บท 12: CH-12: Journey to Torino

Before going to Torino, I decided to have a word with Sensei Tetsuro. "Sensei, there's something you should know about Lucy," I started, trying to keep my tone casual. "She's a doctor now, a really skilled one too!."

Sensei nodded, listening intently. "That's impressive. We could always use a good doctor."

I grinned, leaning in slightly. "Yeah, and she's gotten really close to Kosuke… if you know what I mean."

Sensei raised an eyebrow, clearly intrigued. "Is that so? Interesting. Kosuke's never mentioned it."

"Well, she's definitely excited to come back to Karate Island and open a clinic. Maybe it's because she's worried about Kosuke getting hurt. You know how lovebirds can be," I said with a wink.

Sensei gave a small smile, shaking his head. "I see. It sounds like we have an excellent doctor on our side."

I chuckled. "Yeah, Let's hope Kosuke doesn't become a distraction in her studies."

After we prepared, Kosuke and I departed for Torino from Karate Island.

We hired a sleek, fast ship specifically for the journey, understanding that speed was crucial. The crew, seasoned sailors renowned for their swift voyages, assured us of a direct route to Torino. The ship was immaculate, with pristine sails and a spotless deck, promising a smooth and swift journey.

The captain of the ship was an old man with white hair and a beard, his face lined with years of experience on the seas. When we first told him our destination, he gave us a skeptical look.

"Torino Kingdom, huh? You young-uns' after the treasure?" he asked, squinting at us.

I couldn't help but chuckle. "Nah, we're not in it for the treasure. We're going to pick up a doctor."

The captain looked puzzled. "A doctor? You sure about that? The island's ruled by giant birds, the Masukeredomo Goayu Birds. The natives are also savages. It's a dangerous place."

I nodded. "I've heard about them. But seriously, we're just here for the doctor."

He sighed, clearly still dubious. "Alright, but it's nearly a month of constant sailing to reach Torino. You ready for that?"

Kosuke responded, "We've stocked up on food and other supplies for the journey."

The captain looked at us for a moment longer before shrugging. "Alright then, boys. Welcome aboard."

As the ship set sail, cutting through the waves with impressive speed, Kosuke and I found a spot on the deck to settle in. The crew bustled around, unfurling sails and securing lines, their movements efficient and practiced.

Suddenly, I spotted someone in the corner of the ship—a boy or maybe a man, I couldn't really tell. He was mopping the floor, a bucket of water beside him. The reason I couldn't figure out his age was his face: it was way too big for his body, with a buck tooth sticking out and a huge mole on his left cheek. He looked hilariously weird.

I nudged Kosuke, trying to hold back my laughter. "Hey, check out mop boy over there," I said, pointing.

Even serious Kosuke couldn't help it. When he saw the guy, his face almost split into a grin. He quickly turned away, trying to hide his face and stop from laughing out loud.

Then, the mop boy noticed us. He stopped mopping, smiled, and waved. Still trying not to laugh, I waved back.

And then he started walking towards us.

[Mop Boy POV]

Today was shaping up to be a good day. Our ship had been hired for a non-stop journey to the legendary treasure island, and I was buzzing with excitement. It's been a few years since I got this job, and although I've seen plenty of places, there wasn't much adventure to speak of.

The old captain played it too safe, always taking the safest routes and avoiding trouble. Even when we encountered pirates, we'd just speed away because our ship was built for speed, not for fighting.

But today felt different. I could sense it—adventure was in the air.

I thought about the guys who hired us. I looked up and saw them sitting together. They were looking my way, or at least one of them was. The black-haired guy...what was his name again? Umm, Date… Dead? No, Dante! Yeah, that was it.

I waved at them, and Dante waved back. But then I noticed the weird look on his face. He looked like he was about to throw up. Concerned, I decided to go check on him.

When I reached him, he was now covering his mouth with his forearm, making these strange sounds. I bent down to see his face, trying to make sure he was okay.

The moment our eyes met, it was like a dam burst. He started laughing out loud for some weird reason.

As his laughter went on, I slowly understood that this bastard was laughing at none other than me. Anger surged through my head as I decided to teach him a lesson. I raised my fist high and struck him on the head.

"Stop laughing! You bastard!"

But instead of hurting him, my hand felt like I had punched a stone. I grabbed my hand, blowing on it to ease the pain.

But the bastard didn't stop laughing. Instead, he doubled over, clutching his stomach as he laughed even harder. His friend, Kosuke, tried to hide his own laughter behind a stoic face but failed miserably.

"What's so funny?!" I demanded, my face burning with embarrassment.

Dante finally managed to catch his breath, tears streaming down his face. "Man, forgive me but it's my first time seeing a face like yours!"

"Yeah! So what? It doesn't give you the right to laugh at me," I retorted.

"I'm sorry. You're right. I apologize for that, I had no intention of disrespecting you like that, Uncle."

This time, I felt like my head was about to burst and I nearly screamed, " I am 16 years old, how can I be your UNCLE!!"

And that started another round of laughter.

[POV End]

Weeks passed on the ship, filled with sparring sessions and joking around. The mop boy, who we learned was named Taro, had slowly become our friend over the weeks.

