Bab 13: Chapter 13
Chapter 13
Steel meets steel and both sides of onlookers cease fire to watch the clash. My left swings up, aiming for a headshot that will hopefully end this before it even begins, but Killer sees the move coming from a mile away.
His neck cranes away as the gun discharges at the same time that his knee comes up to knock my wrist off course. The combined result is that what could've been a shot to the center of the forehead, is reduced to a bullet so far wide it doesn't even clip the side of his mask.
The two of us push off with our blades and reset a few meters apart. Myself by a short hop backwards and him through a series of fancy backflips that I seem to recall him using against 'Mad Monk' Urouge. 'Tch, showoff.'
Ding!
New Quest Alert!
Quest: Protect the citizens of Baterilla! Defeat 'Massacre Soldier' Killer or force him to retreat.
Reward: +2 levels in [Bladed Weapon Mastery] and 10,500 Exp.
[ACCEPT/DECLINE]
'You're late [Game]. I'm already doing that.'
Whatever. Just hit [ACCEPT] and roll with it.
More importantly it's time to find out just how screwed I am right now. '[Observe].'
'Massacre Soldier' Killer, Kid Pirates, Lv. 52
Killer is the first mate and second-in-command of the 'Kid Pirates', one of the most dreaded pirate gangs currently plaguing the South Blue. Like every other member of his crew, Killer has no concern for civilian casualties and feels no remorse at cutting down anyone he deems in his way. His unnatural affinity with all manner of sharp weaponry, in conjunction with the body count he's left behind him, has earned him a substantial bounty of 38,000,000 Beri.
Health: 1,810/1,810
STR: 128
VIT: 181
DEX: 175
INT: 103
WIS: 98
LUK: 34
One eyebrow curls up as my dread morphs into confusion. 'That's...that's it? That's...honestly not that bad.'
The twofold epiphany clubs me over the head like a sledgehammer...and a grin that's downright predatory spreads over my face.
Firstly, I was focusing in way too much on what this man becomes in the future as opposed to what he is right now. This pirate in front of me, this 'Massacre Soldier', is not the fearsome super rookie I know from canon. He isn't 'Supernova' Killer. Hell he's not even 'Grand Line' Killer.
This is just a jumped-up cutthroat with a high price on his head for butchering the defenseless.
And while this first realization would have been enough to ease my panic, it's the second one that's got me smiling like the cheshire cat.
'This man is balanced!'
He's not like Blackjack, a brawling min-maxing meathead with a fucking '4' in WIS. He's not like Lieutenant Jorgen. No Zoan Fruit to bulk up his stats and become a greater threat than he would be otherwise.
And it goes without saying, nor is he like me. No fancy [Skills] or busted [Perks] to, among other things, double ones health on top of reducing incoming damage by over a quarter.
He's balanced!
Which makes him my best kind of match-up. 'Because when it comes to being well rounded...'
Killer rushes in again, attempting a similar acrobatic trick to the one he took his last opponent down with. He flips himself over me, planning a strike at my unprotected back... only for me to turn it around on him and he ends up flat on the pavement with my foot in his stomach.
54 Damage! (1,756/1,810)
'...You're not going to beat [The Gamer]!'
The rookie recovers quickly, bringing both scythes in to sever my foot above the ankle. Unfortunately for him, I'm already gone. Three kicks of [Geppo] have me safe in the air and in a terrain I'm feeling more and more comfortable in.
My revolver flashes twice, sending two shots straight down, but Killer simply pushes himself away and rolls to his feet. In the corner of my peripherals I spot two lower ranked Kid Pirates, Levels 11 and 13, tracking me with their rifles and I click my tongue in annoyance.
'Stay out of this you damn pests. The adults are talking.'
With a slight assistance from [Bullet Time] I watch the two fire and activate [Kami-e] in preparation. My body bends out of the way as expected, but I'm caught off guard -and pleasantly surprised- when my frame slightly shrinks in on itself as well.
Not to a great deal mind you. It's a marginal increase in dodging ability at best. Basically nothing compared to Fukurou who actually turns thin as a sheet whenever employing the technique. Still, I'm thrilled that the [Skill] is actually improving now that we've passed the percentage failure hurdle.
The bullets whiz past harmlessly and I immediately round on the interlopers. The last three rounds loose from the muzzle of my .44 and hit their targets with lethal results. The Lv.11 takes two of the shots, one to the shoulder and the other to his left pectoral. The stronger of the two flunkies is hit only once but it's arguably much worse. The bullet I'd intended for his brain instead rips away the side of his throat. He collapses to the ground, desperately clutching at his neck to try and stem the bleeding but it's immediately apparent there's nothing he can do.
