"Gaaaaaaang!!"
This is the worst. It's absolutely terrible.
"Damn... even that kick didn't go through."
"My whole body is made of blades."
"So it's all steel?"
Why, of all people, did I have to meet Mr. 1 after he's eaten a Devil Fruit?! In fact, how did he find and eat one so easily? That's completely unfair! I want one too!
...No, never mind. I feel like I'd end up falling into the ocean somewhere and causing a disaster. It would be better to sell it and use the money as capital.
"What's wrong? Are you looking away?"
That was close! I kick away the thrust from his arm, which has transformed into a spear-like blade, deflecting it just in time. I'm glad I have metal plates in the soles of my shoes! They were originally for efficiently stepping on enemies' faces and groins, but they're proving useful now!
It's okay. At least this isn't at a level where I'll be killed without resistance.
It really doesn't seem like much time has passed since he ate the fruit. While he appears to have a decent grasp of his abilities after some practice, he's probably still in a trial-and-error phase. He doesn't use any of the advanced techniques he showed against Zoro in Alabasta, especially that drill-like attack, and only fights normally, turning parts of his body into blades.
I just realized the sharpness of his blades isn't at that insane level yet. Even though he's made of steel thanks to his ability, the kick that hit him square in the torso still seemed to do some damage. Even after acquiring this power, he hasn't become completely invincible.
That's not surprising. I don't know from experience since I've never eaten one, but there's no way your body would suddenly change and you'd immediately master its full potential. Kaku and Kalifa from CP9 were able to master their Devil Fruits and go toe-to-toe with the Straw Hat Pirates after some trial and error during battle, but they just have an exceptional natural talent for it.
"Stealing,"
"...Huh? He disappeared?!"
When it comes to speed, we have the advantage. After all, I'm Captain Kuro of a Hundred Plans, well, not officially yet, but still. He was supposed to be one of the fastest characters in the One Piece world.
And unlike Paramecia or Logia types, we have one trump card.
"No matter how much I accelerate, this body won't get a scratch!"
Don't you think so? Here, catch this!
"!?"
I quickly threw my trump card and made it connect with Daz's body.
"Hold on,"
I really don't want to kill this guy, and honestly, I don't feel like I could even if I tried while he's still a child. However, I also don't think Daz would go down easily in his current state.
With an accelerated spinning kick, I stomped on the trump card I'd thrown, the seastone recovered from that stranded Navy ship, with enough force to embed it into Daz's body.
BOOM!!
The metallic sounds that had been ringing out until now changed for the first time to the sound of an impact on flesh.
"Gah...!?"
His expression, which had remained virtually unchanged no matter how many kicks I'd landed or where, finally twisted in pain. I kick the seastone I'd pressed against him and retrieve it. If I lost this, I'd just be a weakling with fast legs who could crush people's faces and crotches with metal-plated shoes.
In reality, it wasn't originally intended for use against ability users. We collected as much as we could to lay on the bottom of our ship for crossing the Calm Belt. As a result, while repeatedly transporting and hiding large quantities, we were discovered by other Navy forces and got into serious trouble.
Anyway, this works perfectly.
"Ugh... I see. That stone is your trump card."
"Yeah."
Seastone, kairoseki. It's invaluable to have a way to counterattack against someone with special abilities.
"In other words, all I have to do is avoid touching that stone."
As long as my limited combat ability is enough to get me through this. But my opponent is Mr. 1, who would later become a formidable adversary. I'm not sure this is going well.
My opponent is on guard now. Actually, his stance is better than before. This guy is really growing through battle! This is why characters from the original series are so strong! You should become a wimp on the inside too!
"That's right. With my current skills, I actually can't do any real damage to you without this stone. If I could just keep kicking you, I might eventually defeat you through accumulated damage, but I have no idea how much time and stamina that would require."
"..."
"But at the same time, you can't quite catch me, can you?"
To be honest, if I wanted to run away, I could. The reason I especially trained my legs was partly because I believed they would definitely develop as a former black cat, but also to increase my chances of escaping in emergencies.
Go ahead and laugh at this pathetic man if you want! I'll do anything to increase my survival chances in a shonen manga world, especially in a pirate setting where there are countless dangerous scenarios!
"Daz, right?"
When I asked, Daz surprisingly nodded obediently.
"What about your parents?"
"...They were killed by family members. I don't know what they did, but apparently it was retaliation. I ran away from there, and now I'm alone."
I don't remember the details very well, but come to think of it, his dream was to become a hero. Could that backstory be related...?
"How old are you now?"
"...Ten... I think."
Seriously? Unlike me, your inner self is that strong for a ten-year-old?
"You're strong but slower than me."
"..."
"I'm fast but weaker than you."
"You admit that yourself?"
"Am I wrong?"
"...I don't know."
This level-headedness at his age is amazing. Normally, wouldn't a kid be more worked up in this situation? That's why Crocodile recruited him, he's incredibly reliable.
"Then, if you and I work together, we can accomplish even more, right?"
If he's an ally, he couldn't be more dependable.
"Come with me, Daz Bones."
"...I'm a bounty hunter, and you're a wanted man."
That's fine for now. I think it's too early to make a firm decision anyway.
"You and I can capture bounty hunters together. I can't appear in public, but you can turn them into cash. With your abilities and my speed, we can make money much more efficiently than we do now."
"..."
"You saw how many bandits I defeated in such a short time before arriving here, right? Imagine how much money I could have made if I'd converted them into bounties."
Although it's underhanded to try persuading a child with smooth talk, I can no longer be concerned about appearances at this point. There are more talented people in this world than you could ever imagine, and he has special abilities. I can't help but want to recruit him.
"I don't know this sea very well, but I do understand how strong the mafia's influence is. And what happened to your parents?"
"..."
"Your parents were probably killed because they incurred the wrath of some mafia family. And you?"
Most mafia organizations have extensive information networks. I noticed from our earlier conversation, but judging from how they knew I was in the west, they must be taking this seriously.
"Maybe they know about you—the son? Isn't there a rumor that you fought back against some thugs recently?"
His eyebrows twitched. Looks like I hit the mark. Well, maybe it's not entirely accurate, but he thinks it might be true.
"You're strong. You can probably fight back against most enemies. But if you keep going like this, won't you end up fighting your pursuers forever?"
I know this guy will eventually show up on the Grand Line. I can't believe he's someone aiming to become the Pirate King and find One Piece. I think it's likely he ended up on Crocodile's, or rather, Baroque Works', recruitment list, went along with it, and joined the Grand Line... something like that.
The specific reason doesn't matter. The fact is that he left the West Blue. In other words, the West Blue isn't something Daz has an attachment to, unlike Sanji with the Baratie or Usopp with Kaya.
Perhaps.
"But what good will running away do? The world isn't kind to the weak. They'll only be exploited... like my family was."
"Then let's obtain power together."
No matter what, I needed to win him over here, having a talented potential fighter on my side would be a huge advantage later on.
Turn, my brain! "The weak are oppressed because the strong are losing respect!"
Turn, my tongue! "The strong are forgetting respect because they're forgetting that they too were once weak!"
Sink into the ocean of thoughts! "Daz Bones! Come with me and turn this world upside down!"
My brain, couldn't you have chosen more moderate words?
"This encounter is fate!"
•~•
Who told you to sink my life into the mire, you mouse?
It's no good. With this brain that's nowhere near formulating a complete plan and my vague knowledge of the original work, all I can come up with is a poor imitation of that famous scene between the Pirate King and the King of the Underworld.
Young Daz Bones stood there with his eyes wide open in shock.
Help me. Help me, Clemens.