Taro would often watch us spar, his eyes wide with amazement. "You guys are incredible," he'd say, shaking his head in disbelief. "I've never seen anyone move like that before!"

One day, while Kosuke and I were in the middle of a particularly intense sparring session, Taro stood by, mop in hand, completely engrossed. "Wow, you two are amazing," he said, his eyes shining with excitement. "It's like watching a battle between a storm and a wildfire."

I dodged a quick jab from Kosuke and laughed. "Thanks, Taro. We've been training for years to get this good."

Kosuke, landing a swift kick that I barely blocked, added, "Yeah, but it's all about pushing your limits and finding new ways to improve."

Taro nodded enthusiastically. "I can see that. It's incredible. Sometimes I think you're not even human!"

After our session, as we sat on the deck catching our breath, Taro handed us water bottles. "You know," he said, "if I didn't know better, I'd think you were actual monsters. The way you move, the power behind your attacks… it's unreal."

I grinned, taking a long swig of water. "Well, maybe we are a little monstrous," I joked, flexing my arm exaggeratedly.

Kosuke, ever the serious one, just smirked. "Or maybe we just train harder than anyone else."

Taro laughed, shaking his head. "Either way, it's awesome to watch. You guys are something else."

One afternoon, while Kosuke and I were sparring and Taro was watching from the sidelines, a colossal Sea King emerged from the depths, its scales glistening in the sunlight. Although it was still a small-sized one compared to the giants in the Calm Belt, it was enough to cause a stir.

"EEEPPP!!" Taro cried out, his face paled as he saw the ferocious beast nearing our ship.

Kosuke's sharp eyes narrowed. "Dante, we've got company!" he shouted, his dagger and pistol instantly at the ready.

I turned to see the creature's massive form, my heart pounding with adrenaline. "Got it!" I responded, grinning as I felt my bones harden in preparation. We both activated our Observation Haki, sensing the Sea King's intentions and its powerful presence.

The Sea King roared, its massive jaws snapping at the ship, causing the deck to tremble under its weight. Its target was Taro.

Kosuke moved like a blur, his Observation Haki guiding his movements with uncanny precision. He struck the creature's eye with his dagger, the blade sinking deep into the soft tissue. The Sea King let out an ear-piercing scream, thrashing wildly. Kosuke, maintaining his composure, fired a precise shot from his pistol, hitting the beast in the same eye.

The Sea King reared back in pain, its enormous body creating waves that rocked the ship violently.

"Look out!", shouted Kosuke.

My Observation Haki allowed me to anticipate its movements, giving me the perfect opening. I leaped into the air, feeling the familiar power surge through my body as my arm transformed into a massive bone club.

"What's that?" Taro rubbed his eyes in shock. His tiny hand had to move a lot to wipe his huge eyes.

With a resounding crack, I brought it down on the beast's skull, causing it to screech in agony. But this Sea King was not defeated yet.

The creature thrashed wildly, its massive tail sweeping across the deck. I barely managed to jump out of the way, the force of its movements sending splinters flying. Kosuke remained agile, dodging the debris and firing another shot from his pistol, this time hitting the Sea King in its gaping maw.

"Stay focused!" Kosuke shouted, his voice barely audible over the chaos.

I nodded, summoning more of my Devil Fruit powers. My bones hardened further, growing spikes along my forearms. With a swift motion, I launched these bone projectiles at the Sea King, each one piercing its thick hide with deadly precision. The beast roared, its massive jaws snapping in fury as it tried to dislodge the painful spikes.

Kosuke took advantage of its distraction, darting forward to deliver a series of quick, precise strikes with his dagger. He moved like a shadow, each attack aimed at the creature's vulnerable spots, his Observation Haki highlighting the weak points. The Sea King howled, thrashing in desperation as blood began to seep from its wounds.

*SHINK-SCHLICK*

Seeing an opportunity, I charged forward, my bones morphing into sharp, bladed extensions. I slashed at the beast's side, each strike cutting deep into its flesh. The Sea King tried to retaliate, its massive jaws lunging toward me, but I was ready. With a burst of speed, I somersaulted over its head, landing behind it and driving a bone spear into its spine.

*SQUELCH-CRUNCH*

The Sea King roared in agony, its movements growing more erratic. I knew we were close to victory, but I couldn't let my guard down. I focused, my entire body now bristling with bone spikes. With fierce determination, I launched myself at the beast, slamming my bone-encrusted fists into its head repeatedly. Each impact sent shockwaves through the air, reverberating across the deck.

"Everyone hold steady!" The captain shouted to his crew.

Kosuke, sensing the end was near with his Observation Haki, delivered a final, powerful strike to the creature's eye, his dagger sinking to the hilt. The Sea King let out a final, pained roar, its massive body convulsing before it began to sink back into the depths, defeated at last.

Breathing heavily, I stood on the deck, watching as the water swallowed the defeated Sea King. Kosuke approached, his expression serious but with a hint of satisfaction.

"Nice work," he said, sheathing his dagger.