I stifle the inner grimace. That's a bad way to go. I'd rather it have been cleaner. Just shows that my aim still isn't perfect.
+240 Exp!
+285 Exp!
I swing my attention back down to Killer and immediately bring my sword up to parry. In the short time I'd been distracted he's already launched off the roof of a house to intercept me. My cheap steel sparks when it meets one of his scythes and the angle is too awkward for me to stop his second.
I try to maneuver the empty pistol into the way to block the midsection strike and meet...partial success. The gun is knocked from my hand and Killers blow is instead deflected downward and into my upper thigh.
-148 HP!
'MOTHERFU-'
HP Regen Skill Active!
-Current speed: 0.2% max health per minute.
The deflection robbed much of the power behind the attack but it's still wide enough and plenty deep enough for my teeth to clamp down in pain. On sheer reflex my head smashes forward in retaliation. Rattling both our bells and pushing us apart.
21 Damage! (1,735/1,810)
-29 HP!
I don't care that his helmet made me come out worse in that exchange. It felt good.
The pair of us land again, him on one knee and myself on a slight wobble from the injured leg. Nary a blink in time passes before Killer once again throws himself forward in a mad dash, this time with motorized scythes spinning at who even knows how many RPM.
What follows is a flurry of back-and-forths as our blades crash against each other. His agility is incredible, the best I've encountered besides Korka in his Zoan-form, but my DEX of 200 still has it beat. [Bullet Time] is finally at a level where it can provide a genuine edge in my favor and I can truly milk it for its worth in a close combat situation like this one.
Despite both of these though, I just can't seem to get off the back foot. He has two blades against my one and I'll freely admit he's more skilled with sharp objects than I am. Plus let's not forget that their rotational nature means a single screw-up could cost me the entire fight. 'Or worse a limb. I'm not willing to test if [Hp Regen] can grow back a lost hand.'
Suddenly Killers health drops 40 points and a tiny splurt of blood sprays from his arm from the graze of a gunshot.
"I got him! I got him!" One of the civilians of Baterilla cheers from the rampart before being tackled back behind cover by two of his fellows.
I don't know who that guy was, but in this moment he's my favorite person in the world. Killer's unrelenting assault falters -just for a moment-, but that teensy little moment is enough. My sword bats a scythe away, I break into his guard, and bring my left knee slamming into his midsection.
52 Damage! (1,643/1,810)
His upper body lurches forward, bending around the blow and giving me the perfect opportunity to follow it up with an uppercut to the jaw.
57 Damage! (1,586/1,810)
Two solid hits like that would stun a normal man. Actually, considering the damage output it's enough to hospitalize a normal man. But we all know who we're talking about here. And he is anything but normal.
Killer lets my uppercut carry him off his feet...and then uses the opportunity to bend at the knees and slam both shoes into my face.
-76 HP!
The future 'Supernova' springboards off of my head, sending me tumbling ass over teakettle with a broken nose and rolling into the side of a house.
I spit a glob of blood from the corner of my mouth and let out a frustrated growl.
'Best kind of match-up?' My previous words play in my head. 'Yeah right. May have spoken just a bit too soon. He's probably been fighting his whole life and we've just been in a few good scraps. I'm still winning in terms of health percentage but it's only because I got an assist from the crowd.'
I hold my sword up to check how it's fared from the repeated beatings and...it's not great. Those high-speed scythes have really done a number on it. It's chipped in several places, mildly dented in others, and I've got the feeling only a little more abuse is needed before it breaks completely.
"Tch..piece of crap." I curse, tossing the ruined weapon away. I reach into the [Inventory] for another one...but seeing Killer charging again has me pull my second revolver instead.
I clamp down on the trigger once, twice, thrice! 'Shit he's not slowing down!' Five times, six times! 'This is why I wanted freaking speedloaders!'
Killer deflects the last shot and then leaps for the kill. He cuts the power behind his right-hand weapon and the blade immediately locks back into a straight position, ready to impale me into the building at my back.
'Screw it! I'm better at hand-to-hand anyway! [Kami-e]!'
Once again, the most underrated of CP9's skill set saves me as I narrowly avoid becoming shish kebabed. A quick push off the ground has me back on my feet and into close quarters combat again.
Killer's slashes have a slight trace of erraticism to them now. I've got the impression he's pushing harder to try and overcome [Kami-e] but little does he know he's actually just making the situation worse for himself. The 'paper drawing' ability works by handing the users body over to the smallest, most minuscule currents in the air. As long as his scythes are spinning that wildly, he's never going to touch me. Maybe if he had a lot more DEX than I do but... he doesn't.
