Chapter 3: Wounds and Inner Fire
Shells Town - Military Base, Evening After the Battle
Twilight fell over the city like a blanket of ash. The fire's flames cast jumping shadows on the walls of an abandoned warehouse. There, on old crates, sat three people: the captain, the swordsman, and the one who didn't yet know who he would become.
Katsuro sat, gritting his teeth. His left arm was covered in blood, his shoulder was pierced by a blade, but nothing vital was hit. Luffy was stubbornly boiling something in a tin can, and Zoro, as if not feeling his exhaustion after days without food, was practicing his movements with a katana.
"I didn't think you knew how to fight," Zoro finally said, not taking his eyes off the blade.
"Neither do I," Katsuro responded. "The brain knows. The body is learning to catch up."
"Hmm. Interesting. — Zoro fell silent. But it was clear he was watching.
Luffy slapped his knees.
— Hey, what kind of power did you use then? How did you dodge that spear? It was boom! — he kicked the air — and you were like — whoosh!
Katsuro closed his eyes. He remembered. Every movement. Not just like stills from a movie, but like someone else's combat experience implanted in his body.
— I see... not with my eyes. Almost like I remember a fight that never happened.
— It's... creepy, — Zoro muttered, twirling his katana. — But it's useful. If you can really do all that, then you're more dangerous than you look.
— Sounds like a compliment, — Katsuro chuckled.
— Don't get used to it, — Zoro muttered.
Later, when Luffy was already asleep, spread out like a star, Katsuro sat against the wall, staring at his bandaged arm.
Pulse. Pressure. Warmth.
Something was moving under his skin, as if his blood was more than just biology. He touched his chest - his heart was beating too hard, too fast. Not from excitement. Not from pain.
"Energy Vein."
The word floated into his mind without explanation. And he didn't know if he thought of it himself... or heard it.
And then... a click. A sudden surge of energy running down his spine. His body jerked, as if electrocuted. He jumped to his feet, his hand reflexively raising as if to block a blow. But no one attacked.
"Shit," he whispered. "What's happening to me..."
"You have the body of a human, but it's like your nerves... woke up prematurely..." like a whisper from inside, barely audible.
He clenched his fists. There was fire under his skin. But it didn't burn. It called.
Morning. Returning to life
"Let's get up!" Luffy stood up first. "We need a ship! And food. And Zoro's swords."
"Where do you even get your energy from, Captain?" Katsuro muttered, putting on his soaking wet and torn shirt.
"I... just wake up hungry!" Luffy said cheerfully.
"Sounds like a superpower," Katsuro chuckled.
They infiltrated the base, oddly enough, according to Luffy's plan. Which consisted of the phrase "walk through the door and punch everyone in the face."
Katsuro walked ahead, scanning the soldiers with his eyes. He saw their movements in advance, sensed their mistakes.
One step to the left - a grab. A blow to the leg - the enemy falls.
The second soldier - holding the sword unsteadily. It's enough to trip him up.
The third one - panic in his eyes. It's easy to neutralize him.
With each fight, his body breathed faster, but moved more precisely. He didn't know the techniques, but he won.
And inside... the pulsation grew. Lived. Power.
And now - they freed Zoro, returned the swords, fought their way to the exit and stood at the destroyed wall, looking at the burning horizon.
"Sounds like the beginning of a team," Zoro said, tying a bandana.
"This is just the beginning," Katsuro responded. His gaze was directed at the sky, but his thoughts were deeper. Who am I? Why am I here? And how much of me is - alien?
Luffy clapped him on the shoulder. This time - gently.
"Let's go. An adventure awaits us ahead!"
And in the depths of the Eastern Sea... something ancient opened its eyes.