Raphael: <>
System: []
******
The next morning, just after sunrise, the Straw Hats were busy gathering supplies and preparing the ship to set sail once more. Their pace, however, was sluggish due to last night's celebration still clinging to them like the smell of spilled ale, and more than a few crew members nursed pounding headaches brought on by inevitable hangovers that followed this morning. Even so, they worked through the fog with stubborn determination, occasionally muttering curses under their breath directed at their captain for deciding to leave so hastily.
Luffy, however, was nowhere to be seen among them. Instead, he had wandered back up the same grassy hill from the day before, where the morning breeze tugged at his straw hat. Standing there, he held his phone to his ear.
"Mornin', Betty!" he greeted brightly the moment the line connected, his tone brimming with energy. "It's me, Luffy. You know, the unbelievably handsome and dashingly charming guy you met back in Shells Town."
"What the hell, Straw Hat boy! Do you even know what time it is?" Bello Betty's voice exploded from the other end of the line as she clutched the receiver of her den-den mushi. Topless and still rubbing sleep from her eyes as she sat up in bed, glaring at the snail. "Why are you calling me at this ridiculous hour!?"
"Why, you ask, my fair lady?" Luffy replied in an exaggeratedly wounded tone. "It's because I haven't had a single moment of peace since the day we met. My mind's been completely consumed by the thought of your beautiful purple hair and those glossy red lips. So, after mustering every ounce of courage I have, I've decided to confess my undying love for you today."
"Shut the hell up with that crap!" Betty snapped, her eye twitching in irritation. She knew full well that Luffy was just screwing with her, but the fact that he was doing it this early in the morning only made it more infuriating. "So? What's the real reason you called? Don't tell me you've finally changed your mind and decided to join our cause?"
"Betty, I'm already part of your cause, it's just that our paths and methods are different," Luffy replied, his tone losing all of its earlier playfulness. The change in his voice made Betty sober up too, her irritation fading. "Anyway, the reason I'm calling now is because I want to buy something from you."
"Buy something?" Betty repeated, her brow furrowing.
"Yeah, a den-den mushi. I actually want to get a couple of them," Luffy explained. "I know it's not really your line of work, and you're not obligated to help, but I'd really appreciate it if you could this time. I don't have any connections with dealers or the Underworld yet, so I've got no clue where to even start looking for something like that."
"Well, that's not entirely impossible, but since you're not one of us, I'll have to run it by my higher-ups first," Betty said, absently twirling her finger around the coiled wire of the receiver.
"Yeah, that's no problem. I don't want to get you in trouble because of me," Luffy replied, already well aware of exactly who her higher-ups were. He figured the request would almost certainly get approved since it wasn't even all that unreasonable, especially since he was offering to pay for it.
"Glad you understand," Betty said with a faint smile tugging at her lips. "In that case, I'll bring it up with my superiors as soon as I can and let you know what they say."
"Sounds good," Luffy answered, his trademark grin curling back into place. "Well then, Betty, farewell for now, but don't worry, I'll keep seeing you in my dreams."
"Idiot," Betty muttered with a short laugh as the line went dead. She shook her head, setting the receiver aside. "Oh well... since I'm already awake, I might as well start my day early," she sighed, padding toward the showers.
******
Meanwhile, after finishing his call, Luffy decided to use two of his remaining four rolls while the crew wrapped up preparations to set sail, keeping the other two in reserve in case he came across any more Devil Fruit users whose Devil Essence he could plunder.
[Congratulations! A Thousand-year-old Asgardian Liquor received!]
"This..." Luffy murmured, pulling a palm-sized, ancient-looking bottle from his inventory, its glass a cloudy amber and its seal covered in worn Norse runes, "...is the ultra-strong liquor Thor brought in Age of Ultron. And judging by how it knocked out Stan Lee, I'd better keep this far away from the drunkards on my crew, especially Zoro."
With a decisive nod, he tucked the Asgardian liquor safely back into his inventory before moving on to the second roll.
[Congratulations! Warrior Takemikazuchi/Cocytus's Enchanted God-Slaying Emperor Blade received!]
Luffy's eyes lit up in open fascination as he pulled out a curved, single-edged sword with a gleaming silvery blade polished to perfection. The handle was wrapped in pristine white cloth patterned with delicate golden designs, ending in a gold-capped pommel. A finely crafted, decorative handguard separated the hilt from the blade, giving the weapon a distinctly regal, almost divine presence.