I'm focused entirely on maintaining the dodging technique, biding my time and waiting for the single most opportune moment. The golden chance that will allow me to 'There!' I cancel [Kami-e] and slap his arm away at the wrist. A clenched fist rockets forward and smashes into the center of Killers face with enough force to loose a mans teeth.
70 Damage! (1,516/1,810)
-5 HP!
My opponent staggers backwards and I take a half-second to shake out my stinging hand. 'Jesus! What is that damn helmet freaking made of! Question later! [Soru]!'
I blitz towards Killer while he's still in recovery and slide under the quick slash he throws out. I use my leg to sweep his, flipping his body horizontal, 'Try this one!',and then use my hands to position myself into a donkey kick.
A combination force of both legs crashing into his chest while simultaneously firing off a [Geppo] finally gets a sound out of my opponent as I can actually hear his mouth wrench open. 'Combo move bitch!'
255 Damage! (1,261/ 1,810)
Previous strikes I had landed had been enough to stagger the pirate. Or even take him off his feet. This one though. This one sends him flying. His airborne body is flung down the street where he tumbles through the dirt before finally using his scythes to drag himself to a stop.
Ideally, this would be another great moment to keep the pressure on, attack him before he's ready. Unfortunately... didn't fully think through that [Geppo] enhanced kick.
The thrust of [Geppo] while my feet were up at an angle has sent me sliding away with my face in the dirt. It seems every time I start to forget this is a gag universe the powers at be find some way to forcibly remind me. I raise my head and spit the gravel off my tongue. 'Blegh. Yuck. Gonna have to be more careful before attempting that again.'
Alert! Your opponents status has changed to [DETERMINED!] Killer is now serious about taking you down. He is receiving +27% to STR and DEX.
I turn my head around to see Killer on one knee and rising back to his feet. 'Well that's a bad sign. Not sure If I want to go in unarmed again.' The 'Massacre Soldier' streams forward for the umpteenth time and I draw a new sword from the [Inventory] to meet him.
Things went considerably poorer this time.
-185 HP!
Blood erupts from my arm as my cheap weapon snaps in the middle and his scythe digs a gash across my forearm. 'SHITSHITSHIT' I pull a dodge roll to the left to avoid the follow-up, nearly tripping over the still fresh corpse of Ludwig the stall owner who's body is still lying in the road. A twinkle of light glints off the arming sword he died wielding and -after another dodge roll- I snatch it from his grasp. 'Sorry buddy. Gonna borrow this real quick!'
I can hear the whirling of Killer's scythe behind me. There's little time to think. Even less to plan. With both hands on the hilt I swing the heavy sword behind me blindly, putting all the strength I can into the blow.
[Adrenalin Rush] Activated!
STR (135 +70%) → (229.5)
The extra strength is a godsend, batting the pirates weapon away and throwing him way off kilter.
I use the three second reprieve to backpedal for just a little distance and place myself into a defensive stance. My new weapon is up, ready for the next round, but Killer is uncharacteristically motionless. Not rushing in for the first time since the fight started. His head tilts behind the mask and peers curiously at the scythe I just knocked away.
There's a fragment missing. A tiny chip that cracked and fell away where mine had met his.
"I see," he speaks for the first time, his voice ringing with an odd reverberating quality from beneath the mask. "That sword is dangerous in the hands of someone capable. I should've noticed it's quality before."
'The sword..?' My eyes briefly flick towards the weapon I procured from the fallen merchants body. '[Observe]'
Kugizume (Meito)
One of the worlds unknown number of Wazamono Grade Swords, Kugizume was originally forged by a master blacksmith in North Blue, but was then stolen by a thief in the night. Ever since, like many other named swords, it has changed wielders numerous occasions over the decades and has seen battle on every Blue in the ocean. As a Meito, Kugizume is far sharper and stronger than normal blades, only being matched or outclassed by other equal-ranked or higher-ranking Meito.
Alert! You've encountered a named blade! +1 LUK!
LUK (42) → (43)
"Heh...well would you look at that." I smirk under my breath.
I take two quick slashes with the blade, getting a feel for its weight. It's definitely a smidge bulkier than what I'm used to, though considering my current situation I wouldn't exactly say that's a bad thing.
Killer experimentally cycles his damaged weapon a few times, testing to see if the crack propagates. The results apparently meet his satisfaction because both weapons spin to life and the 38 million Beri man preps a stance of his own.
I can see his legs tensing. His face is hidden but It's not hard to tell what he's thinking. He's showing caution due to the sword and the heightened strength I displayed.
'Well if you're not coming to me...[Soru]!'
