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In a restaurant in Shells Town, Luffy, Zoro, and Ikki were feasting.
Zoro, who hadn't eaten in over ten days, devoured plate after plate with incredible speed. Yet, even his appetite couldn't match Luffy's.
Luffy's consumption was inhuman, aided by his rubber body's seemingly endless capacity. No matter how much he ate, his body processed it effortlessly. His digestive ability was nothing short of a miracle.
After the trio finished their meal, a group of Marine soldiers entered the restaurant. The leader, a Marine, approached Ikki and saluted respectfully.
"Your Excellency, what are your orders regarding Colonel Morgan?" he asked.
Hearing this, the citizens of Shells Town, who were also in the restaurant, turned their attention to Ikki. Many hoped for Morgan's immediate execution; after years of suffering under his tyranny, it seemed like the justice they deserved. However, they knew it wasn't their decision to make.
Ikki considered the situation for a moment, then pulled out Garp's Den Den Mushi.
At Marine Headquarters, Garp sat munching on senbei when the Den Den Mushi on his desk began to chirp.
Garp lazily picked it up, and the Den Den Mushi's face transformed into Ikki's image.
"Who is it?" Garp asked through a mouthful of senbei.
"Master Garp, it's Ikki!" Ikki replied.
"Oh? Ikki? Did something happen with you and Luffy?" Garp asked, curious.
"It's not a big deal," Ikki began, then explained the events in Shells Town.
As Ikki recounted Morgan's crimes, Garp's expression darkened. He was furious that such a corrupt Marine had been allowed to oppress the people unchecked.
"Detain him for now," Garp said firmly. "I'll return to the East Blue in a couple of days to personally escort him to Marine Headquarters."
"Understood!" Ikki responded, then ended the call.
Ikki turned back to the Marine soldiers. "Don't worry. Someone will take care of him in the next few days."
The Marine captain's eyes widened. "Wait... the person on the other end of the line... was that the Marine hero, Vice Admiral Garp?!"
"Yes, it was him," Ikki confirmed nonchalantly.
Elsewhere...
After hanging up the Den Den Mushi, Garp leaned back with a grin.
From Ikki's report, Garp could tell that Luffy wasn't outright opposed to the idea of the Private Marines. If things were handled carefully, Garp figured, even with Luffy flying the pirate flag, it could be considered part of the Private Marine's unique identity.
"Who says Marines can't carry a skull-and-crossbones flag?" Garp mused aloud, laughing to himself. "If it's a Private Marine logo, it's perfectly fine!"
As long as Luffy didn't directly challenge the World Government or cause catastrophic trouble, Garp felt confident he could shield him from the consequences. The thought filled him with pride.
Suddenly, Garp burst into laughter, clapping his hands together.
"Bwahaha! I'm a genius for coming up with the Private Marine idea!"
Back in Shells Town...
After resolving the situation with Morgan, Ikki, Luffy, and Zoro set sail to continue their journey.
As for Koby, he stayed behind at the Marine base in Shells Town, just as in the original story. The only difference was that this time, he wasn't beaten up by Luffy for wanting to sever ties. Instead, the farewell was far more amicable.
Before departing, Luffy organized a grand banquet for the people of Shells Town. Unlike the original tale, where Luffy and the others had to leave quickly because they were pirates, this time, things were different. With their status as saviors of the Private Marine Corps and the town, a celebration was more than welcomed.
Out at Sea...
Zoro lay on the boat lazily, taking a nap with his sword, Wado Ichimonji, resting on his chest.
Luffy, meanwhile, was happily munching on the food prepared by the Marines and the little girl's family.
Ikki sat off to the side, focusing on his system panel. After saving the people of Shells Town, he had earned another 1,500 justice points. With over 1,700 points now available, he decided it was time for a ten-spin silver-level lottery draw.
Initially, Ikki had planned to save up 10,000 points for ten consecutive gold-level draws, but temptation got the better of him. After all, who could resist the allure of testing their luck?
Without hesitation, Ikki opened the silver-level lottery wheel and started the ten draws.
Results of the Draw:
[Sea Bicycle] (Bronze-level): A bicycle capable of riding across the surface of the sea.
[Toyako Bokuto] (Bronze-level): A wooden sword from Gintama, originally bought through TV shopping by the protagonist.