"Huh, what a cool sword," Luffy said, tilting it this way and that as he examined the blade's details and enchantments.
[God-Slaying Emperor Blade: A meticulously forged weapon from the world of Overlord, originally wielded by Warrior Takemikazuchi, one of the Forty-One Supreme Beings of the guild Ainz Ooal Gown, and later entrusted to his creation, Cocytus, the Floor Guardian of the 5th Floor in the Great Tomb of Nazarick.
Among the twenty-one weapons Cocytus possesses, this blade is said to be the sharpest, capable of slicing through the toughest defenses and even cutting through physical enhancements.
Enchantments:
Size: Can freely change its dimensions at the wielder's will.
Frost Aura: This aura makes the wielder's surroundings extremely cold, dealing continuous ice damage and negative conditions to those in their 10-meter radius circle.
Warrior's Will: The blade's true power can only be unlocked by one it deems worthy; otherwise, it is no more dangerous than a wooden stick.]
"I guess I can't become a swordsman, it seems," Luffy said as he spun the sword in his hand and could tell that the sword refused to acknowledge him as its master. He couldn't explain how he knew, but whenever he tried to swing the sword, it literally felt like a twig.
"But I know someone who'd love this," he said with a grin before turning and heading back toward the ship.
When Luffy arrived at the port, he was immediately met with a wave of annoyed, irritated stares from his crewmates, and, like any good captain and friend, he met their irritation with an even bigger, more infuriating grin.
"Hey, Zoro, I've got something for you," Luffy called out to the moss-haired swordsman as he hopped aboard the Going Merry.
"Huh? What is it?" Zoro asked, making his way over. "If it's another one of those special Devil Fruits of yours, forget it. I've told you before that it goes against my oath as a swordsman."
"First of all, that's ridiculously stupid, if you ask me. I know a guy who's a monster with a sword and has a Devil Fruit that could flatten an entire nation," Luffy said, rolling his eyes as the image of a certain blind swordsman flashed through his mind. "But whatever, it's not my place to force you into anything. So, no, I'm not giving you a Devil Fruit. Instead..." He reached into his inventory and pulled out a gleaming, silver-white blade, "...this is what I got for you."
"This..." Zoro's eyes widened as he carefully accepted the weapon. The instant his fingers closed around the hilt, the blade shifted in size until it matched his preferred length, leaving him momentarily speechless.
"This sword's called the God-Slaying Emperor," Luffy said. "It's passed through the hands of two insanely powerful warriors, and in this world, it's on par with the Twelve Supreme Grade swords." By now, the rest of the crew had gathered around, drawn in by both the sight of the blade and Luffy's words. "But here's the catch: unless you earn its recognition and make it truly yours, it's no better than an old, rusty scrap of metal."
"Recognition, huh," Zoro muttered, gripping the weapon with both hands. His focus sharpened like a drawn blade, and in the next heartbeat, his vision went completely white.
******
When his vision cleared, Zoro found himself standing in a vast dojo, his Wado Ichimonji and his other two swords strapped at his waist. Before he could even process his surprise, his attention was drawn to a figure standing at the far end of the room.
It was a humanoid, ice-colored creature with an insect-like appearance, towering at roughly 2.5 meters tall. Four arms extended from its massive frame, each adorned with golden ornaments, and a tail, twice its height, curved menacingly behind it.
"Roronoa Zoro," came the chilly, metallic voice of the creature. "I am Cocytus, and I deem you a swordsman worthy of taking the trial to claim my God-Slaying Emperor Blade as your own." He lifted the weapon in question and leveled its point directly at Zoro. "Defeat me in a duel, and prove yourself worthy to wield the blade entrusted to me by my lord, Warrior Takemikazuchi."
"In that case, I'll be happy to take it off your hands," Zoro replied with a fierce grin, drawing two of his usual swords while clenching the Wado Ichimonji firmly between his teeth.
He didn't know where he was or how he'd ended up here, but there was no doubt in his mind that it had everything to do with the sword Luffy had handed him. Now, faced with a warrior who wanted to test his mettle, Zoro had no intention of backing down. If anything, the challenge only made his blood run hotter.