A great red flare flashes into being over the town, distracting us all and aborting my technique before it begins. "Killer!" A muffled voice comes from somewhere on my opponents person. There's just enough of an odd timbre to the sound that I can make the mental connection that it's origin is a baby Den-Den-Mushi. "We need to go! It's the captain! He's...he's hurt bad!"
Killer regards me for a moment and I can see the physical tension in his posture. The inner war telling him to ignore the giant retreat signal in the sky and stay here to finish what we've started. But just as quick he leaps away onto a low awning and vaults from there onto the roof of a store. A few seconds later he's gone from sight entirely leaving me alone with the Meito in my hand.
'Guess that's it then... Hey [Game]. I didn't exactly "force" him to retreat. Does this still count?'
Ding!
Quest Complete!
Quest: Protect the citizens of Baterilla! Defeat 'Massacre Soldier' Killer or force him to retreat.
Reward: +2 levels in [Bladed Weapon Mastery] and 10,500 Exp.
Skill Level Up x2! Bladed Weapon Mastery Lv. (11/150) → (13/150)
-Your ability to expertly wield swords, knives, spears, or any other sharpened tools.
You have reached Lv. 41!
You have reached Lv. 42!
You have reached Lv. 43!
You have 60 points to spend!
'Guess it does. Lets hear a round of applause for technicalities.'
I mozy over to the barricade and plant myself down on one of the barrels to use it as a chair. A long winded breath slowly makes its way out of me and my shoulders sag way down. 'What a night...'
All but one or two of the townsfolk that were hunkered down nearby have scattered to go help fight fires or assist the wounded. At least that's where I assume they went. They got moving pretty quick once the red flare sounded the pirates retreat. I want to summon the motivation to lend a hand myself, but first I'm going to need two or three minutes. I think it's the least that I've earned.
May as well be productive.
60 points is a doozy and a small piece of my mind wants to test and see if anything happens when DEX reaches 250 but...nah. We all know where the first 12 of these points need to go.
Points to spend (60) → (48)
INT (88) → (100)
Congratulations! You have reached 100 in INT!
Please select one of the following [Perks].
1. Empathic Sense
There are subtle signals everywhere to tell what a person is feeling. A twitch of their cheeks. A slight droop in the eyes. Many of these clues are imperceptible to the conscious mind, meaning the majority of people will either only pick up on them unknowingly or miss them altogether. With this [Perk] you will no longer suffer this societal defect. Just by glancing at someone, you will know their general mood, their frame of mind, and the [Skill] [Observe] will be upgraded to read the targets surface thoughts.
2. Prodigy's Shadow
Have you ever witnessed a true prodigy? Not someone who's simply gifted in a subject, but rather a genuine savant? They excel in their craft. They master skills with the same ease that the rest of us breathe and the world heaps praises upon them for it. This person is not you. But with this [Perk] perhaps you can vie for the silver medal. You won't be lauded as a 'genius', but none will be able to deny that your talent is far above what is normal. Selecting this [Perk] will cause [Skills] to level up 150% quicker.
Note: Certain [Skill's] such as [Physical Endurance] and [Bullet Time] are not affected by this bonus.
Had I been chewing on a toothpick, it would have snapped at the speed my jaws clenched. "You mean to tell me…" I mutter, trying not to dwell on the deep pool of frustration suddenly boiling in my gut. "I spent days upon weeks grinding up my [Skills] on The Marjhan when I was just a few points away from a [Perk] that would have more than halved the time required!"
Both hands shake through my hair in irritation. "Gah! Son of a- Whatever!...it's not productive to whine over what could've been. Just give me the damn [Perk]."
[Prodigy's Shadow] selected.
"...should've finished reading the 100 books on Kivuruk..." I continue to grouse until my words are just quiet angry grumbles.
I'm sure I could have found those 12 points earlier. Did I really need to split attention between INT and WIS? Did I really need 135 in STR instead of just a wee bit lower? You know what? Not gonna think about it anymore. It's done. Move on.
48 points left. Next is...next is...oh man what is next? We could bring STR up to a nice clean 150. Then a few points into VIT and a sprinkling into DEX to get me started on that road to...'Wait. What the hell am I even thinking? That's dumb. That's super dumb. I literally just berated myself over not getting a [Perk] sooner. If I dump 34 into WIS I can get another one right now. Everything else should be second to that.'
Points to spend (48) → (14)
WIS (66) → (100)
Congratulations! You have reached 100 in WIS!
Please select one of the following [Perks].
1. Path of Discovery: Self
How can you expect to understand the world, if you don't even understand yourself? A wise man recognizes that despite the fickle nature of his world, with all its pleasures and its cruelties, he alone is master of his own life. The lord of the domain that is his body. The wind blows and the ocean churns, but they do not matter to the man. For they will not stop him from mastering his self. His heart beats, his blood flows. From the hairs on his head to the tips of his toes. This is him. All of him. And he is in control.