[Incredible Wine Gourd] (Bronze-level): Pour any liquid into this gourd, and it will transform into wine.
[Zanpakutō: Asauchi] (Silver-level): The initial form of a Zanpakutō from the world of Bleach. It can evolve into a true Zanpakutō (adapted to the One Piece system for use).
[Nen Practice Manual] (Silver-level): A manual to learn telekinesis abilities from Hunter x Hunter (adapted to the One Piece system for use).
[Three Portions of Delicious Barbecue] (Bronze-level): Exceptionally delicious barbecue—careful, it's so good you might bite your tongue.
[Super Waterproof Watch] (Bronze-level): A watch with extreme water resistance.
[Exclusive Fashion Opportunity] (Bronze-level): Change the appearance of your clothes to whatever you desire.
[A Box of Cola] (Bronze-level): Extremely delicious cola in a convenient box.
[Boxing Technique: Water Stream Rock Smashing Fist] (Silver-level): A powerful martial art from One Punch Man, capable of shattering mountains with proper training.
With the lottery complete, Ikki reflected on the differences between bronze, silver, and gold items.
Bronze items were generally daily necessities or consumables that provided little to no boost in strength.
Silver items were more practical and could aid in strength development, but they required effort and training to unlock their potential.
Gold items, on the other hand, were straightforward power-ups. Drawing a gold item meant immediate, tangible enhancements to one's abilities—like the Dragon Slayer Magic Crystal he had heard about before.
After figuring out the mechanics, Ikki took out the three silver-level items he'd drawn this time: the Asauchi, the Nen Practice Manual, and the Water Stream Rock Smashing Fist manual. They materialized in his hands, catching Luffy's attention.
Mid-bite, Luffy paused and stared at the items. "Ikki, where'd you get that sword?" he asked, pointing at the Asauchi. Before Ikki could answer, Luffy snatched it up and began playing with it.
Zoro, who had been napping, cracked one eye open at the mention of a sword. His gaze immediately fell on the blade in Luffy's hands.
Check out advanced chapters on P@treon: p@treon.com/CosmicKaminari
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The scabbard and handle of the Asauchi were pitch black, a stark contrast to the white of Wado Ichimonji in Zoro's hand.
Zoro felt an immediate difference as he glanced at the blade and said to Luffy,
"Luffy, hand me that sword—I want to take a closer look."
Luffy, never too interested in swords, shrugged. He preferred cooler things like shields or armor. Without much thought, he tossed the sword to Zoro.
Zoro caught the shallow blade and felt a peculiar connection, almost as though it resonated with him on a deeper level.
What Zoro didn't notice was that as he picked up the blade, Wado Ichimonji at his side began to glow faintly, and a ray of light seemed to flow from Wado into the shallow blade.
"This is a fine sword," Zoro said, unsheathing it slightly and admiring the craftsmanship. "Could it be one of the Twenty-One Great Grade Blades?"
Ikki, standing nearby, smiled knowingly. "Zoro, you'd better be careful with that. It's not a sword you can wield so easily—it might not let you draw it again."
Zoro wasn't the type to covet someone else's weapon. He returned the blade to its sheath and respectfully placed it back in front of Ikki.
Ikki didn't respond immediately but kept his gaze on the shallow blade, knowing its potential.
This type of sword required cultivation and communication, evolving into a true weapon of power through a bond with its wielder. Ikki knew he might not find another like it anytime soon. If it were to be his, he'd need to nurture it carefully, honing his skills in the process.
However, when Ikki reached out and touched the blade again, he was startled. There was resistance—an almost palpable refusal.
"Huh? You're resisting me? Could it be that this blade already has a mind of its own?"
Ikki's eyes shifted to Zoro, a look of disbelief crossing his face.
Both Zoro and Luffy had held the sword before, yet it was fine when Luffy handed it over. Now it seemed the blade had already bonded with someone.
This realization struck Ikki hard. "No way… has it already chosen its master?"
He sighed, glancing at Zoro with a mix of exasperation and amusement. "This guy has all the luck."
Ikki stepped forward and said, "Zoro, this sword is yours. It's chosen you."
Zoro blinked in confusion. "Chosen me? What do you mean? Is this… a cursed sword?"
