 million for this captain I killed is honestly "too high." If it were below 10 million, I could have cashed it in for additional travel expenses, but this amount is not good.
I don't particularly want to raise my name as a bounty hunter. Moreover, considering my future career in the intelligence agency, it's better if my true strength isn't widely known.
However, being too secretive could also lead to underestimation. A moderate approach would be ideal, like how Lucci from the original work was known enough to conduct undercover investigations without ordinary Marines recognizing him, but Vice Admirals know his face.
Yes, this pirate's bounty won't be exchanged. There's a reasonable amount of money onboard the ship, so I'll use that for my travel expenses... and then sink the ship.
With that decision made, I tore up the useless wanted poster with the captain's face on it and jumped.
"Storm Step."
The slash released from my foot cleaved the relatively large pirate ship in two, and then I used Moonwalk to return to the small boat I had left at a distance.
This is enough. I don't need a large sum of money for my life plan. It's more than enough, and I have no intention of going through the trouble of becoming a bounty hunter.
This is the latter half of the Grand Line, where shattered dreams of pirates turn them into forgotten fragments of the sea, disappearing without a trace... It's a common story.
Now then, I have another year and a half left for my warrior's training... I should prepare to hunt the next one.
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