"Yeah," I replied, catching my breath. "But next time, let's try fighting something that doesn't come with its own tidal wave, okay?"

The crew erupted into cheers, their admiration evident as they clapped us on the back and praised our efforts. Taro, in particular, was practically bouncing with excitement as he rushed over to us.

Taro ran over, his eyes wide with awe. "You guys were incredible! I can't believe you took down that monster!" he exclaimed. "Kosuke, you were like a ghost, just slipping past its attacks. And Dante, those bone spikes were unreal!"

I grinned, enjoying the praise. "Just another day at the office, Taro. Glad we could keep you in one piece."

Taro shook his head in disbelief. "I don't think I've ever seen anything like that. Thank you for saving my life."

Kosuke nodded, his serious demeanor softening a bit. "Just stay out of harm's way next time, alright?"

I laughed, still catching my breath. "We've had a lot of practice. And having someone like you cheering us on definitely helps."

Taro beamed, clearly proud to have played even a small part. "I don't know how you guys stay so calm and focused. That thing was huge! I've seen Sea Kings before, but nothing like that."

"It's all about staying cool under pressure," Kosuke said, his eyes glancing out over the now calm sea. "And knowing your strengths. Dante's Devil Fruit powers give him an edge in close combat, and I've always been good at finding weak spots."

Taro nodded, looking thoughtful. "Well, I'm just glad you guys were here. I'll never forget this."

______

One evening, the captain joined us, a bottle of rum in hand. "You two are quite the fighters," he said, offering us a drink. "What's your story?"

I took a swig, savoring the burn. "We're students of Sensei Tetsuro. We've been training under him for the past two years."

The captain raised an eyebrow. "Tetsuro, huh? Heard he's a mixed martial artist, not too popular around these parts."

Kosuke nodded. "He's the best. The other martial artists don't understand his style, but we do."

The captain chuckled. "Well, if you've got his backing, you must be something special. Just remember, Torino's a whole different beast."

As we neared Torino, the island loomed on the horizon, dominated by the massive tree at its center, its branches stretching high into the sky. The sight was awe-inspiring, and even Kosuke, usually so composed, showed a flicker of excitement.

Kosuke pulled out his Den Den Mushi and called Lucy. "Lucy, we're almost there!" he said, excitement creeping into his usually calm voice.

"Finally! I can't wait to see you guys," Lucy responded, sounding just as excited. "I've got so much to tell you!"

Upon reaching the island, we were greeted by Lucy and a few of the natives. The natives were stocky, dressed in grass skirts with knotted black hair. Some bore eye tattoos on their upper arms, and all the adults wore simple necklaces made from shells and bones. Lucy, having traveled outside, stood out in her modern clothes: blue jeans and a red and black checkered shirt.

"Welcome to Torino!" Lucy said, beaming as she introduced us to the natives. "These are some of the villagers who've been taking care of me. They're eager to meet you."

One of the natives, an older man with a broad smile, stepped forward. "We have heard much about you," he said, his voice deep and warm. "Lucy speaks highly of her friends."

I nudged Taro forward. "Lucy, this is Taro, our fearless mop-wielding friend from the ship."

Taro looked a bit sheepish but managed a wave. "Nice to meet you, Lucy. These guys saved my life from a Sea King. It was insane watching them fight that thing off!"

Lucy raised an eyebrow. "A Sea King? Seriously?"

Taro nodded vigorously. "Yeah! Kosuke was all like 'Bam!' with his dagger, and then Dante jumped in with this giant bone club! It was wild!"

I couldn't help but chuckle. "You should have seen Kosuke. He was so cool, taking out its eye like he does it every day."

Kosuke rolled his eyes but smiled. "It was a team effort."

We spent the afternoon being shown around the village, marveling at the simple yet harmonious way of life the natives led. Their homes were built into the massive trees, connected by rope bridges that swayed gently in the breeze. The children played in the clearings, their laughter ringing through the air.

As evening approached, the villagers prepared a grand feast in our honor. The smell of roasting meat filled the air, making my mouth water. We gathered around a large campfire, the flames casting flickering shadows on the faces around us. The villagers shared their stories, tales of their ancestors, and the legendary birds that ruled the island.

I regaled them with tales of my previous battles and tournament wins, embellishing the stories just enough to keep everyone entertained. "And then, with a single punch, I sent him flying across the arena!" I declared, miming the action with exaggerated movements.

Taro laughed the loudest. "I've seen him in action! Believe it or not, he's actually telling the truth this time."

Lucy smiled, clearly enjoying the camaraderie. "Sounds like you've been through a lot together."

"As much as I hate to admit it, we make a good team," Kosuke said, earning a round of chuckles from everyone.

The night passed peacefully, the stars twinkling brightly above as we rested under the clear, star-filled sky. The sounds of the island at night—a chorus of distant bird calls and the rustling of leaves—provided a soothing backdrop to our conversations.

Unbeknownst to us, a dark silhouette loomed on the horizon, a menacing ship sailing silently towards the peaceful island.

_____

A/N: I will post a chapter per day. Bonus chapter will be posted per 100 power stones.

Btw chapters after Ch-9 are nearly 2500 words long.

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