He'd heard of cursed swords before—swords that picked their wielders and, if misused, could drive their handlers to madness or bloodlust.
Ikki chuckled. "If that's how you want to think of it, sure. Let's call it a cursed sword."
A grin spread across Zoro's face. "A cursed blade, huh? Sounds interesting. Let's see what you've got!"
Without hesitation, he picked up the sword again. The moment his fingers wrapped around the hilt, he felt it—a profound sense of harmony, as though the sword had always been his.
…
While Zoro tested his connection with the blade, Ikki turned his attention back to the training manual for the Water Stream Rock Smashing Fist.
This martial art was as versatile as it was powerful. Its offensive techniques flowed seamlessly, overwhelming opponents like a relentless stream, while its defensive stances could block even the tiniest intrusion, like water against a rock.
Moreover, its power had no upper limit. The stronger the user's physique, the more devastating the techniques became.
Engrossed in his study, Ikki didn't notice when Luffy grabbed the Nen training manual from his side and began flipping through it, curiosity lighting up his face. (T/N: We got a fake Luffy)
Time passed, and Ikki finally finished reading the entire Water Stream Rock Smashing Fist manual.
As he reflected on the techniques, he began mentally combining them with his Sky Dragon Slayer Magic. The synergy of the two made him confident that their combined power would be immense.
Suddenly, ripples disturbed the calm sea around their small boat.
Ikki glanced up to see white steam rising steadily from Luffy's body, his eyes shut in deep concentration.
"What the…? Has Luffy already developed Second Gear?" Ikki muttered in disbelief.
His gaze shifted to the Nen training manual lying next to Luffy.
"Wait… could Luffy be practicing Nen? Is this white mist… life energy?"
Ikki, having watched Hunter x Hunter, knew the dangers of losing too much life energy—it could shorten one's lifespan or even lead to death. Alarmed, he was about to warn Luffy when he noticed the energy on Luffy's body beginning to condense.
The mist gathered and formed an invisible film around Luffy, who suddenly opened his eyes with a triumphant grin.
"Woohoo! I did it! My body feels so light and comfortable!" Luffy exclaimed, springing to his feet with boundless energy.
Ikki stared in stunned silence.
He had skimmed through the same manual earlier and knew how difficult it was. Normally, it would take days, if not weeks, of meditation to even sense the aura, let alone manipulate it.
But Luffy? He had simply skimmed the manual and awakened his ability by sheer intuition.
'This guy's a genius… no doubt about it,' Ikki thought, dumbfounded. 'Is this what they mean by great wisdom in simplicity?'
Zoro, noticing the changes in Luffy, began to observe him closely.
For the first time, Zoro felt a sense of danger emanating from Luffy—a feeling he had never experienced before.
However, as soon as Zoro placed his hand on the sword resting beside him, the ominous sensation dissipated.
"So hungry…"
Due to the small amount of life energy he had expended, Luffy began devouring all the food on the boat with his usual enthusiasm. But even after clearing out their supplies, he was still hungry.
At that moment, Luffy spotted a large bird soaring in the sky.
"Meat!" he shouted, stretching his arms upward to grab the bird.
To his surprise, the bird was far stronger than it looked. Instead of catching it, Luffy ended up being carried away, clamped firmly in the bird's beak.
Ikki: "..."
Zoro: "..."
"This idiot…" Zoro grumbled as he grabbed an oar and began rowing furiously.
He knew full well that as a Devil Fruit user, Luffy would be in grave danger if he fell into the sea.
Despite Zoro and Ikki rowing with all their strength, the boat struggled to gain speed, falling behind the giant bird carrying Luffy away.
Ikki frowned and turned to Zoro. "Hold on tight to the hull!"
He moved to the stern, took a deep breath, and channeled his energy.
"Sky Dragon's Roar!"
A burst of energy propelled the boat forward with incredible force, lifting it briefly into the air.
The sudden surge startled both Ikki and Zoro, but it worked—the boat shot ahead with renewed speed.
As the vessel rocketed forward, Ikki's system panel unexpectedly flashed, awarding him three points of justice.
Ikki blinked in confusion. "Justice points? What did I even do?"
Little did he know, the boat's sudden acceleration had obliterated a small craft nearby bearing the flag of the Buggy Pirates. The impact scattered its crew into the sea, leaving them flailing in the water.