2. Path of Discovery: World
How can you expect to understand yourself, if you don't even understand the world? A wise man recognizes that for all his knowledge, all his learning and all his talent, he is but a single organism in a vast and beautifully complex world. The stars, the air, the very ground the man stands on. All have a story to tell, but so few ever bother to try and listen. A wise man seeks to understand his world, in all its majesty, in all it's glory, and perhaps one day, find his place within it.
'….'
'..well..um..' I struggle to find the right words. '..thaaaat's...different...'
The hell is this? Where are the stats? The numbers? The passive abilities? Is the [Game] actually testing me on my wisdom? Am I supposed to discern which of these two arguments is valid? Are both valid? Two equal but opposite schools of thought?
No. Nononono. I'm not gonna sit here and get into an introspective debate with a text screen.
My hand reaches down to dig around in my pockets. "You want philosophy [Game]? I've got one for you right here."
I raise my hand up, looking at the 10 Beri coin pinched between two fingers.
"Life is but a gamble. Let flipism guide your ramble." I snap the coin high into the air and watch it spin. It falls perfectly back into my waiting palm, I slap it on the back of my hand and…
"Heads it is."
[Path of Discovery: Self] selected.
Congratulations! You have achieved a greater control of your own body!
The blue box lingers for a few seconds before collapsing away. Leaving me with nothing but a growing feeling of perplexment for company.
"Is...is that it? Is something supposed to happen now or…?"
"…."
"…."
"Well this is a crock of shi-"
Ding!
Additional abilities have been unlocked!
Seimei Kikan Lv. MAX
- This [Skill] is an advanced form of Bio Feedback that allows the user to consciously control many normally involuntary aspects of their body.
-You gained 'Resistance to Hot and Cold.'
-You gained 'Resistance to Poisons and Toxins.'
-Your [Perk] [Adrenalin Rush] may now be activated manually and it's duration has been doubled.
-Your [Skill] [HP Regen] has gained a permanent +4% bonus! (0.2% per minute) → (4.2% per minute)
My breath hitched deep within my throat as my expression widened in disbelief.
"...oh my god.." I eventually breathed out. "Oh my god!" I then shouted, making the only remaining Baterillian nearby briefly stare at me.
Am I reading these sentences right? Am I reading this LAST sentence right? 'Mental math, mental math! 4% of 2,300 current max health... plus a little extra for the .2 is…. 97? Just a little under?'
I whipped my eyes down, staring at the still open gashes on my thigh and forearm from the fight with Killer...and over the next 120 seconds...I watched them vanish.
"Ha.." a single laugh escapes me. "Haha...hahahahahahahahahahahaha holy crap!"
97 regenerated health a minute! 97! That's 1.6 a second. That's lying bleeding and broken on deaths doorstep and then being back at 100% in 20 minutes!
Nicks and small cuts are going to heal over practically instantly. Debilitating injuries like those I suffered against Masserida's gang and Jorgen would require nothing more than finding time for a breather.
And it's only going to get better. More points in VIT means more points in health means more healed per minute. Not to mention the percentage itself may go up again in time. The first jump occurred back at Lv. 25 so, it stands to reason, that Lv. 50 is going to be one hell of a big day for me.
I shake my hands a little. "Okay Jack. Calm down. You're getting too giddy. Calm down. Still more to take care of."
Before I make a decision on those last 14 points lets take a look at this [Seimei Kikan] business. What can I do with that? Kumadori used it to fight Chopper with his hair and digest food instantly. Rob Lucci somehow fused it with [Kami-e] to slim down his hybrid form and trade muscle for agility. Neither one has a direct equivalent for me but I'm sure with a little time I can come up with somethi-
"Jack."
The cold voice stops my thoughts flat. My head slowly cranes up to see Berwynne, now in the guise of 'Mr.B', walking closer down the ravaged street.
"We need to finish our conversation."
The two of us are staring at each other. Each sitting on a barrel with a slightly hunched back and a frown firmly across our faces. "So you killed four and kept the First Mate busy." Berwynne chews over the words, testing how much they weigh compared to the fact I know his secret. "You're a tougher little twerp than I thought."
"Thanks." I reply tartly. "Should I take it your the one sent the captain scurrying away with his tail between his legs?"
"How can you be sure I didn't kill him?" The shop owner asks slyly.
'Because if Eustass Kid died here then he obviously wouldn't be a character in canon.' "Just a feeling." I reply.