"A fine spirit burns in your eyes, Warrior Roronoa, so I will not insult you by holding back," Cocytus declared, and in the very next heartbeat, a wave of killing cold swept through the dojo, icy pressure bearing down with crushing weight, focused squarely on Zoro.
On the other side of the room, Zoro's eyes narrowed as cold sweat formed on his forehead. "This aura..." His grip on his swords tightened as he began to grasp the vast gap between himself and the towering creature before him. But rather than discouraging him, the realization only stoked his fighting spirit hotter at the thought of defeating such a formidable opponent.
"Come, Warrior Roronoa! Show me your worth," Cocytus commanded. Zoro's answer was wordless, but clear as he lunged forward without hesitation and closed the distance between them.
In the blink of an eye, Zoro closed the distance, his stance low as he crossed two blades in an X before his chest, Wado Ichimonji angled perfectly to drive straight down the centerline, all three swords gleaming with the dark sheen of Armament Haki. "Santoryu... Oni Gi—"
But before he could complete the attack, a blinding flash of silver filled his vision. Cocytus's upper right arm shot upward with impossible speed, then came sweeping down in a brutal, decisive arc.
"What—?" Zoro barely managed to gasp before an explosion of pain ripped through him. The strike split him cleanly from the center, his body parting into two halves before he could even register what had happened. A heartbeat later, frost erupted from the wound, rapidly encasing both halves in jagged ice until they were frozen solid.
"You have the makings of a fine warrior," Cocytus's voice rang out, cold and unyielding. "But for now, your strength falls short. Return when you have grown stronger. I will be here, waiting for you to claim my blade as your own."
With those final words, Cocytus turned his back. Darkness crept in at the edges of Zoro's vision, and within moments, his consciousness slipped away entirely.
******
When his consciousness returned, Zoro found himself back on the deck of the Going Merry, standing in the exact same spot and in the exact same stance he'd been in when he first took the sword from Luffy. Then, without warning, the memory of being split in two and entombed in ice slammed into him. His steps faltered, almost making him lose balance, but before he could collapse, his captain's hand shot out to steady him.
"Welcome back to the land of the living, buddy," Luffy said, guiding him over to a chair. "You almost scared us there for a moment."
"What happened?" Zoro asked, breathing heavily as he tried to shake off the lingering disorientation.
"I should be the one asking you that," Luffy replied, signaling to the rest of the crew that Zoro was fine and they should get back to work. "You grabbed that sword, and for the last half hour you've just been frozen in place. Now you're back, but you look like you've been through quite the experience."
"Yeah... you could say that," Zoro muttered. He recounted the strange dojo, the towering insectoid warrior named Cocytus, and how he'd been defeated in a single, devastating strike. "It felt like a dream... but it was way too real to be one," he added, his hand unconsciously rising to his chest, where the phantom pain of the fatal slash still lingered.
"Well, it felt real because it was," Luffy said, leaning casually against the ship's railing. "If I had to guess, your consciousness went inside the sword to take the trial."
"That... actually sounds like the most likely explanation," Zoro admitted with a slow nod.
"Even I didn't expect something like that to happen," Luffy went on, "but it's still a huge win for you." That earned him a curious raise of the brow from Zoro. "Think about it, today, you got dropped in a single strike. Now you know exactly how big the gap is between you and him. And even if it takes a while before you can beat him, once you reach the point where you can trade blows with Cocytus, you'll have one hell of a sparring partner."
"Yeah... I hadn't thought about it that way," Zoro said, a grin spreading across his face. "It'd be like having a master swordsman on call whenever I need someone to train or spar with."
"Exactly! And when you finally defeat Cocytus, a blade on par with the Twelve Supreme Grades will be yours as a reward!" Luffy said with a wide grin, giving Zoro a solid pat on the shoulder.
"Hey, Dumb Number One and Dumb Number Two," Uta called as she strolled over, idly spinning her Headhunter pistol around her finger. "If you two are done fooling around, go give Nami a hand with her tangerine trees. She wants to bring a couple on board as mementos."
"Sure thing, gun-toting scary lady," Luffy said with a chuckle. "Come on, sword man, tell me more about getting split in half on the way."
Uta just shook her head with an amused sigh before turning away to double-check that they had everything packed and ready.
******
Later that evening, the supplies had been restocked, the tangerine trees carefully secured on the Going Merry's deck, and the Straw Hats were ready to set sail.