Berwynne grunts and spits on the ground. "Well you're right anyhow. He was an uppity little shit that one. Used that damn Devil Fruit of his to rip the metal screws right out of my knee." He curses with a gesture to his pant leg, which I am only now realizing has blood stains running all the way down its back side.
"If not for that, I'd have kicked his ass all the way back to infancy. Maybe the second time around his parents can actually teach him some manners." Berwynne scowls again. "This is why I don't care for you Fruit users. You just make trouble everywhere you go."
My frown darkens intensely. "We both know that even on one leg you can toss me up and down this street like a child's plaything...but don't you ever fucking compare me to Eustass Kid again. You put me in the same category as that murdering fuck a second time and that's when the two of us are actually going to have a problem."
"Heh," Berwynne chuckles at my use of his own words from the cemetery and actually cracks a smile. "..well look at that. Turns out the kid actually has a pair of balls on him. Here I was thinking you had misplaced them."
A heavy silence descends over the conversation. We're both watching the other intently but neither of us knows the right way to restart now that we've hit a lull.
"….so are we good?" I eventually ask.
"Hmm? Oh no. No, you're still leaving. I don't want you in my town any longer than you have to be. You've bought enough goodwill to stay the night but after that?" The retired pirate jams his thumb over his shoulder. "Out."
"Are you serious?" I gape in disbelief. "What do you expect me to do? In case it's escaped your notice, Baterilla just got sacked! Do you really think anyone's sailing out in the morning? I'd bet money there isn't even a ship still afloat in the harbor! They tend to be the first thing set aflame in a night raid. Unless you have some alternative, I am stuck here. And you threatening me more isn't going to change that."
Technically, I do have one possible avenue of leaving. Using [Geppo] to try and fly to the next island over. But since that sounds somewhere between impossible and beyond exhausting, I'm not going to bring it up. It's staying filed away in the back of my mind as the last last resort.
I expected Berwynne to get mad again, or hit me with one of those 'sounds like a personal problem' type of lines. Instead though he's got two fingers on his chin and looking to the side rather thoughtfully. "An alternative..." He murmurs just barely audible. "Have you ever heard of a South Blue Super Sparrow?"
A fuzzy memory plays in my head at the name. Which is somewhat odd considering how good my recall ability is these days. It's a hazy image of a foxy pirate with a...just bizarre mouth, even for this universe...riding atop a large speckled brown bird and acting as a...sports commentator I guess?
"Umm..I think so.. "I reply hesitantly. "I might be thinking of the wrong bird." Truth be told I never actually sat down and watched the 'Davy Back Fight' arc of the main story. I skimmed through it to get the general gist, but several people had informed me beforehand that it's almost universally agreed upon as the weakest and most unimportant part of the canon storyline. If not for the encounter with Aokiji at it's conclusion it may as well be dismissed as filler.
Apparently for Berwynne though, my answer was plenty good enough. "Through the jungle, on the far side of Baterilla you should be able to locate a few flocks nesting. They stay here four months out of the year as part of an annual migration. Super Sparrows aren't known as easy things to tame... but I imagine your Devil Fruit will give you a leg up that others have lacked."
I followed the path of his finger and raised a questioning brow.. "So...I'm to do what exactly? Jump on an adults back and pray it doesn't start bucking like a bull? Or were you thinking more along the lines of 'snatch a chick when mom isn't looking' and then live like a hermit in the woods until its ready to fly me out of here?"
Berwynne stood up and began shifting back to his 'Mr. B' persona. "How the heck should I know sonny?" he asked in a voice that was noticeably cheerier. "I got three talents in this life and bird taming ain't one of them. You needed an alternative off this island and I just gave you one." His demeanor briefly turns sharp again and his voice darkens for a single sentence. "Now if you'll excuse me, I need to go find out if my store hasn't been burned to the ground."
His eyes close and he smiles a wide toothless grin. "You take care now young man. And thanks for helping me with those flowers!"
The Next Day
Both halves of the giant hornet plop onto the leafy ground with a tiny whisper of a thud. I eye the pale straw colored residue on Kugizume from slicing it in two and turn my nose away. "Fuckin' bugs.." I grumble, digging into my pocket for a cloth to wipe my new sword down. You see, I can handle giant fish. Giant sea monsters. Giant lions, tigers, and bears and the like. And apparently I'm hunting for some giant birds as we speak and that prospect doesn't unsettle me in the slightest.. But what I do not handle well is giant bugs.
Maybe 'giant' isn't the correct term. That hornet was the biggest I've seen yet and it was only about the size of three of my fingers. Still, I think many would agree that that is already too large for comfort. It's always been my personal opinion that any type of creepy crawly -or one if their flying cousins- that is big enough to stretch from my nail to my knuckle rests solely within the 'kill it with fire' category.
I take a step over a moss covered log and use the Meito to clear some of the thicket ahead. While we're on the subject of animals I should mention that I really don't know what I'm walking into here.
Animal life in the One Piece world is always a bit of a crapshoot. Size and potential danger is one thing, but the category I'm currently referring to is cognizance and intelligence level.
Many species are around exactly where you'd expect them to be. Dumb, glassy-eyed, unthinking...well...animals...who don't really have much going on upstairs beyond a bundle of instincts and a set of operating instructions. Like that hornet I just diced or the marlin I caught a few days back.
On the complete opposite end of the spectrum though, there are those who demonstrate, not just self-awareness or sapiency, but complex thought on an equal scale to that of humanoids. Just off the top of my head there's Nola the sky-python, Laboon the island-whale, and the Dugongs of Alabasta. Shoot, Pappag the starfish could freaking talk and owned a business and lets not forget the Unluckies who didn't let something as small as 'being a vulture and an otter' stop them from being bounty hunters.
The issue finally rears its head at this point though. Those I've mentioned are the extremes. They may be present but they are atypical. The majority of species lay...somewhere..in the middle of these two groups and you'll never know exactly where until you meet the animal in question.
Are these Super Sparrows going to be 'birdbrained' and act like...y'know a sparrow, or will they be more comparable to a dog or perhaps a young child? Berwynne mentioned 'taming' so I doubt they're on the same cerebral ability as people but I can't make that judgment based on a word alone.
Thankfully, it seems the time for ponderings is now over. Kugizume moves a bit of brush aside and I spot an open clearing containing perhaps four or five dozen brown spotted birds each taller than I am. A few are dozing off to the side in the shade. A pair in the center are sizing up against each other in what I'm sure is some 'I'm the better male' mating rights thing, but the majority however are busy diligently ripping into the ground with their talons, upending the dirt as fast as their feet will let them.
One jams its head into the hole it's made and returns a moment later with what has got to be the largest worm I have ever seen.
'Was I talking about giant bugs earlier? I take it back. That is a giant bug.'
"Kee! Kee! Kee!" the flock all chirps wildly at the find and soon the nearest six or seven birds all descend, ripping the feast to pieces and swallowing the chunks down with that odd head-bobbing motion birds are known to do.
"Kee! Kee! Kee! Kee!" My attention turns to the left where a second sparrow has just pulled up another prize of similar size and the same morbid ritual happens again.
'Alright. Enough dilly-dallying. What are we dealing with here.' I focus in on one sparrow in the center of the crowd and narrow my eyes. '[Observe].'
Super Sparrow. Lv. 4
The South Blue Super Sparrow, as its name implies, is a large migratory species of avian that can only be naturally found in specific territories of the South Blue. These birds have been known to grow over 2 meters in height, are capable of traveling several hundred miles within a single day, and have a diverse diet consisting of seeds, nuts, fruits, rodents, snakes, worms, Super Worms, Super Anglerfish, and Super Sharks.
This Super Sparrow is a male and is more hotheaded than most of the others in its flock.
Health: 300/300
STR: 16
VIT: 30
DEX: 28 ( x100 when in flight)
INT: 13
WIS: 4
LUK: 0.5
Don't you just both love it and hate it when you see something new and your brain gets pulled in multiple directions all at once? One part of me wants to whistle and cheer at that flight multiplier. 2800 DEX in the air? Forget ships! On the back of one of these is the real way to travel.
A second piece of my mind is comparing that INT of 13 to other animals I've used [Observe] on in the past and is trying to extrapolate an answer to my previous wonderings about cognizance. At the very least I can say we're dealing with one of those 'somewhere in the middle' breeds.
But perhaps the loudest and most immediately concerning voice is this. 'What in gods name is a 'Super Shark' and why can it be eaten by a sparrow?'
Actually, hold on. That's not even the weird one. 'Super Anglerfish'? Doesn't every species of angler live in the deep deep ocean? How the hell would these two even interact!
My hands rise up to start rolling circles over my temples. "Just let it go Jack. You know this by now. Don't question wildlife in the One Piece world. Just roll with it."
Okay. Back to business. The [Game] says this particular bird is 'hotheaded' which means its probably not the best pick of the flock for our purposes. Who else we got?
I move my eyes one bird to the right and [Observe] that one for a comparison. I scan over the details and let out a low hum. 'Hmmm. About the same. An extra point in STR and WIS but it's down one in DEX, which actually really matters considering the multiplier. [Game] identifies this one as 'Quirky'... Not super sure what to make of that. Quirky can mean a whole basket of positive or negative things.'