Down at the port, Nojiko and the rest of the villagers gathered around Nami, offering tearful goodbyes.
"Nami, stay safe out there, okay?" Nojiko said, pulling her sister into a tight embrace. When she finally let go, she gave Nami a watery smile. "And try not to get into too much trouble. I won't be there to pull your ear and set you straight."
"Don't worry, Nojiko, now I've got six more people to do that for you," Nami replied with a matching teary smile. "But... I can't shake this uneasy feeling," she admitted with a sigh. "What if more trouble finds its way here while I'm gone?"
"Then so be it," Nojiko said gently, cupping her sister's cheek. "If you spend all your time worrying about me, how will you ever chase your own dreams? Trouble's a part of life, there's no escaping it. All we can do is face it head-on and grow stronger from it. Besides, how can we expect one little sister and a bunch of outsiders to protect us forever?"
"Well said, Nojiko. Having the strength to protect ourselves and the people we care about is the only way to live," Luffy said as he stepped forward to stand beside Nami. "That said... even if we can't be here to protect you all the time, this will certainly help." He reached into his coat and pulled out a dark, oddly-shaped fruit, its skin marked with swirling patterns, and held it out to Nojiko.
"What is this?" Nojiko asked, gazing at the fruit in wonder.
"A gift similar to the one I gave Nami," Luffy explained with a smirk. "Similar in essence... but different in power."
"This..." Nojiko's eyes widened as the truth dawned on her. "No. This is too precious. I can't accept it."
"You can, and you will," Luffy said firmly. "You're not just Nami's sister, and this isn't just her home; it's yours as well, and you're our friend. Besides... I promised someone I'd always have your back."
At those words, Nojiko's eyes drifted to the worn-out lighter hanging from Nami's neck. He didn't need to say the name; she already knew who Luffy meant.
Taking a slow breath, Nojiko accepted the fruit with both hands. "Thank you," she said quietly, her voice rich with genuine gratitude.
"Don't thank me. I'm just doing this so Nami can focus on our adventure instead of constantly worrying about you all," Luffy said, pulling a neatly bound stack of papers from his inventory and handing it to Genzo, who stood beside Nojiko. "This is a training module for the villagers. Nothing too fancy, but it'll be enough to help you fend off most run-of-the-mill pirates in the East Blue, especially with the numbers advantage you've got."
The training manual Luffy handed over contained basic military drills and straightforward weapon-training exercises meant to build strength, coordination, and simple self-defense skills. He'd deliberately left out techniques like Total Concentration Breathing, not wanting those to fall into the wrong hands. As for Nojiko, Luffy figured she wouldn't need it anyway, and between the Black Canary's powers and this new training, she'd be more than capable of protecting herself and the village.
"Thank you, young man. I'll see to it that the able-bodied folks across the whole archipelago put in the effort," Genzo said, taking the papers with a firm grip. Then his expression softened into something more solemn as he met Luffy's eyes. "I know I have no right to ask this, especially after failing to protect her before, but please... take care of our Nami."
"Don't worry, old man. From now on, she's one of us," Luffy said sincerely, and there was something in his voice that eased the weight on Genzo's heart.
******
"Alright, now that everything's squared away, we should really get moving," Luffy said, waving for his crew to board the Going Merry. "We were supposed to set sail this afternoon, but those trees took forever to load."
"Stop complaining. It's not like I'm the only one who's going to enjoy the fruit from those trees," Nami shot back with a roll of her eyes.
"Yeah, yeah, I kn—" Luffy cut himself off mid-sentence. His gaze snapped sharply toward the open sea, his usual carefree expression replaced by a sudden, steely focus. The shift in his demeanor was so abrupt that the rest of the crew immediately noticed, and the atmosphere around them grew tense as well.
"Luffy, what is it?" Uta asked, stepping closer and drawing her Headhunter in one smooth motion.
"I'm sensing some powerful people headed this way," Luffy replied, surprising Uta with the range of his Observation Haki, which surpassed her own. "Three of them stand out, not exactly a threat, but enough to challenge our crew in its current state." His eyes briefly flicked toward Nami, Reiju, and Kaya before returning to Uta. "Go find out exactly who's coming."