The third one I check is 'Lazy' and only has a 23 in DEX with a multiplier of 95 instead of 100. 'Ugh. Hard pass.'
One by one I began combing through the 50-some-odd birds, checking each one's description for stats, irregularities, and most importantly, personality. Going after the fastest or the smartest does me no good if the animal's going to immediately turn on me the moment I do something it takes offense with.
Number eight. Brave. 'We'll put that one under maybe.' Number nine. Timid. 'No thanks.' 10? Aggressive. 'How much is that different from hotheaded?' 11 is Jolly. 'Probably gonna come back to you.' Rash. 'Nuh-uh.' Another Timid. 'Nope.' Moody. 'Ehhh...probably not.' Shy. Vapid. Vain. 'Maybe I should just settle for the Jolly.' Clumsy. Crafty. Conceited. Docile. Stubborn. A third Timid.
I blink dumbly for a moment as my brain catches up to my eyes and my neck turns back for a double-take.
Docile.
I can work with docile.
'And he's got a DEX of 30 to boot. INT is only 9 but ehh, nobody's perfect.'
We'll just take a quick minute to sneak around to the other side of the clearing so we're closer...'I wonder if sneaking is even necessary. I doubt these things have any natural predators to make them skittish. Their size and diet implies that, outside of a Sea King trying to snap them out of the sky, they're basically at the top of their food chain.' ….and done. Now just to fish out one of the marlin filets I was saving...
I stick the top half of my torso out of the brush obscuring it. "Psst. Bird. Hey bird."
The sparrow stops digging for a moment and turns it's focus my way. "Kee?" It chirps in a mildly perplexed yet cautious manner.
"You want some fish? Fresh fish?" I shake the meat a little. "[Game] says you like them."
The sparrow tilts its head slightly to the right. "Kee-wee?"
"Here." I whisper, tossing the strip of meat a few meters in front of me, roughly ¾ of the distance between us. "Take it. It's yours."
"Wee…?" The sparrow takes two hops forward. Looks at the offering. Back to me. Back to the food. At me once again, and then snaps it up, scarfing it down in a single swallow.
I cheer silently at the first victory and start rummaging around the [Inventory] for more foodstuffs. "Alright. Filet número dos." I toss the second flap of protein out, this one a bit closer, and this time around the sparrow barely offers a glance my way before jumping on the prize. Four other birds have taken visible notice of my presence but they haven't made any sort of move towards me. 'Works fine by me. I've already got the attention of the one I care about.'
"[Game] says you like fruit. You want an apple?" I ask, holding the snack out. "Pretty apple for a pretty bird?"
The sparrow looks at the treat in my hand and trills for me to throw it. "Kee! Keewee! Kee!"
"Nuh-uh." I mutter, inching forward just a foot or two. "This time you come get it."
The bird takes another hop further, pauses for moment, and then takes another one.
"That's it. Thaaaat's it. Just a wee bit more."
We both move ahead this time, finally putting one another in grabbing distance. The avian towers over me with the top of my head barely reaching the base of its neck. The colossal bird opens his mouth again, steals the gift from my fingers and begins smashing it down with the ridges on the inside of its bill.
Meanwhile, my hand rises up to start caressing the feathers over its breast and abdomen. "Who's a good bird huh? That's right! You're a good bird. Yes you are!"
This is the moment that I know I have truly hit the jackpot. The animal could have started freaking out the moment I touched it. Or nip and peck at me for my impertinence. Or maybe just start screeching for more food. But instead of any of that, the sparrows eyes slightly close and turn unfocused. It begins nuzzling the top of its head against my shoulder and when I shift into gentle scratching it relaxes even further.
Ding!
You have acquired an [Animal Companion]!
Bond Lv. (1/20)
"I'm gonna call you Kiwi."
Jack Parker, The Gamer, Lv. 43
Health: 2,300/2,300
Exp: 20/4,300
Money: 13,769,450 Beri
STR: 135
VIT: 115
DEX: 200
INT: 100
WIS: 100
LUK: 43
Points to spend: 14
Click here to see list of [Skills]
-Current number of [Skills]: 41
Click here to see list of [Perks]
-Current number of [Perks]: 5
A/N: How does a sparrow get sharks and anglerfish in its diet? Let alone ones that are 'Super'? Not a damn clue. Ask Oda. He's the one listed their favorite foods in SBS Vol. 34.
A/N 2: If you have a creative use for [Seimei Kikan] that you would like to share, feel free to do so with a review. (Please bear in mind though. The [Skill]'s main function is to gain control of normally involuntary systems. It does not make the human body suddenly capable of things it could never do in the first place.)
Status Power Mingguan
-- Peringkat
Power 
-- Power
stone