Uta gave a sharp nod and sprinted toward the crow's nest. Once there, she summoned her sniper, Tour De Force, and brought the extended scope to her eye. The endless blue stretched before her until a Marine warship came into view, cutting steadily across the waves. Her breath hitched when a pink-haired man standing on deck looked directly into her scope, as if he could see her just as clearly before he grinned and flashed a peace sign at her.
Vaulting down from the crow's nest, Uta landed lightly and strode quickly toward the port. "Luffy, we've got a problem," she reported, irritation sharpening her words. "Marine warship, heading straight for us. There's a Haki user on board, a Rear Admiral, I think. The smug bastard even gave me a peace sign. And if what you sensed is right, he's probably got two others just as capable with him."
"Rear Admiral..." Luffy repeated with a frown. "Okay, the situation isn't ideal, but there's nothing to worry about," he said confidently, offering at least a small measure of relief to his crew and the villagers nearby. In truth, Luffy was confident he could take on a Rear Admiral as he was now. It might not be an overwhelming or decisive victory, but he was certain he could hold them off long enough for him and his crew to escape.
If his Observation Haki was right, then between him, Zoro, Kuina, and Uta, they had more than enough firepower to deal with whatever was coming. The part that bothered him wasn't the rank of the Marine on the ship; it was the familiar presence he'd sensed aboard that ship. He was almost certain he knew who it belonged to, but he couldn't figure out why she would be leading Marines toward them, especially after she'd helped them rescue Nami not so long ago.
"Alright, listen up. We've got twenty minutes before that Marine ship reaches the port, so let's make some preparations!" Luffy said, clapping his hands to get everyone's attention.
"First, Nojiko, take the villagers and scatter into the other towns. And yes, that includes you," he added before she could even respond. Nojiko and a few others opened their mouths in protest, but Luffy silenced them with a raised hand. "No. This isn't up for debate. When Marines show up, it's always a gamble. You never know if you're dealing with true warriors of justice or corrupt, bribe-taking scum. And if they find out your entire village supports us? The consequences could be ugly. So, for everyone's sake, get moving and keep out of sight."
With no argument left to make, Nojiko glanced at the other villagers, reading the same reluctant agreement in their faces. Together, they began making their way back toward the village, muttering their dissatisfaction under their breath.
"Now that the liability's out of the way, it's time to make our own arrangements," Luffy began, only to get a sharp smack on the shoulder from Nami, who was glaring daggers at him. Completely unfazed, he flashed her a grin and pressed on. "Uta, take the high ground like usual. Keep a close eye on the situation and deal with anything or anyone that might slow down our escape. Zoro, Kuina, you're with me. If any of us can't handle our opponent alone, we'll back each other up."
"Kaya, Nami, Reiju, you three stay inside the ship," Luffy said, turning to the rest of the girls.
"Luffy, I can fight too," Kaya protested, her frown making it clear she wasn't happy about being sidelined.
"I know you can," Luffy replied evenly, his tone leaving no room for argument. "That's exactly why I'm putting you with these two, who haven't even started proper combat training yet. And besides, Kaya, you're the crew's doctor. Ideally, you shouldn't be fighting at all. If you get hurt, who's going to patch the rest of us up? Otherwise, what's the point of dragging these two idiots along?" he added with a grin, jerking his thumb toward Zoro and Kuina. Both of them shot him sharp glares, but neither bothered to argue, knowing he had a point.
"There's also the fact that I don't want the Marines or anyone else, for that matter, knowing about your powers," Luffy said, his tone turning serious. "Devil Fruits that can heal others are rare enough as it is, and yours is practically one of a kind. If word gets out that your healing flames work like Marco the Phoenix's, First Division Commander of the Whitebeard Pirates, we won't just have Marines after us, we'll have bounty hunters, pirates, and every ambitious fool in the Grand Line coming for you." He then turned to Nami. "Same goes for you. Your ability's only unbeatable as long as no one knows it exists. Avoid full-body transformations in battle, and don't reveal your power unless you're ready to end your opponent right then and there."
Kaya and Nami both nodded seriously, mulling over his words as they boarded the Merry with Reiju in tow, the pink-haired woman keeping her head down in quiet shame. She knew her combat skills were barely above the basics drilled into her as a princess, and she hated feeling like a liability.
"Well," Luffy said, rolling his shoulders and cracking his knuckles, his eyes locking on the distant Marine ship, "looks like our preparations are done. Now... we wait for our uninvited guests."
To be continued...